Michael Donahue

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Jerry Lawler, the legendary Memphis WWE wrestler, was on hand Monday on opening day of King Jerry Lawler's Memphis BBQ Company.

Fans chatted with and had their pictures taken with The King, who ordered ribs. The restaurant at 465 North Germantown Parkway is decorated with photos from Lawler's 46-year wrestling career. His wrestling matches constantly play on a TV screen.

The sandwiches, which are called "slamwiches," include The King (pulled pork), The Ravisher (chopped brisket), Rude Awakening (smoked sausage) and Southern Champ (smoked chicken breast). You can — as the menu says — "Make it a full nelson" by adding slaw to any slamwich. The sides are called — you guessed it — "ring sides."

Asked why he decided to open a barbecue restaurant, Lawler said, "There are two things that are synonymous with Memphis, Tennessee — barbecue and wrestling. And I've already done the wrestling.

"We just wanted to jump in and challenge all of these other barbecue restaurants in Memphis. It's going to be like, 'The King has never backed down from a challenge.' We're going to prove that we've got championship barbecue right here at the King's place."

Customers order their food from the counter. "This is going to be like a fast-paced wrestling match. Our concept here is you come in the front door, you see the menu boards, you see the pictures of the food, and within four minutes of you ordering you're going to have your food and sitting down and having it in your mouth."

They also can pick out their own barbecue rubs, Lawler said. "We've got The King's original rub, Apple Royal rub, Cherry Bomb, Pile Driver pecan rub."

Lawler, who also is an owner of King Jerry Lawler's Hall of Fame Bar & Grille on Beale Street, said he is an owner of the barbecue restaurant. "We have an ownership group, some of the same people that are involved with the Bar & Grille down there and some other people as well."

That same group will be involved in franchising the barbecue restaurant, Lawler said. "With the popularity of wrestling and my name and the Memphis barbecue, the franchise opportunities are amazing. Especially in this Southern region.

"I put out a couple of tweets about it this morning and we've had amazing interest. We had people from Glasgow, Scotland, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, inquiring if they could get a franchise in their countries. And, of course, it's going to be available. We may go worldwide with this thing."

For more information, go to jerrylawlerbbq.com

Donahue can be reached at michael.donahue@commercialappeal.com.