Journal of a Journeyman

By Dusty Wolfe

With Briand Thompson and Brian Tramel

www.rasslinriotonline.com

$19.99

Reviewed by Joe Babinsack

After reading “Journal of a Journeyman” I can say with some sense of confidence that the coin of Dusty Wolfe’s realm is respect.

Name after name, story after story, with a strong emphasis on his own life, career and obstacles, the essence of the tale is the respect that Dusty has for his fellow wrestlers, and the respect shown him by a wide variety of talent.

How many guys in the industry can speak of, and be associated with, the likes of Tiny Lister, Bruiser Brody, Scott Hall, Dick Murdoch, Abdullah the Butcher, Ken Timbs, the Ultimate Warrior, as well as show respect to promoters like Blanchard, Jarrett, Graham, and McMahon, all the while showing the contacts of a well-stocked rolodex and an uncanny ability to put together strong rosters of names, for tours of far-flung nations across the world.

Mexico, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Europe, Puerto Rico; the various regions of the United States, including Southwest Texas across the decades, Jerry Jarrett’s Memphis promotion, Eddie Graham’s Tampa promotion, New Orleans, the WWF, the WCW, Global; the Sportatorium for seemingly a dozen promotions, Madison Square Garden, Orlando tapings of WCW, bull rings, arenas in India guarded by troops, desolate venues in South Africa, and so much more.

“Journal of a Journeyman” is practically a tour guide of the industry.

And not just a road map, not just a promotional x-ray of times gone by, but also the hard-earned career of a man who shows an innate understanding of the industry, not from heights of success, but often from the perspective of seeing a territory die, seeing a promoter con one too many times, seeing a mindset grow and fester among his fellow independent wrestlers.

It didn’t take long for me to take notice of what Wolfe was saying. As one half of the Hollywood Blondes with Ken Timbs, he learned from the best, and interacted with the big names, and learned some of the worst of politics at the same time.

One irritation of the book was the “Ken T” and “Ken J” names, that being Timbs and Johnson, respectively. But how hard can you be on a guy who respected his trainer and long time tag partner in than inimical fashion where manly means never saying how deeply you feel for your friend?

The only other complaint ended up not being a complaint, just a wish for more.

Every time Dusty spoke of Brody, or of Murdoch or of one of a dozen vastly interesting names, I always wanted more. But such diversions are not fair in a book about your own career, your own stories and your own perspectives.

It’s just that Dusty Wolfe is so vastly experienced with so many names, and with a writing pace and with substance that makes you believe – and makes you want to learn more..

But Wolfe certainly lived his own interesting life, and is never overshadowed by the huge egos and personalities he encounters.

Abdullah the Butcher gets annoying pretty quick, and Wolfe stands up to him. Bruiser Brody would be a name to overwhelm a lesser name and a lesser impact upon the industry – in other words, almost any guy you can name – but I’m more interested in Dusty Wolfe and how he walked certain paths, than wondering why he didn’t say more about Brody.

The insight into the Puerto Rican scene, with Jovica and Colon, is priceless in terms of understanding more about why Brody went down, even if you’re left wondering why Wolfe never says never about working on the island after the murder.

Scott Hall makes a cameo, interesting enough considering his reputation. Wolfe is simply a guy “from way back” – all you might expect from one of the Outsiders at the onset of their rise to fame and fortune. It’s that shred of respect that is heartfelt and palpable in the book that makes it real. That makes it more than most books on the subject, or by wrestlers themselves.

To me, Dusty Wolfe is well worthy of respect, as is his perspective as a guy who eked out his living the hard way, and never bowed down to a promoter, personality or fight, and never compromised himself for the industry.

While at times his personal strife was guarded, he does paint the picture of a man simply incapable of making a marriage work, but all the while a stand up man, capable of loving and respecting his children, and regretful of the many days if not years he lost touring, working and traveling to the expense of family and children.

Like a gentleman, he omits the details. While one can wonder if those details are damning more to himself, or more to his ex-wives, is certainly something a guy steeped in kayfabe would deftly avoid.

Likewise, Dusty sometimes avoids the intricacies of the business, the minor details, the booking strategies, the nonstop exposes – but then again, he more than makes up for it with his undeniable wisdom.

Here’s a guy that was entrusted to teaching several namable names. He babysat Tiny Lister – Zeus to me and you who followed Hogan in the late 80’s.

As mentioned earlier, he had some part in breaking in the American Starship – Scott “Coyote” Hall and Danny “Eagle” Spivey.

Along the way, he speaks of awe and or respect for the many promoters he worked for, from Joe Blanchard in Southwest Texas, to Eddie Graham in Florida, and even Jarrett in Memphis.

Wolfe’s interaction with the WWF well before its national dominance, with WCW as it bungled along, and when it skyrocketed to prominence, and for regions, true independents and various outlaw operations, let alone touring, running tours and dealing with promoters of all shapes, sizes and shadyness across the globe all prove how battle-hardened, politically astute and just plain intuitive the man was with the business.

To wit:

“Guys like the Fargo’s, Red Bastien, Terry Funk, Dick Murdoch, Johnny Valentine, and Roddy Piper wouldn’t stand a snow balls chance in hell today. Simply due to the fact that they wouldn’t be allowed to be themselves.”

It’s been said by others, but it’s so true and hasn’t been said better.

Which is, in many ways, how I’d sum up this book.

If you’re someone who’s addicted to star power, you will actually get your fill, but I’m certain that Dusty Wolfe’s personal story and insight into the industry will be far more insightful and interesting than any of the other books out there, full of promise (and often failing to produce.)

Dusty Wolfe, having eked out a real career in an often unreal industry, shows far more productive and valuable insight, and should be appreciated for doing so.

Joe Babinsack can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Many thanks to Georgianne Makropoulos for securing this book for me. ROH is on deck, and a holiday gift guide coming up soon.