The Wrestlers Wrestlers

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The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers

Author : Dan Murphy
Publisher : ECW Press
ISBN 13 : 1773056875
Total Pages : 368 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (73 download)

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Book Synopsis The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers by : Dan Murphy

Download or read book The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers written by Dan Murphy and published by ECW Press. This book was released on 2021-04-27 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A walk-through wrestling history, starting with the founding fathers such as Ed “Strangler” Lewis and the incomparable Lou Thesz, to modern-day masters such as Daniel Bryan and Kurt Angle. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider’s look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek “behind the curtain” and a rare look into the top stars’ thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers is a history of professional wrestling but also a tribute to the frequently misunderstood art itself. Featuring stars of the 1920s to today, this essential read deserves a prominent spot on the bookcase of every fan and historian.

The Wrestler

Author : Robert Hawkinson
Publisher : iUniverse
ISBN 13 : 0595163440
Total Pages : 366 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (951 download)

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Book Synopsis The Wrestler by : Robert Hawkinson

Download or read book The Wrestler written by Robert Hawkinson and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2000-12 with total page 366 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: George Martin, a young college wrestler has graduated, and his coach thinks he should become a professional wrestler. However, George quickly finds out that he isn't big enough for the 'big time'. Eventually a local promoter gives him an opportunity and he goes on the road. George has the ability but must gain at least fifty pounds. He becomes involved with power weight-lifters and a doctor with a dark past. The combination of aggressive hypnotism, steroids and other activities has an unexpected effect on George's personality, with dire consequences for friends and other wrestlers. His experiences with promoters, con-men and fans gives the reader a glimpse into the world of professional wrestling. This thriller is based on the real life experiences of the author. He leaves it up to you to sort fact from fiction.

50 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time

Author : Larry Matysik
Publisher : ECW Press
ISBN 13 : 1770903054
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (79 download)

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Book Synopsis 50 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time by : Larry Matysik

Download or read book 50 Greatest Professional Wrestlers of All Time written by Larry Matysik and published by ECW Press. This book was released on 2013-03-14 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 choosingØ¡nd rankingØ´he 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 starsÒ compelling stories in detail, this collection adds up to an entertaining and enlightening description of a monumental business through the history of its legends.

The Greatest Wrestlers of All Time

Author : Kristen Nelson
Publisher : Gareth Stevens Publishing LLLP
ISBN 13 : 1538247941
Total Pages : 32 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (382 download)

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Book Synopsis The Greatest Wrestlers of All Time by : Kristen Nelson

Download or read book The Greatest Wrestlers of All Time written by Kristen Nelson and published by Gareth Stevens Publishing LLLP. This book was released on 2019-12-15 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What makes a great wrestler? Some might say it's technique. Others might look at strength. For those who love pro wrestling, the ultimate decider might be charisma! Both amateur wrestlers and professional wrestlers are incredible athletes that have accomplished great things in their sports. Often, wrestlers are great in both the amateur world and the professional ring. This book includes both, from Olympic medalists to WWE champions, as well as highlights the accomplishments of women in theses arenas. Detailed accounts of these stars' careers are accompanied by stats, full-color photographs, and plenty of inspiring content.

Wrestlecrap

Author : Randy Baer
Publisher : ECW Press
ISBN 13 : 1554905443
Total Pages : 268 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (549 download)

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Book Synopsis Wrestlecrap by : Randy Baer

Download or read book Wrestlecrap written by Randy Baer and published by ECW Press. This book was released on 2010-12-16 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Professional Wrestling examines some of the ridiculously horrible characters and storylines that pro wrestling promoters have subjected their fans to over the past twenty years. Why would any sane person think that having two grown men fight over a turkey was actually a reasonable idea' Was George Ringo, the Wrestling Beatle, really the best gimmick that a major promotional organization could come up with' And who would charge fans to watch a wrestler named the Gobbeldy Gooker emerge from an egg' In an attempt to answer such questions and figure out just what the promoters were thinking, authors Randy Baer and R.D. Reynolds go beyond what wrestling fans saw on the screen and delve into the mindset of those in the production booth. In some instances, the motivations driving the spectacle prove even more laughable than what was actually seen in the ring. Covering such entertainment catastrophes as an evil one-eyed midget and a wrestler from the mystical land of Oz, not to mention the utterly comprehensible Turkey-on-a-Pole match (a gimmick which AWA fans might recall), WrestleCrap is hysterically merciless in its evaluation of such organizations as the WCW and the WWF. This retrospective look at the wrestling world's misguided attempts to attract viewers will leave wrestling fans and critics alike in stitches.

The Wrestler's Body

Author : Joseph S. Alter
Publisher : Univ of California Press
ISBN 13 : 0520076974
Total Pages : 332 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (2 download)

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Book Synopsis The Wrestler's Body by : Joseph S. Alter

Download or read book The Wrestler's Body written by Joseph S. Alter and published by Univ of California Press. This book was released on 1992-08-03 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Wrestler's Body tells the story of a way of life organized in terms of physical self-development. While Indian wrestlers are competitive athletes, they are also moral reformers whose conception of self and society is fundamentally somatic. Using the insights of anthropology, Joseph Alter writes an ethnography of the wrestler's physique that elucidates the somatic structure of the wrestler's identity and ideology. Young men in North India may choose to join an akhara, or gymnasium, where they subject themselves to a complex program of physical and moral fitness. Alter's first-hand description of each detail of the wrestler's regimen offers a unique perspective on South Asian culture and society. Wrestlers feel that moral reform of Indian national character is essential and advocate their way of life as an ideology of national health. Everyone is called on to become a wrestler and build collective strength through self-discipline.

Is Wrestling Fixed? I Didn't Know It Was Broken!

Author : Bill Apter
Publisher : ECW Press
ISBN 13 : 1770907521
Total Pages : 280 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (79 download)

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Book Synopsis Is Wrestling Fixed? I Didn't Know It Was Broken! by : Bill Apter

Download or read book Is Wrestling Fixed? I Didn't Know It Was Broken! written by Bill Apter and published by ECW Press. This book was released on 2015-10-01 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The anticipated memoir from a sports entertainment fandom legend As a kid growing up in New York in the late '50s, Bill Apter fell in love with professional wrestling, and it wasn't long before he was rubbing shoulders with the greats as a young reporter and photographer. He's since become the world's best-known wrestling magazine personality, and he's had professional and personal relationships with a who's-who of the business, like Triple H, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Sting, and Ric Flair. In his fun-loving memoir, Bill Apter takes us from the dressing rooms of the Bruno Sammartino era and the last days of the territories, to the birth of WrestleMania, the emergence of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and the "Attitude Era," to today's WWE Superstars like John Cena, Daniel Bryan, and Roman Reigns. He also shares stories of his days photographing boxing stars like Muhammad Ali and other champions, and he documents his appearances on the WWE Network and his work as editor of 1wrestling.com. Find out which wrestler threatened him, learn about the dead wrestler who was really alive, and discover how hanging out with Andy Kaufman led to the comic's notorious feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler. Still intimately involved in the wrestling business, the award-winning Apter has a story on everybody.

Fighting for Recognition

Author : R. Tyson Smith
Publisher : Duke University Press
ISBN 13 : 0822376407
Total Pages : 240 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (223 download)

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Book Synopsis Fighting for Recognition by : R. Tyson Smith

Download or read book Fighting for Recognition written by R. Tyson Smith and published by Duke University Press. This book was released on 2014-07-21 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Fighting for Recognition, R. Tyson Smith enters the world of independent professional wrestling, a community-based entertainment staged in community centers, high school gyms, and other modest venues. Like the big-name, televised pro wrestlers who originally inspired them, indie wrestlers engage in choreographed fights in character. Smith details the experiences, meanings, and motivations of the young men who wrestle as "Lethal" or "Southern Bad Boy," despite receiving little to no pay and risking the possibility of serious and sometimes permanent injury. Exploring intertwined issues of gender, class, violence, and the body, he sheds new light on the changing sources of identity in a postindustrial society that increasingly features low wages, insecure employment, and fragmented social support. Smith uncovers the tensions between strength and vulnerability, pain and solidarity, and homophobia and homoeroticism that play out both backstage and in the ring as the wrestlers seek recognition from fellow performers and devoted fans.

The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists!

Author : R. D. Reynolds
Publisher : ECW Press
ISBN 13 : 1554902878
Total Pages : 300 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (549 download)

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Book Synopsis The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists! by : R. D. Reynolds

Download or read book The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists! written by R. D. Reynolds and published by ECW Press. This book was released on 2010-11-16 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Wrestlingӳ biggest mistakes, most comical mishaps, and most egotistical performers are all featured in this cornucopia of nonsense presented in top-10 list format.Lists include The Greatest Mullets in the History of the Game, Wrestlers Who Moonlighted in Porn, The Wrestling Divas Who Suffered the Greatest Falls from Grace, and The 25 Worst Gimmicks of All Time. Irreverent, off-kilter, and certain to be offensive to all, this compendium is a hilarious look at the lunacy of professional wrestling.

Chokehold: Pro Wrestling's Real Mayhem Outside the Ring

Author : Weldon T. Johnson
Publisher : Xlibris Corporation
ISBN 13 : 9781462811724
Total Pages : 556 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (117 download)

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Book Synopsis Chokehold: Pro Wrestling's Real Mayhem Outside the Ring by : Weldon T. Johnson

Download or read book Chokehold: Pro Wrestling's Real Mayhem Outside the Ring written by Weldon T. Johnson and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2003-09-02 with total page 556 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This meticulously crafted and searing critique of pro wrestling is unlike any wrestling book published: Chokehold is a penetrating description of pro wrestlings dark side, a secret underworld of deception, exploitation and greed. The storyteller is Big Jim Wilson, All-American football player and survivor of seven years in the NFL, who was promised wealth and the world championship as pro wrestler. Instead, Jim Wilson found a surprisingly lucrative sports entertainment industry built on a pyramid of secrets that included abusive control of its performers and a long history of illegal business practices and corruption of politicians and state athletic commissions. Chokehold describes and documents the abuses that Jim Wilson witnessed and endured blacklisting, strong-arm tactics, homosexual blackmail, defiance of the U.S. Justice Department and bribery of TV executives and arena managers. Chokehold is an explosive indictment of the pro wrestling industrys business practices as well as a thoughtful proposal for pro wrestlings reform. This book is not a conventional expos of pro wrestlings orchestrated stunts, gimmicks and blade jobs. Instead, it is an unprecedented examination of pro wrestlings less visible cons outside the ring -- its hidden manipulation of wrestlers with broken promises and broken bones and a backstage power of the pencil that writes scripts for wrestler stardom or extinction. Chokehold describes a secret slice of the wrestling life where traveling troupes of heels and babyfaces understand how they got into the game, but cannot find a way up or out. This is the story of why and how the big guys almost always lose. Chokehold is part autobiography and part pro wrestling history. Written in wrestlespeak (the industrys insider argot), it is dedicated to the memory of the older boys whose broken bodies and shattered lives should have taught us something. In addition to Jim Wilsons experiences in The Business, this book reviews significant but forgotten episodes in the wrestling industrys long history of gangland tactics. The industrys infamous blacklist is revisited by revealing the dozens of wrestlers from the past whose names were on it. The industrys history of predatory promotional wars in California, Georgia, Texas and Virginia is told with FBI reports obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. From court documents, this book names compromised state athletic commissions, TV station managers and local politicians from wrestlings viewpoint, the best that money could buy. There are many famous wrestling names in this book --Gorgeous George, Lou Thesz, Jack Brisco, the Funk brothers, Dusty Rhodes, Bruiser Brody, Bill Watts and others. Another is The Sheik (Eddie Farhat), who says: There aint no nice guys in this business. There aint no people theres dollars! Another is Jim Wilsons tag team partner Thunderbolt Patterson who warned Jim, The wrestling business takes advantage of anybody who has any notoriety or ability. You got to understand that wrestlers are worse than whores. They are pimped. They use you as long as they possibly can or as long as you dont complain. When you complain, they get rid of you. Another is Jim Wilsons friend The Magnificent Zulu (Ron Pope) who summarizes his career this way: Its such a crooked business. The guys [wrestlers] are a bunch of crooks. They steal from the marks and the promoters steal from them. The guys [wrestlers] want to be stars! Theyll do anything theyll cut throats for it. Actually, wrestlers dont have to be paid. All they need is a couple of six packs of beer a night and a nice looking ring rat with a good body. Or, drugs and a ring rat. Its not the money. Its being a star! Its the glory and the pussy! This book confronts the wrestling industrys traditional practice of punishing wrestlers who refuse

Looking at the Lights

Author : Pete Gas
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1613219881
Total Pages : 256 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (132 download)

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Book Synopsis Looking at the Lights by : Pete Gas

Download or read book Looking at the Lights written by Pete Gas and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-03-21 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How did an untrained former college football player end up in the middle of a ring, wrestling during the highest-rated segment during the WWE’s acclaimed Attitude Era? That’s the story behind Looking at the Lights. As a childhood friend of Shane McMahon, Pete Gas was given the opportunity most only pray for. Beginning with appearances to interfere in McMahon’s matches, his role blossomed into becoming a full-fledge wrestler and leading the Mean Street Posse to WrestleMania, becoming one of the most fascinating success stories of the era. From his humble upbringing and friendship with Shane (and the McMahon family as a whole), Gas shares how a 9-to-5 average Joe got the chance of a lifetime and made the most out of it. But getting your foot in the door is one thing; staying is a completely different animal. With all eyes on him, knowing his lack of training and meal ticket being the boss’s son, Gas knew he had to win over all those doubters: from the fans and announcers to the wrestlers themselves. Knowing he had to prove himself, Gas took beatings, chair shots, and additional training to not only show that he could wrestle, but that he belonged with such superstars as The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and The Undertaker. Featuring forewords by Edge and JBL, who famously nailed Gas in the head with a steel chair, readers will get an inside look into not only the training and sacrifice these athletes go through, but the behind-the-scenes workings of a day in the WWE.

Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.

Author : Harris M. Lentz III
Publisher : McFarland
ISBN 13 : 147660505X
Total Pages : 405 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (766 download)

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Book Synopsis Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. by : Harris M. Lentz III

Download or read book Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. written by Harris M. Lentz III and published by McFarland. This book was released on 2015-09-15 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Though professional wrestlers are usually ignored by sportswriters and entertainment reporters alike, the popularity of these gifted athletes and showbiz pros is undeniable. Few fans are concerned with whether the wrestling is “legitimate.” From Ace Abbott to Buck Zumhofe, this is the second edition of the first-ever comprehensive compilation of biographical information on professional wrestlers past and present, including major promoters and managers. Each entry is listed under the wrestling name most often used, with cross references to real names and other ring names. The ring name is followed by the grappler’s real name, hometown, height and weight, and birth and death dates when available. The biographical data provide the era in which the individual competed, wrestling associations, titles, tag team partners, major bouts and other highlights.

Wrestling's New Golden Age

Author : Ronald Snyder
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1683580214
Total Pages : 236 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (835 download)

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Book Synopsis Wrestling's New Golden Age by : Ronald Snyder

Download or read book Wrestling's New Golden Age written by Ronald Snyder and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-08-08 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ever since the “Monday Night Wars,” where WWE and WCW battled for wrestling supremacy (with the WWE coming out on top), there was now only one game in town. If fans wanted to watch wrestling, it was WWE or bust. That is no longer the case. Wrestling’s New Golden Age is both a historical look at the sport, while showing how everything has finally come full circle. Going back to the past, the sport was originally territory-based, with wrestlers traveling across the country from promotion to promotion. From the East coast (Jim Crockett, WWWF) down to Texas (World Class) and all the way up to Canada (Stampede), wrestling was run on an individual level. But once Vince McMahon Jr. came into the picture, that all changed. While the territory system is long gone, indie wrestling is bigger than ever. Whether it’s ROH, CZW, NXT, NJPW, or any of the other numerous promotions, wrestling has a new face. With information spreading online through social media and video streaming, fans are able to watch wrestling on a consistent basis, as opposed to only when the WWE is on TV. They not only have more options, but are able to watch wrestlers travel up the ranks to the “big show.” Now when a wrestler from the indie’s makes his WWE appearance, he already has a gimmick, a storyline, and a faithful fanbase. As can be seen with CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and many others, the independent promotions are the new face of professional wrestling. Featuring interviews with wresting stars, including Jake Roberts, Jim Ross, Rob Van Dam, Matt Hardy, Tommy Dreamer, and numerous others, Wrestling’s New Golden Age shares how the wrestling world has finally come full circle, to the joy of fans across the globe.

The Kids' Guide to Pro Wrestling

Author : Sean Price
Publisher : Capstone
ISBN 13 : 1429660082
Total Pages : 18 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (296 download)

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Book Synopsis The Kids' Guide to Pro Wrestling by : Sean Price

Download or read book The Kids' Guide to Pro Wrestling written by Sean Price and published by Capstone. This book was released on 2011-07 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Describes the ins and outs of professional wrestling, including history, gimmicks, and famous wrestlers"--Provided by publisher.

Wrestling with the Devil

Author : Lex Luger
Publisher : Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN 13 : 1414385714
Total Pages : 241 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (143 download)

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Book Synopsis Wrestling with the Devil by : Lex Luger

Download or read book Wrestling with the Devil written by Lex Luger and published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. This book was released on 2013-08-13 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lex Luger, wrestling megasensation and three-time world heavyweight champion, ruled the ring for years as “The Total Package.” Whether he was making a dramatic entrance from a helicopter, defeating champ Hulk Hogan, or sculpting a near-perfect physique, Lex was on top of his game. Yet backstage, he was wrestling with addictions to sex, drugs, and alcohol—things he clung to even when his mistress died suddenly of a drug overdose and Lex went to jail. There, Lex faced the truth: he was losing the fight for his life. And still awaiting him was his most brutal opponent yet, when the wrestling champ found himself helplessly paralyzed from the neck down. In Wrestling with the Devil, Lex Luger reveals never-before-told stories from his career, his struggle with personal demons, and how, through unexpected faith, grace, and redemption, he overcame all odds to fight the only battle that really matters.

Professional Wrestling

Author : Sharon Mazer
Publisher : Univ. Press of Mississippi
ISBN 13 : 1496826604
Total Pages : 187 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (968 download)

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Book Synopsis Professional Wrestling by : Sharon Mazer

Download or read book Professional Wrestling written by Sharon Mazer and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 2020-01-27 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Professional wrestling is one of the most popular performance practices in the United States and around the world, drawing millions of spectators to live events and televised broadcasts. The displays of violence, simulated and actual, may be the obvious appeal, but that is just the beginning. Fans debate performance choices with as much energy as they argue about their favorite wrestlers. The ongoing scenarios and presentations of manly and not-so-manly characters—from the flamboyantly feminine to the hypermasculine—simultaneously celebrate and critique, parody and affirm the American dream and the masculine ideal. Sharon Mazer looks at the world of professional wrestling from a fan’s-eye-view high in the stands and from ringside in the wrestlers’ gym. She investigates how performances are constructed and sold to spectators, both on a local level and in the “big leagues” of the WWF/E. She shares a close-up view of a group of wrestlers as they work out, get their faces pushed to the mat as part of their initiation into the fraternity of the ring, and dream of stardom. In later chapters, Mazer explores professional wrestling’s carnivalesque presentation of masculinities ranging from the cute to the brute, as well as the way in which the performances of women wrestlers often enter into the realm of pornographic. Finally, she explores the question of the “real” and the “fake” as the fans themselves confront it. First published in 1998, this new edition of Professional Wrestling: Sport and Spectacle both preserves the original’s snapshot of the wrestling scene of the 1980s and 1990s and features an up-to-date perspective on the current state of play.

Adam Copeland On Edge

Author : Adam Copeland
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
ISBN 13 : 1439121761
Total Pages : 6 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (391 download)

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Book Synopsis Adam Copeland On Edge by : Adam Copeland

Download or read book Adam Copeland On Edge written by Adam Copeland and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-05-11 with total page 6 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Adam Copeland on Edge is what the author describes as “a mental picture.” It's also a dream—“one of many”—that he decided to realize while at home convalescing from potential career-ending neck surgery. And it's a journey that explores not only his life but also his innermost thoughts. In the small town of Orangeville, Ontario, Copeland was raised by a loving mother who, while working multiple jobs just to pay the rent, nurtured her son's passion for Spider-Man comics and KISS albums. When a family tragedy created a void in Copeland's life, that void was soon filled by the wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who “made me feel like I could accomplish anything.” For Copeland, “anything” meant becoming a wrestler, an ambition shared by his friend Jason Reso, who would eventually form the indie tag team Suicide Blondes with Copeland, then join him in WWE as Edge's “brother,” Christian. Winning a newspaper essay contest earned Copeland free wrestling training from independent veterans Sweet Daddy Siki and Ron Hutchinson. The author shares his vivid, often outrageous memories of wrestling throughout Canada and the midwestern United States and befriending future WWE Superstars like Terry Richards (Rhyno), Sean Morley (Val Venis), and Chris Jericho. Hard work and persistence brought Copeland to World Wrestling Entertainment. But his “inauspicious” Raw debut—during which he accidentally knocked out his opponent—supports his claim that “I had no idea” how to make the transformation to Edge. Copeland retraces the steps he took to “Edgeucate” himself, from his goth days with the Brood's Christian and Gangrel to ushering in the “E&C Dynasty,” which in turn revitalized WWE's Tag Team division (with the aid of the Hardy Boyz, the Dudley Boyz, and countless tables, ladders, and chairs). With vivid detail and sincerity, Copeland offers his thoughts about not only fulfilling his goals but also building upon them. He shares his actual surprise over winning the Intercontinental title for the first time; the anxiety he felt while splitting up with Christian; his eventual determination “to grab the damn ball out of someone's hands and take off”; the distress of almost losing his long blond hair to Kurt Angle; his wonder over enjoying a brief Tag Team title reign with the icon who first inspired him; the simultaneous pain of a broken marriage and two ruptured discs in his neck; and the nervous energy of returning to Raw in March 2004 and setting his sights on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. You think you know Edge? Then read on....