Tributes (By Dave Meltzer) Review

Rating 4.33 out of 5

[?]

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.

Americans - Cheapest Price is $17.99	United Kingdom - Cheapest Price is £25.00
Canadians - Cheapest Price is $32.99	Europeans - Cheapest Price is £25.00