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Here is a breakdown of all recently released and upcoming pro wrestling book releases:
RECENTLY RELEASED
Tortured Ambition: The Story of Herb Abrams and the UWF by Jonathan Plombon - Herb Abrams started the Universal Wrestling Federation with the intent to topple the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. Entering the business draped in mystery, no one knew where he came from. In 1990, the UWF started with Steve Williams, Brian Blair, Paul Orndorff, Mick “Cactus Jack” Foley* and a bevy of other superstars on SportsChannel America. Six years later, Herb Abrams was dead. He left behind a trail of myths and tall tales of prostitutes and cocaine. But who was the real Herb Abrams? Author Jonathan Plombon brings you 50 exclusive interviews with those who knew him personally such as Brian Blair, Steve Ray, Sunny Beach, Col. DeBeers, Missy Hyatt, and many, many more. Questions are finally answered.
Chavo Guerrero Sr. - Instant Classic by Chavo Guerrero and Kirk Buchner - A member of the legendary Guerrero wrestling family, Chavo Guerrero Sr. wrestled all over the world for over thirty-five years. A champion in three countries, Chavo tells the stories of sex, drugs and pro wrestling, and the friends and enemies he made along the way. This is an earnest tale of a man who was proud to be a wrestler, a Mexican-American, but most of all, a Guerrero.
Tonight! Tonight! Tonight! by Bert Prentice and Scott Teal - The autobiography of promoter Bert Prentice, which was being completed when he passed away this past August, has been released by Crowbar Press. Forewords by Jerry Lawler and Mike Bucci,.
UPCOMING RELEASES
November - Just a dream to… JUSTIN CREDIBLE! by PJ Polaco & Kenny Casanova is now available for pre-orders at this link.
Take a hardcore journey. Follow a wrestler who started with just a dream, then became everything his name says he is. See his early days, his training, and his first few steps into the WWF spotlight. Jump in the ring with Aldo Montoya, go on the road with the Kliq, and watch his incredible ECW transformation to the extreme. Then, in the main event, witness PJ Polaco battle his toughest opponent to date – the demons who tried to end his life, and his subsequent struggle to make a miraculous comeback.
Wrestling fans of all kinds will agree that this book is not just the coolest, not just the best, it is… JUSTIN CREDIBLE.
PLUS:
11/2 - Mox by Jon Moxley - A vivid trip through the mind of the top professional wrestler in the business—a nobody from nowhere who achieved his ambitions and walked away with the gold and the girl of his dreams. Ride alongside Jon Moxley as he retraces some of the highways traveled on his remarkable journey. Revel in the never-before-told stories about his early life in Cincinnati, Ohio; the gritty independent wrestling scene where he cut his teeth; the complicated corporate landscape of the WWE where he bucked against authority; and the rebellious upstart AEW, where he won the championship in 2020 and was finally free to achieve the vision of the wrestler he’d always wanted to be. With plenty of pitstops and revelatory insights, including grisly ultraviolent encounters, crazy characters who became lifelong friends, and his unforgettable matches in Japan, MOX is the riveting account of the life of a brawler. It is a tale written in blood and soaked in debauchery, with a good dose of wisdom accumulated along the way. More than a backstage pass into the arena, MOX is a ticket into the ring. Once inside, you’ll never look at pro wrestling the same again.
11/2 - WWE Championship: The Greatest Prize in Sports Entertainment Hardcover by Jeremy Brown - "This deluxe oversized hardback book explores the history of the WWE Championship from Buddy Rogers in 1963 to the current WWE Championship held by Drew McIntyre. In its near 60-year history, the main WWE Championship has been held by over 50 Superstars and had its name/design changed 13 times. This book will explore the changing face of the WWE Championship via the Superstars that have held the title as well as the greatest matches for the championship. Richly illustrated with official WWE photography, this book covers the WWE Championship by exploring each era of WWE in chronological order. The book explores each era of WWE:
• Early Years- 1967-'80s
• The Golden Age- '80s to early '90s
• New Generation- Early '90s to mid '90s
• Attitude Era- Mid '90s to early 2000s
• PG Era- 2008-2013
• Reality Era- 2014-2016
• The New Era- 2016-present
Featuring historic photography and stories about the icons to have held the title including legends such as Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Ric Flair, Bruno Sammartino, Brock Lesnar, John Cena and many more. In addition, the history of the Championship is brought to life with the greatest title matches revisited - such as WrestleMania VI's Ultimate Challenge, Shawn and Bret's Iron Man Match, The Chair Shot Heard Around the World, and Triple H and Cactus Jack's Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2000. A perfect gift, The WWE Championship: The Greatest Prize in Sport's Entertainment will be cherished by every member of the WWE Universe, new or old."
11/23 - Young Bucks: Killing the Business from Backyards to the Big Leagues by Nick and Matt Jackson (Paperback)
11/30 - Butts In Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story - "From teenage wrestling fan to becoming “The Voice of Your Childhood,” famed professional wrestling commentator Tony Schiavone has spent five decades working in the pro wrestling industry... and he’s now sharing his story with the world! This fourteen-chapter graphic novel details observations, anecdotes, and experiences about Tony’s life in professional wrestling as told by Tony himself and illustrated by over two dozen amazing artists from across the world! From his earliest days with Crockett Promotions to the rise and fall of WCW, and now his triumphant return with All Elite Wrestling, you can now experience Tony’s life in professional wrestling in a way that’s never been told–or seen–before!"
11/30 - The Eighth Wonder of the World: The True Story of André the Giant by Pat LaPrade & Bertrand Hebert (Paperback)
2022
1/11/22 - WWE Studios' Rumble animated movie tie-ins:
Monster Matchup! - In a world where monsters are real and monster wrestling is a popular sport, these heavy hitters will do whatever it takes to be champions. Learn more about your favorite wrestlers in this 8x8 storybook! All your favorite characters are here! There’s underdog Rayburn Jr., larger-than-life Tentacular, gargantuan King Gorge, the pile-driving powerhouse Axehammer, and many more amazing monsters to meet!
Rumble Movie novelization - Imagine a world where monsters are real and monster wrestling is a popular sport! Can sixteen-year-old Winne Coyle coach an inexperienced, out-of-shape monster, and turn him into a champion? Rumble fans everywhere will love spending more time with their favorite monsters in this hilarious and feel-good novel which includes eight pages of full-color stills from the movie.
Back in the RIng - After growing up in his father’s shadow, Rayburn Jr. has tried to live his life out of the spotlight. But sometimes, the world needs a champion, and with his trainer, Winnie, by his side, the time has come for Rayburn Jr. to shine.
The World of Monster Wrestling - This book chronicles some of Rayburn Jr.’s most memorable fights from the film. Kids can use the paper monsters to reenact their favorite wrestling scenes. Punch-out interlocking cardstock pieces form a wrestling ring to add to the interactive fun! The paper monsters come with cardstock stands so they can stand upright and be displayed when kids aren’t playing with them!
1/12/22 - George Gordienko: Canadian Wrestler, Artist and Renaissance Man by Steven Verrier - George Gordienko (1928-2002) may be the greatest wrestler you've never heard of. From humble, Ukrainian immigrant roots on the Canadian Prairies, he endured a tough childhood during the Great Depression to emerge as a leading "shooter" and one-of-a-kind artist on the mat. Excluded from wrestling in the U.S. during the McCarthy era for his one-time membership in the Communist Party, he was deprived of a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, for which he was hand-picked by the great Lou Thesz. After retirement, Gordienko transitioned to a different sort of canvas and became a successful painter. This first full-length biography traces his remarkable career.
2/22/22 - A Chosen Destiny by Drew McIntyre (Paperback)
3/15/22 - Backlund: From All-American Boy to Professional Wrestling's World Champion by Bob Backlund (paperback)
4/12/22 - Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik by Brian Solomon - The captivating story of how The Sheik captured the imagination of a generation, conquered the wrestling business, and lost it all in a blaze of flame and glory He was the most vicious, bloodthirsty, reviled villain in the history of the ring. During the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, he drew record crowds everywhere he went and left a trail of burned and bloody opponents in his wake. He was The Sheik: the mysterious and terrifying madman from Syria whose wanton destruction and mayhem are the stuff of wrestling legend. But what those legions of fans screaming for his head never knew was that The Sheik was really Eddie Farhat. From Lansing, Michigan, and the son of Arab immigrants, Farhat served his country proudly in World War II and was fulfilling the American dream through hard work and tireless dedication to his craft. And when he wasn’t screaming unintelligibly and attacking his enemies with sharp objects, he was busy being the owner and operator of World Wide Sports, one of the most successful wrestling companies in North America. This is Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling’s Original Sheik.
4/26/22 - Just Tyrus: A Memoir by Tyrus - Pro wrestler and political commentator Tyrus goes deep into his wild but triumphant life story, from his painfully dysfunctional upbringing to bodyguarding for Snoop Dogg, to becoming a wrestling icon and one of the most provocative on-air voices today. The product of a 1970s mixed marriage, George Murdoch learned to fight early in life, fending off both race-baiting bullies and the demons of a dysfunctional home. Couch surfing all through high school and most of college, the quick-witted, sharp-tongued giant played football, ran drugs, and bounced at clubs to try to survive. After a false start with the WWE, he eventually became Snoop Dogg’s bodyguard and traveled the world with the hip hop legend, biding his time and honing his rap. When the WWE urged him to return, George became “Brodus Clay” and, for the next several years, reinvented himself numerous times under the watchful mentorship of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, “the American Dream.” He was eventually christened “Tyrus,” and shortly after, a chance social media encounter with Greg Gutfeld at Fox News resulted in Tyrus finding a new skill: sage social commentator. Ferociously funny, blunt, and tenacious, Just Tyrus traces his unlikely and spectacular rise. As always with Tyrus, it’s in-your-face and offers no apologies.
6/14/22 - WWE: The New Day: Power of Positivity Grapic Novel - Everyone knows The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E ) are six-time Tag Team Champions - including the longest reign in WWE history - but now, for the first time, discover the true origins of this unforgettable trio. IT’S THE NEW DAY GRAPHIC NOVEL, YES IT IS! WWE Superstars Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E debuted as a team called The New Day...and changed the WWE Universe forever! Everyone knows The New Day are six-time Tag Team Champions - including the longest reign in WWE history - but now, for the first time, discover the true origins of this unforgettable trio. Follow young Kofi, Xavier, and Big E as they learn about the world of wrestling, take on opponents big and small, and battle their egos - and those around them - as they struggle to find success in solo careers. But when they realize they’re stronger together than apart, the New Day is born - and set on a collision course against their greatest rivals to determine if they’ll have a place in WWE history! Evan Narcisse (Rise of The Black Panther), Austin Walker (Friends At The Table) and Daniel Bayliss (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) reveal the untold story behind one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history!
FORTHCOMING, NO OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE SET
Spring 2022 - Lufisto autobiography.
Spring 2023 - Madusa autobiography.
TBA - Bobby Fulton Autobiography.
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