Review: WWE: The Attitude Era By Jon Robinson

WWE: The Attitude Era
Jon Robinson
Brady Games / DK Publishing, 2015
Hardcover, Ebook

A few years ago, with competition from WCW at its peak, the once family friendly - often times live action cartoon - WWF began producing a racier product. The period, best defined as mid 90s to early 2000s, has become known as The Attitude Era. With a beer-swilling, middle-finger raising and foul-mouthed champion, scantily clad women, pimps, porn stars, octogenarians giving birth to appendages and very thinly veiled race wars in the forefront of the product; the wrestling industry came as close as ever to entering the main stream of entertainment.  Traditionalists criticized the era for its excesses, but the vast majority of fans - many of them initially attracted by the adult themes and shocking story lines - loved it.

Review: Dusty: Reflections Of Wrestling's American Dream

Dusty: Reflections Of Wrestling's American Dream

Dusty Rhodes and Howard Brody

Sports Publishing, 2005

Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes had a remarkable career as a professional wrestler and booker that has spanned 40+ year period. Rhodes made his wrestling debut in the late 60s and became one of the biggest names in the history of the industry.  Rhodes first gained national prominence as a member of the Texas Outlaws with Dick Murdoch, he later had a long and historic run in Eddie Graham's Championship Wrestling From Florida, as a main event star in NWA Mid-Atlantic, a memorable stint in early 90s WWF and as commentator with World Championship Wrestling.  Rhodes also served as the booker with most of these organizations during his respective tenures. As is common with both top stars and powerful people in the industry, Dusty Rhodes is a very polarizing person/character.

Review: Damn! Why Did I Write This Book? by Jayson (JTG) Paul

Damn! Why Did I Write This Book?
Jayson (JTG) Paul
Self Published, 2015
Ebook

JTG is best known for his 8 year stint as a member of the WWE Roster as both a singles wrestler and one half of the tag team Cryme Tyme. Damn! Why Did I Write This Book? chronicles the author's WWE tenure focusing, mainly, on his backstage interaction with other talents and management. This is JTG's first book. 

Damn! Why Did I Write This Book? was a surprise release this week. While it did not get the pre-release

Review: Hardcore History The Extremely Unauthorized History of ECW By Scott E. Williams

Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized History of ECW

Scott E. Williams, Shane Douglas (Foreword) Photos By George Tahinos

Sports Publishing, 2006

Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook

In the industry's peak period of the mid-late 1990s, WWF and WCW battled for the top spot in what is now called The Monday Night Wars.  While revisionist history typically marginalises the impact of the era's indy promotions, the ECW has remained a near mythical cult like industry leader. Extreme Championship Wrestling was not only the home for many of wrestling's most memorable performers, its edgy and unapologetic presentation was the inspiration for many of the industry wide changes that lead to the lead to the largest international boom in wrestling history.

Review: Wrestling For My Life By Shawn Michaels

Wrestling For My Life:
The Legend, The Reality, And The Faith of a WWE Superstar
Shawn Michaels w/ David Thomas. Triple H and Steve Austin (Forewords)
Zondervan Trade Books, 2015
Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook

Wrestling For My Life is Shawn Michaels' second book and the second one I wrote a review for, Heartbreak and Triumph was released in 2006. I will be posting that review (from 2007) in the coming days.

Shawn Michaels is widely considered one of the best-in ring performers in the history of pro wrestling. While always a top quality performer, Michaels battled a wide range of issues when away from the ring. In 1998, a serious back injury forced Michaels to walk away from the sport at the height of his career.

Review: More Than Just Hardcore By Terry Funk

More Than Just Hardcore
Terry Funk with Scott E. Williams. Mick Foley (Foreword)
Sports Publishing, 2005
Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook

For over 60 years, Terry Funk was everywhere in the wrestling industry.  While a small number of people can make that claim, no other can boast a run in the NWA as World Champion, stints the WWF at the height of both the Hulkamania and the Attitude eras, time with ECW as a Hardcore Legend, a career long status as one of Japan's most successful American competitors and many smaller stops in between.  Funk, who was spent his career evolving his style without changing his persona, is considered by many who study the sport to be one of the best of all around performers of all time. As Mick Foley says in his foreword, "I can't accurately say who the best of all time is, but I can say without hesitation that Terry Funk is the greatest wrestler I have ever seen." Apart from his legendary wrestling career, Funk has also had some success as a character actor and stunt co-ordinator in such films as Road House and Paradise Alley.

Review: Wrestling With The Devil By Lex Luger

Review: Wrestling With The Devil
Lex Luger, John D. Hollis (contributor)
Tyndale Momentum, 2013
Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook

As a performer, Lex Luger was a polarizing figure.  While he possessed one of the best physiques in wrestling, many feel that his only asset was his appearance and that he lacked many, if not all, of the other assets required to have achieved the the level of fame he did.  Others would argue that Luger was a unique performer who fit perfectly into the pro wrestling industry of the 1980s and 90s where matches were typically short, in-ring technical skills were less important and showmanship trumped sport. While hindsight may be 20/20, there is no doubt that several promoters and an exponentially larger number of fans were firmly planted on the Lex Luger bandwagon (or tour bus.) Regardless if he deserved his success or not - debates rage on - Luger's in ring career was very notable as he achieved far more than the vast majority of his contemporaries.