Literary Squared Circle #2 – LIFE IS SHORT AND SO AM I
15 years ago this week, Dylan Postl made his WWE debut on the May 26, 2006 episode of Friday Night SmackDown! The match, which was taped in Bakersfield, California on May 23rd, three days prior to its airing, saw Finlay easily defeat Paul Birchall with his Celtic Cross finisher. Following the match, a vicious, crazed leprchaun emerged from beneath the ring and attacked Burchill. This was the moment in which the WWE Universe was introduced to Postl. Initially he was known as Little Bastard, but eventually he was given the more family-friendly monicker of Hornswoggle.
Since I launched my Literary Squared Circle blog last week by reviewing a book about a 7’ 4” tall French Giant, I felt it only fitting to follow that up by reviewing a book about a 4’ 5” tall leprechaun who lives under the ring. Having read hundreds of books about professional wrestling, in my opinion none have a better title than this one: Life Is Short and So Am I: My Life Inside, Outside, and Under the Wrestling Ring by Dylan “Hornwoggle” Postl with Ross Owen Williams and Ian Douglass (ECW Press, 2019).
Despite being at opposite extremes in terms of size, the two shared a common struggle of trying to fit into a world of average-sized people. André the Giant suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder which caused and excess of growth hormones resulting in his immense size. Dylan Postl was born with a condition known as achondroplasia, which results in a form of dwarfism.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Postl was determined to become a wrestler. Undeterred by his size, not only did he achieve his dream but he amassed an impressive resume during his time with World Wrestling Entertainment. As Hornswoggle, he performed live in front of tens of thousands of people at WrestleMania. He captured the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, a title previously held by the likes of Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, and Dean Malenko. In fact, Hornswoggle was the final Cruiserweight Champion before the title was retired in 2007.
Hornswoggle was also featured in major storylines including being Vince McMahon’s illegitimate son, becoming a member of D-Generation X, and he was revealed to be the Anonymous Raw General Manager. Hornswoggle had a memorable feud with El Torito (Mascarita Dorada) that included their WeeLC Match at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view in May 2014, and a Hair vs. Mask Match the following month at Payback in which Hornswoggle lost both the match and his hair (but not his eyebrows).
Intersperced amongst Postl’s narrative is a series of “Short Stories” in which Postl tells behind-the-scenes anecdotes about his time in WWE. Though not “A Short Story”, my favorite tale in Life Is Short and So Am I is Postl’s account of meeting The Rock for the first time. The Rock apparently did not know who Postl was, and mistook him for a Make-A-Wish Kid. This story was my personal favorite, but there are many hilarious, laugh out loud stories peppered throughout the book.
Though not a Make-A-Wish Kid, Postl’s time as a WWE Superstar did provide him with the opportunity to live out a few of his other childhood dreams. He was able to meet The Muppets when they guest hosted Raw. That encounter led to Postl being cast in a Muppet movie, 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted. He also met his childhood wrestling hero, The Ultimate Warrior, the night before The Warrior unexpectedly passed away.
After 10 years with the WWE, Postl was released in May 2016. Since then he has continued to appear on the independent circuit, as well as in Impact Wrestling, ROH, and AEW. He has also made sporadic appearances back in the WWE, including Hornswoggle being a surprise entrant the 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. In addition to wrestling, last month Postl made his boxing debut.
When Dylan Postl made his WWE debut in 2006, it was less than one week before his 20th Birthday. This Saturday, he turns 35. Today, Postl owns and operates his own independent wrestling promotion, ACW Wisconsin, in his hometown of Oshkosh. In addition promoting shows throughout northeast Wisconsin, ACW has an affiliated wrestling school which is training the next generation of wrestlers, helping them to achieve their dreams.
In addition to having the best title of any wrestling book ever written, Life Is Short and So Am I: My Life Inside, Outside, and Under the Wrestling Ring is a great read, plain and simple. Dylan Postl tells his life story in a manner that is both honest and entertaining, as well as funny and inspiring. I highly recommend it.
5 Stars out of 5
Since I launched my Literary Squared Circle blog last week by reviewing a book about a 7’ 4” tall French Giant, I felt it only fitting to follow that up by reviewing a book about a 4’ 5” tall leprechaun who lives under the ring. Having read hundreds of books about professional wrestling, in my opinion none have a better title than this one: Life Is Short and So Am I: My Life Inside, Outside, and Under the Wrestling Ring by Dylan “Hornwoggle” Postl with Ross Owen Williams and Ian Douglass (ECW Press, 2019).
Despite being at opposite extremes in terms of size, the two shared a common struggle of trying to fit into a world of average-sized people. André the Giant suffered from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder which caused and excess of growth hormones resulting in his immense size. Dylan Postl was born with a condition known as achondroplasia, which results in a form of dwarfism.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Postl was determined to become a wrestler. Undeterred by his size, not only did he achieve his dream but he amassed an impressive resume during his time with World Wrestling Entertainment. As Hornswoggle, he performed live in front of tens of thousands of people at WrestleMania. He captured the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, a title previously held by the likes of Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, and Dean Malenko. In fact, Hornswoggle was the final Cruiserweight Champion before the title was retired in 2007.
Hornswoggle was also featured in major storylines including being Vince McMahon’s illegitimate son, becoming a member of D-Generation X, and he was revealed to be the Anonymous Raw General Manager. Hornswoggle had a memorable feud with El Torito (Mascarita Dorada) that included their WeeLC Match at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view in May 2014, and a Hair vs. Mask Match the following month at Payback in which Hornswoggle lost both the match and his hair (but not his eyebrows).
Intersperced amongst Postl’s narrative is a series of “Short Stories” in which Postl tells behind-the-scenes anecdotes about his time in WWE. Though not “A Short Story”, my favorite tale in Life Is Short and So Am I is Postl’s account of meeting The Rock for the first time. The Rock apparently did not know who Postl was, and mistook him for a Make-A-Wish Kid. This story was my personal favorite, but there are many hilarious, laugh out loud stories peppered throughout the book.
Though not a Make-A-Wish Kid, Postl’s time as a WWE Superstar did provide him with the opportunity to live out a few of his other childhood dreams. He was able to meet The Muppets when they guest hosted Raw. That encounter led to Postl being cast in a Muppet movie, 2014’s Muppets Most Wanted. He also met his childhood wrestling hero, The Ultimate Warrior, the night before The Warrior unexpectedly passed away.
After 10 years with the WWE, Postl was released in May 2016. Since then he has continued to appear on the independent circuit, as well as in Impact Wrestling, ROH, and AEW. He has also made sporadic appearances back in the WWE, including Hornswoggle being a surprise entrant the 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. In addition to wrestling, last month Postl made his boxing debut.
When Dylan Postl made his WWE debut in 2006, it was less than one week before his 20th Birthday. This Saturday, he turns 35. Today, Postl owns and operates his own independent wrestling promotion, ACW Wisconsin, in his hometown of Oshkosh. In addition promoting shows throughout northeast Wisconsin, ACW has an affiliated wrestling school which is training the next generation of wrestlers, helping them to achieve their dreams.
In addition to having the best title of any wrestling book ever written, Life Is Short and So Am I: My Life Inside, Outside, and Under the Wrestling Ring is a great read, plain and simple. Dylan Postl tells his life story in a manner that is both honest and entertaining, as well as funny and inspiring. I highly recommend it.
5 Stars out of 5
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