Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Rumors that Andy Kaufman had cheated death were rampant earlier this week and were they to be true, his former wrestling rival wants a rematch.

The staged battles between Jerry "The King" Lawler and Kaufman, a comedian who carried on a years-long wrestling gag before his 1984 death, have become known as the first real sports entertainment feud.


"I would like nothing better than to know that Andy was still alive and been with us all this time," Lawler said of his old friend. "But like anybody else, I really don't know any more than what I've heard."

When he was alive, Andy Kaufman used to say he wanted to fake his own death, and while he almost certainly didn't -- Kaufman died in 1984 from a rare form of lung cancer -- rumors of his still being alive have persisted in the nearly 30 years since his death.

In the past few days, one of those rumors resurfaced, as a woman came forward claiming to be Kaufman's daughter. His brother, Michael Kaufman, said he believes he has been the victim of a hoax.

"It could be a great hoax in his honor, dreamed up by his friend Bob Zamuda and his brother, Michael," Lawler said. "That would be something that would be in keeping with Andy's tradition, but who's to say. It could really be legit."

And, on the off-chance the rumors were true, Lawler said he would like nothing more than to climb back into the ring for a rematch with The King.

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"We could rekindle the feud with no problem," Lawler said.

[CNN] [The Smoking Gun]