Wednesday Morning Backlash: Jerry Lawler Reminds Us He’s Among the Best Ever and Video of His TLC vs. Miz

Columns, Top Story

History seems to have forgotten just how good Jerry “the King” Lawler was in Memphis, labeling him just a regional star of a small territory. He has also been claimed to have a small moveset and to have gotten by on no-selling and a lack of realism. This assessment is, very simply, ignores the true contributions one of the best and smartest workers of the 80s, perhaps ever.

The Andy Kaufman feud seems to have lead to the myth that Lawler was merely a great promo who could carry an angle, like Dusty Rhodes, but make no mistake Jerry Lawler was a master of ring psychology. Sure, he didn’t flip or fly around the ring, but with a single punch he could garner a response that top guys in many other territories would need a months long angle to achieve. He sold out a small area for a long time, facing many of the same opponents, but changing the storyline in the ring and how he used his psychology to keep it fresh in front of the same fans, giving them something different each time. This feat is only matched by Bruno Sammartino in wrestling history.

Moreover, the matches he was in are among some of the best in wrestling history. Although not released on WWE Home Video, it’s easy to find some absolute classic Jerry Lawler performances. Here’s a quick list of a few you can find pretty easily (or e-mail me to help find for you): Jerry Lawler vs. Bill Dundee (6/6/84, 12/30/85), Jerry Lawler vs. Terry Funk (3/23/81, 4/6/81), Jerry Lawler vs. Dutch Mantell (3/22/82, 3/29/82), Jerry Lawler vs. Austin Idol (4/27/87), Lawler vs. Bam Bam Bigelow (9/7/86), Lawler vs. Randy Savage (6/3/85). Note that besides the Funk match, none are against really huge names and all are incredible (Savage is, at the point of their matches, relatively green), although Bill Dundee is absolutely a forgotten great. He was so great against all of these different wrestlers at different times in his career, in fact, that Memphis became the last remaining surviving territory, the one area Vince McMahon’s WWF couldn’t take over, and Lawler didn’t even have to try and go national to compete.

Finally, the myth that Lawler couldn’t draw at a national level is ridiculous. He was at least believed to be able to by pretty much everyone. When the AWA needed a new face, he defeated Curt Hennig for their World Title, then in an alliance that attempted to go national and was reasonably successful before political infighting killed them, feuded with Kerry Von Erich to Unify that belt with the hot World Class Championship Wrestling Title. Even though these didn’t succeed, it was in no part Lawler’s fault, and when he finally did get to WWF, even though his skills had eroded, he was still highly thought of enough to immediately go into a feud with top star, Bret Hart.

Lawler’s influence is still being felt nationally to this day, in fact. Besides the groundbreaking Andy Kaufman feud, Memphis is the model for early TNA, much of which was booked by Jerry Jarrett and Dutch Mantell. Jim Cornette, who got his start in Memphis, was involved due to respect for these legends, as well. Jeff Jarrett’s heel run was strongly reminiscent of a poor man’s Lawler act.

So, great in ring, a highly regarded draw, could carry an opponent, top notch psychology and matches, long lasting national influence… Lawler is one of the best wrestlers ever, without a true weakness or anything missing from his resume. He should absolutely be treated as one of the best ever.

Here’s his awesome Raw match with the Miz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FRnO-ivKQs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oday3TCRlHQ

Glazer is a former senior editor at Pulse Wrestling and editor and reviewer at The Comics Nexus.