Top 10 Wrestling Books

Ok let me rephrase the title just a bit. This latest column is the Top 10 wrestling books I have read. Believe it or not...I haven't read em all, YET! But here is a list of the books that I have and at the end I'll put them in order. 1-10.

Wrestling Books the Booking..GAWD has read

Mick Foley 1
The first ever wrestling book and by far the funniest. I consider this one to be 'The Godfather' of wrestling books. Without it, chances are WWE doesn't publish as many...or any at all. A little too much time is spent writing about growing up, but his sense of humor makes the read easy. It is a long read but don't worry...well worth it in the end.

Mick Foley 2
Foley was toward the end of his run with this book so it is filled with off topic rants. Still entertaining though especially the very beginning when he describes the aftermath of 'I Quit'.

Mick Foley 3
Foley's worst book by far. The concept is interesting with a day by day play by play of his dealings with WWE while teaming with Edge and feuding with Dreamer and Funk. But the book really shows Foley's ego and obsession with name dropping.

Edge
Worst wrestling book I have ever read. The book was published before the whole Matt Hardy/Lita love triangle even took place which just happened to launch his career into super stardom. He wrote it himself...which is painfully obvious. He is an interesting guy, but wrong time for a book. That slut Lita is really missed to spice things up.

Chris Jericho
Second funniest book behind Foley's first. He followed in Foley's footsteps in writing it himself and honestly he is a damn good writer. Great stories as well since he traveled all over the world before making it big and has performed in many different federations. Can't wait for his second book and he has Plenty left to write about.

Bret Hart
What a great book. Like Foley Bret spent a lot of time writing about his childhood with the only difference being Bret Hart's entire life was based around wrestling. So when Foley is talking about playing lacrosse as a teenager, Bret is talking about hearing screams from the dungeon. What I love most is WWE didn't have their hands on this book so Bret wasn't censored one bit.

Martha Hart (based on Owen Hart)
The book is good but only leads to some really sad moments. Like in Bret Hart's book, Martha goes into great detail about how awful the divide in the Hart Family always was...and how it intensified after Owen's death. A real fucked up family...but an enjoyable read.

Stone Cold Steve Austin
As a whole the book is good but short. You really want to get some insight on certain subjects but he seems to just breeze through most of it. Just not enough content to really justify the topic.

Terry Funk
The most interesting thing about this book is Terry Funk is such an iconic figure in wrestling...yet he has an intimate knowledge of the independents and wrestling in places an icon wouldn't be caught dead in. Another short book but definitely an interesting one. Also has some great stories on the road.

Dusty Rhodes
I can't tell you how disappointed I was in Dusty's book. The man is a legend and to be quite honest...the book sucks ass. There really isn't a timeline in the book, it is basically a bunch of stories just thrown together without being in chronological order. He'll go from talking about drinking beer with Murdoch in 71 to shootin squirrels with Funk in 83. Next chapter starts off in 68. Very hard to keep up with and for some reason Dusty feels the need to say Fuck in the oddest moments. Fuck.

Shawn Michaels
If you like controversy, this book is perfect for you. Michaels has a decent story to tell plus his description of how the Screwjob went down is worth the price alone. If you love Micheals, you'll love the book. If you hate him, you'll hate him...but still want to read the book.

Triple H
I was questioning on whether to include this one just because half is a story and half is for working out. My advice, read the story because it's good and skip the workout shit. Being fat rules. Just ask Dusty! Fuck!

Eric Bischoff
Boy does the title "Controversy Creates Cash" really not fit well with the pages inside. If you want to know how BIschoff turned WCW into a profitable company, read this book. If you want to know the ins and outs of how a federation is ran, read this book. If you want Controversy...read HBK's book. Again it is an interesting read, but don't let the title mislead you.

Death of WCW
If only you knew everything was true in this book it would be the greatest piece of literature since the bible (Oh no Sting is gonna come get me now). But everything is either second or third hand knowledge of how things went down and eventually went wrong. Still entertaining to think these things "could" of happened.

History of the NWA
Drink your red bull, put on a pot of coffee, and snort a line of crack....because you are going to need it for this one. If you are REALLY into the history of wrestling like I am, you can get through it and actually learn a lot in the process. If you don't care to know who Sam Muchnick is...go pick up a Batista book.

Ric Flair
The greatest thing about the Flair book, a lot like the Bret Hart book, is it covers so many decades of wrestling. Funk does as well...and Dusty should have if he was coherent, Fuck. But Flair gets into Race, Dusty, Magnum, Hart, Perfect, Bischoff, Austin, Foley, Hogan, Undertaker, Savage, anybody you can think of is mentioned in this piece of literature. Probably the best all around book with its combination of controversial shots and great stories.

Eddie Guerrero
You think the Owen Hart book is sad get a load of these pages. Like Y2j's book he's been all over the world and he's funny so it makes the read flow nicely. But just when you think he has his shit together, Eddie overdoses or crashes his car or in the end dies. Really makes you think if there is even a God out there (oh no HBK is gonna superkick me now). Seriously though, great read...just get ready to say to yourself "What the fuck Eddie? over and over"

Jerry Lawler
Bah, like Dusty the read could have been great. I just really think Lawler is overrated in the history of professional wrestling. He was at best a decent worker and at best a decent commentator. The book ends really bad with his divorce with The Kat and him sounding like a 17 year old boy trying to find a new girlfriend.

Hulk Hogan
Like the HBK book, lots of people love him, lots of people hate him. But you want to read this one. The book has great detail in the beginning but towards the end it seems like someone got lazy. I recommend it though for his thoughts during the genesis of the Hulkamania craze how just how insane his schedule was. You really gain some respect for the man after reading it. Sure you lose it as soon as 97 hits, but hey...at least you gained some.

Ted Dibiase
A nice read but nothing spectacular.

Ok now my personal top 10.

1. Mick Foley 1
2. Bret Hart
3. Chris Jericho
4. Ric Flair
5. Shawn Michaels
6. Eddie Guerrero
7. Death of WCW
8. Hulk Hogan
9. Owen Hart
10. Mick Foley 2

Lance Cade Released

From WWE.com:

World Wrestling Entertainment has come to terms on the release of Raw Superstar Lance Cade as of October 14, 2008. WWE wishes Lance the best in all future endeavors.

So let me get this straight. He is teaming with Trevor Murdoch with their only decent feud coming against the Hardy Boyz...he has a job. They break up the tag team making both members useless...he has a job. They reunite the tag team and do nothing with them...he has a job.

Now you break up the tag team again only to align him with the hottest wrestler in the company during arguably the best feud of the year...and he's gone?

Not sure if anymore details will be released but something tells me this is more than just a budget cut. Val Venis is still employed but Lance Cade just has to go? Why invest so much television time? Was that hardcore match on Raw against Michaels really the payoff for Cade's involvement in the storyline? I guess it has to be...because he is now out of a job.

I guess Jericho was right, the worst was yet to come.

TNA Bound for Glory 4 Predictions

TNA World Title Match:

Samoa Joe © vs. Sting

The last two three months have done wonders for Joe as a champion. Along with his Booker T feud, this storyline with Sting has really gotten him over as a top tier player. I especially like Joe the last few weeks since he didn't have Kevin Nash in his head treating him like a confused child. Samoa Joe is going to win this match without Kevin Nash and in my opinion set up a World Title match against Nash whenever Kevin finally admits he has signed a new contract!

As for Sting? I'm guessing he moves on to the JJ/Angle storyline in a tag team. Sting and Angle Vs. Foley and Jarrett.

Winner: Samoa Joe

TNA Knockouts Title Match:

Taylor Wilde © vs. Awesome Kong vs. Roxxi

I'm really not a big fan of any women's division since I don't believe it sells tickets or adds to ratings....BUT TNA does a solid job of getting over their talent...and their talent does put on decent matches. I'll have Awesome Kong get the belt back!

Winner: Awesome Kong

TNA World Tag Team

Title Monsters Ball Match:

Beer Money © vs. Team 3D vs. LAX vs. Matt Morgan and Abyss:

With Special Referee Steve "Mongo" McMichael

With three special guest referee/enforcers on this card...I find TNA simply retarded. Each one takes away from the importance of the other. And if they aren't that important in the first place...Don't put them on the card! As for the match itself it's going to be friggan insane. I'll take Beer Money to retain since they aren't stale yet like Dudleyz and LAX. Abyss and Morgan are just killing time until the eventual feud between the two.

Winner: Beer Money

TNA X-Division Title Match:

Sheik Abdul Bashir © vs. Consequences Creed

Surprise surprise TNA pushes a wrestler from WWE. That nitpicking aside they have booked Bashir better than WWE ever could have...so good for him. He's actually important and looks like a threat. The match should be fun but Bashir is going to hold on to the title for a while.

Winner: Sheik Abdul Bashir

Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett:

With Special Ringside Enforcer Mick Foley

My only hope is the match can actually live up to the promos leading up to it. The promos have been 'best of the year' quality but I doubt the match can do that. Angle can still go when his head isn't about to fall off so the real wild card is Jarrett. But it's the biggest PPV of the year and this is Jarrett's baby, I have a feeling he'll make it happen tonight.

I'm actually fearful of a Mick Foley heel turn since every WWE star debuts as a face and turns heel (Cage, Booker, Angle,etc). Angle needs to win in order for the feud to keep going if that's in the plans.

Winner: Kurt Angle

AJ Styles vs. Christian Cage vs. Booker T

I was hoping that the big heel turn by Cage would come at the expense of a Styles/Cage storyline alone, but I assume they need something for Booker T to do. At least Cage isn't a full blown heel yet so there is still time. If I was booking? This Cage/AJ styles storyline would be a top one in TNA while Booker T could continue his mini storyline with Jay Lethal. Believe me, Black Machismo could use Book's rub more than two former World Champions.

Styles should pin Cage setting up their proper one on one feud. Or better yet, Styles steals the pin from Cage's finishing move...that way Cage doesn't have to take the loss.

Winner: A.J Styles

OBD, Rhaka Khan and Rhino vs. Angelina Love, Velvet Sky and Cute Kip

With Special Referee Traci Brooks

Again TNA has done a nice job of booking the ladies and this time it actually helped get over Kip and Rhino who haven't been important in quite some time. The heels should win, but I'll take the faces to get the crowd in a good mood early.

Winner: OBD, Rhaka Khan, and Rhino

The Steel Asylum Match:

Likely Participants: Shark Boy, Super Eric, Curry Man, Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, Chris Sabin, Alex Shelley, Petey Williams, Johnny Devine, and Jimmy Rave

This will be a fantastic spot fest but the guy with most potential in the match is Jay Lethal. He should win it.

Winner: Black Machismo

This is actually a very well thought out PPV. I'm thinking Nash has been denying his signing with the company so his comeback tonight will be a surprise. Either way I don't get to say this that often...but TNA..job well done!

-Mike