THE LEGACY OF DUSTY RHODES FIGHTS THROUGH THE PAIN OF THE WRESTLING BUSINESS by Bowie V. Ibarra
Cross Rhodes - Goldust, Out of the Darkness is another in a long line of entertaining bios about WWE stars that reveals the triumphs and demons on their road to pro-wrestling glory. If there was anyone bred to be a star in the pro-wrestling industry, it would be the legacy of 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes. The quick read follows the love and admiration Dustin held for his absentee father as he grew up in Texas and around the south. Dustin is eventually ushered into the business by his dad to earn his way to the top. As the story advances, we see the specter of drugs, alcohol, and pain killers that plagues the athletes living the pro-wrestling lifestyle. Like so many before him, Dustin succumbs to the demons and struggles with that addiction while trying to maintain a happy life out of the ring and nurturing his breakout character, Goldust. The book is a quick read and comes recommended for those who have grown to appreciate the Goldust gimmick and the work of Dustin Rhodes, one of the few remaining men who hold on to the traditions of the past. The book is ZBFbooks.com approved.
Get your copy of Cross Rhodes - Goldust, out of the DarknessHERE.
You want to read something else that's just as cool? You need to pick up the best combat sports themed book on the market today. 'Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire' features fighters from across the globe converging on Texas during the early days of MMA. It even includes a star of lucha libre trying his hand in MMA.
Get 'Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire' today in paperback or Kindle HERE.
BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the acclaimed 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press. He earned a BFA in Acting and a MA in Theatre History from Texas State University. His latest titles explore superhero themes, including 'Codename: La Lechusa', 'Room 26 and the Army of Xulhutdul', and 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull'.
Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com, the leader in Tex-Mexploitation literature.
COOL WRESTLING NOSTALGIA FINDS ITS WAY INTO THE ZBFBOOKS.COM BUNKER by Bowie V. Ibarra
I'm sure you already saw how cool the first retro WWE program from the 80s was. Well, my buddy had two of them that his grandmother gave him. Here's the second, featuring Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine. Check out what's inside this one.
CAN GREG VALENTINE HAMMER HIS WAY OVER BOB BACKLUND TO TAKE W.W.F. TITLE?
The Grand Wizzard has very lofty plans for Greg Valentine. He feels in the blond bomber he has found a man capable of defeating Bob Backlund for the coveted W.W.F. Heavyweight Championship.
Valentine's ring style will prove hard to top. The blond bomber simply tears into his opponents, literally pounding them into submission. Over the years he has earned the reputation of 'The Hammer', for use of wicked elbow smashes that have demolished all wrestlers put in his path.
In addition Greg is very effective with the figure four leglock. He has the holds and desire, but will they be enough to overcome Bob Backlund, one of the greatest champions in modern wrestling history?
Take a look at these featured grapplers.
THE MAGNIFICENT MURACO - The muscular young man from Hawaii claims that the Inter-Continental Heavyweight Championship is just the first of many honors that he intends to capture.
PEDRO MORALES - If this former champion has anything to say about it, Muraco's title reign may end being a very short one. Pedro feels that Muraco used a foreing object to steal the crown from him in the first place.
KING KONG MOSCA - This big man is used to having things go completely his way, with his size and power he can usually back up his demands and get them. An All-Pro nine years in a row in football before turning to pro-wrestling.
DOMENIC DeNUCCI - One of the most beloved all time stars of the W.W.F. grappling scene, Domenic is neer too busy to sign an autograph or pose for a fan picture. Another cagey veteran, he knows all the tricks.
WHO WILL KILLER KHAN CRIPPLE NEXT?
W.W.F. promoters are finding it hard to sign opponents for Killer Khan. Many wrestlers point out the fact that they normally don't mind wrestling any other wrestler, but in Khan's case they run the risk of permanently being put out of action.
It is true that the big man from Mongolia has managed to cripple two of the sport's top stars in recent weeks.
A short time ago Killer became the first man ever to hand Andre the Giant a broken bone. 'The Eighth Wonder of the World' was forced to spend some painful time in a hospital bed recovering from his wounds.
And more recently Khan injured Rick 'Quickdraw' McGraw during a torrid T.V. encounter. Khan suplexed McGraw with such force, neck first into the canvas, that now Rick won't be able to wrestle for months.
The question is who will Killer Khan injure next? His manager Fred Blassie has boasted that Bob Backlund, popular W.W.F. Champion will be the next to feel the wrath of the vicious Killer Khan.
More featured grapplers!
ROBERTO SOTO - Like his big brother Manuel, Roberto has become a big fan favorite with W.W.F. fans with his fast and exciting ring style. Although he prefers to wrestle within the rules, he has an explosive temper when fouled.
S.D. JONES - Many fell that the reason S.D. Jones' great success since his return to the W.W.F. has been his tremendous conditioning. Also an important factor is that Jones has now developed a true killer's instinct, and knows when to go for a pin or submission.
JOHNNY RODZ AND JOSE ESTRADA - These two veterans stars are always difficult to defeat in the ring. From time to time Jose and Johnny form a very effective tag team combination. Needless to say in those situations they tend to become double-tough.
BARON MIKEL SCICLUNA - The big man from Malta is another veteran star who really knows his way around the ropes. At one time he was one half of the W.W.F. Tag Team Champions. On a good night he still has all that it takes to defeat the toughest of opposition.
And check out who gets the back page.
NEW W.W.F. TAG TEAM CHAMPS GAREA AND MARTEL HAVE STIFF COMPETITION IN DUO OF JAPAN'S SAITO AND FUJI
Fans everywhere were happy when the smooth working duo of Tony Garea and Rick Martel were able to defeat The Moondogs in a rematch for the W.W.F. Tag Team Titles.
But they won't be able to rest on their past glories, already new and dangerous competition have been eye-balling the coveted title belts.
Leading the list of serious title threats is Japan's top rated team of Saito and Fuji. Fuji of course is no stranger to either the W.W.F. or the tag team title. In the past he has worn those same belts with Prof. Tanaka. Fuji has complete confidence in his new tag team partner and feels it is just a matter of time before they go on to win the title.
Tony and Rick certainly will have something to say about that! Now that they have rewon the title, they have vowed to defend against all worthy contenders, but are determined not to leave a ring as ex-champions once more.
How cool was all that?
You want to read something else that's just as cool? You need to pick up the best combat sports themed book on the market today. 'Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire' features fighters from across the globe converging on Texas during the early days of MMA. It even includes a star of lucha libre trying his hand in MMA.
Get 'Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire' today in paperback or Kindle HERE.
BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the acclaimed 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press. He earned a BFA in Acting and a MA in Theatre History from Texas State University. His latest titles explore superhero themes, including 'Codename: La Lechusa', 'Room 26 and the Army of Xulhutdul', and 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull'.
Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com, the leader in Tex-Mexploitation literature.
LEGENDS OF THE TIME PERIOD FEATURED IN CLASSIC WWE KEEPSAKE by Bowie V. Ibarra
A buddy of mine I used to work with told me about some retro WWF programs his grandmother gave to him. At first, I thought they were going to be those glossy ones from the 90s.
But holy cow was I surprised when I saw they were actually from the very early 80s. Andre before the singlet was featured on the cover of the 'Major League Wrestling Official Souvenir Program' from the Wrestling News. WWF was apparently headquartered out of Tokyo, Japan, with Hisashi Shinma the official president. He was succeeded by Jack Tunny.
This thing was so cool, I just had to share it with ya'll. Check out these pics and write ups.
NAMES IN THE NEWS
BOB BACKLUND - It looks like 1981 will be another banner year for the popular W.W.F. He has enjoyed having the fans behind him 100% as he continues to turn back an impressive number of challengers.
PEDRO MORALES - The popular Inter-Continental Heavyweight Champion is another who has had to face a lot of stiff competition in recent weeks. Pedro has been meeting and beating them one by one.
RICK MARTEL - The high flying young wrestler from Montreal was very upset about losign the W.W.F. Tag Team Titles to The Moondogs. He and Tony Garea hope they rewin the belts in a rematch.
THE MOONDOGS - One man who was overjoyed at The Moondogs' victory was their manager Captain Louis Albano. He had predicted that there will be no stopping Rex and King, that they will reign a long time.
SERGEANT SLAUGHTER - He says that it is very hard to concentrate on arch rivals such as Bob Backlund and Pat Patterson when fans insist on disrupting his train of thought with 'Gomer Pyle' chants.
STAN 'THE LARIAT' HANSON - 'The Bad Man from Borger, Texas' not only continues to win matches, but also send hapless opponents to the hospital. It is said Stan will wrestle to hurt anyone if the pay is right.
KILLER KHAN - Fres from a tour of The Orient, Killer Kahn returns to the rings of W.W.F. more deadly than ever. Bob Backlund and his championship belt are Kahn's prime objectives.
YOSHIAKI YATSU - The young rookie from Japan has become a real favorite with fans throughout the W.W.F. Crowds love his moxie and willingness to mix it up with bigger and more experienced ring opponents.
Here's a write up by James C. Melby
Seargeant Slaughter may have stirred something up with pat Patterson that he won't be able to finish. The blond bomber can roughhouse just as much as Slaughter if the occasion calls for it. Pat is out to prove to the fans and Sergeant that he is stilla top notch competitor, in addition to be one of the best wrestling T.V. commentators around today... S.D. Jones has to be the most improved wrestler in the W.W.F. He has shed a few pounds since he last campaigned here, and looks better than ever in the squared circle. He now has all that it takes to obtain main event status... Another veteran who opponents should watch out for is Domenic DeNucci. The Italian mat craftsman on a good night can take the measure of anyone who he wrestles against.
Also, can anyone identify the dude with the noose?
All I know is these programs were pretty cool glimpses into wrestling's past. You can see the talent today is very different than the talent from the past. Here's to all those keeping the sacred traditions of wrestling's past alive today.
And if you're looking for a book that honors pro-wrestling, then you need to check out 'Pit Fighters: Double Cross'. The book features a Mexican luchador pursued by a devious woman who will stop at nothing to get his mask. Check it out and the other stories in its pages today in paperback or Kindle HERE.
Here's the official final book trailer.
BOWIE V. IBARRA is the author of the acclaimed 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press. He earned a BFA in Acting and a MA in Theatre History from Texas State University. His latest titles explore superhero themes, including 'Codename: La Lechusa', 'Room 26 and the Army of Xulhutdul', and 'Tejano Star and the Vengeance of Chaplain Skull'.
Network with Bowie at his official website, ZBFbooks.com, the leader in Tex-Mexploitation literature.
