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My understanding is he was a big star in Memphis. Could anyone explain why? The problem I had was he'd waste time where you didn't feel like it was a wrestling match. Some of Bret Hart's worst WWF matches involved Lawler. Ric Flair fans claim he could carry a broomstick to a great match, but the Flair and Lawler matches I've seen from the 1980's were not very great. Even at this point he was not very good in the ring. He's great on the mic, but during this time the emphasis was on wrestling a lot more than today so that doesn't help much. Even with wrestlers I don't like too much I can understand why they're a star but with Lawler I just don't get it.

True but he knew how to draw heat and get over though. And I wouldnt say that mic skills didnt matter back then, or that there wasnt ways to get over other then being good in the ring. Take Hulk Hogan for example. Hogan was never at any point in his career a good wrestler. He was average at best in the ring. But through his work on the mic and the way Vince promoted him to the fans, he still is to this day the biggest name in wrestling of all time.

His matches way back when were better for sure then the version you saw against Bret. When he fought Bret he was long done with wrestling and that was like him having an occasional match now.

Dominater wrote:True but he knew how to draw heat and get over though. And I wouldnt say that mic skills didnt matter back then, or that there wasnt ways to get over other then being good in the ring. Take Hulk Hogan for example. Hogan was never at any point in his career a good wrestler. He was average at best in the ring. But through his work on the mic and the way Vince promoted him to the fans, he still is to this day the biggest name in wrestling of all time.

I don't even think his mic skills were all that great at that time. He excelled as a heel but announcing as a babyface or a tweener he is average at best. From the footage I've seen I don't think he was all that great with the mic until his WWF days.

CapeCrusader wrote:His matches way back when were better for sure then the version you saw against Bret. When he fought Bret he was long done with wrestling and that was like him having an occasional match now.

What were his moves? He had the fist-drop, punch, and piledriver. I don't remember too many other moves he's done even during his best days. Not much better than a Giant Gonzales even in his prime. I just don't get it.

Still surprised that Lawler has never appeared in a wrestlemania as a performer. His older matches are actually pretty good. I mean of course it was a different era of wrestling. As someone pointed out you can't judge him on his work with Hart.

Celtsfan1980 wrote:

CapeCrusader wrote:His matches way back when were better for sure then the version you saw against Bret. When he fought Bret he was long done with wrestling and that was like him having an occasional match now.

What were his moves? He had the fist-drop, punch, and piledriver. I don't remember too many other moves he's done even during his best days. Not much better than a Giant Gonzales even in his prime. I just don't get it.

Different era dude...those moves were just as big and effective as a top rope finisher (Swanton, shooting star press). It was like Hogan with the boot to the face and the leg drop to finish his opponents. It would never work now, but back then it was everything.

Dominater wrote:True but he knew how to draw heat and get over though. And I wouldnt say that mic skills didnt matter back then, or that there wasnt ways to get over other then being good in the ring. Take Hulk Hogan for example. Hogan was never at any point in his career a good wrestler. He was average at best in the ring. But through his work on the mic and the way Vince promoted him to the fans, he still is to this day the biggest name in wrestling of all time.

In Memphis he was a babyface, but for why he was over, it was more storyline-based matches and brawling in the Memphis market. I loved his heel work in WWF though, funny as hell as a heel commentator too. Sad how much he's fallen off as an announcer (I think it's office imposed though)


As far as the Hulk example, people always forget he was absolutely over as a top star in "wrestling" dominant promotions, namely, NJPW and AWA. There is another intangible beyond/more important than "workrate" no matter what promotion you wrestle in.

Coach Smiley wrote:Sad how much he's fallen off as an announcer (I think it's office imposed though)

What reason do you have for believing that way? It's easier to insult people than compliment them, so some wrestlers or announcers are just better as heels and I think Lawler is one of them.

Celtsfan1980 wrote:What reason do you have for believing that way?

Because he's a kiss ass salesman with no balls now. Anyone listening can tell how dreadful he is. He's just there to sell the company and sell the advertisers.

Yea this guy has fallen off big time. He was WAY better as a heel announcer

he still wrestle matches here locally