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It's Good to Be the King...Sometimes
A biography of one of the most respected wrestlers in the world, best known for his feud with comedian Andy Kaufman, offers a look at the World Wrestling Federation and reveals stories and secrets from his thirty-year career.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published December 17, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 21, 2012
Being a huge Pro Wrestling fan, I have read a lot of Autobiographies and Non Fiction about wrestling. Having said that, I was a little disappointed in Jerry Lawlers book.
The good parts of the novel were his upbringing and most of his wrestling career. The bad parts had to be the couple parts that I found to be chronologically incorrect and his infatuation with younger women. It's hard to feel sorry for him when he's constantly whining about being lonely and the way he deals with it is to jump relationship to relationship.
The good parts of the novel were his upbringing and most of his wrestling career. The bad parts had to be the couple parts that I found to be chronologically incorrect and his infatuation with younger women. It's hard to feel sorry for him when he's constantly whining about being lonely and the way he deals with it is to jump relationship to relationship.
August 15, 2021
one of several autobiographies that dropped in the wake of mick foley's book have a nice day, which launched the craze (lou thesz had his out earlier, as did a few other elder statesmen, but these were exceptions, not the rule).
a few of the "first wave" autobiographies were good - foley's, ole anderson's, ric flair's, freddie blassie's, billy graham's - but most were cash-in wwe products, total quickies. the quality there varied from ok (steve austin's book was fine) to dismal (kurt angle's past the olympics, all of the rock's, hogan's first of two autobios). this one was merely ok. it starts well enough, with a creative chapter that has JR and lawler "calling" lawler's first match. and lawler's stuff on his early life, right up to the end of his run as a "jobber" for nick gulas, is pretty good.
but then it's as if he and his co-author just started slapping material together. lawler admits he doesn't remember all the feuds he engineered in Memphis, so aside from some good detail toward the middle on the andy kauffman feud and movie, he bounces around from event to event. the book becames unbearable in its final 20%, which has lawler waxing idiotic about his sex addiction (he never drank or smoked; his only vice is sex!), his break-up with "the cat," his pathetic attempts to make her jealous and get her back, and his weird attempts to court teens and twentysomethings to serve as his "valet." the book ends with him back in wwe after his hasty departure over "the cat's" firing. a very strange document, almost a time capsule of lawler's life during this period (he talks about his website, writing "posts" for it, and so on...quite dated).
i drew on bits and pieces of this book to write an obit for brian lawler (and believe me, there are only bits and pieces in here...Lawler wasn't exactly a doting dad), one of his two sons by his first wife (the only kids he ever had, despite getting his vasectomy reversed to try for kids with his second wife Paula, something he worked into a wrestling angle, of course):
https://theoutline.com/post/5710/bria...
and I touched on some of it here in this Kamala obituary as well:
https://www.theringer.com/2020/8/11/2...
a few of the "first wave" autobiographies were good - foley's, ole anderson's, ric flair's, freddie blassie's, billy graham's - but most were cash-in wwe products, total quickies. the quality there varied from ok (steve austin's book was fine) to dismal (kurt angle's past the olympics, all of the rock's, hogan's first of two autobios). this one was merely ok. it starts well enough, with a creative chapter that has JR and lawler "calling" lawler's first match. and lawler's stuff on his early life, right up to the end of his run as a "jobber" for nick gulas, is pretty good.
but then it's as if he and his co-author just started slapping material together. lawler admits he doesn't remember all the feuds he engineered in Memphis, so aside from some good detail toward the middle on the andy kauffman feud and movie, he bounces around from event to event. the book becames unbearable in its final 20%, which has lawler waxing idiotic about his sex addiction (he never drank or smoked; his only vice is sex!), his break-up with "the cat," his pathetic attempts to make her jealous and get her back, and his weird attempts to court teens and twentysomethings to serve as his "valet." the book ends with him back in wwe after his hasty departure over "the cat's" firing. a very strange document, almost a time capsule of lawler's life during this period (he talks about his website, writing "posts" for it, and so on...quite dated).
i drew on bits and pieces of this book to write an obit for brian lawler (and believe me, there are only bits and pieces in here...Lawler wasn't exactly a doting dad), one of his two sons by his first wife (the only kids he ever had, despite getting his vasectomy reversed to try for kids with his second wife Paula, something he worked into a wrestling angle, of course):
https://theoutline.com/post/5710/bria...
and I touched on some of it here in this Kamala obituary as well:
https://www.theringer.com/2020/8/11/2...
September 17, 2020
Conflicted.
I'm a massive wrestling fan and Jerry lawler was a massive part of me falling in love with the business back when I was 10 in 99.
The voice of the attitude era alongside JR.
This is one of the best written wrestling autobiographies I've read. I enjoyed all of the stories from the road, how he got into the business and all of the ups and downs.
I especially enjoyed the Andy Kauffman chapters.
This is easily a 4 star autobiography, so why only 3 stars?
The way Jerry talks about women and the last 100 pages being mostly about his love life are just difficult to digest in 2020. He come across terribly, which is sad to see from somebody who is a genuine polymath wrestling legend.
So yeah, read it if you like wrestling but brace yourself to feel uncomfortable.
6/10
I'm a massive wrestling fan and Jerry lawler was a massive part of me falling in love with the business back when I was 10 in 99.
The voice of the attitude era alongside JR.
This is one of the best written wrestling autobiographies I've read. I enjoyed all of the stories from the road, how he got into the business and all of the ups and downs.
I especially enjoyed the Andy Kauffman chapters.
This is easily a 4 star autobiography, so why only 3 stars?
The way Jerry talks about women and the last 100 pages being mostly about his love life are just difficult to digest in 2020. He come across terribly, which is sad to see from somebody who is a genuine polymath wrestling legend.
So yeah, read it if you like wrestling but brace yourself to feel uncomfortable.
6/10
August 11, 2014
It had some good stories, but Lawler spends a lot of time whining about his ex. Really dragged the book down for me.
June 22, 2022
This one is actually pretty good.
The stories are funny and interesting, the writing is really simple and the insights are fun and cool.
Overall it was a good time.
The stories are funny and interesting, the writing is really simple and the insights are fun and cool.
Overall it was a good time.
March 17, 2014
The WWE released autobiography of Jerry Lawler is a good read that is enjoyable but suffers the same fate as the Flair book by trying to cover a 40 year career in 375 pages.
As a fan of the Memphis wrestling scene I was looking forward to a lot of great stories but it ends up lacking at times. No fault of Lawler as his career could cover several books instead of one.
The book ends on a sad note with the discussion of his marriage ending to Stacy Carter that was still not resolved at the time the book was released. I wish they could have spent more time on his career and stories from his younger years with all the crazy gimmicks and matches that Memphis was known for.
Good book and recommended for any wrestling fans but nothing really that most people did not already know.
As a fan of the Memphis wrestling scene I was looking forward to a lot of great stories but it ends up lacking at times. No fault of Lawler as his career could cover several books instead of one.
The book ends on a sad note with the discussion of his marriage ending to Stacy Carter that was still not resolved at the time the book was released. I wish they could have spent more time on his career and stories from his younger years with all the crazy gimmicks and matches that Memphis was known for.
Good book and recommended for any wrestling fans but nothing really that most people did not already know.
July 7, 2024
A nice read on some great moments in the King’s legendary career. I wish there was more. Lawler’s story, especially through any official WWE release always seems to only touch on the beats. Growing up, getting into the business, beating Jackie Fargo, becoming the King of Memphis wrestling, Andy Kaufman. Going to WWE. Her I am now. I do appreciate that he does touch on his relationship with Stacey Carter as it was recent at the time the book was published, as creepy as King may come off at times. I did also enjoy the couple of paragraphs about the XWF during his hiatus from the WWF as it’s not a topic often discussed.
I enjoyed the stories told here and Jerry Lawler is one of the greatest and most fascinating wrestlers of all time which makes me wish he would have covered more of his illustrious career, especially more stories from his time both in the ring and in the office in Memphis would have been fascinating to hear.
I enjoyed the stories told here and Jerry Lawler is one of the greatest and most fascinating wrestlers of all time which makes me wish he would have covered more of his illustrious career, especially more stories from his time both in the ring and in the office in Memphis would have been fascinating to hear.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2019
As with all wrestling autobiographies, my curiosity and interest in the man-behind-the-character was immensely satisfied throughout my reading of “It’s Good to Be the King … Sometimes” by Jerry Lawler. “The King” did a fantastic job in detailing his professional wrestling career, including the breaks that got him into the fold, his experience as a wrestler, booker, owner, and an announcer, as well as numerous stories away from the ring. Lawler’s honesty comes full-throttle during the retelling of his three marriages and divorces, which somewhat takes away from the rest of the book’s focus but it also reminds the reader that “The King” is just like any other person who gets hurt and emotional from time to time. I would very much like to read a second book from Jerry Lawler, or at the very least watch a documentary concerning his announcing career in the WWE.
March 1, 2014
This man's waters don't run very deep, but I guess mine don't either since I read this. This book is very good if you loved Memphis Wrestling and want to hear its history recounted by a glib, sometimes funny and always shallow ex-wrestler.
October 12, 2015
Horribly written, lacking direction, misogynistic, self-absorbed, all of those things describe this book and its author.
April 16, 2025
Page 358 of this book is one of the most ridiculous things I have read in recent memory. Lawler's third wife "The Kat" Stacy Carter has just broken up with him, and he is on a quest to find another woman to take with him on his upcoming excursion to Trinidad. He makes some calls to his friend Larry Burton and manages to get 20 models to come to his house for an "in-person interview".
Lawler talks about how this took place on 9/11, and how they sat in shock watching the television as the planes crashed into the towers. "It was the most unbelievable and horrifying thing I had ever witnessed on television.", Lawler writes. The next paragraph? How he took a twenty-year-old prospect named Jenni to dinner in the thoughts that he could bone her. Not even al-Qaeda could throw Jerry off when it came to conquests.
I really want to recommend this book. Lawler is one of the great heels in the wrestling business, and a lot of it is how naturally it seems to come to him. He is surely a bad guy, as can be seen in many passages from the book, but the stories of how he did his really famous angles are amazing. The Kaufman stuff, his feuds in CWA, that stuff is all amazing. Even his non-wrestling exploits are mostly interesting, unlike some other wrestlers' autobiographies. The first 29 chapters of this book are great.
And then chapter 30 happens. Lawler explains that he has never drank alcohol, never smoked, and never tried any drugs. He has only one vice - "SEX!". And it's the reason this book can't be considered a great wrestling autobiography.
The final stretches of this book are legitimately some of the most embarrassing and awful confessions ever put to paper. A man in his fucking 50s doing increasingly depraved things to sleep with women in their early 20s. Disgusting shit. He spends less time talking about his whole WWF in-ring career than he does about hooking up with random women just to make himself feel "less lonely".
The first half of this book is highly recommended for territorial wrestling fans. Steer very clear of the second half.
Lawler talks about how this took place on 9/11, and how they sat in shock watching the television as the planes crashed into the towers. "It was the most unbelievable and horrifying thing I had ever witnessed on television.", Lawler writes. The next paragraph? How he took a twenty-year-old prospect named Jenni to dinner in the thoughts that he could bone her. Not even al-Qaeda could throw Jerry off when it came to conquests.
I really want to recommend this book. Lawler is one of the great heels in the wrestling business, and a lot of it is how naturally it seems to come to him. He is surely a bad guy, as can be seen in many passages from the book, but the stories of how he did his really famous angles are amazing. The Kaufman stuff, his feuds in CWA, that stuff is all amazing. Even his non-wrestling exploits are mostly interesting, unlike some other wrestlers' autobiographies. The first 29 chapters of this book are great.
And then chapter 30 happens. Lawler explains that he has never drank alcohol, never smoked, and never tried any drugs. He has only one vice - "SEX!". And it's the reason this book can't be considered a great wrestling autobiography.
The final stretches of this book are legitimately some of the most embarrassing and awful confessions ever put to paper. A man in his fucking 50s doing increasingly depraved things to sleep with women in their early 20s. Disgusting shit. He spends less time talking about his whole WWF in-ring career than he does about hooking up with random women just to make himself feel "less lonely".
The first half of this book is highly recommended for territorial wrestling fans. Steer very clear of the second half.
April 24, 2023
The book offers a comprehensive and entertaining look at Lawler's life and career, from his early days in the wrestling industry to his rise as one of the most iconic and beloved personalities in the business. Lawler is a gifted storyteller and his book is filled with humorous anecdotes and personal insights into the world of professional wrestling.
Throughout the book, Lawler shares his experiences with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Hulk Hogan, Andy Kaufman, and Bret Hart, among others. He also provides an inside look at some of the key moments in his career, such as his legendary feud with comedian Andy Kaufman, his infamous feud with Bret Hart, and his time as a commentator for WWE.
Overall, "It's Good to Be the King...Sometimes" is a well-written and engaging autobiography that provides a fascinating look at the life and career of one of wrestling's most beloved figures. Whether you're a die-hard wrestling fan or simply interested in learning more about this iconic industry, While not the best wrestling book and I don't know why Jerry wrote this book in his early 50's and not now twenty years later, it isn't without merit or interest and is definitely worth a read.
Throughout the book, Lawler shares his experiences with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Hulk Hogan, Andy Kaufman, and Bret Hart, among others. He also provides an inside look at some of the key moments in his career, such as his legendary feud with comedian Andy Kaufman, his infamous feud with Bret Hart, and his time as a commentator for WWE.
Overall, "It's Good to Be the King...Sometimes" is a well-written and engaging autobiography that provides a fascinating look at the life and career of one of wrestling's most beloved figures. Whether you're a die-hard wrestling fan or simply interested in learning more about this iconic industry, While not the best wrestling book and I don't know why Jerry wrote this book in his early 50's and not now twenty years later, it isn't without merit or interest and is definitely worth a read.
June 20, 2025
I bought this book because I am a huge fan of The King, and really enjoy his commentary on TV, and mainly because I wanted the truth behind many of the news stories about him. This book covers every major event in his life, and, where possible, it goes into a lot of depth. He brushes lightly over his infamous court case, which is understandable, and could possibly be for legal reasons, but everything else is insightful and enjoyable to read. I would have preferred more stories about his time in the WWE (or WWF), as the book stemmed to focus on his time in Memphis a lot, but this isn't a big concern as his Memphis exploits are very funny and enjoyable. His tales about the many women in his life is fun to read, and many of the characters he talks about are famous characters, so it is easy to understand and follow the book through. It isn't a classic like the 2 Foley books, but is a very good read, and will while away a rainy Sunday afternoon.
November 29, 2022
I did enjoy this book. It’s a good Wrestling autobiography for sure. Love the detail he goes into on his upbringing and start into wrestling that came from his exceptional drawing talent. I just felt he talks too much about his ex and sex. I mean, we live a good road story and such, but this was just too much towards the end of the book, dragged out too long and made him sound like some sexual pest.
January 5, 2021
Jerry Lawler's book was a fascinating read. A very talented artist in his own right, he went on to become the king of memphis wrestling. He helped created the character Kamala for James 'Sugarbear' Harris. You also read about the unprofessionalism of Jim Carrey on the set of Man on the moon. It also covers his nuptials and unraveling of his marriage when he catches her cheating. Great book.
January 16, 2017
It was a fun read but not as good as other stars' books. King jumps around quite a bit which can be off putting at times. Still has his humor and great history of wrestling in the South. I think this is a book for hardcore wrestling fans.
February 17, 2019
Some good stories from his Memphis days and excellent insight into his classic rivalry with Andy Kaufman. Could have been more stories and depth to his WWF days though. The best colour commentator I've heard, the King's humour comes across well in this book.
October 16, 2023
If you grew up watching Memphis tv on Saturday mornings when the King reigned, you better check this out. Excellent book for anyone into wrestling, Memphis, and pop culture. Insight into Jerry's real world.
May 24, 2022
If you can get through the misogyny - and the second half of the book is steeped in it - this is an illuminating insight into the career of one of pro wrestling’s greatest personalities.
May 30, 2025
easy read. some entertaining stories. nothing soecial
December 14, 2025
I did enjoy this book. The King has some good stories about his wrestling career. The only knock I have is the jumping around timeline wise. Other than that, a must read for wrestling fans.
July 17, 2021
Grew up watching him and Superstar Bill Dundee in Memphis and had nostalgic hopes for some insight to the insanity of those days. It avoids much of that. I remember the Memphis audiences would often participate in the action and sometimes attack the wrestlers. I once seen an elderly woman hit one of the Moondogs with a 5 lb bag of flour she had in he bag. It exploded in an impressive cloud of white dust and he turned to react to the assault with a ready hand and stopped when he saw it was someone's grandmother. The audience reaction in the territory days was part of the entertainment. Jerry Lawler owned furniture stores in the area and was prominently featured in local advertising, he was a beloved figure in the area. As such he seemed more deserving of a genuine biography rather than this WWE material which seems to serve more as advertising for McMahon's enterprise than an actual career retrospective of a once beloved regional star.
October 6, 2013
One of the best thing about the relatively recent dissolution of WCW and the WWE breaking some of the rules of kayfabe was the glut of books that suddenly appeared.
There were a couple of those books that intrigued me. Ric Flair's, of course, which I highly recommend to the wrestling fans. Lawler's probably was the next most intriguing, and I think wrestling fans will enjoy it.
What makes you love or hate Lawler comes out in his writing- great one-liners, the history, the smugness. Jerry's recounting of the late-70's/mid 80's wrestling scene, is pretty interesting to someone who grew up idolizing those men. Of course, the Andy Kauffman story is in there, and is pretty interesting. Lawler's book gets less interesting as he shifts from wrestling anctedotes to stories about his personal life.
I think wrestling fans will find it enjoyable.
There were a couple of those books that intrigued me. Ric Flair's, of course, which I highly recommend to the wrestling fans. Lawler's probably was the next most intriguing, and I think wrestling fans will enjoy it.
What makes you love or hate Lawler comes out in his writing- great one-liners, the history, the smugness. Jerry's recounting of the late-70's/mid 80's wrestling scene, is pretty interesting to someone who grew up idolizing those men. Of course, the Andy Kauffman story is in there, and is pretty interesting. Lawler's book gets less interesting as he shifts from wrestling anctedotes to stories about his personal life.
I think wrestling fans will find it enjoyable.
October 4, 2012
It's hard to slam a book written by one of your all time heroes, so I won't do that. I will say--I enjoyed this book about "The King" breaking into the wrestling business, his early fame, becoming a major star in Memphis and then his success in WWE. I just wish there had been more detail about his famous angles in Memphis and even in WWE. It was a good summary of what happened, but real hardcore fans know that stuff--I wanted more details and insight. However, the stories that did get details, such as the Andy Kaufman angle and his divorce with Stacy Carter, were quite interesting. A fun read, but too much about his life before wrestling and not enough stuff about good ole "Memphis Rasslin"--3 stars, but he's still THE KING!
January 1, 2011
I'm partial to The King, as I grew up in Louisville, KY and some of my earliest memories are of Tuesday night trips to the Louisville Gardens to see USWA Wrestling. (7:30 belltime!) As one of my long-time favorites, hearing about the life and times of the King of Memphis was thoroughly entertaining, and when Lawler reminisces about his time with Andy Kaufman it becomes downright moving. Recommended for wrestling fans - particularly those who remember the "good old days."
December 3, 2021
Jerry the king Lawler is a great artist. You will see his artwork and it's great. He starts off as a country DJ although he likes rock music and later becomes a professional wrestler to meet women. Creatively, Jerry Lawler has created some of the greatest gimmicks and characters that true wrestling fans will know when reading the book.
February 5, 2009
One of my favorite wrestlers, but not one of the best books the WWE has put out. This book is ok, but I would get it from the library and not worry about purchase unless you get it reduced on ebay or something.
January 4, 2012
Good but no great book...not enough insight into his own motivations nor what wrestling is really like behind the scenes. More like a biography and recounting of his life without the insider analysis that would have been more interesting.
August 13, 2008
Stopped reading this one about a third of the way in. I don't know if it was because the prior book was so good, if this book was that bad, or if I'm just tired of reading, but I couldn't go on.
December 2, 2008
Jerry "the King" Lawler was my favorite professional wrestler. Then I read this book. My opinion of him dropped significantly. Still, I enjoyed all the stories of old-school Memphis wrestling.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews