07 February 2023 , 20:09
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Legendary WWE commentator Jerry 'The King' Lawler is reportedly in a 'very serious' condition in hospital.
Lawler, 73, joined WWE in 1992 as a wrestler and has had several spells in the commentary box over the course of his career.
He is believed to have had lunch at home with friends on Monday near his home in Fort Myers, Florida when he suffered a stroke, reports Action News 5.
Lawler is said to have undergone surgery, with WWE journalist Dave Meltzer reporting he is "awake, but his situation is very serious."
The WWE is yet to release a statement but a number of wrestling stars have sent messages including Ric Flair, who tweeted Lawler: "We are praying for you."
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Dustin Rhodes, Matt Hardy and Hall of Famer Ricky Morton also sent their best wishes to Lawler.
Lawler collapsed after going into cardiac arrest while doing live commentary on Monday Night Raw back in 2012 and was rushed to hospital. He also suffered a minor heart attack in 2018.
The American made his wrestling debut over 50 years ago and has continued to compete well into his 70s, but he is best known for his commentary.
Jerry Lawler made his wrestling debut over 50 years ago (Getty Images)He was part of an iconic team alongside Jim Ross during WWE's Attitude Era and voiced a number of legendary matches during the 90s and 2000s.
Lawler was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 and WWE celebrated his 50 years in the industry with a special star-studded show in 2020 with a number of legends paying tribute.
Lawler has only appeared sporadically in recent years, working largely on pre-shows for main events including the Royal Rumble last month.