Published: April 03, 2008 10:39 pm         

Zbyszko to bring AWA world title to Fayetteville

It’s being called a world title defense 18 years in the making.

The American Wrestling Association, a springboard for many of wrestling’s superstars, declared bankruptcy in 1990. But the organization was recently resurrected, and its world championship was actually in Japan as part of Zero Max One Wrestling.

However, a movement was made that brought the historic title back to the United States. Champion Masato Tanaka was stripped of the belt, and it is now back around the waist of one of the AWA’s most famous champions.

Larry Zbyszko was the world champion when the AWA folded. When he got word that the belt was being returned to the states, Zbyszko began lobbying to be reinstated as the AWA world champion since he was never defeated for the title.

Officials agreed, and Zbyszko was given back the belt he last wore nearly two decades ago.

Zbyszko’s first title defense is two weeks from today, right here in the Mountain State.

“New Generation Ace” Ricky Landel and a mystery opponent will challenge Zbyszko for the title April 18 as part of “Mountain Mayhem” at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building in Fayetteville.

Promoters say they are making history in historic Fayetteville.

Zbyszko is excited not only to be a world champion again, but also because the AWA reminds him of a different age in wrestling, before the current dominance of Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Entertainment.

“It’s interesting to me because the AWA was popular back when wrestling was made up of territories,” Zbyszko said in a telephone interview. “The AWA was in Minnesota, the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) was in the Carolinas and the southeast.”

Zbyszko dubbed himself “The Living Legend” early in his career after turning on mentor Bruno Sammartino. Since then his career has had many stops, including a reign as World Championship Wrestling’s world tag team champion with Arn Anderson.

But it’s for his days in the AWA that Zbyszko may be remembered. He’s a two-time world champ in the organization, joining a list that includes such legends as Hulk Hogan, Jerry “The King” Lawler, Verne Gagne, Curt Hennig and Nick Bockwinkel.

Hogan, of course, later became wrestling’s most recognizable figure in what is now the WWE. He is the only wrestler ever to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Ironically, AWA broadcasts that originally aired on ESPN in the mid- to late-1980s are now being rerun on ESPN Classic at 1 a.m. Eastern time.

“I’m enjoying seeing the old shows,” Zbyszko said. “And I don’t think I look that much different.”

He is a little older and doesn’t have the long hair he once had, but Zbyszko remains in good shape. While his latest on-screen roles have been largely of the non-wrestling variety, he has not stopped wrestling, even competing in Moundsville a few weeks ago.

“I never stopped training,” Zbyszko said. “In my 30 glorious years, I have been fortunate to never have had a serious injury.”

Zbyszko, a Chicago native who moved with his family to Pittsburgh when he was 12, has written a book that goes into his days in the AWA, among other things. “Adventures in Larryland” will be available at a later date at bookstores and at Amazon.com.

Advance tickets for “Mountain Mayhem” are $10 and can be purchased at Cowboys Restaurant at 151 South Court Street in Fayetteville or by calling 250-7140.

Half of all presales of tickets go to the Wrestling for Reagan program. Reagan Lennon is a local girl who needs surgery for severe respiratory problems.

For more information, go to myspace.com/rockin4reagan.

— E-mail:

gfauber@register-herald.com