WWE Extreme Rules 2011: Why Jerry Lawler Should Not Be Performing In-Ring

Dear Jack Swagger: Stop fighting old men.

Seriously. It's undignified, it's dangerous and you're not making yourself look good.

Having said that, Jerry "The King" Lawler ought to know better than persist with this awful, gimmicky in-ring feud with Swagger and Michael Cole.

He's a Hall-of-Famer, for crying out loud. He's an excellent, incisive, insightful commentator. He knows what he's talking about and what makes good viewing. So why on Earth is he putting us through this?

Yes, him getting his WrestleMania moment after all these years was delightful. But surely he must have felt it was slightly tarnished because of what transpired, what with ankle locks and guest referees and disqualifications and Cole's subsequent gloating about his undefeated record?

In a corner of his mind, he must be thinking that no WrestleMania whatsoever would have been better than the one he actually got.

This upcoming rematch at Extreme Rules—a country whipping match, of all things—had better be the end of it. When Lawler and Cole are getting more time in the ring than actual Superstars, and this seems to be the only way that Swagger can get over, there must be serious questions asked about the storylining at the moment.

There's no question that Lawler is and always has been a beautiful technical wrestler. But in recent weeks, after Edge's retirement and the unedifying comments from Hulk Hogan, it's thrown into clear focus the problems with continuing to wrestle well into your late middle age. Not only do you run additional physical risks, but you may start to damage your legacy.

Please, King—after Sunday, get back to your announcer's table. And stay there.