1 00:00:03,713 --> 00:00:12,923 ♪ 2 00:00:13,056 --> 00:00:14,591 - What a great crowd today, huh? 3 00:00:14,724 --> 00:00:18,495 50th anniversary of Jerry "The King" Lawler. 4 00:00:18,628 --> 00:00:20,530 We've got all kind of superstars and legends here. 5 00:00:20,664 --> 00:00:25,402 A lot of WWE Hall of Famers, so it's a wonderful day. 6 00:00:25,535 --> 00:00:27,938 - Man, I'm just so excited to be here 7 00:00:28,071 --> 00:00:30,407 for the 50th anniversary of Jerry Lawler. 8 00:00:30,540 --> 00:00:31,875 It blows my mind. 9 00:00:32,008 --> 00:00:33,810 - Thank you for coming. 10 00:00:33,944 --> 00:00:34,844 - I thought you were older than 50. 11 00:00:34,978 --> 00:00:35,879 - I am a little older than 50, 12 00:00:36,012 --> 00:00:38,882 but I've been wrestling for 50 years. 13 00:00:39,015 --> 00:00:43,186 - It's a great honor for me just to have known Jerry. 14 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:44,921 Never got a chance to wrestle Jerry. 15 00:00:45,055 --> 00:00:45,855 - Thank you. Thank you for coming. 16 00:00:45,989 --> 00:00:46,690 - Yes, sir. 17 00:00:46,823 --> 00:00:47,624 - It's awesome. 18 00:00:47,757 --> 00:00:48,625 - Thank you for allowing me to be here. 19 00:00:48,758 --> 00:00:49,526 - Oh, are you kidding? 20 00:00:49,659 --> 00:00:52,862 - 50 damn years. 21 00:00:52,996 --> 00:00:55,732 - Understand that he's in the top three 22 00:00:55,865 --> 00:00:58,501 in the whole time of wrestling. 23 00:00:58,635 --> 00:01:00,704 - When I hear somebody say, "Congratulations on being 24 00:01:00,837 --> 00:01:03,773 in the ring for 50 straight years," 25 00:01:03,907 --> 00:01:06,376 I can't believe it myself. 26 00:01:08,478 --> 00:01:09,746 I still enjoy going into the ring, 27 00:01:09,879 --> 00:01:12,615 I still enjoy competing, I still enjoy being in front 28 00:01:12,749 --> 00:01:17,587 of the fans as much today as I did 50 years ago. 29 00:01:17,721 --> 00:01:22,993 - Jerry "The King" Lawler. 30 00:01:23,126 --> 00:01:25,362 - He was a big deal and still is. 31 00:01:25,495 --> 00:01:27,931 - I could just see myself standing up there and all those 32 00:01:28,064 --> 00:01:29,633 people saying, "Look at that Lawler. 33 00:01:29,766 --> 00:01:30,967 He's great isn't he?" 34 00:01:31,101 --> 00:01:33,303 - Jerry Lawler was a cornerstone of wrestling. 35 00:01:33,436 --> 00:01:36,239 He was one of the foundations that led us to where 36 00:01:36,373 --> 00:01:37,941 we're going now. 37 00:01:38,074 --> 00:01:40,677 - He beat everybody from Andre the Giant to Ric Flair 38 00:01:40,810 --> 00:01:41,511 to Hulk Hogan. 39 00:01:41,645 --> 00:01:42,512 He beat everybody. 40 00:01:42,645 --> 00:01:44,748 - Lawler, you don't touch me. 41 00:01:44,881 --> 00:01:46,850 I am from Hollywood. 42 00:01:46,983 --> 00:01:48,151 - The King of Memphis who became 43 00:01:48,284 --> 00:01:50,086 King of a lot more than that. 44 00:01:50,220 --> 00:01:52,055 - The King himself. 45 00:01:52,188 --> 00:01:55,225 - Get down on your hands and knees and kiss my feet. 46 00:01:55,358 --> 00:02:01,097 - Jerry was one of the greatest villains in wrestling history. 47 00:02:01,231 --> 00:02:03,767 - He was the voice of the attitude era. 48 00:02:03,900 --> 00:02:07,437 - Oh, baby, we are live tonight on Raw. 49 00:02:08,805 --> 00:02:11,708 I look back on all the things that happened here and there. 50 00:02:11,841 --> 00:02:13,977 All the coincidences, all the things that shouldn't 51 00:02:14,077 --> 00:02:18,448 have happened that did happen to get me where I am today. 52 00:02:18,581 --> 00:02:20,750 I've never thought about quitting, 53 00:02:20,884 --> 00:02:25,555 it's just a way of life to me. 54 00:02:25,689 --> 00:02:29,659 [crowd chants "Jerry"] 55 00:02:37,534 --> 00:02:40,937 [engine running] 56 00:02:41,071 --> 00:02:45,542 ♪ 57 00:02:45,675 --> 00:02:47,510 - Without a doubt, my favorite piece of memorabilia 58 00:02:47,644 --> 00:02:48,878 is my Batmobile. 59 00:02:49,012 --> 00:02:52,982 I mean, that's my coolest piece that I own anywhere. 60 00:02:54,484 --> 00:02:57,921 I realized that I have the Peter Pan syndrome. 61 00:02:58,054 --> 00:03:04,060 I've never grown up, and I really don't want to. 62 00:03:09,032 --> 00:03:15,071 I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, November 29th, 1949. 63 00:03:15,205 --> 00:03:17,741 My childhood was like watching Leave it to Beaver. 64 00:03:17,874 --> 00:03:20,810 Had an older brother, my dad went to work every day, 65 00:03:20,944 --> 00:03:23,379 a stay-at-home mom. 66 00:03:23,513 --> 00:03:27,417 It was just a great time. 67 00:03:27,550 --> 00:03:31,054 We are in what I refer to sometimes as my bat cave. 68 00:03:31,187 --> 00:03:34,524 Most people call it a man cave. 69 00:03:34,657 --> 00:03:36,493 - This is all stuff that really meant something 70 00:03:36,626 --> 00:03:39,729 to me from my childhood. 71 00:03:39,863 --> 00:03:42,332 As a kid growing up, moved to a little town right 72 00:03:42,465 --> 00:03:44,134 outside of Cleveland with my parents and became 73 00:03:44,267 --> 00:03:46,669 a huge Cleveland sports fan. 74 00:03:46,803 --> 00:03:50,006 I was right at the age, I was in my teen years 75 00:03:50,140 --> 00:03:53,443 when Beatlemania hit. 76 00:03:53,576 --> 00:03:57,347 Still I wear a Superman ring instead of my WWE Hall of Fame 77 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,150 ring because at five years old, I became a unbelievable 78 00:04:00,283 --> 00:04:06,256 superhero fan and that's when I first realized I could draw. 79 00:04:07,123 --> 00:04:11,161 When it comes to art, I realized that it's a God-given 80 00:04:11,294 --> 00:04:16,266 talent that in all my life have really taken for granted. 81 00:04:17,801 --> 00:04:22,639 I think in my first grade and the teacher wrote to my parents 82 00:04:22,772 --> 00:04:27,977 and talked about what great artistic ability I had. 83 00:04:28,111 --> 00:04:30,847 It was just something like I said, that just always came 84 00:04:30,980 --> 00:04:33,416 natural and I was always just shocked 85 00:04:33,550 --> 00:04:35,852 that everybody couldn't draw. 86 00:04:40,590 --> 00:04:45,495 I think the first time that my artwork got any real attention 87 00:04:45,628 --> 00:04:49,465 was when my dad and I were going to the live wrestling shows. 88 00:04:49,599 --> 00:04:53,736 - This is Lance Russell from the Memphis Mid-South Coliseum. 89 00:04:53,870 --> 00:04:57,340 - Memphis Wrestling, it was the biggest thing 90 00:04:57,473 --> 00:04:58,908 that happened in the city. 91 00:04:59,042 --> 00:05:02,545 - What a match this has been so far. 92 00:05:02,679 --> 00:05:05,315 - The first time I watched wrestling was with my dad. 93 00:05:05,448 --> 00:05:07,150 My dad actually worked as an usher and 94 00:05:07,283 --> 00:05:09,752 that way we got free tickets. 95 00:05:13,323 --> 00:05:15,358 When I was watching the wrestling, 96 00:05:15,491 --> 00:05:17,861 I watched it really, really closely. 97 00:05:17,994 --> 00:05:20,630 I watched the moves that the guys were doing and I would try 98 00:05:20,763 --> 00:05:24,634 to think in my mind how you would emulate those things. 99 00:05:24,767 --> 00:05:29,239 I remember I started to draw some pictures of the wrestlers. 100 00:05:29,372 --> 00:05:31,074 Somebody said, "Man, you ought to take some 101 00:05:31,207 --> 00:05:33,376 of those pictures and send them into the TV station 102 00:05:33,509 --> 00:05:36,479 that airs wrestling every week." 103 00:05:36,613 --> 00:05:42,285 - Jerry was 14 or 15 and he came to me by the mail. 104 00:05:42,418 --> 00:05:46,589 He sent in some drawings on wrestling. 105 00:05:46,723 --> 00:05:48,958 - Sure enough, about halfway through the show, he says 106 00:05:49,092 --> 00:05:51,895 "Dave, well, we have a young fan that sent in some pictures 107 00:05:52,028 --> 00:05:54,230 to illustrate what took place." 108 00:05:54,364 --> 00:05:57,567 - I would use it at tell people about what happened last week 109 00:05:57,700 --> 00:05:59,068 down at the auditorium. 110 00:05:59,202 --> 00:06:01,838 - I thought, "Man, it couldn't get any better than that," 111 00:06:01,971 --> 00:06:05,041 but it did, because a week later, I got a call 112 00:06:05,174 --> 00:06:07,844 from Lance Russell himself. 113 00:06:07,977 --> 00:06:10,246 And he said, "Listen, everybody loved your artwork, 114 00:06:10,380 --> 00:06:13,016 maybe you could come over to the studio next week. 115 00:06:13,149 --> 00:06:15,818 Show your artwork and everybody wants to see what you look like. 116 00:06:15,952 --> 00:06:19,289 Plus, Jackie Fargo wants to check with you about having you 117 00:06:19,422 --> 00:06:23,793 do some artwork for his nightclub in Memphis." 118 00:06:24,727 --> 00:06:26,529 - Fabulous Jackie Fargo. 119 00:06:26,663 --> 00:06:30,300 He was like The Rock or John Cena. 120 00:06:30,433 --> 00:06:31,901 He was the top guy in the Memphis 121 00:06:32,035 --> 00:06:34,671 territory at that time. 122 00:06:34,804 --> 00:06:37,874 He and a guy named Eddie Bond owned a nightclub in Memphis and 123 00:06:38,007 --> 00:06:41,744 he wanted me to come to that nightclub and literally paint 124 00:06:41,878 --> 00:06:47,250 caricatures of he and Eddie Bond all over the inside of his club. 125 00:06:47,383 --> 00:06:50,920 For the next few years, he would send me on errands and all of 126 00:06:51,054 --> 00:06:52,855 this different kind of stuff, but I didn't mind. 127 00:06:52,989 --> 00:06:57,226 I guess I still got to be around him, you know? 128 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:01,130 Being around Jackie Fargo, the huge celebrity that he was, 129 00:07:01,264 --> 00:07:02,665 it just really turned my head. 130 00:07:02,799 --> 00:07:05,501 Girls were going crazy and I'm looking around and look up 131 00:07:05,635 --> 00:07:08,471 at him and I said, "Now that is what I want to be. 132 00:07:08,604 --> 00:07:10,606 Forget about being an artist." 133 00:07:11,474 --> 00:07:12,642 - Oh. 134 00:07:12,775 --> 00:07:14,744 - I'm thinking, "Oh my gosh, I would love to get into this 135 00:07:14,877 --> 00:07:16,579 business as a wrestler." 136 00:07:16,713 --> 00:07:19,315 But, I was just too embarrassed to say anything to Jackie. 137 00:07:19,449 --> 00:07:21,284 I mean, I would just think he was just looking at me 138 00:07:21,417 --> 00:07:25,755 as just a punk kid that had some artistic ability. 139 00:07:25,888 --> 00:07:28,725 At that time, I had heard that every Saturday night in 140 00:07:28,858 --> 00:07:31,661 West Memphis, Arkansas, right across the bridge, 141 00:07:31,794 --> 00:07:34,997 they have live wrestling matches. 142 00:07:35,131 --> 00:07:37,834 Then I talked to the promoter and next thing you know, 143 00:07:37,967 --> 00:07:39,769 I'm in the wrestling business. 144 00:07:39,902 --> 00:07:42,672 Now, I'd never even been in a ring before, 145 00:07:42,805 --> 00:07:46,009 I'm fixing to step into a ring, an actual wrestling ring 146 00:07:46,142 --> 00:07:48,311 without having any training. 147 00:07:48,444 --> 00:07:52,048 I get tagged in, first time I'm in the ring now, 148 00:07:52,181 --> 00:07:55,518 man, he grabs me, runs across the ring 149 00:07:55,651 --> 00:07:57,553 and he throws me out of the ring. 150 00:07:57,687 --> 00:07:59,756 The next thing I know, I'm waking up. 151 00:07:59,889 --> 00:08:01,457 I was like this, I'm waking up, 152 00:08:01,591 --> 00:08:02,892 we're already back in the locker 153 00:08:03,025 --> 00:08:06,529 room and I said, "What happened?" 154 00:08:06,662 --> 00:08:08,898 All I remember was hearing a a loud pop when 155 00:08:09,031 --> 00:08:11,100 I got thrown out of the ring. 156 00:08:11,234 --> 00:08:13,269 "Yes, that was your head hitting the concrete floor. 157 00:08:13,403 --> 00:08:16,472 You've been knocked out for about 5 minutes." 158 00:08:17,206 --> 00:08:19,876 Stepping into that ring for the first time with people, 159 00:08:20,009 --> 00:08:21,677 they're cheering for you, they're clapping their hands. 160 00:08:21,811 --> 00:08:25,715 It was just something I had never experienced before 161 00:08:25,848 --> 00:08:29,118 and I knew I wanted to do it again. 162 00:08:29,252 --> 00:08:33,089 Jackie Fargo hears about this and he gets upset. 163 00:08:33,222 --> 00:08:35,024 He said, "Kid, you don't want to 164 00:08:35,158 --> 00:08:36,359 do this, you're too good an artist. 165 00:08:36,492 --> 00:08:39,662 Stick with art, don't mess with the wrestling." 166 00:08:39,796 --> 00:08:41,764 I said, "Jackie, please. 167 00:08:41,898 --> 00:08:43,466 I just want to do it in Memphis." 168 00:08:43,599 --> 00:08:46,302 He said, "All right, kid. 169 00:08:46,436 --> 00:08:48,938 If I stick my neck out to the promoters and tell them to book 170 00:08:49,071 --> 00:08:52,508 you on TV, will you do the one match and then forget about it? 171 00:08:52,642 --> 00:08:53,843 Go back to being an artist?" 172 00:08:53,976 --> 00:08:56,646 I said, "I promise you, Jackie, I will." 173 00:08:56,779 --> 00:09:01,818 Of course, near 52 years later, I'm still doing it. 174 00:09:01,951 --> 00:09:07,924 - Lawler from very, very early on was a star. 175 00:09:09,425 --> 00:09:14,163 - All I cared about was being on TV and I just I loved it 176 00:09:14,297 --> 00:09:17,433 if somebody would ever ask me for an autograph. 177 00:09:17,567 --> 00:09:19,702 Even though I was only getting to wrestle once a week, 178 00:09:19,836 --> 00:09:21,838 it was a great learning process. 179 00:09:21,971 --> 00:09:28,010 - He was terrific at bumps, his basic wrestling knowledge 180 00:09:28,144 --> 00:09:33,816 was advanced for the experience that he had, 181 00:09:33,950 --> 00:09:39,822 but what he did that really set him apart was that he 182 00:09:39,956 --> 00:09:41,757 connected with the fans. 183 00:09:41,891 --> 00:09:43,292 - People related to him. 184 00:09:43,426 --> 00:09:45,027 He was one of them. 185 00:09:45,161 --> 00:09:49,432 Jerry Lawler was different in the fact that he was real. 186 00:09:49,565 --> 00:09:53,469 - It just came natural to me, and Jerry Jarrett started 187 00:09:53,603 --> 00:09:55,671 putting me higher up on the card until I reached 188 00:09:55,805 --> 00:09:58,541 main event status. 189 00:09:59,876 --> 00:10:06,883 - Jackie Fargo was getting older, and I was in need 190 00:10:07,016 --> 00:10:13,823 as a booker, a promoter of a single wrestling star. 191 00:10:13,956 --> 00:10:17,593 - I'm suddenly pushed into the limelight in a feud with 192 00:10:17,727 --> 00:10:21,764 Jackie Fargo, my mentor. 193 00:10:21,898 --> 00:10:25,434 - He's a very tough opponent, and he's always competition 194 00:10:25,568 --> 00:10:27,737 when you get in the ring. 195 00:10:27,870 --> 00:10:36,779 - It was the program that passed the torch from Fargo to Lawler. 196 00:10:36,913 --> 00:10:40,049 - And Fargo taunting Lawler. 197 00:10:40,183 --> 00:10:43,152 - I said, "Jackie Fargo, you're a legend. 198 00:10:43,286 --> 00:10:44,353 You're the best. 199 00:10:44,487 --> 00:10:48,591 You've been the King of Memphis wrestling for years, 200 00:10:48,724 --> 00:10:49,959 but you're looking at the kid that's going to knock 201 00:10:50,092 --> 00:10:55,898 you off your throne." 202 00:10:56,032 --> 00:10:57,633 And somehow I won the match. 203 00:10:57,767 --> 00:10:59,602 As I was going back to the dressing room, 204 00:10:59,735 --> 00:11:01,304 there was a lot of young people. 205 00:11:01,437 --> 00:11:02,505 They were patting me on the back and some were saying, 206 00:11:02,638 --> 00:11:04,006 "Hey, you're the king now. 207 00:11:04,140 --> 00:11:06,842 You beat Jackie Fargo, you're the king." 208 00:11:06,976 --> 00:11:09,979 The next morning, Memphis TV, I come walking out with 209 00:11:10,112 --> 00:11:14,584 the crown on, the robe on, and I was from that moment on, 210 00:11:14,717 --> 00:11:17,186 the King of Memphis. 211 00:11:21,324 --> 00:11:22,325 - Little surprise that you didn't elaborate 212 00:11:22,458 --> 00:11:23,626 on all of your talents. 213 00:11:23,759 --> 00:11:26,262 I was positive that he would tell you in addition to being 214 00:11:26,395 --> 00:11:28,564 the greatest athlete and wrestler in the world today. 215 00:11:28,698 --> 00:11:31,267 In addition to that, he is a brilliant artist. 216 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,769 He is an outstanding businessman, 217 00:11:33,903 --> 00:11:36,672 a connoisseur of all fine foods and wine, and in addition 218 00:11:36,806 --> 00:11:39,709 to that, just a general all-around fellow. 219 00:11:39,842 --> 00:11:41,077 - Did I do it like you wrote it? 220 00:11:41,210 --> 00:11:42,878 - Well, I don't think I'm a general all-around fellow, 221 00:11:43,012 --> 00:11:45,748 but what's my opinion against millions of others, you know? 222 00:11:47,383 --> 00:11:49,719 - Man, Jerry came up the ranks really quick. 223 00:11:49,852 --> 00:11:50,953 It didn't take him that long. 224 00:11:51,087 --> 00:11:52,822 Maybe a year or so and all of a sudden, he was known 225 00:11:52,955 --> 00:11:56,025 in all the different territories. 226 00:11:56,158 --> 00:11:59,061 - Lawler, a man with enormous confidence. 227 00:11:59,195 --> 00:12:01,097 - I was different from what they had had in the Memphis 228 00:12:01,230 --> 00:12:02,565 territory in the past. 229 00:12:02,698 --> 00:12:05,134 I was a different type of bad guy. 230 00:12:05,267 --> 00:12:08,304 I was young, brash, outspoken. 231 00:12:08,437 --> 00:12:10,239 He knows they want to see the King. 232 00:12:10,373 --> 00:12:12,275 Do you think anybody would pay to come down and see a 233 00:12:12,408 --> 00:12:13,542 sawed off runt? 234 00:12:13,676 --> 00:12:15,144 A bug-eyed Bill Dundee? 235 00:12:15,277 --> 00:12:18,314 No, they come to see me, baby. 236 00:12:18,447 --> 00:12:25,421 - He had this phenomenal ability to entertain. 237 00:12:25,554 --> 00:12:29,425 Verbally, he could have you laughing one minute 238 00:12:29,558 --> 00:12:31,694 and ready to kill him the next. 239 00:12:31,827 --> 00:12:35,498 - Bill Dundee was just like a big steak dinner, baby. 240 00:12:35,631 --> 00:12:37,733 It's good when you eat it, but there comes a time to go to 241 00:12:37,867 --> 00:12:41,871 the bathroom, and I just had to get rid of you, Dundee, baby. 242 00:12:42,004 --> 00:12:42,972 You're low down. 243 00:12:43,105 --> 00:12:44,206 You're a back fighter. 244 00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:45,641 You're a coward. 245 00:12:45,775 --> 00:12:46,842 You're low, man. 246 00:12:46,976 --> 00:12:47,743 That's all you are. 247 00:12:47,877 --> 00:12:48,978 You're just lowbred. 248 00:12:49,111 --> 00:12:51,080 - He was a natural. 249 00:12:51,213 --> 00:12:54,984 He had one of the greatest mouths that I'd ever run into. 250 00:12:55,117 --> 00:12:57,553 - Merry Christmas, you rednecks. 251 00:12:57,687 --> 00:12:59,288 He tried everything he could-- 252 00:12:59,422 --> 00:13:00,856 What are you looking at your watch for? 253 00:13:00,990 --> 00:13:03,526 Don't be looking at your watch when I'm out here, you goof. 254 00:13:03,659 --> 00:13:05,261 These people tune in to see me. 255 00:13:05,394 --> 00:13:07,363 These people tune in to hear me tell what I'm going to be doing 256 00:13:07,496 --> 00:13:10,099 to people like Bockwinkel. 257 00:13:10,232 --> 00:13:14,904 - Lawler comes back at it. Look out. 258 00:13:16,539 --> 00:13:19,241 - When I first started in Memphis, I was a heel and then 259 00:13:19,375 --> 00:13:26,382 I became so popular as being a heel, I became a babyface. 260 00:13:26,515 --> 00:13:31,954 - The screams of the many people who have come out to support 261 00:13:32,088 --> 00:13:34,490 the King of wrestling. 262 00:13:34,623 --> 00:13:36,659 - Jerry Lawler was definitely the King of Memphis. 263 00:13:36,792 --> 00:13:40,262 He owned that town. 264 00:13:40,396 --> 00:13:41,230 It was the same way. 265 00:13:41,363 --> 00:13:44,700 Tupelo, Louisville, Fayetteville, 266 00:13:44,834 --> 00:13:47,803 he was over everywhere. 267 00:13:50,573 --> 00:13:53,275 - As my career was really, really just getting off 268 00:13:53,409 --> 00:13:56,946 the ground, I had a girlfriend at the time, Kay Williams. 269 00:13:57,079 --> 00:13:59,682 Went to the same high school and that sort of thing. 270 00:13:59,815 --> 00:14:02,651 Before we knew it, she became pregnant. 271 00:14:02,785 --> 00:14:05,721 So we immediately went down to Florence, Alabama, in front of 272 00:14:05,855 --> 00:14:09,158 a justice of the peace, and she and I got married. 273 00:14:09,291 --> 00:14:12,862 Nine months later, my first son is born, and then ten months 274 00:14:12,995 --> 00:14:16,766 later had another son. 275 00:14:16,899 --> 00:14:20,202 During that time, I'm having to travel more, I'm away from home. 276 00:14:20,336 --> 00:14:21,637 And it was just tough. 277 00:14:22,138 --> 00:14:25,808 - He'd be gone, on the road and doing everything. 278 00:14:25,941 --> 00:14:29,879 When it happens at such an early age, that's all you know. 279 00:14:30,012 --> 00:14:31,080 - I justified it by saying, 280 00:14:31,213 --> 00:14:33,816 "Hey, I'm going to provide for them." 281 00:14:33,949 --> 00:14:36,819 In a way by being successful as a wrestler, 282 00:14:36,952 --> 00:14:39,922 but it took a full-time devotion to my career. 283 00:14:40,055 --> 00:14:43,959 It cost me my marriage. 284 00:14:44,894 --> 00:14:48,964 - They got divorced when I was about four years old. 285 00:14:49,098 --> 00:14:52,902 You know, just the schedule, the lifestyle, it probably just 286 00:14:53,035 --> 00:14:58,073 didn't work out as far as on your time off wanting to have 287 00:14:58,207 --> 00:15:02,278 the kids around and be the family-type guy you know? 288 00:15:02,411 --> 00:15:05,047 - I sometimes look back and think, would it have been 289 00:15:05,181 --> 00:15:08,517 a wise decision maybe at that time to maybe 290 00:15:08,651 --> 00:15:11,921 look for another career? 291 00:15:12,054 --> 00:15:16,959 But I felt in my heart and in my mind that something was there, 292 00:15:17,092 --> 00:15:19,595 that something was going to come out of this. 293 00:15:19,728 --> 00:15:23,632 And just a couple of years later, I'm red hot, I'm on fire. 294 00:15:23,766 --> 00:15:26,602 I didn't think I could get any higher in the wrestling 295 00:15:26,735 --> 00:15:30,773 business, but my next rivalry, my next feud took me 296 00:15:30,906 --> 00:15:32,741 to the next level. 297 00:15:32,875 --> 00:15:34,210 - Hello, Mr. Lawler. 298 00:15:34,343 --> 00:15:36,045 Jerry Lawler, Do you remember me? 299 00:15:36,178 --> 00:15:40,549 I'm Andy Kaufman from Hollywood. 300 00:15:40,683 --> 00:15:46,322 - Andy Kaufman was this legendary absurdist comedian. 301 00:15:46,455 --> 00:15:49,058 He was somebody that became very famous for starring 302 00:15:49,191 --> 00:15:54,129 on the sitcom Taxi, which was huge, but also very famous 303 00:15:54,263 --> 00:15:59,535 for getting just as much of a buzz out of getting somebody 304 00:15:59,668 --> 00:16:03,172 to laugh as he did getting somebody to hate him. 305 00:16:03,305 --> 00:16:04,206 [laughter] 306 00:16:04,340 --> 00:16:10,646 - No, seriously, why everyone is going "boo" 307 00:16:10,779 --> 00:16:13,048 when I tell some of the jokes. 308 00:16:13,182 --> 00:16:15,484 Then when I don't want you to laugh, you're laughing. 309 00:16:15,618 --> 00:16:16,919 Just trying to do my best to have some fun. 310 00:16:17,052 --> 00:16:18,954 And if you don't like it, that's it, okay? 311 00:16:19,088 --> 00:16:22,057 Thank you very much, and goodnight. 312 00:16:22,191 --> 00:16:25,294 - He loved to never let the audience in on what was 313 00:16:25,427 --> 00:16:28,397 a performance and what was real life. 314 00:16:28,531 --> 00:16:33,969 And there is no art form on earth that does all of that 315 00:16:34,103 --> 00:16:37,373 better than professional wrestling. 316 00:16:37,506 --> 00:16:39,441 - As we said, one of the rising superstars 317 00:16:39,575 --> 00:16:40,409 in the world of comedy. 318 00:16:40,543 --> 00:16:41,877 Welcome to Madison Square Garden, Andy. 319 00:16:42,011 --> 00:16:42,811 - Hi, how are you? 320 00:16:42,945 --> 00:16:44,013 Thank you. 321 00:16:44,146 --> 00:16:45,648 - Wrestling here tonight and especially most exciting, 322 00:16:45,781 --> 00:16:47,983 you do wrestling on your own, as matter of fact, 323 00:16:48,117 --> 00:16:50,686 but generally, with the ladies. 324 00:16:50,819 --> 00:16:53,822 - Andy, had been wrestling women on TV and in different nightclub 325 00:16:53,956 --> 00:16:57,192 performances, but it wasn't really being 326 00:16:57,326 --> 00:16:59,361 accepted the way he wanted it to. 327 00:16:59,495 --> 00:17:01,497 He wanted to wrestle in front of wrestling fans, 328 00:17:01,630 --> 00:17:05,067 in front of people that would actually come to see wrestling. 329 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:06,602 - That's right. That's right. 330 00:17:06,735 --> 00:17:08,437 I just don't think that it's possible for a woman 331 00:17:08,571 --> 00:17:09,972 to beat a man in wrestling. 332 00:17:10,105 --> 00:17:13,075 - He was backstage at Madison Square Garden a lot. 333 00:17:13,208 --> 00:17:17,079 He said, "I'd love to wrestle here in 334 00:17:17,212 --> 00:17:18,314 Madison Square Garden," and all that. 335 00:17:18,447 --> 00:17:20,549 Later on in the evening, I saw Vince McMahon 336 00:17:20,683 --> 00:17:22,618 and I mentioned this, Vince Senior, and he said, 337 00:17:22,751 --> 00:17:26,255 "Nice boy and all this, but we don't do comedy here." 338 00:17:26,388 --> 00:17:28,223 - Andy, the best of luck to you against Diana Nyad 339 00:17:28,357 --> 00:17:29,525 or whomever it may be. 340 00:17:29,658 --> 00:17:30,893 - I said, "You know what? 341 00:17:31,026 --> 00:17:33,295 I have a friend in Memphis, Tennessee." 342 00:17:33,429 --> 00:17:35,064 I said, "Do you know who Jerry Lawler is?" 343 00:17:35,197 --> 00:17:38,200 - The next day I get a call from Andy Kaufman. 344 00:17:38,334 --> 00:17:41,136 He introduces himself, and he tells me that 345 00:17:41,270 --> 00:17:44,206 whole story, that he wanted to live out his fantasy of being 346 00:17:44,340 --> 00:17:46,208 a bad guy wrestler. 347 00:17:46,342 --> 00:17:48,110 So, I said, "Andy, come on down. 348 00:17:51,914 --> 00:17:52,815 - Okay, now just be quiet. We'd love to have you in Memphis." 349 00:17:52,948 --> 00:17:56,919 ♪ 350 00:17:57,052 --> 00:18:02,658 - I will pay $1000 to any woman that will beat me in this ring. 351 00:18:02,791 --> 00:18:05,995 - Now, Andy Kaufman came down to Memphis just to live out his 352 00:18:06,128 --> 00:18:10,366 fantasy of being a bad guy wrestler. 353 00:18:10,499 --> 00:18:12,368 - Two, three, he got her. 354 00:18:12,501 --> 00:18:14,069 - I'm going to send you back in the kitchen where you belong 355 00:18:14,203 --> 00:18:18,974 and have you scrubbing the potatoes and washing the carrots 356 00:18:19,108 --> 00:18:23,245 [whining noises] 357 00:18:23,379 --> 00:18:25,347 because that's where you belong, ladies. 358 00:18:27,850 --> 00:18:29,118 - Had legit wrestling matches. 359 00:18:29,251 --> 00:18:30,119 He had never seen them before. 360 00:18:30,252 --> 00:18:32,421 We had never seen these women before. 361 00:18:32,554 --> 00:18:37,292 - And Kaufman on top going for a pin. 362 00:18:37,426 --> 00:18:38,961 One, two, three and that's it. 363 00:18:39,094 --> 00:18:40,329 [bell rings] 364 00:18:40,462 --> 00:18:41,597 - The people hated it. 365 00:18:41,730 --> 00:18:45,134 They wanted to see Andy get his comeuppance. 366 00:18:45,267 --> 00:18:49,671 I mean, we sold out 11,500 people that night. 367 00:18:49,805 --> 00:18:52,207 We talked Andy into coming back to Memphis and 368 00:18:52,341 --> 00:18:55,344 that's how it all got started. 369 00:18:55,477 --> 00:18:58,047 He said, "I didn't like being called a comedian. 370 00:18:58,180 --> 00:18:59,982 I've never told a joke in my life." 371 00:19:00,115 --> 00:19:04,119 He said, "I was a performance artist and in my performances, 372 00:19:04,253 --> 00:19:08,057 I would rather make people not like me or be uncomfortable 373 00:19:08,190 --> 00:19:10,025 than for them to like me." 374 00:19:10,159 --> 00:19:12,161 That was the wrestling influence on him. 375 00:19:13,328 --> 00:19:15,297 - I just thought he was misguided, terribly. 376 00:19:16,065 --> 00:19:18,033 - He's a real nerd, a real jerk. 377 00:19:18,434 --> 00:19:20,736 - I said, "Andy, you've gone just about as 378 00:19:20,869 --> 00:19:23,005 far as you can go wrestling women." 379 00:19:23,138 --> 00:19:28,377 I said, "It's time for you to have a match against a man." 380 00:19:32,014 --> 00:19:34,616 - I will sue, Lawler, I will sue you. 381 00:19:34,750 --> 00:19:37,753 You don't touch me. I am from Hollywood. 382 00:19:37,886 --> 00:19:40,255 I'll get Hollywood against you, baby. 383 00:19:40,389 --> 00:19:41,957 I'll sue you, baby. 384 00:19:42,091 --> 00:19:44,426 Lawler. 385 00:19:45,727 --> 00:19:48,664 - The match was set Mid-South Coliseum. 386 00:19:48,797 --> 00:19:50,766 Once again, turnaway crowd, 387 00:19:50,899 --> 00:19:54,436 couldn't get him in the building. 388 00:19:54,570 --> 00:19:56,972 - Opposite the ring, but not for long. 389 00:19:57,106 --> 00:19:57,906 Look at him. 390 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,442 He's outside, running away. 391 00:20:00,576 --> 00:20:06,715 Andy, he doesn't want any part of it. 392 00:20:07,583 --> 00:20:09,318 - We really had I felt short-changed the people 393 00:20:09,451 --> 00:20:11,253 in so much as a match. 394 00:20:11,386 --> 00:20:13,522 There was really no match to speak of. 395 00:20:13,655 --> 00:20:16,825 The only involvement was he finally grabbed a headlock. 396 00:20:16,959 --> 00:20:20,763 I immediately picked him up, dropped him with a back suplex. 397 00:20:20,896 --> 00:20:25,234 - And he slammed Kaufman. 398 00:20:25,367 --> 00:20:27,136 - And then the piledriver. 399 00:20:27,269 --> 00:20:28,837 - Bang, goes Kaufman. 400 00:20:28,971 --> 00:20:29,838 [bell rings] 401 00:20:29,972 --> 00:20:32,708 - It's going to be a disqualification. 402 00:20:32,841 --> 00:20:33,775 - People were going crazy. 403 00:20:33,909 --> 00:20:37,045 They loved what they saw. 404 00:20:38,213 --> 00:20:39,481 [ambulance siren] 405 00:20:39,615 --> 00:20:41,450 - The amazing thing was, I'm thinking in my mind, 406 00:20:41,583 --> 00:20:42,985 "I don't think I hurt Andy Kaufman." 407 00:20:43,118 --> 00:20:46,255 I know he certainly didn't need an ambulance. 408 00:20:46,388 --> 00:20:47,890 He was staying in character. 409 00:20:48,023 --> 00:20:53,061 He stayed in the hospital in traction for three days. 410 00:20:53,195 --> 00:20:57,900 - I've just been out under this macho delusion 411 00:20:58,033 --> 00:20:59,268 for the last few years. 412 00:20:59,401 --> 00:21:01,503 It was building up to the point where I could actually seriously 413 00:21:01,637 --> 00:21:04,940 think that I could beat Jerry Lawler in a wrestling match. 414 00:21:05,274 --> 00:21:07,543 - It made headlines all over the world. 415 00:21:07,676 --> 00:21:09,945 So, the fallout was it became 416 00:21:10,078 --> 00:21:14,249 bigger than just professional wrestling. 417 00:21:14,383 --> 00:21:18,754 - Then one week out of the blue, Andy calls me up and he says, 418 00:21:18,887 --> 00:21:21,924 "Hey, you want to be on the David Letterman Show?" 419 00:21:22,057 --> 00:21:24,193 - There are a lot of people watching who probably view 420 00:21:24,326 --> 00:21:29,531 wrestling as being a show, a display, a demonstration, 421 00:21:29,665 --> 00:21:33,101 and this maybe as the pinnacle representation of that. 422 00:21:33,235 --> 00:21:35,070 Was this thing fixed or rigged? 423 00:21:35,204 --> 00:21:36,238 Are you guys really friends? 424 00:21:36,371 --> 00:21:37,039 Was it a scam? 425 00:21:37,172 --> 00:21:38,373 - No, not at all. 426 00:21:38,507 --> 00:21:39,708 I couldn't warm up to this guy if we were cremated together. 427 00:21:39,841 --> 00:21:41,276 [laughter] 428 00:21:41,410 --> 00:21:42,477 - He is a wimp. 429 00:21:42,611 --> 00:21:44,146 That's exactly what he thought. 430 00:21:44,279 --> 00:21:45,347 That's what he thought about wrestling. 431 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,449 He thinks it's all a big joke, a big fix or whatever. 432 00:21:47,583 --> 00:21:49,184 And you're right. 433 00:21:49,318 --> 00:21:51,453 There are a lot of people that think that. 434 00:21:51,587 --> 00:21:52,788 - And you're a redneck. 435 00:21:52,921 --> 00:21:53,855 You're just trying to prove a point because I was a Yankee. 436 00:21:53,989 --> 00:21:55,157 I heard this from so many people in Memphis. 437 00:21:55,290 --> 00:21:56,725 I was going down there because you believed all that stuff 438 00:21:56,859 --> 00:21:57,926 that I was saying. 439 00:21:58,093 --> 00:21:58,861 - There are a lot of people that think that, David. 440 00:21:58,994 --> 00:22:00,062 He was one of them. 441 00:22:00,195 --> 00:22:02,731 On the morning of the taping of the show, they said, 442 00:22:02,865 --> 00:22:05,500 "They would like for you guys to be a little bit antagonistic. 443 00:22:05,634 --> 00:22:07,636 Not too much, just a little bit. 444 00:22:07,769 --> 00:22:11,573 Then Andy will apologize to you for making fun of wrestling, and 445 00:22:11,707 --> 00:22:14,877 then you apologize to Andy for hurting his neck, and then Andy 446 00:22:15,010 --> 00:22:18,981 is going to get up and sing 447 00:22:19,114 --> 00:22:21,817 What the World Needs Now is Love, Sweet Love. 448 00:22:21,950 --> 00:22:23,252 And I said, "Okay." 449 00:22:23,385 --> 00:22:26,521 We get back to the hotel and my hotel phone rings. 450 00:22:26,655 --> 00:22:27,522 I pick it up. 451 00:22:27,656 --> 00:22:29,324 It's Andy Kaufman. 452 00:22:29,458 --> 00:22:31,927 He said, "Did they tell you what they want us to do tonight?" 453 00:22:32,060 --> 00:22:33,462 I said, "Yes, they did. 454 00:22:33,595 --> 00:22:34,863 What do you think?" 455 00:22:34,997 --> 00:22:39,234 I will never forget how he said this, "Wonder what would happen 456 00:22:39,368 --> 00:22:41,436 if you just hauled off and slugged me?" 457 00:22:41,570 --> 00:22:43,639 - My father said, my manager said, 458 00:22:43,772 --> 00:22:44,840 they all said that I had a right. 459 00:22:44,973 --> 00:22:46,108 I could have gotten a lawyer and I could have sued you 460 00:22:46,241 --> 00:22:46,875 for what you did. 461 00:22:47,009 --> 00:22:47,909 I didn't. 462 00:22:48,043 --> 00:22:49,311 All I want is an apology. 463 00:22:49,444 --> 00:22:50,812 Even you asked me last time I was on your show 464 00:22:50,946 --> 00:22:52,681 if I was going to have a lawsuit. 465 00:22:52,814 --> 00:22:53,615 - That's right, yes. 466 00:22:53,749 --> 00:22:54,716 - I could have sued you. 467 00:22:54,850 --> 00:22:55,751 I could have sued you for everything you're worth. 468 00:22:55,884 --> 00:22:57,452 I didn't because I'm not that kind of a guy. 469 00:22:57,586 --> 00:22:59,721 - What kind of a guy are you? 470 00:22:59,855 --> 00:23:03,825 [laughter] 471 00:23:03,959 --> 00:23:05,961 - I'll just be over here. 472 00:23:06,094 --> 00:23:08,830 We're going to pause here for station identification, get the 473 00:23:08,964 --> 00:23:10,098 hoses out here. 474 00:23:10,232 --> 00:23:12,834 [crowd applauds] 475 00:23:15,637 --> 00:23:17,272 - This was the most famous guys in the world. 476 00:23:17,406 --> 00:23:19,474 in the world, and Jerry Lawler just bitch slaps him right 477 00:23:19,608 --> 00:23:21,977 in the middle of the show. 478 00:23:22,077 --> 00:23:25,280 - As soon as that aired, my phone started ringing. 479 00:23:25,414 --> 00:23:26,281 It was the New York Post. 480 00:23:26,415 --> 00:23:27,649 It was The New York Times. 481 00:23:27,783 --> 00:23:33,622 It was just like went all over the world immediately. 482 00:23:33,755 --> 00:23:34,856 - Everybody was talking about it. 483 00:23:34,990 --> 00:23:37,292 The whole nation was talking about it. 484 00:23:37,426 --> 00:23:42,130 It made Lawler a household name. 485 00:23:42,264 --> 00:23:44,733 - This put me on a worldwide stage. 486 00:23:48,870 --> 00:23:50,105 - From Memphis, Tennessee. 487 00:23:50,238 --> 00:23:56,445 Ladies and Gentlemen, Jerry "The King" Lawler. 488 00:23:56,578 --> 00:23:58,246 - After the David Letterman Show aired, 489 00:23:58,380 --> 00:24:00,882 it was a bombardment of attention. 490 00:24:01,016 --> 00:24:05,487 Now it's the mid-'80s and along came cable television. 491 00:24:05,620 --> 00:24:09,291 This was the evolution of the wrestling industry. 492 00:24:09,424 --> 00:24:11,993 Most of the territories, their top wrestlers 493 00:24:12,127 --> 00:24:13,595 went to either work for 494 00:24:13,729 --> 00:24:16,865 Vince McMahon in WWE or they went to Atlanta 495 00:24:16,999 --> 00:24:20,068 and they worked for Ted Turner in WCW. 496 00:24:20,202 --> 00:24:22,771 I didn't want to go to the WWE because then I knew 497 00:24:22,904 --> 00:24:24,940 our territory would fall by the wayside because 498 00:24:25,073 --> 00:24:27,442 I was the biggest star at the time. 499 00:24:27,576 --> 00:24:31,313 And the reason I didn't want to go is because I was part owner. 500 00:24:31,446 --> 00:24:33,248 I didn't want to lose my part of the business that 501 00:24:33,382 --> 00:24:36,318 I was a partner in, so I stayed. 502 00:24:36,451 --> 00:24:38,453 - And if you think it's not going to be a struggle to take 503 00:24:38,587 --> 00:24:40,722 it away from me, you got another thing coming. 504 00:24:40,856 --> 00:24:45,060 We were able to last longer than almost any other promotion. 505 00:24:45,193 --> 00:24:47,462 Almost everybody had fallen by the wayside except 506 00:24:47,596 --> 00:24:49,931 our Memphis territory. 507 00:24:50,065 --> 00:24:53,568 and Vince and WWE kept contacting us. 508 00:24:53,702 --> 00:24:55,670 I think they saw, "Well, you know what? 509 00:24:55,804 --> 00:24:58,974 We need a territory like this that we can bring 510 00:24:59,107 --> 00:25:00,509 in young guys and train them. 511 00:25:00,642 --> 00:25:02,511 This could be a developmental territory." 512 00:25:02,644 --> 00:25:05,881 We were the very first developmental territory 513 00:25:06,014 --> 00:25:07,115 for the WWE. 514 00:25:07,249 --> 00:25:09,684 They would send guys down to us that turned 515 00:25:09,818 --> 00:25:11,820 out to be huge superstars. 516 00:25:11,953 --> 00:25:14,022 Guys like Kurt Angle came down to Memphis. 517 00:25:14,156 --> 00:25:15,323 The Rock. 518 00:25:15,457 --> 00:25:18,260 Oh my gosh, The Rock came to Memphis, had his first matches 519 00:25:18,393 --> 00:25:20,962 right here in Memphis, Tennessee. 520 00:25:21,096 --> 00:25:23,298 Then later on, WWE and Vince McMahon 521 00:25:23,432 --> 00:25:26,635 said, "Look, King, we want you to come 522 00:25:26,768 --> 00:25:27,969 and work for us. 523 00:25:28,103 --> 00:25:32,274 We'll help keep your territory going down there in Memphis." 524 00:25:32,407 --> 00:25:34,042 And so, that's where the relationship 525 00:25:34,176 --> 00:25:36,878 started with the WWE. 526 00:25:37,012 --> 00:25:39,614 - At this time, it is my pleasure to introduce 527 00:25:39,748 --> 00:25:44,586 The King himself, Jerry "The King" Lawler. 528 00:25:44,719 --> 00:25:46,588 - Well, well, well, my goodness. 529 00:25:46,721 --> 00:25:49,257 Mr. Lawler, what brings you to the WWE? 530 00:25:49,391 --> 00:25:51,093 - First of all, let me thank my good friend, Bobby Heenan, 531 00:25:51,226 --> 00:25:52,561 for that introduction. 532 00:25:52,694 --> 00:25:54,563 He's been a loyal subject of mine for years. 533 00:25:54,696 --> 00:25:57,966 Let me tell you, you don't have to refer to me as Mr. Lawler. 534 00:25:58,099 --> 00:25:59,835 King will suffice nicely. 535 00:25:59,968 --> 00:26:03,872 - When I made my debut in WWE, it was the same character that 536 00:26:04,005 --> 00:26:08,243 I had the crown, I had the robe, I went in as a heel. 537 00:26:08,376 --> 00:26:11,113 That's always been my forte. 538 00:26:11,246 --> 00:26:16,017 - You are, without a doubt, the most repulsive bunch of peons. 539 00:26:16,151 --> 00:26:17,752 - Jerry really fit in because Jerry was quick on the 540 00:26:17,886 --> 00:26:20,922 one-liners that made people want to just kill him. 541 00:26:21,056 --> 00:26:22,257 You people are so ugly. 542 00:26:22,390 --> 00:26:23,658 I bet when you look in the mirror, 543 00:26:23,792 --> 00:26:26,027 your reflections throw up. 544 00:26:26,161 --> 00:26:28,597 - Jerry Lawler's as corny as it gets from that era, but he was 545 00:26:28,730 --> 00:26:32,167 so funny that it made him cool at the same time 546 00:26:32,300 --> 00:26:33,702 in a way you know? 547 00:26:33,835 --> 00:26:34,970 - Bret "The Hitman" Hart. 548 00:26:35,103 --> 00:26:35,704 - There he is. 549 00:26:35,837 --> 00:26:36,738 - Hi, boy. 550 00:26:36,872 --> 00:26:37,472 How are you? 551 00:26:37,606 --> 00:26:38,440 - Hey, look. 552 00:26:38,573 --> 00:26:39,541 - Look, I'm up here with your parents. 553 00:26:39,674 --> 00:26:40,208 - It's Jerry Lawler. 554 00:26:40,342 --> 00:26:41,276 - Oh, no. 555 00:26:41,409 --> 00:26:42,110 - Why don't you put your false teeth in back 556 00:26:42,244 --> 00:26:42,911 or eat yourself to death? 557 00:26:43,044 --> 00:26:44,946 [laughs] 558 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:46,848 - As a credit to Jerry, Jerry was one of the greatest 559 00:26:46,982 --> 00:26:48,817 villains in wrestling history. 560 00:26:48,950 --> 00:26:52,254 He had a real genius for being against the good guy. 561 00:26:52,387 --> 00:26:55,624 - Oh my gosh, what a cheap shot. 562 00:26:55,757 --> 00:26:56,525 Oh, God. 563 00:26:56,658 --> 00:26:58,093 - Oh. 564 00:26:58,226 --> 00:27:01,263 - When Jerry Lawler went out, they were going to cheer for me. 565 00:27:01,396 --> 00:27:03,098 For sure, they hated Jerry Lawler. 566 00:27:03,231 --> 00:27:05,300 - He's going to make Jerry Lawler kiss 567 00:27:05,433 --> 00:27:06,635 his own stinking foot. 568 00:27:06,768 --> 00:27:09,571 Look, look, look, look, look. 569 00:27:09,704 --> 00:27:10,872 Unbelievable. 570 00:27:11,006 --> 00:27:12,841 - Whether it was with Bret Hart, whether it was with "Rowdy" 571 00:27:12,974 --> 00:27:15,644 Roddy Piper, no matter who he had a match with, everything 572 00:27:15,777 --> 00:27:18,847 that they did with him up there was bigger than life. 573 00:27:18,980 --> 00:27:20,115 - All right, we're back, ladies and gentlemen. 574 00:27:20,248 --> 00:27:21,983 We have more action for you momentarily at this time. 575 00:27:22,117 --> 00:27:24,119 Obviously, conspicuous by his absence, 576 00:27:24,252 --> 00:27:26,655 is the "Macho Man" Randy Savage. 577 00:27:26,788 --> 00:27:30,091 - At this time, Randy "Macho Man" Savage was doing the color 578 00:27:30,225 --> 00:27:33,695 commentary with Vince on Monday nights, but then he had jumped 579 00:27:33,828 --> 00:27:36,097 ship without telling anybody. 580 00:27:36,231 --> 00:27:37,866 He was on WCW. 581 00:27:37,999 --> 00:27:41,770 - Randy Savage is here tonight, live. 582 00:27:41,903 --> 00:27:44,439 - and Vince, he just looked around the room, looked at me, 583 00:27:44,573 --> 00:27:46,441 and said, "King, would you do 584 00:27:46,575 --> 00:27:47,909 color commentary with me tonight?" 585 00:27:48,043 --> 00:27:48,810 - We're back, ladies and gentlemen, 586 00:27:48,944 --> 00:27:49,811 for more Monday Night Raw. 587 00:27:49,945 --> 00:27:51,313 Are you really missing a jewel there? 588 00:27:51,446 --> 00:27:52,314 - Yes, I am. 589 00:27:52,447 --> 00:27:53,281 I want to know who's going to pay for it or 590 00:27:53,415 --> 00:27:54,215 who's going to replace it. 591 00:27:54,349 --> 00:27:55,517 - There's a green hair there. 592 00:27:55,650 --> 00:27:57,786 - Give me that Burger King-- Take that Burger King crown off. 593 00:27:57,919 --> 00:28:00,922 - I think he realized that Jerry had a gift for gab. 594 00:28:01,056 --> 00:28:02,824 He fit in that role so well because he knew so much 595 00:28:02,958 --> 00:28:04,192 about the wrestling business. 596 00:28:04,326 --> 00:28:05,760 But then when you least expected, 597 00:28:05,894 --> 00:28:07,729 he was able to hit you with a one-liner. 598 00:28:07,862 --> 00:28:08,997 - You're a coward, aren't you? 599 00:28:09,130 --> 00:28:10,599 - What? 600 00:28:10,732 --> 00:28:12,467 You have the audacity to say something like that to my face, 601 00:28:12,601 --> 00:28:13,602 McMahon? 602 00:28:13,735 --> 00:28:14,569 - Wait, I just made-- 603 00:28:14,703 --> 00:28:15,837 - You want me to slap your toupee off? 604 00:28:15,971 --> 00:28:17,639 I will you know. 605 00:28:17,772 --> 00:28:19,107 - Then went from Vince McMahon being my broadcast 606 00:28:19,241 --> 00:28:21,343 partner, then good old JR. 607 00:28:21,476 --> 00:28:23,345 - I got to tell you, fans, it is great to be back 608 00:28:23,478 --> 00:28:24,613 in the saddle. 609 00:28:24,746 --> 00:28:27,215 - Well, Jim Ross, I must say, it's good to see you back, 610 00:28:27,349 --> 00:28:28,750 especially after seeing you're front. 611 00:28:28,883 --> 00:28:30,018 [laughs] 612 00:28:30,151 --> 00:28:33,555 - Now we're at a point in time when wrestling is on fire. 613 00:28:33,688 --> 00:28:36,791 Well, we're about to see the most electrifying move in 614 00:28:36,925 --> 00:28:39,561 Sports Entertainment. 615 00:28:39,694 --> 00:28:41,396 I'm the voice of Monday night wrestling, 616 00:28:41,529 --> 00:28:47,402 and it's the most-watched thing on television. 617 00:28:53,074 --> 00:28:54,909 - We are live tonight here on pay-per-view here 618 00:28:55,043 --> 00:28:56,444 at Madison Square Garden. 619 00:28:56,578 --> 00:28:57,946 - The end of the road is in sight, and there's 620 00:28:58,079 --> 00:28:59,314 going to be a collision. 621 00:28:59,447 --> 00:29:04,252 It's fixing to happen in just a few short minutes. 622 00:29:04,386 --> 00:29:07,856 So now, I'm at the commentary desk like almost full-time. 623 00:29:07,989 --> 00:29:12,360 I was there for, gosh, the dawning of the Attitude Era. 624 00:29:12,494 --> 00:29:15,930 I remember when, of course, doing the commentary for 625 00:29:16,064 --> 00:29:17,932 "Stone Cold" Steve Austin showing up and 626 00:29:18,066 --> 00:29:20,068 becoming the biggest star in the company. 627 00:29:20,201 --> 00:29:22,103 - It's a damn good thing he ain't here tonight, 628 00:29:22,237 --> 00:29:26,274 because I damn sure would dump him flat on his head. 629 00:29:26,408 --> 00:29:30,545 - Then The Rock coming in. 630 00:29:32,447 --> 00:29:33,515 - Do you know what The Rock did? 631 00:29:33,648 --> 00:29:35,083 The Rock kicked him between his legs and it felt like 632 00:29:35,216 --> 00:29:38,253 The Rock was kicking a damn pillow. 633 00:29:38,386 --> 00:29:42,190 - Well, I've said this before, and I'll say it again. 634 00:29:42,323 --> 00:29:46,161 I never really liked the commentary. 635 00:29:46,294 --> 00:29:48,630 I never really liked it as much as I liked wrestling. 636 00:29:48,763 --> 00:29:50,465 A lot of people just don't realize 637 00:29:50,598 --> 00:29:53,001 that the commentary is tough. 638 00:29:53,134 --> 00:29:55,437 The commentators, they got to sit up there 639 00:29:55,570 --> 00:29:59,240 and try to be entertaining for the entire 3 hours. 640 00:29:59,374 --> 00:30:03,078 I would much rather go out there and do a wrestling match for ten 641 00:30:03,211 --> 00:30:06,748 minutes rather than being there under that scrutiny, under that 642 00:30:06,881 --> 00:30:10,852 pressure of trying to entertain people for three straight hours. 643 00:30:10,985 --> 00:30:13,488 One of the questions I get asked a lot about my commentary is 644 00:30:13,621 --> 00:30:17,225 like people will remember the jokes or the insults and that 645 00:30:17,359 --> 00:30:18,526 sort of stuff, and they'll ask me, 646 00:30:18,660 --> 00:30:20,261 "Is that just off the top of your head?" 647 00:30:20,395 --> 00:30:22,163 And that's when I tell them, "Of course, it was, you know?" 648 00:30:22,297 --> 00:30:25,300 but in reality, I did a lot of preparation for that. 649 00:30:25,433 --> 00:30:29,170 I have reference books, joke books, insult books, 650 00:30:29,304 --> 00:30:33,608 but this is actually "Stone Cold" Steve Austin's blood. 651 00:30:33,742 --> 00:30:34,943 If I'm not mistaken, I think it was Triple H that came over and 652 00:30:35,076 --> 00:30:39,414 slammed Stone Cold's head, it was covered with blood into my 653 00:30:39,547 --> 00:30:42,183 notes and I'd be going over my jokes and see who's coming up 654 00:30:42,317 --> 00:30:47,222 next and getting ready to insult the next person. 655 00:30:47,355 --> 00:30:50,225 This is just things that I would say to JR. 656 00:30:50,358 --> 00:30:51,726 JR, I read so much 657 00:30:51,893 --> 00:30:55,730 about sex being bad for you, so I finally gave up reading. 658 00:30:55,864 --> 00:30:57,599 You heard of an idiot savant? 659 00:30:57,732 --> 00:31:00,568 He's that without the savant. 660 00:31:00,702 --> 00:31:03,071 You knwo,that was just like I said, I didn't take it serious. 661 00:31:03,204 --> 00:31:05,173 I was just having a good time out there. 662 00:31:05,306 --> 00:31:08,910 - The Attitude Era was a really unique time for WWE because 663 00:31:09,010 --> 00:31:12,413 of the sheer amount of eyeballs that were on the product 664 00:31:12,547 --> 00:31:15,016 every single week. 665 00:31:15,150 --> 00:31:20,655 Every single week, it would be Jerry Lawler's voice 666 00:31:20,789 --> 00:31:24,692 that was painting the picture of everything that you were seeing. 667 00:31:24,826 --> 00:31:27,829 It really made him the voice of the Attitude Era. 668 00:31:27,962 --> 00:31:30,431 - I'd suggest we get out of the way JR. Triple H. 669 00:31:30,565 --> 00:31:31,399 Look out. 670 00:31:31,533 --> 00:31:32,834 Good God, almighty. 671 00:31:32,967 --> 00:31:34,068 I told you. 672 00:31:34,202 --> 00:31:36,271 For gosh sakes, they're 70-something years old. 673 00:31:36,404 --> 00:31:38,573 I saw them getting checked by the doctors in the back 674 00:31:38,706 --> 00:31:41,643 and Moolah's birth certificate was in hieroglyphics. 675 00:31:41,776 --> 00:31:43,011 Up in the air. 676 00:31:43,144 --> 00:31:44,112 She got her. 677 00:31:44,245 --> 00:31:46,481 - Lawler as a commentator, was the perfect guy. 678 00:31:46,614 --> 00:31:48,183 He was so entertaining. 679 00:31:48,316 --> 00:31:49,684 Plus it was the Attitude Era. 680 00:31:49,818 --> 00:31:51,486 There weren't restrictions on language, there weren't 681 00:31:51,619 --> 00:31:53,588 restrictions on what he could say. 682 00:31:53,721 --> 00:31:56,958 - It's very edgy, it's very adult-oriented now, 683 00:31:57,091 --> 00:32:00,628 and it's become very sexy. 684 00:32:00,762 --> 00:32:03,631 And every time a beautiful diva would come up walking down, 685 00:32:03,765 --> 00:32:08,136 I'd say, "Hey, JR. Look, puppies." 686 00:32:08,269 --> 00:32:10,638 - He was the epitome of not having a filter. 687 00:32:10,772 --> 00:32:14,375 If he saw it and thought it, he said it. 688 00:32:14,509 --> 00:32:15,310 - Oh, look at Lita. 689 00:32:15,443 --> 00:32:16,578 She's got the puppies in the net. 690 00:32:16,711 --> 00:32:17,912 Woohoo. 691 00:32:18,046 --> 00:32:19,614 - If you want to try to put a positive spin on it, at least 692 00:32:19,747 --> 00:32:23,451 Jerry was always excited when we came to the ring. 693 00:32:23,585 --> 00:32:26,020 - One of the women heavily involved in the Attitude Era and 694 00:32:26,154 --> 00:32:31,059 all the sexy scenes was Stacy Carter, better known as The Kat. 695 00:32:31,192 --> 00:32:33,761 She and I had actually been together in a relationship 696 00:32:33,895 --> 00:32:35,497 for almost 10 years. 697 00:32:35,630 --> 00:32:38,766 I could go a little bit further because at that time, 698 00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:40,335 now I was married to her. 699 00:32:40,468 --> 00:32:41,102 Yeah. 700 00:32:41,236 --> 00:32:41,836 Merry Christmas. 701 00:32:41,970 --> 00:32:42,804 Woohoo. 702 00:32:42,937 --> 00:32:44,272 - Oh my God. 703 00:32:44,405 --> 00:32:46,608 - Actually, for the women's segments, especially the ones 704 00:32:46,741 --> 00:32:50,612 that I was obviously a part of, him being involved in it made 705 00:32:50,745 --> 00:32:52,580 it easier for me. 706 00:32:52,714 --> 00:32:54,482 - There you go, King. 707 00:32:54,616 --> 00:32:55,683 Thank you, Kat. 708 00:32:55,817 --> 00:32:58,519 - He made it seem so easy to be on camera, 709 00:32:58,653 --> 00:33:00,655 so you'd have to relax about it. 710 00:33:00,788 --> 00:33:04,726 - Then one day, out of the blue, they called me in and said, 711 00:33:04,859 --> 00:33:08,029 Vince wants to give Stacy her release. 712 00:33:08,162 --> 00:33:10,265 Well, if they're going to release Stacy, 713 00:33:10,398 --> 00:33:12,300 I'm going to have to go with her. 714 00:33:12,433 --> 00:33:16,971 I'll never forget, Vince stuck his hand out and said, 715 00:33:17,105 --> 00:33:18,706 "Well, King, nice working with you. 716 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:22,310 Thank you for everything you've done for us." 717 00:33:22,443 --> 00:33:25,213 I was there for 10 years. 718 00:33:25,346 --> 00:33:30,418 And so just like that, me and Stacy were gone from the WWE. 719 00:33:30,551 --> 00:33:31,953 - I'm joined by Paul Heyman. 720 00:33:32,086 --> 00:33:35,056 - You're joined by Paul Heyman because last Tuesday 721 00:33:35,189 --> 00:33:37,959 night, The Kat was released by the WWE and her husband 722 00:33:38,092 --> 00:33:42,263 Jerry "The King" Lawler, to his credit, 723 00:33:42,397 --> 00:33:45,366 walked down right alongside with her. 724 00:33:45,500 --> 00:33:46,901 - It was really difficult. 725 00:33:47,035 --> 00:33:48,569 Then it just ended up being about him quitting 726 00:33:48,703 --> 00:33:50,905 and not about me being fired. 727 00:33:51,039 --> 00:33:54,309 It was just really hard for me. 728 00:33:54,442 --> 00:33:57,812 - That lasted for-- it was about a year that went by. 729 00:33:57,946 --> 00:34:01,316 In the meantime, Stacy and I got a divorce. 730 00:34:01,449 --> 00:34:04,552 Then I got a call from the WWE saying, 731 00:34:04,686 --> 00:34:07,622 "Hey, we'd like you to come back." 732 00:34:08,356 --> 00:34:13,962 The next few years of my life, my career, I'm still wrestling. 733 00:34:14,095 --> 00:34:16,898 - Jerry "The King" Lawler has won this matchup. 734 00:34:17,031 --> 00:34:19,434 - I'm doing the commentary every single week. 735 00:34:19,567 --> 00:34:22,403 I'm in my 60s and still going strong. 736 00:34:22,537 --> 00:34:25,940 2010, I get my first ever WWE title match and almost 737 00:34:26,074 --> 00:34:28,343 became the WWE Champion. 738 00:34:28,476 --> 00:34:29,210 - Going to head to the top. 739 00:34:29,344 --> 00:34:32,747 No, Miz through the table. 740 00:34:32,880 --> 00:34:35,850 - In 2011, I'm wrestling at WrestleMania in front of 741 00:34:35,984 --> 00:34:37,652 like 100,000 people. 742 00:34:37,785 --> 00:34:38,886 It's crazy. 743 00:34:39,020 --> 00:34:40,588 - Oh. 744 00:34:40,722 --> 00:34:42,924 The first WrestleMania for The King. 745 00:34:43,057 --> 00:34:45,660 His first WrestleMania dropkick. 746 00:34:45,793 --> 00:34:47,929 - Jerry always will be that kid that's living his dream. 747 00:34:48,062 --> 00:34:50,565 I don't think Jerry wants to grow up, and why should he? 748 00:34:50,698 --> 00:34:54,135 - I'm thinking, what could possibly go wrong? 749 00:34:54,268 --> 00:34:57,939 Then along comes 2012. 750 00:34:59,307 --> 00:35:04,445 - Jerry, Jerry. 751 00:35:04,579 --> 00:35:05,880 Talk to me, Jerry. 752 00:35:06,014 --> 00:35:07,949 Jerry, talk to us. Jerry, talk to us. 753 00:35:11,919 --> 00:35:12,987 - Oh yes. 754 00:35:13,121 --> 00:35:15,056 Welcome to Monday Night Raw live tonight in Montreal. 755 00:35:15,189 --> 00:35:18,760 - So, now it's September 10th, 2012. 756 00:35:18,926 --> 00:35:20,495 Big night. 757 00:35:20,628 --> 00:35:23,531 It was one of those nights where I'm going to have to come up out 758 00:35:23,665 --> 00:35:27,869 of my commentary spot to actually wrestle in a match. 759 00:35:28,002 --> 00:35:30,571 - Lawler, going to Orton's aid 760 00:35:30,705 --> 00:35:33,574 and King with a dropkick. 761 00:35:35,209 --> 00:35:36,978 - We won the match. 762 00:35:37,111 --> 00:35:39,814 So, I go right from the ring down to the commentary desk, 763 00:35:39,947 --> 00:35:42,216 put my jacket back on, and Michael Cole and I 764 00:35:42,350 --> 00:35:44,085 start doing commentary again. 765 00:35:44,218 --> 00:35:46,020 - Hello, back at ringside, I'm once again joined by 766 00:35:46,154 --> 00:35:47,355 Jerry "The King" Lawler. 767 00:35:47,488 --> 00:35:50,058 Congratulations are in order after your victory moments ago. 768 00:35:50,191 --> 00:35:51,292 - Well, thank you. 769 00:35:51,426 --> 00:35:52,560 Let's hand it to Randy Orton. 770 00:35:52,693 --> 00:35:53,895 He was the victor in that match. 771 00:35:54,028 --> 00:35:56,631 - It's a two-man booth, and I was watching my monitor to my 772 00:35:56,764 --> 00:35:58,966 right and Jerry was on my left, and there was 773 00:35:59,100 --> 00:36:02,003 a match in the ring. 774 00:36:02,136 --> 00:36:04,505 And all of a sudden I heard snoring-- 775 00:36:04,639 --> 00:36:13,881 [snoring] 776 00:36:14,015 --> 00:36:15,450 and I thought Jerry, being Jerry, 777 00:36:15,583 --> 00:36:17,151 was making fun of the match. 778 00:36:17,285 --> 00:36:19,721 I thought it was Jerry saying, "This match is boring. 779 00:36:19,854 --> 00:36:21,856 I'm falling asleep on the air." 780 00:36:21,989 --> 00:36:25,560 I looked over at Jerry and he faceplanted right on the 781 00:36:25,693 --> 00:36:27,228 announce table, 782 00:36:27,361 --> 00:36:30,064 [snoring] 783 00:36:30,198 --> 00:36:35,303 and his mouth is quivering and he turned blue 784 00:36:35,436 --> 00:36:37,171 I hit my mute switch and I screamed, 785 00:36:37,305 --> 00:36:39,140 "Doc, get over here. Something's wrong with Jerry." 786 00:36:39,273 --> 00:36:40,074 - Jerry. 787 00:36:40,208 --> 00:36:41,576 Jerry, talk to me buddy, Jerry. 788 00:36:41,709 --> 00:36:42,977 Jerry, talk to me. 789 00:36:43,077 --> 00:36:44,245 Jerry. 790 00:36:44,378 --> 00:36:47,482 Jerry, at this point, I realized he's having a heart attack. 791 00:36:47,615 --> 00:36:51,953 They give him CPR. 792 00:36:53,287 --> 00:36:56,190 They're dragging EMTs in there. 793 00:36:56,324 --> 00:36:58,059 They drag him out on the stretcher. 794 00:36:58,192 --> 00:37:00,928 [crowd chants "Jerry"] 795 00:37:01,062 --> 00:37:03,998 - I was in the arena, for all this, I saw it happen. 796 00:37:04,132 --> 00:37:06,100 It was really scary because I think everybody knew, 797 00:37:06,234 --> 00:37:08,803 "Oh, he's probably having a heart attack." 798 00:37:08,936 --> 00:37:09,904 And you just kind of assume the worst 799 00:37:10,037 --> 00:37:11,806 when stuff like that happens you know? 800 00:37:11,939 --> 00:37:14,275 - I don't think I was aware of what was happening because 801 00:37:14,408 --> 00:37:17,745 all of a sudden my phone is blowing up you know? 802 00:37:17,879 --> 00:37:20,114 and I'm looking at all these messages of 803 00:37:20,248 --> 00:37:22,216 these people asking, "Hey, what happened? 804 00:37:22,350 --> 00:37:23,417 What's going on? 805 00:37:23,551 --> 00:37:24,685 Is this part of the show?" 806 00:37:24,819 --> 00:37:28,756 I didn't know what people were talking about. 807 00:37:28,890 --> 00:37:32,860 - Apparently, I had a cardiac arrest, 808 00:37:32,994 --> 00:37:38,065 which means your heart just stops. 809 00:37:38,199 --> 00:37:39,567 When they put me in the ambulance and taken me 810 00:37:39,700 --> 00:37:44,605 to the hospital, everybody thought I was dead. 811 00:37:44,739 --> 00:37:48,843 - My broadcast colleague, Jerry "The King" Lawler, 812 00:37:48,976 --> 00:37:51,345 passed out while working here at ringside. 813 00:37:51,479 --> 00:37:53,714 He has been taken to a local hospital. 814 00:37:53,848 --> 00:37:56,951 Jerry, my friend, my prayers are with you. 815 00:37:57,084 --> 00:37:58,386 Beat this thing. 816 00:37:58,519 --> 00:38:00,855 Get them, King. 817 00:38:00,988 --> 00:38:02,323 Good night, everybody. 818 00:38:02,456 --> 00:38:03,524 - It's a crazy situation. 819 00:38:03,658 --> 00:38:08,729 Probably the scariest thing I ever had to experience. 820 00:38:08,863 --> 00:38:11,799 - I didn't have a long stay in the hospital. 821 00:38:11,933 --> 00:38:14,869 When I got back to Memphis, there was this huge poster that 822 00:38:15,002 --> 00:38:19,407 a radio station had put up a huge sign, like a welcome home 823 00:38:19,540 --> 00:38:22,810 sign that had been signed by thousands of people. 824 00:38:22,944 --> 00:38:25,646 And it was humbling to realize that there are that 825 00:38:25,780 --> 00:38:29,617 many people out there that care for you. 826 00:38:29,750 --> 00:38:32,053 - Only The King would make a comeback like that. 827 00:38:32,186 --> 00:38:34,689 That's a freaking egotistical babyface, isn't it? 828 00:38:34,822 --> 00:38:36,490 To die on air and make a comeback? 829 00:38:36,624 --> 00:38:37,758 [laughs] 830 00:38:37,892 --> 00:38:39,327 - Ladies and gentlemen, many of us thought 831 00:38:39,460 --> 00:38:41,562 this night might never come. 832 00:38:41,696 --> 00:38:45,433 But without any further ado, please join me and the 833 00:38:45,566 --> 00:38:52,073 WWE Universe in welcoming back WWE Hall of Famer and my friend, 834 00:38:52,206 --> 00:38:55,943 Jerry "The King"Lawler. 835 00:38:56,043 --> 00:38:59,447 [crowd cheers] 836 00:38:59,580 --> 00:39:09,557 ♪ 837 00:39:10,458 --> 00:39:14,295 - From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate it. 838 00:39:14,428 --> 00:39:16,664 I love each and every one of you. 839 00:39:16,797 --> 00:39:18,399 Thank you all so much. 840 00:39:18,532 --> 00:39:21,802 And it's great to be back. 841 00:39:21,936 --> 00:39:25,139 I tried to, in my mind, play it down. 842 00:39:25,273 --> 00:39:27,642 I've tried to say, "Hey, there's nothing wrong with me." 843 00:39:27,775 --> 00:39:32,013 It was just that blunt trauma that happens once in a lifetime 844 00:39:32,146 --> 00:39:34,048 that stopped my heart. 845 00:39:34,181 --> 00:39:36,417 It wasn't because I'm out of shape or shouldn't be 846 00:39:36,550 --> 00:39:37,952 doing this anymore. 847 00:39:38,085 --> 00:39:42,323 So, I just looked at it from that standpoint and 848 00:39:42,456 --> 00:39:44,325 I just kept going. 849 00:39:44,458 --> 00:39:48,195 - He was my last match on the indies before I came to the WWE. 850 00:39:48,329 --> 00:39:51,098 and it's funny because it was after his heart attack. 851 00:39:51,232 --> 00:39:54,268 and I don't remember in the match, even thinking about it 852 00:39:54,402 --> 00:39:58,506 to see how good he's doing and that he kept wrestling after. 853 00:39:58,639 --> 00:40:00,875 It's pretty incredible when you think back in that moment 854 00:40:01,008 --> 00:40:03,978 and how that felt. 855 00:40:04,111 --> 00:40:05,980 - Belive it or not, when you do something for so long, 856 00:40:06,113 --> 00:40:07,615 it's really hard to put it behind you. 857 00:40:07,748 --> 00:40:08,716 It's all you know. 858 00:40:08,849 --> 00:40:10,451 - Wrestling has been my life. 859 00:40:10,584 --> 00:40:14,422 From the time I became an adult, you know, 860 00:40:14,555 --> 00:40:17,358 I've had several marriages, 861 00:40:17,491 --> 00:40:21,696 several relationships that all meant a lot to me 862 00:40:21,829 --> 00:40:25,533 but they sort of came and went. 863 00:40:25,666 --> 00:40:27,068 But the wrestling was the constant. 864 00:40:27,201 --> 00:40:33,407 When I asked myself, "Why do you continue on?" 865 00:40:33,541 --> 00:40:36,043 And I just think, "What else would I do 866 00:40:36,177 --> 00:40:38,212 if I'm not a wrestler?" 867 00:40:38,346 --> 00:40:40,715 [crowd applauds] 868 00:40:40,848 --> 00:40:44,719 The legend, "The King" Jerry Lawler. 869 00:40:44,852 --> 00:40:48,989 [crowd cheers] 870 00:40:49,123 --> 00:40:49,957 - Wow. 871 00:40:50,091 --> 00:40:50,891 How many people could say they've had 872 00:40:51,025 --> 00:40:52,426 a 50-year anniversary? 873 00:40:52,593 --> 00:40:53,961 You know, not a lot. 874 00:40:54,095 --> 00:40:56,197 Like I said, he's one of a kind. 875 00:41:00,835 --> 00:41:02,503 - A 50-year career means you're hooked, 876 00:41:02,636 --> 00:41:05,206 you got it in your blood. 877 00:41:06,774 --> 00:41:08,142 [bell ringing] 878 00:41:08,275 --> 00:41:09,610 There's no way out for you. 879 00:41:09,744 --> 00:41:11,679 This is your destiny. 880 00:41:13,013 --> 00:41:16,584 - I think the secret to Jerry Lawler's success is that he 881 00:41:16,717 --> 00:41:19,787 loves being Jerry "The King" Lawler. 882 00:41:19,920 --> 00:41:24,258 He was a big deal and still is. 883 00:41:24,392 --> 00:41:25,926 - I don't think Jerry wants to grow up. 884 00:41:26,060 --> 00:41:28,562 Why should he? 885 00:41:29,363 --> 00:41:30,464 He's enjoying life. 886 00:41:30,598 --> 00:41:32,033 He's getting through life the same way he's made 887 00:41:32,166 --> 00:41:33,534 a ton of freaking money. 888 00:41:33,667 --> 00:41:36,570 He's this incredibly legendary historical figure. 889 00:41:36,704 --> 00:41:37,972 And he doesn't want to grow up. 890 00:41:38,105 --> 00:41:42,276 I hope he doesn't. 891 00:41:42,410 --> 00:41:45,413 - I've never met an individual who is constantly happy, 892 00:41:45,546 --> 00:41:48,916 who constantly has fun, who loves this business as a 893 00:41:49,049 --> 00:41:55,389 promoter, as a worker, as a babyface, as a heel, 894 00:41:55,523 --> 00:41:58,793 as an announcer, as an entertainer. 895 00:41:58,926 --> 00:42:03,664 He's going to go down as one of the greatest of all time. 896 00:42:03,798 --> 00:42:05,800 - I mean you know, it's one of those things 897 00:42:05,933 --> 00:42:07,334 that never gets old. 898 00:42:07,468 --> 00:42:09,437 I still have as much fun in there tonight as 899 00:42:09,570 --> 00:42:12,373 I did back in 1970. 900 00:42:12,506 --> 00:42:16,444 I think that as long as I still have that train of thought, 901 00:42:16,577 --> 00:42:19,814 I don't see any reason to stop.