Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom

by Alison Coleman and Tom Billington

Book Overview

This is the autobiography of the wrestler known as the Dynamite Kid. It is a no-holds-barred look at the inside workings of the wrestling busines from one of it's biggest stars. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1553660846
• ISBN13: 9781553660842
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Winding Stair Press
• Length: 201 Pages
• Weight: 0.74 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Pure Dynamite is purely honest

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.

A rare find..

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

Best Wrestling Book Since Have a Nice day

This tell all book had me feeling every emotion possible! I was laughing crying and having a ball! Dynamite tells all about working with the top names of the WWF and all the wacky pranks he used to pull on the other wrestlers on the road! He is a nice guy with a funny story to tell! You will be in stiches when you read of some of the ribs he pulled on former friend and cousin Davey Boy Smith and read in amazement how badly Davey Boy Treated him.... A must own for any true wrestling fan out there!

A damn good book about wrestling

If you read Mick Foley's book, and enjoyed it, then there's a chance you may dislike this book. Foley's book is a large, funny, heavily hyped tome, and The Dynamite Kid's is not. Well, it IS funny, but from the perspective of a small kid from Northern England who tried to break into the world of wrestling dominated by Americans twice his size. There are so many stories here to savour, from his days in Japan, to the WWF and beyond. This book is not as big or as brassy as Foley's, but if you consider yourself to be a wrestling fan, then try this book and see if you can actually put it down.

Truth in Wrestling

Tom Billington wrestled throughout his career as the Dynamite Kid, a wrestler many regard as one of the most innovative of all time. A wrestler many of today's stars cite as their biggest influence. Unfortunately today, Billington is confined to a wheelchair as a result of the years of physical, narcotic, and alchoholic abuse he forced on his body. But he doesn't court your sympathy, he doesn't want it. He recounts his story in a gritty, northern England manner highlighting the many behind-the-scenes wranglings, pranks and deception in every promotion he worked for, including the WWF. It is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a fan of wrestling. You may never look at some wrestling personalities in the same way again. I would say this possibly the best book on pro wrestling I have ever read.