WWE legend Jerry 'The King' Lawler is hospitalized in Florida after suffering a 'serious medical episode' while having lunch with friends

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WWE legend Jerry 'The King' Lawler has been rushed to hospital after suffering a 'serious medical episode' while having lunch with friends in Florida.

The 73-year-old was taken ill on Monday afternoon, after suffering a stroke at his home in Fort Myers, near Cape Coral, according to wrestling site PWInsider. 

He is currently recovering in hospital after going under the knife, per Action News 5.

'Lawler is awake, but his situation is very serious,' tweeted wrestling reporter Dave Mezler on Tuesday morning. 

Lawler has suffered serious health issues in the past, first in 2012 when he had a heart attack while providing commentary on an episode of 'Monday Night Raw.'

Jerry Lawler, 73, was rushed to hospital after having a stroke at his home in Fort Myers, Florida

'The King' made his debut in the ring in the 1970s and is still an independent boxer nowadays

Just 10 minutes prior to the medical emergency, he was participating in a tag-team match against CM Punk and Ziggler along with Randy Orton. 

Ziggler had frequently hit Lawler in the chest with his elbows, though Lawler and Orton ended up winning the match. 

'The King' also suffered a stroke at his home in Memphis in March 2018. He later claimed that he couldn't speak for three days and only regained speech when he eventually woke up in hospital. 

That year, he was able to make all of his appearances during WrestleMania 34 weekend in New Orleans and was even cleared to wrestle.

Lawler is currently recovering in hospital after going under the knife. Pictured in April, 2014

'I hope my friend is going to okay,' tweeted fellow pro wrestler Ricky Morton in reaction to Lawler's medical emergency on Monday. 'Love you, Jerry.'

Lawler's been involved in WWE wrestling for more than 50 years, starting in the ring in 1970 in Memphis, his hometown. He's come in and out of retirement but is still an independent wrestler in his 70s. 

His most recent match was against Scott Steiner, 60, last year but it ended in a no-contest.