20 Best Books About Pro Wrestling (Jan 2023 Update)

No-holds-barred, honest, and objective, this is a definitive look at the greatest pro wrestlers who ever stepped through the ropes. blending the old and the new and delving into what made these 50 remarkable performers the best in their sport, this guide illustrates their contributions to the massively popular spectacle of the wrestling world. the antidote to the marketing-motivated claims made by world wrestling entertainment (wwe) is provided here, sweeping aside the corporate profit motive of listing standouts who can sell dvds and dolls and instead shooting from the hip, revealing who sincerely belongs among the cream of the crop. the complexity of choosing—and ranking—the 50 finest ever from a strong group of talented candidates also spins a secondary tale about the evolution of pro wrestling and how this unique sport operates. revealing these stars' compelling stories in detail, this collection adds up to an entertaining and enlightening description of a monumental business through the history of its legends.

As a wwe wrestler with millions of fans, shawn michaels had adulation and all the attention he could ask for, but he found himself longing for something more. when he became a committed christian at the height of his career, shawn learned what it's like to be a man of faith in a secular arena. – wrestling for my life documents shawn's journey to finding a new way of life–one that's marked by faith, family, and forgiveness. – as you watch shawn's testimony unfold, you'll learn about: the power of self-discipline – the importance of finding a supportive mentor who challenges you to be the best version of yourself – the freedom that's found in true forgiveness – praise for wrestling for my life: shawn's greatest challenge came from deep within himself, and it's been awe-inspiring to watch this man pull himself from the depths of his own personal hell by immersing himself in his faith in god. i couldn't be more amazed at the man, husband, father, and friend he has become. –the undertaker i am certain that you will enjoy getting to know shawn michaels from the pages within as much as i have in his everyday life. if you read one book this year, make it this one –pastor matthew hagee while i work with shawn outside of the wrestling world, i can still strongly attest to his perseverance, passion, and humility. these pages offer an inside look into how he found strength for better change. –jeff wayne, executive vice president programming of outdoor channel

The sport that privileged cold hard cash over honest competition was professional wrestling, and the conspirators were members of the famed national wrestling alliance. national wrestling alliance: the untold story of the monopoly that strangled pro wrestling examines the nwa promoters’ overwhelming success, and the relationships to influential politicians and writers that protected their financial interests for over 50 years.

Wrestlecrap: the very worst of professional wrestling examines some of the ridiculously horrible characters and storylines that pro wrestling promoters have subjected their fans to over the past twenty years. why would any sane person think that having two grown men fight over a turkey was actually a reasonable idea? was george ringo, the wrestling beatle, really the best gimmick that a major promotional organization could come up with? and who would charge fans to watch a wrestler named the gobbeldy gooker emerge from an egg? in an attempt to answer such questions and figure out just what the promoters were thinking, authors randy baer and r.d. reynolds go beyond what wrestling fans saw on the screen and delve into the mindset of those in the production booth. in some instances, the motivations driving the spectacle prove even more laughable than what was actually seen in the ring. covering such entertainment catastrophes as an evil one-eyed midget and a wrestler from the mystical land of oz, not to mention the utterly comprehensible turkey-on-a-pole match (a gimmick which awa fans might recall), wrestlecrap is hysterically merciless in its evaluation of such organizations as the wcw and the wwf. this retrospective look at the wrestling world's misguided attempts to attract viewers will leave wrestling fans and critics alike in stitches.

Former wwe head writer brian gewirtz brings readers behind the scenes for an unprecedented look at the chaotic, surreal, unbelievable backstage world of the wwe. for decades wrestling was shrouded in secrecy. it had larger than life personalities, bone crunching physicality and jaw-dropping theatrics but backstage it was an industry devoid of outsiders. then in 1999, after working together on a special for mtv, dwayne "the rock" johnson turned to 26-year old television writer brian gewirtz and asked "you ever consider writing for wwe?" that question, and its answer, would have a profound effect on both of their lives for years to come. there's just one problem is a story about perseverance, tenacity, and steel chairs. most writers in the wwe last for a matter of months; gewirtz was there for over 15 years, writing some of most memorable and infamous storylines in wwe history (covering the "attitude era", the "ruthless aggression era" and into the "pg" and "reality" eras). throughout this journey gewirtz found himself becoming both friend and antagonist to some of the biggest names in wwe history – stone cold steve austin, john cena, stephanie mcmahon, bill goldberg, paul heyman, chris jericho, shawn michaels, and the two men who he worked the most closely with wwe chairman vince mcmahon and dwayne "the rock" johnson. these men not only shaped his life professionally but also personally, forcing him to grow and change both as a writer and a human being. so how does a lifelong fan and outsider break through to become the ultimate insider? how does a low-key personality deal directly with his boss, the most brash, unpredictable "alpha male" on the planet, wwe chairman vince mcmahon? how does one gain respect in a locker room that wants nothing more than to see him disappear? where does one go when every year in wrestling takes you further away from the writing career you always wanted? taking advice from his idol, the late "rowdy" roddy piper, when you're so full of fear, there's only one way to push through: become fearless.

The complete guide to wwe's biggest superstars–past and present–including john cena, charlotte flair, the rock, andré the giant, sasha banks, and more. features the latest information about competitors from raw, smackdown, and nxt.page-by-page profiles of more than 200 of the biggest superstars from sports entertainment history are packed with facts, trivia, and behind-the-scenes information. "super stats" boxes detail information on each superstar, including career highlights and wins. the brand-new guide profiles popular competitors, from hall of famers to rising up-and-coming stars. feature boxes highlight the superstars' most fascinating and strangest moments in the ring. each entry includes a stunning photograph and action scene.

With over 30 years experience in professional wrestling, dr. tom prichard was an integral part of wwe's developmental system beginning in 1996-2004. his first students were dwayne johnson (the rock), mark henry and achim albrecht (brakkus). tom was the first coach and trainer and after a brief break, returned to wwe and was once again head coach and trainer for the developmental system from 2007-2012. a pro wrestling curriculum is a one year, daily schedule for students and coaches to follow and learn from. there are lists, suggestions and ideas as well as holds, moves and an overall foundation to build on. this is a teaching manual not meant to describe how each hold is done step by step. not every hold is meant for everybody! this curriculum was done with the idea a more experienced and knowledgeable coach/trainer was in attendance. there is is not just one way to learn and /or teach anything! even the basic manuevers in this curriculum can be dangerous and should not be attempted without proper supervision. but if you are just starting or been plying your trade on the independent scene, the lists and suggestions are invaluable. a must for anyone looking to get to the next level or just wants an insight to how a developmental system might be run by the big leagues! some of the stars who trained under dr. tom prichard include the rock, mark henry, sheamus, edge, christian, dolph ziggler, ted dibiase jr, heath slater, kofi kingston, damien sandow, seth rollins, xavier woods, mason ryan, alex riley, husky harris, bo rotundo, mike mondo, jinder mahal, luke gallows, curt hawkins, tyler reks, zach ryder, justin gabriel, ryback, dave otunga, leo kruger, kris logan, alberto rodriguez, ricardo rodriguez, tyson kidd, harry smith, rick victor, jack swagger, the usos, brodus clay, james bronson, corey graves, conor o'brien, kenneth cameron, hunico, camacho, ezekiel jackson, wes brisco, drew mcintyre, johnny curtis, michael mcgillicutty, yoshi tatsu, briley pierce, wade barrett, trent baretta, titus o'neil, darren young, sinn bohdi, rob terry, orlando colon, the bella twins, natalya niedhart, tamina snuka, kaitlyn, leakee and many more!

You may have cheered for new jack. you may have booed him out of the building. you may have even feared him at times. but until now, you've never really known the most dangerous man in wrestling. for the first time, the man born jerome young opens up about how he became one of the stars who enabled extreme championship wrestling to make a permanent mark on the professional landscape. his crazed dives off balconies and scaffolds; his bloody, weapon-filled mat wars that trampled the line between reality and entertainment–this memoir reveals the perspective of the man at the center of them all and includes new disclosures about the infamous incidents with mass transit, gypsy joe, and the stabbing of a fellow wrestler in florida. beyond the gimmicks that united white supremacists and the naacp against him and his fellow performers, new jack candidly discusses the violence in his youth that nearly led him to a career in crime, his past as a bounty hunter, a near-fatal drug addiction, the last months of ecw, and his place in wrestling history.

? wrestling at the chase is a fond, informative, amusing, and even poignant look at the who's who of professional wrestling and legendary st. louis promoter sam muchnick. st. louis was the capital, and muchnick the ruler of professional wrestling, before vince mcmahon's world wrestling entertainment took over. what happened in st. louis paved the way for today's multi-billion-dollar sports entertainment industry. the centrepiece of this magical operation was "wrestling at the chase," a television program which broadcast from 1959 to 1983 from the majestic chase hotel. larry matysik was muchnick's protégé and longtime announcer for the television show. ric flair, "king kong" brody, dick "the bruiser," the von erichs, lou thesz, gene kiniski, pat o'connor, johnny valentine, dick murdoch, harley race, buddy rogers, jack brisco, and andre the giant are all prominently featured. so is muchnick himself, the damon runyan of wrestling, a man who helped mould the bizarre business of circus and sport. the savage twists of the politics of wrestling are on display as well, particularly the changes that rocked the mat world during the early '80s.

"but then, equally of course, every man who takes up wrestling seriously will only do so because he is fond of it, because he prefers wrestling to most, if not all, other sports and pastimes. every wrestler who ever trod the mat is a potential champion. he may not have been endowed with the wrestling instinct, but he will be able to cultivate a high degree of wrestling science, even quickness, if not absolute lightning rapidity of movement, which, if combined with the necessary strength and stamina, may enable him to compete with all but the greatest champions on equal terms. skill, that is to say, the science of wrestling, can only be cultivated by practice, and the man who takes up wrestling seriously must get as much practice as he can with the most skilful wrestlers. the better his opponents are, the faster will be his progress in knowledge of the art, as also in the power of its application. he can learn a good deal also in another way, and that is by closely watching serious bouts between skilled wrestlers, and by carefully practising such moves as attract his notice." – george hackenschmidt this is an original version, restored and re-formatted edition of hackenschmidt's 1909 classic.

This new edition of the fan-favorite, bestselling title 30 years of wrestlemania (pub. 2014) brings the story of the biggest event in the wwe calendar right up to date with 32 pages of brand-new content.ever since the first-ever wrestlemania in march 1985, this annual, weeklong, sold-out event has attracted hundreds of thousands of sports entertainment fans from all over the world. wrestlemania is where every wwe superstar wants to make his or her name. wwe champions such as john cena, randy orton, rey mysterio, hulk hogan, the rock, shawn michaels, sable, and lita have all found wrestlemania the perfect showcase for their incredible talents.35 years of wrestlemania allows sports entertainment fans to relive, or discover, all the most exciting matches, celebrity appearances, and controversies in this premier event's storied history. the key historic matches of every wrestlemania are explored in depth. spectacular full-color photographs from wwe's own archive–many never seen before–superbly capture wrestlemania's unrivaled glamour, and many of the most action-packed, unforgettable moments, both in the ring and behind the scenes. get ready for the greatest spectacle in sports entertainment!

The fast and easy way to pin down the sport of wrestling wrestling is a fast-paced sport with many technicalities, rules, and ways to score points—making it difficult for spectators to follow the score and understand whistles and restarts. in wrestling for dummies, author and 2008 olympic gold medalist henry cejudo explains the scoring system and unique rules of wrestling to new competitors, confused parents, and fans of this ancient and captivating sport. wrestling for dummies also explains the rich history of the sport and covers the six styles of competitive wrestling and their distinction from the modern entertainment-based "pro wrestling." covers greco-roman and freestyle wrestling plain-english explanations of wrestling rules details the history of wrestling whether you're just getting started as a wrestler or enjoy it as a spectator sport, wresting for dummies makes this sport accessible and easy to understand.

Since 2002, the history of wwe. com has served as the premiere online resource for the in- and out-of-the-ring histories of multiple wrestling companies. now, for the first time in print, you have access to the thousands of dates, cities and ring results that comprise pro wrestling's past. you can now find the hidden gems, the main events that drew thousands and the ones that only drew flies. this third volume in "the history of professional wrestling" series contains every known result from the height of jim crockett promotions from 1983 to 1988 as well as every known defense of the nwa world title during that time period!

Content includes: introductory. – wrestling on the feet. – tips for the beginner. – tips for instructors. – suggested courses of half-hour lessons. – standard weights. – rules of wrestling on the feet. – simple competitions. – wrestling mats. – george frederick william de relwyskow (18 june 1887 – 1942) was an english sport wrestler who competed in the 1908 summer olympics for great britain. – born in kensington in 1887, the son of white russian immigrants, de relwyskow took up wrestling as a means of keeping fit while a student in london training as an artist and designer. by 1907 he had won thirty-five open competitions in great britain and won the english amateur championships at lightweight and middleweight in 1907 and 1908. because of his success he selected to represent great britain in the 1908 olympics held in london. – on the outbreak of the first world war de relwyskow returned to britain from south america where he was on a wrestling tour to enlist in the army. he served as a gymnastic and bayonet-fighting trainer, and served for a period with the australian infantry. in france he trained soldiers in the use of unarmed combat. in october 1918 de relwyskow was based at aldershot as a royal army physical training corps instructor in the army system of wrestling, a system he created. in 1924 he was appointed trainer to the british olympic games team in the 1924 olympics held in paris. – he enlisted again at the start of world war ii and served as an instructor in unarmed combat and silent killing with the special operations executive (soe). after serving for a period as an instructor to the soe school in canada – the special training school (sts) 103 (which was also known as "camp x"), de relwyskow returned to britain before being sent to the far east. – relwyskow died at his leeds home in 1942. he left a wife, clara, and sons douglas and george. douglas was a professional wrestling referee, whose own son, also called douglas (grandson of the original george), became a regular face on televised professional wrestling in the uk under the name barry douglas. the younger george de relwyskow pursued a career in professional wrestling cut short by an injury in world war ii. he later became a successful wrestling promoter and member of joint promotions and the promotional business was continued after his death in 1980 by his daughter ann. – george de relwyskow was the youngest winner of an olympic gold medal for wrestling, a record that was to stand for almost seventy years until the 20-year-old soviet suren nalbandyan won the greco-roman lightweight title in 1976.

Safely packed for your convenience. this product will be an excellent pick for you. it comes in a proper packaging. please read the instructions on the package before use becoming all elite: the rise of aew, penned by whatculture. comes michael sidgwick (development hell: the nxt story), chronicles the short but powerful history of all elite wrestling – the first north american wrestling in nearly two decades to challenge vince mcmahon's wwe-led monopoly. in less than two years, aew has captured the imagination of wrestling fans exhausted by mcmahon's output. owned and operated by billionaire tony khan in league with a slate of in-ring executive vice presidents that created a viable vision and wrestling world within which it could thrive, the company has become an industry mainstay overnight. it's the story of an independent scene wwe at once courted and rejected, of cody rhodes, kenny omega and the young bucks making good on lofty promises to change the world, and of pro wrestling history repeating itself as a ratings and stylistic war symbolised the confirmation of a bold new era.

Grantland and deadspin correspondent presents a breakthrough examination of the professional wrestling, its history, its fans, and its wider cultural impact that does for the sport what chuck klosterman did for heavy metal. the squared circle grows out of david shoemaker’s writing for deadspin, where he started the column “dead wrestler of the week” (which boasts over 1 million page views) — a feature on the many wrestling superstars who died too young because of the abuse they subject their bodies to — and his writing for grantland, where he covers the pro wrestling world, and its place in the pop culture mainstream. shoemaker’s sportswriting has since struck a nerve with generations of wrestling fans who—like him—grew up worshipping a sport often derided as “fake” in the wider culture. to them, these professional wrestling superstars are not just heroes but an emotional outlet and the lens through which they learned to see the world. starting in the early 1900s and exploring the path of pro wrestling in america through the present day, the squared circle is the first book to acknowledge both the sport’s broader significance and wrestling fans’ keen intellect and sense of irony. divided into eras, each section offers a snapshot of the wrestling world, profiles some of the period’s preeminent wrestlers, and the sport’s influence on our broader culture. through the brawling, bombast, and bloodletting, shoemaker argues that pro wrestling can teach us about the nature of performance, audience, and, yes, art. full of unknown history, humor, and self-deprecating reminiscence—but also offering a compelling look at the sport’s rightful place in pop culture—the squared circle is the book that legions of wrestling fans have been waiting for. in it, shoemaker teaches us to look past the spandex and body slams to see an art form that can explain the world.

Who is the greatest of all time? with the help of several historians, the top 100 will both enligthen and enrage, keeping fans enthralled in spirited debate for years to come.

Who is the greatest of all time? with the help of several historians, the top 100 will both enligthen and enrage, keeping fans enthralled in spirited debate for years to come.

The official record of professional wrestling is written on gossamer – easily forgotten by greedy promoters, performers addicted to the life and fans bloodthirsty for more story lines. but the spectacle has amassed a body count in recent years that boggles the imagination and calls the business out. ten bell salutes, the traditional paying.

In 1997, world championship wrestling was on top. it was the number-one pro wrestling company in the world, and the highest-rated show on cable television. each week, fans tuned in to monday nitro, flocked to sold-out arenas, and carried home truckloads of wcw merchandise. it seemed the company could do no wrong. but by 2001, however, everything had bottomed out. the company — having lost a whopping 95% of its audience — was sold for next to nothing to vince mcmahon and world wrestling entertainment. wcw was laid to rest. what went wrong? this expanded and updated version of the bestselling death of wcw takes readers through a detailed dissection of wcw's downfall, including even more commentary from the men who were there and serves as an object lesson — and dire warning — as wwe and tna hurtle toward the 15th anniversary of wcw's demise.