Pure Dynamite: The Price you Pay for Wrestling Stardom (Paperback)

~ Tom Billington (Author), Alison Coleman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Pure Dynamite is a blow by blow account of the career of Tom Billington, who wrestled solo as The Dynamite Kid, and with Davey Boy Smith as half of the British Bulldogs tag team. Twice world champion, Billington was featured in the pages of Playboy magazine and was an international celebrity. Although he should have been a millionaire when he retired in 1993, after 16 years of professional wrestling, he had little but memories are scar tissue to show for it.

As one of the first bona fide superstars in the World Wrestling Federation, Billington's career parallels the development of the WWF, from the early days to the decade following the first Wrestlemaina event at Madison Square Gardens in 1985. He worked with every major promoter, and wrestled with some of the biggest names in the sport. His story is a candid expose of the highs and lows of a cultural phenomenon that is still growing today.

Now confined to a wheelchair as a result of serious damage to his back and legs, his years of steroid use have also damages Billington's heart and personal life. Pure Dynamite is as much a cautionary tale as it is a glimpse into the world of a wrestling legend.

From the Back Cover

From Humble beginnings in England, to warm family atmosphere of the Hart Foundation in Calgary, Canada, to heights of success with the WWF, Tom Billington wrestled all the big names, including Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, and Mick "Cactus Jack" Foley.

Now, scar tissue and memories are all he has to show for sixteen years in the game.

Pure Dynamite is a blow by blow account of Tom Billington's career, who wrestled solo as the Dynamite kid and with Davey Boy Smith as the world-champion tag team, the British Bulldogs. Confined to a wheel chair as a result of damage to his back and legs, years of steroid use have also done serious damage to Billington's heart and personal life. Pure Dynamite is as much a cautionary tale as it is a fairytale. Painfully candid, The Kid's story takes all the gloss off professional wrestling. The price you pay for wrestling stardom? Just as Tom Billington.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Winding Stair Press (August 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553660846
• ISBN-13: 978-1553660842
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #133,733 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Dynamite is purely honest, February 10, 2002

By	Robert Collette (Moncton, NB Canada) - See all my reviews

In the world of pro wrestling sometimes it's hard to tell the work from the shoot, the real life from the storyline. That's why Tom Billington should grab your attention. In an enviroment where the main thing is to put youself over to the crowd, Billington doesn't worry about how he looks to the public. He tells the story of his life just like it happened without trying for sympathy or tears. From his boyhood dreams in England as a coal miners son, to a new life in Canada with the famous Hart family in Calgary, across the world to back breaking matchs in Japan to the ultimate goal of every pro wrestler, the Wrestlemania stage, Billington tells it all. One thing that makes this book stand out among others on this subject is that it does not ignore or deny knowledge of drug use in this sport. Tom tackles it head on with no thought as to how the reader will look at him and in the end it works because you really respect his honesty. Something that seems to be lacking in other wrestling books these days with the possible exception of mabey Mick Foley. An incredibly easy read and enjoyable from cover to cover, you are left wishing, as whenever you finish a great book, that the story had not come to an end so soon. A must for any true wrestling fan who wondered whatever happened to one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Pure Dynamite is Pure Honesty and you will not be disapointed.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Look at Wrestling By One of the All Time Greats, October 11, 2001

By	John A. Daly (Greeley, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pure Dynamite is a unique book, written by one of wrestling's most gifted wrestlers, the Dynamite Kid. Many wrestlers have written books way too early in their careers, before they've accomplished enough. Dynamite, however, is now retired and his book covers his entire extensive career. Dynamite pulls no punches with his opinions on other wrestlers as well as the business as a whole. Being a huge fan of the British Bulldogs, I was very entertained by this book. It was interesting to learn of some of the antics that go on backstage in the world of wrestling. Dynamite has an interesting sense of humor, but the highlight of this book is his pure honesty. A must read 1980's wrestling fans.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare find.., November 14, 2001

By	Art Vandalay - See all my reviews

There are so few good wrestling books out there, but this one
easily rates with the Foley, Thesz, and Meltzer books as one of
them. A look back at what Mick Foley called one of the first
true hardcore wrestlers in every sense of the word. Unlike
the Chyna, Rock, DDP, Arn Anderson books (which should be
avoided like the plague) this one is to be savored time and
again with different readings to pick up on things missed the
first time. Buy it, you'll thank me later.