Former wrestling star and WWE colour commentator Jerry “The King” Lawler was arrested, along with his fiancée, on alleged domestic assault charges. The WWE subsequently announced Lawler’s suspension.
“WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, and per our policy, Jerry Lawler has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest,” the professional wrestling organisation said in a statement.
Lawler, 66, and Lauryn McBride, 27, were reportedly involved in a violent confrontation at the wrestler’s East Memphis home, WREG reports.
Ms McBride accused Lawler of striking her head and pushing her against a kitchen stove. She also claims he placed an unloaded pistol on the kitchen counter and told her to commit suicide.
Lawler claims that Ms McBride threw a candle at him, kicked him in the groin, and scratched his face. He also claims that she is the one who brought the pistol into the kitchen.
Memphis Police previously arrested Lawler in 1999 after he reportedly threw a ticket at an officer and ran over his foot.
The Memphis wrestler’s career has spanned four decades. He officially joined the WWE (then called the World Wrestling Federation) in 1992, but had gained notoriety long before.
Most notably, Lawler began a feud in 1982 with the late Andy Kaufman, a US comedian known for his abstract publicity stunts. As part of his schtick, Kaufman wrestled women and declared himself the Intergender Wrestling Champion.
Lawler publicly took issue with this and challenged Kaufman in the ring - apparently damaging the comedian’s neck using a piledriver move.
The two appeared on David Letterman’s Late Night talk show five months after the match, which escalated throughout the interview.
It was revealed decades later that their entire feud had been staged.
Lawler has maintained his status as a public figure in Memphis, where he has run for mayor multiple times and owns the restaurant King Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grille.
