Larry “The Living Legend” Zbyszko is a former two-time AWA World Heavyweight
Champion.  From Tokyo, Minneapolis, the NWA, AWA, WCW and the WWF, Zbyszko
competed throughout the world before retiring from active competition in 1994.  He was
one of the sport’s greatest speakers and would speak to anyone about anything at any
time, including the original “Living Legend” and the New World Order.  If a man could blast
the man who trained him, you know he would have words for any others he didn’t care for.

Zbyszko was trained by Bruno Sammartino in Pittsburgh during the early 1970s and made
his debut in 1972.  He competed throughout the northeast before traveling through
several other regional territories gaining experience.  Zbyszko gained the most publicity
and fame during those early years when he turned on his teacher.  The two feuded
violently for months.  The hatred culminated into a major draw for the WWF.  More than
40,000 fans appeared at Shea Stadium on August 9, 1980 in Flushing, New York to see
Zbyszko battle Sammartino in a grudge steel cage match.  Sammartino came out on top,
much to the delight of the crowd.  To this day, many fans still remember the Zbyszko-
Sammartino war and how much despise was between the two.  

After the war was over, Zbyszko continued to wrestle in the northeast.  Probably at times,
he was the most hated man in the organization.  In early 1985, Zbyszko won a three-day,
24 wrestler tournament in Mexico City, Mexico to capture the Americas Heavyweight Title.  
Bob Backlund was named the number-one contender to Zbyszko’s championship, which
would be defended in the NWA, AWA and Pro Wrestling U.S.A. Areas.  He also received
challenges from the Tonga Kid and Sgt. Slaughter.  He eventually lost the Americas Title
to Slaughter in Chicago on June 21st.  Zbyszko, while in the AWA, named The Super
Ninja, a martial arts expert, as his new bodyguard in November 1986.  He also took Baby
Doll as his manager.

Zbyszko beat Barry Windham in Uniondale on January 24, 1988 to capture the NWA
Western States Heavyweight Title.  Doll protected him on many occasions, especially
against the challenges of the young Sting.  He never lost the Western States Title, but the
belt was retired by the NWA.  Zbyszko returned to Minneapolis later in the year.

American Wrestling Association promoters stripped Jerry Lawler of the World Title in
January 1989.  A battle royal was scheduled and Zbyszko was one of the favorites to win.  
He eliminated Tom Zenk in the finals on February 7th in St. Paul to win his first World
Championship.  He made an appearance in Tokyo on February 10, 1990 and lost the title
to Masa Saito before nearly 64,000 fans on a combined New-Japan/ All-Japan/ AWA
Card.  He regained the title in St. Paul on April 8th during SuperClash IV.  Former four-
time champion, Nick Bockwinkel served as the special guest referee.  The business end of
the AWA dwindled as 1990 drew to a close.  Zbyszko was seemingly stripped of the AWA
World Title after he left Minneapolis for Atlanta.  Many people stated that he was stripped
of the crown for not appearing in Japan for a defense.  Either way, Zbyszko turned up in
WCW in 1991.

He replaced Arn Anderson on February 24th in Phoenix as a member of the Four
Horsemen Team during WrestleWar for War Games.  Zbyszko teamed with “Nature Boy”
Ric Flair, Sid Vicious and Barry Windham in a winning effort over Sting, the Steiners and
Brian Pillman.  He was unable to wrestle on May 19th at SuperBrawl and was replaced by
Black Bart against Big Josh.  Zbyszko remained out for the summer.  He formed the
“Enforcers” with the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson.  They participated in a tournament to
determine new WCW World Tag Team Champions after the Steiners were stripped.  
Zbyszko and Anderson won the final over former weightlifting champion Bill Kazmaier and
Rick Steiner on September 5, 1991 in Augusta.  He pinned Kazmaier to win the match.

At Halloween Havoc, Zbyszko and Anderson beat the U.S. Tag Champions, the Patriots.  
Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham rose to the top of the challenger list.  Instead of facing
the two at the Clash, the Enforcers broke Windham’s arm in a car door, putting him out of
action.  Rhodes took Rick Steamboat as his partner.  They lost the belts to Rhodes and
Steamboat on November 19th in Savannah.  Zbyszko joined the ever growing Dangerous
Alliance in late 1991 along with Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Steve Austin, Madusa Micelli and
Rick Rude.  The group was headed by Paul E. Dangerously.  He drew El Gigante as his
partner at Starrcade on December 29, 1991.  Zbyszko brawled more with his teammate
than with the opposition.  He was pinned by Dustin Rhodes.  He teamed with Steve Austin
on February 29, 1992 and lost to Rhodes and Windham.  The latter got a pin over
Zbyszko.

In May, the Alliance bonded together in a losing War Games effort.  Injuries plagued him.  
In late August 1992, Zbyszko was ousted from the Dangerous Alliance.  He was attacked
by Anderson and Eaton, suffering a broken left wrist.  Zbyszko missed more than two
months of competition, but his active career was slowing.  In late ‘93 and into 1994,
Zbyszko entered the WCW commentary booth.  He was a regular on WCW Saturday
Night.  The “Living Legend” was drawn back to the ring by Lord Steven Regal after the two
had words.  During a television taping in Atlanta on May 2, 1994, Zbyszko won Regal’s
World Television Title.  He remained the champion until the Clash on June 23, 1994 in
Charleston when Regal dethroned him in a rematch.

After leaving the defunct AWA and going to WCW, Zbyszko returned to a Minnesota Card
as the World Heavyweight Champion on December 18, 1994.  The card was held at the
Treasure Island Casino outside of Minneapolis.  Zbyszko defeated Tito Santana in a
match in which Nick Bockwinkel was the special referee.  The event was an unauthorized
AWA show, as the promotion was going through bankruptcy court.

Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Syxx walked out during the November 11, 1996 edition of
Monday Nitro in St. Petersburg, Florida and spoke about Zbyszko.  Hall talked about
Saturday’s Cable ACE Awards, and began to pick a fight with Zbyszko.  Zbyszko defended
himself verbally and no punches were thrown.  A definite war had been ignited between
Hall and the former AWA Champ.  The two had battled years earlier while in the AWA.  
Zbyszko, while performing commentator duties on Monday Nitro exchanged more words
with Hall in August 1997.  He hopped in the ring and counted the Steiner’s pin over Scott
Hall and Syxx to capture the WCW World Tag Title on October 13th in Tampa during
Nitro.  He had added more fuel to the fire and the Outsiders were not pleased.

During the November 17th edition of Nitro from Cincinnati, Eric Bischoff taunted Zbyszko
around the announcer’s booth.  Larry was attacked by the NWO and Bischoff laid several
swift kicks.  Afterwards, Bischoff posed with a downed Zbyszko with his foot on the prone
body.  In an attempt to even the sides up a little bit, Zbyszko brought in a friend to help in
his war.  Dusty Rhodes accompanied him for a match against Scott Hall on January 24,
1998 at Souled Out.  Shocking many, Rhodes got into the ring when a free-for-all broke
out and landed an “Atomic Elbow” on Zbyszko.  Rhodes revealed an NWO shirt and joined
Hall and Louie Spicolli in the beating.

Late in the decade, Zbyszko left the WCW broadcast booth and went back into
retirement.  In 2001, he returned for several matches throughout the independent scene.  
Zbyszko appeared for a bout against Terry Taylor on October 6, 2001 in Atlanta.  He was
victorious.  Two months later on December 7th, Larry appeared for Dusty Rhodes’
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling.  The show was in Woodstock, Georgia and Zbyszko
participated in a legends’ six-man tag team match.  His team won the affair.  Zbyszko
appeared on a local radio station promoting several key indy shows in the northeast as
the year closed out.

During his career, Larry Zbyszko captured many important wrestling championships,
including the AWA World Title.  He has definitely earned the ring nickname of “Living
Legend.”

TITLE HISTORY:
-Co-holder of the WWF World Tag Team Title (1978-’79) w/ Tony Garea
-NWA Georgia National Heavyweight Title (1983) purchased title from Killer Brooks
-NWA Western States Heritage Heavyweight Title (1988) defeated Barry Windham
-A two-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion
        -Won a battle royal (1989) vacant title victory
        -Defeated Masa Saito (1990)
-Co-holder of the WCW World Tag Team Title (1991) w/ Arn Anderson
-WCW World Television Title (1994) defeated Steven Regal

Research by Tim Hornbaker
Larry Zbyszko Wrestling History
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