A lion pride is very complicated, and we all think the male is the boss...
It is not easy for him to be the boss. He can only do that by force -- fighting other lions, yes, but he also needs to control the lionesses and he can only do this with tooth and claw..
They are always ready to fight and kill him.
When he gets too old to defend them, or just too old, the lionesses will kill him or drive him out, and if he has been away from the pride for too long, they will also attack him -- even if he is younger and in his prime (photo of the ousted lion).
Luckily, they did not kill the lion in this photo. The poor guy ran for his life and managed to get away.
Lionesses are meaner than the lions, but then they have to be because they are the primary hunters and protect their cubs.
* The photo of the snarling lioness with the bleeding ear, resting with her cubs after a fight with the pride's dominant lion.