Awesome Truth: A Wrestling Book Club

We present to you the holy grail of wresting literature: Matthew Randazzo's Ring of Hell. More than just the story of Chris Benoit, it's the story of modern pro wrestling: WCW, WWE, ECW, New Japan, Stampede, Bret and Owen Hart, Kevin Nash, Vince McMahon, Eddie Guerrero. All of these promotions and people shaped Benoit in some capacity, as concussions destroyed his brain and steroids kept him functional enough to destroy the rest of his body and soul. Randazzo somehow captures all of this and more in 330 pages; join us as we discuss how he accomplished this herculean task.

We've finally made it to the Chris Benoit story. It's the most fascinating and horrifying tale in pro wrestling history, one so shocking and tragic that Vice's Dark Side of the Ring gave it a two-part episode. They brought out the big guns here: Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Chavo and Vickie Guerrero, even Benoit's son David. Does the episode redeem Dark Side's shaky reputation in our eyes? Do they capture the twists and turns that make Benoit's atrocious saga so unique? Join us and find out.

If you ever doubted that New Jack was one of the wildest men to step into the squared circle, his new autobiography and recent episode of Dark Side of the Ring should clear those doubts right up. He does not give a f*ck, and his insane stories stand out in a wrestling business full of wild tales. Join us as we discuss the life and legacy of this ECW legend who literally tried to kill several people in the ring.

Another good WWE Network documentary? It's true. This one uses a ton of archival footage to revisit Florida Championship Wrestling, the developmental promotion that brought us Seth Rollins, Big E, Drew McIntyre, and the dearly departed Heath Slater. Join us as we break down WWE's look back at the weird little semi-indie that ended up spawning NXT.

Edge's return at the 2020 Royal Rumble was one of the greatest moments in wrestling history, and now the WWE 24 series is showing us how it all went down. From 2011 through the present day, this documentary is a detailed look at how Adam Copeland accepted his post-wrestling life and then received an unexpected second chance in the ring. Join us we discuss WWE's wonderful use of backstage footage, Edge's legacy in wrestling and, of course, "Metalingus" by Alter Bridge.

The Ruthless Aggression era produced some of WWE's brightest modern stars: Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Batista, and Randy Orton. So it shouldn't be any surprise that the WWE Network docuseries on pro wrestling post-Attitude Era shines the most when it revisits those four during their rise to glory. Join us we break down the first five episodes of WWE Ruthless Aggression, one of the best series the Network has produced.

For almost two decades, Lex Luger was one of the biggest legends and stars in professional wrestling. But like many, his demons caught up with him and his post-wrestling years were a pill-fueled nightmare. Is his autobiography — featuring a few great stories about Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair — required reading? Or does the born-again Christian pull too many punches when describing the mistakes that almost ruined his life?

The 2020 Royal Rumble was one of the best in years, as Edge returned and WWE finally pulled the trigger on new babyface star Drew McIntyre. And the Network documentary on the show is just as good; it's chock full of all the backstage footage that we beg WWE to put out for every big event. Join as we discuss the Rated R Superstar's beloved reappearance, along with the Drew Mac push, MVP's return, and the sadly disappointing women's Rumble.

Khosrow Vaziri, better known as The Iron Sheik, is one of the greatest heels in wrestling history. Everyone remembers his loss to Hulk Hogan that kickstarted Hulkamania, and lots of people follow his current wild persona on social media. But what about the in-between parts? His headline-making arrest with Hacksaw Jim Duggan? His amateur wrestling roots? His crack use? Join us as we dissect this documentary on one of pro wrestling's wildest characters.

Before he came to WWE, Shinsuke Nakamura was a sensation in New Japan Pro Wrestling, first winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at the age of 23. In this semi-autobiography, Nakamura explains how he became a Japanese star, including confrontations with Antonio Inoki, feuds with Hiroshi Tanahashi, and even a match with Brock Lesnar. But does the one-man oral history format hold up for 300 pages? And is Shinsuke interesting enough to deserve a full mid-career book?

The Architect. The Kingslayer. The Beastslayer. Seth Rollins is one of WWE's biggest stars, and he has an array of inorganic nicknames to prove it. But is Rollins a budding legend in the making, or just a thin-skinned grappler who has above-average matches? From two big showdowns against Brock Lesnar to his new relationship with Becky Lynch, the latest installment in the WWE 365 series covers a busy year in Seth's life. Did it make us like him more, or does it only reinforce why he's such a good pissy heel?

Call it the luck of the Irish: Hornswoggle may have written the best wrestling autobiography in years. In his recap of a decade with WWE, Dylan Postl shares his honest opinions on Vince McMahon, CM Punk, Triple H, John Cena, Kofi Kingston, and countless other wrestlers who became his friends and (occasionally) his enemies. We break down what made Hornswoggle such a unique character, and why that uniqueness made his book such a treat to read.

Merry Christmas! To celebrate the holiday, we're heading to Netflix and streaming the pro wrestling episode of The Toys That Made Us, a documentary series that focuses on hit popular toys from the '80s and '90s. From Galoob to Hasbro to Jakks, from the big rubber action figures to WWF Wrestling Buddies, we travel back to the days when Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, and a blue plastic ring were all wrapped and waiting under your Christmas tree.

Bryan Alvarez is beloved by smarks everywhere for his book The Death of WCW and his work with Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Live. Unfortunately, his new book, 100 Things WWE Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, likely won't inspire the same enthusiasm. We break down why, despite terrific chapters on Chris Benoit and WrestleMania III, the format and template don't suit Alvarez's knowledge or style.

Don't be fooled; this isn't just a Kane documentary. Instead, it covers all the buildup to Badd Blood 1997, including the beginning of the legendary feud between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker and the first-ever Hell in a Cell match. But it's also a reminder that Kane might've had the best debut in wrestling history, and that the WWE Network might actually be finding their way with these short docs. Join us as we somehow find more nice words to say about another Network offering.

When Tommaso Ciampa vacated the NXT Championship in March of 2019, wrestling fans everywhere were devastated. Fortunately, the WWE Network cameras were also rolling, which led to the terrific documentary Tommaso Ciampa: blackHEART. It's proof that, despite the horrible WWE Chronicle series, the Network can indeed produce docs that are both emotional and relevant. Join us as we dissect the rise of Ciampa, the glory of NXT, and the joy of a simple, well-told story.

Steve Austin versus Vince McMahon. Hulk Hogan versus Andre the Giant. Bret Hart versus Shawn Michaels. Dolph Ziggler versus The Miz? Not all rivalries are created equal, although WWE Greatest Rivalries would love to convince you otherwise. We dive into this coffee table book of the best feuds in WWE history and rank our favorite showdowns of the last four decades.

After two weeks of AEW Dynamite, NXT on USA, and Friday Night SmackDown, where does the WWE vs AEW war stand? Did WWE's new flagship show change with the move to Fox, or is it more of the same from Vince McMahon and company? And will 5-star Young Bucks matches and unique Chris Jericho promos make a dent in WWE's dominance? Join us as we leave the written word behind and attempt to dissect wrestling history as it happens.

Jim Cornette and graphic novels don't seem like they go together, which made reading Jim Cornette Presents: Behind the Curtain – Real Pro Wrestling Stories an intriguing endeavor. Why did Cornette decide to tell a series of loosely related wrestling stories in a comic book format, ranging from Ric Flair's plane crash to the Montreal Screwjob? And who made him the arbiter of all things kayfabe? Join us as we crack open this comic and break down Cornette's life and legacy in wrestling.

Kofi Kingston's remarkable win at WrestleMania 35 was the feel-good moment of the wrestling decade; to commemorate the occasion, the WWE Network has produced what might be their finest documentary. It's the latest installment in the WWE 24 series, and it follows the WWE Champion as he visits his home country of Ghana after vanquishing Daniel Bryan. Find out why everyone loves the New Day legend, and what his long path to WWE stardom was really like.