27 Best Wrestling Books

Bret Hart recounts his life inside and outside professional wrestling, drawing on years of recordings made during his career. His memoir explores the industry’s rivalries, life on the road, family conflicts, and the personal costs behind the public performances.

This follow-up memoir picks up after his first bestseller and covers the final stretch of Foley's full-time ring career. He mixes humor and backstage detail while showing how fame, family, and wrestling were starting to collide.

Foley's first memoir mixes backstage wrestling history, painful match stories, and a surprisingly warm voice. He traces his path from obsessed Long Island kid to Mankind, Cactus Jack, and one of wrestling's most unforgettable performers.

Gary Hart recounts his career in professional wrestling, offering a backstage view of Texas wrestling and World Class. His memoir revisits major storylines, relationships with performers, and the plane crash that killed Bobby Shane.

Chris Jericho looks back at his childhood in Winnipeg, his punishing training at the Hart Brothers school, and his chaotic travels through Mexico, Japan, and WCW, all building to his dramatic 1999 debut in WWE.

Lou Thesz recounts his development from a young wrestler in St. Louis into a leading professional champion. Written with Kit Bauman, the memoir explores training, rivalries, promoters, and the business culture of an earlier wrestling era.

Bryan Alvarez and R. D. Reynolds examine how World Championship Wrestling fell from television dominance to collapse. Their account follows the business decisions, backstage problems, and programming failures that preceded its sale to Vince McMahon’s company.

Bobby Heenan recounts his life in professional wrestling and his experiences with figures such as Hulk Hogan, André the Giant, and Vince McMahon. His memoir brings the outspoken manager and commentator’s perspective to the personalities and relationships behind the spectacle.

Lynn Denton recounts thirty-five years in wrestling, from a Texas dance hall to the Monday Night Wars. His memoir follows life as the masked Grappler and offers backstage stories from promotions including Mid-South, World Class, Memphis, and Portland.

Guy Evans investigates the growth and collapse of World Championship Wrestling during the Monday Night Wars. Interviews with wrestlers, executives, and television employees connect programming decisions with corporate uncertainty and the changing business of televised entertainment.

Tom Billington, the Dynamite Kid, recounts his career as a singles wrestler and one half of the British Bulldogs. His experiences in Britain, Japan, and North America expose the injuries and personal costs behind wrestling success.

Picking up where A Lion's Tale ends, Jericho walks through his WWE years, from awkward debut to Undisputed World Champion, mixing backstage politics, feuds with icons like The Rock and Steve Austin, and the rise of his band Fozzy.

Rebecca Quin, known as Becky Lynch, recounts her upbringing in Ireland and her path through training and setbacks to WWE. The memoir explores the person behind the character and her efforts to establish a place for herself.

Eddie Guerrero recounts his journey from a Mexican wrestling family to becoming WWE champion. Alongside stories from his career, he describes addiction, injury, family difficulties, and the faith and determination involved in rebuilding his life.

Ric Flair recounts his rise in professional wrestling and the struggles behind his flamboyant public persona. His career story includes self-doubt, troubled relationships, and backstage experiences, supplemented by recollections from fellow wrestlers and industry figures.

Shawn Michaels reflects on his life in professional wrestling and the Christian faith he credits with changing it. Family relationships, past struggles, and renewed priorities frame an account of personal recovery within a public entertainment career.

Eric Bischoff recounts his rise to leadership at World Championship Wrestling and its competition with Vince McMahon's company. His account covers talent recruitment, television strategy, rapid growth, and the business decisions surrounding WCW's eventual collapse.

Tim Hornbaker traces the decline of North America’s regional wrestling territories as cable television enabled national expansion. He examines Vince McMahon’s talent recruitment and business strategy alongside the decisions of rival promoters trying to preserve their operations.

Heath McCoy traces Calgary's Stampede Wrestling from its early years through its rise and decline. The history follows Stu Hart's promotion, the performers it developed, and the family tensions and industry changes surrounding its fortunes.

Shaun Assael and Mike Mooneyham examine Vince McMahon’s rise and the business behind televised professional wrestling. Their account follows major stars, industry scandals, rivalries, and high-stakes decisions within a culture shaped by secrecy and loyalty.

Jim Ross recounts his journey from an Oklahoma farm to becoming a familiar voice of professional wrestling. His memoir explores the jobs, relationships, industry politics, and encounters with major stars that shaped his long career.

William Regal recalls his beginnings in Blackpool wrestling and his path into major American promotions. The memoir connects the development of his wrestling career with addiction, personal difficulties, and the effort to rebuild his life.

Daniel Bryan recounts his path from a childhood ambition to wrestle through years on the independent circuit and into WWE. He explores the influences, choices, and fan support that culminated in his breakthrough at WrestleMania 30.

Reporter and photographer Bill Apter recalls a career spent around professional wrestling’s major personalities. His stories range from the territorial era to WrestleMania and later WWE, including his involvement in Andy Kaufman’s feud with Jerry Lawler.

Brian Solomon surveys professional wrestling from nineteenth-century carnival attractions to modern televised entertainment. Historical chapters and brief biographies explain its changing eras, notable matches, major performers, and development into a large media business.

Greg Klein traces the life and career of Sylvester Ritter, known as the Junkyard Dog. The biography explores his New Orleans popularity, major feuds, personal life, and role in breaking racial barriers within professional wrestling.

Dick Bourne and Dave Millican trace the creation and history of wrestling’s Big Gold championship belt. Detailed photographs, archival documents, title records, and an interview with Ric Flair explore its craftsmanship and its years representing several world championships.