Dusty Rhodes (2) (1945–2015)

I read the Audible Studios Unabridged Audiobook well-narrated by Kerry Woodrow.

I enjoy periodically reading memoirs from the TV and arena wrestling era I followed. This one shows Dusty "The America Dream" Rhodes not only to be a high-profile crowd favorite and multiple champion, but a impresario and executive producer from the independents to the arenas in the PPV era. I didn't know of his leadership role. Rhodes overtly does not want to dish on others, but in some business dealings he can't show more hold back. Mostly he shares wild tales of pranks and antics on the road and comes across as one who loved life with gusto and went through the various associations, highs and lows as the Texas plumber's son yet unburdened with racism or homophobia which is always good to hear. In this entertaining and revealing career memoir, Rhodes recalls Terry Funk, Harley Race, Hulk Hogan ("yellow finger" icon as representative of the souvenir era), and many more. Also told here is the arc from a patchwork of regional wrestling control largely by various family's to the rise of the Vince McMahon organization and consolidation of power. show less

A strange, nearly incomprehensible book detailing the adventures of an egomaniacal delusional psychotic. Sure, I could be talking about the Mothman Prophecies or the Qur'an, but this is the story of one of the stranger men in the very strange world of professional wrestling. Surprisingly raunchy, at times it reads like The Dirt if instead of being four skinny guys, Mötley Crüe were one big fat one - and if instead of actually participating in sex, they had gotten off on watching donkeys show more pound Mexican girls. Reflections of an American Dream is also a bit of an editorial mess, and time and again I had to reread and rereread sentences to puzzle out what Dusty was trying to say. And yet, it was all strangely endearing! A million billion stars! show less