Tom Lawlor is closer to the end of his pro wrestling career, but he blames a current WWE EVOLVE star for getting him hooked in the first place.
Lawlor became a star in UFC, but he’s been a big part of the pro wrestling world for the past several years. Lawlor currently works for MLW as a commentator and spoke with WrestleZone about his in-ring future after healing from hip and back injuries.
During the conversation, Lawlor was asked if there was a match that made him want to be a pro wrestler. Prior to his MMA career, Lawlor worked as a pro wrestler on the indie scene. He also appeared in Ring of Honor as a manager for reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly), but cites a WrestleMania 31 weekend match for sparking his interest in competing again.
Tom Lawlor got the wrestling itch on WrestleMania 31 weekend
“I do remember this very clearly, though. It was at the WrestleMania that took place in Santa Clara, where Seth Rollins cashed in,” Lawlor explained. “I’d actually been doing some managing gigs for Ring of Honor at the time.
“I went to [the] WWN SuperShow [Mercury Rising 2015] that weekend. There was a match between Timothy Thatcher and Chris Hero. I remember watching that match and thinking to myself, ‘This is what is going to get me back in the ring. It’s going to happen,’” Lawlor said. “So, I blame Tim Thatcher for making me think I can wrestle again.”
Thatcher worked for WWE from 2020 to 2022. He returned to the company in March, as NXT General Manager Robert Stone announced Thatcher as the new Evolve General Manager. Thatcher quickly renamed himself as the “Foreman” of EVOLVE.
“He’s basically like a Mr. Belding for EVOLVE,” Lawlor added.
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