Meeting a legend
Filed Under Curt Hennig | Posted on May 17, 2008
Growing up as a wrestling fan, I always relish the chance to
interview the stars that graced my television set as a kid. The more I began to learn about the business, the more I began a fascination with the history of the industry. This is why I always value the chance to interview the great legends of the sport over some of today’s biggest stars. Last week I had the chance to sit down with one of the greatest legends of all-time, Larry “The Axe†Hennig.
The first thing that I noticed about “The Axe†was that he looked no different physically today than he did thirty-years ago. At 73, Larry Hennig looks just as ready to tangle with the Road Warriors today as he did in the 1980s. Also, for someone that was so mean and nasty in the ring Larry was quiet, soft spoken, and quite a gentleman. A far cry from the guy I would watch on tapes scream about kicking the crap out of Sheik El Kaissey.
Larry may be known more to today’s fans as the father of one of the greatest pro wrestlers of the last generation, “Mr. Perfect†Curt Hennig. For every successful second-generation wrestler, there are five like David Flair and David Sammartino who couldn’t cut the mustard. Not only was Curt Hennig successful, he is one of the most remembered wrestlers of anyone over the age 25 who grew up watching wrestling.
I sat with Larry and interviewed him for an upcoming home video release. Larry told me that he had just sat with WWE cameras the week before to talk about Curt. WWE Home Video will be releasing a DVD about Curt and his life in a couple of months. As much as Larry gets quickly choked up talking about Curt, I haven’t met anyone in wrestling as proud of his second generation wrestler like Larry Hennig.
Larry’s career is most remembered for his team with Harley Race. “Pretty Boy†Larry Hennig and “Handsome†Harley Race dominated the AWA tag team scene in the 1960s. Larry told me that he and Harley are brothers for life. Larry says that their friendship today is just as strong as it was 50 years ago. Larry also broke the news that Harley has been training his grandchildren who will be starting with the WWE in the near future.
I have never gotten choked up interviewing a wrestler and rarely get choked up in general. However, I had to stop myself because it became nearly impossible not to get emotional when Larry talked about his son. Over the course of a successful career that spanned four decades, Larry’s proudest moment was the night he was inaugurated in the Wrestling Hall of Fame only later to have Curt get the nod from a write-in campaign. Larry credits Bret Hart for nominating Curt and says that was one of the proudest days of his life.
I think what makes Larry different than the other father’s of second generation wrestlers was that he didn’t promote his son. Dory Funk, Fritz Von Erich, and Stu Hart all had successful second generation wrestlers. Those men were also promoters who had a vested interest in the success of their sons. Larry had no vested interest other than doing everything he could to prepare his son for the business. Once Curt told Larry he wanted to go pro, Larry began training him, sent him to Verne Gagne, and would later travel with him to mentor his son in Portland.
Larry was also instrumental behind the scenes in the success of his son. Unlike some fathers who are paid back with a job to help their sons, Larry was out of sight but never out of mind. Larry helped Curt make the decision which changed his career forever when he was in the middle of a bidding war between Vince McMahon and Ted Turner. Larry sat with his son in a meeting with Vince McMahon and stood up for his son to the most powerful man in wrestling when he felt his son was getting a raw deal. Not only was Larry a great wrestler, he was truly a great father.
The media are quick to demonize the WWE and pro wrestling when it comes to deaths in pro wrestling. Unfortunately once the story changes, the media disappears, the fans move on, and the promoters go back to work. For Larry Hennig, the death of his son never goes away and it never gets easier. Larry says it may be a simple song on the radio that reminds him of Curt. Larry says for him and his wife, it is an everyday thing that is still surreal to the family. There is a story here that isn’t being told about the families and how they are expected to cope with losing their children to the evils of drug abuse.
Tags: 1980s, ades, amp, axe, curta, curtain, david flair, david sammartino, emotion, far cry, fascination, fathe, generation wrestler, harley race, home video release, larry hennig, last generation, mr perfect curt hennig, mustard, pretty boy, pro wrestlers, road warriors, second generation, sheik, tag team, tangle, thirty years, wweRelated posts
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