20 Wrestlers Vince McMahon Owes Everything To

By Marcus K. Dowling /

18. Jerry Lawler

Whether as an early 90s antagonist of Bret Hart and Jake Roberts, late 90s Attitude Era announcer or throughout Vince McMahon's era of running the WWF an integral cog in Memphis-based pro wrestling, Jerry Lawler is a highly important piece in the McMahon wealth-earning scheme. When Vince McMahon was believed to be headed to prison during the steroid scandal era, it was Jerry Jarrett, the then-promoter of Memphis wrestling who was thought to be the heir apparent to a possibly incarcerated McMahon. As well, in the early 90s, Vince utilized Memphis' Power Pro Wrestling as a developmental territory and sent Lawler as an emissary to also semi-developmental promotion ECW, too. Also, Lawler still doubles as an iconic announcer for the product as well as occasional in-ring competitor, too. Assisting WWE on numerous levels, Lawler's role in McMahon's financial empire is important.