Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Bad to the Bone 25 Years of Riots and by Bad to the Bone: 25 Years of Riots and Wrestling by Ron Starr. Bobby Nutt (April 3, 1950 - June 8, 2017), better known by his Ron Starr, was an American professional wrestler. Starr was a mainstay for numerous wrestling territories throughout the 1970s and 80s, capturing almost three dozen championships throughout his career including two reigns as NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion and several reigns as NWA World Champion. He was also notable for his involvement with in Canada and his tenure with the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. Starr has been called "one of the unsung heroes of the territory days of " and "one of the most effective heels that territorial professional wrestling had ever seen. Bobby Nutt was born to parents Oscar and Betty Nutt. His love of professional wrestling came from his mother, who was a wrestling fan and would attend shows on Friday nights. In 1970 at the age of 18, Bobby enlisted in the United States Army, serving eighteen months in Vietnam. Nutt had difficulty becoming re-accustomed to American life but soon found work in the construction industry where he worked alongside his father. He was noticed at a local YMCA gym by wrestlers Buddy Colt and Billy Spears, who introduced him to the possibility of a career in professional wrestling. Starr debuted in 1972 and soon made a name for himself working for Promotions in the National Wrestling Alliance, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Championship Wrestling From Florida territories. He travelled extensively throughout his career, making his New Japan Pro Wrestling debut in 1976 and accumulating championships in various territories throughout the Gulf Coast, Central States, San Francisco, Pacific Northwest, Los Angeles, Memphis, Stampede, Atlantic Grand Prix and Puerto Rico. During his tenures in Japan, China and South Africa, he primarily wrestled under the ring name "Mr. Wrestling." Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Starr was a prolific traveller throughout the territory system. He captured singles and tag team championships in Central States, Gulf Coast, Pacific Northwest, Texas and Southeastern territories and won several NWA world championships, including two reigns as NWA World Junior Heavyweight champion, beating in 1976, and then in a tournament in 1980. Starr had perhaps one of his best-remembered runs during his tenure with Stampede Wrestling in , where he was a two-time Stampede Tag Team Championship as one-half of the tag-team “Devastation Inc.” alongside Wayne Ferris (aka ). Having wrestled several tours for New Japan between 1976-1980, Starr spent the later part of the wrestling career from 1987 wrestling overseas for New Japan and the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. In the WWC, he captured 12 titles including being a two-time Junior Heavyweight Champion, four time World Tag Team Champion, three time North American Tag Team Champion and two time Television Champion. In his later life, Starr published his autobiography, titled "Bad to the Bone: 25 Years of Riots and Wrestling". The book was reviewed by Marty Goldstein of SLAM! Sports, who called it "an essential volume for any true fan of the business" due to its concise detailing of the territory system. The book was forwarded by , who credits Starr with teaching him the art of "brawling" in wrestling, during their 1989 feud. According to Rock Rims (who worked with Starr on his autobiography) Starr had suffered four heart attacks and four strokes in the last two decades of his life. Starr died on June 8, 2017 and was found by his wife that morning at 6:20am having died in his sleep, reportedly of a collapsed lung. The Wrestling Insomniac. Born Timothy Smith and also known as Rex King, he debuted in 1987 in the Pacific Northwest Wrestling as Rex King teaming with as the Southern Rockers. In 1993 he and Doll entered the WWE under the names Timothy Well and Steven Dunn as the team . The duo won several tag team championships in Music City Wrestling, PNW, USWA, & World Wrestling Council. Well passed away from kidney failure. Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka 73, May 18, 1943 - January 15, 2017. Snuka debuted in 1968 in Hawaii and toured the territories headlining wherever he went. He's known for famously leaping off the top of the cage in Madison Square Garden on October 17, 1983 onto after losing the match to the Intercontinental Champion. However that was not the first time he'd soared off the cage. That was June 28, 1982 against . Snuka died in hospice care from undisclosed illness just two weeks after a judge ruled him unable to stand trial for in the May 1983 murder of Nancy Argentino. Jun Izumida 51, October 28, 1965 - January 25, 2017. Izumida was a sumo wrestler from 1986 to 1991 before debuting in All Japan Pro Wrestling in May 1992. He left AJPW following Misawa when he formed Pro Wrestling Noah. He retired October 3, 2012 wrestling his final match in at the AJPW 40th Anniversary show teaming with Takao Omori & Manabu Soya defeating Dark Cuervo, Dark Ozz, & RONIN. He was found dead on January 31st, it was determined that he had passed away days earlier from a heart attack. Tom Drake 86, 1931 - February 2, 2017. Drake attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he wrestled and played football. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers but he didn't last long in the NFL before he was drafted by the US Army in 1954 during the Korean War. After leaving the Army he became the head wrestling coach for the University of Alabama. He later enrolled in law school at the same University earning his degree. He was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives holding the Cullman County seat for 32 years even holding consecutive terms as Speaker of the House. He wrestled for 24 years from 1954 to 1978 while doing everything I mentioned above. He had matches with some of the greatest legends of wrestling including , "Nature Boy" , Gorgeous George, and "Classy" . "Bruiser" Bob Sweetan 76, July 4, 1940 - February 10, 2017. A native of British Columbia, Sweetan debuted in 1966 and wrestled 21 years primarily for Central States Wrestling but also in the territories in Mid-South, Texas, San Francisco, Puerto Rico, and Stampede Wrestling in Calgary. Outside the ring Sweetan's personnel life wasn't the best. He was a convicted sex offender and in 2000 he was deported back to Canada. He died from complications with diabetes and other ailments. Chavo Guerrero Sr. 68, January 7, 1949 - February 11, 2017. A second generation superstar from the famous Guerrero family, Chavo Sr. wrestled for 46 years from 1970 until 2016. He wrestled all over the world as a singles star and with his brothers in various tag teams. He had an unexpected run in the WWE in 2004 as Chavo Classic including a month long Cruiserweight Championship reign. He passed away from liver cancer. George "The Animal" Steele 79, April 16, 1937 - February 16, 2017. The Animal debuted in 1967 as The Student in the Detroit area under a mask. Later he went to the WWWF feuding with over the WWWF Championship. He is best known by my generation for his run in mid 80's and his infatuation over Randy "Macho Man" Savage's valet/wife Miss Elizabeth. He stopped wrestling in 1988, returning in 1997 wrestling on and off for three years. He passed away from kidney failure. Nicole Bass 52, August 10, 1964 - February 17, 2017. Bass got into the world of wrestling after a spending over a decade as a female bodybuilder. She debuted in ECW joining 's stable alongside Chastity and Jason in 1998. At WrestleMania XV she debuted as Sables bodyguard lasting in the WWE for only a few months. She made some independent appearances before leaving wrestling in 2000. Bass passed away from a stroke she suffered the day before. 74, August 25, 1942 - February 18, 2017. The Russian Bear wrestled for over thirty years and is quite possibly best known for defeating Bruno Sammartino on January 18, 1971 for the WWWF Championship ending Bruno's near 8 year reign. I first recall seeing him in Jim Crockett Promotions teaming with his nephew Nikita and Krusher Kruschev. He passed away from liver cancer. Johnny K-9 53, December 7, 1963 - February 21, 2017. Born Ion Croitoru, Johnny K-9 began wrestling in 1984 for Stampede Wrestling before going to the AWA. He also wrestled as a jobber in the WWF, and toured Japan with NJPW, FMW, & WAR. He wrestled under other names such as Bruiser Bedlam, The Terrible Turk, and more. Outside wrestling he was in various motorcycle gangs and accused of murder, assault, trafficking cocaine, and bombing a police station. Tom Jones 77, October 22, 1939 - March 4, 2017. Jones wrestled for 30 years across North America but primarily out of Texas. He held championships in California, Georgia, and the Pacific Northwest to name a few. Jones promoted shows in Oklahoma and helped his son "Human Highlight Reel" Cody Jones get his start in wrestling. "Outlaw" 68, December 21, 1948 - March 7, 2017. Bass debuted in 1971 for the NWA Gulf Coast Territory. He would go on to compete in Championship Wrestling from Florida and Jim Crockett Promotions before entering the WWE in 1987. He is probably best known for attacking Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake and cutting him up with spurs causing him to miss his match with the Honky Tonk Man at SummerSlam 1988. He died after complications from surgery following a burst appendix. Dennis Stamp 70, December 6, 1946 - March 13, 2017. Stamp debuted in wrestling in 1971 for the AWA becoming their rookie of the year. In 1976 he joined the Funk's NWA Western States promotion making his home in Amarillo, Texas. He is probably best known by my generation from his appearance in the 1999 documentary Beyond the Mat. He died from lymphoma. Fishman 66, January 6, 1951 - April 8, 2017. Fishman was a thirty-one year veteran who won championships in the EMLL, UWA, and WWA. He also was victorious in ten of eleven mask vs mask matches losing his own on August 28, 2000 to Mascara Sagrada. His three sons also wrestle in Mexico. He died from a heart Attack. Joaquin Roldan 63, April 8, 2017. The General Manager for AAA worked for the company for many years before taking it over in 2006 with his son Dorian Roldan. Roldan was married to Marisela Pena the sister of Antonio Pena who founded AAA in 1992. 65, June 26, 1951 - April 10, 2017. Sharpe debuted for the WWWF in 1974 but is probably best known for his wrestling school The Monster Factory. Sharpe opened The Monster Factory in 1983 with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers and his wrestling school has turned out some amazing graduates including , , , The Pitbulls, and many many more. Larry wrestled his last match Japan in 1987 teaming with his prized pupil Bigelow in a losing effort to and . He died from liver disease. Matthew Anoa'i 47, April 7, 1970 - April 17, 2017. A member of the famous Anoa'i family, the son of Sika, Matt debuted in 1995 for his uncle's WXW promotion. He's perhaps best known from his time in the WWE as one half of 3 Minute Warning and later as , the Super Hero In Training with The Hurricane. He passed away from congestive heart failure. Brazo de Oro 57, October 7, 1959 - April 28, 2017. Brazo de Oro was a second generation Luchador wrestler for 40 years from 1975 - 2015. Part of the famous Alvarado wrestling family which consists of his father, five brothers, and ten nieces and nephews many who still wrestle today in CMLL and AAA like Maximo, La Mascara, Goya Kong, and Psycho Clown. Brazo was a former booker for CMLL and held numerous tag team and trios championships in Mexico and California promotions. He passed away from a heart attack. Gran Apache 58, April 16, 1959 - May 7, 2017. Apache debuted in 1975 wrestling for 41 years and was technically still active at the time of his death. He is the father of Faby and Mari Apache and worked for the AAA promotion since 1996. He held the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championships one time each with both of his daughters. He was the head trainer for AAA for over a decade and is known for being one of the best trainers of female wrestlers. He passed away from intestinal cancer. Wayne Van Dyke 29, May 13, 2017. Van Dyke debuted in 2010 in Florida as Insane Wayne, and later competed as Richard Delicious. He wrestled regularly on the independent scene in Florida including American Combat Wrestling. On April 29, 2017 either during or after a match he suffered and apparent heart attack and was taken the a medical facility where he was placed in a medically induced coma until his death. "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers 65, September 22, 1951 - May 16, 2017. Somers debuted in 1971 wrestling around the territories primarily for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and Championship Wrestling from Florida. He is probably best known for his tag team with "Playboy" managed by Sensational Sherri, and their feud with The Midnight Rockers over the AWA World Tag Team Championships. "Rotten" Ron Starr 67, April 3, 1950 - June 8, 2017. Starr wrestled for 25 years from 1972 to 1997 starting in the Jim Crockett Promotions and other NWA Territories. He wrestled around the territories including Japan, Canada, and Puerto Rico holding numerous regional championships. In the forward to Starr's book "Bad to the Bone: 25 Yeras of Riots and Wrestling" Mick Foley credits Starr for teaching him the brawling style of wrestling. Starr passed away in his sleep from an apparent collapsed lung. Buddy Wayne 50, May 28, 1967 - June 17, 2017. Debuting in 1985 in Vancouver, Wayne wrestled for 32 years competing in his final match just three weeks before his death. He wrestled extensively in the Pacific Northwest United States and Canada and was also a jobber for the WWE and WCW. He passed away from a heart attack. Mr. Pogo 66, February 5, 1951 - June 23, 2017. Mr. Pogo debuted in March 30, 1972 for New Japan Pro Wrestling on the eleventh show ever promoted by the company, and had his last match 44 years later. I'm most familiar with Mr. Pogo from his death match days in FMW with Atsushi Onita. Prior to that though he spent 10 years touring Canada and the United States (1975 -1985) before returning to Japan. He first entered FMW in 1990 and adopted the Death Match style that would become his signature until the end of his career. He died from complication from surgery that resulted in a cerebral infarction. Smith Hart 68, November 28, 1948 - July 2, 2017. The eldest Hart sibling he wrestled from 1973 -1991 primarily for Stampede Wrestling but also toured Puerto Rico, Japan, England, Germany, and the United States. He finished his career in Puerto Rico after Stampede was sold to the WWE. He came back for a final match in 2013 defeating Mad Braddock at a Pure Wrestling Association show in Lefroy, Ontario. He died from prostate cancer. Diane Von Hoffman 55, April 13, 1962 - July 6, 2017. Phyllis Burch began training while still in high school by Dale Mann, later she joined The Fabulous Moolah's training school eventually teaming with Moolah. Under various names Hoffman toured the world wrestling in Japan, Canada, the Philippines and more. In 1990 under the name Moondog Fifi she was part of the Moondogs feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler & that resulted in her having her head shaved. She died from complications from knee surgery. Buddy Wolff 76, April 11, 1941 - July 11, 2017. Wolff was trained by the and wrestled in Mid Atlantic region before moving to the WWWF wrestling Gagne at Madison Square Garden. He toured the territories before winding down with the AWA having his Last Match on May 3, 1987 teaming with Doug Somers & Kevin Kelly in a losing effort to and The Midnight Rockers. "Beautiful" Bobby Dean Tovey 40, September 2, 2017. This second generation wrestler, the son of Lord Little Brook, debuted in 1995 and wrestled around the United States most of the time against his brother Little Kato. Sadly I cannot find much detail about Bobby's career. He appeared to have wrestled his last match June 10, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri in a losing effort to NWL KC Champion: Dak Draper. 74, June 13, 1943 - September 14, 2017. Wanz debuted in in 1968 and later wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling as Bulldog Otto. In 1973 he founded Catch Wrestling Association based in Austria and Germany. He is a former AWA World Champion and four time CWA World Champion. He retired from full time in 1990 wrestling his last match August 23, 1996 defeating at CWA Catch Cup 1996. He folded the CWA promoting their last show on December 4, 1999. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan 72, November 1, 1944 - September 17, 2017. The greatest wrestling manager of all time, and one of the greatest commentators of all time. There really isn't anything I can say about The Brain that hasn't been said already. I always enjoyed Bobby no matter what role he was in and I'm glad that I had the chance to meet him. Sadly though it was after cancer had taken away his ability to speak. Lance Russell 91, March 18, 1926 - October 3, 2017. The Voice of Memphis Wrestling for nearly 40 years Lance started calling the action in 1959 for Nick Gulas and Roy Welch. His long term partnership with Dave Brown began in 1967. He worked for WCW from 1989 - 1993ish before returning to Memphis Wrestling. He also worked for Smoky Mountain Wrestling as the company was winding down. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Russell in 2009 at the NWA Legneds Fanfest. He was very approachable and genuine and a pleasure to chat with. On Saturday morning of the Fanfest Lance, Dave Brown, and did a 90 minute Memphis Wrestling Roundtable that was outstanding. Eric Denis 40, October 8, 2017. I wasn't able to find a lot about Denis but this is what I did find. He was a 21 year veteran of the ring competing primarily in the Montreal based ICW. The weekend of his death ICW was promoting two benefit shows on Saturday and Sunday. Denis had wrestled five times on Saturday and was in his second bout Sunday when he collapsed in the ring. Paramedics attempted to revive Denis but were unsuccessful. 91, May 13, 1926 - October 20, 2017. A World War II veteran Kowalski began wrestling in 1948 for the NWA. He formed a tag team called Murder Incorporated with Tiny Mills. The duo wrestled around the world together in Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and United States. They captured the Minneapolis Version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship twice and when the AWA withdrew from the NWA Murder Inc was announced as the first ever AWA Tag Team Champions. In 1970 he changed his name to Krippler Karl Kovac and entered the WWWF where on March 9, 1970 he headlined Madison Square Garden challenging Champion Bruno Sammartino. Tokyo Joe 75, 1942 - November 4, 2017. Joe Daigo began his wrestling career in Japan but is best know for his time in 's Stampede Wrestling. After a car accident in 1974 ended his in ring career he became a prolific trainer in the Hart Dungeon including the last graduates Nattie Neidhart, , and TJ Wilson. He came the gaijin booker for New Japan helping many wrestlers get their first trip to the land of the rising sun. Dick "Tugboat" Taylor 71, December 9, 1945 - November 8, 2017. Debuting in 1980, Taylor stayed primarily in Texas Territories wrestling for Mid-South, Global Wrestling Federation, and others. Eventually he opened his own wrestling school and promoted under the banner Texas All Pro Wrestling. His son Chaz Taylor also became a wrestler and promoted NWA Houston. "Blackheart" Dave Johnson 50, May 22, 1967 - November 26, 2017. Trained by The Great Malenko, Blackheart debuted in 1989 primarily competing in the Florida region. In 1991 he worked as a jobber in WCW before donning a mask as Blackheart Devastation with Tom Nash who was Blackheart Apocalypse. The duo would wrestle in the USWA, and toured All Japan in 1993. Johnson was still and active wrestler at the time of his death mostly for Coastal Championship Wrestling in Florida. He also had a hand in training several wrestlers including MVP. Slam Sports has an excellent write up on him here. Devon Fielding 42, September 14, 1975 - December 4, 2017. Debuting in 1994 after training with and Biff Wellington he wrestled primarily in Western Canada. Slam sports has a great write up on Mr. Fielding here. 59, November 30, 1958 - December 9, 2017. An avid bodybuilder and former Mr. Minnesota he began his wrestling career in the AWA in 1984. He formed a tag team with in 1986 in Montreal's Lutte Internationle. Calling themselves the Can-Am Connection they debuted in the WWE in 1986. The team defeated Don Muraco and Bob Orton in the opening match for WrestleMania III. The team seemed to be in line to win the tag team championships when Zenk abruptly left the promotion. After stints in All Japan and the AWA he debuted for WCW as The Z-Man. There he captured the World Television Championship and the United States Tag Team Championships with . In 1994 he left WCW and returned to All Japan before taking a hiatus in 1995. He returned in late 1996 finishing his career in the Washington State based American Wrestling Federation. THE FLYING BODYPRESS. NOW AVAILABLE. Chronicling one hundred years of Northern California pro wrestling history, and jam-packed with over 200 photos, some never before published, this book is the must-have gift for any fan of classic pro wrestling. especially those who grew up with Roy Shire's Big Time Wrestling brand of excitement. Set in a deluxe 8x10 format, WHEN IT WAS BIG TIME will take you back to a time and place when wrestling was "real!" Thesz, The Sharpes, Nomellini, Stevens, Patterson, Gomez, Mephisto, Mayne, Piper . they're all here plus so many more! The first printing SOLD OUT in only a week and the positive feedback on the book has been tremendous but copies of the second printing are still avaialble. Priced at $26 plus shipping, you can make this one-of-a-kind book yours, or for someone you love, by clicking the link below to order. Chapter summaries are also viewable at the link. Death of Still Felt Years On. It’s been some time since the death of Dusty Rhodes due to stomach cancer, and we still realize there is no replacement for The American Dream. It’s impossible to overstate what a big star ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes was. From his days as one of the Texas Outlaws with ‘Captain Redneck’ Dick Murdoch to his heel tag team with Pak Song in Florida, Dusty Rhodes was a rising light in the professional wrestling industry. When he turned babyface against Pak Song and the evil in Tampa, Florida, the American Dream was born–and he was transcendent. ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes went from humble beginnings to one of the biggest stars in the business of professional wrestling. Sporting a doughy physique, bleached-blonde curls and an unmistakable lisp, it would have been easy to dismiss the Dream. As he once famously said, he didn’t “look like the ath-a-lete of the day is supposed to look.” But he had that charisma, that energy, and he had an underrated athleticism that belied his portly appearance. But the secret to Dusty Rhodes is that he was the everyman, the beating heart of the fans that sat in every seat from the front row to the back. His gimmick worked because he believed he was exactly what he claimed to be: the embodiment of the American Dream. He rose from being the son of a plumber to being, at one point, one of the top four draws in professional wrestling–behind only , , and . When Dusty got on the microphone and told the fans that he had wined and dined with kings and queens, and he’d slept in alleys and ate pork ‘n’ beans, the fans felt that in their hearts and souls. That was REAL to them. When Dusty won the NWA world title, it was a triumph for the common men and women who plunked down their hard-earned money. And in Dusty Rhodes’s hard-luck angles where he couldn’t keep the championship for long or when friends and allies turned against him, they recognized the ups and downs of their own lives. He had a visceral, real connection with fans that won’t ever be duplicated. He booked Florida and Jim Crockett Promotions in Charlotte, and he was arguably WWWF champion Billy Graham’s best feud, wrestling in bloody brawls with the Superstar all over the Northeast. Later on, he had a much-maligned (albeit still legendary) run in the WWF toward the end of his career, a polka-dotted pastiche of the character he’d portrayed throughout much of the 1970s and 80s. The death of Dusty Rhodes came after being taken to the hospital due to a fall. He was suffering from Stomach Cancer. Facing Uphill Battle. Mike Mooneyham is reporting that eight-time NWA world heavyweight champion Harley Race has broken both legs in a fall at his home. “His left leg was shattered in several places, including the fibula and tibia along with a spiral break of the left ankle, and he needed four blood transfusions during emergency surgery,” Mooneyham wrote. “Not so surprisingly, Race had to be convinced to go to a local hospital.” Mooneyham’s story goes into depth on Race’s physical toughness as well as his challenges. It’s really a must-read. Race, 74, had surgery on his left leg, but doctors have decided to let his right leg heal naturally. He’s already started physical therapy. (Could you really expect anything less than that from the toughest wrestler on God’s green earth?) You can send get-well cards/messages to Race at World League Wrestling, 198 Cherry Blossom Way, Troy, . 63379, or email him at [email protected]. ‘Rotten’ Ron Starr Passes Away. Last week, ‘Rotten’ Ron Starr passed away. Starr, a two-time NWA world junior heavyweight wrestling champion, is probably most well-known for his work with his cousin “Chicky Starr” in Puerto Rico, where the pair won the WWC tag team titles. Starr was one of the few North American wrestlers who returned to Puerto Rico after the murder of , and he had a lot of success there. Ron Starr (second from left) poses with Japanese wrestler Tanahashi, a young Hulk Hogan, and during a New Japan tour in 1980. Starr teamed with Hogan nearly every night on the tour. He was a major star in Roy Shire’s San Francisco territory in the 1970s, holding the top title there, the West Coast version of the United States championship, and headlined for Leroy McGuirk in Oklahoma as well. He worked in Stu Hart’s Stampede territory as the partner of the Wayne Farris, who would go on to become the Honkytonk Man. Starr also teamed with a young Hulk Hogan during a 1980 tour of ’s New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, working as the veteran “mechanic” in the ring while Hogan–who had been in the business for only a couple of years at that point–continued to learn his craft. In December of 2016, Starr and co-author Rock Rims produced a memoir: Bad to the Bone: 25 Years of Wrestling and Riots , which can be purchased here . "If you enjoyed any of my wild matches that went all over the building over the years, you can give partial thanks to Ron Starr,” former WWE world champion and hall-of-famer Mick Foley wrote in the foreword of Starr’s book. “He more or less taught me how, with a very physical on the job training program. Ron Starr might not be a household name, but he was respected, technically sound, and more than capable of holding his own with the wildest brawlers in the business. He helped teach me a unique craft, which I plied around the world, making a very good living doing what I loved." Foley and Starr crossed paths during the dying days of the Continental Wrestling Federation, in a rare babyface turn for Starr. They had wars throughout towns like Meridian, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, brawling throughout arenas and spilling blood like it was water. By that point, attendance was down and the promotion was about to close its doors for good, but the matches themselves were wild and entertaining affairs. In his later years, Starr battled numerous health problems according to his co-author. He suffered multiple heart attacks and strokes, and also suffered from chronic pain in his back, hips, and neck. He passed in his sleep last Thursday due to a collapsed lung. Starr was 67 years old. For those of you who are interested in expanding your knowledge of the wrestling business, there’s nothing like a good memoir or biography of your favorite superstar. I published the top 10 wrestling books you should read (and 5 you shouldn’t) . David Otunga Discusses Joining WWE Commentary Teams (Video), Mick Foley Writes Ron Starr’s Book Forward. WWE Superstar David Otunga is featured in the above RAW Fallout video and in it he discusses joining the WWE Main Event & Superstars commentary teams with Tom Phillips. Mick Foley On Writing Ron Starr’s Book Forward. WWE Hall Of Famer Mick Foley has posted the following to his Facebook page talking about writing the forward for pro wrestling Ron Starr’s book “Bad To The Bone: 25 Years of Riots and Wrestling”. In the post Mick discusses how Starr taught him the art of wild brawling all over the arena: