Larry Sweeney passes away at 29

thebostoncrab

http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/181819/Larry-Sweeney-Passes-Away.htm


Larry was the easily best manager in America for the past few years. Sweet 'n' Sour was always a highlight of any show he was on and reminded me of Bobby Heenen in some many ways.

He could make you laugh, was a good in his own right, and was a gentleman outside the ring. With him goes the closest we could get to the manager role in wrestling becoming an important role again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH6Z-i_sPt4

RIP, far too young...

jaykhunter

Oh fúck man. That's horrible. He was a great manager in a time where wrestling badly needs managers. I know he had BPAD and he had a few manic attacks but I hoped that was under control. I remember people thought he was coked up the way he was acting but no it's a severe manic attack.....:(

Horrible news.:(

(*BPAD = bipolar affective disorder, i.e. serious bouts of depressive and manic episodes)

RIP bud.

Diabhal Beag

Great man. One of the only reasons I followed the indies as long as I did. He had his demons but I hope he's at peace now.


R.I.P

thebostoncrab

Aye that's one thing I was happy to see Larry bring about without intending to was making people realise what bi-polar can do to someone. (I'm talking about when he was alive btw, not dead.) I'm someone who suffers from it and it would drive me nuts to see people get the wrong idea about the man, especially when he was let go from ROH.

flahavaj

I can't believe this. 29 years old. He has his whole life in front of him but couldn't see the good in it to live another day. This one's hit me like a kick in the guts.:(

RIP Larry.

gnfnrhead

Dieing in your 40's is bad, dieing at 29 is a whole lot worse. Always thought he was older but doesnt change the fact that he will be missed big time. I expect CHIKARA to do something in rememberance this weekend.

RIP Larry.

Lord TSC

Can't say that I have seen a lot of his work but what little I saw, I liked, and I loved the character. Hate when wrestlers pass away, hate suicides and hate young deaths so I really hate this news -_-

jaykhunter

BiPolar is a serious disease; rationale doesn't play a part. There's no convincing or cajoling. It's something very hard to comprehend that kind of mindset unless you've either experienced it or been around someone with it.

29 is far too young. Poor guy. I can only imagine the anguish that was going through his mind.

Vince135792003

He was a semi regular guest on figure four online in the early days of the website.

I always thoroughly enjoyed listening to him and it seemed back then that he was destined for bigger things. So it's very sad to hear of this.

thebostoncrab

And it's tough to talk about it because people just don't understand it. I hope more people will speak out about it before more peoples lives are taken away.

But enough sad talk, let's remember the goodness that was Larry Sweeney! (I'm currently wearing my bright yellow Sweet & Sour t-shirt, probably the only wrestling t-shirt out there that has nothing to do with wrestling on it!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV4BJzSTJzY

drayme

Wrestling Observer:

Former top manager, Sweeney, dead at 29

Larry Sweeney, generally considered the best manager in pro wrestling before being overcome by drug problems and terrible bipolar issues, committed suicide either last night or this morning. He was 29.

Born Alex Whybrow, Sweeney died from hanging himself at a wrestling school in Lake Charles, LA.

Whybrow began training as a wrestler under Chris Hero, Mike Quackenbush and Jorge Rivera in 2003, as well as going to Oregon to train under Buddy Rose and Ed Wiskoski and began wrestling in 2004.

He worked for a number of independent promotions but was best known for his role as an agent for Chris Hero, and creation of the heel stable, Sweet and Sour Inc., which at different times included Claudio Castagnoli, Sara Del Rey, Tank Toland, Matt Sydal, Daniel Puder, Adam Pearce, Brent Albright, Shane Hagadorn and Bobby Dempsey in Ring of Honor from 2007 to 2009. He was regularly compared to a young Bobby Heenan during that period, and in both 2007 and 2008 was voted Best Non-Wrestling Peformer in the entire industry in the Observer poll and placed highly both years for Best of Interviews.
But issues with drugs and mainly extreme depression ended his ROH stint in April, 2009, and he spiraled out of control from there, losing contact with many of his closest friends in recent months. He did some wrestling in 2010 using the name Vokoder under a mask with CHIKARA this past year.

He was constantly battling depression throughout his life, stemming from a high school auto accident where he was driving and a friend was seriously hurt. His issues seemed to worsen when he was no longer in the spotlight.
"We spent a few years together on the road and Alex was gifted beyond measure," wrote Chris Hero on twitter. "He could enthrall you with colorful stories from his personal life, or he could captivate thousands with his undeniable charisma. I loved him and my heart is with his family, friends and countless fans. First, he was my student and he transcended that almost immediately. I will forever cherish our in depth conversations and time spent together."

In 2007, Sweeney feuded with Bryan Alvarez over the Texarkana heavyweight championship.

He hung himself from a ring post guys.

gimmick

Jesus Christ. I realised he was ill, but not as severely as this. As someone who has lost a family member recently to mental illness I am only beginning to understand its severity.

Poor Larry. He was an amazing character. I loved his schtick in ROH as the "super agent", always coming to the ring on the phone handing out business cards. His treatment of Bobby Dempsey made his so bloody hated.

I just hope people do not see this as "another young wrestling death". His illness can happen to anyone, and it fúcking sucks.

Cheerio Larry.

Charisteas

I never saw any of his work, but this is hard to take that a 29 year old would take their own life. It's particularly hard for me in that one of my close friends at work and football team-mate also committed suicide less than 10 days ago, he himself was only 27.

Such a shame, I hope your soul is at peace now Larry.

God bless his family, Rest In Peace.