Larry Zbyszko Interview
Posted: Oct 16th 2013 By: CMBurnham
Larry Zbyszko talks TNA financial issues: ?Half the guys wrestling there are on food stamps?? Plus TNA Creative, WWE Hall of Fame, Hogan, Bischoff, Sting, McMahon, Bruno, Russo, Flair, and more on WGD Weekly with Steve and the Scum
The ?Living Legend? Larry Zbyszko recently sat down for a near two hour interview on WGD Weekly with Steve and the Scum that is available in its entirety here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5qTZSH6aeQ
Recapping his four-plus decades in the wrestling business. Zbyszko touched on all points of his four plus decades in the wrestling industry, including many topics involving the current state of the sports entertainment world. The ?Living Legend? tells Steve and the Scum about:
The financial state of TNA: ??They just made wrong decisions?from what I hear, Bob Carter?he had a hard time saying no to his daughter, Dixie?Finally, they blew so much money with no real results after ten years that Bob resigned and I think the mother took over and she is controlling the purse?From what I hear?this guy is now fired, this guy is now fired and if you wanna stay there you get a pay cut. Half the guys wrestling there are on food stamps. I was shocked when I heard that one??
Where TNA has gone wrong creatively: ??If you look at TNA today, I mean like ten years ago they had some great matches, A. J. Styles vs. Chris Daniels, now ten years later, like six or seven months ago, I?m flicking through the TV and I stumble across TNA?and what?s the main event? A. J. Styles vs. Chris Daniels, they?ve been wrestling each other for ten years. I couldn?t believe it?don?t these people understand??
Hulk Hogan in TNA: ??Instead of guys who can do something, they are blowing their wad on Hulk, god bless him, but he can?t walk anymore??
Eric Bischoff in TNA: ??.Eric, who listened to a couple guys, pulled something off, then took credit for it, but everything he?s been involved in since sinks because he doesn?t know and won?t listen??
Sting being ?lucky?: ??Sting who was one of the luckiest men who ever lived, Sting couldn?t do a good interview, he couldn?t work good. We had to drop him from the ceiling for a year and dress him like the crow and not let him say a word to get one big match out of him??
His relationship with and thoughts on Vince McMahon since once again working on occasion with WWE: ? ?I haven?t bumped into Vince?I?ve been doing some things, like at ?Mania, but I was running around doing Axxess, and signings, and filming DVD?s?when they tape the NXT shows they film that right down the street here?but, I haven?t bumped into Vince yet. I haven?t seen him since 1981. I can?t wait to see him, it will be very nostalgic?He looks great, between you and me, he?s one of the best characters he?s got?Vince is a classic, he would die for his creation and his fans, you can?t take that away from him??
Vince Russo coming to WCW in 1999 and the dying days of WCW: ??Eric and his buddies were gone, so Bill brings in this idiot Russo who was writing for the WWE?as far as I?m concerned, he?s a cancer?So, this goofy Russo comes in and by the time he came in?it went back to stupid nonsense with some idiot who has no idea what he is doing?So, they move me to Thunder?I was pissed?I knew the biggest, hottest wrestling ever was about to die?Russo just kept doing stupid stuff, the worst part is, we had a guy that was the next Bruno, Goldberg, people loved him, he was hot?but instead of Goldberg being champion, the new champion was Russo and some idiot little, skinny puke, David Arquette?the whole thing just turned to absolute manure?you had this slob, Mark Madden on Nitro, picking his nose and god knows what else?it was horrifying??
This is just a tiny fraction of this near two hour interview with Larry on WGD Weekly with Steve and the Scum. He also speaks about, sneaking into Bruno?s yard as a young man, having to defend himself from unruly crowds after turning on Bruno, his reasoning for leaving the WWWF in 1981 and not returning until WrestleMania 29 weekend, ?buying? the Georgia National Championship, the art of ?stalling,? Ric Flair being ?scared? of him, a planned AWA/NWA Invasion angle that never was allowed to play out, him creating the idea that led to the birth of the nWo, and so much more?
WGD Weekly with Steve and the Scum presents new material every Sunday, where they sit down with a different figure from the ?glory days? of wrestling. All of they past shows, as well as their new ones when they debut are available at WGD Weekly?s Facebook page that can be viewed here https://www.facebook.com/WGDWeekly. All of their shows are also available on their YouTube channel and iTunes.
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Spotlight in History
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Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02
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- 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
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- 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
- 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
- 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
- 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
- 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
- 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
- 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
- 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
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- 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
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- 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
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