Wrestling Promoter Larry Matysik Has Died
St. Louis veteran was 72.
Legendary St. Louis wrestling promoter and announcer Larry Matysik has passed away at the age of 72. He was suffering from pneumonia having recently entered hospice care.
Matysik's close friend Herb Simmons announced the sad news on Facebook earlier today:
"It's with heavy heart this morning that I come to each of you and give you the news that my good friend Larry Matysik has lost the battle. As many know his health has been declining over the past several year. I ask that you keep his wife Pat and Daughter Kelly in your thoughts and prayers as the next few days will be hard for them. I will continue to update you on the arrangements when they are available."
It was under his mentor, NWA President and St. Louis Wrestling Club promoter Sam Muchnick, that Matysik got his break in the business, acting as announcer for the flagship show Wrestling at the Chase. Matysik worked closely with Muchnick in the office, but after the latter retired in 1982, he soon followed suit in disagreement with the direction taken by new bookers Bob Geigel and Harley Race.
An attempt to start his own promotion based around Bruiser Brody succumbed to the whims of fate; Vince McMahon was stepping up his national expansion, and Matysik soon found himself under the new tetrach's thumb. For a period, he operated as McMahon's rep in St. Louis - though struggled to match the success of Wrestling at the Chase.
Matysik is perhaps best known amongst modern fans for his writings on the industry, notably the Muchnick biography 'Wrestling at the Chase' and 'Brody', which details the life and tragic death of Frank 'Bruiser Brody' Goodish.
WhatCulture.com sends its deepest condolences to Matysik's family and friends.