WWE has not renewed Jerry Lawler’s deal with the company.
As reported by PWInsider, the Hall of Famer has not seen his broadcast contract renewed by the company, ending a relationship that began all the way back in 1992. Sources that have spoken to PWInsider have also confirmed that the contract expired in early 2024 but was not renewed. It is added that Lawler suffering a stroke in February 2023 is what has delayed the news being broken until months later.
From his work as a wrestler in Memphis to his announcing on WWE TV throughout multiple decades, The King is one of the most well-known figures in wrestling history. A scary incident took place in September 2012 when Lawler had a legitimate heart attack during an episode of Raw and had to be resuscitated. With the near-death experience taking place on WWE programming, some within the company were surprised that the Hall of Famer was let go.
According to sources PWInsider has spoken to, Lawler would have always been looked after under the previous ownership but this is now “a new era” where the company is owned by Endeavor. The source continued and said the following:
“The old company is dead. People can say they hate Vince [McMahon] and Kevin [Dunn] all they want, and they’d be right to do so, but certain people would have been taken care of. Lawler would have been one, but this isn’t the old WWE. Howard Finkel, God bless him, wouldn’t have had a job for life here anymore, either.”
Following the initial publication of PWInsider’s report, WWE reached out and provided an update and stating that Lawler will still be under a legend’s deal moving forward.
Jerry Lawler Provides Health Update
Speaking at the end of 2023, Lawler provided an update on his health after suffering the stroke earlier in the year, where the legendary wrestler and announcer said that he was rehabbing 3 times a day and working on getting his speech and writing skills back. In a new interview in May 2024, Jerry Lawler provided a positive update.