Author: "Sweet and Sour" Larry Sweeney had it all. There were the looks, charisma, and man, could he ever talk. He may have been one of the greatest heel wrestling managers ever seen. There was only one problem: He was born in the wrong era.
A Dog-Eat-Dog World for Larry Sweeney
"You’re like a Model T Ford," a WWE Rep once told another indy heel manager buddy of mine. You see, the smooth-talking heel manager has gone the way of the dinosaur. This left the dog-eat-dog world of the indies for Larry Sweeney.
I first met him while serving as Associate Producer on the movie The Wrestler. Doing grappler casting calls, I had brought about 150 indy wrestlers in for Darren Aronofksy’s consideration.
We all "took to him" immediately.
Larry, or Alex, if you will, was respectful, personable, highly intelligent, and just plain nice.
I ultimately spent a lot of time chatting with him on set between takes at the Ring of Honor shows we shot at. We talked "old school" and about his real life, where he worked as a teacher besides his weekend warrior gigs.
Whenever I attended the always great Ring of Honor New York house shows, Sweeney would get on the stick and have the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands.
He reminded me of a young Jim Cornette mixed with some Bobby Heenan and Johnny Valiant.
He was bleached blonde and brash, sharp, and just plain funny. And behind the scenes, there wasn’t a single time he didn’t greet me warmly or sign autographs for all who asked him.
I had only seen the sweet side of "Sweet and Sour."
I also caught him on a New York-based indy promoted by Paul Sarachelli. He was rightfully in the main event versus a legit pro boxer in Larry Barnes. His elaborate entrance to music was Rocky meets wrestling meets performance art. He hadn’t even entered the ring, and they "hated" him.
At the peak of his powers, he was clearly a master of his craft.
I was pleased to help promote this bout on my own show, Legends Radio, where Sweeney had come on and hyped it like it was the Super Bowl and World Series rolled into one. And when a thousand plus attended the event, a near miracle in indy wrestling, it didn’t surprise me.
You see, had Sweeney been around in the ’70s and ’80s, I sincerely believe he could have filled a baseball stadium with folk wanting to see him "get his."
How’s that for "old school?"
Yes, Larry Sweeney was a classic heel manager in a world that no longer wanted him.
On April 11, 2011, at the young age of 30, he hung himself from a turnbuckle post at a Lake Charles, Louisiana wrestling school. He had given his life to the squared circle, and ultimately, it was there where he would end it.
In short, I have had too many people I’ve both known and respected in this business die way too young.
The great- and I mean great- Larry Sweeney is another sadly on this long, tragic list. He had all the potential in the world.
It hurts like hell to think about what could have been.
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