Bruno had disdain for most promoters going back to when he was blackballed and starving and they wouldn't use him, or if they did they would really lowball him on payoff. This was when Bruno was thinking about getting out and finding a construction job in Pittsburgh, prior to going to Toronto to work for Tunney(?) and kick-starting his career. Somewhere in an older video, Larry tells a story of having problems with the McMahons either over low payment or overbooking him. So he's confiding to Bruno about his woes and Bruno basically says to him 'You should just no-show'. Pick a show and don't show up. Show them you are serious about your problems. Larry says he can't do THAT. Perceiving that would be a bad career move. Finally, Larry has had enough and just does it. The next time the McMahons see Bruno, they start asking what's up with Larry? Bruno says 'Idunno, whatsamadder?' Well, he no-showed a (B) show where he was at the top of the card! Bruno says, Whaaaaaaaat? Well, I don't know what's gotten into Larry but I've always stressed that he should never do anything like that.' Whatever the problem was, Bruno's advice fixed the problem PDQ. The story ends with a big laugh from Larry. "Here they are crying to Bruno and Bruno was the one who told me to do it.'
Greg Valentine said if MSG was sold out. He was getting paid cash $3K. Those were the days cash meant something. The preliminary wrestlers would make $500 at the Saturday shows in the 80’s that were taped in Allentown Pennsylvania.
@@boostimalaka1apparently $6000 in 1977 when Bruno was champ is worth approximately $31,600 in today’s money 💰💰💰😮 you can see why there was a lot of protectionism in the business back then!! 😵💫
I remember when Superstar Graham took the WWF belt that he lost to Backlund from its spot at ringside and destroyed it ! Backlund went crazy and was screaming and yelling “Why….WHY????”. It thought that maybe they were gonna turn him heel then but they never did and I always thought it was a missed opportunity!! 🤷🏻♂️ Thankfully we actually got to see it from Backlund in the 90’s and I thought he was brilliant !!
I can only find the adventures of Larry land however his real name is Lawrence whistler but I can’t find more under that either and there’s an old English author from years ago with same name , did he use a lot pen name maybe? Sorry I couldn’t help , I too could only find one
Interesting theory that Vince Jr liked Backlund as champion considering the fact that one of the first things he did upon taking full control of the company was to get the belt off Backlund and on to Hogan. It would seem that Backlund as more of a Vince Sr. guy, hence the long reign.
Larry's numbers were way off. NO WAY an opening guy in the AWA made $1500 in the late 70's. Jim Brunzell worked with Verne Gagne's son in the upper card for years in the AWA, and he has stated a number of times that the MOST he ever made while there was $85,000 an entire year. That includes spot shows as well a number of large arenas in major cities such as Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco. Larry's a fun interview, but sometimes his recollection is about as loose with the truth as his former brother in law Greg.
I think Larry might be a bit confused here. From everything I've ever heard, Vince Sr. was the one who wanted Backlund as champion. Young Vince may have wanted to keep the belt on Graham and turn him face, because Graham was getting a decent pop from the crowd despite being a heel. It wasn't so much that Backlund wasn't over with the audience, he just wasn't over as much as Bruno or Morales were as champs. Don't forget that when young Vince took control of WWF from his dad, Hogan was the biggest draw in the AWA so Vince was stuck with Backlund until a potentially bigger draw could be found.
💯 or certainly in the discussion for the best with maybe 2 others . I mean bret was pretty technically sound as was road dogs brother as was mr perfect but honestly I think your probably spot on
Would have loved to have seen a prime Bruno and Zbyszko up against a team that could really elevate them, like the Young Bucks. When you work with the Bucks, you are just made to be that much better. They are like two Ric Flairs.
Larry was one of the biggest draws of his era. Larry turning on Bruno, was the biggest heel turn in the business until Orndorff turned on Hogan years later. Bruno vs Larry was , to that date, the biggest house show run of all time The run culminated by headlining Shea Stadium against Bruno in front of over 36k fans.
I actually met the Living Legend Larry Zybszko & he was really friendly & professional. Compared to either Greg the Hammer Valentine, or Tito Santana, & Brutus the Barber Beefcare who was unprofessional, or three sheets to the wind, & seem like a bunch of pricks.
Big shout out to the Living Legend Larry Zbyszko🔥
Stream the Full Shoot Interview (2006)
➡titlematchnetwork.com/wrestling-shoot-interviews-results/
Bruno had disdain for most promoters going back to when he was blackballed and starving and they wouldn't use him, or if they did they would really lowball him on payoff. This was when Bruno was thinking about getting out and finding a construction job in Pittsburgh, prior to going to Toronto to work for Tunney(?) and kick-starting his career. Somewhere in an older video, Larry tells a story of having problems with the McMahons either over low payment or overbooking him. So he's confiding to Bruno about his woes and Bruno basically says to him 'You should just no-show'. Pick a show and don't show up. Show them you are serious about your problems. Larry says he can't do THAT. Perceiving that would be a bad career move. Finally, Larry has had enough and just does it. The next time the McMahons see Bruno, they start asking what's up with Larry? Bruno says 'Idunno, whatsamadder?' Well, he no-showed a (B) show where he was at the top of the card! Bruno says, Whaaaaaaaat? Well, I don't know what's gotten into Larry but I've always stressed that he should never do anything like that.' Whatever the problem was, Bruno's advice fixed the problem PDQ. The story ends with a big laugh from Larry. "Here they are crying to Bruno and Bruno was the one who told me to do it.'
Also Respect to Larry. Solid Wrestling. That back spinning kick was brutal.
"I have never eaten marijuana." - Crazy Bob Backlund 🤣🤣🤣🤣
"If you were main event at Madison Square Garden, you made 6K in a night - back in the 70's." My, how far we've fallen.
Greg Valentine said if MSG was sold out. He was getting paid cash $3K. Those were the days cash meant something. The preliminary wrestlers would make $500 at the Saturday shows in the 80’s that were taped in Allentown Pennsylvania.
@@boostimalaka1apparently $6000 in 1977 when Bruno was champ is worth approximately $31,600 in today’s money 💰💰💰😮 you can see why there was a lot of protectionism in the business back then!! 😵💫
What do you mean by fallen? Wrestlers make way more than that now and pack stadiums.
Backlund was the kindest and coolest wrestler i ever met 😮
I liked watching Zbyszko he was a great heel and was really good on the mic
Larry was a great staller in the ring
And he seemed to make it work for him as a heel.
Great Interview part.
I remember backlund from the 90s and i thought he was great and legitimately nuts 😅
I remember when Superstar Graham took the WWF belt that he lost to Backlund from its spot at ringside and destroyed it ! Backlund went crazy and was screaming and yelling “Why….WHY????”. It thought that maybe they were gonna turn him heel then but they never did and I always thought it was a missed opportunity!! 🤷🏻♂️ Thankfully we actually got to see it from Backlund in the 90’s and I thought he was brilliant !!
None the guys Larry mentioned as opponents for Bruno weighed close to 300.
Does anyone know how many books Larry has written 🤔??
I can only find one but I thought that there was more..
I can only find the adventures of Larry land however his real name is Lawrence whistler but I can’t find more under that either and there’s an old English author from years ago with same name , did he use a lot pen name maybe? Sorry I couldn’t help , I too could only find one
McMahon Sr. should have kept the WWWF Belt on Superstar Billy Graham.
I thought it was Vince Sr. Who liked Backlund and Vince Jr. had Hogan as his Golden goose.
I thought too. Iron Sheik beat Backlund so he could have Hulk be his main guy.
Vince SR was light-years smarter and better than his punk kid that destroyed wrestling! Could listen to larry all day great interviews as always
*than
@@bossmann6358 that's what I said
Good Ol Larry had too make sure the Hair he had Left wasn't Out of Place..
Interesting theory that Vince Jr liked Backlund as champion considering the fact that one of the first things he did upon taking full control of the company was to get the belt off Backlund and on to Hogan. It would seem that Backlund as more of a Vince Sr. guy, hence the long reign.
WWF era
"In those days..."
Larry's numbers were way off. NO WAY an opening guy in the AWA made $1500 in the late 70's. Jim Brunzell worked with Verne Gagne's son in the upper card for years in the AWA, and he has stated a number of times that the MOST he ever made while there was $85,000 an entire year. That includes spot shows as well a number of large arenas in major cities such as Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco. Larry's a fun interview, but sometimes his recollection is about as loose with the truth as his former brother in law Greg.
They had a very easy schedule in the AWA compared to some of the other territories. 85k is very good money for the late 70s/early 80s.
Wasn't Vince paying 25 bucks for Raw tapping in beginning
Probably to underneath guys. But even then guys who worked in the WWF then had to work like 25+ shows a month just to get semi decent pay.
Larry Z, was best as a commentator
Backlund was supposed to have National appeal . He didn’t .
I think Larry might be a bit confused here. From everything I've ever heard, Vince Sr. was the one who wanted Backlund as champion. Young Vince may have wanted to keep the belt on Graham and turn him face, because Graham was getting a decent pop from the crowd despite being a heel. It wasn't so much that Backlund wasn't over with the audience, he just wasn't over as much as Bruno or Morales were as champs. Don't forget that when young Vince took control of WWF from his dad, Hogan was the biggest draw in the AWA so Vince was stuck with Backlund until a potentially bigger draw could be found.
The Piper, Cyndi Lauper, music video Bulls junk ruined Professional Wrestling. It became nothing but entertainment. Drama, and theater.
It was always all of those things
If Larry would have just played the game eat the 💩 he would have been a ic champ
Larry burnt a bridge with Sr n jr
Technically Bob was the greatest of all time best technical wrestler ever
Agreed
Kurt Angle
💯 or certainly in the discussion for the best with maybe 2 others . I mean bret was pretty technically sound as was road dogs brother as was mr perfect but honestly I think your probably spot on
@@kidray7818 🙄😴😴😴😴
@@COYBIG1967 I'm talking about # 1not two not three Bob was#1
😮
Zbysko always had a thing against backlund. It was kind of pathetic
hello
Larry’s thoughts on Vince being the boss just to lose money is a little dumb considering he’s the richest man in wrestling history.
Would have loved to have seen a prime Bruno and Zbyszko up against a team that could really elevate them, like the Young Bucks. When you work with the Bucks, you are just made to be that much better. They are like two Ric Flairs.
Funny guy. Nicky and Matty have the same crowd pop as “Too Cool.”
6:43 cavities
Get a life
@@dustdevil9614 looks like somebody's mad
A hit dog will holler. That boy probably has as many as Larry 😅
@@NoneofYabiz-rx3zi i don't know who your talking too
Idk anyone who ever bought a ticket to go see this guy
Larry was one of the biggest draws of his era.
Larry turning on Bruno, was the biggest heel turn in the business until Orndorff turned on Hogan years later.
Bruno vs Larry was , to that date, the biggest house show run of all time
The run culminated by headlining Shea Stadium against Bruno in front of over 36k fans.
Me. I did. So did many people who saw the program with Sammartino. Use your head.
Larry Zbyszko was always known for going from 0 to 100 🤣🤣🤣 Remember when he turned on Tony Garea, Zbyszko beat him like a Government Mule 🤣🤣🤣
you must not know much then
I was in the business for 25 plus years and Larry Z was a Heat machine and great draw.
I actually met the Living Legend Larry Zybszko & he was really friendly & professional. Compared to either Greg the Hammer Valentine, or Tito Santana, & Brutus the Barber Beefcare who was unprofessional, or three sheets to the wind, & seem like a bunch of pricks.