WWE's Jerry Lawler Suspended After Domestic Abuse Related Charges

Wrestling legend and WWE color commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler was taken into custody early Friday, June 17, on domestic assault causing bodily harm charges.

Reports are Lawler and 27-year-old girlfriend Lauryn McBride were both arrested by the Shelby County Sheriff's Office at his home. McBride later told police Lawler punched her in the head and pushed her against the stove.

At one point, she claimed he placed an unloaded revolver on the kitchen counter and told her to kill herself.

Lawler Disputes Charges

The 60-year-old Lawler countered by claiming an intoxicated McBride scratched his face, threw a candle at him and kicked him in the groin. He added McBride was aware there was a gun in the garage and threatened to kill herself.

Because both claimed the other was the aggressor and a preliminary police investigation was unable to determine which party was being truthful, officers decided to arrest both subjects.

Lawler also told authorities the two argued after she returned home and he asked his live-in girlfriend of five years where she had been. He added the situation escalated after he tried to stop McBride from leaving in her car.

Both are now due in court on June 20. It's unknown if either one of two has hired an attorney.

WWE Takes Quick Action

WWE officials have since announced Lawler has been indefinitely suspended.

"WWE has zero tolerance for matters involving domestic violence, and per our policy, Jerry Lawler has been suspended indefinitely following his arrest," the company said in a statement.

In a jailhouse interview with WMC Action News, Lawler told reporters he had just returned from a wrestling event when he and McBride began to quarrel.

"We got into a little bit of a shouting match and then she wanted to leave," he said. "I was not going to let her leave in the car, because she was just not in any condition to drive."

He later added, "It's just an unfortunate situation. Nobody was hit and nobody was hurt. It's just something that happened as a result of drinking too much."