Chikara: Larry Sweeney

By Chad Smart
@chadsmart on Twitter

Since the Chikara tournament to crown the first Grand Champion was named the 12 Large Summit as a tribute to Chikara alumni “Sweet and Sour” Larry Sweeney, I felt it was only fitting to show some of my favorite moments in the far too short career of the Golden Palomino.  In the memorial blog I posted for Larry, I included some other videos. While this is pretty similar, there isn’t a thing as too much “Sweet and Sour.” Enjoy the videos and pay tribute to a talent that came along at a time when mainstream wrestling was too fixated on a certain look and overlooked pure talent.

This is from the first Chikara show I attended in Reading, Pennsylvania back in April of 2005. As you can tell by comparing this video to any recent Chikara show, more people have become aware of Chikara’s presence and want to see Chikara in person.

Later in the 2005, Sweeney became the ICW-ICWA Texarkana Television Champion. Here he is debuting the belt.

When I first started showing friends videos of Larry, this one became a favorite of my friend Jeremy. Only Sweeney could cut a promo while eating a Frosty in a bathroom and make it reek of awesomeness.  

Larry got to appear on an episode of Raw during the buildup to a SummerSlam match between Randy Orton and Hulk Hogan. While I personally think Sweeney could wrestle circles around Orton, not to mention Sweeney had more charisma in his little finger than Orton possess in his entire body, at least Larry got to entertain on a large stage if for only one night.

Larry Sweeney hadn’t appeared at a Chikara event for I think about a year before returning at the 2010 Cibernetico event to form a team of Chikara Year 1 alums in a battle against the BDK. The reaction from the fans is off the chart. This is how I choose to remember Larry Sweeney.

Larry passed away days prior to the 2011 King of Trios weekend. Before the start of Night 1, the Chikara roster gathered around the ring to pay their respects.

Here’s a fan made tribute video showcasing some other memorable moments.

I included this video in the original blog, but it’s one of my favorites. “Goth girl, you hate your parents don’t you? I hate your parents too because they produced an ugly baby.”  Rest in Peace Larry Sweeney.