Jerry Lawler Battles Memory Lapses Nearly Two Years After Stroke

Jerry “The King” Lawler has never been one to hide the truth—and this time, it’s about the lasting toll his stroke has taken on his memory.

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, the WWE Hall of Famer opened up about the struggles he’s still dealing with nearly two years after suffering a life-threatening stroke in 2023. While the interview started as a tribute to his iconic career, it quickly revealed just how much Lawler is still battling when it comes to his memory.

At one point, Lawler struggled to remember the name of one of wrestling’s biggest stars when reflecting on a past match on WWE Raw.

“Oh gosh, I just can’t think of their names… One of them is one of the top heels or babyfaces right now… oh my gosh…”

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It wasn’t until co-host Mark Henry stepped in that Lawler was able to recall the name.

“It was CM Punk, yes…”

But the memory lapses didn’t stop there. Later, when discussing wrestling legends, Lawler blanked on the name of one of his most famous rivals—until the hosts helped him out.

“Oh gosh, my mind just goes because of the stroke… Oh gosh… the guy I was thinking of… I can’t bring it up…”

With a little help, Lawler finally remembered:

“Yes, absolutely… Terry Funk was the greatest guy I ever worked with.”

Bully Ray, also on the show, joked about the moment—but even that didn’t soften the reality for Lawler.

“That must have been one hell of a stroke if you can’t remember Terry Funk’s name.”

Lawler agreed, showing how serious the situation really is.

“It’s true… I can’t remember… I know his name… I just can’t bring it up.”

By the end of the interview, Lawler admitted the struggle is ongoing.

“I’m sorry, I just have these… I don’t know… these bouts with my strokes and stuff like that, but I just can’t help it.”

This wasn’t Lawler’s first major health scare. He suffered a heart attack live on Monday Night Raw back in 2012 and has been open about how his stroke in 2023 left lasting damage, including weakness on the right side of his body and difficulty with tasks like drawing, something he once considered a passion.

Despite it all, Lawler continues to make public appearances, but his recent interviews show the honest, painful reality of how serious health scares can follow even wrestling royalty long after the spotlight fades.

Do you think Jerry Lawler should take more time away from appearances to focus on his health, or do you admire his decision to stay in the spotlight despite the struggles? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know.

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