Two months after suffering a heart attack while broadcasting a WWE match in Montreal, wrestling legend Jerry "The King" Lawler made an emotional return to the ring on Monday.
During a taping of WWE Raw, Lawler emerged from backstage holding his customary crown. He took the mic and delivered an emotional speech to his fans and the television audience.
"There was a time that I didn't think I would ever be able to step back in a WWE ring again," Lawler said. "So for this night to actually happen is just beyond words for me."
A former professional wrestler himself, Lawler is perhaps most famous for a feud with comedian Andy Kaufman on "Late Night With David Letterman" in the 1980s.
On Monday Lawler told the crowd that he was floored by all the support he received during his recovery.
"Every holiday season there's a classic movie that comes out...called 'It's A Wonderful Life,'" Lawler said. "It's about a guy that didn't know how much his life meant to everybody that he knew and all his family and friends. It took a near death experience for him to realize that. And I, in the past few weeks, have lived that movie. I had no idea how many of you out there, how many friends and fans that I had that reached out with your love and your prayers and sent them my way. I just want to say, from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate it and I love each and every one of you."
(H/T to Deadspin)
