Smack2k Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 OK, I have read SOO many different wrestlers over the years that were assholes / hard to work with / wont put people over / etc.. but I havent heard any about Lawler outside him punching Paul Heyman and breaking his jaw on Paul's way out of Memphis (allegedly).. Is / Was Lawler just a good dude doing what is best for business all the time or was he hard to deal with and not willing to do things for others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkdoc Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 lawler's definitely got a ton of skeletons in his closet - they just happen to be of the non-wrestling variety. see his love for underage girls... also probably the stuff surrounding the USWA going under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 Yeah, his love of underage girls was one of his big ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 The jaw breaking thing wasn't alleged as Jim Ross pushed the issue on a Legends of Wrestling round table and forced an admittance out of him that he did it on purpose. In 1993 he went to court on charges of raping and sodomising a 15-year old girl but those charges were dropped when she admitted to lying about certain details. Whether you believe in "no smoke without fire" is your own call but it's no secret that he has a romantic predilection for younger women. He was also arrested in 1999 after throwing a ticket at a police officer and running over his foot, but I figure that to be more of an isolated incident than an act of general dickishness. In terms of actual wrestling, I suppose the biggest complaints levelled against him could be that he and Jerry Jarrett were notoriously stingy payoff guys, and that he booked himself on top for decades, but you can say that about most promoter/wrestlers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smack2k Posted February 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 I should have said in wrestling.... I know his penchant for young ladies!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted February 14, 2015 Report Share Posted February 14, 2015 I think he has a lot of stigma because he wasn't one of the guys. He said on Stone Cold's podcast that he wasn't a party guy and that after shows he went to McDonalds and listened to the Indians on the radio. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoo Enthusiast Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 Think that's definitely part of it. No crazy road stories that added to his legend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerpride Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 Meltzer always talks about he's Teflon when it comes to legal disputes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjh Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 In terms of actual wrestling, I suppose the biggest complaints levelled against him could be that he and Jerry Jarrett were notoriously stingy payoff guys, and that he booked himself on top for decades, but you can say that about most promoter/wrestlers. Lawler was ribbed badly when he first went to the WWF for that reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMick Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 Steve Keirn took a dump in his crown at Rumble '93, for what that's worth. Bret cranked in the sharpshooter nice and tight at SummerSlam '93 at a receipt from a stiff shot earlier. Kevin Kelly described him as very insincere and phoney on a podcast. Jake Roberts complained that he threw real alcohol at him in an angle when a substitution would have worked fine (I know, it's Jake, but still....). When questioned on the Jake dvd, Lawler didn't even pretend to be apologetic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 There's also all the straight-up racist flyers he would paint for his Memphis shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantastic Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 I've heard a lot of rumors about his like for younger women. Whether that extends to actual minors is unknown, but the 93 incident does send some red flags flying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Mark Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Lawler was a regular at Memphis strip clubs . The King bragged to a dancer tha he had $ 250,000 ihidden in his jukebox. The dancer was a girl friend / employee of a man named Tate . Mister Tate ran a criminal empire in a North memphis slum called Nutbush . Tate main business was vice. He would run hookers to the Northern Miss casinos . Tate was going to break in Lawler's home and steal the $ 250 k . Somebody squealed on Tate , . He was arrested and got 14 years. Tate was an officer on the Memphis Police Department . His father , Jerry Tate , was the long time anchorman on the local CBS station. Jerry Tate left Memphis in disgrace and retired to Florida. Jerry Lawler denies every telling anyone there was $ 250 , 000 in the jukebox. . Is this consider shady ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goc Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 I don't think Lawler is going to be bragging to a stripper about hidden money in a jukebox. It's not like he would have gotten drunk and been out of his mind so it seems pretty out of character. He doesn't come off as a guy who flaunts his money around. Regardless, the whole thing ends with a crooked cop going to jail so it sounds like a net positive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyonthewall2983 Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 I'm just wondering how Tate managed to run a strip club, a drug empire and managed to be a cop at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Memphis Mark Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 I'm just wondering how Tate managed to run a strip club, a drug empire and managed to be a cop at the same time. Easy . He did it all while he was on the clock. Tate was a patrolman . His beat was a crime ridden area . Things develop over time. They are are arresting Memphis cops on a rountine basis .. The Memphis IA department stays busy . Also he did not run the strip clun , he just used the club's strippers as " escorts ". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamthedoctor Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 The jaw breaking thing wasn't alleged as Jim Ross pushed the issue on a Legends of Wrestling round table and forced an admittance out of him that he did it on purpose. In 1993 he went to court on charges of raping and sodomising a 15-year old girl but those charges were dropped when she admitted to lying about certain details. Whether you believe in "no smoke without fire" is your own call but it's no secret that he has a romantic predilection for younger women. He was also arrested in 1999 after throwing a ticket at a police officer and running over his foot, but I figure that to be more of an isolated incident than an act of general dickishness. In terms of actual wrestling, I suppose the biggest complaints levelled against him could be that he and Jerry Jarrett were notoriously stingy payoff guys, and that he booked himself on top for decades, but you can say that about most promoter/wrestlers. Lawler was off TV for a bit during that period wasent he? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapshot Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 The jaw breaking thing wasn't alleged as Jim Ross pushed the issue on a Legends of Wrestling round table and forced an admittance out of him that he did it on purpose. In 1993 he went to court on charges of raping and sodomising a 15-year old girl but those charges were dropped when she admitted to lying about certain details. Whether you believe in "no smoke without fire" is your own call but it's no secret that he has a romantic predilection for younger women. He was also arrested in 1999 after throwing a ticket at a police officer and running over his foot, but I figure that to be more of an isolated incident than an act of general dickishness. In terms of actual wrestling, I suppose the biggest complaints levelled against him could be that he and Jerry Jarrett were notoriously stingy payoff guys, and that he booked himself on top for decades, but you can say that about most promoter/wrestlers. Lawler was off TV for a bit during that period wasent he? Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iamthedoctor Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 The jaw breaking thing wasn't alleged as Jim Ross pushed the issue on a Legends of Wrestling round table and forced an admittance out of him that he did it on purpose. In 1993 he went to court on charges of raping and sodomising a 15-year old girl but those charges were dropped when she admitted to lying about certain details. Whether you believe in "no smoke without fire" is your own call but it's no secret that he has a romantic predilection for younger women. He was also arrested in 1999 after throwing a ticket at a police officer and running over his foot, but I figure that to be more of an isolated incident than an act of general dickishness. In terms of actual wrestling, I suppose the biggest complaints levelled against him could be that he and Jerry Jarrett were notoriously stingy payoff guys, and that he booked himself on top for decades, but you can say that about most promoter/wrestlers. Lawler was off TV for a bit during that period wasent he? Yes. Any ideas how long for? I know Shawn replaced him in the Survivor Series 93 match which didnt feel the same way. Was the match planned any differently had Lawler been involved? I take it Lawler would have still pinned Owen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjh Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Lawler returned at WrestleMania X to announce the show, so he was gone for about four months. I don't think it would have been booked much differently. I think the plan was always for Lawler to get his ass kicked on the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cox Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 The one difference is that Lawler probably would have put over Bret rather than doing a countout, as they did with Shawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smack2k Posted February 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 Interesting stuff so far....I was gone all weekend so nice to read this,.. What about in wrestling, has he screwed people? Held anyone down? Refused to job to certain folks for reasons? I am not looking for dirt, I just have never heard anything negative with him and behind the scenes dealings within the wrestling business Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clintthecrippler Posted February 16, 2015 Report Share Posted February 16, 2015 I cant imagine him refusing to job for anyone. Hell, the standard Memphis formula was "new guy comes in, Lawler loses the Southern title to the new guy, new guy beats one or two other challengers, then Lawler overcomes the odds in the rematch." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 The closest thing I can think of is no-showing dates while AWA champion because Verne was stiffing him on pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goodhelmet Posted February 17, 2015 Report Share Posted February 17, 2015 That isn't even a negative on Lawler. That is more reflective of Verne being a cheapskate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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