Jerry Lawler Admits Iconic ‘Puppies!’ Catchphrase Was Never His Idea

Jerry “The King” Lawler didn’t just call matches — he became a soundtrack to WWE’s most wild era. And for millions of fans, one simple word defined his voice during the Attitude Era: Puppies!

But as it turns out, Lawler isn’t the one who originally came up with it. During a new interview with Denise Salcedo, the WWE Hall of Famer pulled back the curtain on how one of the most famous phrases in wrestling history actually came to life — and it wasn’t exactly a master plan.

Lawler explained that credit goes to one of the most outspoken stars from that time period: Road Dogg. The phrase first popped up during a backstage interview, and Lawler admitted it stuck with him immediately.

“I wish I could say yes, but I can’t… I’ll give the one guy, the Road Dog, credit… He came out and said on an interview to Sable, ‘Hey, let us see your… puppies.’ And it went over big… It just stuck in my mind, and I started saying it week after week… It became where it was a historic word for me to say, ‘Puppies.’”

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That off-the-cuff moment quickly became one of the Attitude Era’s signature soundbites. Whether fans loved it or hated it, Lawler’s constant shouts of Puppies! became part of WWE pop culture, forever linked to the rise of women like Sable and the company’s edgier presentation in the late ’90s.

Love it or cringe at it, there’s no denying Jerry Lawler’s Puppies! call is burned into wrestling history. But now we know, even The King didn’t plan for it to happen — sometimes, the most memorable things in wrestling are pure accident.

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