The pro wrestling community has once again been holding its breath for Jerry “The King” Lawler. Now, the WWE Hall of Famer has spoken publicly for the first time since suffering his third stroke, offering a candid and at times unsettling account of his recent health battle.
Speaking with FOX 13 Memphis, the 75-year-old detailed the severe disorientation he experienced. The stroke, which occurred earlier this month at one of his homes in Florida, caused temporary memory loss so profound that Lawler admitted he didn’t recognize his own family members at the hospital. “I remember lying in the bed in the hospital, and when people that I knew, like family members, came in, and I didn’t even recognize them,” Lawler recalled.
He also revealed that he initially didn’t recognize his own home after returning. Despite the ordeal, Lawler expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from fans and colleagues. “People kept coming out of nowhere to thank me and prayed for me and everything, and all of that means a great, great deal to me, and I wanna thank ’em all for all that.”
This latest health scare, which happened on September 5, is the newest chapter in a long series of serious medical issues for The King. It follows a major stroke in early 2023 that affected his speech, another in 2018, and the on-air heart attack he suffered during a live episode of Monday Night Raw more than a decade ago. As a result of this most recent incident, Lawler has canceled his public appearances for at least the next month.
Lawler is now back at his primary residence, continuing his recovery.