Customer Reviews

Wrestling Observer's Tributes: Remembering Some of the World's Greatest Wrestlers

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Anyone who is serious about professional wrestling has probably come across Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Beginning in the early-1980s, the Observer virtually invented the "shoot" style of reporting on wrestling, in part paving the way for the sport's renaissance in the 1990s. The Observer is in many ways the opposite of the traditional wrestling magazines that pretend the competitions in the ring are real. The Observer really is a newsletter: the November 12th issue, for instance, was twelve pages long and jammed with well over 30,000 words. Though it has no photos or glossy cover, the Observer is the pro wrestling's journal of record.

Meltzer is well known for his obituaries. When someone prominent in the business dies, Meltzer produces an amazingly complete and insightful story of their life that appears in the Observer typically days after their death. Given the fragmented and uncertain nature of pro wrestling history, these obituaries may be the most important and compelling accounts of wrestling's past currently available.

This obit collection is different from the 1998 edition of Tributes published in partnership with Powerbomb.com. The 2001 edition has been re-edited, contains many more photographs, and some of the obits have been replaced by newer stories.

The current edition presents stories on the lives of Andre the Giant, Art Barr, Boris Malenko, Brian Pillman, Bruiser Brody, Buddy Rogers, Dino Bravo, Eddie Gilbert, Fritz Von Erich, Giant Baba, Gordon Solie, John Studd, Jumbo Tsuruta, Junkyard Dog, Kerry Von Erich, Louie Spicolli, Owen Hart, Ray Stevens, Rick Rude, and Yokozuna. All of the stories are detailed and fascinating, but some stand out, particularly Meltzer's Bruiser Brody obituary.

This book is not based on morbid details or fascination with deaths of the included wrestlers. What it is, is a very well researched and written series of tributes covering some of wrestlings notable performers. The writings of Dave Meltzer are informative on each of these performers careers and what made these men special in the world of wrestling. The book is a quick easy read that is divided up into sections based on the particular man being given the tribute. There are many wonderful full color pictures throughout the entire book. This is a good book for those who want to learn more about the history of individual wrestlers covered.

This has to be one of the saddest books I've ever ordered. That's not a negative opinion. The basis of this book is a sort of snapshot at the lives and deaths of some of wrestling's biggest names. Meltzer has done his research and tells the truths that maybe we wouldn't really want to know about these people. The great majority of these wrestling stars were lost due to alcohol abuse, drug addiction, and the pursuit of the top of the wrestling ladder. Owen Hart is deservedly the first "salute" in this book and the chronology of events around his tragic accidental death will leave you in tears. He truly was a great figure and is missed. Most of the others had very sad events surrounding their passings. This is a "coffee table" style book and is very nicely done. If you have been a wrestling fan for a long time, you will look at these photos and read these stories and remember the events as they are told. Newer fans will appreciate the price many wrestlers paid to entertain us. Great book!

I don't think msny will disagree with me when I say that professional wrestling is the most exposed and yet least covered sport (or aspect of sports-entertainment for those who care). When a baseball, football or outstanding amateur athlete dies, his or her obit will be assured of a prominent place in at least the sports section of the newspaper or television. When a wrestler dies, we remain blissfully unaware unless the death is somewhat akin to the death of Chuckles the Clown on the old Mary Tyler Moore show (See Owen Hart). Even the wrestling promotions themselves made little or not mention of a wrestler's death, in some cases even when the grappler was currently working there.

Of course, it's not only death that counts. Ask yourself why Lou Thesz, Bruno Sammartino or even Kurt Angle haven't yet appeared on ESPN's "SportsCentury". Wrestlers are the equivilent of Rodney Dangerfield: they get no respect.

A good remedy for this neglect can be found in the writings of Dave Meltzer. In 1981 he founded "The Wrestling Observer," a publication that comes as close to the definitive word on the game as one will find. And one of the strong points of the Observer is its obits. They cover every wrestler, whether superstar or starting out, providing the information necessary to fill in the lines of that person's life and doing the wrestling fan a serious favor in the process.

Now Meltzer has published a book of Tributes to those who made wrestling . . . well, wrestling. From the legendary Buddy Rogers to the tragic Rick Rude to the always hopeful Louis Spicoli, Meltzer covers 20 of these lives in his inimitable style. Owen Hart, Fritz Von Erich, Andre the Giant, even Yokozuna are there, larger than life, only with the blanks filled in. An absolute must-have for any wrestling fan.

It must also be noted that the book is a nicely bound hardcover, the pages sewn tight to last. Considering the author and at a price this is what in the consumer magazines consitiutes a "best buy."

If you are looking for an independent (ie non-WWE based)retrospective on the careers of some of the more influential wrestlers that died in the late 80's to present, this a great one. Meltzer is objective in remembering wrestlers from Andre the Giant to Eddie Gilbert while making sure to give each of their careers the proper historical perspective.
With the following that many of these wrestlers had, its refreshing to find someone like Meltzer give them the obituaries they deserves (as the mainstream media has always shied away from making a big deal out of it.) People such as Gordon Solie, Brian Pillman and Owen Hart deserve just as much of a sendoff -- often moreso -- than the athletes, entertainers and politicians that are written about posthumously in newspapers.
There were a few minor errors with timelines and such, but nothing overwhelming. Overall, most wrestling fans (at least the ones like me that grew up loving WWF, NWA, Stampede and AWA) will find this required reading.

Obituaries are often the best way to present a history of a person, place, or thing. These stories cover different eras of wrestling and do a great job of covering the person, the place, and the wrestling industry. Wrestling History is only well written in a handful of places, although with good recent entries, it may be up to two handfuls. This book is certainly among the best of its kind. If anything, it could be longer. I hope this is the start of more books by Dave Meltzer. He's busy writing daily for his website and for his weekly newsletter, but I hope he can consolidate his vast knowledge into more great books.

I have subscribed to Dave Meltzer's newsletter for many years. His career retrospectives are always fascinating. Sadly, they are almost always done after a wrestler has passed away. The tributes here are excellent. The career details for each wrestler are very well researched. My only suggestion is to read the book in small doses -- one tribute at a sitting. The mind gets numb after a while when reading about all the drug use and the tragic, young deaths. When taken as individual essays, every story in the book is riveting. A must-read for any long-time wrestling fan.

This is, quite simply, a must have for wrestling fans. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has written an astonishing book paying tribute to 20 of the biggest deceased names of the sport. The writing style is intelligent, well researched and informed. What is most asonishing about this book is the collection of pictures. Meltzer has obtained some stunning images, including Andre the Giant with hockey great Bobby hull, and Bruiser Brody at his bloody best. Overall, a fine effort, and by covering merely 20 superstars, it allows for hopefully a second volume of tributes by Dave Meltzer. Highest recommendation.

I have been a pro wrestling fan since 1972 (at 5 yrs old. I have read most of the wrestling books such as Foley's, etc that have come out in the last couple of years, and I read the internet wrestling sites everyday. I was totally blown away by how interesting a read this book was. I knew that Dave Meltzer is the best wrestling journalist, now I see why. Reading this book has convinced me to subscribe to his wrestling observer newsletter. All the sections were very thorough and taught me things that I have never knew about some of the stars of the past, many who passed before their time. The sections on Brian Pillman, Andre the Giant, and Bruiser Brody were especially interesting. Not only are the stories great, but the pictures in this book are awesome! I would love nothing more that for Dave Meltzer to write some more books, either another volume of tributes or mabey a definitive book on the history of professional wrestling without kayfabe. Great Book.

I'm not going to take up a whole bunch of time telling you who Dave Meltzer is and all that, because if you know anything about wrestling, then you know who he is. But I will say this... This book is a hell of a read. I learned stuff about some of these guys that even I didn't know yet, and that's saying something after years of reading the net. I wish the chapters were longer but that's just because they were so good. THe only gripe really is that some of the sections have only really old pictures, mainly JYDs, and I figure that's because he couldn't get his hands on that many WWF pics. But it's a great book and I recommend it to anyone.