The professional wrestling world was saddened today to learn of the passing of legendary wrestling trainer “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe, head of The Monster Factory, passed away today from liver disease. Larry Sharpe was 66.
A wrestler for nearly two decades, himself trained by WWE Hall of Famers Mr. Fuji, Gorilla Monsoon and Nikolai Volkoff, Sharpe worked various NWA territories and Japan before heading to Stu Hart‘s Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, where he won tag team gold with Ripper Collins. He would also find work in the WWWF in the mid-70’s in the original Hollywood Blondes, alongside Dynamite Jack Evans (not to be confused with the current Lucha Underground star). The Blondes also found tag team gold success in Carlos Colon‘s WWC before a final run in the WWF in 1979.
Alongside inaugural WWE Champion “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, Sharpe opened The Monster Factory in 1983 while in semi-retirement (he officially retired in 1991), the world’s first publicly available pro wrestling school.
During his run as the Monster Factory’s head trainer, Sharpe would mold the careers of many future wrestling stars and legends, including:
- Tony Atlas
- Bam Bam Bigelow
- The Big Show
- D’Lo Brown
- Chris Candido
- Cliff Compton
- Sonjay Dutt
- “Wildcat” Chris Harris
- The Headbangers
- King Kong Bundy
- Balls Mahoney
- The Pitbulls
- Raven
- Rocco Rock
- Sheamus
- Tatanka
- Virgil
- Charles Wright (Godfather, Papa Shango)
In 2011, indie wrestler Danny Cage became co-owner of the Monster Factory, and added former ECW wrestlers The Blue Meanie and Bill Wylie as trainers.
Larry Sharpe passed away today following battles with liver disease.
On behalf of the entire Last Word on Pro Wrestling staff, we wish our condolences to the entire Sharpe and Monster Factory family.
https://twitter.com/TheDannyCage/status/851588487539290112
Rest In Peace 'Pretty Boy" Larry Sharpe. Thank you and God speed!
— Brian Heffron aka The Blue Meanie (@BlueMeanieBWO) April 10, 2017
R.I.P. Larry Sharpe…sent some tremendous talent to us in Memphis including Soultaker and Bam Bam Bigelow! https://t.co/WybLi42feG
— Jerry Lawler (@JerryLawler) April 11, 2017
