The Wrestling Observer's Tributes

The Wrestling Observer's Tributes compiles Dave Meltzer's obituaries and remembrances of professional wrestlers who passed away between 1997-2003. Meltzer, a veteran wrestling journalist, wrote these pieces for his Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Each tribute provides background on the wrestler's career, impact on the industry, and final days. The book includes profiles of major stars like Owen Hart and Brian Pillman, along with entries on lesser-known regional performers and behind-the-scenes figures. The entries combine Meltzer's firsthand reporting with historical research and interviews with the subjects' colleagues and family members. His journalistic approach documents both the public personas and private struggles of the featured performers. The collection serves as both an industry chronicle and a reflection on professional wrestling's human toll. Through these tributes, Meltzer examines the physical and personal costs of a demanding entertainment form.

Readers note the book provides detailed obituaries and profiles of deceased wrestling personalities, originally published in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Readers appreciated: - The level of research and historical details - Personal anecdotes about the wrestlers - Coverage of both well-known and lesser-known figures - Meltzer's insider industry knowledge Common criticisms: - Writing can be dry and repetitive - Some profiles feel rushed or incomplete - Lack of photos and visual content - Too much focus on match statistics vs personal stories From online reviews: Amazon: 4.3/5 (26 reviews) Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 reviews) Sample reader comment: "Great historical record but reads more like a collection of newspaper articles than a book" - Amazon reviewer Several readers mentioned using it as a reference book rather than reading it straight through, with one noting "It works better when you look up specific wrestlers you're interested in."

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Controversy Creates Cash by Eric Bischoff. The former WCW president presents his account of the Monday Night Wars and the inner workings of wrestling promotion through the 1990s.

Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling by Heath McCoy. This historical record traces the Hart family's Stampede Wrestling promotion through interviews with wrestlers, promoters, and family members.

Shooters: The Toughest Men in Professional Wrestling by Jonathan Snowden. The book examines the lives of legitimate wrestlers who bridged the gap between competitive wrestling and entertainment through detailed research and interviews.

Gary Hart: My Life in Wrestling by Gary Hart. This autobiography provides first-hand accounts of territorial wrestling's business operations from a booker and manager who worked across multiple decades and promotions.

🌟 Author Dave Meltzer has published the Wrestling Observer Newsletter continuously since 1983, making it the longest-running professional wrestling journalism publication still in existence. 📖 The book compiles obituaries and tributes originally published in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, honoring wrestlers who passed away over several decades. 💫 Several of the tributes in the book were written within hours of the wrestlers' deaths, capturing raw, immediate reactions from the wrestling community. 🤼 Dave Meltzer created the famous "star rating system" for wrestling matches, which has become the industry standard and is referenced by wrestlers and fans worldwide. 📝 The book includes behind-the-scenes stories and personal anecdotes about wrestling legends that weren't widely known at the time of their original publication in the newsletter.