Tonight I was privileged and honored to be invited to the 54th Anniversary of the Cauliflower Alley Club where my great friend Herb Simmons has the distinguished honor to present Larry Matysik’s Pat wife with the Posthumous Award for his dedication to Professional Wrestling.
Herb delivered an excellent speech inducting Larry and sharing their life together in professional wrestling. I cannot think of a better person to bestow this deserving honor on Larry.
Bryan Whitaker
Photo courtesy Bryan Whitaker
Photo courtesy from Bryan Whitaker
Photo courtesy from Bryan Whitaker
Pat Matysik and Herb Simmons – Photo courtesy from Darla Staggs
Larry, who passed away on Nov. 25, 2018, got his start in pro wrestling when, as a 16-year-old writing for newsstand wrestling magazines, he interviewed St. Louis promoter Sam Muchnick. Muchnick told Matysik he would pay him $25 a week to call the newspapers and report the results from the Friday night cards. Eight years later, Muchnick took him under his wing as his protégé in the St. Louis Wrestling Club office. In 1972, Larry became the host of “Wrestling at the Chase” on KPLR-TV.
When Muchnick retired in 1982, Matysik began running the office as general manager. He used methods he had been taught by Muchnick (which had made St. Louis, perhaps, the most sought-after territory in which wrestlers wanted to work), but when co-owner Bob Geigel consistently disagreed with the way Larry was doing things, they parted ways. Larry ran opposition as Greater St. Louis Wrestling Enterprises and did quite well for a time. Meanwhile, St. Louis Wrestling Club business went into the tank. When Larry folded his promotion, Vince brought him onboard to promote WWF shows in St. Louis. Larry worked for McMahon from 1984 until 1993, at which time he was let go.
Larry kept his hand in the wrestling business after that, primarily producing DVDs of St. Louis wrestling and writing for wrestling magazines. He also wrote several very good books on the subject, including “Wrestling at the Chase: The Inside Story of Sam Muchnick and the Legends of Professional Wrestling,” “Drawing Heat the Hard Way: How Wrestling Really Works,” and with Barbara Goodish, Bruiser Brody’s wife, “Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling’s Rebel.” For the past several years, he booked shows for Herb Simmons’ Southern Illinois Championship Wrestling promotion. And even though he never wrestled or refereed, Larry made a huge, positive impact on the pro wrestling business during his lifetime.
In 2014, he was awarded the James Melby award at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo. Other non-wrestling accomplishments included working for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, founding a volleyball club, coaching a girls’ softball team, and was head of the Belleville Auxiliary Police for many years.
At the time of his death, he was working with me on his autobiography, which was to be incorporated into a short book called “Sam and Vince” to be published by Crowbar Press.
Larry suffered a number of ailments during the past few years, including spinal stenosis, rotary scoliosis, and Rhabdomyolysis, a condition in which skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly.
‘Cause I’m TNT! I’m dynamite TNT! and I’ll win the fight TNT! I’m a power load TNT! watch me explode
I am taking this time to honor former wrestler, promoter and my good friend TNT Keny Garrett. I am still reeling from his loss at age 51 on December 10th. Though there is sadness in my heart that we will no longer be able to talk to each other, I would like to focus on our wild and crazy friendship.
I remember meeting TNT Keny G for the very first time in Granite City, Illinois at a High Voltage Wrestling event (his company). He had reached out on the St. Louis Wrestling message board, and asked Missouri Wrestling Revival to cover his show. He realized that if you were to have a show that it would only make sense to have as much attention on his product as possible. We walked in the building and noticed right away that it looked like the place to be.
His family and friends helped with the concession stand and were all decked out with branded tees, and the night’s action delivered shocking surprises with stars from around the Midwest and his home state of Florida. His special guest was former Wrestling at the Chase announcer Larry Matysik. Keny respected and loved wrestling so much that he knew that having Matysik in the house brought legitimacy to HVW. Keny himself was dressed to the nines, and thanked everyone for coming. I was impressed, to say the least.
One of my personal favorite photos of all time.
Wrestling started our friendship, but we eventually became like brothers. He invited my girlfriend Dubray and me over to talk wrestling, and so much more. His quick wit and sharp tongue made him a true character.
We didn’t always get along. There were times that I bothered the hell out of him and vice versa. Yet, I can swear on the Bible that Dubray and I loved Keny as much as anyone that we met at wrestling. There were so many good times with him. It saddens me more as I try to think of them all.
In fact, there is no way that I could remember them all but I would like to share a few of them on here:
Here’s 2 a better day even if only slightly better ill take it as progress here’s a snapshot from the story of my life old road dog of mine —- Keny posted these words for this photo on his Facebook
If you ever get a chance ask the former NWA World Champion Kahagas what he thought of this promo!
How Keny got the nickname “TNT,” I can’t honestly tell you, but if I was to have a gallon of gas for every time I heard it I would be driving for free to shows for life. Every time I hear it, I always think of him and I remember being on the road with Kahagas in Illinois and his ringtone on his phone played that AC/DC song. If someone told me on that three-day weekend that we heard it a thousand times, I would believe them. I can still hear Kahagas telling him to change his damn ringtone.
My friend Kari Williams (the best pro wrestling writer in this generation) stated in her post about Keny giving her advice of the who, what, where, and when over and over. Keny had these words of advice that he made his own, even though they had been around forever. He delivered them in a memorable way, just like his hero Dusty Rhodes.
He was creative and tried to give everyone a chance. He took a chance on my friend (and MWR founder) Josh Ray and me behind the scenes of HVW, making us “co-bookers.” I use that term loosely because I had no business being a booker of any wrestling company. Still, I have no regrets even though there were crazy arguments about what should be done but talk about some good times.
One argument was that I wanted to bring in the Mississippi Madman for an event. He knew I loved the Madman and thought that he was over like a million bucks and said that he didn’t want him on the show. I truly believed that he liked him as well from the get-go, but because I was such a huge fan of him, he razzed me about him not being worth a spot. I told him that if he would not book Madman, then I would pay his booking fee and show him that he would be one of the most over wrestlers on the card.
Keny quickly said that if I paid for Madman that he would let the Madman carry him to the ring like a baby. Why? I do not know why he thought that was funny. Maybe it was just to get me to pay Madman, but I held him to his promise when I did. The moment was priceless.
One of Keny’s closest friends was “Tokyo Monster” Kahagas. They ran up and down the roads long before I knew Keny. Kahagas was the premier talent of High Voltage Wrestling. There was no doubt that Kahagas was and is one of the best wrestlers in the country, but I believed that Jeremy Wyatt was the best. We would have these huge arguments about who was better night after night early on in our relationship. He would harp that I should “get my Jeremy Wyatt pajamas” on when I stayed at his house before we called it a night. It did not take TNT Keny G very long to come around to Wyatt and then I was kidding Keny G on his own pajamas.
Years later TNT Keny G became a proud owner of the Jeremy Wyatt pajamas.
Keny would be quick to tell me and anyone who would listen that it was he who made me a “wrestling journalist.” He told this story a million times about how we drove many miles to Illinois for a big wrestling show with plenty of legends. I wanted an interview with the Honky Tonk Man and Jake Roberts but I ran out of time. I was happy to get a promo from “Bloody” Harker Dirge (an underrated talker and wrestler in the Midwest).
Keny called me out that day (and years after) for giving up on Honky Tonk and Roberts, and and took me to the back.
He said, “You deserve to be back here. You work as hard as anyone to make these guys look good. You get this done.”
I conducted interviews with all the stars on this huge card.
Keny often said he was responsible for some of my success, and it’s true. He vouched for me, called me out when I did wrong, and gave advice when it was needed.
Every time Dubray and I came to St. Louis for a wrestling event, we stayed at his house. Dubray loves pugs, and Keny had a pug named Gracie. Gracie always slept with Dubray. One evening when we were to return back home for the two hour drive, Dubray told me that Keny had given her Gracie as a gift.
I thought that Dubi had begged to have the dog, and I said “No way.” That was Keny’s dog and we were not taking it from their home. Gracie had to stay there.
But then Keny explained that he was tired of the dog wanting food from the table and he was done with her. I just think he knew Dubi loved that dog and wanted to make her happy. Gracie ended up as a part of our family until she passed away on our anniversary: December 10th, 2015.
On the mic and in the spur of the moment, Keny was at his best. We did a wrestling feud with a big build with Donovan Ruddick and Mark Bland that, I swear if it had money behind it, would had packed huge houses. Bland had a popular UFC and pro wrestling radio show, Absolute Wrestling Radio, on the Fox Sports radio affiliate in St. Louis, Team 1380 AM. Josh Ray and I spoke to Keny about putting together an angle for a diabetes charity show. A little known secret is both Keny and Bland were both diagnosed with diabetes and the pair had always been active in fundraising.
The feud started when Bland, a former wrestler, bragged that he could take on any local wrestler week after week on the show. Who would answer the call? Wrestling promoter TNT Keny G and the 6’9″ Donovan Ruddick, a big star in Saint Louis.
Mark Bland has a conversation with Kenny G of HVW regarding his recent infiltration of Absolute Wrestling Radio. Contains EXPLICIT WORDS!
We went on a publicity tour to hype the match at Mark Bland’s radio station and the show even broadcasted live from Six Flags St. Louis. We taped a video at the Pro Wrestling Shirt Shop that featured an attack from Bland on Keny, forever one of my favorites. We did our best to bring attention to the wrestling scene in the area through Absolute Wrestling Radio, and had fun doing it.
It was common to dine with legends at the Garrett dinner table. I remember Larry Zbyszko and Mike Sydal sharing stories in Keny’s living room after a HVW event. I wish I would have gotten our photo with each other! Still, I experienced it, thanks to TNT Keny G.
After one visit at TNT Keny G’s Dubray made the mistake of leaving her sweatpants that had the words Flirt printed on the back of them. This would not be a big deal at most homes, but Keny saw this as a way to rib Dubray in a way only he could. One day I received a call from Dubray telling me that Keny was in Florida visiting his family and had tagged some photos to her. Awesome, he wanted to share with us what a good time he was having.
Nope, they were photos of Keny holding up her Flirt pants in different States. He was entertaining himself with joking with her, and it did not stop there. He somehow talked WWE Legend Larry Zbyszko to hold them up in a photo. He got his daughter Santana G and another female wrestler to pose with them for a photo. Keny was proud to say that he went on tour with those flirt pants.
This year I have lost a lot of love for pro wrestling. That does not mean that I will ever quit but I have slowed down making trips. This summer, I took a job as an assistant manager at a convenience store that had me working a ton of hours.
Keny told me that if I came to St. Louis and took him to the premiere of the movie “350 Days,” he would pay for it. I was not interested in the movie, but because Keny wanted to go, I said yes. I am glad, not because I enjoyed the movie, but because in the past few years it was hard to get him out of the house. On that night we did, just like old times.
Keny could be so funny. A natural storyteller that often would have you wonder if you were being told the truth. He could be overbearing and political incorrect even during the days of that not even being a thing. His friends referred that to “Keny just being Keny”.
Photo taken for the Stroke Aint No Joke Fundraiser with Fox 2 News TV.
TNT Keny G proudly teamed up with Dynamo Pro for a MS Fundraising effort.
Though in the crazy world of pro wrestling were everyone is a taker, Keny was a giver. Even after I covered his promotions High Voltage Wrestling, and sent him photos he was always there for us. We were so different in so many ways. I remember going to a St. Louis Cardinal game and he loved to leave shows early, the Cards game being no different. He knew that if I went somewhere then we were staying to the end. He razzed me about leaving but we did stay to the last pitch.
Dubray and I were never without a place to stay when we came to town or a bite to eat with Keny living in South County. He was a big part of our relationship and would have been one of my best mans if we would of gotten married in Vega during the CAC reunion this year. He often bragged about keeping us together (even though he stirred the pot sometimes lol) so in what seems like a rib (A practical joke played by or on a wrestler) Keny, like the pug (Gracie) that he gave us passed away on our anniversary. I would like to think that it was his way of making sure that we would never forget him. Like there was ever a chance that that could happen.
Thanks to Keny, I have made countless friendships and experiences over the past decade. I could write a book about them.
TNT Keny G loved his family.
Photo Thomas Rude
Most MWR fans know of his daughter, Santana G. She has become one of the top women wrestlers in the world. I was blessed to see her first match and watch her debut at Harley Race’s World League Wrestling. Her dad supported her at all times and was so proud to see her in Japan and on the WWE Network.
He was just as proud of his other children too, and I was able to see his boys Dusty, Sam, and lil’ Keny grow up. He loved them with all his heart, and as he grew sick they were there for him. Keny had a daughter Savannah and a granddaughter in Florida that he thought of often as well. He loved his wife Luanne who was just as quick-witted as he was.
TNT Keny G, we love you and we will always remember you.
Santana Garrett will receive a 2018 CAC Women’s Wrestling Award in recognition of her great career up to this point! This is her 2nd CAC award, having previously been recognized with the 2014 CAC Future Legend Award (now the Rising Star Award). Read more about Ms. Garrett here!
Missouri Wrestling Revival is so excited to present to you the fans Santana Garrett’s third MWR Trading Card. She Is one of the hottest wrestlers in the world as she has been featured at WWE NXT, TNA, Japan, and ranked by the PWI Magazine as one of the best today. We at MWR feel as if the best is still yet to come for Garrett who was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club as a Future Legend in the sport.
She was featured in the first set twice and this third MWR Trading card is her first in the second series promises to be must have collectable for all wrestling fans. The trading card features the talented photography of Modern Myth Photography and a bio from wrestling writer Kari Williams, so be sure to purchase one for you to own today.
1) Catch the star at a show to have them autograph the cards personally
2) Contact them via facebook or myspace
3) Send $2.00 in money order or check for each card at *
Brian Kelley
305 West 3rd Salisbury Missouri 65281
or Paypal at flairmwr@yahoo.com
*Checks will take longer to clear than money orders so expect time for that to happen. Make sure you list exactly what card you are wanting to have.
Please note that when purchasing MWR Trading cards from the wrestlers, that they decide the prices for their cards. We highly recommend that you get them from the stars themselves and let them know that you enjoy MWR.
These cards are limited and are not mass produced making them highly collectable.
Missouri Wrestling Revival is excited to work with another great artist to honor the wrestlers of the past, today and future. For the very first time here on the MWR site we have artwork by Way Outta Line Caricatures from Jaime Baker. It is hard pressed to find a true wrestling fan that does not love Bruiser Brody and Bakers’ Brody promises to be a favorite for years to come.
It has been no secret that Brody is a personal favorite of ours, as well as many around the world. In the past we have had the privilege of having the blessings of his wife, Barbara Goodish to produce our very own MWR Trading card of Brody. That card had it all. It featured the bio of Brody, thanks to his good friend and HOF himself Larry Matysik. Matysik was the Co-author of Brodys’ book, Brody, along with Goodish, so it was perfect to have the bio come from a man who were truly friends with one of the wrestlings true rebels. We were thrilled to also have Brody artwork front and back on the card from our very good friend Rob Schamberger.
We continued to honor him in the 2013 MWR Yearbook, as Ron McCaffery III, done an awesome full page spread of Brody.
2015 continues to prove that though the years pass, wrestling fans will never forget the one and only Bruiser Brody. This April at the Cauliflower Alley Club 50TH Year Anniversary Brody’s wife Barbara will be accepting the CAC Posthumous award in Las Vegas.
For fans in the MWR Coverage area SICW Promoter Herb Simmons is working hard for a must attend event Saturday May 16th “The Bruiser Brody Memorial” which will be held in conjunction with the 56 Anniversary of the Wrestling at the Chase. Barbara will return to the St. Louis Area along with Brody’s former partner Stan Hansen.
With all that great news in 2015, I was excited to see a special caricature of Bruiser Brody thanks to the talented Jamie Baker.
Way Outta Line Caricatures by Jaime Baker
Please send any photo reference by email for a custom caricature.
11×14 Color Caricature $40 plus Shipping & Handling
11×14 Black & White Caricature $20 plus Shipping & Handling
For more information please contact me at:
Email: tygertailzz2@aol.com
The 2011 CAC reunion will be at the Gold Coast Hotel the week of April 18 – 20, 2011 and we hope that you take the opportunity to make the trip for one of the must see events of the year.
Look inside the front cover and you will see your favorite website that covers wrestling in the Midwest front and center.
Click here and check out our friends at the CAC with all the info on the weekends events
If you are not a member of the CAC I highly encourage you to become one in 2011 by clicking here to start the process.
We would also like to thank High Voltage Wrestling for offering to help support our goal of putting an advertisement of MWR in this prestigious program.
Please note that we are very proud of the ad that is below though the checklist for the MWR Trading Cards have changed a bit with card number of Mike Sydal being #37 with hopes that our good friend Dan Gier coming later in the set.
Harley Race, World League Wrestling, and the Harley Race Wrestling Academy proudly announces its 10th annual wrestling camp. The dates of the camp are set starting on October 4th through October 9th, with a show set on the night of the 9th located at the home of the wrestling academy in Eldon, MO.
Harley established the camp in 2000, giving many opportunities to young wrestlers to be critiqued and tutored by not only the 8-Time World Heavyweight Champion, but also by trainers at the Harley Race Wrestling academy. We expect to have representatives at the camp from not only World Wrestling Entertainment , but also Pro-Wrestling NOAH.
Past participants have included, but not limited to, former WWE superstar Trevor Murdoch , current WWE superstar Ted Dibiase Jr., current WWE referee John Cone, NXT Season 2 superstar Michael McGuillicutty , FCW Referee Ryan Tran, Ritchie Steamboat, one half of the current WLW tag team champions Superstar Steve Fender (awarded the Cauliflower Alley Club Future Legend award), WLW star Jason Jones (just returning from a 3-month stay at the Pro Wrestling NOAH dojo),and one half of the current Pro-Wrestling NOAH Tag Team Champions Keith Walker.
Past guest instructors have included Ricky Steamboat, Japanese wrestling legend Kenta Kobashi, KENTA, Naomichi Marufuji, Pro-Wrestling NOAH Heavyweight Champion Takashi Suguira, Former Pro-Wrestling NOAH and WLW heavyweight champion Go Shiozaki, and Takeshi Morishima, Ted Dibiase Sr, and John Laurinaitis.
With the camp concluding on Friday, there will be a show on Saturday, October 9th. Participants wanting to be included on the show need to be LICENSED in the State of Missouri. To be licensed in Missouri, you need to fill out the appropriate form found on the Missouri Athletic Commission’s website at http://pr.mo.gov/boards/athletics/375-0236.pdf, along with having a current physical (to be filled out by M.D. or D.O.). Physical forms can be found at http://pr.mo.gov/boards/athletics/375-0299.pdfComplete blood work showing HIV and ALL hepatitis tests from a licensed clinic is also required.
The cost of the camp is $500.00. There is a $250.00 non-refundable deposit that is REQUIRED to reserve a spot in this year’s camp along with the registration form. This year’s camp has a limited amount of spots available, so early registration is suggested. Registration forms are available at harleyrace.com.
This year’s camp has corporate rates at the Heritage Inn and Suites within a short distance of the camp. For rates and reservations, please call the manager 573-392-2100 and mention that you are part of the camp. Other hotels include the Eldon Inn (573-392-5664) and Randle’s Motor Court (573-392-5661). Lunches are available for purchase at T. Murdoch’s Bar & Grille (573-392-7122). Eldon Family Fitness is the premier exercise facility that all WLW stars train at, and will be allowing camp participants to work out at a discounted rate.
For more information about this camp, feel free to contact World League Wrestling at 573-392-4100, email wlwmom@earthlink.net or visit Harleyrace.com
Trent Stone retreats to the outside of the ring. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Stone whips Murdoch with the strap.(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Two power guys try to control the way of the match. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Trevor Murdoch stomps on Stone in the corner. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Stone chokes Murdoch. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Murdoch stalks the Champion. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Trent Stone looked strong during the match. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
OH MY(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Stone taunts Murdoch. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
NEW WLW Champion Trevor Murdoch(Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Breaker sends a message to the New Champion. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Johnny Gold lets Breaker know that he will have to meet the new champ Trevor Murdoch in a 3 way the very next night in Concordia. (Photo Credit Brian Kelley)
Missouri Wrestling Revival 
