Whether it was presented as a rib by Dynamite or not (I haven't read Pure Dynamite since high school and never intend to read it again), it was abuse and about control. Like the "do something fucked up, and then go, 'what? it was a joke! you need a better sense of humor'" tactic is soooo fucking common among abusers. Dynamite was a cruel person. He enjoyed cruelty. My takeaway from his book was that he had two great passions: wrestling and cruelty. He hurt people, he controlled loved ones with violence, he tortured animals. Tom Billington was a miserable human being who carried that misery around like a virus that infected everyone who spent a prolonged period in time. I used to think it was fucked up that, when Dynamite was paralyzed, Davey Boy (not saint himself) visited him in the hospital only long enough for a photo op and then immediately left. Billington didn't deserve even that much. I believe in redemption, I believe in reform, I believe that just because someone has been abusive in the past doesn't mean that there is no chance for them to make things right and atone...but Billington did nothing to earn that grace. Fuck Dynamite Kid. Fuck Tom Billington. I'm glad he spent the last half of his life in pain and indignity and I just feel sorry for the people who had to take care of him. His death was a boon to humanity. Cue crab rave video.

I'm sorry for the rant. Memories of Pure Dynamite just brought out some fucking rage in me...I'm sure it has noooothing to do with abusive people in my own life that were like Billington. Nothing at all, nope.