Paul’s Top Three Wrestling Books
For all you fans who would like to expand your wrestling addiction into the literary world I have devised a short list of wrestling books that are well worth reading. Although I have not read every wrestling book ever written I have just finished my 23rd so from my experience I will give you the top three.
No.3
Bret Hart: Hitman
This book is quite long at 553 pages but it is never boring. Bret Hart kept an audio diary throughout his entire career and used it to write this book. It is filled with compelling tales. How life was like growing up in the hart house above the infamous dungeon. He tells how his childhood had many dark moments as well as so many good ones. He also tells the tales of how his parents and two of his brothers passed away. How Owens death created a rip in the family that has yet to be repaired.
On the wrestling front Hart gives us countless stories good and bad of numerous wrestlers. He also gives his side of the story on the Montreal screwjob. He shows how disorganised WCW was and how he had to retire from a career ending concussion. Then to make things worse he got a stroke only a couple of years later in a situation that will scare you enough to never cycle without a helmet again. All in all Hitman is a captivating book that covers all areas of this legends life.
No.2
Chris Jericho: A Lion’s Tale
This book is 412 pages long and is very unusual because even though it was released in 2007 Jericho ends the book just before he enters WWE. The book only entails Jericho’s life before WWE. Everywhere from Japan to WCW. It is a fascinating book that tells you how to rise through out the ranks and make it in this business. It gives a detailed and often humorous look at the wrestling business and how it is represented differently in different countries.
He also showed how the business and be very difficult on home life and how its like starting in the business leaving home and not coming back for a long time. Not because you don’t want to but because most wrestlers starting their careers couldn’t afford it. This story takes you from watching wrestling to getting hired by WWE and is a must read for aspiring wrestlers and fans alike.
No.1
The Foley Trilogy
Mick Foley:
Have a Nice Day, Foley is Good and The Hardcore Diaries
Now I know I said this was a top three list but I would strongly recommend reading all three, as they are all phenomenal books. But if you had to choose just one have a nice day would have to top the list. At 735 pages this is in my experience the best wrestling book there is. With this book Foley began the wrestling autobiography craze. Written by himself every word, refusing to have any help from a ghost-writer he created a New York Times bestseller that made every wrestler in the business want to write a book.
It starts with the tale of Foley losing his ear in Germany, which pulls you in straight away. He then proceeds to tell his life story leading up to his “last match” against Triple H in hell in a cell. It’s a book that you wouldn’t put down until you were finished if it wasn’t so long you might have to stop to eat. It shows us the joy, the pain, the heartbreak and mainly the bone breaks. But even with all the pain he has endured Mick is still a happy man and tells his story in a light hearted beautiful way.
Paul McNamara
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Mick is so overrated. Nobody knew of him when he wrestled the indies as Cactus Jack. It wasnt until vince got his hands on him that he created a star. And even at that his only attribute was that he would do whatever vince told him.
That’s not entirely true. The guy had amazing mic work and had a massive cult following around the world before coming to WWE. He was one of the top stars in ECW, and was hardly just a random Indy guy. Granted the WWE machine made him famous, but it doesn’t make everyone famous. Mick had to pull off the Mankind character to succeed.
Although I love Foley’s first two books, his third Hardcore Diaries is a let down. When taken into account his previous two books, this one really comes up short and for most of the book he essentially blows his own trumpet.
I agree wholeheartedly. I love Jericho and Foley as authors, and they make my list of favourite books in general. Haven’t been able to pick up a copy of Hitman yet, as in Australia it’s hard to find non-mainstream books.
Scarlett it was very hard for me aswell but i then started using ebay it can be very good as long as your careful what buyers you choose to purchase the books from.
Hitmans book came across partly honest but mainly egotistical. Bret’s way of saying he was right about everything. He contradicting himself in places and came across as a hypocrit. It was an interesting read but not a book to take seriously.
Edges book is rather spiffing, like Foley he wrote the book himself, although it would be better if he had waited untill he had a career like Foleys, Edge’s book is well worth a read.