Larry Matysik: The voice of my childhood

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Some people will tell you Jim Ross was the voice of their youth when it came to pro wrestling. Others will choose Tony Schivanie. Gorilla Monsoon, Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura, Gordon Solie, Bob Caudill, Bill Mercer and Lance Russell all rank up there in my childhood too. However, one of the first and most memorable voices for me is that of Larry Matysik.

I grew up just outside St. Louis, Missouri. When I was in grade school my dad, brother and uncle religiously watched Wrestling at the Chase and World Class Championship Wrestling. At the time, I had no interest in it, however, I would hear the action being called. Early on I remember the sound of Larry Matysik's voice as he called the action between the likes of Dick the Bruiser, Gene Kiniski and Bruiser Brody. 

Once my fandom exploded in early 1983, Wrestling at the Chase became a staple each Sunday morning in our house. Sadly I got hooked a little too late as the show ended its decades' long run on KPLR later that year. 

But what a year it was for me. I don't remember specific matches from that era, but I do remember hearing Larry call matches. To me, he is Wrestling at the Chase. I remember ring announcer Mickey Garagiola very well too. My uncle knew Mickey's kids from school so it always felt like we were watching good friends do their thing on TV.

Hatton & Matysik

It wasn't until 2017 that I got to meet Larry Matysik. I traveled to a Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling show with my friend Heath Hatton. Larry is very active with SICW and promoter Herb Simmons. I enjoyed chatting briefly with someone who meant so much to me as a child and an influence on my passion for becoming a wrestling commentator and announcer.

Matysik and Simmons

I understand Larry has had some medical setbacks recently. I wanted to take a few minutes to share thoughts and memories on someone who molded a generation of professional wrestlers and its fans. Larry, thanks for the memories. 

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St. Louis Legends WWE forgot

St. Louis Legends
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I have been hesitant to write this blog, as I don't want to come off as too critical of WWE and I don't want to make the same mistake the company did in overlooking worthy people to be included in the St. Louis Legends segment. I loved the idea and think it's a great way to pay tribute to those who have paved the way. I grew up in St. Louis and watched Wrestling at the Chase and attended shows several times as a kid, so I take this segment a bit more personally than I probably should. 

Larry Matysik and SICW Promoter Herb Simmons

I'm not going to say the men who were recognized shouldn't have been. Instead, I'm going to offer my 1-2-3 cents on how the segment should have gone. Last week I wrote about the decision to keep longtime Wrestling and the Chase announcer Larry Matysik out of the spotlight for this segment. I would have loved for the WWE to not only recognize Larry but also let him call that championship match with JBL, Byron Saxton and Tom Phillips. 

Bruiser Brody

I would have also included a video package featuring the stars who made St. Louis wrestling memorable. WWE's video production is the best in the world. Their team does an excellent job and could have produced a piece that lasted a few minutes honoring those legends. Names that weren't included during the Money in the Bank broadcast like Bruiser Brody, Dick the Bruiser, Bulldog Bob Brown, Gene Kinski, Pat O'Connor, Rufus R. Jones, Mickey Garagiola and Sam Muchnik. These men are in addition to the greats who were ringside and mentioned during the broadcast. 

I never expected a tribute to St. Louis Legends by WWE, but after hearing from SICW Promoter Herb Simmons on Facebook, it would have been awesome of WWE to do something. Again, it wasn't expected, I'm not whining about the situation. What they did was nice, but not complete by any means. 

That's not best for business

Larry Matysik
Courtesy: Missouri Wrestling Revival

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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As I was scrolling through Facebook Monday night, I came across a post from SICW Promoter Herb Simmons. I've met Herb a couple of times now and highly respect what he does and the work he's doing in the St. Louis area. He's been working with Wrestling at the Chase commentator Larry Matysik. Growing up in St. Louis, Larry is a legend and a historian of sorts. I've also had a chance to meet him and I think very highly of him. I tell you all this to set the stage for the post I mentioned in the opening sentence. Herb posted:

"SICW ALL-STAR WRESTLING
NEWS FLASH- As you know we announced the other day, and yesterday that our friend Larry Matysik was going to appear on the WWE Money in the Bank this Sunday. We received a call today saying that due to Larry's physical condition Vince doesn't want him appearing. I find that disturbing. I wonder if that means any fan that may have a physical condition isn't welcomed. The fans have seen Larry at several different SICW events and have talked with him. Sure he is in a motorized chair for his condition, but that hasn't hampered his ability to get around or think for himself. I personally believe its sour grapes on someone's part reaching back years ago. On behalf of Larry, he wanted me to inform the good fans of St.Louis of the news. He was looking forward to seeing some of the other great workers that are scheduled, and fans that helped make the St.Louis area the best in the wrestling business."

Wrestling at the Chase

I don't know what the official reason is from WWE or if Vince McMahon is the one who ultimately made this call. I'm disappointed to hear this. Larry is one of the most dedicated and respected figures in St. Louis wrestling. I'd like to think this is just a simple error in judgment on the part of WWE, but I fear it's more than that. 

SICW May show
Courtesy: saintlouiswrestling.com

Larry has taken the high road and hasn't complained, but I am taking it upon myself to make my 1-2-3 cents known. It's highly unlikely anyone from the company will see this, but if for some reason you work with WWE and read this, please reconsider this decision, ESPECIALLY if it's based on the fact that Larry is in a wheelchair.

Remembering Bruiser Brody

Brody!

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I'm old enough to have had the chance to watch Bruiser Brody wrestle. My fandom started in 1983, about five years before Brody's life came to a tragic end. But in those five years, I'm flooded with many great memories of one of the toughest wrestlers to walk the planet. 

Husk! Husk! Husk!

Most of the work I recall from Brody happened in World Class Championship Wrestling and the AWA. He would come to Texas and team up with the Von Erichs in their battles with Skandor Akbar's Devastation Incorporated. Brody would go toe to toe with beasts like Kamala and eventually Abdullah the Butcher among others. It was funny because he was the bad guy in the AWA under the management of Sheik Adnan-al Kaissie. 

A week after attending my first professional wrestling show (WWF in Dec. 1984), we took in our first NWA event. Ric Flair defended the championship against Brody. Until recently I had no idea the match was online. The two battled to a bloody no-contest and Flair walked out with the gold. This was before my appreciation for the "Nature Boy" was found so I was disappointed with the outcome. 

Butcher vs. Brody

Besides Flair, I'd argue Abdullah the Butcher was Brody's biggest rival in the business. The two carved each other up with foreign objects, including the Butcher's famous fork, in promotions around the world. Both of their foreheads looked like road maps after their years against each other in the ring.

This Saturday night, May 20, SICW celebrates the life of Brody with a memorial battle royal. His widow, Barbara Goodish, will be on hand as well as Abdullah. The event is also the celebration of the 58th anniversary of Wrestling at the Chase, a show that was a staple in our home on Sunday mornings for many years. 

Brody
Courtesy: Prowrestlingstories.com

Brody's life ended way too soon, but I'm grateful for the time he was here and having the chance to go back and watch his work. No doubt he influenced plenty of men in the ring, including John Nord, Mick Foley and Luke Harper. Even Daniel Bryan wore "Brody boots" at WrestleMania XXX. Hopefully sooner rather than later Brody will take his rightful spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Our weekly host on WWF Superstars 

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I've had a bit of writer's block for the last couple of days, but this morning as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, a friend of mine asked the question "What's a favorite Sunday memory you have growing up?"  For me the answer was easy, watching wrestling.

It wasn't just that I was watching wrestling.  It was about who I was watching it with.  Long before I became obsessed, my dad, brother, and uncle watched every week and would go to live events when the NWA would come to St. Louis.

World Class Championship Wrestling
Photo courtesy: WWE

Soon, I'd start watching too.  This was the mid-1980's, so we had several different wrestling programs that aired on the independent station in town, KPLR Channel 11.  I believe they showed both Wrestling at the Chase and WWF Superstars.  Over on one of the other stations, we'd watch World Class Championship Wrestling.  It was hours and hours of wrestling fun.  From the Von Erichs and Freebirds beating the crap out of each other to Roddy Piper cutting down a popular babyface in Piper's Pit, we always had a good time.

Wrestling at the Chase

We'd often go to church before wrestling would start, and I remember counting down at the end of the service so we could make it home in time to catch the action.  Some weeks we'd get out late and miss the start of the show.  At one point, I remember WCCW started airing on Saturday nights too, so I'd watch that along with Central States Wrestling and just focus on WWF on Sunday mornings.  My mom always made a big breakfast and we'd eat with the TV on, watching our favorites do their thing in the ring.

Those days are long gone.  I miss the variety of wrestling programs with different characters and storylines.  But more importantly I miss that time that I spent with my dad, brother, and now dearly departed uncle.  Those memories will stay with me forever though, and for that I'm grateful. 

Gone, But Not Forgotten: Bruiser Brody

Rest in Peace Frank Goodish
aka Bruiser Brody
1946-1988

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

July 17, 1988 one of wrestling's greatest stars was taken away from us.  Bruiser Brody was one of the best big men in the sport, hands down.  He stood 6'8" and tipped the scales at more than 300 pounds.  He seemed invincible with his giant frame, long, black hair, furry boots, and that unmistakable "husk" chant.  But we learned that wasn't true after he was stabbed in the stomach in a locker room in Puerto Rico and died the next day.

I had only been a wrestling fan a few years at the time of Brody's murder.  I had the honor of seeing him once in person as he took on Ric Flair for the NWA world heavyweight title in St. Louis.  The year was 1985, and Flair intentionally got himself disqualified.  Even though Brody never won the world title, he was well respected by the fans, writers, and wrestlers around this country.  The magazine Wrestling Superstars named him the best in the world one year (I think it was 1986), where he just edged out Flair for the top spot.

He wrestled all over the world, spending a lot of time in Japan and Puerto Rico.  I first took notice of him in World Class Championship Wrestling and Wrestling at the Chase.  He played a face in both companies, but when he showed up in the AWA he was a brutal villain.  Brody waged war with the Gagnes, probably doing more than he should have to help Greg look like a credible threat.

He teamed with the Von Erichs, and feuded with the likes of the One Man Gang, Kamala, and Abdullah the Butcher.  In fact, Abby was his last opponent when they wrestled in a tag team match.  Danny Spivey and the Butcher defeated Brody and Carlos Colon.

Brody in action

Brody was in his early 40's at the time of his death.  There didn't seem to be any signs of him slowing down, so I can only imagine what might have happened with his career.  He never wrestled for the WWF, I often wonder what Vince McMahon might have done with him.  I imagine he'd have a different character and would have likely been fed to Hulk Hogan.  Some dream matches I would have loved to see with Brody include him taking on Andre the Giant (in a WWF ring), Cactus Jack, and the Undertaker.

Hopefully one day this legend will take his place in the WWE Hall of Fame.