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Tributes II (By Dave Meltzer) Review

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:55 +0000

Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Wrestlers
By Dave Meltzer
Published by Sports Publishing
Released on October 1, 2004
239 Pages (Hardcover)
Available in Hardcover

Since 1982, Dave Meltzer has published the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, which earned the nickname "dirt sheet" in the 80s for giving away many insider secrets. While it may have been shunned publicly, the Observer was the only way to keep up with the business - even for those on the inside. Besides providing access to the latest inside news, Dave is more than just "The National Enquirer of wrestling," he is also an excellent writer who is extremely passionate about the wrestling business and researches his topics thoroughly.

Tributes II takes over where the original Tributes installment leaves off. The book covers the life stories of Lou Thesz, Wahoo McDaniel, Miss Elizabeth, Freddie Blassie, Road Warrior Hawk, Andre the Giant, Curt Hennig, Johnny Valentine, Davey Boy Smith, Terry Gordy, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Gorilla Monsoon, The Sheik and Tim Woods. The Andre and Owen biographies are expanded from the first book. It is a collection of some of the best Observer articles of the past several years in a hardcover, full-color format that is 239 pages. Included with the book is a DVD interview with Meltzer where he talks about each of the wrestlers featured in the book and also discusses why there is a problem with early deaths in the wrestling industry. It is an excellent companion piece to the book.

Tributes II is a must-read for any Observer reader or anyone who wants the learn the full stories about these wrestler's careers. All of the biographies in the book are tributes to wrestlers who have passed on, but the stories are about their lives and not their deaths (with the exception of Owen Hart). If you are not a long-time Observer subscriber and you chose to buy these issues separately, it would cost you $60. With Tributes II, not only does the book cost a fraction of that price, but also you get all of these great stories in one place with excellent presentation. Tributes II is a valuable piece to any wrestling book collection.

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Brody (By Larry Matysik & Barbara Goodish) Review

admin — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:00:51 +0000

Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling's Rebel
By Larry Matysik and Barbara Goodish
Published by ECW Press
Released on August 15, 2007
240 Pages (Paperback)
Available in Paperback

Bruiser Brody is known as one of the greatest brawlers in the history of wrestling. The Best Brawler award in the year-end Wrestling Observer Awards bears his name. He was so great at what he did that people may have thought that the majority of what went on in the square circle was "fake," but when Brody was in the ring, it was all too real. He went from territory to territory, the epitome of a journeyman and did whatever he could to make the most amount of money possible. To Brody (or Frank Goodish), the pro-wrestling business was infact a business. Unfortunately, this philosophy is what cost Bruiser Brody his life.

Brody was written by Goodish's widow, Barbara alongside his close friend Larry Matysik. It covers his early life, football career and how he got started in wrestling. It follows him through such places as St. Louis, Central States, Florida, the AWA and World Class. It explains how he became a legend in Japan and his tragic murder in Puerto Rico. It also details how he became the highest paid wrestler in the world at one point. The authors include quotes from wrestling legends such as Bruno Sammartino, Abdullah the Butcher, Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Jr., Jim Duggan, Carlos Colon and Harley Race, as well as Jim Ross and Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer to help flesh the story out.

There are stories in Brody that will make you laugh, cry and even get you angry at the fate of the wrestling wildman and the lack of justice that followed. This is a book for anyone who used to watch Bruiser Brody when he came through their territory, or anyone who has since watched tapes of him. It's also for those who have heard the name Bruiser Brody and don't know that much about him, but are intrigued about the chain-swinging madman.

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Tributes (By Dave Meltzer) Review

admin — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:59:37 +0000

Tributes: Remembering Some of the World's Greatest Wrestlers
By Dave Meltzer
Published by Winding Stair Press
Released on October 2001
182 Pages (Hardcover)
Available in Hardcover

For those interested in pulling back the curtain of the professional wrestling industry, one of the best sources of news and information has always been Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Observer is usually around 12 pages and is jam-packed with 25,000 words or more, covering all facets of pro-wrestling and mixed martial arts. It's not very pretty. It doesn't have a cover, photos and doesn't even have a logo.

For the Observer, it's not about the presentation, it's about the content. Tributes, however, is different. There are photos on every other page or more, usually in colour. Inside are Meltzer's obituaries which he writes immediately following an unfortunate passing. They are highly researched, well-written and in-depth (for the manner they are published in), covering the wrestler's entire career as well as any other significant events of his or her life. Tributes features abridged obituaries (or biographies) of these wrestling greats: Owen Hart, Brian Pillman, Rick Rude, Andre the Giant, Bruiser Brody, Fritz & Kerry Von Erich, Yokozuna, Junkyard Dog, Buddy Rogers, Dino Bravo, Eddie Gilbert, Big John Studd, Louie Spicolli, Jumbo Tsuruta, Art Barr, Boris Malenko, Giant Baba, Gordon Solie and Ray Stevens.

As morbid as it sounds, many people have made the comment in the past that they almost look forward to the obituaries when they appear in the Observer. For any wrestling fan who has never read Meltzer's work, this book is a good starting point. For a long-time Observer reader, this book is an easy access compilation of the greatest bios from the newsletter. Either way, Tributes is a worthy addition to any wrestling book collection.

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