horrorfan_1986

Lately I've been catching up on my wrestling biographies. Instead of making individual threads about them, I'll keep it all in here.

The Rock - The Rock Says
My first wrestling biography. I first read it back when it was first released and I recently reread it. Rocky's humor comes across well in it. He also had a very good stories. The problems with it is that it's too short. It only covers up to 1999 (Backlash). Towards the end, a lot of chapters are in character. While the Rock character is interesting, I don't want to read a kayfabe book. Overall, Rock fans could be entertained, but beyond that, I don't see too many other people wanting to read it.

Hulk Hogan - Hollywood Hulk Hogan
I haven't read this since 2002. Unlike Rocky's Hogan does have enough time to cover. You can read his insight on his relations with Vince from the early 90's and what led to him leaving the WWF. The biggest problem is that Hogan has publicly said that he made a lot of things made up in the book. That alone kind of makes it not worth reading. After all, what's the point of reading a fictional book when you're trying to read up on reality? The other problem with the book is that it skips to only important events, such as Wrestlemanias. I would of just liked to read more detailed things.

Chris Jericho - A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex
This book only covers up until 1999. However, Jericho spends plenty of time going into detail about everywhere he worked. While other books would of just spent a few lines about how he enjoyed his time in Germany, Chris devoted an entire section to it. Chris proudly says that he wrote the book himself, only using a co-author to help organize it and keep it without grammar mistakes. Chris adds his own humor in every event which makes this 400 page book a fast read. The only real criticisms I can think of is that he stopped in 1999. Even though I'm sure another book will come out someday, I wanted to keep reading on.

Ric Flair - To Be the Man
Obviously the best part about this is that it's a little history lesson for younger fans. Ric chronicles how a the NWA went from being a superpower to slowly losing almost all of it's control over pro wrestling in the 80's. There's some entertaining stories about Dusty Rhodes and others. The biggest issue that I had was Ric's bashing of everyone except for his friends. Unless you're a McMahon (Including Hunter), Michaels, Anderson or Terry Funk, he insulted you. By time it got to the 90's, Ric started showing his jealousy of McMahon pushing wrestlers like Bret Hart and Bischoff pushing Hogan in 1994. It was as if Flair felt that he always deserved to be the top guy.

Eddie Guerrero - Cheating Death, Stealing Life
This only covers up until Wrestlemania 20. Eddie has no problems talking about problems with his family and goes into great detail of his addictions. There's several issues with the book though. First off, it felt as if the co-author compiled the novel from hundreds of stories that Eddie sent them. As a result, the book repeats a lot of the same info over and over. The editor also didn't try and fix Eddie's grammar mistakes. At times, it can be a headache trying to read. Sadly, there's many ironic statements made that would be about how Eddie really died.

__________________

Kizza

Superstar Billy Graham - Tangled Ropes
This was a superb book. I got it from the library and after a bit of a slow start, it starts to pick up in action. He tells of what it was like as a rookie, afraid to blade, to being a top guy in AWA & NWA regions. He's told stories of Abdullah, Ric & others, which were really interesting. He talked about his faith, about his steroid abuse and his crippling liver disease, as well as the steroid controversy that surrounded the WWF.

Overall a fantastic, interesting and sad story.

__________________

Marketh.

Shawn Michaels: Heartbreak and Triumph
Chris Jericho: A Lion's Tale - Around the World in Spandex
Pure Dynamite - Tom Billington (Dynamite Kid)
Have a Nice Day: Mankind - Mick Foley

My favourite has to be Jericho's purely because of the hilarious stories in it and I can't wait for Undisputed Attitude to come out. Dynamite's is also great because he goes in a different direction. He's not trying to be funny (although there are some funny stories), he's not going for the "dreams do come true" summary. He's simply being blunt about his career, and it still makes you feel sad at the ending with him no longer being able to walk. Though there is the final chapter which makes you feel better with him putting over the next generation of guys like Rock, Austin, Benoit, Jericho, Eddie etc.

__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

iron maiden

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hitman by Bret Hart

Probably one of the best wrestling and non fiction books I've read. I think it's cause we get to see into life behind the scenes as a promoter such as Stu Hart and life as a wrestler in Bret Hart and others. Even if you walked into this book knowing nothing about wrestling, Bret takes the time to explain things to the reader. It was a glimpse behind the scenes into a world I've been watching since I was four with regards to Stampede wrestling, WCW ect...

I highly recommend this book to ANY wrestling fan even the HBK ones.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


I'm really hoping Lance Storm writes ones as I always enjoy his blogs.

horrorfan_1986

Keep in mind it's not available in America yet.
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

__________________

xChumChumx

Most people probably haven't mentioned it because it's only in Canada. They haven't published it in America yet and it cost a lot of money to buy it here. My Mom's business friend's husband is a huge wrestling fan and she bought the book off eBay for like $70.

Edit: Jim answered that one before I did, touché.

Lance Storm writing a book would be epic. I always wanted to see one from Undertaker but he doesn't seem like the one who would write a book.

I should do my list seeing as everyone else did. I'll add a couple of new ones into the mix.

A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex - Chris Jericho
Fantastic book, Chris Jericho's sparkling personality rings through out every page. The way it's setup is perfect and the fact that Chris has so many personal/funny stories in it makes it great. Him actually writing the book himself also makes me tip my hat to him. One of the best wrestling books I've read in a long time.

Have A Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks - Mick Foley
The best wrestling book of all time in my opinion. Mick isn't much of a wrestler, but he makes one hell of a story teller. This book is one I pick up whenever I've loss the passion to read. It always makes me laugh with the stories and it's just a phenomenal book from cover to cover.

The Hardy Boyz: Exist 2 Inspire - Matt & Jeff Hardy
I've always been a big fan of the Matt and Jeff, I mean they're the wrestlers I grew up watching. Them writing a book when they were still so young is nice to read from the guys who have been around in the industry forever. A quick and fun read, nothing to heavy but just something different.

In the Pit with Piper: Roddy Gets Rowdy - "Rowdy" Roddy Piper
I picked up this book awhile ago because Piper has always been my favorite legend. I mean, the guy was nuts and was one hell of a charismatic guy. So I saw a book and I had to have it. I read the book and I was surprised on how amazingly funny this book is. It's funnier than Jericho's or Foley's combined. The stories he has and the things he has done are fantastic things to read. Definitely a fantastic book. I just hope Piper wasn't pulling my leg with his stories.

KenTheKiller

Bobby The Brain
The Hardcore Diaries by Mick Foley
Heartbreak and Triumph by Shawn Michaels
Mysteries of Wrestling Solved by the hosts of Get In The Ring Radio
A Lion's Tale by Chris Jericho

Besides this, I have read a few others:

To Be The Man by Ric Flair
Cheating Death, Stealing Life by Eddie Guerrero
Have A Nice Day? by Mick Foley
Foley Is Good by Mick Foley
The Rock Says by The Rock

Flair's book was one of the first books to smarten me up, so I'll always remember it. Eddie's was sad because I read it after he died. But Jericho's is without a doubt my favorite. Just so good. I can hardly put it down.

The Undertaker probably won't write a book until he retires.

__________________

iron maiden

I had no idea it wasn't in the US...I thought he went on a worldwide signing tour. jeez Jim I would have sent you a copy if I'd know...well now I know what to get you for your brithday.

Walking a Golden Mile by William Regal is a good read. A little disappointing after his recent suspension but a good read nonetheless.

Cash Creates Controversy by Eric Bishoff. This is a good book to help understand what makes people like he and Vince tick and the business side of things. It breaks down the Monday Night Wars and some of the decisions they made that I and others questioned.

I bought the Tito Santana book but I've yet to read it yet.

xChumChumx

I'll have to buy the Walking a Golden Mile by Regal. I've always enjoyed Regal.

Ken, what is the difference between your lists. Because "Have a Nice Day" kicked the shit out of "Hardcore Diaries".

Edit: They don't publish the William Regal book anymore. I'll have to see if I can get it used off Amazon.

iron maiden

If you like Regal you'll like this book Nick. Keep in mind it's a WWE product though. I'd like to see him once he leaves the company write an uncensored one.