Jerry Lawler Talks Andy Kaufman His Lasting Legacy On Professional Wrestling

Bill Apter hosted “Remembering Andy Kaufman” event at Starrcast that featured Jerry “The King” Lawler and Dutch Mantell talking about their Memphis Wrestling experience with legendary comedian Andy Kaufman. Apter took the audience step-by-step through Andy’s Memphis tenure while Jerry & Dutch recounted Kaufman’s ingenuity and love for professional wrestling.

Lawler mentioned that Kaufman never cashed any of his checks from his Memphis dates and that his infamous segments with Kaufman on David Letterman were not by the script. The show wanted Lawler and Kaufman to make nice, but Kaufman wanted Jerry to “slug” him. Lawler was legitimately concerned with getting arrested, but when the segment ran on too long, Lawler likened it to an “out-of-body” experience when he slapped him.

Both Lawler & Mantell said Andy was extremely respectful to the business and Lawler mentioned that the classic angle may have likely transitioned the “F” out of WWE with how much celebrity involvement the WWF incorporated to the product after Andy Kaufman set a precedent for professional wrestling.

Lawler also discussed the Man On The Moon film with Jim Carrey and how he believes that Carrey changed as a person after shooting the movie. Lawler compared Carrey’s personality change to the Jeff Goldblum film, The Fly, where part of him “channeling Andy” never left him.

RELATED: Tony Clifton Crashes Starrcast Andy Kaufman Panel