"The Living Legend" Larry Zbyszko

[Necro]

Lawrence Whistler (born December 5, 1951), better known by the ring name Larry Zbyszko, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his feud with his mentor, Bruno Sammartino, during the early 1980s as well as his work as a wrestler and color commentator for World Championship Wrestling. Among other accolades, he is a two-time 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
Larry Zbyszko
Zbyszko in April 2016
Birth name	Lawrence Whistler
Born	December 5, 1951 (age 71) Chicago, Illinois, United States
Spouse(s)	Kathleen Gagne
Children	4
Family	Verne Gagne (father-in-law) Greg Gagne (brother-in-law)
Ring name(s)	Larry Zbyszko
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[1]
Billed weight	233 lb (106 kg)[1]
Billed from	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States[1]
Trained by	Bruno Sammartino Geeto Mongol
Debut	1971
Retired	2015

Championships and accomplishments​

Zbyszko during his Hall of Fame induction in 2015

• American Wrestling Association
  • AWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[5]
  • AWA America's Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• AWA Superstars of Wrestling
  • AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[6]
• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Other honoree (1996)
• Georgia Championship Wrestling
  • NWA National Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[7]
• Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Western States Heritage Championship (1 time)[8]
  • WCW World Television Championship (1 time)[9]
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Arn Anderson[10]
• Legends Pro Wrestling
  • XWF/LPW Hall of Fame (Class of 2008)
• NWA Hollywood Wrestling
  • NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (1 time)[11]
• New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
  • Class of 2010
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Match of the Year (1980) vs. Bruno Sammartino in a cage match at Showdown at Shea
  • PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1980)
  • PWI Rookie of the Year (1974)
  • PWI Tag Team of the Year (1991) with Arn Anderson
  • PWI ranked him #38 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991[12]
  • PWI ranked him #105 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[13]
• Southern Championship Wrestling
  • SCW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mister Saint Laurent
  • SCW Florida Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Mister Saint Laurent
• USA Championship Wrestling
  • USA North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• World Wide Wrestling Federation / WWE
  • WWWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tony Garea[14]
  • WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2015)[15]
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Best Heel (1980)
  • Feud of the Year (1980) vs. Bruno Sammartino
  • Most Improved Wrestler (1980)
• Other titles
  • AWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chasyn Rance and Seth Springer

 

[Necro]