So lucky that medical attention was close at hand. I think speculating about whether the match caused it or whatever is really not necessary. He's a guy who's done this kind of thing for forty years, and a heart attack doesn't just pounce on you because of one five-minute stretch of exertion.
Not to put a damper on things, but they couldn't have simply stopped the show due to King's collapse. It's show biz, and the show must go on, and furthermore, I believe Lawler would feel much the same way. Not carrying on with commentary was both sad, because Cole looked like he could barely continue, and the classiest thing WWE could have conceivably done at that point.
My thoughts and prayers are with Lawler, his friends, and family.
"Laugh and the world laughs with you. Frown and the world laughs at you." -Me.
I think the real question is why are they having a sixty year old in the first place going against their world champ, but I am sure that will get ignored. Good to hear Jerry is doing better. He stopped by my friend's store a few years ago and bought out there Raw Deal CCG collection and left some signed photos for my friend who had the day off. I will remember that most about Jerry than anything else. The other question is what are they going to do about commentary.
As for the decision to stay on TV. I worked a little bit in TV and the rule is to always keep filming even if its morally objectionable. That said, they could have gone to a video packages to set-up NOC and had Cole just give us updates.
(edited by lotjx on 11.9.12 0721) The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Originally posted by lotjxI think the real question is why are they having a sixty year old in the first place going against their world champ, but I am sure that will get ignored. Good to hear Jerry is doing better. He stopped by my friend's store a few years ago and bought out there Raw Deal CCG collection and left some signed photos for my friend who had the day off. I will remember that most about Jerry than anything else. The other question is what are they going to do about commentary.
Flair is 63. Hogan is 59. They recently had a "legends" program with Slater. By all accounts, I think King probably seemed the healthiest. He just finished a weekend of independent shows.
Who will replace him? Matthews, JBL, Foley, Striker, rotating cast of characters. Probably the least of their worries.
Originally posted by lotjxI think the real question is why are they having a sixty year old in the first place going against their world champ, but I am sure that will get ignored. Good to hear Jerry is doing better. He stopped by my friend's store a few years ago and bought out there Raw Deal CCG collection and left some signed photos for my friend who had the day off. I will remember that most about Jerry than anything else. The other question is what are they going to do about commentary.
As for the decision to stay on TV. I worked a little bit in TV and the rule is to always keep filming even if its morally objectionable. That said, they could have gone to a video packages to set-up NOC and had Cole just give us updates.
(edited by lotjx on 11.9.12 0721)
Not that this is the time to discuss things like this but I highly doubt Jerry is forced to do anything he doesn't want to do.
I wasn't watching until CRZ's tweets started telling the story, and then I couldn't turn away. What a strange, strange feeling. I think the dead crowd told the story even more than the lack of commentary.
I'm fine with them not stopping the show now. Not sure if I'd feel differently if Lawler had passed away in the building.
Originally posted by lotjxI think the real question is why are they having a sixty year old in the first place going against their world champ, but I am sure that will get ignored. Good to hear Jerry is doing better. He stopped by my friend's store a few years ago and bought out there Raw Deal CCG collection and left some signed photos for my friend who had the day off. I will remember that most about Jerry than anything else. The other question is what are they going to do about commentary.
As for the decision to stay on TV. I worked a little bit in TV and the rule is to always keep filming even if its morally objectionable. That said, they could have gone to a video packages to set-up NOC and had Cole just give us updates.
(edited by lotjx on 11.9.12 0721)
Basically if they don't stop the show for Owen falling, they will not stop for Jerry :/ And it's probably easier to continue with your scripted event (which is basically a walking talking package for NoC) then just do commercials. I wonder what the ratings for this show will be... I wouldn't be shocked if the ratings went up because of this..
Obviously I feel bad for Lawler, and I wish him all the best. But ugh, what must've been going through Bret Hart's head? I'm sure he's had flashbacks to the Owen tragedy (even though he wasn't in the arena that night)
As for the reason they put a 60 year old man in the ring to put heat on the heel champ is the same why they put a jobber in the ring with Vader. It gets pops and helps put things over.
Originally posted by Matt TrackerPlease please please keep this out of the Punk angle. Do not use this.
That's been my thought as well. And I have to say ... I think they probably will. However, it wouldn't shock me if the initial suggestion comes from Lawler.
Pat is a friend of mine. He writes about wrestling for RDS (the Quebec version of ESPN) and has a book (in English) about Quebec wrestling coming out.
Pat's a good guy and I trust him, and he is basically incapable of keeping kayfabe (even worse than I am) so you can take that audio update as authoritative.
I have no idea if they should have stopped the show or not. There are reasons on either side for doing so.
But I will say that bringing Bret out for the final segment was so uncomfortable. Bret and Lawler are friends. The last time WWE had something like this happen was when Owen Hart died. Lawler tended to Owen in the ring. Before we knew it was a heart attack, there was speculation that Lawler had suffered a stroke, as Bret had.
I would have preferred it if they'd sent Cena and Punk out by themselves. But who knows, maybe they offered but Bret wanted to go out there.
Originally posted by lotjxI think the real question is why are they having a sixty year old in the first place going against their world champ, but I am sure that will get ignored. Good to hear Jerry is doing better. He stopped by my friend's store a few years ago and bought out there Raw Deal CCG collection and left some signed photos for my friend who had the day off. I will remember that most about Jerry than anything else. The other question is what are they going to do about commentary.
As for the decision to stay on TV. I worked a little bit in TV and the rule is to always keep filming even if its morally objectionable. That said, they could have gone to a video packages to set-up NOC and had Cole just give us updates.
(edited by lotjx on 11.9.12 0721)
Not that this is the time to discuss things like this but I highly doubt Jerry is forced to do anything he doesn't want to do.
Yeah, it is the time to discuss things like this, I hate it when people pull that line. I am sure Jerry agreed to it, he is always been a team player minus the Kat incident. He is also a guy who can collect social security. If he was working this weekend and last Monday, he didn't need to work this week. Flair and Hogan barely work anymore at their age.
The sad truth is the WWE allowed him to be in that situation, because they refuse to build any sympathetic babyfaces or use the ones they have. It is not right or fair to Lawler to be used as the "Hey, we have a new major heel let him beat the shit out of an announcer." He also looked exhausted as soon as he hit the ring. After the match, he looked awful.
(edited by lotjx on 11.9.12 1049) The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
Originally posted by lotjxHe also looked exhausted as soon as he hit the ring.
That might suggest the match had nothing to do with it. Probably didn't help, mind you.
If Lawler had symptoms of a cardiac incident beforehand, then he's lucky to have suffered it with people around him, backstage or on-camera. Eddy, for instance, was alone.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Reports are that there were no warning signs and Lawler was his usual self right up until it happened. This Monday morning quarterbacking of how a legendary, highly respected wrestler should live his life really isn't relevant right now.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned that Larry Lapham aka Moondog Spot died in 2003 of a heart attack during a Memphis show celebrating Jerry Lawler's birthday.
Proving that wrestling does learn (albeit very very slowly). That death did lead to a call for wrestling events to have medical staff on hand with defibrillators. (I am fairly certain by that point the WWE was already doing that after what happened to Owen.)
My point being that Jerry, more than anyone, knew the risks. Not saying that he is to blame or that he anticipated this happening.
But you do have to credit the WWE with having staff who responded quickly to a crisis and saved Jerry's life. Obviously, I hope and pray that Jerry makes a complete recovery.
Of course he looked exhausted, he was wrestling all weekend, was traveling, on top of getting ready to do commentary. Dude still threw down a mean looking drop kick too.
I agree with Amos on all counts in his last post.
Also, all reports seem to indicate if Jerry was anywhere else, he'd probably be dead right now. The EMT's saved his life.
Also also, apparently Vince was there the entire time beside him.
Even though we were right beside a medical facility it took quite a while for professional trained paramedics to arrive. Ward didn't make it. We still had an hour that was recorded night in a very somber mood. Ours was a smaller scale.
I think overall the WWE handled it correctly & the best they could. #PrayForLawler