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Life Is Fighting
Get a rare glimpse into the mind of Karrion Kross, the 6'4", 265-pound powerhouse known for his ferocity in the ring but admired for his thoughtful perseverance outside of it. This book is packed with heartache, humor, and invaluable lessons, revealing the real man behind the menacing exterior and his relentless journey to the top of sports entertainment.
Karrion Kross’s physique—a hulking 6'4", 265 pounds—and the unbridled intensity in his eyes is enough on its own to inspire fear in opponents. Factor in his unique combination of precision and abject ruthlessness, and it becomes clear that anyone stepping in the ring with Kross is in immediate danger. A master of catch wrestling and sambo, Kross has done battle around the world. He boasts an array of devastating suplexes, including his dreaded Doomsday Saito. And if that’s not enough, he’s more than happy to put opponents to sleep with the Kross Jacket.
For all his menacing exterior, the human being behind the character—whose real name is Kevin Kesar—is a soft-spoken, highly thoughtful individual with a powerful story. Recognized by peers for his exceptional love for his profession, Kesar endured numerous setbacks on the way to achieving his dream. Along with his wife, Elizabeth—known in WWE as Scarlett—he has repeatedly found the fortitude to bounce back stronger, personally and professionally. This book is full of fascinating stories, heartache, humor, and even some advice for those with similar aspirations. Listeners will be immersed into Kesar’s unique mindset as he pulls back the curtain on what the journey (and the fight) to the top of sports entertainment is really like.
Karrion Kross’s physique—a hulking 6'4", 265 pounds—and the unbridled intensity in his eyes is enough on its own to inspire fear in opponents. Factor in his unique combination of precision and abject ruthlessness, and it becomes clear that anyone stepping in the ring with Kross is in immediate danger. A master of catch wrestling and sambo, Kross has done battle around the world. He boasts an array of devastating suplexes, including his dreaded Doomsday Saito. And if that’s not enough, he’s more than happy to put opponents to sleep with the Kross Jacket.
For all his menacing exterior, the human being behind the character—whose real name is Kevin Kesar—is a soft-spoken, highly thoughtful individual with a powerful story. Recognized by peers for his exceptional love for his profession, Kesar endured numerous setbacks on the way to achieving his dream. Along with his wife, Elizabeth—known in WWE as Scarlett—he has repeatedly found the fortitude to bounce back stronger, personally and professionally. This book is full of fascinating stories, heartache, humor, and even some advice for those with similar aspirations. Listeners will be immersed into Kesar’s unique mindset as he pulls back the curtain on what the journey (and the fight) to the top of sports entertainment is really like.
Audible Audio
First published August 5, 2025
70 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Robert Kesar
1 book12 followersKevin Robert Kesar is a professional wrestler. A performer, actor, martial artist, and producer of the short film Blue Evening, he’s entertained and competed worldwide for more than a decade. Although he resides in Orlando, he’s seen many worlds and offers very intimate and personal stories through his multicultural background as a proud New York–born traveler.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 26, 2026
This is an awesome book. If anyone reading this is excepting a book just about (or mainly about) wrestling I can see where people might be a bit dissapointed. If you have watched any interviews with Kevin or his YouTube channel, you will realise Kevin has an amazing knack for story telling and being an amazing positive example.
The book is written giving the same positive messages through examples from Kevin's life. This makes the book part self help as much as it is a memoir.
The book is not a linear read. The chapters do jump around back and forth to different parts of Kevin's life and the lesson he learned from it. I do find it interesting that he decided to go the pro-wrestling route rather than the MMA route. Hey when Matt Serra says you are legit, that is one of the biggest endorsement you can get. However there is a lesson there about following your passion.
The book is a great read, it is inspiration to anyone who is going through a tough time. Truly Kevin and Elizabeth are two people who are great full for everything they have and thus counters any bitterness when things do not go their way. There mind set is to always move forwards, taking the past as a lesson learned. I hope there is another book coming out but in the meantime it is easy to catch Kevin/Kross in his YouTube channel.
The book is written giving the same positive messages through examples from Kevin's life. This makes the book part self help as much as it is a memoir.
The book is not a linear read. The chapters do jump around back and forth to different parts of Kevin's life and the lesson he learned from it. I do find it interesting that he decided to go the pro-wrestling route rather than the MMA route. Hey when Matt Serra says you are legit, that is one of the biggest endorsement you can get. However there is a lesson there about following your passion.
The book is a great read, it is inspiration to anyone who is going through a tough time. Truly Kevin and Elizabeth are two people who are great full for everything they have and thus counters any bitterness when things do not go their way. There mind set is to always move forwards, taking the past as a lesson learned. I hope there is another book coming out but in the meantime it is easy to catch Kevin/Kross in his YouTube channel.
August 26, 2025
make sure you snag the audiobook of this, with kesar (kross) reading it. this will hammer home why this guy is one of the top 2-3 promo men in the biz. honestly, after hearing this, you will wonder why he ISN'T even better than he is. kesar is a genuine s-tier talent, between the ropes and on the mic.
the book would not be an enjoyable experience without the audio aspect. it jumps around, there's a lot of self-help/motivation stuff that would seem silly *but for* how kesar elevates the material. the sections on his wrestling and nightclub/security careers are interesting, but quite thin (admittedly, his wrestling career is short, but there's so much more he could and has said across various interviews). i've worked on these books and i'd simply have given the guy the recorder and had him riff on every significant match.
the book also reveals kesar's achilles heel: he has spent years perfecting a "time supervillain" gimmick, with witch accompaniment (elizabeth/scarlet) that is less entertaining than he is in actual off-the-cuff interviews, doing various voices (he doesn't do the jesse ventura impression he does so well, but he does an excellent christopher walken) in this book, etc. it is certainly a carefully-designed gimmick, perfect in every detail, but it's incredibly corny (and clearly influenced by elizabeth, whom he obviously loves dearly (for very understandable reasons!!!) but who just isn't as good as he is, nowhere close, but he also says in the book that he doesn't care, he'll work where he can work if he can do his thing...and it appears that he is). if ever anyone simply needed to go full-on stone cold steve austin (and could pull it off), but the northeastern version, it would be kesar (and he was leaning into a bit of that toward the end of his last wwe run).
recommended, but only in the audio version. it's a remarkable portrait of a performer who has everything - the girl, the look, the moveset, the charisma...everything, that is, except it. because (seemingly) he doesn't want it!
the book would not be an enjoyable experience without the audio aspect. it jumps around, there's a lot of self-help/motivation stuff that would seem silly *but for* how kesar elevates the material. the sections on his wrestling and nightclub/security careers are interesting, but quite thin (admittedly, his wrestling career is short, but there's so much more he could and has said across various interviews). i've worked on these books and i'd simply have given the guy the recorder and had him riff on every significant match.
the book also reveals kesar's achilles heel: he has spent years perfecting a "time supervillain" gimmick, with witch accompaniment (elizabeth/scarlet) that is less entertaining than he is in actual off-the-cuff interviews, doing various voices (he doesn't do the jesse ventura impression he does so well, but he does an excellent christopher walken) in this book, etc. it is certainly a carefully-designed gimmick, perfect in every detail, but it's incredibly corny (and clearly influenced by elizabeth, whom he obviously loves dearly (for very understandable reasons!!!) but who just isn't as good as he is, nowhere close, but he also says in the book that he doesn't care, he'll work where he can work if he can do his thing...and it appears that he is). if ever anyone simply needed to go full-on stone cold steve austin (and could pull it off), but the northeastern version, it would be kesar (and he was leaning into a bit of that toward the end of his last wwe run).
recommended, but only in the audio version. it's a remarkable portrait of a performer who has everything - the girl, the look, the moveset, the charisma...everything, that is, except it. because (seemingly) he doesn't want it!
October 15, 2025
one of the best wrestling books ive read this year
August 21, 2025
I have mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, I found Karrion Kross to be a fascinating, well-spoken, and intelligent individual. He's self-aware and tells detailed stories of his fighting background, his past anger issues, and he's someone who is clearly well-read and a deep thinker.
However, this is NOT a great wrestling book. Many people reading this book are going into it looking for stories about his pro-wrestling career, and he tells some stories, but he doesn't tell most or all of them. I felt like he was holding back when it came to his wrestling career. Wrestling fans are likely to be disappointed by this.
As a self-help book, it's a good read. I found his perspective on life to be refreshing, and he is clearly looking to do something different with his memoir. Different is good, and I liked the fact he brought you into his life as an angry young adult. Individual chapters were compelling, well-written, and they pulled me as a reader.
As the book gets into the past 10-15 years of his life, the book is short on details and information. I read someone compare his book to Jon Moxley's (which I hated), and Karrion Kross is smarter, more well-adjusted, and likable than Moxley. Moxley's book was an incoherent mess. Kross' book tends to jump all over the place, but there is a rhyme and a reason to it. This book is never boring, but I also felt like he was purposely saving more for a future book down the line.
I was looking forward to reading the next great wrestling book as Kross is someone I find interesting and someone I'd love to grab a coffee with and talk pro-wrestling, horror movies, and life with. He's got a lot of ideas, but not all of them work in this book.
As a self-help book, I enjoyed it. As a wrestling book, I was disappointed.
3.5 Stars
However, this is NOT a great wrestling book. Many people reading this book are going into it looking for stories about his pro-wrestling career, and he tells some stories, but he doesn't tell most or all of them. I felt like he was holding back when it came to his wrestling career. Wrestling fans are likely to be disappointed by this.
As a self-help book, it's a good read. I found his perspective on life to be refreshing, and he is clearly looking to do something different with his memoir. Different is good, and I liked the fact he brought you into his life as an angry young adult. Individual chapters were compelling, well-written, and they pulled me as a reader.
As the book gets into the past 10-15 years of his life, the book is short on details and information. I read someone compare his book to Jon Moxley's (which I hated), and Karrion Kross is smarter, more well-adjusted, and likable than Moxley. Moxley's book was an incoherent mess. Kross' book tends to jump all over the place, but there is a rhyme and a reason to it. This book is never boring, but I also felt like he was purposely saving more for a future book down the line.
I was looking forward to reading the next great wrestling book as Kross is someone I find interesting and someone I'd love to grab a coffee with and talk pro-wrestling, horror movies, and life with. He's got a lot of ideas, but not all of them work in this book.
As a self-help book, I enjoyed it. As a wrestling book, I was disappointed.
3.5 Stars
November 19, 2025
I feel like I always have to give autobiographies 5 stars because anyone who has the courage to share their story and be vulnerable is amazing. I love how he emphasized the importance of not just being good at your dream career but also emphasizing how important it is to just be a good person in life. Lots of good life lessons he shared, and not just his story about how he got into wrestling.
June 7, 2025
NOTE: I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had known of Killer Kross but didn't know his story or even watched any of his wrestling matches. This book gives a lot of backstory so you can get to know Kevin, the person. From his early days working out at a boxing gym, to being security for celebrities to his rise in WWE, you get to really know what makes him tick.
In the book, he talks about going to concerts or shows in the Toronto area in the 90s and it has me wondering if we ever attended any of the same shows.
I'd recommend this book to any wrestling fan, or even someone that enjoys reading biographical stories. Kevin provides insight into why his wrestling character is the way he is.
A decent read overall, I read through this book quicker than I have been able to read some lately.
I had known of Killer Kross but didn't know his story or even watched any of his wrestling matches. This book gives a lot of backstory so you can get to know Kevin, the person. From his early days working out at a boxing gym, to being security for celebrities to his rise in WWE, you get to really know what makes him tick.
In the book, he talks about going to concerts or shows in the Toronto area in the 90s and it has me wondering if we ever attended any of the same shows.
I'd recommend this book to any wrestling fan, or even someone that enjoys reading biographical stories. Kevin provides insight into why his wrestling character is the way he is.
A decent read overall, I read through this book quicker than I have been able to read some lately.
January 5, 2026
I absolutely loved this book. So many great stories about the industry and incredible humor along the way.
June 22, 2025
Kross has lived an interesting life. From learning martial arts and grappling from his father as a kid, to a career as a bouncer to finally making his way into wrestling where he met the love of his life. Life is Fighting is written in a non-linear, stream of conscience style. I enjoyed learning more about him and his life since I already find him interesting.
Kross seems like a really humble, grateful guy and that's cool. There's no real gossip and the names he does drop are people who have helped him along the way and/or friends he made. He offers his insight and advice on the wrestling business and just life in general. I wish there was a bit more in here about his time in TNA and what it's like to communicate with ghosts. Both are mentioned briefly, though TNA is never mentioned by name.
I would recommend this to fans of Killer/Karrion Kross, wrestling fans and people who like biographies.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Kross seems like a really humble, grateful guy and that's cool. There's no real gossip and the names he does drop are people who have helped him along the way and/or friends he made. He offers his insight and advice on the wrestling business and just life in general. I wish there was a bit more in here about his time in TNA and what it's like to communicate with ghosts. Both are mentioned briefly, though TNA is never mentioned by name.
I would recommend this to fans of Killer/Karrion Kross, wrestling fans and people who like biographies.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
October 25, 2025
For those of you unfamiliar with Wrestling, Fear not ill explain things in very simple terms.
NOTE: this is not a wrestling book, you do not have to be a fan or have any knowledge of wrestling to enjoy this book, this book is not written by Karrion Kross, this book is written by Kevin Kesar who just so happens wrestle for a living.
Let me give you a little background on what was going on in the WWE when this book was close to release. WWE like to control the narrative of their shows, they like it to be all part of their plan, Hulk Hogan, The Rock and John Cena all huge stars in the WWE because its how they planned it. Not saying these people didn't became huge because of their skills because that is a part of it sure. But sometimes stars are made organically with very little help from the company people like Zack Ryder, Daniel Bryan and LA Knight won the support of the fans on their own just by being themselves, sometimes the company can get onboard with that but sometimes they really don't like it because it is not part of their plan and this is the case for Karrion Kross. He put in a lot of hard work over the years with his creativity and charisma and how he engages with his fans, these fans intern would chant "WE WANT KROSS" during shows when he was not even on the card and this really rubbed WWE the wrong way. They then choose to ignore the fans who pay money to go to their shows, fans shouted "we want kross" and HHH being his smug arrogant self responded with "You want Brock? you got him" this along with Kross losing on the c shows which no one watches buried Kross as a punishment for being more of a fan favorite than the guys WWE wanted us to cheer for. Just after the release of the book Kross was given a low balled offer to resign and no mention of his wife/manager Scarlett Bordeaux. So it was a no thank you from Kross. This whole thing may mean nothing to you but it does tie in with the book itself and should be a lesson because this book has many of them, money means nothing without principle.
I gave this a very short review on Audible because i wanted to save the nitty gritty for Goodreads. I said something along the lines of "This is not a book by a wrestler named Karrion Kross who talks about how tough and rich he is, this is a book by a wrestling fan named Kevin Kesar who talks about how flawed and human he is, just like me and you who read it, this is a human book"
First off you will be missing out on quite a bit by not listening to the audio version of this book, personally i love to actually read but when i saw this was read out by Kevin and knowing how good is voice is, i knew i was in for such a treat. Kevin has an amazing voice and can tell one hell of a story with it. Not to mention he pulls of some pretty good impressions of people "DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T HAVE FOUR MORE REPS IN YOU..." if you know you know.
I liken this book to books by Corey Taylor the lead singer of Slipknot/Stone Sour who has a number of best sellers himself. It's not an all out autobiography or a collection of Road stories (both of which i hope he does someday) It's points in his life he has felt either pride or shame in along with philosophies but he quickly pulls the reader in making you think of your own instances of when you've flew off the handle with a short temper or the first time you met someone who touched your warm fuzzy side. Like i said, its a human book and deals with things we can all relate to in some shape or form. The timeline of the book does jump back and forth a bit but i didn't find myself lost at any point.
This book as a whole ticked alot of boxes for me, written and narrated by the man who wrote the thing. I usually avoid biographies written by someone other than the person it is about unless its about someone who cant tell their story because they are no longer with us e.g Heavier Than Heaven the Kurt Cobain story. Its not offence to those journalists who commit years of work to putting together a solid Biography, i just prefer to hear it from the horses mouth.
in short you don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this, im not a Judas Priest fan yet i loved Confess by Rob Halford so give it a chance should you come across it, the audiobook was around 6 hours long so drop a credit for that version or if you are a eyes on reader give it a read one lazy weekend. Here's hoping Kevin Kesar has more works to show us in the future.
NOTE: this is not a wrestling book, you do not have to be a fan or have any knowledge of wrestling to enjoy this book, this book is not written by Karrion Kross, this book is written by Kevin Kesar who just so happens wrestle for a living.
Let me give you a little background on what was going on in the WWE when this book was close to release. WWE like to control the narrative of their shows, they like it to be all part of their plan, Hulk Hogan, The Rock and John Cena all huge stars in the WWE because its how they planned it. Not saying these people didn't became huge because of their skills because that is a part of it sure. But sometimes stars are made organically with very little help from the company people like Zack Ryder, Daniel Bryan and LA Knight won the support of the fans on their own just by being themselves, sometimes the company can get onboard with that but sometimes they really don't like it because it is not part of their plan and this is the case for Karrion Kross. He put in a lot of hard work over the years with his creativity and charisma and how he engages with his fans, these fans intern would chant "WE WANT KROSS" during shows when he was not even on the card and this really rubbed WWE the wrong way. They then choose to ignore the fans who pay money to go to their shows, fans shouted "we want kross" and HHH being his smug arrogant self responded with "You want Brock? you got him" this along with Kross losing on the c shows which no one watches buried Kross as a punishment for being more of a fan favorite than the guys WWE wanted us to cheer for. Just after the release of the book Kross was given a low balled offer to resign and no mention of his wife/manager Scarlett Bordeaux. So it was a no thank you from Kross. This whole thing may mean nothing to you but it does tie in with the book itself and should be a lesson because this book has many of them, money means nothing without principle.
I gave this a very short review on Audible because i wanted to save the nitty gritty for Goodreads. I said something along the lines of "This is not a book by a wrestler named Karrion Kross who talks about how tough and rich he is, this is a book by a wrestling fan named Kevin Kesar who talks about how flawed and human he is, just like me and you who read it, this is a human book"
First off you will be missing out on quite a bit by not listening to the audio version of this book, personally i love to actually read but when i saw this was read out by Kevin and knowing how good is voice is, i knew i was in for such a treat. Kevin has an amazing voice and can tell one hell of a story with it. Not to mention he pulls of some pretty good impressions of people "DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T HAVE FOUR MORE REPS IN YOU..." if you know you know.
I liken this book to books by Corey Taylor the lead singer of Slipknot/Stone Sour who has a number of best sellers himself. It's not an all out autobiography or a collection of Road stories (both of which i hope he does someday) It's points in his life he has felt either pride or shame in along with philosophies but he quickly pulls the reader in making you think of your own instances of when you've flew off the handle with a short temper or the first time you met someone who touched your warm fuzzy side. Like i said, its a human book and deals with things we can all relate to in some shape or form. The timeline of the book does jump back and forth a bit but i didn't find myself lost at any point.
This book as a whole ticked alot of boxes for me, written and narrated by the man who wrote the thing. I usually avoid biographies written by someone other than the person it is about unless its about someone who cant tell their story because they are no longer with us e.g Heavier Than Heaven the Kurt Cobain story. Its not offence to those journalists who commit years of work to putting together a solid Biography, i just prefer to hear it from the horses mouth.
in short you don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this, im not a Judas Priest fan yet i loved Confess by Rob Halford so give it a chance should you come across it, the audiobook was around 6 hours long so drop a credit for that version or if you are a eyes on reader give it a read one lazy weekend. Here's hoping Kevin Kesar has more works to show us in the future.
June 17, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for an advance copy of this new book that is both a biography and a meditation on the lessons and experiences that have shaped the writer, expanding his mind, honing his body, and how this culminated in a job he enjoys, along with a wife that is his greatest achievement.
I have never been much for sports, not my thing in the slightest. I have a hard time even pretending to care, though with my extended family I have had a lot of experience. Professional wrestling on the other hand, I have enjoyed since first seeing it on my grandparents black and white tv, their other tv was broken at the time. I was in awe. This was like watching a comic book come to life, huge men battling for honor, glory, or just meaness in front of a crowd of jubilantly rabid fans. I know the ending is predetermined, but this is not to take away from the physicality, or the pose, or the verbal chops of these wrestlers. And for those who say it is fake, well it is not. As a brother who was jumped on from couches, a bunk bed, and a jungle gym once can attest, it hurts quite a bit. The pain is equal to both wrestlers. Some moves hurt the person giving the move as much as the person taking it. There is trust that one won't hurt the other, I am giving you my body, give it back like you found it. I have read many books on wrestling, biographies, histories of territories, books against wrestling. This is one of the first that really makes a person understand the siren song of martial arts, and wrestling. Why one does this, and why one is willing to pay many costs. All while really expertly told. Life Is Fighting by Kevin Robert Kesar, known better by his WWE name Karrion Kross, tells of his life, his struggles, misadventures, and lessons learned on his way to finding out who he wants to be, and where it might take him.
Kevin Robert Kesar was born in New York City to a father who loved martial arts and amateur wrestling. Kesar split his time between the Big Apple and Toronto Canada, where his father worked, learning an appreciation for the martial arts, and picking up many different styles as he grew. Kesar was also a professional wrestling fan, one who you can tell loved to bring others in and show them the majesty, and the physicality of the sport, something that stuck with him, and made him dream. Kesar was working out when he was offered a chance to do a little MMA, which turned out to be a bare-knuckle fight that made Fight Club look like Star Wars. Kesar had always been physical, but knew that being physical came with a cost Kesar has spent much of his time working on these ideas, probably as much as he was worked on his appearance. Bouncing, bodyguarding and other things gave him stories to tell, but wrestling it seems has given him far more. A chance to hone his craft, to work out his thoughts on action and violence. A place in the WWE, and his wife, who one can tell he is totally in love with.
Not the book I expected. One gets a sense of this wrestling books, hard scrabble upbringing, training incidents, bad matches, good matches, fame, and maybe a slow fade out. Oh and lots of stories about wrestlers being jerks and settling scores. This book has really none of that, and yet has a whole lot more. Kesar talks about the act of hitting people, what it feels like, and what it leaves behind. The book is rather stream of conscious which really adds to the storytelling, though the occasional date would be nice. There are some funny stories, one in particular I still laugh about now. A wonderful set of episodes about meeting his wife, and their wedding. Also there is a a little bit of WWE is the greatest, which one can understand. However if one wants breakdowns of matches, one is reading the wrong book. This is a look at the career and the costs, not individual moments. A career that I am intrigued to follow.
Kesar is a very good writer with an interesting approach to his book, and an openness that is rare. I quite enjoyed it, though in a different way than I expected, but makes me interested to see what might be next for Mr. Kesar.
I have never been much for sports, not my thing in the slightest. I have a hard time even pretending to care, though with my extended family I have had a lot of experience. Professional wrestling on the other hand, I have enjoyed since first seeing it on my grandparents black and white tv, their other tv was broken at the time. I was in awe. This was like watching a comic book come to life, huge men battling for honor, glory, or just meaness in front of a crowd of jubilantly rabid fans. I know the ending is predetermined, but this is not to take away from the physicality, or the pose, or the verbal chops of these wrestlers. And for those who say it is fake, well it is not. As a brother who was jumped on from couches, a bunk bed, and a jungle gym once can attest, it hurts quite a bit. The pain is equal to both wrestlers. Some moves hurt the person giving the move as much as the person taking it. There is trust that one won't hurt the other, I am giving you my body, give it back like you found it. I have read many books on wrestling, biographies, histories of territories, books against wrestling. This is one of the first that really makes a person understand the siren song of martial arts, and wrestling. Why one does this, and why one is willing to pay many costs. All while really expertly told. Life Is Fighting by Kevin Robert Kesar, known better by his WWE name Karrion Kross, tells of his life, his struggles, misadventures, and lessons learned on his way to finding out who he wants to be, and where it might take him.
Kevin Robert Kesar was born in New York City to a father who loved martial arts and amateur wrestling. Kesar split his time between the Big Apple and Toronto Canada, where his father worked, learning an appreciation for the martial arts, and picking up many different styles as he grew. Kesar was also a professional wrestling fan, one who you can tell loved to bring others in and show them the majesty, and the physicality of the sport, something that stuck with him, and made him dream. Kesar was working out when he was offered a chance to do a little MMA, which turned out to be a bare-knuckle fight that made Fight Club look like Star Wars. Kesar had always been physical, but knew that being physical came with a cost Kesar has spent much of his time working on these ideas, probably as much as he was worked on his appearance. Bouncing, bodyguarding and other things gave him stories to tell, but wrestling it seems has given him far more. A chance to hone his craft, to work out his thoughts on action and violence. A place in the WWE, and his wife, who one can tell he is totally in love with.
Not the book I expected. One gets a sense of this wrestling books, hard scrabble upbringing, training incidents, bad matches, good matches, fame, and maybe a slow fade out. Oh and lots of stories about wrestlers being jerks and settling scores. This book has really none of that, and yet has a whole lot more. Kesar talks about the act of hitting people, what it feels like, and what it leaves behind. The book is rather stream of conscious which really adds to the storytelling, though the occasional date would be nice. There are some funny stories, one in particular I still laugh about now. A wonderful set of episodes about meeting his wife, and their wedding. Also there is a a little bit of WWE is the greatest, which one can understand. However if one wants breakdowns of matches, one is reading the wrong book. This is a look at the career and the costs, not individual moments. A career that I am intrigued to follow.
Kesar is a very good writer with an interesting approach to his book, and an openness that is rare. I quite enjoyed it, though in a different way than I expected, but makes me interested to see what might be next for Mr. Kesar.
August 18, 2025
I hate to be the first < 3 star rating, so I want to justify it. To preface, I think Kevin as a performer is fascinating - I think he comes off as very well-spoken in interviews, has a compelling wrestling character, so I picked up this book after watching his self-produced documentaries on Youtube, wanting to learn more about the man behind the character.
However, I came out of this book disappointed. First off, it really could've used a co-author to help with editing and structuring, it bounces all over the place in tone and between different incidents / stages in his life. It seems like an attempt at a "conversational" style, but just didn't hit for me. I also was waiting to see what unique perspectives and insight he had gained through his life, but that came sparingly. He talks about a particularly crazy incident at a nightclub where he was running security, some "Roadhouse" IRL type insanity: and that fit exactly what I look for in autobiographies in terms of unique perspective offered by the author, that informs their lived experience to this day. He implies that there are a significant amount of similar stories, but instead, this book spends a lot of time on his overall philosophies, none of which are that insightful and, for better or worse depending on your POV, sound straight out of early 2010s JRE episodes. Regardless, he seems like a genuinely good guy, and someone with true lifelong obsession with the art of pro wrestling. I enjoyed his candor when it came to how he felt about his first run in WWE, and how passionate he is about the character he has created / portrays in wrestling.
Something I noticed though, for all the talk of fighting in the book - he doesn't ever talk about losing a fight lol! I mean, he's clearly a badass guy so maybe he hasn't ever lost a legitimate fight? However, he talks about the Shamrock System early on in the book, and I feel like it would've been an interesting framework or motif to structure some of these incidents around. Every incident he mentions in the book always had him coming out on top over someone clearly weaker than him (generally bullies / untrained people who "had it coming"), aka a lot of "minuses". I'd love to know who were his "pluses", who humbled him? If we're drawing a parallel to life and fighting (per the book title), then where do losses fit in? Seems like an essential aspect to cover, even if you were laying dudes out twice your size in your first fight as a 17-year-old bare-knuckle boxer.
Anyways, at the time of this review, Kevin is currently no longer employed with WWE (though I could see him getting a new contract soon and making a return later this year / 2026), but even though I wasn't a fan of this book, I'm still interested to see what he does next, and would give his next book a go if/when he writes it.
However, I came out of this book disappointed. First off, it really could've used a co-author to help with editing and structuring, it bounces all over the place in tone and between different incidents / stages in his life. It seems like an attempt at a "conversational" style, but just didn't hit for me. I also was waiting to see what unique perspectives and insight he had gained through his life, but that came sparingly. He talks about a particularly crazy incident at a nightclub where he was running security, some "Roadhouse" IRL type insanity: and that fit exactly what I look for in autobiographies in terms of unique perspective offered by the author, that informs their lived experience to this day. He implies that there are a significant amount of similar stories, but instead, this book spends a lot of time on his overall philosophies, none of which are that insightful and, for better or worse depending on your POV, sound straight out of early 2010s JRE episodes. Regardless, he seems like a genuinely good guy, and someone with true lifelong obsession with the art of pro wrestling. I enjoyed his candor when it came to how he felt about his first run in WWE, and how passionate he is about the character he has created / portrays in wrestling.
Something I noticed though, for all the talk of fighting in the book - he doesn't ever talk about losing a fight lol! I mean, he's clearly a badass guy so maybe he hasn't ever lost a legitimate fight? However, he talks about the Shamrock System early on in the book, and I feel like it would've been an interesting framework or motif to structure some of these incidents around. Every incident he mentions in the book always had him coming out on top over someone clearly weaker than him (generally bullies / untrained people who "had it coming"), aka a lot of "minuses". I'd love to know who were his "pluses", who humbled him? If we're drawing a parallel to life and fighting (per the book title), then where do losses fit in? Seems like an essential aspect to cover, even if you were laying dudes out twice your size in your first fight as a 17-year-old bare-knuckle boxer.
Anyways, at the time of this review, Kevin is currently no longer employed with WWE (though I could see him getting a new contract soon and making a return later this year / 2026), but even though I wasn't a fan of this book, I'm still interested to see what he does next, and would give his next book a go if/when he writes it.
Read
November 8, 2025If you came across the name Kevin Robert Kessar at the bookstore, you might not know precisely who this person was. But if someone were to mention Karrion Kross, then the light bulb might flicker on inside the head and the “aha” moment arrives. Kross is one of the stars of the WWE, a talented wrestler who has quite the following, even though he works on the “heel” side of the ledger.
LIFE IS FIGHTING, is a most interesting book, in that he does not simply talk about life in the squared circle. Of course that is the major focus of the book, but he also tells of working his way through the wrestling ranks to get to the big time. He also talks about his wife Elizabeth, who goes by the name of Scarlet in the WWE. But the book is also a sort of self-help book, in which he offers little snippets of ways to make the best of your life, and in many ways standing out from the crowd. Kessar is quite the giant of a man, 6 foot 4 and 265 pounds, and he makes a most impressive presence inside the ring. Kessar mentions his love of wrestling, and working his way through the independent circuits as Killer Kross. Like most wrestlers aspiring for the big time, he did pay his dues, and the more he was seen inside the ring, the more his ring presence and savvy improved to the point, where he was raising eyebrows, getting him closer to the big time world of the WWE.
He mentions other wrestlers along the way, who encouraged and inspired him. He is certainly not a quitter, and there are areas of the book where he offers advice to people not just in wrestling but in life. He makes such comments as “It is important to not lose sight of the positive when you find yourself stumbling in the darkness.” It is these little asides that offer a more human approach to Kessar, and what brings the most satisfaction in life. He was let go by the WWE at one time, fearing for his future and that of Elizabeth, but was brought back for a second-go-round.
You cannot help be impressed by his honesty and dedication to the sport of wrestling, and to his wife. He may seem a menacing character in the ring, but after reading this book, you cannot help but see this WWE superstar in a far different light.
LIFE IS FIGHTING, is a most interesting book, in that he does not simply talk about life in the squared circle. Of course that is the major focus of the book, but he also tells of working his way through the wrestling ranks to get to the big time. He also talks about his wife Elizabeth, who goes by the name of Scarlet in the WWE. But the book is also a sort of self-help book, in which he offers little snippets of ways to make the best of your life, and in many ways standing out from the crowd. Kessar is quite the giant of a man, 6 foot 4 and 265 pounds, and he makes a most impressive presence inside the ring. Kessar mentions his love of wrestling, and working his way through the independent circuits as Killer Kross. Like most wrestlers aspiring for the big time, he did pay his dues, and the more he was seen inside the ring, the more his ring presence and savvy improved to the point, where he was raising eyebrows, getting him closer to the big time world of the WWE.
He mentions other wrestlers along the way, who encouraged and inspired him. He is certainly not a quitter, and there are areas of the book where he offers advice to people not just in wrestling but in life. He makes such comments as “It is important to not lose sight of the positive when you find yourself stumbling in the darkness.” It is these little asides that offer a more human approach to Kessar, and what brings the most satisfaction in life. He was let go by the WWE at one time, fearing for his future and that of Elizabeth, but was brought back for a second-go-round.
You cannot help be impressed by his honesty and dedication to the sport of wrestling, and to his wife. He may seem a menacing character in the ring, but after reading this book, you cannot help but see this WWE superstar in a far different light.
October 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. At this stage, I've got a few "pro-wrestling" books under my belt, for example:
- The Stone Cold Truth
- It's True! It's True!
- Mankind: Have a Nice Day!: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
- Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives
It's interesting to hear the author's perspective on their character and it's origins, but some readers may wish for more details about the author's personal life. I think they strike a great balance between expressing themselves in a privacy friendly context and sharing intimate motivations and experiences.
I have been a pro-wrestling fan for a long time - lapsing in engagement between the "Ruthless Aggression" era and the "modern" era, so I haven't experienced the author's work in NXT - this is something that I'm certainly going to rectify.
I would prefer to offer a 4.5 star review, but this functionality isn't available to users. The reason I won't offer five stars is due to the brevity of the book.
As people say - people forget what you say, but they never forget how you make them feel - so I certainly won't forget the feeling of inspiration and conviction that the author tries to evoke in the reader. They certainly successful in doing so with this reader - thank you Kevin.
- The Stone Cold Truth
- It's True! It's True!
- Mankind: Have a Nice Day!: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks
- Hell in Boots: Clawing My Way Through Nine Lives
It's interesting to hear the author's perspective on their character and it's origins, but some readers may wish for more details about the author's personal life. I think they strike a great balance between expressing themselves in a privacy friendly context and sharing intimate motivations and experiences.
I have been a pro-wrestling fan for a long time - lapsing in engagement between the "Ruthless Aggression" era and the "modern" era, so I haven't experienced the author's work in NXT - this is something that I'm certainly going to rectify.
I would prefer to offer a 4.5 star review, but this functionality isn't available to users. The reason I won't offer five stars is due to the brevity of the book.
As people say - people forget what you say, but they never forget how you make them feel - so I certainly won't forget the feeling of inspiration and conviction that the author tries to evoke in the reader. They certainly successful in doing so with this reader - thank you Kevin.
September 5, 2025
This is an interesting read. Part autobiography, part self-help book or maybe guidance manual. I have read quite a few books by professional wrestlers, but usually they are basic chronological autobiographies written by ghostwriters with a few work out and diet tips at the end. Life is Fighting is much more than that. It takes you through Kesar’s life based on events and the lessons he learned from them and the questions he still ponders about them. It asks questions of you and makes you think about the events and crossroads in your own life. But most of all it expresses the knowledge that we choose to be a better person every day in the smallest ways and those small choices add up to make us the person we want to be. Kesar demonstrates levels of intention, intelligence and introspection. The non-wrestling fan would be surprised at he’s much more than a professional wrestler. This is simply the path his intelligence, creativity, and physicality meet on. He could’ve chosen any fighting sport, and any artistic medium.
The recurring theme of internal and external struggle, how in the past he could’ve handled situations better, and how he has now turned the art of fighting into a mastery of conflict resolution are truly fascinating.
As someone who also spent their young adult years under the yolk of anger, I was truly pulled in by the parallels of how that emotion affected us similarly, and how now in the middle of our lives, we have learned how to balance those emotions and those actions.
Again, I have read multiple books by professional wrestlers, and one thing I have noticed is the difficulty they may have with separating the persona from the person. Kesar has no such difficulty. It’s very clear he is authentic, and he is a man of principle. Those are the lives worth reading about.
The recurring theme of internal and external struggle, how in the past he could’ve handled situations better, and how he has now turned the art of fighting into a mastery of conflict resolution are truly fascinating.
As someone who also spent their young adult years under the yolk of anger, I was truly pulled in by the parallels of how that emotion affected us similarly, and how now in the middle of our lives, we have learned how to balance those emotions and those actions.
Again, I have read multiple books by professional wrestlers, and one thing I have noticed is the difficulty they may have with separating the persona from the person. Kesar has no such difficulty. It’s very clear he is authentic, and he is a man of principle. Those are the lives worth reading about.
September 4, 2025
What surprised me most about Life Is Fighting is how much heart beats beneath the intimidating presence of Karrion Kross. In the ring, he’s all ferocity, towering, brutal, methodical, but on the page, Kevin Robert Kesar reveals himself as a man defined less by dominance than by resilience, reflection, and an unwavering love for his craft.
This isn’t just a “wrestler’s memoir” packed with career highlights (though there are plenty of those, and they’re thrilling to read). It’s also an exploration of identity: the tension between the character of Karrion Kross and the thoughtful, soft-spoken human being behind the persona. Kesar writes candidly about the grind of the industry, the setbacks that could have broken him, and the mental toughness required to keep standing when everything seems stacked against you. His partnership with Elizabeth (Scarlett) shines throughout the book as a steady force, making the story as much about love and loyalty as it is about ambition.
What I appreciated most was the balance. There’s humor and grit, wisdom and vulnerability, moments of jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes insight, and moments that linger because they cut straight to the human core of perseverance. Kesar never slips into empty bravado; instead, he offers a rare look at the emotional cost of chasing a dream in a punishing profession, and the lessons he’s carried from the mat into life itself.
Life Is Fighting is a powerful reminder that toughness isn’t just about how hard you hit, it’s about how deeply you endure, adapt, and grow. Whether you’re a wrestling fan or simply someone who respects stories of grit and grace, this book lands with impact.
This isn’t just a “wrestler’s memoir” packed with career highlights (though there are plenty of those, and they’re thrilling to read). It’s also an exploration of identity: the tension between the character of Karrion Kross and the thoughtful, soft-spoken human being behind the persona. Kesar writes candidly about the grind of the industry, the setbacks that could have broken him, and the mental toughness required to keep standing when everything seems stacked against you. His partnership with Elizabeth (Scarlett) shines throughout the book as a steady force, making the story as much about love and loyalty as it is about ambition.
What I appreciated most was the balance. There’s humor and grit, wisdom and vulnerability, moments of jaw-dropping behind-the-scenes insight, and moments that linger because they cut straight to the human core of perseverance. Kesar never slips into empty bravado; instead, he offers a rare look at the emotional cost of chasing a dream in a punishing profession, and the lessons he’s carried from the mat into life itself.
Life Is Fighting is a powerful reminder that toughness isn’t just about how hard you hit, it’s about how deeply you endure, adapt, and grow. Whether you’re a wrestling fan or simply someone who respects stories of grit and grace, this book lands with impact.
October 30, 2025
Let me be transparent at the beginning of this review, as my opinions may be influenced by my previous experiences: I dig Kross. I like his work. I like him in interviews. I dig his influences and style. He's a guy who keeps you guessing - you'd expect someone deeply entrenched in bro culture given his background, but instead...You get a guy who is DEEPLY into mental health, goth culture, comic books, spirituality, self-improvement, etc...in addition to martial arts, bareknuckle boxing, etc.
This is a very vulnerable account of one person's life journey - one where the author unflinchingly looks at his own glaring flaws and struggles, and manages to transform those into some profound messages.
There's philosophy, there's practicality, there's a great love story. The thoughts are highly motivational and full of a kind of wisdom that could be applied to anyone's life. Will you walk away from this a student of higher thinking? Probably not. You won't be transformed into a monk or start a great spirtual journey. But you will find some highly relatable things here, and ideas that you can actually implement into your life and see some very positive change.
Books from the wrestling world can be hit or miss, and a lot of them can be absolute tragedies when it comes to life stories. This is one that manages to be on the side of excellent, as well as hopeful.
This is a very vulnerable account of one person's life journey - one where the author unflinchingly looks at his own glaring flaws and struggles, and manages to transform those into some profound messages.
There's philosophy, there's practicality, there's a great love story. The thoughts are highly motivational and full of a kind of wisdom that could be applied to anyone's life. Will you walk away from this a student of higher thinking? Probably not. You won't be transformed into a monk or start a great spirtual journey. But you will find some highly relatable things here, and ideas that you can actually implement into your life and see some very positive change.
Books from the wrestling world can be hit or miss, and a lot of them can be absolute tragedies when it comes to life stories. This is one that manages to be on the side of excellent, as well as hopeful.
September 28, 2025
Ohhhhhh, Mr. Karrion Kross (aka Kevin Kesar) - you are every bit as great as I expected. 🥺
This book came out at such a pivotal moment in his career, and it really shows just how talented Kross is. No one can deny that. Anyone who builds a “name” for themselves in such an extremely demanding spotlight - both physically and mentally - clearly has the grit and skill to succeed.
While the book doesn’t have the most cohesive structure, it’s still fascinating, especially for a WWE newbie like me. 🤓 And can we talk about Kevin and Elizabeth’s love story? Absolute perfection. They’re like puzzle pieces that just FIT and I could read him gushing about her forever.
Kross’s outlook on life is incredibly optimistic. He’s honest about the mental and physical effort it took to reach a healthy place, and it’s so admirable. But…my heart really goes out to Elizabeth 🥺 she was dealt some truly tough cards, yet still managed to hold on to the positives.
Bottom line: if you’re an athlete, WRITE THE BOOK! As a sports lover AND a book lover, when those two worlds collide? Let’s just say my husband benefits. 😂 But seriously, it’s amazing to get such a raw, realistic glimpse into the lives of some of the most talked-about names in sports.
Bring back Kross and Scarlett. 🖤
This book came out at such a pivotal moment in his career, and it really shows just how talented Kross is. No one can deny that. Anyone who builds a “name” for themselves in such an extremely demanding spotlight - both physically and mentally - clearly has the grit and skill to succeed.
While the book doesn’t have the most cohesive structure, it’s still fascinating, especially for a WWE newbie like me. 🤓 And can we talk about Kevin and Elizabeth’s love story? Absolute perfection. They’re like puzzle pieces that just FIT and I could read him gushing about her forever.
Kross’s outlook on life is incredibly optimistic. He’s honest about the mental and physical effort it took to reach a healthy place, and it’s so admirable. But…my heart really goes out to Elizabeth 🥺 she was dealt some truly tough cards, yet still managed to hold on to the positives.
Bottom line: if you’re an athlete, WRITE THE BOOK! As a sports lover AND a book lover, when those two worlds collide? Let’s just say my husband benefits. 😂 But seriously, it’s amazing to get such a raw, realistic glimpse into the lives of some of the most talked-about names in sports.
Bring back Kross and Scarlett. 🖤
August 22, 2025
Life is fighting is an amazing book. From the beginning to end, the stories that KILLER KROSS(Kevin) tells is extremely thought provoking,engaging and sometimes downright hilarious. Being a big fan of killer kross from his in ring work the man really knows how to tell great stories and the audible definitely added to the experience. It was amazing hearing not only his wrestling stories but how he dealt with thing’s personality, all these stories really shaped the man he is today,the man is really smart when it comes to the wrestling business and through this I was able to learn more and more about the business . I don’t usually read books like this but killer kross has always been intriguing to me, and venturing into this type of genre has opened my eyes abit. A lot of chapters really hit home and opened my eyes and as I’ve said already KILLER KROSS is a fantastic writer and storyteller I NEED a second book and I hope that we get it.If your not a wrestling fan or if you are there’s a lot to take away from this book there’s a lot to enjoy and I think it is a book that everyone can enjoy.
December 9, 2025
Overall I’m positive on the book as I think Kevin comes across as a genuinely good dude in this. However those of you who may be expecting funny road stories as per other biographies in the genre, will be left feeling disappointed. This reads a lot more like a motivational self-help book. While there is nothing wrong with that per se, it does suffer from a lack of focus at times. Kross will start delving into a story only to pull back and leave you with cliff notes. For example he casually mentions getting injured in NXT, but doesn’t go into how the move went wrong what the recovery was like etc.
The advice he imparts can be very repetitive at times too, and some of his stories have a “an everybody clapped” feel to them. Not to say they’re unbelievable, but it serves to make him the coolest hero imaginable, which I can see coming off as cringy to some readers.
I did like the book though, and he’s got a great story about a guy who broke into the business late and was able to quickly make a name for himself through his work ethic and creative mind and philosophy. I hope he’s able to come back to wwe soon
The advice he imparts can be very repetitive at times too, and some of his stories have a “an everybody clapped” feel to them. Not to say they’re unbelievable, but it serves to make him the coolest hero imaginable, which I can see coming off as cringy to some readers.
I did like the book though, and he’s got a great story about a guy who broke into the business late and was able to quickly make a name for himself through his work ethic and creative mind and philosophy. I hope he’s able to come back to wwe soon
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
I was fortunate enough to have my copy signed by the Killer and his siren themselves at an independent wrestling show last week.
This was truly an easy read for myself with an adhd mind. I was able to keep track of the stories told in the pages from Kevin riding with his dad to a boxing gym and an encounter with a random stranger to a self-important Norwegian black metal fanatic in a Toronto pizza parlor to a very impolite customer at a diner that was Kevin's after work haven of normalcy.
The stories stood out and were told with an air of relatability. A great bridging the gap between the larger than life character and the down to earth man that portrays him.
This has a little bit of everything one would want in a memoir without any droning or dragging on. I find that even people who are not wrestling fans could even pick this up and enjoy it. It was a brilliant read, and I can not wait for a second book.
This was truly an easy read for myself with an adhd mind. I was able to keep track of the stories told in the pages from Kevin riding with his dad to a boxing gym and an encounter with a random stranger to a self-important Norwegian black metal fanatic in a Toronto pizza parlor to a very impolite customer at a diner that was Kevin's after work haven of normalcy.
The stories stood out and were told with an air of relatability. A great bridging the gap between the larger than life character and the down to earth man that portrays him.
This has a little bit of everything one would want in a memoir without any droning or dragging on. I find that even people who are not wrestling fans could even pick this up and enjoy it. It was a brilliant read, and I can not wait for a second book.
July 26, 2025
I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of *Life Is Fighting* by Kevin Robert Kesar, thanks to ECW Press and NetGalley. This memoir explores the life of professional wrestler Karrion Kross, revealing a deeply empathetic and thoughtful man behind the intense in-ring persona. As a fan, I appreciated the honest look at both the good and challenging sides of the wrestling world, as well as the personal stories that shaped him.
The book felt a bit scattered at times—blending elements of memoir, self-help, and spirituality—but that also added to its unique voice. What stood out most to me were Kevin’s reflections on connecting with people who are often overlooked. Those moments gave the book heart and depth, and they really resonated. Overall, it was an inspiring read that gave me a deeper appreciation for the man behind the character.
The book felt a bit scattered at times—blending elements of memoir, self-help, and spirituality—but that also added to its unique voice. What stood out most to me were Kevin’s reflections on connecting with people who are often overlooked. Those moments gave the book heart and depth, and they really resonated. Overall, it was an inspiring read that gave me a deeper appreciation for the man behind the character.
September 23, 2025
I commend Kevin Kesar for his willingness to be open and self-reflective throughout the pages of this book. It's also clear that he seeks a genuine connection with his fans, and this book project is a sincere effort to further that relationship. That said, I find myself agreeing with several other reviewers who found this to be a bit of a mixed bag.
Many parts of the book are over-written. At other times, I found myself waiting for insightful payoffs that appeared to be teased but never came to fruition. In short, this book raises expectations, but it doesn't always meet them.
Nonetheless, the reader does come away from this with a deeper sense of who Kevin Kesar is and the standards he holds himself to. His integrity, his love for his wife, and his passion toward his craft is evident, despite some of the book's shortcomings.
Many parts of the book are over-written. At other times, I found myself waiting for insightful payoffs that appeared to be teased but never came to fruition. In short, this book raises expectations, but it doesn't always meet them.
Nonetheless, the reader does come away from this with a deeper sense of who Kevin Kesar is and the standards he holds himself to. His integrity, his love for his wife, and his passion toward his craft is evident, despite some of the book's shortcomings.
October 15, 2025
The second I had an inkling that Karrion Kross was going to get released, I knew I wanted to read this book.
Kevin is a surprisingly deep and spiritual person and I don't say surprisingly as an insult, I just mean in a departure from his character in pro wrestling.
I loved hearing about his early days in bouncing and bare knuckle fighting, but also about how he met his wife.
I did find myself getting angry on his behalf at the way he was treated by the WWE ahead of his first release and more so knowing that since the book was written they have been released again.
But what I will really take away from this are the affirmations and life lessons that Kevin imparts. There is no filler, no padding and no bullshit. He tells it like it is and it's remarkably refreshing.
I only hope that at some point he and Elizabeth get the chance to shine creatively on the biggest of stages.
Kevin is a surprisingly deep and spiritual person and I don't say surprisingly as an insult, I just mean in a departure from his character in pro wrestling.
I loved hearing about his early days in bouncing and bare knuckle fighting, but also about how he met his wife.
I did find myself getting angry on his behalf at the way he was treated by the WWE ahead of his first release and more so knowing that since the book was written they have been released again.
But what I will really take away from this are the affirmations and life lessons that Kevin imparts. There is no filler, no padding and no bullshit. He tells it like it is and it's remarkably refreshing.
I only hope that at some point he and Elizabeth get the chance to shine creatively on the biggest of stages.
September 6, 2025
Go in expecting never-before-heard WWE gossip or the disgruntled ramblings of an "unemployed" former star and you'll be very, very disappointed.
Kevin's story is one that puts knowledge of self and hard work first. It's like a shot of espresso and Red Bull on a Monday morning when it's you against the world. And I'm quite sure that's the way he intended it to be, cover to cover.
There's great stories of inspiration from inside and outside of the squared circle, the journey of a fan-turned-superstar and heaps of grattitude for those encountered along the way.
All in all, a light and enjoyable read for those who want to see what's behind the human beings who put their bodies (and mental health) on the line for our entertainment.
Kevin's story is one that puts knowledge of self and hard work first. It's like a shot of espresso and Red Bull on a Monday morning when it's you against the world. And I'm quite sure that's the way he intended it to be, cover to cover.
There's great stories of inspiration from inside and outside of the squared circle, the journey of a fan-turned-superstar and heaps of grattitude for those encountered along the way.
All in all, a light and enjoyable read for those who want to see what's behind the human beings who put their bodies (and mental health) on the line for our entertainment.
November 21, 2025
If you are looking for a basic wrestling autobiography, this isn't it. The former Karrion Kross' writing is about his self journey through life, not just as a wrestler, but fighter, bodyguard, and his other life events which led him to the WWE (and now after).
Stories about how he met his future wife to advice on self health are covered here. Yes there are some wrestling tales, but that is only a small portion of the text, where the focus is more on him finding his way and treating others.
For an in-depth review, visit my page at :https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...
Stories about how he met his future wife to advice on self health are covered here. Yes there are some wrestling tales, but that is only a small portion of the text, where the focus is more on him finding his way and treating others.
For an in-depth review, visit my page at :https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...
August 13, 2025
This memoir gives a deep dive into Karrion Kross' life, tracing his journey through Catch Wrestling, Sambo, and other combat sports before he found his place in the world of professional wrestling. He also shares how WWE became his escape from the harsh realities of NYC. The book explores his evolution as a wrestler, with a focus on character work and storytelling in the ring.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It’s candid, engaging, and perfect for pro-wrestling fans. Karrion’s character work is top-tier, and the way Kevin and Karrion are intertwined yet distinct versions of himself is fascinating. The narration was animated, making the read energetic and fun. What a ride!
Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It’s candid, engaging, and perfect for pro-wrestling fans. Karrion’s character work is top-tier, and the way Kevin and Karrion are intertwined yet distinct versions of himself is fascinating. The narration was animated, making the read energetic and fun. What a ride!
January 20, 2026
He and Elizabeth are salt of the earth. Humble but confident. Peaceful but will protect a loved one..or a stranger if they're in trouble. I expected more wrestling stories but his story is one of hope, resilience and growth. I loved these 2 the moment I saw them. I hope the WWE realizes their foolishness in releasing them, especially since we're burned out on Cody and Sami and a few others. No disrespect to them but they don't get the response from me that Karrion Kross did. He was unpredictable, intelligent, hilarious and frightening..and I LOVED it.
September 26, 2025
More than just a Wrestling Biography.
Much more than a Wrestling Autobiography. It's about life, Beliefs, Values and being a human being. It's about connections and how they help mold your life as well as the journey you're in and how to just put one foot in front of the other and trust in yourself that things will work out regardless of what's going on right now.I was always a fan of Kross, now I'm a fan of the man known as Kevin Robert Kesar too.
Much more than a Wrestling Autobiography. It's about life, Beliefs, Values and being a human being. It's about connections and how they help mold your life as well as the journey you're in and how to just put one foot in front of the other and trust in yourself that things will work out regardless of what's going on right now.I was always a fan of Kross, now I'm a fan of the man known as Kevin Robert Kesar too.
October 6, 2025
This book is so much more than a wrestling book. It's a story of self development and one that's proof of the human ability to overcome obstacles.
Kevin starts as an angry man - someone who has a temper that can go at any moment. However, he ends up developing into an inspirational and incredibly popular figure with an impressive work ethic and a distinct philosophy on life.
It's probably the best book I've read from a wrestler so far and I found it very thought provoking.
Kevin starts as an angry man - someone who has a temper that can go at any moment. However, he ends up developing into an inspirational and incredibly popular figure with an impressive work ethic and a distinct philosophy on life.
It's probably the best book I've read from a wrestler so far and I found it very thought provoking.
January 8, 2026
Looked this book! He writes so eloquently and personally that you want to keep reading about his life. You really get an insight into who he is today and how his younger year shaped him with lots of interesting self reflection along the way. I feel like I've been taught a few things myself. A good read for any one interested in wrestling but also anyone interested in good stories, good writing and an interesting life!
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