Wrestling books.

Red Sleeping Beauty · 18-12-2008 3:30pm

... grand so, I'll get it for peanuts from Reads hopefully

AlphaMale 3OO · 18-12-2008 5:09pm

ShawnRaven wrote: »

I can see this book being a total fail in the UK and European markets to be honest, as people have been buying it from Canada for the last year already.

Exactly. This is what I did. On another note I just read DiBiase's. It's ****e.

ShawnRaven · 18-12-2008 5:16pm

forbesii wrote: »

Exactly. This is what I did. On another note I just read DiBiase's. It's ****e.

I stopped after the first ten pages. I do plan to go back to it, but it was riddled with mistakes from what I read, and that was the first ten pages, i'm half scared of what's next!

AlphaMale 3OO · 18-12-2008 5:23pm

ShawnRaven wrote: »

I stopped after the first ten pages. I do plan to go back to it, but it was riddled with mistakes from what I read, and that was the first ten pages, i'm half scared of what's next!

You mean grammatical or factual? My knowledge isn't wide nough to notice the factual ones.

Only intersting bits were about the way the Million Dollar Man gimmick was created and his run in WCW and as a producer for WWE. It's also written in a really weird way:

I am Ted DiBiase. I work for World Wrestling Federation. I am also a preacher etc. etc. There is no I'm or I'd in Ted's world. He talks very formally. Or at least his ghost writer does.

ShawnRaven · 18-12-2008 5:37pm

forbesii wrote: »

You mean grammatical or factual? My knowledge isn't wide nough to notice the factual ones.

Factual ones. Pages 8-11 were the ones that sent alarm bells ringing!

The twin referees story is utter bull****. Dave Hebner never got knocked out and DiBiase never signalled for a second referee that looked the same. The same Hebner was there all the way until the bell rang. It was after that, when Earl came out to point out that the referee was bogus.

Also at Wrestlemania IV, his recollection was that Liz was distracing the referee and Randy was a heel. Randy had actually turned face in the middle of 1987, months before Mania, and it was actually Andre, who had seconded DiBiase for the final because Virgil was suplexed by Hogan on the concrete earlier in the night.

After two f*ckups like that in the first few pages of the book, i put it down and concentrated on the other books i was working through.

AlphaMale 3OO · 18-12-2008 6:32pm

ShawnRaven wrote: »

Factual ones. Pages 8-11 were the ones that sent alarm bells ringing!

The twin referees story is utter bull****. Dave Hebner never got knocked out and DiBiase never signalled for a second referee that looked the same. The same Hebner was there all the way until the bell rang. It was after that, when Earl came out to point out that the referee was bogus.

Also at Wrestlemania IV, his recollection was that Liz was distracing the referee and Randy was a heel. Randy had actually turned face in the middle of 1987, months before Mania, and it was actually Andre, who had seconded DiBiase for the final because Virgil was suplexed by Hogan on the concrete earlier in the night.

After two f*ckups like that in the first few pages of the book, i put it down and concentrated on the other books i was working through.

Honestly, I'd leave it down if I were you. At times I was imagining reading it in Vince's voice its so biased. Unfortunately Ted completely sucks Vince's dick which is never enjoyable. We also get the whole "I was saved from myself" story.

EDIT: By the way, I was going to ask you, how do you change your username? I'm sick of mine, I'd rather match it with my Gamertag.

Mr. Guappa · 18-12-2008 7:23pm

Flying through Jerichos book at the moment, great read and very funny in parts. He also left the door open for a follow up book based on his WWE career in a few years time

michael.etc... · 18-12-2008 9:23pm

ShawnRaven wrote: »

After two f*ckups like that in the first few pages of the book, i put it down and concentrated on the other books i was working through.

You won't believe some of the stuff later on then....

This is from a review i did of it a while back (the whole thing is here btw...

http://www.ifight365.com/2008/09/the-dreaded-nerve-hold-review-ted-dibiase-the-million-dollar-man/

Also an issue is the litany of minor errors that nonetheless combine regularly enough to be pretty damn irritating.
“The ending of the King of the Ring tournament was quite spectacular. They crowned two kings, Bret Hart and Lex Luger, because they both landed on the floor simultaneously.”

Christ!

ShawnRaven · 15-03-2009 3:54pm

BUMP!
Giving this one a nudge up the forum as i'm about to try and finish off the rest of the DiBiase book this weekend. It's been a couple of months since this thread has seen activity and i usually hate resurrecting zombie threads, Surely SOMEONE has read a PW book in the last few months, so it'll save doing a new thread for it.

callaway92 · 15-03-2009 3:59pm

Jerichos was fcuking brilliant..finished it recently..and ..WOW

CMpunked · 15-03-2009 7:58pm

Got the Rise and fall of ECW book there not too long ago for a super price of 11.90 in waterstones and i'm about 2/3s through it.

Was a little peeved at first because it seemed like a word for word account of the DVD.
But i'm loving it at the moment.

Has anyone else read it?

ShawnRaven · 15-03-2009 8:03pm

Comic-Book-Guy wrote: »

Got the Rise and fall of ECW book there not too long ago for a super price of 11.90 in waterstones and i'm about 2/3s through it.

Was a little peeved at first because it seemed like a word for word account of the DVD.
But i'm loving it at the moment.

Has anyone else read it?

Didn't the book come out first? Usually that's the order. Thats why Cheating Death, Stealing Life and Heartbreak and Triumph and The Stone Cold Truth are condensed versions of the book.

Could be wrong, didn't bother with the book for ECW... due to it being ECW.
DVD was awesome though, Heyman is a master storyteller and to me, is more suited to DVD and shoots, than writing. As his anger only adds to it and it would work better over hearing, than reading.

CMpunked · 15-03-2009 8:26pm

ShawnRaven wrote: »

Didn't the book come out first? Usually that's the order.

Probably did. But i watched the DVD just after it came out (wasnt a big reader at the time so even if i was aware i more than likely didnt even give it a thought).

ShawnRaven wrote: »

DVD was awesome though, Heyman is a master storyteller and to me, is more suited to DVD and shoots, than writing. As his anger only adds to it and it would work better over hearing, than reading.

Heyman is directly quoted a lot in the book.
He has a lot of stories to tell about every aspect of ECW. some of the best ones are on the battles they had with the PPV producers after the Mass Transit situation and how tough he worked throughout all the legalities.

At present i am on page 210. The narration is of the time of the first original ECW invasion on Raw in 1997 and i know i only have a short bit to go in the book and i really wish there was more.

Makes me wonder why Heyman never wrote a biography. Or at least there was never any published of him.

ShawnRaven · 15-03-2009 8:35pm

Comic-Book-Guy wrote: »

Probably did. But i watched the DVD just after it came out (wasnt a big reader at the time so even if i was aware i more than likely didnt even give it a thought).

Same here, i only started when I was doing cross country trips, made them go a lot quicker.

Heyman is directly quoted a lot in the book.
He has a lot of stories to tell about every aspect of ECW. some of the best ones are on the battles they had with the PPV producers after the Mass Transit situation and how tough he worked throughout all the legalities.

At present i am on page 210. The narration is of the time of the first original ECW invasion on Raw in 1997 and i know i only have a short bit to go in the book and i really wish there was more.

Makes me wonder why Heyman never wrote a biography. Or at least there was never any published of him.

Sounds like it's done the same way as The Stone Cold Truth, snippets of quotes from different people. As for a Heyman biography, I wouldn't rule it out, if the Sun end up getting rid of him as budget cuts, he might resort to it. Personally i'd prefer a shoot interview. That would be worth watching, just for his stories alone.

CMpunked · 15-03-2009 8:44pm

ShawnRaven wrote: »

As for a Heyman biography, I wouldn't rule it out, if the Sun end up getting rid of him as budget cuts, he might resort to it. Personally i'd prefer a shoot interview. That would be worth watching, just for his stories alone.

I'm not usually one for shoot interviews, dont get me wrong, as interesting as they are, i more than likely don't know enough history of whoever it is on to sit through 4 or so hours of them telling the stories.

But Heyman is so charismatic, so un-apologetically up front and passionate that it would be a must see.

brick tamland · 15-03-2009 8:52pm

brick tamland wrote: »

books i've read

really enjoyed
Foley's 1st
flairs
wrestlecrap

enjoyed
Jerry Lawlors
HBKs
foleys 2nd
sex lies and headlocks

didnt like
Foley's 3rd, although it wasn't as bad as.............
Austins

I've just finished Jericho and i really liked it, it reminded me Foleys 1st book. Foleys 1st book is my favourite wrestling book. I gave it to a load of my non-restling fan mates and they all enjoyed it too, showed how good it was. I'm thinking of re-buying it as i cant find my copy ( cant rememer who i gave it too ) and i want to read it again.

Bret Harts is out on paperback soon thats next on my list. Think I'll pick up the death of wcw too.

Machismo Fan · 15-03-2009 9:12pm

I recently read Larry Zbyszko's book and thought it was quite good. Dynamite Kid's is just so damn bitter, he hates everyone.

ShawnRaven · 15-03-2009 9:22pm

Comic-Book-Guy wrote: »

I'm not usually one for shoot interviews, dont get me wrong, as interesting as they are, i more than likely don't know enough history of whoever it is on to sit through 4 or so hours of them telling the stories.

That's exactly the reason to watch them, as history lessons. Of course the likes of CM Punk wouldn't be able to tell you much, but the old schoolers like Bret, Cornette, Heenan, Shawn's interviews are all worth checking out.

But Heyman is so charismatic, so un-apologetically up front and passionate that it would be a must see.

Being charismatic has bugger all to do with, but you've hit the outspoken bit on the head, and the more outspoken they are, the better the interview. Especially if they're bitter about certain people.

ShawnRaven · 15-03-2009 9:24pm

Machismo Fan wrote: »

I recently read Larry Zbyszko's book and thought it was quite good. Dynamite Kid's is just so damn bitter, he hates everyone.

I LOVED Dynamite's book. It does come across as bitter, but given what Bret mentions about him, he is bitter, but not so much in the sense that he hates everyone, but in the sense that he had nothing to show for everything that he did and he's the only one responsible for it. Also bear in mind that book was written nearly nine years ago. He's actually apparently calmed down a lot since.

michael.etc... · 15-03-2009 11:53pm

^^^ Dynamite's is the one book that i've really wanted to read for a long time, and just not got round to it. Hafta be checking that out soon.

I honestly have been interested in that many wrestlng books of late- i was very disappointed by DiBiase's. I'm waiting on Andre's arriving atm though- that should make for an interesting read.
Lately i've been picking up a few mma titles instead though- Jens Pulver's Little Evil, and Chuck Liddell's autobiograph were both great reads.

ShawnRaven · 15-03-2009 11:55pm

Been interested in checking out Chucks book myself, but i've such a backlog of them to get through, it's not even funny!

michael.etc... · 15-03-2009 11:59pm

Chuck's is really entertaining start to finish, if you have a day or two with not much on. When i went to Barcelona it provided much better flight reading material than the crappy Easy Jet magazine.....

Anyone read any of the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame series by Greg Oliver and Steve Johnson? Fantastic stuff.

ShawnRaven · 16-03-2009 12:01am

michael.etc... wrote: »

When i went to Barcelona it provided much better flight reading material than the crappy Easy Jet magazine.....

At the risk of going off topic, but trying to read the writing on a soggy beer mat would be more entertaining than that Easyjet magazine!

CMpunked · 16-03-2009 2:28am

ShawnRaven wrote: »

Being charismatic has bugger all to do with, but you've hit the outspoken bit on the head, and the more outspoken they are, the better the interview. Especially if they're bitter about certain people.

One of the best parts of the book, and to the same extent, the DVD is how heyman is talking about WCW raiding his talent, which cuts to bishoff giving somewhat of a history lesson to what happened, why it happened and how he was in the right.
Cuts back then to heyman and his words are "Eric Bishoff is full of shít!"

I loved that bit. And what coincides in the book also reflects that time, with Paul going into a little more detail from his point of view.

I guess you'd be right about the bitter thing, anything that touches a nerve makes for good reading about it.

ShawnRaven · 16-03-2009 2:42am

Comic-Book-Guy wrote: »

I guess you'd be right about the bitter thing, anything that touches a nerve makes for good reading about it.

Or in an interview for that matter. On that ECW DVD where Heyman shoots on TNN, if you could imagine him being that bitter for 3-4 hours. That would be gold for an interview. And believe me, i've seen interviews like that. They are f*cking pricless.

Heyman's impersonation of Austin is pretty funny too.

I may pick up the book if i find it chucked in a bargain bin somewhere

Machismo Fan · 18-03-2009 9:35pm

http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=37309&p=1

World Wrestling Entertainment has canceled the planned release of an autobiography on former WWF champion The Iron Sheik, which was set to be written by Keith Elliot Greenberg, who worked on the Fred Blassie and Superstar Graham books. From what I understand, it was a WWE decision that was made after an initial treatment was submitted.

flahavaj · 21-03-2009 2:35pm

michael.etc... wrote: »

^^^ Dynamite's is the one book that i've really wanted to read for a long time, and just not got round to it. Hafta be checking that out soon.

I honestly have been interested in that many wrestlng books of late- i was very disappointed by DiBiase's. I'm waiting on Andre's arriving atm though- that should make for an interesting read.
Lately i've been picking up a few mma titles instead though- Jens Pulver's Little Evil, and Chuck Liddell's autobiograph were both great reads.

Dynamite's book is really good. I steered clear of DiBiase's after multiple bad reports.

Next ones I wanna have a look at are Meltzer's Tributes and theres one about the history of Stampede Wrestling that I've heard great things about.

Oh and Jericho's is a riot to read, really entertaining and quite detailed on his times in japan and Mexico (which is something I dislike about the WWE produced books, they tend to concentrate in time in WWE and skip over time sin wrestler's career sthat I personally would find fascinating).

michael.etc... · 21-03-2009 4:59pm

Both Meltzer's tributes, and the Stampede book are excellent, particularly the latter, it's bloody fantastic. Definitely one of the more informative books out there, even though it covers a huge time frame.

Yeah totally agree on the Jericho book- i really enjoyed the Stories of working in Europe.

gimmick · 21-03-2009 6:13pm

I am very slowly reading Dynamites at the moment. It is a decent read, but horrifically poorly written. Loads of grammar errors which just do my head in.

ShawnRaven · 21-03-2009 6:59pm

gimmick wrote: »

I am very slowly reading Dynamites at the moment. It is a decent read, but horrifically poorly written. Loads of grammar errors which just do my head in.

Hahah, i was able to put up with it because just before i started to read it, i tried reading Christy Dignam's abortion of a book. Anything is readable after trying to read that. It's written in Finglas, as opposed to written in English. Now i grew up there myself, and have nothing against the place, but jesus christ, the Finglas language does not translate to books at all.

So Dynamite's book was a breath of fresh air by comparison.

ShawnRaven · 25-03-2009 12:56am

Decided to move my response here, makes more sense.

DRakE wrote: »

Mick is so fat these days I've really gone off him since that book, hardcore diaries.. so bitter

Actually haven't read it, or been inspired to get it.
How come it's so bitter, out of curiosity? People have said Dynamite Kid's book was bitter and I managed to enjoy that one.

CMpunked · 25-03-2009 1:57am

How was it bitter?

ShawnRaven · 25-03-2009 2:07am

Comic-Book-Guy wrote: »

How was it bitter?

Dynamites?
Guy was his own worst enemy, spent all his money that he made in WWE on his habits and was left broke by the time 1992 came along. He basically hated everyone and blame everyone for it.

That said, the book is still an interesting read.

CMpunked · 25-03-2009 2:13am

From reading Mick's Hardcore Diaries twice i didn't really get the idea of him being bitter throughout, sure there was a few points where he said he wasn't happy with the creative dept but the rest of the book was pretty honest and good hearted i thought.

gimmick · 25-03-2009 10:40am

Got to say that Hardcore Diaries is utter tripe. Made a few attempts to get into it, but its just no good. Very self obsessed as well, in that he onlty talks of his ideas as great, and cannot undertand why they are shot down, when in reality, they are pretty poor ideas.

michael.etc... · 25-03-2009 5:51pm

gimmick wrote: »

Got to say that Hardcore Diaries is utter tripe. Made a few attempts to get into it, but its just no good. Very self obsessed as well, in that he onlty talks of his ideas as great, and cannot undertand why they are shot down, when in reality, they are pretty poor ideas.

I agree. some of it was pretty entertainment, but on the whole it was pretty infuriating. I think you're right as well when it comes to his twisted sense of self-worth especially in regards to his ideas. His estimation of how valuable Terry Funk would have been in drawing PPV's at the time is ridiculous too. But then again, this is the guy who thought Vince would go for an Exploding ring match in Texas via satellite for Wrestlemania...

Still, loved his first two books....

Machismo Fan · 25-03-2009 6:43pm

gimmick wrote: »

Very self obsessed as well, in that he onlty talks of his ideas as great, and cannot undertand why they are shot down, when in reality, they are pretty poor ideas.

Don't most people think their own ideas are great and can't understand when people tell them otherwise, why would Foley be any different?

ShawnRaven · 26-03-2009 9:35am

gimmick wrote: »

Got to say that Hardcore Diaries is utter tripe. Made a few attempts to get into it, but its just no good. Very self obsessed as well, in that he onlty talks of his ideas as great, and cannot undertand why they are shot down, when in reality, they are pretty poor ideas.

His shoot interview with ROH video from around 04/05 is very much like that too. I knocked it off after about 30 minutes and never attempted to watch it again. Truly awful stuff.

Foley really has pissed all over his status in years. It's kinda sad because his initial retirement in 2000 was a pretty big deal at the time it happened.

D.Q · 26-03-2009 9:35pm

The ideas he spouts on about in that book are utter ****e..

to be honest, i really liked mick foley before reading that book! some of the stuff is quite good, the chapter about(afghanistan?) was quite interesting...but ultimately he comes across as pretty pathetic in my opinion.

ShawnRaven · 05-04-2009 2:45am

BUMP!
For the sake of those wanting to know if Bret's book is any use. There's loads of info here.

Peyton Manning · 10-04-2009 2:51pm

Just got Bret's book today, and I can't wait to start reading it tonight. Ive only read 2 wrestling books before - Mick Foley's first book (still probably the most entertaining book Ive ever read) and The Rocks book, which was okay. Gonna head back into town to get Jericho's book tomorrow too.

lynnsback · 21-04-2009 11:52pm

Anyone read Dungeon of Death: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse?

Is Shawn Michael's book any good? What about Ring of Hell?

ShawnRaven · 21-04-2009 11:58pm

lynnsback wrote: »

Anyone read Dungeon of Death: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse?

No, but i'd be very interested in doing so. Read all of Scott Keith's other books to date. Interesting reads, even if it is a load of Meltzer articles with his own spin on them. Definitely net on my list.

Is Shawn Michael's book any good? What about Ring of Hell?

Oh rovert, where are you when i need you on this one? lol!
A couple of the guys here read Ring Of Hell, not gotten to it yet.

Michael's book is a good read though, despite Bret refering to it as "Liar Inc". He's no saint, but if you watched and enjoyed the DVD, you'll enjoy it, as it's essentially a condensed version of the book.

lynnsback · 22-04-2009 12:03am

What DVD? A HBK DVD?

DM_7 · 22-04-2009 12:03am

lynnsback wrote: »

Anyone read Dungeon of Death: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse?

Is Shawn Michael's book any good? What about Ring of Hell?

Shawns book is good. I couldn't wait to finish it when i started it. My girlfriend even enjoyed it and she wouldn't know shawn from micheal.

ShawnRaven · 22-04-2009 12:06am

lynnsback wrote: »

What DVD? A HBK DVD?

Welcome to the new millennium Lynn, he has two of them, From The Vault and Heartbreak and Triumph.

Buuuut you might wanna resurrect the wrestling DVD thread for discussion on those.

lynnsback · 22-04-2009 12:14am

Nah the books will be enough for me

d6 · 22-04-2009 7:42pm

i have to say bret harts book was pure quality couldnt recommend it enough, few books will ever rival it. I read ric flairs straight after and was disapointed not that it was poor but after reading the detail and emotion in harts book it didnt live up imo.

There is few books that i will look forward to reading, the wrestler that had to travel the territories who havent told there story are drying up I for one will not be reading about a wrestler who spent a few years in ovw and got an immediate push in the big time. I dont watch the product anymore but i do go back and remanisce when even the undercard produced quality matches and generated interest among the average fan.

ShawnRaven · 22-04-2009 7:53pm

d6 wrote: »

i have to say bret harts book was pure quality couldnt recommend it enough, few books will ever rival it. I read ric flairs straight after and was disapointed not that it was poor but after reading the detail and emotion in harts book it didnt live up imo.

Flair's one was watered down though. WWE had a hand in publishing that one, whereas Bret got his done independently, so he can dish out a lot more dirt and speak more frankly than others could

I dont watch the product anymore but i do go back and remanisce when even the undercard produced quality matches and generated interest among the average fan.

You should check out the wrestling nostalgia thread then.

Oasis44 · 22-04-2009 8:07pm

Best ones I've read are:

Chris Jericho (hilarious only downside is it only covers up to 1999)
Eric Bischoffs (Great read - very insightful - defo recommend it)
Ric Flairs (How could this not be good considering his career)
Broken Harts (very good - owen would have been proud of his mrs)

The Worst ones are:

The rocks, hulk hogans, stone cold

HHH and Undertakers are out in October - dead mans should be great

Wrestling books.

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