Meltzer earned a journalism degree from San Jose State University and started out as a sportswriter for the Wichita Falls Times Record News and the Turlock Journal. He demonstrated an interest in professional wrestling and a journalistic approach to it early in life. Meltzer wrote several wrestling-related publications that predate WON, dating back to 1971. The most notable of these was the California Wrestling Report, ca. 1973–1974, which reported on the still-extant National Wrestling Alliance territories operating out of Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The beginnings of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter date back to 1980, when Meltzer began an annual poll amongst those with whom he corresponded regarding professional wrestling. According to Meltzer, he was just a fan at first. A short time later, he began maintaining a tape-trading list, and would occasionally send match results and news updates along with tape updates. Meltzer stated that he wanted to keep his friends in college "in the loop" for his tape trading and the happenings in the business, as the mainstream wrestling magazines catered to a somewhat younger demographic.[6]
Meltzer popularized the star rating system (devised by Jim Cornette and his childhood friend Norm M. "Weasel" Dooley),[7][8][9] which rates matches on a scale of zero to five stars (sometimes going to negative five stars in the case of very bad matches) in a similar manner to that used by many movie critics.[5] Meltzer has also given ratings that have exceeded five stars. The first 6 and 6.5 star matches took place in 1981 (as rated by Dooley, not Meltzer).[10] The highest he has ever rated a match was seven stars, given to Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega for their match at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall in June 2018. Wrestlers such as Bret Hart have written how proud they were when their performances were praised in the WON.[11] Others, such as PWInsider's Dave Scherer[12] and Seth Rollins,[13] have criticised the system for being overly subjective.
^ abLaprade, Patric (July 18, 2016). "Melby Award for Meltzer proper recognition for pioneering work". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
^Wrestling Observer Newsletter trademark, Trademarkia, Accessed August 12, 2010
^Observer, Dave Meltzer, Wrestling. "AEW's Battle With WWE Is Heating Up". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Rossen, Jake (May 15, 2013). "In World of Wrestling, Trying to Keep It Real". The New York Times. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
^ ab. Dean S. Planet's. Archived from the original on August 3, 2003. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
^Benaka, Lee (1991). . Benaka, Lee. Death Valley Driver Video Review. Archived from the original on July 30, 2007. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
^Cornette, Jim. . JimCornette.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
^Cornette, Jim. . Archived from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
^Bixenspan, David (June 16, 2017). "Rating Pro Wrestling's New "Best Match Ever" Is Way More Contentious Than It Needs To Be". Deadspin. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
^@davemeltzerWON (March 24, 2019). "The first 6 star and 6 1/2 star..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^Hart, Bret (2009). Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling. Grand Central Publishing. p. 214. ISBN978-0-446-54528-0.
^"Where Have the AEW Fans Gone, HHH Booking, Drew Mac is a Stud and More | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
^Seth Rollins Praises Dave Meltzer, But Calls His Star-Ratings ‘Silly’
^. Cauliflower Alley Club. December 20, 2016. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
dave, meltzer, david, allen, meltzer, born, october, 1959, american, journalist, sports, historian, reports, professional, wrestling, mixed, martial, arts, meltzer, march, 2018borndavid, allen, meltzer, 1959, october, 1959, york, city, occupationauthor, journa. David Allen Meltzer 2 born October 24 1959 is an American journalist and sports historian who reports on professional wrestling and mixed martial arts Dave MeltzerMeltzer in March 2018BornDavid Allen Meltzer 1959 10 24 October 24 1959 age 63 New York City U S OccupationAuthor journalist historianAlma materSan Jose StatePeriod1971 presentSubjectProfessional wrestlingMixed martial artsNotable worksWrestling Observer NewsletterTributes Remembering Some of the World s Greatest WrestlersChildren2 1 Websitef4wonline wbr comSince 1983 Meltzer has been the publisher and editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter WON He has also written for the Oakland Tribune the Los Angeles Times Yahoo Sports SI com 3 and The National Sports Daily He has extensively covered mixed martial arts since UFC 1 in 1993 and also covers the sport for SB Nation He has been called the most accomplished reporter in sports journalism by Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated 4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Wrestling Observer 3 Star rating system and impact 4 Awards and accomplishments 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life EditMeltzer was born in upstate New York to a Jewish family 5 He later moved with his family to San Jose California Meltzer earned a journalism degree from San Jose State University and started out as a sportswriter for the Wichita Falls Times Record News and the Turlock Journal He demonstrated an interest in professional wrestling and a journalistic approach to it early in life Meltzer wrote several wrestling related publications that predate WON dating back to 1971 The most notable of these was the California Wrestling Report ca 1973 1974 which reported on the still extant National Wrestling Alliance territories operating out of Los Angeles and San Francisco Wrestling Observer EditMain article Wrestling Observer Newsletter The beginnings of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter date back to 1980 when Meltzer began an annual poll amongst those with whom he corresponded regarding professional wrestling According to Meltzer he was just a fan at first A short time later he began maintaining a tape trading list and would occasionally send match results and news updates along with tape updates Meltzer stated that he wanted to keep his friends in college in the loop for his tape trading and the happenings in the business as the mainstream wrestling magazines catered to a somewhat younger demographic 6 Star rating system and impact EditMain article List of professional wrestling matches rated 5 or more stars by Dave Meltzer Meltzer popularized the star rating system devised by Jim Cornette and his childhood friend Norm M Weasel Dooley 7 8 9 which rates matches on a scale of zero to five stars sometimes going to negative five stars in the case of very bad matches in a similar manner to that used by many movie critics 5 Meltzer has also given ratings that have exceeded five stars The first 6 and 6 5 star matches took place in 1981 as rated by Dooley not Meltzer 10 The highest he has ever rated a match was seven stars given to Kazuchika Okada and Kenny Omega for their match at Dominion 6 9 in Osaka jo Hall in June 2018 Wrestlers such as Bret Hart have written how proud they were when their performances were praised in the WON 11 Others such as PWInsider s Dave Scherer 12 and Seth Rollins 13 have criticised the system for being overly subjective Awards and accomplishments EditCauliflower Alley Club James Melby Historian Award 2017 14 George Tragos Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Jim Melby Award 2016 1 Bibliography EditTributes Remembering Some of the World s Greatest Wrestlers Winding Stair Press 2001 Hardcover ISBN 1 55366 085 4 ISBN 978 1553660859 Tributes II Remembering More of the World s Greatest Wrestlers Sports Publishing 2004 Hardcover ISBN 1 58261 817 8 ISBN 978 1582618173References Edit a b Laprade Patric July 18 2016 Melby Award for Meltzer proper recognition for pioneering work Slam Sports Canadian Online Explorer Retrieved July 22 2016 Wrestling Observer Newsletter trademark Trademarkia Accessed August 12 2010 Observer Dave Meltzer Wrestling AEW s Battle With WWE Is Heating Up Sports Illustrated Retrieved September 27 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Rossen Jake May 15 2013 In World of Wrestling Trying to Keep It Real The New York Times Retrieved May 18 2013 a b Dean S Planet s Celeb Interviews Dean S Planet s Archived from the original on August 3 2003 Retrieved July 11 2007 Benaka Lee 1991 The Lee Benaka Interviews Dave Meltzer Benaka Lee Death Valley Driver Video Review Archived from the original on July 30 2007 Retrieved July 11 2007 Cornette Jim Stars in Their Eyes FSM 138 JimCornette com Archived from the original on December 1 2017 Retrieved November 21 2017 Cornette Jim Stars in Their Eyes Archived from the original on August 15 2017 Retrieved November 8 2021 Bixenspan David June 16 2017 Rating Pro Wrestling s New Best Match Ever Is Way More Contentious Than It Needs To Be Deadspin Retrieved November 21 2017 davemeltzerWON March 24 2019 The first 6 star and 6 1 2 star Tweet via Twitter Hart Bret 2009 Hitman My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling Grand Central Publishing p 214 ISBN 978 0 446 54528 0 Where Have the AEW Fans Gone HHH Booking Drew Mac is a Stud and More PWInsider com www pwinsider com Retrieved April 6 2023 Seth Rollins Praises Dave Meltzer But Calls His Star Ratings Silly Congratulation to Dave Meltzer the 2017 James Melby Historian Award Winner Cauliflower Alley Club December 20 2016 Archived from the original on July 26 2018 Retrieved November 21 2017 Further reading EditDave Meltzer on Twitter Pick My Brain interview with Dave Meltzer DeathValleyDriver interview with Meltzer Dean S Planet interview with MeltzerExternal links EditHome of the Wrestling Observer Live radio show Official website of the Wrestling Observer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dave Meltzer amp oldid 1167876713, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
