Adventures in Larryland!: Life in Professional Wrestling

By Larry Zbyszko and Eden O'Neill

Wrestling's self-proclaimed "Living Legend" may never wear a championship belt again, but he's definitely not down for the count. Adventures in Larryland is the entertaining, often hilarious story of Larry Zbyszko's remarkable ascent to wrestling notoriety.

Voted "Rookie of the Year" in 1974, Zbyszko enjoyed 30 glorious years as a top draw in the wild and wacky world of professional wrestling. Attendance records were shattered when he wrestled the original "Living Legend," Bruno Sammartino, in 1980 and achieved victory by hitting his former mentor with a chair (a rarity at the time). With that match, Zbyszko stepped out from Sammartino's shadow and was transformed from a baby-faced hero to one of the most hated wrestlers of his time. Afterwards, Zbyszko was careful to never miss a chance to remind the wrestling world that he had become the "New Living Legend."

Later that decade, Zbyszko wrestled former Japanese Olympic wrestler, Masa Sieto, in front of 70,000-plus fans at Japan's Tokyodome. In the late 1990s, he became a high-profile color commentator for the Atlanta based WCW, and would still put on his boots for special occasions. He's credited with saving the TNT's number one rated show, Monday Nitro, from the evil clutches of the "New World Order" and in 1998, Zbyszko's appearance in back-to-back pay per views produced the two largest buy-rates that WCW had ever had.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1550228269
• ISBN13: 9781550228267
• Release Date: June 2008
• Publisher: ECW Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.1" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

So entertaining I could not put the book down!!!!!!

This a must read whether you are a fan of wrestling or not! It may be a short book, but the entertainment value more than makes up for the large font everyone seems to be concerned about. You get an insiders view of the way wrestling used to be instead of the new hyped up matches. Larry takes you on his journey into the world of wrestling from his beginnings. He allows you into his inner circle and shares some very colorful and entertaining experiences through the ups and downs of his career. It is well worth the journey and I would highly recommend this book to anyone! The only reason you would not like this book is if you work for Vince McMahon!!

Great book to read at the beach!

This book was a fast read, with much humor, which provided an excellent review of professional wrestling from the 1970s up through the 1990s when World Championship Wrestling was locked in a television rating war against the World Wrestling Federation (later changed to World Wrestling Entertainment)in an attempt to win over the hearts and souls of the fans. This book should be picked up by serious fans of pro wrestling. There are nuggets of solid information into the workings of pro wrestling which can be picked up from Larry's stories. One of the unique stories presented in the book is the relationship between Larry and his mentor, the great Bruno Sammartino, wrestling's original Living Legend. The story of their dealings with the McMahons, Vince Sr. and Jr. is the stuff of legend. Wrestling fans throughout the world will truly enjoy Adventures in Larryland!

Larry Land what a blast

I just purchased his book at a World Wide Wrestling Alliance event on 5/17/08 in Lock Haven, PA, and I have to say this is a GREAT book. Too damn funny. I do know Larry personally, and have had the pleasure of refereeing his matches and driving him to and from the air port for our events. If you know Larry, you will know that what is in this book is written from the heart. He has logged may miles, and is a knowlege of wrestling and personal information. Larry thanks for a GREAT book. I can't wait for your next one, about the indy circuit. Don't forget the WWWA, and me in the next one. Dan Haney, WWWA SR Referee www.WorldWideWrestlingAlliance.com

Best Wrestling Book I Have Ever Read

I've read a large majority of the books by the wrestling stars and some were good and some were not so great. Some books didn't know when to get to the point or what parts we didn't care to hear about. Reading Adventures in Larryland! was a breath of fresh air. It was very interesting, well written, and I couldn't put the book down from the start. It was an easy and very entertaining read. The stories flowed and it was very interesting. It was also pretty cool to read about some of the stories that ushered in a new wave of wrestling. If you are a wrestling fan or know one, or if you are a fan of reading or just want to have a great book to add to your collection, pick up Adventures in Larryland!

Adventures In Larry Land: A Classic!

Larry Zbyszko is not only one of the greatest "heels" in the history of the wrestling business...he represents the Last of The Mohicans. And this book captures it all. A wrestler who managed somehow to hold main event status for nearly his entire career....and he did it in the WWWF, NWA, WCW, and AWA. That's a hell of a legacy and resume....and Zbyszko is one of only a few wrestlers who held belts in all of the major promotions. And there was a reason for that. Larry wasn't a gassed-up, steroid infested monster with green hair...in search of a cheap pop. They guy never was a jobber. He never had a real job other the pro wrestling. How many guys in the business can say that? He wasn't physically imposing either. But oh man...could this guy talk! And he could piss off a crowd with real, genuine "heat." That's a lost art today....and Zbyszko screamed the "lie, cheat, and steal.." catch phrase long before Eddie ever used it. In terms of longevity...and pure heat... nobody did it better... for longer then Zbyszko. And the fact he continues to be shunned by the bogus WWF Hall of Fame...is almost a badge of honor...as Vince McMahon hates Zbyszko more then the federal government. This book also covers some of wrestling greatest angles....many of which he was involved in.....from Bruno Sammartino and the 1980 Shea Stadium sell out...to the famous "roll of dimes" he slipped to Curt Hennig..among many others described in classic Zbyszko candor. And in a career that's spanned nearly 3 "glorious" decades.....it's not suprising that he manages to pen one of the more honest and entertaining wrestling biographies I've ever read....minus the help of a ghost writer. Whether you're a Zbyszko fan or not...the book is worth reading just for the walk down 35 years of memory lane....and The Living Legend covers a lot of ground...and doesn't "stall" once! Probably one of the top 3 wrestling biographies written up to this point...and easily one of the most honest and entertaining. This is a must buy for any true fan of Pro Wrestling.