Heroes & Friends - Pro Wrestling Remembrances

by Jim Cornette

This 100-page, 8 1/2 X 11 perfect-bound collector's book contains remembrances of a dozen pro wrestling superstars that Jim Cornette was either a fan of, a friend of, or both. Part career profiles, part personal interactions, part historical essays, each of these chapters tells the fascinating story of the man and the wrestler, for twelve of the most interesting and unique individuals JC has ever known. Bobby Heenan, The Sheik, Bruno Sammartino, Ray Stevens, the Dream Machine, Paul Bearer, Vader, Boo Bradley, Pat Malone, Sputnik Monroe, Lance Russell and Ron Wright are profiled, and the book features 100 photos and pieces of memorabilia from Cornette's Collection, many not seen in decades and some never before seen by the public!

100 pages, Paperback

Published October 11, 2025

About the author

James Mark Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, booker and podcaster.

As a manager, commentator, member of the booking committee and member of the creative team, he has worked for Continental Wrestling Association, Mid-South Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (now WWE), and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling. He has also worked as an on-screen character in an authoritative role; as "Commissioner" of Ring of Honor (in a previous stint with the company) and "Management Director" (and off-screen road agent) for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend of mine sent me this for Christmas. It's a collection of articles Jim Cornette wrote after the passing of some wrestlers and wrestling personalities he'd met - Bruno Sammartino, Bobby Heenan, Sputnik Monroe, Vader, Dream Machine, Pat Malone, Lance Russell, Ron Wright, Paul Bearer, Boo Bradley, Ray Stevens, and the Sheik. The articles are accompanied by great photos, photos of wrestling memorabilia, and things of that nature. Cornette's writing is top notch and the presentation is great with high quality glossy paper. It's a slim book at around 100 pages but packed with information from days gone by. Great read.

[John Schorg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is one of the great historians of wrestling, a fact easily proven through his weekly podcasts. While his excellence over the airwaves is documented, Cornette also has a great record of writing about wrestling, one that is difficult to find. If you can ever read his column about the links between the Tupelo Concession Stand Brawl and the rise of extreme wrestling, it is definitely worth a look. This slim volume offers tributes to some of the great names in wrestling. All are worth reading, and if there's a complaint here, it's that there isn't enough. For God's sake, man, write a damn history of your career.

[Tony Cottam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, but perfectly formed. Exceptional historical content, the chapters about The Green Shadow, Sputnik Monroe and Lance Russell especially are some of the best short form writing about pro wrestling - indeed, America - in the 40s, 50s and 60s you will ever read. Fantastic. We need volume 2 ASAP, Mr. Cornette!

[Alex Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love not only did Jim Cornette teach us history of the 10 wrestlers he wrote about, but his love for them. He pulled from his resources and his memory to show us why these wrestlers were great!