Jerry \'The King\' Lawler has parted ways with WWE after decades with the Sports Entertainment promotion, it has been reported. Lawler is no longer with WWE after the company opted not to renew his contract, according to PWInsider. Their report states Lawler\'s deal expired in early 2024.
One WWE source told PWInsider that Lawler\'s departure was emblematic of the monumental changes happening backstage. \"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.”
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While Lawler is no longer under a broadcaster contract, he\'s not entirely gone from WWE. The King is still under a \'Legends\' deal, which allows WWE to use his name and likeness in all variety of projects. Other all-time greats signed to Legends contracts include The Undertaker, Mick Foley, and Kurt Angle.
Lawler had been out of WWE\'s spotlight in recent years due to a number of health issues. The King suffered a stroke in early 2023 and underwent double knee surgery in March 2024. Despite this, Lawler recently said his health was doing great and that he was making strides in his recovery.
A staple of the territories that ruled Memphis, Lawler debuted for the World Wrestling Federation in 1992. The King served as a commentator and wrestler for years in the company and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007. Lawler\'s final WWE match was in September 2012 during the same Raw at which he would suffer a heart attack.
Lawler\'s exit from WWE underlines the new approach to business the company is making under TKO. Lawler is the latest staple to part WWE, following the likes of Kevin Dunn in late 2023 and Vince McMahon himself that same January.
