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Professional wrestler Jerry Lawler tries to get the crowd pumped up

Professional wrestler Jerry Lawler tries to get the crowd pumped up before the start of Game 3 between the Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, April 23, 2011, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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WWE commentator, wrestler Jerry Lawler suffers heart attack

He collapsed ringside Monday night

Updated: Tuesday, 11 Sep 2012, 2:26 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 11 Sep 2012, 6:29 AM CDT

MONTREAL (AP) — Professional wrestler and commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler is stable in the cardiac care unit of a Montreal hospital after collapsing during a World Wrestling Entertainment event.

The WWE posted an update on Lawler's condition Tuesday afternoon on both its webpage and on Twitter.

"WE will provide additional information as it becomes available. We continue to wish Jerry all the best for a full recovery," according to the statement.

The WWE said that Lawler suffered a heart attack at the announcers' table Monday night during "Raw" and was taken from the Bell Centre to a hospital. The 62-year-old Lawler of Memphis, Tenn., still wrestles and took part in a tag team match before joining Cole ringside for the rest of the program as a commentator. He collapsed ringside while a match continued in the ring and was carried backstage before being taken to a hospital.

His broadcast partner Michael Cole addressed the television audience and said that the situation is "serious," but that Lawler was breathing on his own."

Lawler wrestled WWE champion CM Punk in a steel cage match in the main event of "Raw" two weeks ago.

The wrestler shot to fame in the early 1980s when he feuded with comedian Andy Kaufman. The two wrestled in Memphis, and Lawler famously slapped Kaufman during an appearance on "Late Night With David Letterman." Lawler later appeared as himself in the Kaufman biopic "Man on the Moon," starring Jim Carrey.

 

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