Review: Best Seat In The House: Your Backstage Pass Through My WWE Journey

Best Seat In The House: Your Backstage Pass Through My WWE Journey
Justin Roberts w. Tommy Dreamer (Foreword)
Meyer & Meyer Sport, 2017
Hardcover, Ebook, Audiobook (TBR)

Best Seat In The House is available at:
Amazon US CA UK,
Indigo
Barnes & Noble

Un-spoiler Alert: As noted a few places, I try to keep my reviews as "spoiler free" as possible. This often results in general statements concerning  content of a book - it's a book review, not a book report. While a number of the topics in this book are being discussed in specific terms elsewhere on the Information Superhighway, I'm opting to not delve too much into the specifics per usual. Like many fans, I have strong feelings about the information concerning the backstage climate and labour practises of the WWE, but would rather confine this post to my thoughts on Roberts' presentation of his experiences and opinions presented in his book. -KM

Released during a minor boom time for pro wrestling literature, former WWE ring announcer Justin Roberts' Best Seat In The House, has exceeded all predictions and expectations. Published by Meyer & Meyer and featuring a foreword by former colleague Tommy Dreamer, Roberts recounts his path from childhood fan to his 2014 departure from WWE. The book has received some atypical press due to his candid insight into the backstage climate of the WWE, specifically as it pertains to his experiences with bullying and hazing by management and colleagues. This is Roberts' first book.

Roberts, who worked without a ghost writer, is relatable, likeable and his passion for and interest in pro wrestling are immediately apparent. He writes in a personal, almost conversational, style and yet avoids many of the traps - wild tangents, loss of focus, etc - that writers who use less formal styles do. Undoubtedly, he is writing about issues that have affected him emotionally, but he is able convey his emotions - both at the time an event and via current reflection - without force feeding these on the reader.

Roberts' memories of his early days as a fan are very well written. These passages are not written by an ex-employee of a company, but by a nostalgic fan. So often when wrestling personalities say, "I was a fan growing up," it actually means, "I know who Hulk Hogan is and I watched WWF when I visited my uncle once or twice a year." Roberts contagious excitement about things like "Hasbros" gives him instant "street cred" with the die-hard wrestling fan. 

By and large, Roberts' story is one of a person working his dream job under nightmarish conditions. While pro wrestling is typically an industry of self-aggrandising statements - many wrestling books are a simply series of them strung together in long form - Roberts is not guilty of this. Despite a continual ebb and flow between professional trial and tribulation, the book maintains it's structure and a contains surprising amount of suspense. When Roberts takes one step forward, readers immediately wonder how, when, where or who will make him take one step back. He also avoids turning his complaints about former superiors/co-workers into personal attacks; a rarity in books covering the wrestling industry. He makes no allegations of a personal nature, avoids name calling, reporting hearsay and shows no signs of exaggerating to strengthen his points. 

The book has absolutely no major flaws. Some readers may question Roberts' motives for addressing his role in connecting the family of Connor Michalek with the WWE. While his account in the book is accurate and he was the WWE staff member who both "discovered" and formed the closest bond with the family, some have interpreted Roberts' choice to reveal this as an attempt to glorify himself. While this does not seem to be the case in the book or in previous media concerning the topic, some have taken issue with Roberts' decision to reveal/discuss the issue. Within the context of this book, Roberts' omission from the official corporate story is a key element with  regards to his mounting frustrations with his employer. As Connor became a WWE celebrity in his own right, Roberts' role in bringing him to the attention of the company is undoubtedly a highlight of Roberts' career. For those aware of the Roberts' version of the story, the book would have been incomplete had it not been included.

There are a few occasions where there are some redundancies, but these are more thematic in nature and do not hurt the book to any great extent. There are one or two times where Roberts switches topic, meanders slightly or casually mentions something/someone that could cause some readers to get lost momentarily. That being said the author quickly gets back on track, no points are left hanging and no story is left incomplete. Those who are looking for a scandalous expose from a bitter ex-employee will be disappointed. Firstly, Roberts does not come across as bitter and, secondly, the "tell-all" is of a professional nature that addresses labour-related issues and not sexual dalliances or drug induced rampages. 

Best Seat In The House is an enjoyable and enlightening look at the current day WWE. It is unique in that it is very open and critical of the current climate of the world's largest wrestling company. Whereas so many of Roberts colleagues tread very lightly when talking about the only game in town, Roberts discusses the company's drawbacks openly, while still maintaining an admiration and respect for many of those who continue to work there. For fans of today's product it is an absolute must read. Those who tend to skew for the more historical or non-WWE books may want to pass, however, Roberts' eye opening discussion about the very recent (likely current) working conditions are astounding and worth a read. Best Seat In The House: Your Backstage Pass Through My WWE Journey is likely to be, and deserves to be, very near the top of 2017's Best Seller list for professional wrestling books and will be on many short lists for Book of the Year.