Jerry "The King" Lawler, a legend in WWE wrestling and broadcasting, collapsed and suffered a heart attack during a live broadcast of "Monday Night Raw" in Montreal.
Midway through a tag-team match between Kane and Daniel Bryan against the Prime Time Players, Lawler slumped in his chair. He immediately was given CPR and was taken to a hospital, where he is listed in serious condition.
Lawler's ex-wife, former WWE diva Stacy Carter, tweeted this morning that he had undergone a procedure in which "a [stent] and a balloon" were implanted and he "is still heavily sedated."
As the action continued, fans rose and watched as Lawler was attended and taken from the arena on a stretcher (see video here). Michael Cole told viewers that the situation involving his 62-year-old broadcast partner was "serious" and that Lawler was breathing on his own. "This is not part of tonight's entertainment," Cole said. "This is a real-life situation."
Cole, clearly upset, provided updates and the show continued to the end without commentary.
In a statement, the WWE said: "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, a pro wrestler for over 40 years, competed in Aruba over the weekend and again about 45 minutes before suffering his heart attack.
Lawler famously engaged in a match with the late comedian Andy Kaufman that was featured on "Saturday Night Live" and turned into a smackfest on the old "Late Night with David Letterman" show. (You can watch the uncensored version here.) Lawler played himself in the Kaufman biopic, "Man on the Moon," and reenacted their ring antics.
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