New Release: Wrestling In The Garden: The Battle For New York: Works, Shoots and Double-Crosses By Scott Teal & J Michael Kenyon

Scott Teal and J Michael Kenyon's Wrestling In The Garden: The Battle For New York: Works, Shoots & Double Crosses is a new release from Crowbar Press that features a comprehensive listing of every wrestling card to have taken place at Madison Square Garden between 1875 and 2016. Wrestling In The Garden is currently available exclusively at Crowbar Press.

New Release: Charlie's Fight By Kristal McKerrington & Joe E Legend

Charlie's Fight: Reclaiming Honor is a slight departure from our normal fare, however, it is co-authored by long time and well travelled wrestler Joe E. Legend. Legend is also known to many fans for his short tenure in the WWF/E as Just Joe. McKerrington & Legend's 2016 release Marie's World: The Aftermath was well received by Amazon readers. The pair have, to date, published four books.

All titles are available on Amazon and are been added to the aStore US CA

New Release: Voices of Wrestling NJPW 2016 Year In Review by Rick Kraetsch

Voices of Wrestling's third annual look at New Japan Pro Wrestling was released on ebook in early January. The first two books were well received by both new and long-term NJPW fans.

Voices of Wresting 2016 Year In Review has been added to our aStore. US CA

Re-release On Ebook: Fritz Von Erich: Master Of The Iron Claw

Ron Mullinax's 2005 Fritz Von Erich: Master of The Iron Claw was released in ebook format earlier this week. Mullinax, who worked with Von Erich in his final days, re-tells Von Erich's story as it was told to him. Though I have not read it since it was a new release, I remember it being an entertaining read, though it was a very controversial release.

Available for order at Amazon US and Amazon Canada.

New Releases: Bad To The Bone by Ron Starr

Territorial wrestler "Rotten" Ron Starr released his autobiography Bad To The Bone: 25 Years of Riots and Wrestling a couple of months back. Written with Rock Rims and featuring a foreword from Mick Foley. Starr was one of the most sought after names in the territory days and worked in every majore territory in the country during his over 25 years in the industry.

Available for order here.

Review: Is Wrestling Fixed? I Didn't Know It Was Broken By Bill Apter

Is Wrestling Fixed? I Didn't Know It Was Broken

By Bill Apter, Jerry Lawler (Foreword), Joey Styles (Afterword) 

ECW Press, 2015

Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook

Bill Apter is at the top of the short list of well-known and well respected professional wrestling journalists. The long time editor of Pro Wrestling Illustrated and its sister magazines was such a guiding force in the publications that they are still, years after his departure, referred to as "The Apter Mags." Is Wrestling Fixed? is Apter's autobiographical look at his almost 50 years covering the professional wrestling industry. 

While best remembered as a kayfabe guarding journalist - unlike Dave Meltzer, Wade Keller, etc - who was semi-complicit in the pro wrestling ruse of yesteryear, this book is not "a work." Apter's story is that of a young wrestling fan who gradually grows from "unofficial" freelance photographer to staff contributor for Stanley Weston's family of magazines to being one of the key players in the professional wrestling industry. While many of the variables pertaining to the professional wrestling industry and journalism as a whole have changed, Is Wrestling Fixed? is certainly a good read for those with an interest in covering the sport.

New Releases: Ryback Reeves & Ric Drasin

Former WWE Superstar Ryback released Wake Up It's Feeding Time earlier this month.

Wrestler, bodybuilder, actor, Ric Drasin has also released The Time of My Life in late 2016.

Both titles have been added to the Amazon Store.  USA CA

Review: Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling By Ole Anderson

Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling

By Ole Anderson w. Scott Teal

Crowbar Press, 2003

Paperback, Ebook

Long time wrestler and booker Ole Anderson is a legendary name in professional wrestling. A former member of both the Minnesota Wrecking Crew and The Four Horsemen, Anderson's name should be near the top of any list of legendary tag team competitors. Anderson was also a prominent booker in the Georgia and Carolina territories for periods between the 1970s and 1990s. Inside Out is his first book.

Anderson makes a very persuasive argument regarding the corporate expansion of the wrestling industry in the mid 1980s and its detrimental impact on the wrestling industry.  Though Anderson presents a relentless thesis against the current structure of the industry, it is not a pre-requisite to agree with all of his arguments in order to enjoy the book.