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Pure Dynamite: The Autobiography of Tom 'Dynamite Kid' Billington
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.
Paperback
,
208 pages
Published
October 30th 1999
by Dynamite Kid Co
(first published 1999)
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Community Reviews
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I have a confession to make. I was big into pro-wrestling back in the day. And by back in the day, I mean 1982-2003. In the course of those years, I probably read 20 books about wrestlers. This one is in the top two.
Pure Dynamite is the story of the Dynamite Kid, best known as one half of the British Bulldogs. The Kid, aka Tom Billington, tells the story of his career, beginning from his training at Wiggan, England as an undersized youth of 16, to Calgary with the Harts, to New Japan and his leg ...more
Pure Dynamite is the story of the Dynamite Kid, best known as one half of the British Bulldogs. The Kid, aka Tom Billington, tells the story of his career, beginning from his training at Wiggan, England as an undersized youth of 16, to Calgary with the Harts, to New Japan and his leg ...more
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Aug 12, 2007
Mark Anthony Kasperowicz
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
rasslers
Dedication to something you're passionate about sometimes leaves you in a wheelchair. When you write a book about it it ends up being almost romantic.
This is a very good Pro Wrestling book from one of the very best talents of the late 80's to mid-90's, but the cynicism and disdain for his fellow workers (and far too many friends) weighs down many of stories. Factor in too the terrible toll that steroids took upon the author's body and you'll find yourself suffering a great deal of sadness as a result. While the book certainly aims to act as a cautionary tale, it's still a shame that someone this good should have suffered so much and enjoyed t
...more
A very interesting read. I always loved Dynamite Kid and the British Bulldogs; they probably are my favorite all time tag team right there with The Rockers and The Heart Foundation just to name a few during a time when tag teams were so popular. This book is one of the best ones I've read and it seemed to be brutally honest about a lot of things including wacky things that boggle the mind. This guy was great in the ring and was tough, but he was a bully and easily unlikable as he admits some of
...more
Were I to rate this book properly. I would rate it 5 stars for the frankness and descriptions of wrestling life, but 1 star for the narcissistic inconsistencies.
Basically, he paints a very realistic picture of the wrestling world, yet most of his hate and stories vs others have been debunked by other wrestlers. Even wrestlers who don't like each other and never agree on anything will say Dynamite is lying about many parts and unwilling to accept blame for his personal shortcomings.
Basically, he paints a very realistic picture of the wrestling world, yet most of his hate and stories vs others have been debunked by other wrestlers. Even wrestlers who don't like each other and never agree on anything will say Dynamite is lying about many parts and unwilling to accept blame for his personal shortcomings.
Tom "The Dynamite Kid" Billington's biography is a very interesting story of a wrestler who was a part of the 1980's surge in the popularity of professional wrestling. But, while this era is give some discussion, Billington gives equal billing to the time that he spent learning the craft in England, Canada, and Japan. I never realized what a legitimate tough guy the Kid was as well as a locker room prankster. I also didn't have any idea of the falling out between him and The British Bulldog. Sad
...more
A straight forward account of the price you can pay for being in any professional sport. Both fascinating and heartbreaking.
One of the most brutally honest books about wrestling ever written. This is a story about one mans journey from no namer, to the heights of wrestling fame and back again. It is a story of fame, drugs, booze, pills, steroids, and the inevitable price that it cost him. This is "The Wrestler" without the feel good comeback at the end. A deffinite read for any wrestling fan.
Jul 29, 2009
Alex
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites
,
pro-wrestling
One of the better pro wrestler books out there. While you may not agree with this man's attitude, the way the book is written garners sympathy for his beliefs and plight unlike say... Matt Hughes who just came off as a big tosser. Lots of awesome insight into the various worlds of pro wrestling from the UK to Mexico, Canada, Japan and the World Wrestling Federation itself.
An interesting read. I thought Dynamite Kid had a ghost writer but, by the writing style in the book, I'm now thinking that he didn't. The writing is very amateur-ish, but nothing that isn't too terrible to get through. The stories are interesting but, oddly enough, I've read 20% of the stories in other books (like Mick Foley's). Overall, it's a decent read.
The Dynamite Kid was a great in ring warrior and his book tells the tale of what happens when you abuse your body and burn the candle at both ends. A solid read Kid doesn't pull any punches when voices his opinion on fellow wrestlers and promoters, sounding bitter at times. A recommended read for all wrestling fans and members of the business.
Jan 01, 2011
Mr. Pease
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Wrestling fans, Biography fans
Shelves:
professional-wrestling
An enlightening and damning portrayal of the wrestling business in the hard-living era of the 1980's. Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington's story is a cautionary tale about stardom and abuse that goes well beyond the world of wrestling. Recommended for wrestling fans, and those who enjoy biographies of personal struggle.
Even by the low standards of "celebrity" autobiography, this book was terrible.
I would explain further, but then I would have spent more time on my review than he spent working on the book.
I would explain further, but then I would have spent more time on my review than he spent working on the book.
One of the best wrestling books I've ever read, and I've read a lot. Good luck finding it, I had to search online, but if you do have the opportunity to come across a copy, do it.
Someone's best friend really likes wrestling...I enjoyed this, it's actually pretty sad and touching.
Great book. One of the first books I read about the wrestling business. Good, bad and all... it's in there.
Thanks to this book, I always think of laxatives and horse steroids when I hear the name "Dynamite Kid."
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