Wrestling legend Jerry “The King” Lawler was rushed to the ER last night after collapsing at a WWE event in Montreal, Quebec … but is now breathing on his own.
62-year-old Lawler — who famously battled Andy Kaufman back in the ’80s — was sitting ringside to commentate on a match when he suddenly collapsed.
An emergency response crew rushed to his side and performed CPR on Lawler.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The WWE says Lawler is now breathing on his own.
Lawler had wrestled inside the ring roughly 30 minutes before he collapsed.
10:42 PM PT — A rep for the WWE tells TMZ .., “Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler suffered a heart attack while commentating during Monday night’s broadcast of ‘Monday Night Raw’ in Montreal.”
The rep adds, “We are hopeful Jerry makes a full recovery and returns to WWE in the near future. Our thoughts are with Jerry and his family.”
–TMZ
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VIA LATIMES:
Commentator Jerry Lawler suffered a heart attack Monday during a live broadcast of WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” in Montreal.
The 62-year-old Lawler, nicknamed “The King,” was stricken as he and announcing partner Michael Cole were providing commentary during a tag-team match featuring Kane and Daniel Bryan versus The Prime Time Players.
Midway through the match, the commentary suddenly stopped and snoring sounds could be heard. In the background of one TV shot, Lawler could be briefly glimpsed slumping over in his chair as several people in the stands turn their attention to the announcers’ table.
Medical personnel at ringside immediately started CPR on Lawler, whose heart had stopped beating. As action continued in the ring, Lawler was taken backstage on a stretcher; CPR continued there and while he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in serious condition Tuesday.
A visibly distraught Cole later updated television viewers about what had happened. After a couple more updates, the show continued without commentary until its conclusion.
Lawler, who still wrestles occasionally, had competed in a match earlier in the show, about 45 minutes before his heart attack.
In the video above, you can see people working on Lawler, then carrying him to a waiting stretcher.
The WWE released the following statement early Tuesday morning:
“Jerry “The King” Lawler suffered a heart attack while commentating during last night’s broadcast of Monday Night Raw in Montreal. We are hopeful Jerry makes a full recovery and returns to WWE in the near future. Our thoughts are with Jerry and his family.”
Lawler is a veteran “Raw” announcer who has had a 40-plus year career as a pro wrestler. He perhaps is best known for his famous run-in with comedian Andy Kaufman on “Late Night with David Letterman,” when Lawler slapped Kaufman in a scripted incident to help promote an upcoming match between the two.
