What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hardcore Truth: The Bob Holly Story
Long before he became "Hardcore Holly," Robert Howard was a fighter. From humble beginnings to fame as an internationally known superstar, The Hardcore Truth tells the story of Bob's life including his 16 years working for Vince McMahon. In this rollercoaster tale of success and frustration, replete with missed opportunities, broken promises and a broken neck, Bob shares his uncompromising views on the present wrestling landscape with fascinating insights into the world leader in sports entertainment
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
26 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
December 15, 2013
The Hardcore Truth is the biography of recently-retired wrestler, Bob "Hardcore" Holly.
During my decades of wrestling fandom, Bob Holly was always in my periphery, never one of my favorites but always a wrestler I knew would deliver the goods in the ring. After reading this, I wish I would have watched Bob more closely.
Unlike a lot of wrestling books, Bob's in the ring by the 10% mark. While I thought his dirt poor upbringing, teenage fatherhood, and fighting in toughman boxing matches in was interesting, I'm glad he focused on what made me want to read the book in the first place.
Bob doesn't pull any punches in the book, as befits his hard-hitting style in the ring. He doesn't glamorize his early days in WOW working for Bob Sweetan, nor his short stint as a job guy in WCW. Unlike a lot of guys other than Mick Foley, Bob says Ric was kind of a dick backstage. From there, Bob went to Smokey Mountain Wrestling for Jim Cornette and wound up dropping out of wrestling for a couple years to be a welder during the week and race cars on the weekends.
Bob eventually got the call from the WWF and wound up working there for 15 years. Remember what I said earlier about Bob not pulling punches? Bob calls it like he sees it and covers pretty much every significant WWF/WWE event from those 15 years, like the Clique running things backstage, Jeff Jarrett gettings special treatment because of his father, HHH holding talent down, the deaths of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit, and much, much more.
I can't stress enough how straight ahead Bob is in this book. He talks about drugs, how much people were getting paid, who he liked, who he hated, and what he thought the company did wrong and what they did right. It's a really entertaining read and certainly kept my attention on a snowy Saturday afternoon.
There's not a hell of a lot more I can say about it without spoiling it. If you're at all interested in professional wrestling, you'll want to read this. For years, I have been touting Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom and Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore as the wrestling books to buy. Now I'll have to start recommending this one as well. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
During my decades of wrestling fandom, Bob Holly was always in my periphery, never one of my favorites but always a wrestler I knew would deliver the goods in the ring. After reading this, I wish I would have watched Bob more closely.
Unlike a lot of wrestling books, Bob's in the ring by the 10% mark. While I thought his dirt poor upbringing, teenage fatherhood, and fighting in toughman boxing matches in was interesting, I'm glad he focused on what made me want to read the book in the first place.
Bob doesn't pull any punches in the book, as befits his hard-hitting style in the ring. He doesn't glamorize his early days in WOW working for Bob Sweetan, nor his short stint as a job guy in WCW. Unlike a lot of guys other than Mick Foley, Bob says Ric was kind of a dick backstage. From there, Bob went to Smokey Mountain Wrestling for Jim Cornette and wound up dropping out of wrestling for a couple years to be a welder during the week and race cars on the weekends.
Bob eventually got the call from the WWF and wound up working there for 15 years. Remember what I said earlier about Bob not pulling punches? Bob calls it like he sees it and covers pretty much every significant WWF/WWE event from those 15 years, like the Clique running things backstage, Jeff Jarrett gettings special treatment because of his father, HHH holding talent down, the deaths of Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit, and much, much more.
I can't stress enough how straight ahead Bob is in this book. He talks about drugs, how much people were getting paid, who he liked, who he hated, and what he thought the company did wrong and what they did right. It's a really entertaining read and certainly kept my attention on a snowy Saturday afternoon.
There's not a hell of a lot more I can say about it without spoiling it. If you're at all interested in professional wrestling, you'll want to read this. For years, I have been touting Pure Dynamite: The Price You Pay for Wrestling Stardom and Terry Funk: More Than Just Hardcore as the wrestling books to buy. Now I'll have to start recommending this one as well. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
July 16, 2014
Bob Howard spent nearly fifteen years performing all over the world as “Hardcore Holly”, a tough-guy wrestler in WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). After retiring in 2010, Holly chose to write a memoir detailing his time in the business. While Holly didn’t achieve true superstardom, he was a loyal, dependable worker who maintained a featured spot during wrestling’s hottest period – the late 1990s and beyond.
What sets The Hardcore Truth apart from other wrestling memoirs is Holly’s flat-out brutal honesty. He’s a man who admits that had he played the political game backstage, he might have achieved greater success but by staying honest to who he was, he has no one to blame but himself. It was refreshing given that the majority of these books tend to fall into the “poor me” category and fault is placed on just about everyone else’s shoulders other than the performer. At times, it does feel like he’s straying a little into humble brag territory but the majority of what he says here can be backed up with facts.
When I say he’s brutally honest, I mean it. Holly does nothing to hide his feelings about Paul Levesque (a.k.a WWE performer Triple H), the executive vice president of talent, live events and creative. It’s been suggested by many others that Levesque has done more harm to the business over the years than good and while Holly sings the praises of his ability as a performer, he vilifies him as a businessman and backstage politician. The same goes for performers Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall (Razor Ramon) and Kevin Nash (Diesel) who terrorized the locker room during their run on top in the mid 1990s. This leads to Holly detailing who he believes received a raw deal and who also deserved better during that time.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the sections devoted to his racing career but given that it is a relatively big part of his life that did in fact lead to Holly getting his foot in the door of WWE, you can’t expect it to be left out. Thankfully, like his life before wrestling, it’s only a small portion of the book.
Overall, there’s some great stories involving Holly standing up to management, schooling rookies and a plethora of other backstage shenanigans littered throughout the book. It’s an enjoyable read that offers up a glimpse into the life of a solid mid-card performer that isn’t often seen in the number of wrestling memoirs that get released.
Also posted @ Every Read Thing
What sets The Hardcore Truth apart from other wrestling memoirs is Holly’s flat-out brutal honesty. He’s a man who admits that had he played the political game backstage, he might have achieved greater success but by staying honest to who he was, he has no one to blame but himself. It was refreshing given that the majority of these books tend to fall into the “poor me” category and fault is placed on just about everyone else’s shoulders other than the performer. At times, it does feel like he’s straying a little into humble brag territory but the majority of what he says here can be backed up with facts.
When I say he’s brutally honest, I mean it. Holly does nothing to hide his feelings about Paul Levesque (a.k.a WWE performer Triple H), the executive vice president of talent, live events and creative. It’s been suggested by many others that Levesque has done more harm to the business over the years than good and while Holly sings the praises of his ability as a performer, he vilifies him as a businessman and backstage politician. The same goes for performers Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall (Razor Ramon) and Kevin Nash (Diesel) who terrorized the locker room during their run on top in the mid 1990s. This leads to Holly detailing who he believes received a raw deal and who also deserved better during that time.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the sections devoted to his racing career but given that it is a relatively big part of his life that did in fact lead to Holly getting his foot in the door of WWE, you can’t expect it to be left out. Thankfully, like his life before wrestling, it’s only a small portion of the book.
Overall, there’s some great stories involving Holly standing up to management, schooling rookies and a plethora of other backstage shenanigans littered throughout the book. It’s an enjoyable read that offers up a glimpse into the life of a solid mid-card performer that isn’t often seen in the number of wrestling memoirs that get released.
Also posted @ Every Read Thing
September 24, 2014
It's quite rare to find an autobiography, much less one by someone in the notoriously dishonest business of professional wrestling that both comes across as genuine and can change your opinion of someone for the better.
Bob Holly's book manages both. He comes across as honest and straightforward, even likeable in a curmudgeonly sort of way. His side of the story doesn't always seem to give the full picture but it certainly seems to be his opinion, willingly and simply shared.
Given the length of his WWF career (1994-2009) he has plenty of stories to share and he goes over all the major issues and events (his Chris Benoit chapter is especially interesting) giving his thoughts on all the main players and weighing in on things like the nonsensical company dress code, how much he earned in his early days and the infamously opaque wellness policy.
Despite how poorly he obviously feels the company treated him at times, Holly has nothing bad to say about Vince McMahon, the man who ultimately made all the decisions, perhaps because of Vince's generosity in one of the book's very best stories. Not the best wrestling book I've ever read but very (surprisingly) high on the list.
Bob Holly's book manages both. He comes across as honest and straightforward, even likeable in a curmudgeonly sort of way. His side of the story doesn't always seem to give the full picture but it certainly seems to be his opinion, willingly and simply shared.
Given the length of his WWF career (1994-2009) he has plenty of stories to share and he goes over all the major issues and events (his Chris Benoit chapter is especially interesting) giving his thoughts on all the main players and weighing in on things like the nonsensical company dress code, how much he earned in his early days and the infamously opaque wellness policy.
Despite how poorly he obviously feels the company treated him at times, Holly has nothing bad to say about Vince McMahon, the man who ultimately made all the decisions, perhaps because of Vince's generosity in one of the book's very best stories. Not the best wrestling book I've ever read but very (surprisingly) high on the list.
August 3, 2014
I grew up in Tampa and was a regular watcher of Championship Wrestling from Florida, hosted by Gordon Solie. This was back in the 70s with wrestlers like Cowboy Bill Watts, Dusty Rhodes, Bob Roop, and Dick Slater to name a few. Sometimes my friends and I would manage to convince one of our dads to take us to the Tuesday night matches at the armory in Tampa where we could really see the heels and baby-faces go at it in the smoke and dingy seats with a rabid crowd around us. There was usually a chair or a bull-rope and cowbell involved in a match, or the best kind had a steel cage. Our moms always told us it was fake, but to us there was nothing fake about the experience of seeing these guys in person putting body and limb on the line week after week, promo after promo, providing us with one-liners and bionic elbows to drop on each other in our backyards during those long hot summer months. And if we were lucky to see Dusty Rhodes walking with his girlfriend at the mall, or see Jerry Brisco at shopping the Winn Dixie, it was a reminder that we lived among larger than life heroes and villains. Years later a Russian heel moved into the cul-de-sac next door to a friend of mines girlfriend. We'd see him sometimes mowing his lawn or playing with his two small children in his front yard, speaking without his Russian accent. Then on Saturday's TV show, this same guy who walked behind his child on her tricycle would be slamming a Russian flag across some jobber's head.
Remembering this stuff from my youth explains a lot in why I enjoyed reading this book by Bob Holly. I tuned in and out of the WWF while during his career, but know who most of the characters are in his book. I also remember the TV wars between WWF and WCW - which to my mind was really just the NWA with more money behind it. It's a view of the business from the inside that will appeal to both old and new fans.
Remembering this stuff from my youth explains a lot in why I enjoyed reading this book by Bob Holly. I tuned in and out of the WWF while during his career, but know who most of the characters are in his book. I also remember the TV wars between WWF and WCW - which to my mind was really just the NWA with more money behind it. It's a view of the business from the inside that will appeal to both old and new fans.
September 10, 2017
I grew up during the Attitude era and always liked the Holly 'family' which was led by Hardcore Holly.
This was probably WWE at it's peak. Talent such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, to name a few, were in their primes and the competition with WCW provided plenty of motivation for the company to evolve.
Amongst it all Hardcore Holly was a perennial figure. Despite never quite getting the big push he felt he deserved he played a big role in developing some of the top talents.
Always billed as a no-nonsense wrestler the book reflects his onscreen persona. Pulling no punches Hardcore tells you the story from his unique perspective. Triple H is heavily criticised throughout although Hardcore does tell an amusing story where he took the locker room to the zoo.
I enjoyed the book from start to finish and would recommend to anyone who is a fan of professional wrestling.
This was probably WWE at it's peak. Talent such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels, to name a few, were in their primes and the competition with WCW provided plenty of motivation for the company to evolve.
Amongst it all Hardcore Holly was a perennial figure. Despite never quite getting the big push he felt he deserved he played a big role in developing some of the top talents.
Always billed as a no-nonsense wrestler the book reflects his onscreen persona. Pulling no punches Hardcore tells you the story from his unique perspective. Triple H is heavily criticised throughout although Hardcore does tell an amusing story where he took the locker room to the zoo.
I enjoyed the book from start to finish and would recommend to anyone who is a fan of professional wrestling.
June 11, 2013
Synopsis: 16 years in the biggest professional wrestling company in the world. A cornerstone of the famed WWE Attitude era. A hard-hitting fighter. A bully. A stooge. One of wrestling's bad guys. Bob "Hardcore" Holly had one hell of a bad reputation. Here, he opens up, and his as hard with his words as he does with his fists. Uncompromising, brutally honest, eye-opening, and refreshing. Find the truth about the Hardcore one...
Let's be honest. Chances are if you're looking at this book, you're a wrestling fan. Maybe feeling nostalgic for the legendary Attitude era. And, in all probability, you want to know more about the wrestling, and what happened backstage than the early parts of the author's life. That's pretty standard. And, unlike some other wrestlers, you'd like a book with a little substance, accuracy, and honesty.
Well, there's good news and bad news then. You can pick your own from the following:
Bob Holly's book clocks in at around the 300 page mark. Bob is very, very passionate about his racing days, and discusses them in some detail. He also covers his childhood, early life (from marriage, fatherhood, brawling for money), and getting started in professional wrestling.
And, once he gets started on the wrestling side of things, he does not hold back. What is surprising, however, is that his honesty is well balance. There's a lot of people on his bad side - for example, he has a number of very, very harsh words for Triple H. Incredibly, he also has some very positive things to say as well.
In the course of the book, Holly gives his opinions on everyone - from Kevin Nash, Crash Holly, Chris Benoit, Vince McMahon, Trish Stratus and more. In every story, he comes across as a straight-forward, no nonsense, no bullshit kind of guy. The book itself reads like sitting down with Bob over a beer.
Of note, Bob also covers the infamous Matt Cappotelli incident on MTV. Not wishing to spoil it, but definitely worth a read.
Admittedly, wrestlers have a reputation for being... "creative" with the truth (Hulk Hogan being one of the worst examples). It's entirely possible that Bob is guilty of doing the same thing, but he comes across so well that his tales read credibly.
For me, the top wrestling biographies are Bret Hart, Chris Jericho and Mick Foley - the self-written ones. Of those written with co-writers, Bob Holly's is way up there, and serves as a fascinating insight into the business. Well worth a look.
(Is that OK, Bob? You won't hit me now, will you?)
Let's be honest. Chances are if you're looking at this book, you're a wrestling fan. Maybe feeling nostalgic for the legendary Attitude era. And, in all probability, you want to know more about the wrestling, and what happened backstage than the early parts of the author's life. That's pretty standard. And, unlike some other wrestlers, you'd like a book with a little substance, accuracy, and honesty.
Well, there's good news and bad news then. You can pick your own from the following:
Bob Holly's book clocks in at around the 300 page mark. Bob is very, very passionate about his racing days, and discusses them in some detail. He also covers his childhood, early life (from marriage, fatherhood, brawling for money), and getting started in professional wrestling.
And, once he gets started on the wrestling side of things, he does not hold back. What is surprising, however, is that his honesty is well balance. There's a lot of people on his bad side - for example, he has a number of very, very harsh words for Triple H. Incredibly, he also has some very positive things to say as well.
In the course of the book, Holly gives his opinions on everyone - from Kevin Nash, Crash Holly, Chris Benoit, Vince McMahon, Trish Stratus and more. In every story, he comes across as a straight-forward, no nonsense, no bullshit kind of guy. The book itself reads like sitting down with Bob over a beer.
Of note, Bob also covers the infamous Matt Cappotelli incident on MTV. Not wishing to spoil it, but definitely worth a read.
Admittedly, wrestlers have a reputation for being... "creative" with the truth (Hulk Hogan being one of the worst examples). It's entirely possible that Bob is guilty of doing the same thing, but he comes across so well that his tales read credibly.
For me, the top wrestling biographies are Bret Hart, Chris Jericho and Mick Foley - the self-written ones. Of those written with co-writers, Bob Holly's is way up there, and serves as a fascinating insight into the business. Well worth a look.
(Is that OK, Bob? You won't hit me now, will you?)
April 28, 2013
What truth: Many times, the hardest working people don't get rewarded for that work. It sucks and it's tough to see politics get others ahead of you when you're busting your ass, and Bob Holly's story was that over and over again. That was the overall theme of the book, but in its near 300 pages, there were TONS of stories about the biggest events/tragedies in wrestling since the mid 90s. Holly was with WWE for 15 years and was around for all the scandals, deaths (Owen/Eddie/Benoit), and most of all--the shady politics. His run-ins with "The Clique" as well as attempt after attempt to get ahead in a thankless business was fascinating to read about as a life long wrestling fan. I can't recommend this one enough. In the wrestling books world, this is one of the best. 5 stars.
April 24, 2013
This is definitely one of the better wrestling autobiographies out there. Just like in really life, Bob Holly pulls no punches here and is brutally and refreshingly honest about his time in the WWE. Much has been made of Holly being a bully backstage, and this is something he explores in great detail in his book. The famous beating of Rene Dupree and his alleged sandbagging of Brock Lesner also get a look in. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all wrestling fans. Be prepared to have your opinion of Bob Holly changed. How do you like me now indeed!
April 11, 2013
I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the hardcore truth. I went into this book now knowing what to expect. The hardcore truth starts off with Bob detailing his childhood and how he got started with wrestling and it ends with his release from the WWE. The writing style is blunt and to the point. I really enjoyed this writing style because it reflects Bob's personality. This is a fairly easy and fast read that will hold your attention through the entire book.
December 21, 2017
Honest to the core, in-your-face and humble, just as Bob Howard himself is; this book really surprised me. Hardcore lives up to his name and does not back up on every issue he encountered, from his tough upcoming to his lenghty pro wrestling carreer. Every quite a while he has a chapter for some interesting advices, also. Hate or love what he says, he make you always keep reading for more heartfelt and sincere storiers or opinions.
August 6, 2013
This got an instant 5 stars from me when I read the line "Nash is the biggest seven-foot-tall pussy I've ever seen in my life". Genuinely, one of the best wrestling books I've read. Holly is refreshingly honest, doesn't sugar coat his opinions on anybody, and gives great insight into famous incidents of wrestling's past - because he was there to see it all. A must-read for wrestling fans.
August 30, 2013
This was a very good book. There were alot of enteresting story's but... There were also some parts that i though were a little boring like the car racing chapters but other than that it was a very good book i deffently recommened it.
March 1, 2022
As a fan of the WWF from the 80's to the early 00's I saw a lot of Bob Holly's work and he always struck me as a solid mid carder that never quite reached his potential. Great athlete obviously. I picked up his autobiography as the latest in a long line of wrestler bios I've been reading because I thought it'd be great to see the POV of someone who had been around for 15 years in that locker room
It's an interesting book for sure. This is a guy who busted his ass trying to break into the industry and I respect him for that. Once he made it into the WWF, the rest of the book details the storylines he was given and his opinion on the angles and personalities in the company from the mid 90's until he left in the latter part of the 2000's
While that sounds all well and good, interesting doesn't necessarily mean enjoyable. I disagree with all the five star reviews here because this book has a heck of a lot of negativity in it. Holly seems to want to use this as a platform to rip into the many, many people that he perceives as having wronged him, as well as those that he feels were less talented, but still pushed above him on the WWE ladder. I get it, it's his bio and he can say whatever he wants, but that doesn't make it fun to read. He largely blames backstage politics and interference for his failure to ever rise above mid card status during his 15 year run. I can see there's probably some truth to that - he certainly got the short end of the stick in some horrible gimmicks (New Midnight Express? seriously?) but so have a lot of other guys who have eventually risen to the top. I remember how Austin and the Rock started out and they had awful gimmicks too. The difference being those guys were not only great athletes, but great talkers.
In any case, Holly's got nothing to be ashamed of. He made it to the biggest wrestling company in the world and stayed there a long time. I'm glad he was able to retire before he suffered an injury that could have left him in a wheelchair and I hope he's enjoying life after pro wrestling.
It's an interesting book for sure. This is a guy who busted his ass trying to break into the industry and I respect him for that. Once he made it into the WWF, the rest of the book details the storylines he was given and his opinion on the angles and personalities in the company from the mid 90's until he left in the latter part of the 2000's
While that sounds all well and good, interesting doesn't necessarily mean enjoyable. I disagree with all the five star reviews here because this book has a heck of a lot of negativity in it. Holly seems to want to use this as a platform to rip into the many, many people that he perceives as having wronged him, as well as those that he feels were less talented, but still pushed above him on the WWE ladder. I get it, it's his bio and he can say whatever he wants, but that doesn't make it fun to read. He largely blames backstage politics and interference for his failure to ever rise above mid card status during his 15 year run. I can see there's probably some truth to that - he certainly got the short end of the stick in some horrible gimmicks (New Midnight Express? seriously?) but so have a lot of other guys who have eventually risen to the top. I remember how Austin and the Rock started out and they had awful gimmicks too. The difference being those guys were not only great athletes, but great talkers.
In any case, Holly's got nothing to be ashamed of. He made it to the biggest wrestling company in the world and stayed there a long time. I'm glad he was able to retire before he suffered an injury that could have left him in a wheelchair and I hope he's enjoying life after pro wrestling.
May 21, 2019
This book came highly recommended on a wrestling podcast I listen to named the New Generation podcast (which, in turn, I would highly recommend). I've never been a huge fan of Hardcore Holly, but I didn't dislike him either. I've always been kind of indifferent about him. Looking back on his stuff now, especially after reading this book, I realize how he's yet another casualty of WWE's tendency to waste talent. He may not have been World Champion material, but he could have been much more of a higher profile mid-carder at minimum, but he was neglected by management and his own reluctance to rock the boat.
Either way, his book is an interesting, honest glimpse into the world of professional wrestling. His opinions about other wrestlers seem harsh, but fair. The book is a little slow to start, when he covers his life before WWE, which quite frankly, isn't all that interesting. He was welder who raced cars as a hobby. Neat if you're into those things, I guess. Thankfully he doesn't go into excruciating detail about either vocation and stays locked into wrestling when he gets to that point of his career.
If you're into wrestling, you might be surprised at how much you get out of this book. It's well worth checking out.
Either way, his book is an interesting, honest glimpse into the world of professional wrestling. His opinions about other wrestlers seem harsh, but fair. The book is a little slow to start, when he covers his life before WWE, which quite frankly, isn't all that interesting. He was welder who raced cars as a hobby. Neat if you're into those things, I guess. Thankfully he doesn't go into excruciating detail about either vocation and stays locked into wrestling when he gets to that point of his career.
If you're into wrestling, you might be surprised at how much you get out of this book. It's well worth checking out.
April 7, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. It will go down as one of my favourite wrestling reads, it’s just brilliant.
I didn’t know what to expect from this one. I bought it on a whim and heard good things about it by others, but boy did it live up to expectations and then some. This is a story of a constant mid-card wrestler who never got that big break in his career. It’s funny really, but when I look back at my time watching wrestling, I would always consider Hardcore Holly one of those guys who deserved more.
I’m not saying World Champion, but he deserved a decent run with the IC/US Title, or a top tier für at least. He’s a solid worker and a tough guy. One thing that does seem to come across in this book is absolute bitterness and I love it. I don’t believe he uses it as an excuse, but just more to talk shit on those he didn’t like... which is usually Triple H.
Hearing the stories, the truths and the ongoings behind the scenes and in the ring from someone like Hardcore Holly is priceless. He was never a top guy or has been remembered as such, which is a shame. But this story speaks volumes and shows the struggles for a guy like Holly. After reading this book, I learned to respect Holly a lot more. This is a definite read for all wrestling fans. Outstanding!
I didn’t know what to expect from this one. I bought it on a whim and heard good things about it by others, but boy did it live up to expectations and then some. This is a story of a constant mid-card wrestler who never got that big break in his career. It’s funny really, but when I look back at my time watching wrestling, I would always consider Hardcore Holly one of those guys who deserved more.
I’m not saying World Champion, but he deserved a decent run with the IC/US Title, or a top tier für at least. He’s a solid worker and a tough guy. One thing that does seem to come across in this book is absolute bitterness and I love it. I don’t believe he uses it as an excuse, but just more to talk shit on those he didn’t like... which is usually Triple H.
Hearing the stories, the truths and the ongoings behind the scenes and in the ring from someone like Hardcore Holly is priceless. He was never a top guy or has been remembered as such, which is a shame. But this story speaks volumes and shows the struggles for a guy like Holly. After reading this book, I learned to respect Holly a lot more. This is a definite read for all wrestling fans. Outstanding!
April 29, 2025
As a lifelong wrestling fan, I didn’t usually spend much time thinking about Bob Holly. He was just there. But he had a 15-year run in the WWF/E, and he’s always been outspoken, controversial, and unapologetic.
That’s what makes Bob Holly’s book one of the best wrestling books I’ve read. I’ve found that some of the best books about the wrestling business come from those who haven’t had the most successful careers in terms of money or status. It comes from the lifers, who have experienced a lot and seen a lot.
Bob Holly doesn’t hold back in this book. His book is called The Hardcore Truth. Because he doesn’t want to wrestle again, it makes for a compelling and honest read. You know exactly how he feels about someone, and he tells you why he likes a wrestler or why he doesn’t like a wrestler. He also has valid reasons for why he feels the way he does. This book was a breath of fresh air, because he’s unfiltered without coming across as bitter or angry. He’s also self-aware about things he could have done differently or opportunities that passed him by. This book was a real page-turner and immensely entertaining.
That’s what makes Bob Holly’s book one of the best wrestling books I’ve read. I’ve found that some of the best books about the wrestling business come from those who haven’t had the most successful careers in terms of money or status. It comes from the lifers, who have experienced a lot and seen a lot.
Bob Holly doesn’t hold back in this book. His book is called The Hardcore Truth. Because he doesn’t want to wrestle again, it makes for a compelling and honest read. You know exactly how he feels about someone, and he tells you why he likes a wrestler or why he doesn’t like a wrestler. He also has valid reasons for why he feels the way he does. This book was a breath of fresh air, because he’s unfiltered without coming across as bitter or angry. He’s also self-aware about things he could have done differently or opportunities that passed him by. This book was a real page-turner and immensely entertaining.
May 18, 2019
Take a read through any chapter in Bob Holly’s autobiography “The Hardcore Truth” and you tell me that any other wrestling book out there can match Holly’s outspokenness on this industry. I would argue that there’s not many chapters, let alone entire books, that can equal those found in this book right here! Hardcore Holly speaks out on all the usual avenues featured in wrestling autobiographies and then some, with utter straightforwardness, lose-the-sugarcoating on matters such as The Kliq (most notably Triple H), the importance and unrealized potential of jobbers, the effect of how management decides who gets the push and big money, his salary, and various locker room and traveling stories. It makes no difference that Holly never laid claim to a major championship in his lengthy career - his role as a respected locker room leader and his willingness to share pretty much everything with the fans makes this book one of the very best wrestling autobiographies, by far! All future such authors, take note at how it should be done.
June 26, 2017
This one is probably my favorite out of the wrestler autobiographies. Jericho's "The Best In The World" is a very very close second, but I think I need to read his other books to get his whole story.
Was never my favorite wrestler but his story is entertaining and feels legit. He has his opinions but he didn't come off bitter and sour like Bret Hart did in his book. Hearing the story of the new generation and the attitude era from the viewpoint of a mid carder was pretty cool. I like how Holly would tell you the whole story of a person and not judge anyone from one bad experience. He often talked of Triple H's confusing behavior. He remarks on Triple H's tendency to only push certain people and hold down other talent, but also remarked on Triple H's giving side, giving credit where it's earned.
He give the full story as he saw it. It was an easy book to get through and I was disappointed that I finished it so quickly.
Was never my favorite wrestler but his story is entertaining and feels legit. He has his opinions but he didn't come off bitter and sour like Bret Hart did in his book. Hearing the story of the new generation and the attitude era from the viewpoint of a mid carder was pretty cool. I like how Holly would tell you the whole story of a person and not judge anyone from one bad experience. He often talked of Triple H's confusing behavior. He remarks on Triple H's tendency to only push certain people and hold down other talent, but also remarked on Triple H's giving side, giving credit where it's earned.
He give the full story as he saw it. It was an easy book to get through and I was disappointed that I finished it so quickly.
December 29, 2024
If you know who Hardcore Holly is, you will like this book. If you do not, you won’t.
If you know who he is and you’re still curious, this book is better than you’d expect. He’s led an interesting life, he’s a good storyteller, and this is the first book I’ve read from the career-mid career perspective. That said, it’s not well-written; in fact, I’ve never read an as-told-to book before that was so obviously a lightly edited transcript of conversations between the author and the “author.” Also, the marketing behind this book focuses on him dispelling the myth that he’s an asshole. Well, after pretty much every here’s-my-side-of-the-story anecdote, I kind of felt like he was being an asshole. Fun read though.
If you know who he is and you’re still curious, this book is better than you’d expect. He’s led an interesting life, he’s a good storyteller, and this is the first book I’ve read from the career-mid career perspective. That said, it’s not well-written; in fact, I’ve never read an as-told-to book before that was so obviously a lightly edited transcript of conversations between the author and the “author.” Also, the marketing behind this book focuses on him dispelling the myth that he’s an asshole. Well, after pretty much every here’s-my-side-of-the-story anecdote, I kind of felt like he was being an asshole. Fun read though.
December 16, 2017
It hurt to read this book, but sometimes sadness is good. "Hardcore" Holly was a strong mid-card wrestler who always gave a good performance, winning when he could, jobbing when he had to. This book was brutally honest. He always spoke from his soul. There is bitterness here, there is life here, there is the good, the bad and the ugly. He put his all into wrestling and ended up with very little financially. The next time I watch one of his historical brawls, I'm raise a toast to someone giving his all, always entertained me, and got some fan support and a few pennies. Thanks for your work Bob. I'll remember you fondly.
April 30, 2018
It has to be a very specific subject matter, to even make me consider reading a autobiography. The Hardcore Truth just so happens to encapsulate one of my main interests, the history of wrestling.
Bob Hollys book is brilliant, its visceral and I can honestly say I believed every word. What makes it so compelling, is that it does the following:
1)Completely covers his career from start to retirement (and shows all the good, bad and ugly in between)
2)It doesn't hold back, this is a tale of a man who worked hard, and never quite got what he deserved.
Excellent book, worth a read
Bob Hollys book is brilliant, its visceral and I can honestly say I believed every word. What makes it so compelling, is that it does the following:
1)Completely covers his career from start to retirement (and shows all the good, bad and ugly in between)
2)It doesn't hold back, this is a tale of a man who worked hard, and never quite got what he deserved.
Excellent book, worth a read
June 23, 2018
What made the experience of reading The Hardcore Truth the most enjoyable?
Bob Holly's brutal honesty. I am an investigator and can confidentially say that I know bullshit when I hear it and the stories in this book do not come across as bullshit.
What did you like best about this story?
Bob's personal feelings about other wrestlers.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The stories about Owen Hart, Chris Beniot, and Eddie Guererro
Any additional comments?
Greatest opening sentence in literary history.
Bob Holly's brutal honesty. I am an investigator and can confidentially say that I know bullshit when I hear it and the stories in this book do not come across as bullshit.
What did you like best about this story?
Bob's personal feelings about other wrestlers.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The stories about Owen Hart, Chris Beniot, and Eddie Guererro
Any additional comments?
Greatest opening sentence in literary history.
November 12, 2018
I'm a big WWE fan and I started watching it during the period at hardcore Holly was in the business.
I've read a few wrestling autobiographies but I think this is the most honest. Bob doesn't pull any punches and tells us exactly what he thinks about everybody.
He's also not afraid to praise others, which wasn't something I was expecting.
He says at the end of the book that he wants to be judged by the facts, not his character in wrestling. It's easy to have preconceptions about Holly. If you do, read this book before making up your mind.
I've read a few wrestling autobiographies but I think this is the most honest. Bob doesn't pull any punches and tells us exactly what he thinks about everybody.
He's also not afraid to praise others, which wasn't something I was expecting.
He says at the end of the book that he wants to be judged by the facts, not his character in wrestling. It's easy to have preconceptions about Holly. If you do, read this book before making up your mind.
May 28, 2019
Amazing read. I was not a huge fan of Bob Holly before reading this, but I wound up learning the stories behind some of the things I previously disliked about him. What an amazing story he has! And he's a wealth of information about the wrestling world. If you want a truly enlightening book about the industry and a really interesting autobiography about one of the most underrated wrestlers ever, pick up a copy and give it a read.
April 18, 2020
Pro wrestling is a mass of contradictions and this ghostwritten story of a journeyman wrestler is likewise. The theatre of masculinity is always fascinating, even when it is grotesque and a little embarrassing. I ought to go back and read Sontag’s Notes on Camp — pro wrestling is ur-camp, grappling against the label for the sting that implies on macho culture. The politics behind it is typically more interesting than the stagecraft itself. Might go down a rabbit hole of wrestling biographies...
July 6, 2025
3.5 stars. Entertaining and unapologetic like you would expect a Bob Holly written book to be.
Don’t think he was ever apologetic or admitted fault to much of anything in the wrestling business, but I can understand why he feels the way he does about the wrestling business. Seemed to always get hurt right when he was going to get a push. He was a loyal good worker who never got a decent run. I loved his Big Shot gimmick and wished WWE would have run with that longer.
Don’t think he was ever apologetic or admitted fault to much of anything in the wrestling business, but I can understand why he feels the way he does about the wrestling business. Seemed to always get hurt right when he was going to get a push. He was a loyal good worker who never got a decent run. I loved his Big Shot gimmick and wished WWE would have run with that longer.
May 18, 2018
A fantastic wrestling book, by a guy that been in pretty much every major Era in WWF/WWE. Bob sure enough tells the truth about all the major parts of his wrestling career. You can't watch a match of holly's without seeing comments about what a god awful bully he is. This book will make you realize these commenters have no idea what they're talking about.
May 18, 2021
Here, let me sum up the book "I was loyal, I'm hardworking, I made money / I didn't make money, I'm loyal, I'm hard working, I did the job"
Seriously, that is the entire book, there is no life, no point to it being a book. You could have written it as bullet points and it would have been no different.
Sorry, I forgot about his ego, dear God Bob Holly is an egotistical and unlikable.
Seriously, that is the entire book, there is no life, no point to it being a book. You could have written it as bullet points and it would have been no different.
Sorry, I forgot about his ego, dear God Bob Holly is an egotistical and unlikable.
February 25, 2022
Very enjoyable read, very honest and to the point. At times can come across like Bob's moaning a lot or is bitter but when you consider what the guy went through and what he should have achieved in return for his years of busting his arse it is understandable. If you liked Bret harts or Jericho books then I would recommend this to you.
November 21, 2024
I've been watching pro-wrestling on TV for many decades by now, but this is the first time I read a wrestler's biography. Bob is not the most famous wrestler, but he has a long experience and thus lots of anecdotes to share.
I loved the small insights this book offers in the work of a wrestler (travel arrangements, etc). But in the end I felt a bit let down by the lack of depth in most of the stories, and the hard opinions (good and bad) about the people in the business and/or their behavior towards Bob.
A good, quick read, but nothing more.
This and more of my reviews: https://puf.io/books/hardcore-truth--...
I loved the small insights this book offers in the work of a wrestler (travel arrangements, etc). But in the end I felt a bit let down by the lack of depth in most of the stories, and the hard opinions (good and bad) about the people in the business and/or their behavior towards Bob.
A good, quick read, but nothing more.
This and more of my reviews: https://puf.io/books/hardcore-truth--...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews