Portrait of the legendary Bruiser Brody - a wrestler who dominated the pro scene despite his refusal to accept scripted defeats, until he was savagely murdered in 1988, allegedly by another wrestler.
Today, more than 18 years after his death, professional wrestling fans still talk about Bruiser Brody with reverence and awe in their voice. Hardcore fans consider him to be the greatest brawler in the history of the sport. Frank "Bruiser Brody" Goodish was known as a brawler, a wild-man, and an outlaw. His style and character have been copied by countless other wrestlers. Mick Foley (Cactus Jack/Mankind), whose name is synonymous with the hardcore style of wrestling, claims to have studied Brody's Japan tapes for hours while training to be a pro wrestler, and patterned his ring style after him. However, like the old saying, "Often imitated, never duplicated," that applies to Bruiser Brody. There will never be another one like him. Brody was a great athlete and an exciting performer, but he was also one of the most unpredictable men ever to step into the ring. As an independent (some call him an outlaw), he marched to his own drummer, and refused to bow to either of the two powerful American promotions-the World Wide Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance. On any given night, he might or might not do what the promoters asked of him. As a result, promoters hated him, but they also loved him, because when he was billed on a card, the fans turned out in droves to see him wrestle. Brody feuded with the top names in the sport-Ric Flair, Dory Funk, Terry Funk, the Von Erich family, Bruno Sammartino, Andre the Giant, and Dick the Bruiser. His most remembered feud, however, was against Abdullah the Butcher. When those two met in the ring, fans could count on the blood flowing like tap water. In 1988, Brody was murdered in a dressing room in Puerto Rico-by one of his fellow wrestlers! This book is the story of Bruiser Brody, told in the words of those who knew him best-childhood friends, family members, fellow wrestlers, photographers, and newspaper reporters. No punches are pulled and the rulebook has been thrown out. This is THE definitive ¿ Bruiser Brody.
Leon White grew up on the tough streets of Compton, before taking on the world. His impressive college football days led him to the NFL culminating at the Super Bowl. After reinventing himself, he debuted as a wrestler battling monsters like Bruiser Brody and Jerry Blackwell. Then, on a Japanese tour, he was given a new gimmick. As "Big Van Vader," he beat the undefeated Antonio Inokio for the IWGP title and had his eyeball literally pulled out of his skull by Stan Hansen, initiating his own legendary monster status. After winning titles around the world with every major promotion (wrestling names like Sting, Mick Foley, Ric Flair, and Hulk Hogan) this mastodon became "The Greatest Super Heavyweight of All Time," while also being a father. Read how his reign of terror continued even after getting an expiration date; a diagnosis of only "two years to live." This is the story of his life, and a legacy that will last forever. This is Vader Time.
St. Louis was the capital and Muchnick the ruler of pro wrestling before Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment took over. Muchnick and St. Louis paved the way for the multi-billion-dollar sports entertainment industry broadcast worldwide from the stadia and showpiece venues of the States. The centre of this magical operation was a TV programme called Wrestling at the Chase', which ran from 1959 to 1983 from the majestic Chase Hotel. Matysik, Muchnick's protege and longtime ringside announcer, recalls with touching fondness the legends of his time.'
A history of professional wrestling from its roots in legitimate sport to its days as a carnival attraction followed by the growth of regional rivalries and culminating as television-centered entertainment.
From the host of the critically acclaimed pro wrestling podcast Straight Shoot, this graphic novel history of wrestling features the key grapplers, matches, and promotions that shaped this beloved sport and form of entertainment. As a pop culture phenomenon, professional wrestling--with its heroic babyfaces and villainous heels performing suplexes and powerbombs in pursuit of championship gold--has conquered audiences in the United States and around the world. Now, writer/podcaster Aubrey Sitterson and illustrator Chris Moreno form a graphic novel tag team to present wrestling's complete illustrated history. Featuring legendary wrestlers like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and The Rock, and modern-day favorites like John Cena, Kenny Omega, and Sasha Banks, the book covers wrestling's progress from the carnival days of the Gold Dust Trio to the dominance of the WWF/WWE to today's diverse independent wrestling scene, and it spotlights wrestling's reach into Mexico/Puerto Rico (lucha libre), the U.K. (all-in), and Japan (puroresu).
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 choosingand rankingthe 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.
Presents an illustrated chronicle of professional wrestling history and includes approximately one thousand very brief "slamographies" of significant wrestlers and managers.
A breakthrough examination of the professional wrestling, its history, its fans, and its wider cultural impact The Squared Circle grows out of David Shoemaker’s writing for Deadspin, where he started the column “Dead Wrestler of the Week” (which boasts more than 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.
Bill Watts leads readers on a tour through his checkered life, starting with his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the University of Oklahoma and culminating in a reawakened spirituality that snatched him back from the brink of destruction. The legendary pro wrestler talks frankly and fearlessly about his ugly encounters with the top names in the ring and his uglier encounters with the life and world surrounding the sport.