Most of us remember Lex Luger from his days as a professional wrestling superstar from the 1980s and ’90s.
The former wrestler, whose real name is Lawrence Pfohl, is down to 185 pounds and now counts showering and shaving on his own as great victories of the day, thanks to an accident last October that left him paralyzed.
From THE ATLANTA JOURNAL - CONSTITUTION:
A severe spinal injury from 30 years of football and wrestling struck down Luger while on a cross-country flight last fall. He spent two weeks in intensive care at Stanford University Hospital in California before transferring to Shepherd in November. He’s also still hobbled by double hip replacement surgery in February.
Luger, 50, was on a flight to San Francisco in late October when he began having difficulty moving his neck. Thinking it was simply a case of having sat in an awkward position for too much of the cross-country flight, he tried to jar his neck back into place, only to make his predicament worse.
“I was one of the strongest guys on the planet,” Luger said recently. “I was freaky strong before. I was bench-pressing 450 pounds my senior year of high school. I was a freak. Now I can’t lift a one-pound dumbbell.
During his recovery, Pfohl, like many other athletes before him, turned to a higher power:
The new and humbled Lex Luger is a man of strong religious conviction whose faith has helped him remain mostly upbeat.
Luger has taken it upon himself to minister to young patients at the Shepherd Center, often telling them his story of widespread abuse of drugs, steroids and alcohol at the expense of his family and health.
Luger believes he was meant to lift their spirits and give personal testimony to the importance of doing things the right way.
The story of Pfohl’s paralysis is pretty gruesome:
Luger arrived in San Francisco in considerable pain, but was still able to function. He awoke the next morning, however, paralyzed from the neck down and unable to even call for help. A desperate Luger maneuvered onto the hotel room floor, where he remained for more than four hours.
Doctors at Stanford University Hospital noted massive swelling of his spine from the C6 to T5 vertebrae, attributing the damage to the many disc injuries and bone spurs he’d collected during three decades of football and professional wrestling.
While doctors wait for the swelling in his spine to decrease, the man they still call “Lex” has been spending time with other patients at the Shepard Center, offering himself up as a cautionary tale.
It goes to show that no matter what you can lift or how high you can jump, leaders are leaders. He may not be throwing people down for a three-count or delivering choreographed blows to his enemies anymore, but Pfohl has found an audience to perform a new purpose in life, and may be lifting more now than he ever did in the ring.
10:31 am on June 21st, 2008
I wonder is he is repentant for abusing miss Elizabeth all those years and leading her into drugs which caused her untimely death in his home?
10:42 pm on June 21st, 2008
How do you know he led her into drugs? I thought adults made their own decisions. Nobody put a gun to her head and made her overdose.
12:29 pm on December 24th, 2008
I wonder how much of his own drug use led to his predicament… maybe he should be a speaker to all the wrestlers to stop the use before it happens to them too
2:05 am on September 10th, 2009
The chair looks like its gonna launch him some place.
10:16 am on September 13th, 2009
everybody makes mistakes in there.she was a women making her on decison.he was a awsome wrestler.just hope all his wrestling buddy help him though this .if i was his freind i would forgive him for what happen and be there for the man anybody that saids thats what he gets is stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1:09 pm on December 29th, 2009
How can any of you people try to judge Lex?Have you lived his life gone throgh what he has? the answer is no..As for him leading Liz into drugs thats Bull she was an aduld and knew what she was doing.Lex was A great Performer.He has suffered alot from what I have read.He has also lost alot do any of you know what its like to go from being fit and able to do anything to being stuck useing a chair?I have always been a fan of Lex And am even more so now to see that he is still fighting and doing what he can.Before you judge the man make sure you have been through just a little of what he has.
9:29 pm on February 5th, 2010
*I wonder how much of his own drug use led to his predicament… *
probably none since it was a spinal injury caused by disk damage and bone spurs. unless he was injecting drugs into his neck with a f***ing hatchet
9:02 pm on June 17th, 2010
It’s amazing that when times get rough people turn to GOD for help…. In my book Lex will always be an ASSHOLE!
4:38 pm on June 20th, 2010
All people make mistakes. We as children of God must be able to forgive and forgett. God has forgiven us. I am sorry to hear about Lex.
1:58 pm on June 21st, 2010
I used to work out at the main event fitness he owned along with Sting, and I worked out with him at steamboats gym in charlotte, NC. I have met just about every wrestler under the sun. I can tell you unequivocally and vehemently, that Lugar is the biggest asshole I have ever met in my life. He was terrible in the ring, and his interviews sucked. That being said he will find more fulfillment at the foot of the cross that he ever found in steroids and posing in the mirror.
1:26 pm on July 8th, 2010
Lex was my idle as young boy and i dreamed of being in the great shape he was allways in. He was one of the greatest superstars in wrestling in the 90`s and i look forward to seeing him in the hall of fame. keep ur head up high Lex you are still the man in my book. your friend and #1 fan allways. Chris
7:57 pm on July 13th, 2010
Lex didn’t push Elizabeth into drugs, She was using well before they were together. her Ex husband talked about it. lex has also been open about his drug use and doesn’t seem to hide it. bottom line is hes done and seen more in 40 years of good health then most of us will see in 100 years. At least hes not crying why me, he knows this is from his years of abuse.
9:49 pm on August 16th, 2010
goog luck in your recovery. god bless you.
1:22 pm on September 13th, 2010
I love it when people get hurt or in lots of trouble, or both, and then turn to god. An old guy I know summed it up once for me when a dumb-ass we worked with came in one day and said he’d found god. The old guy just looked at him and said “I didn’t know he was lost” and we just kept doin our stuff. Laughing of course.
9:40 am on November 18th, 2010
I am surprised!
I did not know that character’s childhood my brother and I, the great mighty Lex Luger, our reason to see the fights on television with the pack, one who made my brother go up as he jumped on his men as he I did, who stole our admiration today confronts such a situation …
What amazes me most is that today 15 or 12 years later say with certainty that I admire him even more and still makes a great hero who shot the television magic works on stage at times raw, bittersweet, melancholy but ultimately invigorating and happy life and its ups and downs … Lex have faith and courage from Medellin Colombia pray to God our Lord Jesus for you, and you put in the hands of our Blessed Virgin Mary, this is where more must be strong and I think you know what power I am referring, strengthens all who can and carries the message as St. Paul did not lose heart and with full conviction that God walks with us!!
God Bless you in spirit and heart will always be a big strong man, now is your vitamin faith and power! you’re gonna be back!!
Sincerely, Frank Stewar Agudelo Valencia and my brother Eder Alberto Agudelo Valencia
From Medellín Colombia!!
9:42 am on November 18th, 2010
I am surprised!
I did not know that character’s childhood my brother and I, the great mighty Lex Luger, our reason to see the fights on television with the pack, one who made my brother go up as he jumped on his men as he I did, who stole our admiration today confronts such a situation …
What amazes me most is that today 15 or 12 years later say with certainty that I admire him even more and still makes a great hero who shot the television magic works on stage at times raw, bittersweet, melancholy but ultimately invigorating and happy life and its ups and downs … Lex have faith and courage from Medellin Colombia pray to God our Lord Jesus for you, and you put in the hands of our Blessed Virgin Mary, this is where more must be strong and I think you know what power I am referring, strengthens all who can and carries the message as St. Paul did not lose heart and with full conviction that God walks with us!!
God Bless you in spirit and heart will always be a big strong man, now is your vitamin faith and power! you’re gonna be back!!
Sincerely, Frank Stewar Agudelo Valencia and my brother Eder Alberto Agudelo Valencia
From Medellín Colombia!!
E- mail: gretel-poprock@hotmail.com
facebook: *Frank Stewar Agudelo Valencia
*Gretel pop rock
9:45 am on November 18th, 2010
I am surprised!
I did not know that character’s childhood my brother and I, the great mighty Lex Luger, our reason to see the fights on television with the pack, one who made my brother go up as he jumped on his men as he I did, who stole our admiration today confronts such a situation …
What amazes me most is that today 15 or 12 years later say with certainty that I admire him even more and still makes a great hero who shot the television magic works on stage at times raw, bittersweet, melancholy but ultimately invigorating and happy life and its ups and downs … Lex have faith and courage from Medellin Colombia pray to God our Lord Jesus for you, and you put in the hands of our Blessed Virgin Mary, this is where more must be strong and I think you know what power I am referring, strengthens all who can and carries the message as St. Paul did not lose heart and with full conviction that God walks with us!!
God Bless you in spirit and heart will always be a big strong man, now is your vitamin faith and power! you’re gonna be back!!
Sincerely, Frank Stewar Agudelo Valencia and my brother Eder Alberto Agudelo Valencia
From Medellín Colombia!!
E-mail: gretel-poprock@hotmail.com
Facebook: *Frank Stewar Agudelo Valencia
*Gretel pop rock
7:57 pm on March 28th, 2011
Through looking through most of the comments I have noticed that not many have read how he came to Christ! He was already serving God before he was paralized. I have heard his testamony in person with Nakita
He makes no excusses for the man he was. He now uses his mistakes to help others not to make the same mistakes. He is a true man of God and if Lex if you ever read this you make a differece at Lighthouse and hope all is well with the nephew.
7:57 pm on April 15th, 2011
Lex Luger and Sting wwf match was one of the greatest of all time!!!!
7:17 am on May 6th, 2011
who’s the person who fitted him in that chair? Appropriate functions, but looks to be WAY too small and his feet are not supported…
3:49 pm on May 18th, 2011
F**K LEX LUGER
2:40 am on May 21st, 2011
Judge not, lest ye be judged. Life’s too short, enjoy. Lex had the spotlight … which any average person would revel in. Jealousy is ugly. A truly great athlete and entertainer. He is to be commended, not glorified and worshiped (that’s for God only), but truly appreciated.