Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers

Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Dave Meltzer
Publisher: Sports Publishing
Released: 9/04

The Good
What's funny is I gave the first Tributes book 5 out of 5 and this is definitely better. I think the obit choices were good, the knowns, forgottens and reworks (Andre and Owen). This is much more detailed than the first and though I'd read his WON obits on all but a few of these people, I still enjoyed it greatly. I truly feel he is able to write among the most intriguing short biographies on people as he has an honest, yet honorary approach.

The Bad
Unfortunately, most of these people had died since the last book, which is morbid to think about. That aside, I had a WON subscription during that time, so only four or five were new to me. I felt Wahoo McDaniel and Johnny Valentine have better stories than what he captured, but he did a fair job considering his limited resources and their well-travelled natures. The DVD that came with the book was a nice addition, but really disappointing considering what it could have been.


The Rating: ****1/2

Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame - The Canadians

Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Greg Oliver
Publisher: ECW Press
Released: 10/02

The Good
Greg Oliver is an excellent pro-wrestling journalist and this, the first in the "Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame" series is a nice sampling of the work he has been doing for years on his Slam! Wrestling website. This book is more of an encyclopedia of Canadian and adopted Canadian wrestlers than what future installments would be. Oliver top twenty listing could raise eyebrows, but nothing is grossly omitted, overlooked or downplayed. If you've never browsed his site, this is great original content with interview tidbits, anecdotes and well-researched history. A sound first attempt.

The Bad
"Hall of Fame" books are always full of subjectivity that irks everyone. While I have read some of the flaws of this book, it is generally good. I think its limitations are in its depth. However, Oliver had to choose between a wide variety of people to profile or great depth in those profiles and he chose the former. His top twenty had the depth I enjoyed, but was not on par with the mini-biographies in Dave Meltzer's Tributes books. Although this is okay, his future books make this look amateurish.
The Rating: ***3/4

    

Tributes: Remembering Some of the World's Greatest Wrestlers


Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Dave Meltzer
Publisher: Winding Stair Press
Released: 10/01

The Good
An excellent look at a handful of deceased wrestlers that are edited and somewhat shortened versions of his WON obits. This is Dave Meltzer's strong suit because he knows things, understands things and is good at explaining things. You get a number of people from the 1950s through modern times.  I would think that even the casual fan could enjoy this as I know a couple who've read it and enjoyed it.  Meltzer is great at digging up anecdotes and putting a person's legacy into a proper perspective.  An enjoyable read from pro-wrestling's preeminent journalist and critic.

The Bad
Obviously there are a few off-facts (from what I've heard, but none stood out to me). The stories are kind of condensed and some might not like that. I really can't point much fault at this, it is what is and probably the best non-autobiographical wrestling book there is.  I know a lot of people knock Dave's writing and this is much more cleaned up than the run-on sentences laded grammatical errors, but it still has that Meltzer feel.  If you do not like WON, than perhaps you might not like this.

The Rating: *****