Road Dogg Created Jerry Lawler’s Iconic ‘Puppies!’ Catchphrase During Attitude Era Interview

Wrestling’s most memorable catchphrases often emerge from unexpected moments, and Jerry “The King” Lawler’s legendary “Puppies!” exclamation proves this rule perfectly. The WWE Hall of Famer recently revealed the surprising origin story behind his Attitude Era signature call — and it wasn’t his brainchild at all.

The Real Creator Behind Wrestling’s Most Famous Shout

Speaking with Denise Salcedo in a candid interview, Lawler set the record straight about who deserves credit for the phrase that defined his commentary during WWE’s wildest period. The honor belongs to none other than Road Dogg, one half of the New Age Outlaws and a cornerstone of D-Generation X.

The moment happened organically during a backstage segment, as many classic wrestling moments do. Road Dogg’s spontaneous comment to Sable during an interview created the spark that would ignite one of wrestling’s most recognizable verbal trademarks.

“I wish I could say yes, but I can’t… I’ll give the one guy, the Road Dog, credit… He came out and said on an interview to Sable, ‘Hey, let us see your… puppies.’ And it went over big… It just stuck in my mind, and I started saying it week after week… It became where it was a historic word for me to say, ‘Puppies.'”

From Backstage Banter to Commentary Gold

What started as Road Dogg’s impromptu remark quickly transformed into Lawler’s weekly ritual at the announce table. The phrase resonated with the announce team veteran, who recognized its potential to capture the Attitude Era’s irreverent spirit.

Week after week, Lawler’s enthusiastic delivery of “Puppies!” became appointment television for wrestling fans. The catchphrase perfectly embodied the era’s push toward edgier content and helped establish the announce booth as entertainment beyond simple match calling.

The Attitude Era’s Accidental Legacy

Lawler’s adoption of Road Dogg’s creation demonstrates how the Attitude Era’s most memorable elements often emerged from unscripted moments. The phrase became inseparable from WWE’s presentation during the company’s ratings war with WCW, symbolizing the product’s shift toward adult-oriented programming.

The catchphrase coincided with the rise of performers like Sable, who helped redefine women’s roles in professional wrestling during the late 1990s. Whether fans embraced or criticized the phrase, its cultural impact on sports entertainment remains undeniable.

This revelation adds another layer to wrestling history, showing how collaborative creativity shaped the Attitude Era’s defining moments. Road Dogg’s spontaneous interview comment became Lawler’s signature call, proving that sometimes the most enduring aspects of wrestling entertainment happen purely by chance — making us wonder what other “accidental” catchphrases might be hiding in wrestling’s untold backstage stories.