Ex-WWE Star Raises Serious Concerns About Jerry Lawler’s Potential In-Ring Return
Former WWE star Stevie Richards has expressed serious concerns about Jerry Lawler potentially returning to the ring at 76.
“The King” recently challenged longtime rival Bill Dundee to a match, prompting discussion about a potential return to the ring given his age and serious health issues. Richards addressed the situation on a recent episode of The Stevie Richards Show, where he discussed why some wrestlers struggle to leave the ring behind.
The former WWE Hardcore Champion admitted that he understands the mentality. At 54, he has dealt with debilitating back problems but said that a part of him still wonders whether he could wrestle again if he returned to full health.
“The idiot part of me, the mark part of me, the ego part of me, my pride, still wants to see if I can do it.”
However, Richards said those thoughts tend to disappear quickly when his back problems return. He explained that he has been working to find ways to rehabilitate and strengthen his back but admitted that getting back to what he considers 100% could make those competitive instincts resurface.
“It’s almost scary, cuz if I get back to what I feel is 100% that ego and pride.”
Richards pointed to Mike Tyson as another example of how difficult it can be to walk away when that competitive drive remains. Tyson had previously discussed not wanting to train because of where it could lead, only to eventually return to the ring.
Stevie Richards Questions Why Jerry Lawler Would Risk Returning To The Ring
The former WWE star then questioned why wrestlers such as Lawler and Ric Flair would feel compelled to take the physical risks associated with wrestling again when they can still earn money through appearances and other opportunities.
“Flair and Jerry Lawler could sign autographs and be pitchmen and do whatever they want.”
Richards noted that Flair, in particular, has continued to find opportunities to earn money because of his legendary status, regardless of whether he is actively wrestling.
“Here we are where you don’t need to do anything, take a bump. You just say, ‘Woo!’ You basically pump up a football team or do whatever and they pay you to be Ric Flair.”
Yet, Richards believes the desire to wrestle can remain strong despite the potential consequences. He suggested that Flair may have wanted to erase the memory of his controversial final match, while Lawler simply never appeared ready to stop wrestling until his health issues became more serious.
“I still think Ric Flair thinks he could do one more. Or he wants to erase the last final match kind of thing. And Lawler especially, like he just never, until the strokes, he never stopped.”
Richards’ co-host James Romero then pointed out that Lawler had continued wrestling even after suffering a heart attack, a point Richards agreed with. He recalled that people had urged Lawler to slow down and avoid situations that could put him at further risk.
Stevie Richards Reflects On Jerry Lawler Continuing To Wrestle After His Health Scares
Richards also rejected the idea that Lawler’s comparatively less physically demanding style would necessarily make another match safe. He noted that Flair was working with experienced performers during his final match, including wrestlers who were actively trying to protect him, but still suffered two heart attacks during the event.
“Flair was in the ring with the safest workers you could think of at the time, including his son-in-law at the time, that were doing nothing but trying to take care of him, right? And he still had two heart attacks in the ring.”
Richards said he and Dutch Mantell had previously discussed Flair’s match and suggested that the WWE Hall of Famer might have been better served by waiting for a hot tag rather than starting the match himself. However, he noted that even a short burst of action can significantly increase a wrestler’s heart rate and adrenaline.
“Even then the hot tag, what’s your heart rate? Your adrenaline, everything.”
He continued by pointing to the potential for serious medical complications during physical exertion.
“You can potentially have a stroke, heart attack, aneurysm. You don’t even know if you get a pulmonary embolism, you know? There’s all these things can happen.”
Stevie Richards Compares Jerry Lawler’s Situation To Val Venis’ Recent Match
Richards was quick to distinguish Lawler’s situation from that of another former WWE star, Val Venis, whose recent in-ring performance he had also watched and discussed. Richards said he had revised his earlier thoughts after seeing more of the match.
“Dude, he was moving around really good. On the opposite end of it he did not look like he was rusty, slowed down, missed a step. He was selling, he was contorting the back.”
Richards said that if Venis wants to continue wrestling for fun, he simply hopes he remains healthy and safe. However, he believes Lawler’s situation is far more concerning because of his medical history and the health issues faced by Dundee.
“But this is beyond the pale. This right here, a multi-heart attack and multi-stroke retired sort of wrestler challenging a dementia patient to a match. I think that’s a first ever.”
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