Jim Cornette Presents: Behind the Curtain – Real Pro Wrestling Stories

by Jim Cornette, Brandon Easton, Denis Medri (Illustrations)

Pro wrestling's secrets and greatest moments are immortalized in this graphic novel from legendary wrestling personality Jim Cornette!

An anthology of true stories, these insider tales will show the lengths that wrestlers went to uphold kayfabe--the old carny term for keeping secret the illusions of a rigged game, fight, or situation--as well as the noteworthy cultural, racial, and economic effects these events and characters have had on society. This is the graphic novel that old-school wrestling fans have been waiting a no-holds-barred representation of the moments that wrestling insiders couldn't talk about for years!

Behind the Curtain - Real Pro Wrestling Stories presents three chapters of tales, personally curated by Jim Cornette and adapted by Brandon Easton and Denis Medri, the team behind the critically acclaimed Andre the Closer to Heaven .

Featuring stories about Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, Andy Kaufman, Sputnik Monroe, The Sheik, Junkyard Dog, the Fabulous Freebirds, the Midnight Express, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and more. Also includes Jim's colorful Glossary of Pro Wrestling Terms, as well as photos and newspaper clippings from his personal archives!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction, History, Sports, Biography

80 pages, Paperback

Published August 20, 2019

About the author

James Mark Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, booker and podcaster.

As a manager, commentator, member of the booking committee and member of the creative team, he has worked for Continental Wrestling Association, Mid-South Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (now WWE), and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. He has also worked as an on-screen character in an authoritative role; as "Commissioner" of Ring of Honor (in a previous stint with the company) and "Management Director" (and off-screen road agent) for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Cornette was the one of the best wrestling managers of the 1980s and 1990s, with his tennis racket, terrible fashion sense, and motor mouth. Since then, he's become the voice of reason in the wrestling business, a voice most people tune out.

Anyway, I saw this on Kickstarter and was as powerless to resist as someone locked in the figure four in the middle of the ring.

Functioning much like the Crypt Keeper, Mama Cornette's little boy introduces and narrates numerous tales from wrestling history, from Sputnik Monroe breaking down the color barrier in Memphis to the sad life of Dr. Jerry Graham to the infamous plane crash that changed wrestling history as we know it.

As a lifelong wrestling fan, a lot of the stories were familiar but the telling almost made them new again. I knew The Sheik went to great lengths to uphold kayfabe but I didn't know just how far he took it. I also didn't know Jim Cornette's role in the Montreal Screwjob or a lot of the corners of Sputnik Monroe's story, including how he got his name. Denis Medri's art is great, more cartoony than realistic but that fits the tone of professional wrestling very well.

Behind the Curtain is a must for wrestling fans. I hope there's a return match in the works..

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jim Cornette and his collaborators delve into some legendary stories from the history of professional wrestling, making a nice companion to The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling: A Hardcore, High-Flying, No-Holds-Barred History of the One True Sport. The Montreal Screwjob and Andy Kaufman's wrestling career are covered, as is is the surprising role of a fellow named Sputnik Monroe in desegregating sports arenas in the South.

I'd never heard of Cornette before putting this book on hold at the library, but shortly afterward, I saw a news article about him being fired from his wrestling announcer gig for making a racist joke during a show.

[Shaun Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Cornette Presents: Behind The Curtain - Real Pro Wrestling stories is a collection of tales presented by Jim Cornette, written by Brandon Easton, and art by Demi’s Medri.

Famous wrestling personality Jim “Corny” Cornette narrates a series of behind the scenes tales from the wrestling business. Breaking kayfabe used to be a big deal in the world of wrestling, but in today’s modern age of the sport, it is just how the business works. In Behind the Curtain we get tales involving Ric Flair, Jerry Lawler, Andy Kaufman, Sputnik Monroe, The Sheik, Junkyard Dog, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and more.

For longtime wrestling fans, some of these stories may be common knowledge, but there are others I hadn’t heard about or learned interesting tidbits to the stories I thought I knew. Though I’m not a fan of Cornette (As a podcast host or a person), it is undeniable his knowledge of the history of wrestling and it’s showcased in this book covering stories that date back to the beginning of pro wrestling as we know it today all the way to 1990s when Vince McMahon officially brought the kayfabe curtain down. It’s a really interesting and quick read for wrestling fans.

[Daniel Montague · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who avidly listens to Jim Cornette's podcasts this graphic novel scratches some of my proverbial spots but feels largely generic. Though I would not say I am in the "cult of Cornette", the passion and depth of knowledge for wrestling that he exhibits on a daily basis is remarkable. His love for both the contemporary and historical aspects of the "sport" is evident in so many ways. Though this novel does a good job of explaining some interesting tales and tidbits it lacked the bombast and je ne sais quoi that I have grown accustomed to with Jim Cornette. A Cornette book without graphic profanity or devastating screeds seems like a waste of his talents.

The best aspect of this novel is the unique collection of stories. Though the main theme of these stories have to do with the keeping of kayfabe, the most fascinating of stories, namely the Sputnik Monroe one had little to with the theme. How the Memphis wrestler, Sputnik Monroe, through conviction and force of will, in effect integrated a territory of wrestling was fantastic. Despite playing the role of a heel, from a historic perspective, he became a hero. His interactions with African-Americans, whether kissing babies, embracing them or forming a tag-team led to reforms such as integrating the stands of the local auditorium which was a major step in getting rid of Jim Crow era restrictions. Another interesting story was the breakdown of one of the Golden Grahams, Dr. Jerry Graham. Despite his many in-ring accomplishments, due to a struggle with mental illness and alcoholism, he ended up in destitution. He infamously, took the corpse of his mother from the hospital and with shotgun in tow made way with her and tried to revive her. This tragic incident led him to a stay in an institute.

My main issue with this compendium of works was the lack of Jim Cornette involvement. He was only directly involved in a couple of stories neither of which was all that compelling. One was a throwaway story about the Midnight Express and the other was about his role in the "Montreal Screwjob". It is wonderful that Mr. Cornette is interested in explaining the carny roots of wrestling and of keeping up the illusion of kayfabe for so many decades, but his role in some of the stories such as the crashing of the plane that harbored Ric Flair amongst other wrestlers is nonexistent. Another aspect that perplexed me was the lack of colorful language. Jim Cornette is the most dexterous of speakers that the squared circle has seen. His pointed barbs and unique colloquialisms, along with his brand of profanity is sorely missing. I have no idea what age group or sophistication this was tailored to but a neutered Cornette was disappointing.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with decent illustration. I received a history lesson with many interesting characters involved. Some of the stories resonated while others felt forced or were just bland. I wish Jim Cornette would have taken center stage in more of the retellings and that more vulgar language would have used.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun! Did not love the art though.

[Gerry Sacco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really good. Love the stories, can actually hear Corny’s voice as I read. Glossary at the end was fun, and dream match addition is cool.

Only thing I wish for is a better art style. Would have given it a 5/5 if it had been different.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for fans of "pro wrasslin".

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Cornette turns 60 on Friday. Cornette is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time. He has been involved in professional wrestling since the age of 14. In addition to his managerial career, Cornette has worked as a promoter, booker, agent, color commentator, and trainer. He currently hosts two wildly successful wrestling podcasts, The Jim Cornette Experience and Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru. Cornette has also authored several books on the subject. In honor of Corny’s upcoming milestone birthday, the Literary Squared Circle reviews his latest book, the 2019 graphic novel Jim Cornette Presents: Behind the Curtain – Real Pro Wrestling Stories by Jim Cornette and Brandon Easton. Illustrated by Denis Medri (IDW Publishing, 2019).

In Behind the Curtain, Cornette acts as host in a Rod Serling Twilight Zone kind of way. Cornette introduces readers to behind-the-scenes stories from the world of professional wrestling. My personal favorite is the story of Sputnik Monroe, who desegregated Memphis wrestling in the late 1950s. I am amazed that there has not been a big screen adaption of Monroe’s story as of yet. It has “Hollywood” written all over it. Other stories featured in Behind the Curtain include tales about The Sheik, Andy Kaufman & Jerry Lawler, Junkyard Dog & The Fabulous Freebirds, and the disturbing story of Dr. Jerry Graham and the death of his mother.

Every story is an engrossing one, including a story I had not heard before. The story is about Tim Woods (aka Mr. Wrestling), and the incredible lengths he went to to protect kayfabe after being involved in a plane crash in which he was the only babyface. All of the other passengers were heels, including Ric Flair and Johnny Valentine.

In addition to Cornette’s “Real Pro Wrestling Stories”, he also shares three dream cards featuring wrestlers from various generations (i.e. Jim Londos vs. John Cena and Dynamite Kid vs. AJ Styles). Cornette also provides readers with the definitive glossary of pro wrestling terms (i.e. gimmick, kayfabe, and mark). To say there is a lot of information jammed into 80 pages would be an understatement.

Admittedly, I have not read many graphic novels. I am not a “comic book guy”. However, I found Behind the Curtain to be not only an entertaining read, but an informative one as well. I thought the illustrations were well done and the content was fantastic. At 80 illustrated pages, Behind the Curtain is also a quick read. Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel, and I highly recommend it to any fan of professional wrestling.


5 Stars out of 5

[Nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting look behind the curtain that separates whet the fan sees from the sometimes more than harsh reality of the pro-wrestling locker rooms. Cornette as not only a Wrestling historian but also an insider in the business for many years, does not only tell old and less-known tales from the glamorous world of wrestling, but also about the effect of so-called kayfabe.
If you know Cornette and his podcast(s), you can read how it is written in his voice. A very nice and authentic touch. The drawings are nice and immersive, the glossary in the end very extensive. What I especially liked were the newspaper articles, photos and other memorabilia that was added to deepen the immersion (and prove the stories as real).

Here are my issues: while kayfabe is a concept that once meant everything in wrestling, the tales show so many downfalls that come with following it so strictly. Peoples' lives were literally on the line, some lost theirs even, all to protect that Pro-Wrestling is "real".
If it would only be a telling of these tales, I would not mind it, but in Cornette's wording, one can read the nostalgia and yearning for these times, the regret or even mocking of the "death of kayfabe" by the hands of Vince McMahon. It shows a surprising disregard of the victims and potential future victims of kayfabe and of someone having to play a role throughout their whole life.

Read this book (or graphic novel or comic) as a recollection of times old and it is good.
I, as a wrestler myself, had to ignore Cornette's bias in order to enjoy it though, knowing how detrimental the kayfabe side of the business can be.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to wrestling after Jim Cornette's hey-day, during the dying days of kayfabe (the term for maintaining the illusion that something rigged, like professional wrestling, is real). So the type of tales Cornette tells in this collection of short comic book stories are purely historical for me, perhaps even mythical.

The focus of many of the stories are about the importance of maintaining kayfabe. From Sheik never breaking character his entire life, to Andy Kaufman's battles with Jerry Lawler, to Tim Woods risking his physical health to protect the illusion after being in a plane crash with Ric Flair. It's a bit ridiculous to think about people going to such lengths nowadays, but it's easy to forget how different the world was prior to the internet shining a light on every corner of society. But even today, fans often question the veracity of events such as Dean Ambrose (aka Johnny Moxley) leaving WWE or anything to do with CM Punk. Cornette does as admirable job highlighting this truly unique aspect of the professional wrestling art form.

I appreciated Cornette's encyclopedic knowledge of wrestling history and lore. One panel even shows him in a room packed with boxes one has to assume are all the magazines and clippings and such that contain all the stories. He does a good job staying away from the most well known wrestlers and stories of the territory days. You won't find anything about Andre or Hogan. Flair is only mentioned in relation to Tim Woods. Junk Yard Dog is shown in his pre-WWF days, and Cornette remarks multiple times how inferior JYD's latter day incarnation is.

Which brings us to some people's complaint about Cornette inserting himself into the history he's telling. Partially that's a factor of him being the narrator. Partially it's due to most wrestling people telling stories they were involved with; so it makes some sense to include a throwaway story about the Midnight Express (managed by Cornette) getting heat by beating some local jobbers. I also have no idea how involved Cornette was in the Montreal Screwjob. He provides a convincing case of knowing the history of double crosses and screwjobs, but it's impossible to tell the truth of this incident given the various versions we've heard at this point (a fact Cornette mentions). I almost wouldn't be surprised to find out it was all a work given how it exploded the popularity right before the Attitude Era took hold, but if that's true we won't find out until Vince McMahon and Brett Hart are both dead.

It's a quick read with serviceable artwork. Any fan of wrestling will be entertained with at least one or two stories they might not know. And anyone else will get a taste of the unique nature of professional wrestling, a truly American art form.

[Ian Hrabe · Rating 2 out of 5]

From a historical standpoint there are some great stories here, particularly those relating to instances where pro wrestling helped to desegregate certain cities (or certain arenas, at least). For all his faults, Cornette has an encyclopedic knowledge of the business, and while he touches on pro wrestling being a uniquely American art form, I feel like the book could have done more to drive that point home. The issue is that Corny is, to use the words of his nemesis Joey Ryan, a "garbage human being." He's someone who is frequently trying to put himself over as some sort of protector of the business, using twitter to demean anyone who dares to evolve pro wrestling in the 21st century (and not above resorting to homophobic and misogynistic barbs). Behind the Curtain adopts the notion that things were better back in the good ol' days when kayfabe was alive and well and wrasslers knew how to protect the business. I don't understand why this needs to be a graphic novel. You can get these stories from other wrestling texts or TV shows (Dark Side of the Ring features Cornette telling the exact same Montreal Screwjob story, though it is funny to see in this book that he hates Vince Russo so much he doesn't even drop his name), so maybe they're going for the reluctant reader audience? The illustration isn't awful, it's in that ubiquitous glossy superhero style, but it is occasionally horrifyingly bad (the renderings of Vince McMahon were particularly hilarious). You're better off consulting Box Brown's far superior wrestling-related graphic novels Andre the Giant and Is This Guy For Real?: The Unbelievable Andy Kaufman.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a professional wrestling fan all of my life. I still remember the first time I saw Jim Cornette on my tv, watching Mid-South Wrestling as he managed the heel team of the Midnight Express. Jim has since become one of my favorite wrestling personalities and I've enjoyed listening to his wrestling stories for several years. He has a ton of knowledge of the business and isn't shy about sharing stories and his opinions. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and any pro wrestling fan would, but especially those of us who grew up in the 70s territorial wrestling era when pro wrestling was made out to be real (or at least partially real). The true life stories Corny relates in this graphic comic are very interesting. I'm not sure why he chose this particular format. If he drew the comics, he's a very good artist. I'm not a huge fan of that genre and would have preferred to read stories. It's a very short book and I'm sure he has tons more stories which I would love to read as well.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent combination of storytelling and artwork. Numerous laughs.

Notes
Sputnick Monroe's role in defeating Jim Crow in the 60s. Nickname from kissing a black. Sputnick = Commie.
Marciano ref to "lay down the law".
Sheik maintained kayfabe major league.
Andy Kauffman vs Lawler
Junkyard Dog
Dr Jerry Graham and his momma
Fan riots, under 14 prohibited from MSG
Mob after Midnite.. Mulkey bros had a 0-for-life win/loss record. Anderson SC crowd followed, looked like the Bavarian villagers chasing Frankenstein's monster.
1931 Montreal screwjob
Disposing of the body prank. Inside the ring, wrestlers were comic geniuses.
Fargo had a pierced penis way before it was considered fashionable.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never a big fan of wrestling but I read the graphic novel on Andre the Giant and Andy Kaufman and those were interesting so i saw this and decided to give it a try. At first I thought it was too cartoonist until I started reading and it got me hooked. i would like to read more about the guys I remember from watching Chicago wresting as a kid. A few are mention in this book like Pretty Boy Bobby Hynan, and Dick the Bruiser. I'k like to hear more about the Crusher, Baron Von Raskie, and others that I don't remember so well. There were two twin cowboys that Bobby Hynan managed. And there were the Burt Weiman auto ads.

[Miss December · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jim Cornette- his knowledge about wrestling is invaluable. The stories contained in this volume are interesting and entertaining- I hope they eventually do another volume!

I wasn't crazy about the art- that's why it was docked a star. It's not horrible, just not my taste. The stories definitely outshine all else.

(While I listen to his podcast regularly, this is the historian in me rating the book- the first story alone about Sputnik Monroe is worth the purchase, and shows an important link between pro wrestling and desegregation. I thought it was so captivating and a great read. Loved it.)

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

B

Jim Cornette Presents: Behind the Curtain - Real Pro Wrestling Stories is an anthology of wrestling stories that Cornette collected throughout his career.

The book recounts well-documented stories like the Montreal Screwjob from the 1997 Survivor Series match between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels and the Andy Kaufman/Jerry Lawler feud from Memphis in 1982. It also includes lesser-known stories, such as how Sputnik Monroe helped desegregate Memphis sports arenas in the late-1960s.

Brandon Easton captures Jim Cornette's unique voice in the script. If the credits didn't tell me Easton wrote the script, I would have thought Cornette did.

Denis Medri's art is cartoony, but it captures the likeness of the people these stories are based on.

[Richard Tubb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel is an excellent look at some of the more notable and amazing stories from the history of professional wrestling.

Beautifully drawn, wrestling legend Jim Cornette narrates the illustrations of stories including the original Montreal screw job, how a wrestler helped the fight against racial segregation, plus many other fascinating tales.

If you're an avid fan of Pro Wrestling, then some of these stories may be familiar to you, but many others may not.

The book also included a glossary of wrestling terms to help "smarten up" the reader.

As a lifelong wrestling fan, I absolutely loved this book. It's a real treat for any fan of the mat game.

[Lance Lumley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was skeptical at first when I saw the cover, but the glossy pages inside, with detailed artwork makes up for the cover. This graphic novel has nine great wrestling tales, including a history of wrestling by Cornette, along with a glossary of wrestling terms at the end. This is a must for wrestling fans and comic lovers. I rarely give 5 star ratings but this deserved it.
For an in depth review; go to my blog at : https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...

[Geoff Winston Leghorn Balme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun start to finish. Corney tells some obscure and insider tales both full of heart and completely lunatic.
He also covers some well known scenes but gives a bit of insight not previously available.
The artwork is fun and lends itself to the larger than life world of kayfabe and prowrestling.

I especially enjoyed the brief glossary at the end.
It’s clear Corney is a real professor of the art and every week you can get his takes on matches and shows he mostly seems to not like! 😅
But it’s hard to impress aficionados as in the know as Cornette.

[Jak Krumholtz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy learning about what others are into. A best friend is super into wrestling. I find it a sweaty soap opera but enjoyed these stories that cover nearly a hundred years.

Kayfabe (pretending everything is real) repeatedly strikes me as stupid here. A fan rushes the stage with a gun (aimed at the other wrestler Junkyard's feuding with) but because Junkyard Dog's character is "blind" he doesn't act and risks the other wrestler's life.

[Rob Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legendary wrestling manager Jim Cornette tells famous old stories about classic wrestlers from the golden age of the sport. Illustrated and hard covered version is superior quality and autographed copies are available on his website. Although somewhat brief, it is a fine addition to any collector of wrestling books and memorabilia.

[Billy Clemmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, except

Absolute love the stories. :Corny is a wrestling encyclopedia.This . comic has some great stories, my only gripe is that the author has something political in this. I could have done without any political stuff,no matter what side he likes. Wrestling stories, yes please. Political anything, no thanks

[Fresh · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's nice to see some of these tall tales from the territory days illustrated, but if you've followed pro wrestling long enough, or listen to any of Jim Cornette's weekly podcasts, you already know all of this. I'm sure it's fantastic introduction to the casual fan, but diehards will only view it as a collectible item.

[Cody Baggerly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional journey through the wild, and sometimes treacherous, journeys of being a professional wrestler in the era of the territories, kayfabe, and larger than life megastars.

Jim Cornette, a veteran of the business for over 40 years, opens up by delivering a handful of his experiences and legendary tales that were once saved only for insiders of his industry.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I can't stand Jim Cornette, the obnoxious Alex Jones-esque pundit, I enjoy Jim Cornette the wrestling historian a lot. This book captures the latter quite a bit, and has some stuff from the 30's-50's I had never heard of which was cool.

[Jon Gustafson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Jim Cornette is a very knowledgeable man for being in the wrestling business for over 40 years. (And still has a great memory of it too! ) a must for wrestling fan
completests. Today's wrestling fan ( those pesky little millennials should learn from him and the history of the "sport").

[Brandon Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great collection of Wrestling stories

The Jerry Graham story was crazy, can't believe I've never heard it before. Great read, I hope Corny gets to do another comic book. I'll buy every one he puts out.

[R.J. Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected. Could have been so much better.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great graphic novel! Loved the artwork and the stories.

[Wayne Deava · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the words of Dave Meltzer!
"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"