Larry Matysik, famed promoter and announcer in the ever-popular St. Louis wrestling territory passed away yesterday at the age of 72. Matysik was put into hospice after recently battling pneumonia. Herb Simmons, friend of Matysik, made the following post about the St. Louis legend on his Facebook:
“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.”
RIPLarryMatysik thanks for your knowledge and friendship for so many years AwowaChipsala’Cho pic.twitter.com/XCoez2ZZQa
— Gerald BRISCO ?♂️ (@Fgbrisco) November 25, 2018
Matysik started in wrestling under the tutelage of Sam Muchnick, one of the biggest promoters in the history of wrestling and whose base was in the St. Louis area. Matysik went on to be the announcer for the city’s “Wrestling At The Chase” show which aired Sunday mornings from 1969 to 1983. After the territory waned, Matysik became known for being a wrestling journalist, documenting the wrestling ongoings and history in St. Louis territory with several books as well as a book on Bruiser Brody. In 2014 Matysik was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with the Jim Melby Award for wrestling journalism.
From attending local wrestling events to helping with high school football games as a police officer, Matysik was still an active member of the St. Louis community despite suffering several strokes throughout the years.
We here at WrestleZone would like to extend our deepest prayers and condolences to Matysik and his family during this time.
