JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On this episode of Going Ringside, we’re joined by a longtime pro wrestling veteran who is ready to get back into the industry. We also explore the week that was for AEW owner Tony Khan, who was spotted wearing a neck brace at the NFL Draft and called WWE the “Harvey Weinstein” of pro wrestling.
Big Vito’s return
One of the most famous lines from the Godfather franchise is this: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”
That line is half correct in the story of Vito LoGrasso. In his case it’s life circumstances pulling him back to the world that he left years ago... the world of professional wrestling.
Once a top star in the world in WCW, ECW and WWE, Big Vito has faced all the greats from Scott Steiner to Goldberg to The Rock.
But years ago he stepped away and has been living a relatively normal life in Central Florida. And like many of us, life tends to throw curve balls. In Big Vito’s case, it’s medical issues for his wife.
“I’ve been taking care of my wife for the past 10 years. We just had a little bit of bad health issues. She had reconstructive back surgery,” said Vito. “But I’ve relaunched my wrestling career because I need to wrestle again and with hospital bills and everything that is the need right now for me to go out and wrestle for me to take care of my wife.”
So Vito is putting out a message to any wrestling promoter. One promoter he specifically wants to approach is AEW Owner Tony Khan.
“Tony Khan has a vision,” said Vito. “I would love to wrestle for AEW. Now they have a lot of jobs open right now. They need talent. I can be talent. They have trainers positions. I can be a trainer. They have agent positions. Tony Khan, if you’re listening out there. And if the boys in the back are listening. I’d like to work for AEW.”
He added this same message for all wrestling companies out there saying he has four decades in the industry.
“I have been in contact with Italy. I have been in contact with Germany. UK. I have been in contact with a lot of different people,” said Vito. “I’m available to do whatever I’m just waiting for the right offer so I can sign my name and go to work.”
And as far as his age, despite spending four decades in the industry, Vito says he’s in great shape and ready to wrestle.
“Training, dieting and I always kept fit,” said Vito.
He actually credits pickleball to being in great shape.
“I was playing three hours in the morning, two hours at night. Hitting the gym after that. So my cardio is good and exercises I’ve been doing. That’s where I never forgot my wrestling exercises. And keeping in shape. My diet,” Vito said.
So being that we started this write-up quoting The Godfather, that’s not the only quote from the movie that applies to Vito. As he spent a decade of his life caring for his wife, another comes to mind.
“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.”
And now this man is ready to fight once again.
Tony Khan’s interesting week
Speaking of Tony Khan, we also spent a lot of the episode discussing his past week, which included a lot of national media attention.
It started on the Dynamite in Jacksonville where he was beat up by Jack Perry, The Young Bucks and Okada.
The night after that, Khan was in his other capacity working for his father’s Jacksonville Jaguars franchise for the NFL Draft. Khan was very visible wearing a neck brace during the draft, selling the injury he received the night before.
@goingringside It was a brilliant move by @AEWonTV owner #tonykhan to wear a neck brace for the #jaguars #nfldraft because it promotes #aew #wrestletok #sportsontiktok #tiktokpartner
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But Khan wasn’t done making headlines. The following day he did an interview with the NFL Network and was asked about AEW. In somewhat of a controversial soundbite, he called competing WWE the “Harvey Weinstein” of pro wrestling.
This was obviously a shot at the company over the Vince McMahon scandal. We invite John Brecko from the Hot Tag Takes podcast to break down what this means for Khan and AEW.