Evan McClosky's Blog, page 2
January 6, 2022
Literary Squared Circle #34 – SLOBBERKNOCKER
This past Monday (January 3rd), Jim Ross celebrated his 70th Birthday. To celebrate the occasion, this week the Literary Squared Circle takes a look back at his 2017 memoir Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling by Jim Ross with Paul O’Brien (Sports Publishing, 2017). Slobberknocker was J.R.’s first memoir, but his third book overall. He previously authored two cookbooks (see LSC #4 for my review of JR’s Cookbook) while working for World Wrestling Entertainment. In 2020, Ross wrote a second memoir Under the Black Hat: My Life in the WWE and Beyond. All of Ross’s books have been excellent, however, Slobberknocker is my favorite of the bunch.
Slobberknocker covers the years 1952 to 1999 in the life of Jim Ross. It begins with his birth and ends with Ross returning to the announce table at WrestleMania XV after a bout with Bell’s palsy. The book is divided into six sections: Before Wrestling (1952-1974), Mid-South (1974-1985), UWF (1986-1987), Crockett (1987-1988), WCW (1988-1993), and WWF (1993-1999). J.R.’s journey mirrors the evolution of the wrestling business itself, beginning with the territorial days up to the Monday Night Wars of the mid to late 1990s.
As is evident by his years at the announce table bringing the matches to life, Ross is a gifted storyteller. When reading Slobberknocker (or any or Ross’s books for that matter) the reader will hear Ross’s voice in their heads narrating his story. However, there is more to Ross than just his commentating. He began his life in wrestling as a referee. From there, he became not just an announcer, but one of, if not the greatest announcers of all-time.
In addition to his on screen role, Ross has worked behind-the-scenes in the front offices of both WCW and the WWF. He has served on the booking committee and worked in the talent relations department. Jim Ross addresses every aspect of his career in Slobberknocker, as well as his personal life. He discusses his childhood, his family life, and his health issues. Nothing is off limits. Along the way, Ross entertains readers with a number of road stories.
For me, the most compelling part of Slobberknocker is Ross describing some of the most historic moments in pro wrestling history, moments which he literally had a ringside seat for. Ross describes his experiences calling the action at Starrcades andWrestleManias. The Flair vs. Steamboat trilogy. The Montreal Screwjob. Mankind being thrown off of the Hell in a Cell. All of these moments are described from Ross’s unique perspective.
You can’t go wrong reading a book written by Jim Ross, however, Slobberknocker is my personal favorite. Not only is my favorite Jim Ross book, but it is among my favorite professional wrestling books overall. Once you finish reading it, you will be compelled to go out and get the follow-up memoir Under the Black Hat, which picks up right where Slobberknocker leaves off taking readers right up to Ross’s current position in AEW.
Whether you are a longtime wrestling fan, or some just getting into wrestling, there are few who know the business better than Jim Ross. If you want to read a fantastic wrestling book, check out Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling. You won’t regret it.
5 Stars out of 5
Slobberknocker covers the years 1952 to 1999 in the life of Jim Ross. It begins with his birth and ends with Ross returning to the announce table at WrestleMania XV after a bout with Bell’s palsy. The book is divided into six sections: Before Wrestling (1952-1974), Mid-South (1974-1985), UWF (1986-1987), Crockett (1987-1988), WCW (1988-1993), and WWF (1993-1999). J.R.’s journey mirrors the evolution of the wrestling business itself, beginning with the territorial days up to the Monday Night Wars of the mid to late 1990s.
As is evident by his years at the announce table bringing the matches to life, Ross is a gifted storyteller. When reading Slobberknocker (or any or Ross’s books for that matter) the reader will hear Ross’s voice in their heads narrating his story. However, there is more to Ross than just his commentating. He began his life in wrestling as a referee. From there, he became not just an announcer, but one of, if not the greatest announcers of all-time.
In addition to his on screen role, Ross has worked behind-the-scenes in the front offices of both WCW and the WWF. He has served on the booking committee and worked in the talent relations department. Jim Ross addresses every aspect of his career in Slobberknocker, as well as his personal life. He discusses his childhood, his family life, and his health issues. Nothing is off limits. Along the way, Ross entertains readers with a number of road stories.
For me, the most compelling part of Slobberknocker is Ross describing some of the most historic moments in pro wrestling history, moments which he literally had a ringside seat for. Ross describes his experiences calling the action at Starrcades andWrestleManias. The Flair vs. Steamboat trilogy. The Montreal Screwjob. Mankind being thrown off of the Hell in a Cell. All of these moments are described from Ross’s unique perspective.
You can’t go wrong reading a book written by Jim Ross, however, Slobberknocker is my personal favorite. Not only is my favorite Jim Ross book, but it is among my favorite professional wrestling books overall. Once you finish reading it, you will be compelled to go out and get the follow-up memoir Under the Black Hat, which picks up right where Slobberknocker leaves off taking readers right up to Ross’s current position in AEW.
Whether you are a longtime wrestling fan, or some just getting into wrestling, there are few who know the business better than Jim Ross. If you want to read a fantastic wrestling book, check out Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling. You won’t regret it.
5 Stars out of 5
December 28, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #33 – YEAR IN REVIEW 2021
2021 has been quite a memorable year! Thanks to some unexpected downtime in 2020, I was able to cross a few items off of my bucket list. In April, I published my first book Gone Home: The Lives, Times, and Final Resting Places of 200 Pro Wrestlers and Professional Wrestling Personalities. In May, I launched my wrestling book review blog, the Literary Squared Circle and its host website, WrestleBooks.com. In addition, I created a social media presence for WrestleBooks on Facebook and Twitter without really knowing what I was doing.
To date, I have published 32 weekly book reviews, 8 recaps/reviews for the episodes of the wrestling-themed STARZ series Heels, and a special blog entry commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Antonio Inoki’s World Wrestling Peace Festival.
My favorite book that I have reviewed this year is Liam O’Rourke’s 2017 book, Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later (.Literary Squared Circle #25). The best new book of 2021, in my opinion, is .Tortured Ambition: The Story of Herb Abrams and the UWF (Literary Squared Circle #23) by Jonathan Plombon.
Below you will find a list of every book I have reviewed this year listed from best to worst. All of the books earned between 5 Stars and 3 Stars. I do have 2 Star and 1 Star books in my library, and I will surely get around to reviewing a few of those in 2022. But for now, I would recommend any and all of the books I have reviewed thus far (some more than others).
Heels has been renewed for a second season. I look forward to recapping and reviewing future episodes of that great new series in 2022.
I thank all of those who have taken the time to read my reviews. I thank those who follow and interacted with WrestleBooks on Twitter and Facebook. I look forward to hopefully generating more interest in my blog and increasing the website’s presence on social media in the year to come.
I thank each and every one of you for your support, and I wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Appreciatively,
Evan McClosky
The Literary Squared Circle Blog Year In Review 2021
#25 Crazy Like A Fox by Liam O’Rourke, 2017 (5 Stars)
#15 Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks by Fred Blassie & Keith Elliot Greenberg, 2003 (5 Stars)
#23 Tortured Ambition by Jonathan Plombon, 2021 (5 Stars)
#01 The Eighth Wonder Of The World by Bertrand Hébert & Pat Laprade, 2020 (5 Stars)
#17 To Be The Man by Ric Flair & Keith Elliot Greenberg, 2004 (5 Stars)
#07 Master Of The Ring by Tim Hornbaker, 2020 (5 Stars)
#30 Undisputed by Chris Jericho with Peter Thomas Fornatale, 2011 (5 Stars)
#18 Jim Cornette Presents: Behind the Curtain by Jim Cornette, 2019 (5 Stars)
#02 Life Is Short And So Am I by Dylan “Hornswoggle” Postl, 2019 (5 Stars)
#31 Saint Mick by Mick Foley, 2017 (5 Stars)
#06 Ali vs. Inoki by Josh Gross, 2016 (5 Stars)
#24 Minnesota Wrecking Crew by Dick Bourne, 2011 (5 Stars)
#14 It’s True! It’s True! by Kurt Angle, 2002 (5 Stars)
#21 The Ultimate WWE Trivia Book by Aaron Feigenbaum, et al., 2002 (5 Stars)
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#10 Rey Mysterio by Jeremy Roberts, 2009 (4 Stars)
#16 Accepted by Pat Patterson with Bertrand Hébert, 2016 (4 Stars)
#29 Adventures In Larryland! by Larry Zbyszko, 2008 (4 Stars)
#20 Shrapnel Of The Soul And Redemption by Pepper Martin & Penny Lane, 2016 (4 Stars)
#04 JR’s Cookbook by Jim “J.R.” Ross, 2003 (4 Stars)
#05 Brody by Larry Matysik & Barbara Goodish, 2007 (4 Stars)
#32 I’m Next by Bill Goldberg & Steve Goldberg, 2000 (4 Stars)
#09 I Ain’t Got Time To Bleed by Jesse Ventura, 1999 (4 Stars)
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#19 The Road Warriors by Joe “Animal” Laurinaitis & Andrew William Wright, 2011 (3 Stars)
#26 Tell Me To My Face by Angelo Mosca & Steve Milton, 2011 (3 Stars)
#27 The Rock Says… by The Rock with Joe Layden, 2000(3 Stars)
#12 How To Become A Champion by Herb Welch, 2019 (3 Stars)
#08 Hollywood Hulk Hogan by Hulk Hogan with Michael Jan Friedman, 2003 (3 Stars)
#28 Have More Money Now by John “Bradshaw” Layfield, 2003 (3 Stars)
#13 The Book Of Booty by The New Day, 2018 (3 Stars)
#11 Are We There Yet? by Robert Caprio, 2005 (3 Stars)
#22 Killer Pics by Walter Kowalski, 2001 (3 Stars)
#03 World Wrestling Peace Festival - SPECIAL
To date, I have published 32 weekly book reviews, 8 recaps/reviews for the episodes of the wrestling-themed STARZ series Heels, and a special blog entry commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Antonio Inoki’s World Wrestling Peace Festival.
My favorite book that I have reviewed this year is Liam O’Rourke’s 2017 book, Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later (.Literary Squared Circle #25). The best new book of 2021, in my opinion, is .Tortured Ambition: The Story of Herb Abrams and the UWF (Literary Squared Circle #23) by Jonathan Plombon.
Below you will find a list of every book I have reviewed this year listed from best to worst. All of the books earned between 5 Stars and 3 Stars. I do have 2 Star and 1 Star books in my library, and I will surely get around to reviewing a few of those in 2022. But for now, I would recommend any and all of the books I have reviewed thus far (some more than others).
Heels has been renewed for a second season. I look forward to recapping and reviewing future episodes of that great new series in 2022.
I thank all of those who have taken the time to read my reviews. I thank those who follow and interacted with WrestleBooks on Twitter and Facebook. I look forward to hopefully generating more interest in my blog and increasing the website’s presence on social media in the year to come.
I thank each and every one of you for your support, and I wish you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!
Appreciatively,
Evan McClosky
The Literary Squared Circle Blog Year In Review 2021
#25 Crazy Like A Fox by Liam O’Rourke, 2017 (5 Stars)
#15 Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks by Fred Blassie & Keith Elliot Greenberg, 2003 (5 Stars)
#23 Tortured Ambition by Jonathan Plombon, 2021 (5 Stars)
#01 The Eighth Wonder Of The World by Bertrand Hébert & Pat Laprade, 2020 (5 Stars)
#17 To Be The Man by Ric Flair & Keith Elliot Greenberg, 2004 (5 Stars)
#07 Master Of The Ring by Tim Hornbaker, 2020 (5 Stars)
#30 Undisputed by Chris Jericho with Peter Thomas Fornatale, 2011 (5 Stars)
#18 Jim Cornette Presents: Behind the Curtain by Jim Cornette, 2019 (5 Stars)
#02 Life Is Short And So Am I by Dylan “Hornswoggle” Postl, 2019 (5 Stars)
#31 Saint Mick by Mick Foley, 2017 (5 Stars)
#06 Ali vs. Inoki by Josh Gross, 2016 (5 Stars)
#24 Minnesota Wrecking Crew by Dick Bourne, 2011 (5 Stars)
#14 It’s True! It’s True! by Kurt Angle, 2002 (5 Stars)
#21 The Ultimate WWE Trivia Book by Aaron Feigenbaum, et al., 2002 (5 Stars)
----------------------------------------------------------
#10 Rey Mysterio by Jeremy Roberts, 2009 (4 Stars)
#16 Accepted by Pat Patterson with Bertrand Hébert, 2016 (4 Stars)
#29 Adventures In Larryland! by Larry Zbyszko, 2008 (4 Stars)
#20 Shrapnel Of The Soul And Redemption by Pepper Martin & Penny Lane, 2016 (4 Stars)
#04 JR’s Cookbook by Jim “J.R.” Ross, 2003 (4 Stars)
#05 Brody by Larry Matysik & Barbara Goodish, 2007 (4 Stars)
#32 I’m Next by Bill Goldberg & Steve Goldberg, 2000 (4 Stars)
#09 I Ain’t Got Time To Bleed by Jesse Ventura, 1999 (4 Stars)
-----------------------------------------------------------
#19 The Road Warriors by Joe “Animal” Laurinaitis & Andrew William Wright, 2011 (3 Stars)
#26 Tell Me To My Face by Angelo Mosca & Steve Milton, 2011 (3 Stars)
#27 The Rock Says… by The Rock with Joe Layden, 2000(3 Stars)
#12 How To Become A Champion by Herb Welch, 2019 (3 Stars)
#08 Hollywood Hulk Hogan by Hulk Hogan with Michael Jan Friedman, 2003 (3 Stars)
#28 Have More Money Now by John “Bradshaw” Layfield, 2003 (3 Stars)
#13 The Book Of Booty by The New Day, 2018 (3 Stars)
#11 Are We There Yet? by Robert Caprio, 2005 (3 Stars)
#22 Killer Pics by Walter Kowalski, 2001 (3 Stars)
#03 World Wrestling Peace Festival - SPECIAL
December 21, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #32 – I’M NEXT
Bill Goldberg celebrates his 55th Birthday on December 27th. This week, the Literary Squared Circle blog takes a look back at his 2000 memoir I’m Next: The Strange Journey of America’s Most Unlikely Superhero by Bill Goldberg and Steve Goldberg (Crown, 2000).
I’m Next begins not with Goldberg’s childhood, but with his decision to become a professional wrestler while recovering from a football injury at the age of 30. Unlike many wrestlers who pen memoirs, Goldberg did not grow up as a wrestling fan who one day dreamed of entering the squared circle. He saw professional wrestling as a way to make a living after his football career met a premature end.
The book details Goldberg’s journey from his training at the WCW Power Plant to all that went into making the Goldberg character unique: his look, his moves, his music, his pyro, etc. He describes his character as, “a cross between Bruiser Brody, Nikita Koloff, Buzz Sawyer, Ken Shamrock, and a wrestling character from one of my favorite movies, Paradise Alley – Franky the Thumper.”
Goldberg discusses his WCW debut and his subsequent winning streak, which would go on for the first year-and-a-half of his career. During his win streak, Goldberg would capture the United States Championship and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Along the way, Goldberg lists things such as the best parts of being on the road, the worst parts of being on the road, and all of the celebrities he encountered during his championship run.
In addition to Goldberg’s narrative, readers hear from those who know and worked with Goldberg, including Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, and Arn Anderson just to name a few. His family and football coaches also chime in to provide insight as to what kind of person Goldberg is.
The wrestling portion of I’m Next ends with Goldberg injuring his arm in late 1999. He severed tendons when he punched his fist through a limousine window. While rehabbing from the injury, Goldberg reflected back on his spectacular, yet brief career in professional wrestling, and wrote I’m Next with his brother Michael Goldberg.
The remainder of the book features Goldberg talking about all of his famous friends, including, but not limited to Adam Sandler, Jean-Claude Van Dam, and Jimmy Buffett. Though he is name dropping, Goldberg also uses his platform as a celebrity to work with a variety of charities such as Special Olympics, the American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Association, D.A.R.E., and the Humane Society.
After two chapters which were not authored by Bill Goldberg himself, but instead one by his brother and another by his father, Goldberg returns to discuss his childhood, his days playing college football at the University of Georgia, and his NFL career.
Overall, I really enjoyed I’m Next: The Strange Journey of America’s Most Unlikely Superhero. It provided readers with all aspects of Bill Goldberg’s story, even though it was presented in a very unorthodox manner. As I have said about other books I’ve reviewed, notably by Kurt Angle (LSC #14) and Rey Mysterio (LSC #10), the book was written very early on in Goldberg’s wrestling career. It would be nice to see a second memoir written covering all that has transpired over the past two decades including the end of WCW, his run in the WWF, and his return(s) to WWE as Universal Champion, WWE Champion, and Hall of Famer.
Hopefully, wrestling fans and Goldberg fans in particular can look forward to a follow-up book somewhere down the road. Until then, they’ll have to make do with I’m Next.
4 Stars out of 5
I’m Next begins not with Goldberg’s childhood, but with his decision to become a professional wrestler while recovering from a football injury at the age of 30. Unlike many wrestlers who pen memoirs, Goldberg did not grow up as a wrestling fan who one day dreamed of entering the squared circle. He saw professional wrestling as a way to make a living after his football career met a premature end.
The book details Goldberg’s journey from his training at the WCW Power Plant to all that went into making the Goldberg character unique: his look, his moves, his music, his pyro, etc. He describes his character as, “a cross between Bruiser Brody, Nikita Koloff, Buzz Sawyer, Ken Shamrock, and a wrestling character from one of my favorite movies, Paradise Alley – Franky the Thumper.”
Goldberg discusses his WCW debut and his subsequent winning streak, which would go on for the first year-and-a-half of his career. During his win streak, Goldberg would capture the United States Championship and the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Along the way, Goldberg lists things such as the best parts of being on the road, the worst parts of being on the road, and all of the celebrities he encountered during his championship run.
In addition to Goldberg’s narrative, readers hear from those who know and worked with Goldberg, including Sting, Diamond Dallas Page, and Arn Anderson just to name a few. His family and football coaches also chime in to provide insight as to what kind of person Goldberg is.
The wrestling portion of I’m Next ends with Goldberg injuring his arm in late 1999. He severed tendons when he punched his fist through a limousine window. While rehabbing from the injury, Goldberg reflected back on his spectacular, yet brief career in professional wrestling, and wrote I’m Next with his brother Michael Goldberg.
The remainder of the book features Goldberg talking about all of his famous friends, including, but not limited to Adam Sandler, Jean-Claude Van Dam, and Jimmy Buffett. Though he is name dropping, Goldberg also uses his platform as a celebrity to work with a variety of charities such as Special Olympics, the American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Association, D.A.R.E., and the Humane Society.
After two chapters which were not authored by Bill Goldberg himself, but instead one by his brother and another by his father, Goldberg returns to discuss his childhood, his days playing college football at the University of Georgia, and his NFL career.
Overall, I really enjoyed I’m Next: The Strange Journey of America’s Most Unlikely Superhero. It provided readers with all aspects of Bill Goldberg’s story, even though it was presented in a very unorthodox manner. As I have said about other books I’ve reviewed, notably by Kurt Angle (LSC #14) and Rey Mysterio (LSC #10), the book was written very early on in Goldberg’s wrestling career. It would be nice to see a second memoir written covering all that has transpired over the past two decades including the end of WCW, his run in the WWF, and his return(s) to WWE as Universal Champion, WWE Champion, and Hall of Famer.
Hopefully, wrestling fans and Goldberg fans in particular can look forward to a follow-up book somewhere down the road. Until then, they’ll have to make do with I’m Next.
4 Stars out of 5
December 14, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #31 – SAINT MICK
Christmas is now just 11 days away and the Literary Squared Circle blog is getting into the holiday spirit by reviewing Mick Foley’s 2017 memoir Saint Mick: My Journey From Hardcore Legend to Santa’s Jolly Elf by Mick Foley (Polis Books, 2017).
Saint Mick is Foley’s fifth memoir, but the first in which his professional wrestling career is not the focal point. There is no King of the Deathmatch Tournament. No one is thrown off of the Hell in a Cell. Saint Mick instead focuses on Mrs. Foley’s baby boy’s affinity for all things Christmas.
Foley has been a fan of the Christmas holiday since childhood. Today, he even has a Christmas room dedicated to the holiday in his home. Foley shares his passion with his children through visits to Santa’s Village amusement park in New Hampshire. It was at Santa’s Village as a child that Foley became enamored with Christmas.
During his wrestling career, Foley made a few appearances as Santa Claus on WWE holiday programming. This includes the memorable 2012 Christmas episode of Raw in which Santa (Foley) was hit by a car driven by Alberto Del Rio! Truth be told, Santa walked into a parked car and sound effects of screeching tires provided the illusion of the Jolly Old Man in the Bright Red Suit being run down. Santa flatlined only to be resurrected following inspirational speeches from Booker T and John Cena.
Following his retirement as an in-ring competitor, Mick Foley decided to take his love for Christmas a step further by becoming Santa Claus. His transformation is chronicled in Saint Mick, as well as the 2014 documentaryI Am Santa Claus. Foley traveled across the country meeting professional Santa Clauses and seeking their advice. He even made a stop in Santa Claus, Indiana.
In addition to his new role as Saint Mick, Foley also details how he coped with his children growing older and doubting the existence of Santa Claus. Foley works with a variety of charities including the Christmas Magic charity which distributes gifts to children who might otherwise go without. He also performs at a holiday concert with Grammy winner Norah Jones.
I found Saint Mick: My Journey From Hardcore Legend to Santa’s Jolly Elf to be a welcome change in Foley’s string of memoirs. His books focusing on his wrestling career had seemed to run their course. Saint Mick finds Foley in a new role and his new experiences made the book that much more enjoyable.
Mick Foley is passionate about his love of Christmas, and it not only shows, but it is contagious. If you are a fan of the holiday, you will enjoy it more after reading Saint Mick. If you are more of a Grinch when it comes to the Christmas season, Foley will help to convert you and perhaps make your heart grow three sizes.
Saint Mick is a fun read. Fans of Mick Foley and fans of the Christmas holiday will most definitely enjoy it. Happy Holidays!
5 Stars out of 5
Saint Mick is Foley’s fifth memoir, but the first in which his professional wrestling career is not the focal point. There is no King of the Deathmatch Tournament. No one is thrown off of the Hell in a Cell. Saint Mick instead focuses on Mrs. Foley’s baby boy’s affinity for all things Christmas.
Foley has been a fan of the Christmas holiday since childhood. Today, he even has a Christmas room dedicated to the holiday in his home. Foley shares his passion with his children through visits to Santa’s Village amusement park in New Hampshire. It was at Santa’s Village as a child that Foley became enamored with Christmas.
During his wrestling career, Foley made a few appearances as Santa Claus on WWE holiday programming. This includes the memorable 2012 Christmas episode of Raw in which Santa (Foley) was hit by a car driven by Alberto Del Rio! Truth be told, Santa walked into a parked car and sound effects of screeching tires provided the illusion of the Jolly Old Man in the Bright Red Suit being run down. Santa flatlined only to be resurrected following inspirational speeches from Booker T and John Cena.
Following his retirement as an in-ring competitor, Mick Foley decided to take his love for Christmas a step further by becoming Santa Claus. His transformation is chronicled in Saint Mick, as well as the 2014 documentaryI Am Santa Claus. Foley traveled across the country meeting professional Santa Clauses and seeking their advice. He even made a stop in Santa Claus, Indiana.
In addition to his new role as Saint Mick, Foley also details how he coped with his children growing older and doubting the existence of Santa Claus. Foley works with a variety of charities including the Christmas Magic charity which distributes gifts to children who might otherwise go without. He also performs at a holiday concert with Grammy winner Norah Jones.
I found Saint Mick: My Journey From Hardcore Legend to Santa’s Jolly Elf to be a welcome change in Foley’s string of memoirs. His books focusing on his wrestling career had seemed to run their course. Saint Mick finds Foley in a new role and his new experiences made the book that much more enjoyable.
Mick Foley is passionate about his love of Christmas, and it not only shows, but it is contagious. If you are a fan of the holiday, you will enjoy it more after reading Saint Mick. If you are more of a Grinch when it comes to the Christmas season, Foley will help to convert you and perhaps make your heart grow three sizes.
Saint Mick is a fun read. Fans of Mick Foley and fans of the Christmas holiday will most definitely enjoy it. Happy Holidays!
5 Stars out of 5
December 7, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #30 – UNDISPUTED
20 years ago this week, on December 9, 2001, Chris Jericho defeated both The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to become the first Unified Champion in WWE history. To mark the occasion, the Literary Squared Circle blog is reviewing Jericho’s second memoir, 2011’s Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps by Chris Jericho with Peter Thomas Fornatale (Grand Central Publishing, 2011).
Undisputed picks up right where Jericho’s first book, A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex left off. A Lion’s Tale covered Jericho’s life from birth to his World Wrestling Federation debut in August 1999, ending with him stepping through the curtain to confront The Rock on Raw. Undisputed covers Jericho’s career from when he first stepped through the curtain into the WWF to his return to the now WWE in November 2007 following a two-year hiatus away from wrestling.
Jericho devotes an entire chapter (chapter 21) to his being crowned the Undisputed Champion of the World. He states that when he arrived at the arena the night of the Vengeance pay-per-view, he had no idea that he would be coming out the winner. Jericho, who meticulously keeps a record of all of his matches, notes that it was the 1,372nd match of his career… thus the subtitle of the book, “How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps”.
Jericho discusses his feud with Chyna over the Intercontinental Championship. His programs with William Regal, The Rock, Triple H, Goldberg, and Christian among others are also covered. In addition, Jericho discusses his life outside of wrestling including the formation of his rock band, Fozzy, as well as his getting married and starting a family. He even coins a new word, “froot” which is akin to “awesome”.
He left wrestling for two years to tour with Fozzy. Just prior to his 2007 return to the WWE, the unthinkable happened. Jericho’s close friend Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before committing suicide. In what is perhaps the most compelling part of Undisputed, Jericho openly and honestly discusses his friendship with Benoit and his reaction to the horrific events involving his friend. Jericho responds to the WWE erasing Benoit from their company history stating, “I’ll never be able to erase Chris Benoit from my memory, and his actions still haunt me every single day.”
Undisputed ends the same way A Lion’s Tale did, with Jericho going through the curtain and entering a new stage of his career. The book began with his 1999 WWF debut and ends with his 2007 return to the WWE. Undisputed is not better than A Lion’s Tale, but it is equal to it. If read together the two books could run together one long tome. Both are well worth your time, and both are among the best wrestling memoirs out there. Chris Jericho joins Mick Foley, Jim Ross, and a select few others as the best in the wrestling memoir business.
If you haven’t done so already, check out Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps. It’s froot!
5 Stars out of 5
Undisputed picks up right where Jericho’s first book, A Lion’s Tale: Around the World in Spandex left off. A Lion’s Tale covered Jericho’s life from birth to his World Wrestling Federation debut in August 1999, ending with him stepping through the curtain to confront The Rock on Raw. Undisputed covers Jericho’s career from when he first stepped through the curtain into the WWF to his return to the now WWE in November 2007 following a two-year hiatus away from wrestling.
Jericho devotes an entire chapter (chapter 21) to his being crowned the Undisputed Champion of the World. He states that when he arrived at the arena the night of the Vengeance pay-per-view, he had no idea that he would be coming out the winner. Jericho, who meticulously keeps a record of all of his matches, notes that it was the 1,372nd match of his career… thus the subtitle of the book, “How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps”.
Jericho discusses his feud with Chyna over the Intercontinental Championship. His programs with William Regal, The Rock, Triple H, Goldberg, and Christian among others are also covered. In addition, Jericho discusses his life outside of wrestling including the formation of his rock band, Fozzy, as well as his getting married and starting a family. He even coins a new word, “froot” which is akin to “awesome”.
He left wrestling for two years to tour with Fozzy. Just prior to his 2007 return to the WWE, the unthinkable happened. Jericho’s close friend Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before committing suicide. In what is perhaps the most compelling part of Undisputed, Jericho openly and honestly discusses his friendship with Benoit and his reaction to the horrific events involving his friend. Jericho responds to the WWE erasing Benoit from their company history stating, “I’ll never be able to erase Chris Benoit from my memory, and his actions still haunt me every single day.”
Undisputed ends the same way A Lion’s Tale did, with Jericho going through the curtain and entering a new stage of his career. The book began with his 1999 WWF debut and ends with his 2007 return to the WWE. Undisputed is not better than A Lion’s Tale, but it is equal to it. If read together the two books could run together one long tome. Both are well worth your time, and both are among the best wrestling memoirs out there. Chris Jericho joins Mick Foley, Jim Ross, and a select few others as the best in the wrestling memoir business.
If you haven’t done so already, check out Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps. It’s froot!
5 Stars out of 5
November 30, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #29 – ADVENTURES IN LARRYLAND!
This week, the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews Adventures In Larryland! by Larry Zbyszko (ECW Press, 2008). Zbyszko is probably best remembered for being the protégé of Bruno Sammartino, who infamously turned on his mentor setting up Sammartino’s legendary final feud. Their teacher vs. student battles culminated in a steel cage match at Shea Stadium in 1980, which was part of the WWWF’s final Showdown At Shea supercard.
Larry Zbyszko will celebrate his 70th Birthday later this week (December 5th). Adventures In Larryland! begins with Zbyszko’s family moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was 13 years old. His family lived just two miles away from Bruno Sammartino, whom Zbyszko idolized. It was at that time that he decided he wanted to become a professional wrestler. Sammartino took Zbyszko under his wing, training him, and helping him break into the business.
Zbyszko and Sammartino were able to parlay their real life relationship into their mentor/protégé storyline. In addition to his memorable feud with Sammartino, Zbyszko discusses his experiences negotiating with both Vince McMahon Sr. and Vince McMahon Jr. He also gives his views on how the wrestling business changed over the course of his career.
Zbyszko somewhat glosses over his time in the NWA and Japan, but goes into more detail regarding his time in the American Wrestling Association, where he was the promotion’s final Heavyweight Champion before it shut down in 1991. Like he did with McMahons, Zbyszko discusses his relationship with AWA owner/promoter Verne Gagne.
After the AWA closed down, Zbyszko joined World Championship Wrestling. He would spend the next decade working for WCW as a wrestler and later a commentator. He teamed with Arn Anderson as The Enforcers, and both later joined The Dangerous Alliance faction managed by Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman).
Zbyszko was a commentator on WCW’s weekly Monday Nitro program when the New World Order angle took place. He returned to the ring at the Starrcade pay-per-view in 1997 to wrestle WCW boss Eric Bischoff, who had made himself a member of the nWo. Adventures In Larryland! concludes with WCW closing up shop and Zbyszko calling it a career… until, that is, he gets a call from the Total Nonstop Action promotion and he appears to be off again to work for yet another promotion.
Though he does not discuss his time in TNA, Zbyszko spent 3 years with the promotion. After his book was published in 2008, Larry Zbyszko became a member of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. He was inducted by, none other than, Bruno Sammartino.
I really enjoyed Adventures In Larryland! Zbyszko was both opinionated and honest regarding his lengthy career. My only complaint about the book is its brevity. Clocking in at under 200 pages, I would have expected much more detail from Zbyszko. He glosses over some significant events in his career, and completely ignores others. Personally, I would have like to have heard about his experiences with Herb Abrams and his Universal Wrestling Federation, where Zbyszko wrestled in late 1990 with the AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Zbyszko also did not discuss his personal life very much. I did get a laugh from the fact that he titled Chapter 8 of Adventures In Larryland! “Love”. The briefest of chapters read, “Love and the wrestling business do not mix. Period. The end.”
Overall, Adventures In Larryland! is a fun, yet quick read. I recommend it to anyone who is familiar with Zbyszko’s work in the WWWF, AWA, or WCW.
4 Stars out of 5
Larry Zbyszko will celebrate his 70th Birthday later this week (December 5th). Adventures In Larryland! begins with Zbyszko’s family moving to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was 13 years old. His family lived just two miles away from Bruno Sammartino, whom Zbyszko idolized. It was at that time that he decided he wanted to become a professional wrestler. Sammartino took Zbyszko under his wing, training him, and helping him break into the business.
Zbyszko and Sammartino were able to parlay their real life relationship into their mentor/protégé storyline. In addition to his memorable feud with Sammartino, Zbyszko discusses his experiences negotiating with both Vince McMahon Sr. and Vince McMahon Jr. He also gives his views on how the wrestling business changed over the course of his career.
Zbyszko somewhat glosses over his time in the NWA and Japan, but goes into more detail regarding his time in the American Wrestling Association, where he was the promotion’s final Heavyweight Champion before it shut down in 1991. Like he did with McMahons, Zbyszko discusses his relationship with AWA owner/promoter Verne Gagne.
After the AWA closed down, Zbyszko joined World Championship Wrestling. He would spend the next decade working for WCW as a wrestler and later a commentator. He teamed with Arn Anderson as The Enforcers, and both later joined The Dangerous Alliance faction managed by Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman).
Zbyszko was a commentator on WCW’s weekly Monday Nitro program when the New World Order angle took place. He returned to the ring at the Starrcade pay-per-view in 1997 to wrestle WCW boss Eric Bischoff, who had made himself a member of the nWo. Adventures In Larryland! concludes with WCW closing up shop and Zbyszko calling it a career… until, that is, he gets a call from the Total Nonstop Action promotion and he appears to be off again to work for yet another promotion.
Though he does not discuss his time in TNA, Zbyszko spent 3 years with the promotion. After his book was published in 2008, Larry Zbyszko became a member of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015. He was inducted by, none other than, Bruno Sammartino.
I really enjoyed Adventures In Larryland! Zbyszko was both opinionated and honest regarding his lengthy career. My only complaint about the book is its brevity. Clocking in at under 200 pages, I would have expected much more detail from Zbyszko. He glosses over some significant events in his career, and completely ignores others. Personally, I would have like to have heard about his experiences with Herb Abrams and his Universal Wrestling Federation, where Zbyszko wrestled in late 1990 with the AWA World Heavyweight Championship.
Zbyszko also did not discuss his personal life very much. I did get a laugh from the fact that he titled Chapter 8 of Adventures In Larryland! “Love”. The briefest of chapters read, “Love and the wrestling business do not mix. Period. The end.”
Overall, Adventures In Larryland! is a fun, yet quick read. I recommend it to anyone who is familiar with Zbyszko’s work in the WWWF, AWA, or WCW.
4 Stars out of 5
November 23, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #28 – HAVE MORE MONEY NOW
Next Monday (November 29th), WWE Hall of Famer John “Bradshaw” Layfield will celebrate his 55th Birthday. In honor of JBL’s birthday, the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews his 2003 memoir/finance book Have More Money Now: A Commonsense Approach to Financial Management by John “Bradshaw” Layfield (Gallery Books, 2003).
Have More Money Now is an odd book. It starts out as your typical wrestler memoir. Layfield describes his life growing up on a Texas ranch, his collegiate and semi-pro football career, and his getting started in the world of professional wrestling. Once he gets into discussing his wrestling career, the book is full of entertaining stories from Layfield. He is a gifted storyteller, as is evident on his current podcast with Gerald Brisco, Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw.
Where the book becomes odd is when it tries to double as a finance book. It begins with Layfield giving advice at the end of each chapter. The advice begins simply enough, “Being poor ain’t fun; staying that way is stupid”. But, by the end of chapter seven it has become, “An index fund and a large-cap mutual fund are the two best investment vehicles when starting out.”
There is a Net Worth Financial Worksheet, an Authorization Chart, a Monthly Expenditure Worksheet, and an entire section on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). I appreciate what JBL is trying to do. I applaud him for making his book a unique one. I just would have preferred a straight-ahead wrestling memoir, especially from someone with so many great stories to share.
On the back of the book, Layfield admits that he is not a financial expert. “I might not work on Wall Street nor have a finance degree, but I’ve learned how to save, how to invest. And you too can Have More Money Now.” I don’t know. I think I’ll leave the financial advice to professional financial advisors. Much like I don’t want Irwin R. Schyster preparing my taxes, nor Isaac Yankem DDS filling my cavities, I’ll pass on having JBL give me advice on how to invest my money.
As a wrestling memoir, Have More Money Now is very good. Lots of entertaining stories. As a finance book, I would look elsewhere for investment advice.
3 Stars out of 5
Have More Money Now is an odd book. It starts out as your typical wrestler memoir. Layfield describes his life growing up on a Texas ranch, his collegiate and semi-pro football career, and his getting started in the world of professional wrestling. Once he gets into discussing his wrestling career, the book is full of entertaining stories from Layfield. He is a gifted storyteller, as is evident on his current podcast with Gerald Brisco, Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw.
Where the book becomes odd is when it tries to double as a finance book. It begins with Layfield giving advice at the end of each chapter. The advice begins simply enough, “Being poor ain’t fun; staying that way is stupid”. But, by the end of chapter seven it has become, “An index fund and a large-cap mutual fund are the two best investment vehicles when starting out.”
There is a Net Worth Financial Worksheet, an Authorization Chart, a Monthly Expenditure Worksheet, and an entire section on Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). I appreciate what JBL is trying to do. I applaud him for making his book a unique one. I just would have preferred a straight-ahead wrestling memoir, especially from someone with so many great stories to share.
On the back of the book, Layfield admits that he is not a financial expert. “I might not work on Wall Street nor have a finance degree, but I’ve learned how to save, how to invest. And you too can Have More Money Now.” I don’t know. I think I’ll leave the financial advice to professional financial advisors. Much like I don’t want Irwin R. Schyster preparing my taxes, nor Isaac Yankem DDS filling my cavities, I’ll pass on having JBL give me advice on how to invest my money.
As a wrestling memoir, Have More Money Now is very good. Lots of entertaining stories. As a finance book, I would look elsewhere for investment advice.
3 Stars out of 5
November 16, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #27 – THE ROCK SAYS…
Dwayne Johnson is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, both literally and figuratively. Prior to his acting career, Johnson first gained notoriety as one of the most popular and memorable performers in WWE history… The Rock. His road to superstardom began 25 years ago tomorrow, as he made his in-ring debut at the Survivor Series pay-per-view on November 17, 1996.
Under the moniker Rocky Maivia (“Rocky” for his father, wrestler Rocky Johnson and “Maivia” for his maternal grandfather, wrestler Peter Maivia), Johnson made an impressive debut as the “sole survivor” in a 4-on-4 Survivor Series Elimination Match at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was no small feat as he was paired up with an assortment of legends and Hall of Famers. Maivia’s partners were Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Marc Mero, and The Stalker (Barry Windham) and they took on Crush, Goldust, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. When the smoke cleared, only the rookie, Rocky Maivia, was left standing.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Rock’s first match in WWE (then the WWF), the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews his 2000 memoir The Rock Says… by The Rock with Joe Layden (HarperEntertainment, 2000).
The Rock Says… is a three star book for me. There are things I really enjoyed about the book, as well as things I really did not like about the book. First, the things I enjoyed. I really liked Dwayne Johnson’s life story. Though many are familiar with his story today, and it is even depicted in his television series Young Rock on NBC; back in 1999, when The Rock Says… was first published in hardcover it was the first time many had heard it. Growing up in a wrestling family. His football career both at the University of Miami and in the Canadian Football League. His decision to become a wrestler and his rise to superstardom. All are told with both a sense of honesty, as well as Johnson’s trademark sense of humor.
What I did not like about The Rock Says… was that it was written just three years into his WWE career. Similar to Kurt Angle’sIt’s True! It’s True! (see Literary Squared Circle #14), for me it was just too soon. Done I’m sure to capitalize on the success of Mick Foley’s memoir Have A Nice Day!, the WWE suddenly began cranking out books by the likes of Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Jerry “The King” Lawler, the aforementioned Kurt Angle, and, of course, “The Most Electrifying Man In Sports-Entertainment” The Rock.
Despite being an interesting read, I would much rather The Rock have waited a decade or more to tell more of his life story. Hopefully, someday, Dwayne Johnson will write an updated memoir which includes the story of his post-wrestling, Hollywood success. Until then The Rock Says… will have to suffice.
The other thing I did not like about the book was that once Dwayne Johnson became The Rock, the narrative switched to being written as The Rock’s persona, catchphrases and all. Some readers might enjoy The Rock being The Rock, but I would have preferred that Johnson stuck with his own voice telling his story.
With regards to his WWF/E debut, The Rock discusses his debut match in Chapter 10, titled “Rocky Maivia”. He describes his meeting with WWE backstage agent Jerry Brisco who informed him that he would be winning his debut match. In one match, he went from being someone the crowd had never heard of to being someone who was going to be a part of the WWE for a long time to come. Or so we thought back in 2000. By mid-2002, The Rock began appearing in movies. His wrestling appearances became more and more infrequent and by 2004, he was an actor, not a wrestler.
Though he still occasionally pops up in WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is busy making movies. For those who are unfamiliar with his life story, I would recommend The Rock Says… . For everyone else, it’s take it or leave it.
3 Stars out of 5
Under the moniker Rocky Maivia (“Rocky” for his father, wrestler Rocky Johnson and “Maivia” for his maternal grandfather, wrestler Peter Maivia), Johnson made an impressive debut as the “sole survivor” in a 4-on-4 Survivor Series Elimination Match at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This was no small feat as he was paired up with an assortment of legends and Hall of Famers. Maivia’s partners were Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Marc Mero, and The Stalker (Barry Windham) and they took on Crush, Goldust, Jerry “The King” Lawler, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley. When the smoke cleared, only the rookie, Rocky Maivia, was left standing.
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Rock’s first match in WWE (then the WWF), the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews his 2000 memoir The Rock Says… by The Rock with Joe Layden (HarperEntertainment, 2000).
The Rock Says… is a three star book for me. There are things I really enjoyed about the book, as well as things I really did not like about the book. First, the things I enjoyed. I really liked Dwayne Johnson’s life story. Though many are familiar with his story today, and it is even depicted in his television series Young Rock on NBC; back in 1999, when The Rock Says… was first published in hardcover it was the first time many had heard it. Growing up in a wrestling family. His football career both at the University of Miami and in the Canadian Football League. His decision to become a wrestler and his rise to superstardom. All are told with both a sense of honesty, as well as Johnson’s trademark sense of humor.
What I did not like about The Rock Says… was that it was written just three years into his WWE career. Similar to Kurt Angle’sIt’s True! It’s True! (see Literary Squared Circle #14), for me it was just too soon. Done I’m sure to capitalize on the success of Mick Foley’s memoir Have A Nice Day!, the WWE suddenly began cranking out books by the likes of Hulk Hogan, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Jerry “The King” Lawler, the aforementioned Kurt Angle, and, of course, “The Most Electrifying Man In Sports-Entertainment” The Rock.
Despite being an interesting read, I would much rather The Rock have waited a decade or more to tell more of his life story. Hopefully, someday, Dwayne Johnson will write an updated memoir which includes the story of his post-wrestling, Hollywood success. Until then The Rock Says… will have to suffice.
The other thing I did not like about the book was that once Dwayne Johnson became The Rock, the narrative switched to being written as The Rock’s persona, catchphrases and all. Some readers might enjoy The Rock being The Rock, but I would have preferred that Johnson stuck with his own voice telling his story.
With regards to his WWF/E debut, The Rock discusses his debut match in Chapter 10, titled “Rocky Maivia”. He describes his meeting with WWE backstage agent Jerry Brisco who informed him that he would be winning his debut match. In one match, he went from being someone the crowd had never heard of to being someone who was going to be a part of the WWE for a long time to come. Or so we thought back in 2000. By mid-2002, The Rock began appearing in movies. His wrestling appearances became more and more infrequent and by 2004, he was an actor, not a wrestler.
Though he still occasionally pops up in WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is busy making movies. For those who are unfamiliar with his life story, I would recommend The Rock Says… . For everyone else, it’s take it or leave it.
3 Stars out of 5
November 9, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #26 – TELL ME TO MY FACE
The Literary Squared Circle blog had planned to review a different book this week. However, upon learning of death of Angelo Mosca this past Saturday at the age of 84, an audible was called. To honor the memory of Angelo Mosca the Literary Squared Circle will instead review Mosca’s 2011 memoir, Tell Me To My Face by Angelo Mosca with Steve Milton (lulu.com, 2011).
Tell Me To My Face is divided into three sections. The first section covers Mosca’s childhood, growing up in Massachusetts with an abusive father and an alcoholic mother. These issues were exacerbated by the fact that Mosca’s mother was half-black. Though not an issue in today’s society, in the late 1940s and early 1950s Mosca and his family were subjected to racism, which led him to be ashamed of his ancestry and hide it away for much of his life. Mosca was able to escape his unhappy home life through football, which is covered in the second section of the book.
Angelo Mosca received a scholarship to play football at Notre Dame. Mosca’s time in South Bend was cut short when the university discovered that he was married. Instead of returning to Massachusetts, Mosca decided to travel north of the border to play in the Canadian Football League. He would call Canada “home” for the rest of his life. Mosca played in the CFL for 15 seasons, appearing in 9 Grey Cup games, winning 5 Grey Cup championships (4 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and one with the Ottawa Rough Riders).
Mosca’s success on the football field made him a celebrity in Canada. He became a familiar face appearing in ads for a variety of products. Mosca then parlayed his popularity into a second career as a professional wrestler. His wrestling career is featured in the third and final section of Tell Me To My Face. Mosca actually began wrestling during the offseason months while still playing in the CFL. Throughout the 1970s, King Kong Mosca, as he was known, wrestled primarily as a heel for many NWA-affiliated promotions (Florida, Georgia, Mid-Atlantic, Tri-State, San Francisco, etc.) before joining the WWF in the early 1980s.
In the WWF, Mosca became one of the company’s top heels, challenging WWF Champion Bob Backlund and feuding with Pat Patterson. Mosca spent a few years working as a color commentator for the WWF before he retired in 1986. After a few unsuccessful marriages, Mosca married his wife, Helen, in 1997 and finally found the happy family life he had always lacked.
Tell Me To My Face is somewhat of a dry read, but Angelo Mosca’s openness and honesty was refreshing. Whereas many shy away from discussing the more unpleasant aspects of their lives in their books, Mosca told his story, warts and all. As a bonus for wrestling fans, in the appendix of the book there is a listing of the “Wrestling Career of Angelo ‘King Kong’ Mosca”, which highlights his achievements and presents a record of his matches from 1969 to 1987.
Tell Me To My Face was published in 2011. In 2015, Angelo Mosca was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It was Alzheimer’s disease that claimed the life of the Mosca this past Saturday November 6th. He was 84 years old. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer remembered Angelo Mosca as a “Canadian sports icon”. Looking back at Mosca’s achievements in both football and wrestling, one would have to agree with that assessment.
Rest In Peace Angelo “King Kong” Mosca
3 Stars out of 5
Tell Me To My Face is divided into three sections. The first section covers Mosca’s childhood, growing up in Massachusetts with an abusive father and an alcoholic mother. These issues were exacerbated by the fact that Mosca’s mother was half-black. Though not an issue in today’s society, in the late 1940s and early 1950s Mosca and his family were subjected to racism, which led him to be ashamed of his ancestry and hide it away for much of his life. Mosca was able to escape his unhappy home life through football, which is covered in the second section of the book.
Angelo Mosca received a scholarship to play football at Notre Dame. Mosca’s time in South Bend was cut short when the university discovered that he was married. Instead of returning to Massachusetts, Mosca decided to travel north of the border to play in the Canadian Football League. He would call Canada “home” for the rest of his life. Mosca played in the CFL for 15 seasons, appearing in 9 Grey Cup games, winning 5 Grey Cup championships (4 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and one with the Ottawa Rough Riders).
Mosca’s success on the football field made him a celebrity in Canada. He became a familiar face appearing in ads for a variety of products. Mosca then parlayed his popularity into a second career as a professional wrestler. His wrestling career is featured in the third and final section of Tell Me To My Face. Mosca actually began wrestling during the offseason months while still playing in the CFL. Throughout the 1970s, King Kong Mosca, as he was known, wrestled primarily as a heel for many NWA-affiliated promotions (Florida, Georgia, Mid-Atlantic, Tri-State, San Francisco, etc.) before joining the WWF in the early 1980s.
In the WWF, Mosca became one of the company’s top heels, challenging WWF Champion Bob Backlund and feuding with Pat Patterson. Mosca spent a few years working as a color commentator for the WWF before he retired in 1986. After a few unsuccessful marriages, Mosca married his wife, Helen, in 1997 and finally found the happy family life he had always lacked.
Tell Me To My Face is somewhat of a dry read, but Angelo Mosca’s openness and honesty was refreshing. Whereas many shy away from discussing the more unpleasant aspects of their lives in their books, Mosca told his story, warts and all. As a bonus for wrestling fans, in the appendix of the book there is a listing of the “Wrestling Career of Angelo ‘King Kong’ Mosca”, which highlights his achievements and presents a record of his matches from 1969 to 1987.
Tell Me To My Face was published in 2011. In 2015, Angelo Mosca was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It was Alzheimer’s disease that claimed the life of the Mosca this past Saturday November 6th. He was 84 years old. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer remembered Angelo Mosca as a “Canadian sports icon”. Looking back at Mosca’s achievements in both football and wrestling, one would have to agree with that assessment.
Rest In Peace Angelo “King Kong” Mosca
3 Stars out of 5
November 2, 2021
Literary Squared Circle #25 – CRAZY LIKE A FOX
25 years ago this Thursday, the World Wrestling Federation presented the most controversial angle in the company’s history. “Pillman’s Got A Gun”, as the infamous angle would come to be known, was the result of Brian Pillman needing time off to recover from ankle surgery due to injuries sustained in a car crash earlier that year.
One week earlier on WWF programming, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin turned on his longtime friend and former tag team partner, attacking Pillman and injuring his ankle. This set the stage for the events that occurred live on the November 4, 1996 episode of Monday Night Raw. The injured Pillman appeared live via satellite from his home. During his interview segment, Austin appeared at Pillman’s home and tried to break in. In self-defense, Pillman shockingly produced a 9mm pistol and threatened to shoot Austin. The video feed went dead as what sounded like gunshots rang out.
Pillman, of course, did not shoot Austin, however, during their encounter Pillman accidentally uttered the f-word on live television. The mayhem helped to advance the company’s transition to The Attitude Era and resulted in strong ratings, however, the controversy nearly got Monday Night Raw cancelled by the USA Network. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this unforgettable moment in WWE history, the Literary Squared Circle blog takes a look back at the man in the middle of it, Brian Pillman.
Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later by Liam O’Rourke (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017) is, to date, the most comprehensive look at the life and career of wrestling’s “Loose Cannon”. Released in 2017 to coincide with the 20th Anniversary of Pillman’s death, Crazy Like A Fox is among the better wrestling biographies I’ve read. O’Rourke interviewed those who knew Brian Pillman the best: his family and friends, fellow wresters, and contemporaries.
Readers learn about Pillman’s childhood health issues, which resulted in damage to his vocal chords. This gave him the raspy voice with which he would deliver his wrestling promos years later. We read about his promising football career through high school, college, the NFL, and the CFL. It was while playing football in Canada that Pillman became interested in professional wrestling and began training under tutelage of Stu Hart.
After his time wrestling for the Hart’s Stampede promotion, Pillman started wrestling for World Championship Wrestling as Flyin’ Brian. Despite his incredible talent, Pillman never received the push he deserved due backstage politics and his lack of size. All of the behind-the-scenes goings on at WCW make for some of the more interesting aspects of Crazy Like A Fox. It was during his time in WCW that Pillman was teamed with then “Stunning” Steve Austin as part of The Hollywood Blonds tag team. Austin, of course, would later play a significant role in the “Pillman’s Got A Gun” angle in the WWF.
It was during Pillman’s waning days with World Championship Wrestling that he began to develop his “Loose Cannon” persona, which would take him to Extreme Championship Wrestling and eventually the World Wrestling Federation. It was as the “Loose Cannon” that Pillman pulled the gun on his former partner, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Crazy Like A Fox does a wonderful job of getting the reader into the head of Brian Pillman and explaining how much of the character was a work and how much was a shoot (pun intended).
O’Rourke’s book also explores many of the urban legends surrounding Pillman, and tells the real behind-the-scenes details of those incidents. The best example of this is the 1991 “Squeegee Incident” which took place between Pillman and Sid Vicious at an Atlanta hotel. Sid at the time was working for the WWF, while Pillman was with WCW.
Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later is another book which I highly recommend. Pillman was a fascinating figure who was taken from us far too soon. Had he not died so young, and had he not sustained such serious injuries in his 1996 Hummer crash, I honestly believe that Brian Pillman would have been a next-level superstar like his Hollywood Blonds partner, Steve Austin. Unfortunately, we will never know how big a star he could have become. Despite the potential left unfulfilled, Pillman left us with many indelible memories, such as the “Pillman’s Got A Gun” angle.
Today, his son, Brian Pillman Jr., carries on the Pillman legacy in the ring. However, if you want to revisit the life and career of the “Loose Cannon”, Liam O’Rourke’s Crazy Like A Fox is a great place to start. Overall, a terrific book and a great look back at one of wrestling’s most charismatic stars.
5 Stars out of 5
One week earlier on WWF programming, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin turned on his longtime friend and former tag team partner, attacking Pillman and injuring his ankle. This set the stage for the events that occurred live on the November 4, 1996 episode of Monday Night Raw. The injured Pillman appeared live via satellite from his home. During his interview segment, Austin appeared at Pillman’s home and tried to break in. In self-defense, Pillman shockingly produced a 9mm pistol and threatened to shoot Austin. The video feed went dead as what sounded like gunshots rang out.
Pillman, of course, did not shoot Austin, however, during their encounter Pillman accidentally uttered the f-word on live television. The mayhem helped to advance the company’s transition to The Attitude Era and resulted in strong ratings, however, the controversy nearly got Monday Night Raw cancelled by the USA Network. To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this unforgettable moment in WWE history, the Literary Squared Circle blog takes a look back at the man in the middle of it, Brian Pillman.
Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later by Liam O’Rourke (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017) is, to date, the most comprehensive look at the life and career of wrestling’s “Loose Cannon”. Released in 2017 to coincide with the 20th Anniversary of Pillman’s death, Crazy Like A Fox is among the better wrestling biographies I’ve read. O’Rourke interviewed those who knew Brian Pillman the best: his family and friends, fellow wresters, and contemporaries.
Readers learn about Pillman’s childhood health issues, which resulted in damage to his vocal chords. This gave him the raspy voice with which he would deliver his wrestling promos years later. We read about his promising football career through high school, college, the NFL, and the CFL. It was while playing football in Canada that Pillman became interested in professional wrestling and began training under tutelage of Stu Hart.
After his time wrestling for the Hart’s Stampede promotion, Pillman started wrestling for World Championship Wrestling as Flyin’ Brian. Despite his incredible talent, Pillman never received the push he deserved due backstage politics and his lack of size. All of the behind-the-scenes goings on at WCW make for some of the more interesting aspects of Crazy Like A Fox. It was during his time in WCW that Pillman was teamed with then “Stunning” Steve Austin as part of The Hollywood Blonds tag team. Austin, of course, would later play a significant role in the “Pillman’s Got A Gun” angle in the WWF.
It was during Pillman’s waning days with World Championship Wrestling that he began to develop his “Loose Cannon” persona, which would take him to Extreme Championship Wrestling and eventually the World Wrestling Federation. It was as the “Loose Cannon” that Pillman pulled the gun on his former partner, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Crazy Like A Fox does a wonderful job of getting the reader into the head of Brian Pillman and explaining how much of the character was a work and how much was a shoot (pun intended).
O’Rourke’s book also explores many of the urban legends surrounding Pillman, and tells the real behind-the-scenes details of those incidents. The best example of this is the 1991 “Squeegee Incident” which took place between Pillman and Sid Vicious at an Atlanta hotel. Sid at the time was working for the WWF, while Pillman was with WCW.
Crazy Like A Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later is another book which I highly recommend. Pillman was a fascinating figure who was taken from us far too soon. Had he not died so young, and had he not sustained such serious injuries in his 1996 Hummer crash, I honestly believe that Brian Pillman would have been a next-level superstar like his Hollywood Blonds partner, Steve Austin. Unfortunately, we will never know how big a star he could have become. Despite the potential left unfulfilled, Pillman left us with many indelible memories, such as the “Pillman’s Got A Gun” angle.
Today, his son, Brian Pillman Jr., carries on the Pillman legacy in the ring. However, if you want to revisit the life and career of the “Loose Cannon”, Liam O’Rourke’s Crazy Like A Fox is a great place to start. Overall, a terrific book and a great look back at one of wrestling’s most charismatic stars.
5 Stars out of 5
