Larry Zbyszko

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Larry Zbyszko
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania[1]
Trained byBruno Sammartino
Geeto Mongol
Debut1971
Retired2015

Lawrence Whistler (born December 5, 1951), better known by the

world champion having twice held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. Zbyszko was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
on March 28, 2015, by Sammartino.

Professional wrestling career

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1971–1981)

Whistler trained under Bruno Sammartino after cutting his collegiate wrestling career at

World Wide Wrestling Federation
before traveling to California in 1975.

Zbyszko was one of the attractions in the 1976 Latin America Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight championship, held in Guatemala City, under José Azzari promotions. Three days after the end of the tournament (Mil Máscaras won the title, defeating José Azzari in the final), an earthquake destroyed much of that Central American nation.

Zbyszko returned to the WWWF in 1976[1] and formed a tag team with Tony Garea, with whom he won the WWWF World Tag Team Championships on November 21, 1978, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Their reign lasted until March 6, 1979, when they were defeated by the Valiant brothers in Allentown.

Zbyszko feuded with

Superstar Billy Graham in addition to wrestling Killer Kowalski and Baron Mikel Scicluna
. In 1978 he summarized his mat-based ringwork with the statement, "I just believe in science over brawn."

At the end of the decade, Zbyszko became frustrated with his inability to shed his label as

turning Zbyszko into a reviled heel
.

Zbyszko in 1981

Zbyszko was struck with an iron pole following a match with

Flushing, New York
on August 9, 1980, that saw Sammartino defeat Zbyszko in front of an audience of 36,295.

All Japan Pro Wrestling; International Wrestling Federation (1981–1982)

Zbyszko left the WWF in spring 1981. In mid-1981, he toured Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

In early to mid-1982, Zbyszko appeared with the

Bruno Sammartino Jr.
in a series of matches. In October 1982, he made another tour of Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Georgia Championship Wrestling (1983–1984)

In March 1983, Zbyszko joined the

Brett Wayne
in Atlanta. He continued to wrestle in Georgia until April 1984.

American Wrestling Association (1984–1987)

In March 1984, Zbyszko joined the

Chicago, Illinois
. Throughout the feud, Zbyszko drew the ire of fans by fleeing the ring and stalling for minutes at a time whenever Slaughter gained an advantage (in an April 2004 interview, Zbyszko claimed that the longest he ever stalled for was sixteen minutes).

Zbyszko feuded with

WrestleRock '86
on April 20, 1986, and fought him to a double count out at Battle by the Bay on June 28, 1986.

On May 2, 1987, Zbyszko helped

dimes to knock Bockwinkel out with. He was suspended
"for life" by the AWA as a result of an assault on Bockwinkel during Bockwinkel's rematch with Hennig in July 1987. As Bockwinkel retired shortly after the incident, Zbyszko began claiming to have retired both Bockwinkel and Bruno Sammartino.

Jim Crockett Promotions (1987–1989)

In November 1987, Zbyszko joined

Baby Doll. He began feuding with Barry Windham, and on January 24, 1988, in Uniondale, New York he defeated Windham for the NWA Western States Heritage Championship. After Baby Doll left Zbyszko he gained a new manager in Gary Hart, who placed him in a tag team with Al Perez. Perez and Zbyszko feuded with Kendall Windham and Dustin Rhodes
.

It was also during this time that Hart was asking for NWA World Title shots for both Zbyszko and Perez. It was claimed by Hart and even announcer Jim Ross that Zbyszko and Perez both had the ability to beat Flair for the title, but neither received title shots and the NWA quickly dropped the overtures. Crockett Promotions was under new ownership and both Zbyszko and Perez were essentially left without an angle. Zbyszko signed with the AWA in January 1989 and the NWA Western States Heritage Championship, which Zbyszko still held at that point, was subsequently retired.

American Wrestling Association (1989–1990)

Zbyszko took part in an eighteen-man

flying body press, however, Zbyszko managed to catch him in mid-air and deliver a fallaway slam
, throwing him over the top rope and to the ground below. Zbyszko was thus the new AWA World Heavyweight Champion.

Early in his title reign, Zbyszko would feud with

SuperClash 4 on April 8, 1990, in Saint Paul and successfully defended it against The Trooper, Brad Rheingans, and Nikita Koloff (who he defeated on May 5, 1990, at Twin Wars '90) toward the end of his reign. He was stripped of the title after leaving the AWA for World Championship Wrestling
on December 12, 1990, and the AWA declared bankruptcy in 1991, making Zbyszko the last man to reign as AWA World Heavyweight Champion.

World Championship Wrestling (1990–2000)

See also: Enforcers and Dangerous Alliance

In December 1990, Zbyszko returned to the NWA. Zbyszko initially teamed with

Bill Kazmeier. At the outset of the event, the Enforcers struck Kazmeier with a weight during a weightlifting demonstration, injuring his ribs
. This enabled them to defeat Steiner and Kazmeier for the titles in the main event.

At

Clash of the Champions XVII on November 19, 1991, in Savannah, Georgia
, the Enforcers lost the titles to Steamboat and Rhodes.

In December 1991, the Enforcers joined

Starrcade alongside of Missy Hyatt
. As a commentator, Zbyszko began referring to himself simply as "The Living Legend", as many WCW fans were unfamiliar with his feud with Bruno Sammartino. He also hosted an interview segment, "Larry Z's Legends" on WCW television which only lasted a few weeks.

In March 1994, Zbyszko began hosting

Lord Steven Regal began harassing Zbyszko, prompting him to return to the ring. On May 2, 1994, in Atlanta, Zbyszko defeated Regal for the WCW World Television Championship. He held the title until June 23, 1994, when Regal regained the belt in Charleston, South Carolina
.

In 1996, Zbyszko was promoted to the

Souled Out 1998
on January 24, 1998. Zbyszko won the match by disqualification after Dusty Rhodes betrayed him, joining the nWo.

Zbyszko went back to commentating, becoming part of the main Thunder announce team in April along with Mike Tenay, leaving Nitro. On December 6, 1999, when he faced Curt Hennig in a retirement match on Nitro and lost by disqualification. He returned in January 2000 as a member of the Old Age Outlaws with Terry Funk, Arn Anderson and Paul Orndorff to feud with the revived nWo, then returned to commentary in February until he was released from his WCW contract in late 2000 just before WCW was bought by the WWF.

Independent circuit (2000–2003)

After being released from World Championship Wrestling Zbyszko was rumored to be the replacement for Jerry Lawler as the commentator for Monday Night Raw in early 2001 after Lawler quit the company. Zbyszko did an interview with Live Audio Wrestling saying he wanted the job. These rumors never materialized as Paul Heyman would go on to become the color commentator for Monday Night Raw until Lawler returned to the company later that year.

In 2001 Zbyszko wrestled several matches for Dusty Rhodes's Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion.

In late 2001, Zbyszko requested that

World Wrestling Entertainment cease referring to Chris Jericho as "The Living Legend", claiming that this infringed upon his common law trademark. After WWF refused to comply, with chairman Vince McMahon personally addressing Jericho as "The Living Legend" during a televised broadcast, Zbyszko launched a lawsuit against WWF. In addition, he challenged McMahon to a shoot fight during a 2002 World Wrestling All-Stars pay-per-view
which never happened.

In 2002, Zbyszko had a short feud with Chris Harris in the Nashville, Tennessee-based USA Championship Wrestling promotion. On March 2, 2002, Zbyszko defeated Harris for the USA North American Heavyweight Championship. He held the title until March 30, 2002, when Harris regained the belt at the Tojo Yamamoto Memorial Show. On August 27, 2005, at WrestleReunion in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Zbyszko faced Diamond Dallas Page, with the provision that he would receive five minutes alone in the ring with the sixty-nine-year-old Bruno Sammartino if he won. Page knocked Zbyszko out with his signature Diamond Cutter, however, then pulled Zbyszko on top of him, thus giving him the win by pinfall. Sammartino then entered the ring and began throttling the still-prone Zbyszko until he was dragged away.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003–2006)

Zbyszko (right) signing autographs in 2005 with Bobby Heenan

Zbyszko debuted in

angle and Zbyszko left the promotion. He returned for one night on August 6, 2003, losing to Kid Kash following interference from Abyss
.

Zbyszko made a full-time return to TNA on June 23, 2004, assisting

Onyx
) in a "ten-man guitar on a pole match".

Along with Harley Race and Terry Funk, Zbyszko was appointed to a body known as the Championship Committee. The Committee would watch matches on TNA Impact!, most of which had a ten-minute time limit, and determine a winner in the eventuality of a draw. As on practise few professional wrestling matches end in a draw, the Committee was gradually phased out.

In February 2005, Zbyszko joined

stable
. He disappeared several weeks later.

On June 19, 2005, at

Rhino
, won the match, neither stipulation was applicable.

Zbyszko remained neutral for several months, but in October 2005 he became exasperated with Raven, who continually accused him of robbing the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and refusing to grant him a rematch. At

David Young). Despite interference from Cassidy Riley
on Raven's behalf, he was pinned and lost the match.

Raven went on to defeat his former tag team partner

Turning Point. At Final Resolution on January 15, 2006, Raven was scheduled to face a mystery opponent, with the stipulation that he would receive a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship if he was victorious, but would be fired if he was defeated. Raven lost to the returning Sean Waltman after Zbyszko, who refereed the match after the original referee was knocked unconscious, distracted Raven so that Waltman could deliver an X Factor and then counted to three despite Raven placing his foot on a ring rope. Following the match, Zbyszko ordered the TNA security to escort Raven from "my arena", then mocked Raven until he was confronted by Jackie Gayda
about an undisclosed issue.

At

iMPACT he booked a match where the man who was pinned would be fired. He interfered in the match after he hit Eric Young with a golf club. Jim Cornette booked a match at Bound for Glory
between him and Young where the loser would be fired. He would then go on to lose the match to Eric Young at Bound for Glory, and he was fired a week later.

Late career (2006–2015)

Zbyszko with several wrestlers in the Team Vision Dojo

Zbyszko returned to the independent circuit and claimed the AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship in AWA Superstars of Wrestling. Zbyszko started rallying for what he claimed was rightfully his since mid-2007. The situation heated up immediately after the then AWA Superstars of Wrestling board of directors stripped Masato Tanaka of the World's title. Zbyszko, through his newly named "representative" Mister Saint Laurent and legal representation, started filing documentation, to the new AWA Superstars of Wrestling Management Team, proving he had never lost the title in 1991 when Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association entered into bankruptcy. After considerable deliberation and review of the bankruptcy file from the early 1990s, the AWA agreed with Zbyszko that he did indeed never actually lose the title. Accordingly, Zbyszko was once again the recognized AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. He lost the title to Brian Logan. Logan defeated Larry Zbyszko and Ricky Landell in a three-way match on April 18, 2008, at a Mountaineer Wrestling Association event in Fayetteville, West Virginia.

On March 22, 2008, Larry was inducted into the XWF Hall of Fame by its creator Jack Blaze at their "XWF March Madness 2008" event. XWF was later renamed LPW (Legends Pro Wrestling) where Larry is still honored in their Hall of Fame- Class 2008.

Four Territories of the AWA Superstars of Wrestling have broken away from AWA Superstars of Wrestling, however, and joined with Championship Wrestling of Tennessee to create the American Wrestling Affiliates. Brian Logan took his championship reign and belt with him[2] and Zbyszko is once again recognized as the AWA Superstars World Heavyweight Champion as AWA Superstars of Wrestling retroactively refused to recognize the title change. He dropped the title to Ricky Landell on October 11.

In 2009, Full Impact Pro hired Zbyszko as the executive director of the FIP Championship committee.

Zbyszko competed at the ROH show on January 29 as a part of Wrestle Reunion 4 where he defeated Scotty 2 Hotty.[3]

In March 2010 Zbyszko started appearing at live events for the

Eugene Dinsmore
.

Zbyszko defeated

Palmer Canon
for the All Out Mayhem Heavyweight Championship on November 20, 2010, in South Portland, Maine. In late March 2011, it was noted that Chris Jericho was very critical of Zbyszko and his announcing capabilities during his tenure in WCW in his latest book. When this was brought to his attention, Larry proceeded to challenge Jericho to say it to his face and questioned his manhood in a popular internet video. Zbyszko stated in another video that the reason for Jericho's disrespect was because he could not use the phrase "The Living Legend" in the WWE because it has been used and trademarked by Zbyszko. On March 17, 2012, In Caribou, Maine Zbyszko defeated Ryan Michaels in a lumberjack match to retain the All Out Mayhem Heavyweight Championship. He would lose the title a month later to Gino Martino in Gray, Maine.

His last match was on April 25, 2015, teaming with CPA which they lost to Beefcake Charlie and Damian Gibbs at Pro Wrestling Syndicate in Rahway, New Jersey.

Personal life

Whistler married Kathleen Gagne (Daughter of AWA co-founder

professional wrestler, and performs under the ring name Tim Zbyszko.[4]

Other media

Zbyszko's autobiography, Adventures In Larryland, was released on June 1, 2008.

Zbyszko has appeared as a playable character in

The Enforcers with Arn Anderson, and in WWE 2K18
without Anderson.

Championships and accomplishments

Zbyszko during his Hall of Fame induction in 2015

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0
    .
  2. ^ American Wrestling Affiliates – Official Website Archived May 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ ROH Show | WrestleReunion Archived February 3, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "The Next Generation of Wrestlers You May Not Have Heard Of….Yet". Ring the Damn Bell. April 22, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "AWA World Heavyweight Title history". wrestling-titles.com.
  6. ^ "AWA World Heavyweight Title (Superstars of Wrestling) history". wrestling-titles.com.
  7. ^ "NWA National Heavyweight Title history". wrestling-titles.com.
  8. ^ "NWA Western States Heritage Heavyweight Title history". wrestling-titles.com.
  9. ^ "NWA/WCW World Television Title history". wrestling-titles.com.
  10. ^ "WCW World Tag Team Title history". wrestling-titles.com.
  11. ^ "NWA Beat the Champ Television Title history". wrestling-titles.com.
  12. ^ "PWI 500 1991". The Turnbuckle Post. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  13. ^ "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". Willy Wrestlefest. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  14. ^ "WWWF/WWF/WWE World Tag Team Title history". wrestling-title.com.
  15. ^ WWE Hall of Fame 2015, every inductee!, archived from the original on December 21, 2020, retrieved January 27, 2020
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larry Whistler.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Larry_Zbyszko&oldid=1296723751"