Jerry Lawler no longer with the company as a broadcaster

[Rudy Gobert Fadeaway]

www.pwinsider.com/article.php?id=183423

WWE Hall of Famer and one of the all time greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Jerry Lawler is no longer with World Wrestling Entertainment, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources.

PWInsider.com is told that WWE quietly declined to renew Lawler’s broadcast contract, ending a relationship between the two that began back in December 1992 when he shockingly appeared on an episode of WWF Prime Time Wrestling. Sources close to the matter have confirmed Lawler’s WWE deal expired at the onset of 2024.

Due to the nature of Lawler being out of the public spotlight as he recovered from his February 2023 stroke, news of his departure from WWE only started to make the rounds in recent weeks. Given the lengthy history Lawler had with the company and the fact Lawler literally died on camera on Raw before being resuscitated, word of his exit (as you might imagine) was met with surprise among those we spoke with over the weekend as PWInsider.com worked to confirm his departure.

One source commented that under the previous ownership, Lawler would have always been “taken care of” and connected with the company in some way contractually, but this is a “new era.”

“The old company is dead,” they remarked. “People can say they hate Vince [McMahon] and Kevin [Dunn] all they want, and they’d be right to do so, but certain people would have been taken care of. Lawler would have been one, but this isn’t the old WWE. Howard Finkel, God bless him, wouldn’t have had a job for life here anymore, either.”

Still has a Legends deal for however long.

[Medium Rare, Trash Just Like U]

Oh well.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

There are no "for life" jobs in WWE now.

[crowley1986]

Eh since he returned in late 2001 he’s been awful (bar the mini run with the miz)

[Medium Rare, Trash Just Like U]

The one true King:

[tafkaga]

Lawler's been with the company for 30 years. He shouldn't need to be "taken care of" for the rest of his life.

[Rudy Gobert Fadeaway]

Listen, I like people getting taken care of, but Jerry Lawler being kept around for life on a *broadcaster contract* is like keeping an unwrapped, stale ham in the corner of your room for 20 years and doing your best to ignore the smell.

[The anti-ratings Luddite]

Jerry hasn't been particularly great in a decade plus.

Add to that, he's getting up there, had some health problems, and I'm willing to bet he was good with his money.

Jerry Lawler is not someone I'm going to be crying a river over.

[“Max Landis DickOnya”]

Obviously he’s a wrestling legend and at times was a really fun commentator, but his “PUPPIES!” schtick was such a detriment to the women’s division post-Attitude Era.

[jivesoulbrah]

With his age and tenure he had in the company he should be financially set the rest of his life.

[Medium Rare, Trash Just Like U]

May 6, 2024 10:00:48 GMT -5 “Max Landis DickOnya” said:

Obviously he’s a wrestling legend and at times was a really fun commentator, but his “PUPPIES!” schtick was such a detriment to the women’s division post-Attitude Era.

I can't even watch Eddie Guerrero matches from that period (at least with the volume on) because he ruins them for me. Imagine if they had that version of him on commentary during Rhea matches.

[fw91]

I mean, why not offer him a legends deal?

[cjh]

May 6, 2024 10:28:44 GMT -5 fw91 said:

I mean, why not offer him a legends deal?

PW Insider updated their article to say Lawler is still signed to a WWE Legends contract.  The contract that expired was his announcer/performer deal.

[fw91]

May 6, 2024 10:39:21 GMT -5 cjh said:

May 6, 2024 10:28:44 GMT -5 fw91 said:

I mean, why not offer him a legends deal?

PW Insider updated their article to say Lawler is still signed to a WWE Legends contract.  The contract that expired was his announcer/performer deal.

Yeah, than imo this really isn’t news worthy. With his health, he probably can never do the full grind again, and is still signed to something to be “taken care of.”

[sdoyle7798]

Has he even announced since his stroke?

Can he even announce since his stroke?

[mcstoklasa]

Lawler sucked so bad as a commentator from the mid to late 2000s that rewatching some of those matches annoys me. Just phoning it in.

[MrElijah]

May 6, 2024 9:54:47 GMT -5 Rudy Gobert Fadeaway said:

Listen, I like people getting taken care of, but Jerry Lawler being kept around for life on a *broadcaster contract* is like keeping an unwrapped, stale ham in the corner of your room for 20 years and doing your best to ignore the smell.

Jerry Lawler will mow be known as the Memphis Ham.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Jobs for life are a noble thing and I get it but don't let your shows be actively ruined by them. Lawler sucked for a very, very long time and there had to be ways to take care of him that could also take care of my patience.

[Cyno]

He's still got a Legends deal, so it's not like they're throwing him to the curb or anything. That and his last few times in a broadcasting role have been awful.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

May 6, 2024 10:57:50 GMT -5 mcstoklasa said:

Lawler sucked so bad as a commentator from the mid to late 2000s that rewatching some of those matches annoys me. Just phoning it in.

Mid to late 2000's? That's being INCREDIBLY generous in my opinion. I thought he went to shit late 98 into 99 when his whole gimmick just became "PUPPIES!!PUPPIES!!PUPPIES!!" which was a pretty bad look anyone but especially for someone credibly accused of statutory rape.

I was so happy when Heyman replaced him in 2001, and just crushed when he came back that November.


EDIT: Just gonna add this link deadspin.com/jerry-lawler-wrote-a-really-dumb-letter-to-prosecutors-1822790447