Flair’s still going because he’s had a bunch of divorces and generally has no concept of money, so he still wrestles because he has bills he needs to pay.
Not sure what Lawler’s financial situation is, but I get the feeling that he does it because it’s what he is and what he does. From what I understand he wrestled in Aruba over the weekend, flew up to Montreal for Raw where he wrestled in an early match before the heart attack.
I haven’t followed Taz since he left WWE, but I know Edge could be crippled with just one bad bump. That’s why he immediately dropped the belt without even a farewell match.
Lawler is one of the people who always managed to stay healthy. I don’t even think he wears knee pads when most people need them in their 20’s and then knee braces by the time they’re in their 30’s.
Wrestlers in the 80’s and 90’s were big steroid freaks, but it’s pretty clean now. Sure, there’s still some big bodybuilders types, but most of the roster is pretty slim now. Just look at Punk. If they are using them, it’s probably for recovery from an insane schedule and not so much to look huge.
I’ve also heard numerous wrestlers say running the rops hurts like hell until you get used to it and it’s dangerous to bounce off them with no training.
Most wrestlers are in great condition and love wrestling into their old age as means of showing that. In the old days it was unheard of for a wrestler to sue a promotion because of injury or death, and impossible to get other wrestlers to testify on their behalf. But times have changed. Jerry will never be allowed to wrestle in the WWE again, they won’t risk the liability. I’m sure he had a clean bill of health going into last night’s match. It wasn’t an impromtu match either, he had his wrestling gear on. He might have had a heart attack just walking down the street also, but the exertion of the match didn’t help. I think he probably put more into it, Monday Night Raw is the big stage for Jerry, I’m glad he got the chance, though I’m not glad it resulted in a heart attack. As someone else mentioned, it could have happened at an independent show without the kind of medical care he receieved there. He’s lucky to be alive. But these guys dedicate their lives to wrestling. I wouldn’t want to be the guy to tell them they can’t do it anymore.
For the record, according to the news, Lawler is 62.
Also for the record, last time I saw Ric Flair, he looked like he was in his 70’s. According to Wikipedia, he’s 63. Idiot will probably die in the ring or in his hotel room shortly thereafter because he’s fucking broke and can’t manage a single dollar.
According to the latest, three stents.
I remember watching that. Bubba Ray protected May. May took no bump, even at the end when Bubba Ray (mostly) gently placed her on the mat. Bubba Ray’s butt and legs went thru the table.
Are you insinuating that Bubba Ray didn’t smash an old lady through a table attempting to cause her great bodily harm?
He’s a really great guy. When he’s not doing the wrestling thing he’s doing charity work. My family and his family were close back when I was a kid. He was a local celebrity even then but every Sunday he was out playing ball with the neighborhood folks and his family.
Considering he also performed (not sure if he actually wrestled though) in the Carribean this past weekend and that he flew straight from there to Montreal, it’s easy to see why this put more stress than usual on his body. He did look fine during the match and dind’t take any greater risk than usual.
But all things considered, Lawler was one of the healthier looking legends that they bring out.
Especially compared to Hulk Hogan, Flair, and well…many others weren’t as fortunate to make it to their 60s 
Someone seemed to hint they thought it happened during the match, but it was about an hour later. Up until then he seemed fine, was talking as usual.
No matter what the cause, he’s lucky it happened right there and then. There are doctors at ring side, right next to the commentator spot. This probably saved his life.
As for Taz and Edge. Their situations were different, a neck problem forced them to stop. Lawler never had a reason to stop other than “he doesn’t need to do this”
I thought it was a great heel move, and that May was a feisty, crazy old bat for agreeing to it. And it looked great at live speed. But it would have been better had they not replayed it.
But May never touched the table.
Board rules prevent me from properly dealing with those who claim professional wrestling is fake. But any professional wrestler will be willing to disabuse you of that belief 
Hey, the ability to take an 80 year old woman and make it look for all the world like you just put her through a table without causing her any harm is SKILL.
Pretty damn good work from the old lady too.
She definitely had a hand in it…
Tx, needed something to smile about today 
I LOVE professional wrestling. I’ve been a fan since around when Bob Backlund beat Superstar Graham for the WWWE title. I was a regular at the Madhouse of Extreme, the Elk’s Lodge in Queens during the heyday of ECW (it was walking distance). I have never, and will never, say wrestling is ‘fake’.
What I will say is that one bump was choreographed so that May did not hit the table. I wish my google-fu was better, as “mae young table” and “bubba ray mae young” aren’t pulling up any videos. When they did that particular power bomb through a table, Mae Young held onto Bubba Ray’s neck so that almost all the impact was on Bubba Ray, not Mae Young, and Bubba Ray was holding her fairly high. As I said, at live speed it looked absolutely awesome. And there are none tougher than Mae, and that includes the late Fabulous Moolah.
I’m just joking with you. Bubba Ray and Mae did that one excellently. But you’re not supposed to let the marks in on the secrets 
To bring this back on topic, The King is apparently awake, and while not speaking, is communication via long detailed notes. There was a fear of brain damage, but it appears to be unfounded (unless the King’s fascination with ‘puppies’ and girls my daughter’s age counts).
This is the Straight Dope, we know wrestling’s secrets. LOL
I usually refer to wrestlers as highly skilled stunt men. I prefer the old style matches where the booker told them what he wanted. Guys like Ric Flair and Lawler put on a match with little prep. It wasn’t per-choragraphed like today.
I’m still amazed that Lawler risked a pile driver on Andy Kaufman. Thats one of wrestling’s more dangerous moves. Lots of wrestlers have been hurt with it. It shaved several years off Steve Austins career.