JERRY LAWLER vs. BRET HART

   This match and Mr Perfect vs. Shawn Michaels. From what I know this was the better-built match, and it's the feud I know more about, so I chose to start with this one. Bret Hart won the first televised King of the Ring tournament, and “The King” is Lawler's nickname in wrestling, and he believed there should only be one King in the then WWF. Lawler attacked Hart at his coronation after Bret called him “The Burger King”. Lawler went on to beat Owen Hart on an episode of The Wrestling Challenge and taunted his parents on a Raw in the build up. Also in my research to jog my memory, I found out they also had a feud at the same time in Lawler's USWA promotion and actually worked a cage match the night prior to this. 

Before this match, Jerry Lawler claimed he had injured his foot in a car crash and couldn't compete, and he'd chosen his Court Jester Doink the Clown to replace him in the match. Bret had Doink in the Sharpshooter and Lawler attacked Bret, showing the President Jack Tunney that he was fit for the match.

Vince McMahon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan are on commentary for this match. 

 

JERRY LAWLER VS. BRET HART 

WWF Summerslam 1993 (30th August 1993) 

Bret beats Lawler up the ramp with right hands and a headbutt before hitting him with a milk pail and throwing him in the ring for the match to officially start.

  Bret Hart brings King to his feet and headbutts him, sending him into the corner. Bret bites at Lawler's forehead making the most of Bill Alfonso's 5 count. Another right hand brings Lawler off his feet and sends him to the mat. Bret sends Lawler across the ring for a backdrop. Bret drops the leg and looks to set up for the sharpshooter but hits a low headbutt instead. Lawler tries to roll out of the ring but Bret catches him. Hard right by Bret knocks Lawler down again, and we see Owen and Bruce Hart cheering Bret on in the crowd. Lawler is out of the ring as we cut back but Bret's not far behind, and he has Lawler's crutch in hand. He hits Lawler over the back with it right in front of the referee but he lets it slide, just telling Bret to get them both back in the ring. Lawler gets sent into the guard rail first, but they do go back in eventually... Only for Lawler to roll right back out again.

  Jerry Lawler grabs pieces of his crutches and he's able to blindside Bret with them. Jabbing him in the ribs twice. Again Alfonso does nothing. You're not in ECW yet, pal! Lawler antagonises the Hart Brothers before going back to Bret and choking him with the crutch on the other side of the ring. The referee eventually goes over there, after stopping the Harts retaliating stopping the choke. Lawler gets another crutch shot in before putting Bret back in the ring. He sends Bret groyne first into the ring post. Lawler brings a crutch into the ring, and the referee's too distracted by the Harts to notice another crutch shot. Lawler sends Bret into the corner, then across the ring to another. Lawler panders to the crowd, but that gives Bret a chance to get a low blow. Lawler takes refuge in the corner and he tries to extend his hand to Bret, begging off. Bret doesn't go for it and he beats Lawler around the ring. 

  Bret Hart sends Lawler across the ring and hits his signature backbreaker for a nearfall. Bret climbs to the middle rope and hits the elbow drop, setting up for the sharpshooter. Lawler taps and the bell rings but Bret holds on. The officials try to break Bret free but they can't. After a few minutes, this forces them to reverse the decision and disqualify Bret.

WINNER: JERRY LAWLER

This was a classic example of how to do a brawl. Lawler played a brilliant chickenshit heel, having Doink replace him. The logic falls apart slightly when you think he could have not used his crutch and attacked Bret still faking the injury but then pulls together again that when his match starts Bret is already softened up. That's all BEFORE the match. During the match Lawler didn't get a lick of offence, I don't even think he got to look at Bret before he got a weapon in his hand. Any time the odds were even Bret dominated, and that was perfect. Bret got the visual win but his emotions cost him the official win, extending the feud. I'd rate the match *** or 6/10

After the match, Bret attacks Lawler again, and Bruce and Owen join him on the assault. Lawler holds his hand up in victory after he is stretchered away before Bret's music plays him away.