FOLLOWERS OF WWE WRESTLING action in Montreal were shocked to see some real-life drama unfold before their eyes on Monday.

Jerry Lawler, who wrestles and commentates as ‘The King’, suffered a heart attack while he was ringside at the Bell Centre to commentate on a tag team bout on the company’s Raw television broadcast.

Medics rushed to the commentary position to attend to Lawler after he collapsed.

A statement on the WWE’s website today read:

“Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler suffered a heart attack while commentating during last night’s broadcast of Monday Night Raw in Montreal.  We are hopeful Jerry makes a full recovery and returns to WWE in the near future. Our thoughts are with Jerry and his family.” It continued:

During the tag team match between Kane and Daniel Bryan and The Prime Time Players tonight on Raw, viewers may have noticed members of the audience and WWE production team staring toward the commentary booth, as well as the absence of Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler’s voice. WWE.com has learned that the WWE Hall of Famer collapsed at the announcers’ table and was tended to in the locker room area by WWE medical staff. Lawler was then taken from the arena to a medical facility in Montreal.

Michael Cole, who was commentating alongside Lawler, gave a number of updates on his colleague’s condition as the broadcast continued.

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Lawler began his wrestling career in the early 1970s and gained fame in America for a contrived feud between himself and the comedian Andy Kaufman.

The 62-year-old still wrestles on occasion and has taken part in world title bouts in recent years.

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