Author Topic: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):  (Read 28062 times)

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #50 on: January 23, 2011, 07:32:00 AM »
I haven’t read the book, but I’d like to comment on your synopsis:

In my opinion, Chyna was a victim of circumstance (backstage politics, and earlier in life) compared to Sable, who turned into a bitch with an over-inflated ego…and other things.

It’s interesting to hear a female’s take on Kowalski’s school:
Quote
Paints him as a stingy character all about the money, who wouldn't spring for heating in winter with a backyard ring that was hard as anything

To be fair, that really sums up the majority of wrestling schools and promoters - including the ones I dealt with.
I don’t know what kind of finances Kowalski had by then, but he wasn’t Vince McMahon.
Also, yes - the idea of running a business is to make money.
Sorry, Joanie.
Nobody starts any kind of business with the goal of breaking even.

Chyna was truly unique.
I can’t think of any other woman wrestler who’s been in her position on a roster - playing both sides of the fence as both a “diva” and wrestler who had regular matches with the men.
Yeah, there was some resentment.
Ahmed Johnson flatly refused to job to her saying, “Ain’t no bitch gonna pin me.”
Other guys, like Foley, had no problem putting her over because they understood that she/her character was deserving.

For as much shit as was flung her way, you never heard about Chyna giving any back.
She did what her employer asked of her.
She got screwed a couple times along the way.

It’s sad that the only person she ever really hurt was the least deserving: herself.
I hope she can stop her path of self-destruction and pull her life together.

Like many former wrestling “stars,”  she lost more than most people, but she also gained more than most.
She enjoyed opportunities that volumes of hopefuls strive for, but never experience.

She’s been there, has a name, and I’m convinced she could do something (other than another sex tape) again.
Although, the porn industry can be quite lucrative, maybe she could learn the ropes and have a long-term future there.
I’m being serious.

marcie999

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #51 on: January 24, 2011, 02:37:13 AM »

It’s interesting to hear a female’s take on Kowalski’s school:
To be fair, that really sums up the majority of wrestling schools and promoters - including the ones I dealt with.
I don’t know what kind of finances Kowalski had by then, but he wasn’t Vince McMahon.
Also, yes - the idea of running a business is to make money.
Sorry, Joanie.
Nobody starts any kind of business with the goal of breaking even.


Her tone felt more like an inside joke than whining.

Triple H went there as well if I recall.

Carry on.

 :)
Ripleeeyyyyyyyyyyy

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #52 on: January 24, 2011, 04:33:47 AM »
Her tone felt more like an inside joke than whining.

Triple H went there as well if I recall.

Carry on.

 :)



Gotcha.
I didn't pick up on that from your post.

And, yes, Triple H and Perry Saturn are two of Kowalski's best-known graduates.

littleguns

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #53 on: December 04, 2011, 03:37:50 PM »
Anyone read this yet? I am halfway thru, decent read. I like how he talked about his heat when he first arrived and mentioned that Shawn Michaels was actually fired from the WWE back in 2000. Makes me wonder if the back thing was a work or it was a coverup....

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #54 on: December 04, 2011, 07:04:54 PM »
Michaels was/is a JUNKIE!!
He's had about five or six "career-ending" injuries since the mid-90's.

Each time he's left to go "find his smile" was simply a way to explain his absence while he either:
    a.) threw a tantrum over not wanting to work with or job to someone
    b.) got his ass kicked by a group of Marines after mouthing off and hitting on the one's girl
    c.) showed up to work plastered out of his mind on Somas and God knows what else, had to be sent home, and subsequently suspended.

His first firing was when he & Janetty trashed a bar their first week in the Fed.
They were both IMMEDIATELY fired, but brought back a short time later because - as rumor has it - Pat Patterson had a bit of a crush on Marty.

The fact that Shawn has been given so many chances kind of makes me wonder if there is any truth to some of the rumors out there regarding him and Vince.
Maybe Hunter isn't the only one who crawled into bed with the McMahon's.

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #55 on: December 05, 2011, 02:13:52 AM »
Shawn Michaels is the Showstoppa. Success is measured by results. Shawn Michaels produced a career that no one has been even close to replicating. The politics of the locker room and back stage is none of Timmys buisiness. Bottom line Shawn Michaels is Mr. Wrestlemania. Post just one bad match that he was ever in. The guy was a A+ performer for twenty years.  Michaels already was going to be inducted into the HOF. Then the guy took four years off and came back better then ever. Then he closed with those two matches at Mania with the Undertaker. If he's not the best ever then who is?



LOL!!
I will thoroughly dissect this post later tonight.
 ;D

littleguns

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #56 on: December 05, 2011, 04:15:04 AM »
Shawn Michaels is the Showstoppa. Success is measured by results. Shawn Michaels produced a career that no one has been even close to replicating. The politics of the locker room and back stage is none of Timmys buisiness. Bottom line Shawn Michaels is Mr. Wrestlemania. Post just one bad match that he was ever in. The guy was a A+ performer for twenty years.  Michaels already was going to be inducted into the HOF. Then the guy took four years off and came back better then ever. Then he closed with those two matches at Mania with the Undertaker. If he's not the best ever then who is?


I'll go with Austin or maybe Rock. Both were better on the mic and got bigger pops from the crowd, face or heel.Granted Michaels may have been more aerial and hit more high spots but all in all I think the other 2 were better.

Karl Kox

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #57 on: December 05, 2011, 06:29:08 AM »
His first book was reaaly good I haven't read this one yet,  I guess I will.

littleguns

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #58 on: December 05, 2011, 03:15:11 PM »
Lots of Fozzy stuff in this book which I skim thru.

He is very open about being on Vince's shit list and how many of the wrestlers diliked him becuase he gave off that my shit don't stink auora.....You can read it in maybe 2 days....

I am trying to find Arn Anderson's book as it is suposed to be a good read. Any others besides the obvious like Rock, Foley etc?

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #59 on: December 05, 2011, 03:25:11 PM »
Okay, I'm going to address this one piece at a time:


Shawn Michaels is the Showstoppa. Success is measured by results. Shawn Michaels produced a career that no one has been even close to replicating.

We've been over this...
If you want to look at results, then consider the "results" of Michaels' big run: the WWF's bleakest financial years were during HBK's peak performance years as champ.
It's true that you must consider the bigger picture of that time period, but then you must also consider that Bret - given the same circumstances - DREW BETTER BUSINESS & MONEY THAN MICHAELS...FACT!!


The politics of the locker room and back stage is none of Timmys buisiness.

Yet, you always cite Hunter's success attributing it to crawling into bed with Stephanie, which constitutes both backstage AND political aspects.
That makes you a hypocrite, so this part of your argument holds little value.

Nonetheless, I will address it.
It's true that the backstage aspect - the stuff that happens outside the ring - is none of our business.
The Benoit incident happened outside the ring and is none of our business, either; but that doesn't mean it didn't happen, and it certainly doesn't sanctify it.

You can choose to turn a blind eye to, or even pardon, Michael's drug abuse and other trouble that his junkie-lifestyle has gotten him into, but don't expect everyone else to do the same, and don't get upset when someone calls you on it.


Bottom line Shawn Michaels is Mr. Wrestlemania. Post just one bad match that he was ever in.

Again, Benoit never really had a "bad" match, but that doesn't change what...


The guy was a A+ performer for twenty years.  Michaels already was going to be inducted into the HOF. Then the guy took four years off and came back better then ever. Then he closed with those two matches at Mania with the Undertaker.

Nobody, including me, is disputing the quality of his performances in the ring.
Nobody, including me, is disputing his induction in the HOF.
But, you completely glossed over the real reason behind him taking off so much time so many times, which I detailed in a previous post in this thread.
You're only looking at the "good" of the manufactured fictional character, while ignoring the "bad" of the truth of the man playing the character - unfortunately, in wrestling, it's all but impossible to separate the two.


If he's not the best ever then who is?
Using your "results" reasoning, we could say Hogan, Rock, Cena, Austin, Bret... all of whom drew more money and better business than a guy who wears hula-hoops for earings and takes off for months at a time to go "find his smile."





I will conclude with how I usually conclude these Shawn Michaels debates:
Michaels had the smallest, but most devoted fanbase ever in pro-wrestling.
And, that fanbase has a blind devotion (are marks) for HBK.


joseywaleshhh

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #60 on: December 05, 2011, 06:55:12 PM »
I know it's already been said but there is way too much Fozzy stuff in there. He gets into his acting classes for an entire chapter at the end. Absolutely worth reading but I skipped a couple chapters which I wouldn't have considered doing with his first book. At times this is an interesting book I couldn't put down, then the next chapert would be shit.

OLE BIG

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #61 on: December 06, 2011, 11:28:27 AM »
Lots of Fozzy stuff in this book which I skim thru.

He is very open about being on Vince's shit list and how many of the wrestlers diliked him becuase he gave off that my shit don't stink auora.....You can read it in maybe 2 days....

I am trying to find Arn Anderson's book as it is suposed to be a good read. Any others besides the obvious like Rock, Foley etc?

Coming from a huge AA mark, I would not be in any hurry to find his book.  I pre-ordered it back in the day, waited six months for it, read it in two hours and was terribly disappointed.

littleguns

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #62 on: December 06, 2011, 11:53:09 AM »
Coming from a huge AA mark, I would not be in any hurry to find his book.  I pre-ordered it back in the day, waited six months for it, read it in two hours and was terribly disappointed.

I was fortunate as my library has most of the wrestlers books. Read Jericho, have his first in queue, Ric Flair and LOD......

Anyone recommend any other good reads?

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #63 on: December 06, 2011, 04:47:20 PM »
I was fortunate as my library has most of the wrestlers books. Read Jericho, have his first in queue, Ric Flair and LOD......

Anyone recommend any other good reads?


My favorite is Bobby Heenan's first book; found it very entertaining.
As a huge fan of 80's WWF, I loved Dynamite's autobiography, which contained many stories about that time period.
Piper's was half-written in character, which was immensely annoying.

Both of Foley's remain somewhat of a benchmark among wrestling fans.
Many of the other autobiographies were ghostwritten, and that can sometimes result in a very skewed account of things depending on the level of involvement of the book's namesake.

littleguns

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #64 on: December 09, 2011, 02:29:22 PM »
Finished the book, decent read, again skipped the Fozzy BS.

Interesting chapter about Benoit how he trusted him with his life but when he heard the news he had no doubt that Chris had killed him. Said Benoit bottled everything up and took everything out in the ring which is why he was soo agressive...

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #65 on: December 09, 2011, 03:08:03 PM »
Interestingly enough, Piper did a shoot interview with Highspots.com about 8 years ago, in which he discussed how hard many of these guys were running at the time; and, he cited Benoit, specifically, as having that "hundred-yard stare" about him in the locker room.
Piper claims he told Chris to take it easy and slow things down.

I used to think it would be interesting to know what went through Benoit's head the last few years of his life, but now I think I'd be too afraid to know.

littleguns

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #66 on: December 10, 2011, 05:38:51 AM »
Jericho also mentioned that he and Benoit were playing phone tage that week and one of the last messages from Benoit "I really need to speak with you".......

May have also bene the stress of all Benoit's friends dying, Gererro, Biff Wellington, Pilman,and Henig that took it's toal on him mentally.

Yes he was a Monster but still one of my favorites ever!(Benoit that is)

joseywaleshhh

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #67 on: December 14, 2011, 05:28:10 PM »
I know there is already a thread about books, but I would appreciate a custom suggestion. I have read both Jericho books, Regal's, Foley's first, Death of WCW and Bret's. I like stuff from the early 90's on because that is where my frame of reference is. But, I'll read anything that is good. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

funk51

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #68 on: December 15, 2011, 10:20:09 AM »
wrestlecrap books 1 and 2. wrestling babylon all worth a read.
F

Karl Kox

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #69 on: December 15, 2011, 12:52:38 PM »
I know there is already a thread about books, but I would appreciate a custom suggestion. I have read both Jericho books, Regal's, Foley's first, Death of WCW and Bret's. I like stuff from the early 90's on because that is where my frame of reference is. But, I'll read anything that is good. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Bobby Heenans books are good.

Buzz363

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #70 on: December 20, 2011, 07:42:26 PM »
Bruce Hart's book is pretty good.  Different perspective on the Stampede days.

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #71 on: December 20, 2011, 08:39:06 PM »
Bruce Hart's book is pretty good.  Different perspective on the Stampede days.


Leerily and skeptically are good ways to read anything by Bruce Hart.
I speak from personal experience.

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #72 on: January 06, 2012, 01:51:17 PM »
Death of WCW was an excellent read.  It was like entering a time capsule and reliving those Saturday wrestling moments over again.

Max

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Bret's Book:
« Reply #73 on: August 21, 2012, 06:53:25 PM »
Anyone read it?
Im about 2/3rds through it at the moment.
Curious as to others impression of it.

Montague

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Re: Good Wrestling Books (threads merged):
« Reply #74 on: August 22, 2012, 02:27:37 PM »
Yeah!
Here are links to some good discussions we had on it a while back: http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=404872.msg5777540#msg5777540 & http://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=261091.msg5919539#msg5919539

What do you think of it?