Professional wrestling legend and World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler is on the road to recovery following a recent stroke. Lawler, 75, says he felt “pretty good” before the recent health scare, but admitted to Fox 13 in Memphis that he wasn’t taking his medication in the weeks leading up to the stroke.
Lawler, who has now experienced three strokes in his life, called his most recent issue a “minor” one. The former wrestling champion recalled being very confused and having blurry vision while in his home.
Lawler suffered the most recent stroke on Sept. 5 at his Florida condo, but has since returned to his home in Memphis. While he was hospitalized, Lawler said family and friends visited him, but he didn’t recognize them.
Now he wants to let them know how much their support meant to him.
“People kept coming out of nowhere to thank me and to pray for me. All of that means such a great, great deal to me and I want to thank them for all that,” Lawler said.
As part of his recovery, Lawler says he’s committed to taking his medicine.
Lawler was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 at a ceremony at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, the night before WrestleMania 23. Lawler made national headlines in 1982 with his feud involving TV actor Andy Kaufman.
As his in-ring career wound down, he became a commentator with WWE, where he formed one of the most recognized commentary teams in wrestling history with Jim Ross.