Description

Larry Zbyszko Shoot Interview 6/17/06

WELCOME TO LARRY LAND!
By far one of the most entertaining storytellers of all time, Larry Zbyszko sits down and transports us through time as he recalls getting into the business, the influence that Bruno Sammartino had on not only him but the wrestling business itself, great road stories involving legends such as Andre The Giant, Abdullah The Butcher, & many others!
From his historic Shea Stadium main event to battling the nWo, it’s all covered in this near 4 hour shoot interview!

Topics:
What did you do before wrestling?
Were you a fan prior?
How did you break in?
Memories of wrestling early in your career in Pittsburgh
Did you cross paths with Bruno?
Memories of traveling to Vancouver
What was it like in 1974 to win rookie of the year?
Initial memories of your first WWWF trips
How did you hook up with Vince Sr?
Initial memories of Vince Sr
Memories of California
Memories of Freddie Blassie
Memories of John Tolos
Initial memories of Andre The Giant
Memories of your series with the Valiants
What did it mean to be a tag team champion back then?
Who did you travel most with?
Memories wrestling Billy Graham
Early memories of wrestling Abdullah The Butcher
Early memories of wrestling Killer Kowalski
Who’s idea was it to put you with Bruno as your mentor?
How legit was that if any?
What was Bruno like to deal with in those days?
Who’s idea was it for the turn?
Is there any truth to the fact that the heat with you and Bruno stems from Bruno feeling you pressured him into the program?
What was it like to work Bruno?
Is it true that you were attacked a few times by fans as a heel?
Memories of working with Backlund
Initial memories of when Hogan came up
Hogan in his book says he and Andre drew the house at Shea, your comments
What lead to you leaving the WWF?
How did you wind up in Georgia?
Thoughts on Ole as a booker
Compare him and Vince
Memories of Georgia
Did you get more exposure from GA since it was on TBS then from when you were in the WWWF?
Memories of your series with Mr. Wrestling 2
What do you remember about the early Road Warriors?
Memories of Tommy Rich
What do you think about the stories of how Rich came to be NWA Champion?
Memories of Jake Roberts
Memories of your series with Paul Orndorff
Memories of working the Superdome and Bill Watts
How did you wind up in the AWA?
Initial thoughts on Verne
How did you wind up dating Verne’s daughter?
What were he and Greg’s reaction?
Is it true that you were busted at a Moody Blues concert?
How hard did Verne take it do you think when Hogan left for Vince?
Memories of your series with Nick Bockwinkel
Thoughts on Bruiser Brody
Thoughts on Stan Hansen how things turned out with the AWA belt
Memories of Curt Hennig
Memories of Scott Hall
Memories of the Midnight Rockers
Memories of your series with Sgt Slaughter
Do you think Verne fell out of touch with the business?
Memories of working with Ray Stevens
When you wound up with the AWA title was there any jealousy among the other guys?
Memories of your series with Nikita Koloff
Memories of your series with Mr. Saito
Memories of your series with Wahoo McDaniel
Why did you leave the AWA?
Is it true that when Dale Gagne revived the AWA he offered and you declined the belt?
How did you wind up in the NWA?
Memories of Starrcade 87
Was it any different for you being a small fish in a big pond as compared to being the man in the AWA?
Thoughts on Dusty as booker back then
Memories of politics between Dusty and Flair
Flair in his book is hard on Bret Hart for what happened at Survivor Series and the possibilities of coming to WCW with Vince’s belt. Do you think he is a hypocrite for doing the same thing in 91?
Memories of the York Foundation and teaming with Terry Taylor
Who’s idea was it to put you with Arn?
Memories of teaming with Arn
Memories of working with the Steiners
Memories of your series with Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes
Memories of Paul Heyman back then
Memories of Missy Hyatt
Memories of El Gigante
Memories of Steve Austin
Are you surprised at his success?
Memories of the Arn/Sid scissors incident
Memories of the War Games
Memories on your series with JYD
Thoughts on Lex Luger and how things have turned out for him
Who’s idea was it to retire you and make you a commentator?
Who was your favorite WCW booker up until Bischoff?
Thoughts on Watts as booker
Who’s idea was it to bring you back against Regal and thoughts on Regal?
When Eric Bischoff came into power, you knew him from the AWA, what were your thoughts?
Do you think he ever saw you as a threat since you saw him back at a time when he was powerless?
What were your thoughts when Hogan came over?
What were your thoughts when you heard that WCW was going live Mondays against Vince?
Memories of the Orndorff/Vader fight
How well did you get along with Bischoff?
Who were your favorite and least favorite people to do commentary with?
Did it bother you when you realized that the locker room was being worked with the Brian Pillman-Kevin Sullivan feud?
What was it like at the time that the boys started to realize that Benoit had stolen the bookers wife?
How did Eric Bischoff change with success?
What were your thoughts on the public Bischoff and Flair feud? Do you think that Flair should have just accepted his role and stepped aside?
What was it like at the time that the boys started to realize that Benoit had stolen the bookers wife?
How did Eric Bischoff change with success?
What were your thoughts on the public Bischoff and Flair feud? Do you think that Flair should have just accepted his role and stepped aside?
Thoughts on the rise of Goldberg?
Thoughts on Konan?
Did you see the potential in Benoit and Guerrero?
Do you think that Bret Hart didnt fit in in WCW?
What did you think when Scott Steiner walked out and cut the shoot promo on WCW on Nitro?
Initial impressions and thoughts on Vince Russo?
Do you think he was in way over his head?
Did things ever get real personal between you and Scott Hall?
Who’s idea was it to bring you back
Memories of your series with Curt Hennig
Who’s idea was it to put you in the Old Age Outlaws?
Memories of Funk and Orndorff at that time
Were you surprised at how popular you became?
When were you told that WCW was sold to Vince?
What do you remember about the last Nitro before, during, and after?
What did you think when you heard Vince make that deragatory remark about you on tv?
Did you make any attempt to bury the heat with Vince?
What did you expect after the sale?
Were you ever called about coming in?
Where do you think Vince went wrong with his booking of the WCW guys after the sale?
What did you intend to do with your life after WCW was sold?
Why do you think there is heat between you and Vince?
Why do you think Dusty’s TCW never worked out?
What happened in 2001 that you sued the WWE?
What was the result of that lawsuit?
What was it like to work with Bruno at the legends show a few years ago?
Do you think the heat was buried?
How did you wind up in TNA?
Memories of your series with AJ Styles
Thoughts on Jeff Jarrett
Last February you disappeared from TNA for awhile and came back in June, what happened?
Thoughts on your feud with Raven
Do you still like wrestling or do you prefer commentary?
Is it time to push someone else as Champ?
Are you surprised that Flair is still pushed hard in 2006?
Can TNA compete with the WWE?
Do you prefer working with vets or younger guys on indie shows?
How do you think the business has changed over the last 15 years and is it good or bad?
Do you think there comes a point where someone who has made such a good living off of the business should give back by either putting younger guys over or teaching?
Do you think TNA has a future?
Favorite guys to work and fav matches
Least fav guys to work and least fav matches
Biggest piece of advice you can give for success in the business
What is your favorite moment in your career?
If you could change some things about TNA to make it more successful, what would they be?
You have plans for a book and movie, can you elaborate on that?
Is it true that you are a licensed pilot?
Who do you enjoy watching?
Good ribs and road stories
What is missing on the independents today?
Would you like to go into the Hall of Fame?