Following on from Hack's skepticism about Count Bartelli's book:
"Bartelli's book, which was the world as he would want us to view it,"
a comment with which I wholeheartedly agree, I'm trying to think of any wrestling book that we feel we can actually trust.
Whether you want to call it marketing or mind manipulation, these guys were ahead of their time in creating stories that the fans gobbled up. They were masters of such manipulation on the mat; and seem to have been equally adept on paper.
At worst, these books, in no particular order:
- omit
- invent
- twist
- thread in truths to give the impression all is true (eg Shakespeare's "Henry VIII")
The Mick McManus Wrestling Book takes the biscuit for absurdity; the following year The Who's Who of Wrestling unjustifiably assumed almost Burke's Peerage status. In more recent times, I have read many comments that Adrian Street's writing is heavily weighted in his own favour. Even dear dear Judo Alf carried to his grave the myth that there was ongoing bad blood between himself and the Iron Man (loved by all "the lads.")
Kendo Nagasaki's book fascinates me. Certainly it feeds me interesting snippets that I had not been aware of. But my overwhelming impression in reading it was of the omissions, and few comments about wrestlers who worked hard to put him over in the course of twenty years. Stalwart Tibor doesn't get a mention.
Nagasaki spent more than twenty years manipulating or, at the very least in my own case, confusing fans with tales of mysticism, healing and the rest. Then he whipped his mask off, published his book and the mysteriously hypnotic faith healer, not to mention paradoxical villain of the ring, turned overnight into a "lovely bloke." I have noted his ongoing skills at managing fans' adulation with his very generous accessibility over recent years, but the end result is in large measure to cement his book as gospel. He is very very successful judging by many many loving comments on here, and once again I risk being the minority of One.
(For my own small part, this is one reason I keep out of it. I retain the unseduced integrity of my complete objectivity in his regard.)
So I am wondering whether anyone feels they have read a legit book by one of our UK pro wrestlers?
I set out from the standpoint that this is impossible due to the strength of the omerta that prevents "the lads" revealing much at all about each other, or the business.
But I'll be interested to read others' opinions.
When I first heard about the "Billy Riley - The Man, The Legacy" book I couldn't wait to get my hands on it; but when I did - what a disappointment! Considering the wealth of information, history and views of from so many wrestlers from my era they have, as I once saw describing a music book, put vintage wine in a Coca Cola bottle. It looks as though once completed there wasn't even a re-read before publishing; no attempt at a spellcheck and even type faces differ within sentences. Amusing tales peter out without a punch line and some stories are repeated verbatim rather than having been edited to form some cohesion. I can't speak for the validity of all the wrestlers dates and results printed at the back of the book but one night in question that I attended and featured some of the wrestlers profiled in the book it had none of them appearing at my venue on that particular night.
A fascinating subject unfortunately sold short.
I think that Bret Hart's and the Dynamite Kid's books are more believable than most. The fact that Bret kept a diary means that his accounts are not based purely on memory. There are, naturally, only brief sections about the British scene which reduces its interest for many of us here.
I’ve mentioned Stan Hansen’s “The Last Outlaw” here before: it’s, so far as I know, the only published insight into Pete Roberts, the man.
> few comments about wrestlers who worked hard to put him over in the course of twenty years. Anglo, I fear you are turning into Mal "Scrubber Daly" Hardiman.
There are certain things a wrestler can do to make another wrestler look good. Sell. Take big bumps. Call every single spot blow-by-blow. Allow themselves to be slammed. One thing a wrestler cannot do is tell their opponent how to do moved unless they know how to do them anyway.
Kendo was a skilled wrestler who had his own knowledge and repertoire of escapes, counters, reversals and other good moves. He did not need his opponent to tell him what to do to put on a good show like, say, Davey Boy Smith at SummerSlam '92. Anyone who claims otherwise is just in a bitchy mood because they had less money/fame fom their own wrestling career.
As far as making opponents look good goes, he went over and beyond the call of duty selling Big Daddy's tummy butts in those 1975 bouts. I really like Banger Walsh - and Darren too - but he never flipped backwards over the top rope in response to a Daddy body check, did he?
I'd like to add what has been the flavour of this passing month ... a caveat.
I didn't mention Eddie Rose's "Send in the Clowns." Eddie's writing actually does, I believe, answer the question of this thread with a resounding yes.
The reason I feel I can trust his writing is that he limits himself to his own first hand experiences, without making sweeping generalisations about the business and without ever building himself up as someone who:
- went over to wrestlers he would have beaten in a shoot.
- knew everyone.
- regularly put the promoters in their place.
etc.
IVANHOE by W. Scott and TREASURY ISLAND by R. L. Stevenson. Unfortunately neither of these two was about pro wrestling.
Matey Dave:
Nice to see an opinion on Peter Thornley that I can agree with. Remember there was a wrestler who promoted themselves in writing books of fiction. They were designed to keep the myth alive of being a mystic meg. One needs to honest about the mystic fakery of wrestlers, it was an illusion.
Not a UK wrestler
but I have found Bobby Heenans books extremely believable
Thanks so much, BK. Glad you enjoyed my thoughts. Please elaborate on Swedish birds without feathers as I am lost.
In response to your opening question, I certainly think plenty of us would want and enjoy a true book. But our skepticism is so high that it would be hard to believe anything.
Another problem is that the business was so sprawling, across decades and promotions, that no single wrestler is fully equipped to reveal all. Though you yourself seem extremely perceptive on all matters even well beyond the limits of your first-hand experience. We are lucky to have you.
The nearest to an objective and true assessment of Professional Wrestling (so far!) must be Wrestling Heritage.
bkendo1's comment has made me reconsider my flippant but genuinely believed observation as I do think the reply is a disservice to Eddie Rose. Although I guess there must be omissions Eddie's books are written with generosity and without egoism. Sorry Eddie.
Bkendo1's comments about the pipe thrown from the window reminds me of the story of a wrestler being given £5 to buy chips and literally doing so I have heard at least three times with different people involved.
Judo Alf is mentioned by Anglo Italian. His book shows that another reason for unbelievability in books is sometimes the author's lack of knowledge, thinking of Alf saying that Jean Ferre would never get anywhere in wrestling.
Thanks bkendo1, your observations are always helpful and interesting.
interesting as ever Anglo,your observations raised a couple of questions,would everyone want a true fact book on British Wrestling 60s and 70s.Geoff lived and breathed the game his reputation was so important to him,towards the end of his career he railed against a loss against a loss and got the reply take it or go work elsewhere,remember Geoff was a very astute businessman and to take this from whom it came from was incredible,to be honest my reply would have been shove it,in monetary terms Geoff could have done just that but he needed the lights action crowds.The who's who of wrestling caused loads of grief in the game the pull outs by choice and the promoters omissions as demonstration of power,caused unknowns to most punters being included.Some inclusions weren't interviewed and others warned about comments see Swedish birds without feathers.Eddies books are excellent well judged and well written.Nagasakis book I have got but not read yet but I'm sure there are omissions .history is written by the victors.Kents grappling game is funny combo of fact and anecdote the story of the pipe being thrown out of the carriage iv heard at least 10 times in dressing rooms but at least 6 times different players named. Pro wrestlers embellish achievement even to each other and this I believe causes rucks even now between pros. sorry to ramble but I find the view from the seats fascinating
Has there ever been a book we can believe?
No
Dynamite Kid's autobiography is creditworthy and entertaining.