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Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling
The Wrestling Biography You’ve Been Waiting For!
There are few people who have been in the wrestling business longer than Jim Ross. And those who have made it as long as he has (half a century to be exact) probably made enemies or burned bridges. But that’s just not JR.
Slobberknocker is the story of how an Oklahoman farm kid, with a vivid imagination and seemingly unattainable dreams, became “The Voice of Wrestling” to record TV audiences and millions of fans around the world.
Jim opens up about his life as an only child on a working farm, who became obsessed with professional wrestling having first saw it on his grandparent’s TV. Even though the wrestling business was notoriously secretive and wary of “outsiders,” he somehow got a foot in the door to start a historic career, one where he held almost every job in the business?from putting up the ring to calling matches, from driving his blind, drunk boss towards revenge, to consoling two naked 600 pound brothers in the shower room after a rough match.
With all those adventures and responsibilities, he’s also recognized as the man who built and nurtured a once-in-a-generation talent roster that took the WWE to new heights, including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, and The Rock to name a few. Readers will finally get the opportunity to hear never-before-told stories about the politics, wackiness, and personalities of all the biggest stars.
But this isn’t just a wrestling story. It’s a story about overcoming adversity and achieving your dreams, as success did not come without significant costs and unforeseen challenges to JR, including multiple bouts of severe facial paralysis called Bell’s Palsy.
Currently the host of the podcast The Ross Report, any fan of wrestling?from the territory days to today?will be enthralled with stories from the road and behind the scenes. Slobberknocker is the first time Ross tells his story?and you don’t want to miss it!
There are few people who have been in the wrestling business longer than Jim Ross. And those who have made it as long as he has (half a century to be exact) probably made enemies or burned bridges. But that’s just not JR.
Slobberknocker is the story of how an Oklahoman farm kid, with a vivid imagination and seemingly unattainable dreams, became “The Voice of Wrestling” to record TV audiences and millions of fans around the world.
Jim opens up about his life as an only child on a working farm, who became obsessed with professional wrestling having first saw it on his grandparent’s TV. Even though the wrestling business was notoriously secretive and wary of “outsiders,” he somehow got a foot in the door to start a historic career, one where he held almost every job in the business?from putting up the ring to calling matches, from driving his blind, drunk boss towards revenge, to consoling two naked 600 pound brothers in the shower room after a rough match.
With all those adventures and responsibilities, he’s also recognized as the man who built and nurtured a once-in-a-generation talent roster that took the WWE to new heights, including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Brock Lesnar, and The Rock to name a few. Readers will finally get the opportunity to hear never-before-told stories about the politics, wackiness, and personalities of all the biggest stars.
But this isn’t just a wrestling story. It’s a story about overcoming adversity and achieving your dreams, as success did not come without significant costs and unforeseen challenges to JR, including multiple bouts of severe facial paralysis called Bell’s Palsy.
Currently the host of the podcast The Ross Report, any fan of wrestling?from the territory days to today?will be enthralled with stories from the road and behind the scenes. Slobberknocker is the first time Ross tells his story?and you don’t want to miss it!
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
188 people are currently reading
1136 people want to read
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Jim Ross
78 books70 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
April 6, 2018
Slobberknocker is the biography of wrestling announcer Jim Ross.
My first exposure to Jim Ross was during that shot time when a St. Louis station carried Bill Watts' UWF syndicated show. After that, I listen to him call matches in WCW and finally, the WWF/WWE. When I saw he was working on a book, I knew I had to read it.
The book starts and ends at Wrestlemania in 1999. The middle chronicles Jim Ross's life, from his days as a kid watching wrestling to breaking into the business to eventually becoming head of talent relations in the WWE.
The material within is great. There's self-deprecating humor and JR doesn't sugar coat much of anything. He freely admits his devotion to the wrestling business destroyed two of his marriages. He also goes into his bouts of Bell's Palsy with candid detail.
On the wrestling side of things, JR goes into the nuts and bolts of working for Bill Watts in the UWF/Mid-South, riding with the older wrestlers to learn the business. He goes into the chaos backstage at WCW and tells some very interesting stories about his friendship with Vince McMahon, something that's not normally touched upon in books like this. The road stories are pretty hilarious, as they usually are in wrestling books.
And here come the gripes! For one thing, some of the dates were way off. Did no one fact check this? Everyone knows the Montreal Screwjob happened in 1997, not 1998. And why the hell were some really interesting time periods glossed over? We got two pages of Bill Watts working for the WWF prior to Wrestlemania 11, and just a page or two more of Watts running WCW. Jim Ross was in the wrestling business for over forty years. Why wasn't this book about twice as large? And why did it stop at 1999? That's 18 years that weren't covered!
Gripes aside, this was a gripping book. It was too short, though. I expected the world from it and it's definitely a second tier wrestling book. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
My first exposure to Jim Ross was during that shot time when a St. Louis station carried Bill Watts' UWF syndicated show. After that, I listen to him call matches in WCW and finally, the WWF/WWE. When I saw he was working on a book, I knew I had to read it.
The book starts and ends at Wrestlemania in 1999. The middle chronicles Jim Ross's life, from his days as a kid watching wrestling to breaking into the business to eventually becoming head of talent relations in the WWE.
The material within is great. There's self-deprecating humor and JR doesn't sugar coat much of anything. He freely admits his devotion to the wrestling business destroyed two of his marriages. He also goes into his bouts of Bell's Palsy with candid detail.
On the wrestling side of things, JR goes into the nuts and bolts of working for Bill Watts in the UWF/Mid-South, riding with the older wrestlers to learn the business. He goes into the chaos backstage at WCW and tells some very interesting stories about his friendship with Vince McMahon, something that's not normally touched upon in books like this. The road stories are pretty hilarious, as they usually are in wrestling books.
And here come the gripes! For one thing, some of the dates were way off. Did no one fact check this? Everyone knows the Montreal Screwjob happened in 1997, not 1998. And why the hell were some really interesting time periods glossed over? We got two pages of Bill Watts working for the WWF prior to Wrestlemania 11, and just a page or two more of Watts running WCW. Jim Ross was in the wrestling business for over forty years. Why wasn't this book about twice as large? And why did it stop at 1999? That's 18 years that weren't covered!
Gripes aside, this was a gripping book. It was too short, though. I expected the world from it and it's definitely a second tier wrestling book. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
April 13, 2020
I have to say the book is good but not the Slobbetknocker I though it would be. Jim Ros sis a great story teller in his commentary, I think my expectations were super high. To be fair the last ces chapters where he gives his behind the scenes feelings of some key WWF era angles like the Hell in the Cell match and the Montreal screw job were more of what I was expecting through out the book.
The life in wrestling is the perfect title as Jim Ross lives and breathes wrestling. Everything else is secondary if it is lucky or third place. A perfect example of this is Jim writes a while chapter on how he got his foot in the door of the closed off wrestling business and in the last line of that chapter "I was married". That is the first I hear of his wife I had to re-read it to make sure I did not miss this somewhere in the chapter.
The first 2/3 of the book is Jim's early life and his start in the business, climbing the ranks slowly but learning which prepared him for hitting his stride in the WWF. I saw Jim's passion for the business and even with is workaholic work ethic the business still demanded more.
I have read better behind the scenes road stories book I would not really call this book an autobiography as it is more about the wrestling business that Jim's personal life. It is reall the when Jim is talking about the angles, stars and his back stage relationships with the people he signed, scouted and worked with that tips this book from ok the good for me. I do hope that the trend at the end of this book carries on in his next book.
The life in wrestling is the perfect title as Jim Ross lives and breathes wrestling. Everything else is secondary if it is lucky or third place. A perfect example of this is Jim writes a while chapter on how he got his foot in the door of the closed off wrestling business and in the last line of that chapter "I was married". That is the first I hear of his wife I had to re-read it to make sure I did not miss this somewhere in the chapter.
The first 2/3 of the book is Jim's early life and his start in the business, climbing the ranks slowly but learning which prepared him for hitting his stride in the WWF. I saw Jim's passion for the business and even with is workaholic work ethic the business still demanded more.
I have read better behind the scenes road stories book I would not really call this book an autobiography as it is more about the wrestling business that Jim's personal life. It is reall the when Jim is talking about the angles, stars and his back stage relationships with the people he signed, scouted and worked with that tips this book from ok the good for me. I do hope that the trend at the end of this book carries on in his next book.
January 23, 2018
I grew up with my head in the clouds of professional wrestling. For the last 25 years I’ve been saturated by it in the best possible way, using it not only a source of excitement and entertainment, but as a crutch too, a walking stick to life in general. While some folks watch and soak up the atmosphere and history of sports like football or athletics, I chose wrestling, or perhaps wrestling chose me.
For a large portion of my time as a fan, there has been a soundtrack. A classical score of cheering fans, entrance music, the sound of body hitting canvas, all topped off by a ringside announcers call, a voice giving story and verbal energy to what was happening in the ring. Jim Ross is the greatest announcer in the vast and wonderful history of pro wrestling, for me, and this, his first autobiography, is a look at his life and career, or a good part of it.
I am a fan of wrestling memoirs. Mick Foley, Bret Hart and Chris Jericho top the list for me as far as their stories and ways of pulling you into this magnificent and unusual world. I had high expectations for JRs Book, and let me down it did not. The career of Jim Ross has been wallpapered with triumph and disaster, hardship and success, and he shares it with readers without any reluctance here. It’s a rich story and a personal one, and I ate it up. I would place this easily up there with those of Jericho, Hart and Foley now, for sure. I didn’t want it to end.
If you’re a fan of wrestling or merely a curious bystander, I urge you to pick this book up and give it a read. It’s insightful, funny, heartbreaking, beautiful, crazy and poignant, and you cannot help but hearing that trademark voice of Jim Ross telling these tales throughout. Slobberknocker just stomped a mud hole in the genre of wrestling memoirs, and walked it dry.
Brilliant.
For a large portion of my time as a fan, there has been a soundtrack. A classical score of cheering fans, entrance music, the sound of body hitting canvas, all topped off by a ringside announcers call, a voice giving story and verbal energy to what was happening in the ring. Jim Ross is the greatest announcer in the vast and wonderful history of pro wrestling, for me, and this, his first autobiography, is a look at his life and career, or a good part of it.
I am a fan of wrestling memoirs. Mick Foley, Bret Hart and Chris Jericho top the list for me as far as their stories and ways of pulling you into this magnificent and unusual world. I had high expectations for JRs Book, and let me down it did not. The career of Jim Ross has been wallpapered with triumph and disaster, hardship and success, and he shares it with readers without any reluctance here. It’s a rich story and a personal one, and I ate it up. I would place this easily up there with those of Jericho, Hart and Foley now, for sure. I didn’t want it to end.
If you’re a fan of wrestling or merely a curious bystander, I urge you to pick this book up and give it a read. It’s insightful, funny, heartbreaking, beautiful, crazy and poignant, and you cannot help but hearing that trademark voice of Jim Ross telling these tales throughout. Slobberknocker just stomped a mud hole in the genre of wrestling memoirs, and walked it dry.
Brilliant.
December 26, 2017
Light on details
If you're looking for a light read, this book is for you. It gives an overview of his early life up through 1999. However, if you're looking for a detailed look into his life, this isn't it. The chapters are short and read more like blog entries.
If you're looking for a light read, this book is for you. It gives an overview of his early life up through 1999. However, if you're looking for a detailed look into his life, this isn't it. The chapters are short and read more like blog entries.
October 31, 2017
I feel bad rating this so low, but it did absolutely nothing for me. Ross obviously has a storied career and a ton of stories to tell, but it feels like he's literally (in a figurative sense...) just skimming the top of everything. He'll boil down a whole year or several to just a few random, inconsequential stories. And I know this one only goes up to '99 or so, but even still it feels like you just jump through the whole thing from story to story and you don't really connect with any of the narrative.
March 23, 2018
“GOOD GAWD ALMIGHTY, THEY’VE KILLED HIM! GAWD AS MY WITNESS HE’S BROKEN IN HALF!” When it comes to wrestling commentary, there is no one more iconic than Jim Ross. From him freaking out when Undertaker threw Mankind off the top of the Hell in a Cell through the Spanish Announce Table, to his banter with Jerry "the King" Lawler, nobody does it better. And his book Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling is just as great as some of his most famous calls.
The book takes a look back at J.R’s life from his childhood to his comeback at Wrestlemania 15. You learn about his upbringing at his family's farm in a small town in Oklahoma, His time in Mid-South Wrestling, his iconic WWF run, and everything in between. You get to hear great stories involving the likes of Ric Flair, the Rock and Roll Express, Vince McMahon, and many others.
This book is great and will keep you hooked. I spent a solid hour and a half just straight reading, which for someone with a short attention span like me, is a big deal. But if you're not a wrestling fan, it may be harder to get into, with all the wrestling terminology like Ribs and Selling. But for wrestling fans, this book is an easy 4 and ½ stars and a book you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
The book takes a look back at J.R’s life from his childhood to his comeback at Wrestlemania 15. You learn about his upbringing at his family's farm in a small town in Oklahoma, His time in Mid-South Wrestling, his iconic WWF run, and everything in between. You get to hear great stories involving the likes of Ric Flair, the Rock and Roll Express, Vince McMahon, and many others.
This book is great and will keep you hooked. I spent a solid hour and a half just straight reading, which for someone with a short attention span like me, is a big deal. But if you're not a wrestling fan, it may be harder to get into, with all the wrestling terminology like Ribs and Selling. But for wrestling fans, this book is an easy 4 and ½ stars and a book you wouldn’t want to miss out on.
June 25, 2018
It was good but i was really disappointed because it ends when JR commentates on Austin vs the Rock at Mania. I would have loved to read about JR’s life right up until the book was written..nearly 20 years later. It doesn’t make an awful lot of sense to me that that is where the book ends. So many things that I would have liked to read JR’s perspective on - WWE buying out WCW and ECW, the invasion angle, brand splits, Austin “taking his ball and going home”, The Rock leaving for Hollywood, Eric Bischoff as GM, working with Heyman again, when he was swapped brands and found out live, the Ric incident that lead to him leaving the company, what he’s been up to since, also there was nothing on Owen’s death. Soo much missing. Really disappointed and hope he writes another one day soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2020
This was fun and exactly what I needed right now. This is kind of weird, but pro wrestling is getting me through Covid-19 quarantine. It's like a weird parallel world to this one where reality doesn't quite exist.
March 29, 2024
Pro-wrestling is a crazy business. To this day it still somewhat operates by carny rules, with an allure of mystery that tries to blur the lines between work and reality. There’s a charm to it that doesn’t exist in other forms of media, and even though there are several notable books and documentaries that pull back the curtain and expose the wrestling business for what it is, it’s always fascinating to explore this unique world through the eyes of someone who has seen it all. And as far as autobiographies go, “Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling” by Jim Ross with Paul O’Brien is one of the more interesting ones.
I’m really torn on this book. Ross has an interesting story to tell, starting with his young life on a farm in Oklahoma, honing his auditory skills as a debate champion in college, and breaking into the wrestling business through grit and gumption. JR never aspired to be in the ring, but to be the one crafting the story for the audience just outside of it. His fondness for broadcasting took him down a path that led to him wearing several hats in the industry before donning his trademark black Resistol cowboy hat, working in the office as a driver, a gopher, a producer, and eventually VP of talent relations. But his true passion was broadcasting, and his story centers around this desire and all the ups and downs his life took to get him to achieve his dream. His story is engaging, and there were several times I was so wrapped up in his journey I struggled to put the book down.
My problem with it, though, is the fact that when you really break it down, is the book is mostly an overview of JR’s life, and it doesn’t really get into the meat of his story. Paul O’Brien is a talented writer, but it very much reads like he was taking notes while listening to Ross spin a yarn for several hours. It’s well written and it’s paced very well, but it ultimately feels pretty hollow. There’s no real depth to his story, or exploration as Ross as a person. It’s all cursory, this happened and then that happened, with only brief glimpses into JR’s mental state. For a guy who went through two divorces he doesn’t really say much about them other than they were the product of his inability to be present. He doesn’t really dig into why his relationships with his wives and daughters failed, taking the blame and kind of dismissing it as a consequence of his wrestling dreams.
The book is frustratingly brief on the personal matters that made JR who he is, especially when early in the book I was preparing myself for an emotional deep dive. I was shocked in the first chapter to read how JR’s dad made him kill a litter of inbred puppies as a lesson on responsibility, but that’s about as dramatic as it got. That said, when it comes to shocking dramatic turns, it’s hard to beat puppy murder.
Despite my frustration with the lack of detail JR was willing to share for his book, I still enjoyed myself. There are chapters in the book that made me literally laugh out loud, aided by O’Brien capturing JR’s classic delivery style perfectly. If you’re looking for a deeply moving tale of a man forging his own path to achieve his dreams, this book will probably be too bland for you. It just doesn’t have enough juice to really be captivating for anyone that isn’t already a fan of Ross or professional wrestling. But, if you’re a huge wrestling nerd like me, you’ll definitely get something out of it. If anything I’m eager to see how JR describes the next phase of his career in the sequel book, so it’s got something going for it.
I’m really torn on this book. Ross has an interesting story to tell, starting with his young life on a farm in Oklahoma, honing his auditory skills as a debate champion in college, and breaking into the wrestling business through grit and gumption. JR never aspired to be in the ring, but to be the one crafting the story for the audience just outside of it. His fondness for broadcasting took him down a path that led to him wearing several hats in the industry before donning his trademark black Resistol cowboy hat, working in the office as a driver, a gopher, a producer, and eventually VP of talent relations. But his true passion was broadcasting, and his story centers around this desire and all the ups and downs his life took to get him to achieve his dream. His story is engaging, and there were several times I was so wrapped up in his journey I struggled to put the book down.
My problem with it, though, is the fact that when you really break it down, is the book is mostly an overview of JR’s life, and it doesn’t really get into the meat of his story. Paul O’Brien is a talented writer, but it very much reads like he was taking notes while listening to Ross spin a yarn for several hours. It’s well written and it’s paced very well, but it ultimately feels pretty hollow. There’s no real depth to his story, or exploration as Ross as a person. It’s all cursory, this happened and then that happened, with only brief glimpses into JR’s mental state. For a guy who went through two divorces he doesn’t really say much about them other than they were the product of his inability to be present. He doesn’t really dig into why his relationships with his wives and daughters failed, taking the blame and kind of dismissing it as a consequence of his wrestling dreams.
The book is frustratingly brief on the personal matters that made JR who he is, especially when early in the book I was preparing myself for an emotional deep dive. I was shocked in the first chapter to read how JR’s dad made him kill a litter of inbred puppies as a lesson on responsibility, but that’s about as dramatic as it got. That said, when it comes to shocking dramatic turns, it’s hard to beat puppy murder.
Despite my frustration with the lack of detail JR was willing to share for his book, I still enjoyed myself. There are chapters in the book that made me literally laugh out loud, aided by O’Brien capturing JR’s classic delivery style perfectly. If you’re looking for a deeply moving tale of a man forging his own path to achieve his dreams, this book will probably be too bland for you. It just doesn’t have enough juice to really be captivating for anyone that isn’t already a fan of Ross or professional wrestling. But, if you’re a huge wrestling nerd like me, you’ll definitely get something out of it. If anything I’m eager to see how JR describes the next phase of his career in the sequel book, so it’s got something going for it.
August 27, 2019
I started this book earlier this month when I was having a hard time with my last book, Masters of Solitude. So I would read Slobberknocker at night (a chapter or so) while I tried my best during the day to get through MOS. I was actually able to get through that book finally because the life of Jim Ross was so damn good.
Jim Ross is bar none the best play by play wrestling announcer I have ever heard in my era which was about 1982 until present day. The only people to come close are Joey Styles and Mauro Ranallo. His voice is legendary and has served as the backdrop of legendary feuds involving the likes of Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Undertaker and other great wrestlers.
This first book (the second book is due out in March 2020) deals with Jim's roots from running his own wrestling cards to working in Mid-South to WCW and finally the WWF (now with the E). The stories are all bite sized from a couple of pages to no more than 8 or 10 pages (which made it for perfect night fodder). Even though this book was written with some help from the likes of Paul O'Brien and Scott Williams, it feels completely like ole JR which is a huge plus.
The writing is excellent and for a moment, you almost feel like you are right there behind the ring. However, that also is my only criticism as many of the chapters come and go in the blink of an eye. I selfishly wanted the book to go on a couple hundred more pages but I guess I will get my wish in about 6-7 months.
The truth is that this book belongs right along the Jericho and Foley books, it's that good. So if you are a fan of wrestling (especially of the 80's and 90's), you owe it to yourself to grab this book immediately because business is about to pick up and you don't want to be whipped like a government mule. Enjoy.
Jim Ross is bar none the best play by play wrestling announcer I have ever heard in my era which was about 1982 until present day. The only people to come close are Joey Styles and Mauro Ranallo. His voice is legendary and has served as the backdrop of legendary feuds involving the likes of Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Undertaker and other great wrestlers.
This first book (the second book is due out in March 2020) deals with Jim's roots from running his own wrestling cards to working in Mid-South to WCW and finally the WWF (now with the E). The stories are all bite sized from a couple of pages to no more than 8 or 10 pages (which made it for perfect night fodder). Even though this book was written with some help from the likes of Paul O'Brien and Scott Williams, it feels completely like ole JR which is a huge plus.
The writing is excellent and for a moment, you almost feel like you are right there behind the ring. However, that also is my only criticism as many of the chapters come and go in the blink of an eye. I selfishly wanted the book to go on a couple hundred more pages but I guess I will get my wish in about 6-7 months.
The truth is that this book belongs right along the Jericho and Foley books, it's that good. So if you are a fan of wrestling (especially of the 80's and 90's), you owe it to yourself to grab this book immediately because business is about to pick up and you don't want to be whipped like a government mule. Enjoy.
February 27, 2019
3.75 stars.
Jim Ross is, in my opinion, the greatest individual to have called a match in the world of professional wrestling. His passion for the business, his ability to make me invested and excited in matches and his storytelling abilities are second to none.
This is JR's first autobiography. In it he tells of how he got into the business, his struggles and triumphs along the way and his experiences / opinions along the way.
Given that JR is such an amazing storyteller and his unquestionable love for the business it's a shame that this book wasn't more in depth. Some moments are covered in chapters that last a few pages (in the single digits, sadly) and while it made for a fast paced book it felt rushed.
I enjoyed this book. I was happy to read JR's story and his opinions on how things panned out. But given who he is this could have been so much better. It could have been double the page count and still wouldn't have been too long.
Plus it ended at Wrestlemania 15.
Upon recently there wasn't an announcement of a follow up book and there is so much more to tell. We haven't even gotten to his (more than deserved) induction into the Hall of Fame. There's no doubt I'll read Slobberknocker 2 (if that's what it gets called) I just hope it ends up more detailed.
Jim Ross is, in my opinion, the greatest individual to have called a match in the world of professional wrestling. His passion for the business, his ability to make me invested and excited in matches and his storytelling abilities are second to none.
This is JR's first autobiography. In it he tells of how he got into the business, his struggles and triumphs along the way and his experiences / opinions along the way.
Given that JR is such an amazing storyteller and his unquestionable love for the business it's a shame that this book wasn't more in depth. Some moments are covered in chapters that last a few pages (in the single digits, sadly) and while it made for a fast paced book it felt rushed.
I enjoyed this book. I was happy to read JR's story and his opinions on how things panned out. But given who he is this could have been so much better. It could have been double the page count and still wouldn't have been too long.
Plus it ended at Wrestlemania 15.
Upon recently there wasn't an announcement of a follow up book and there is so much more to tell. We haven't even gotten to his (more than deserved) induction into the Hall of Fame. There's no doubt I'll read Slobberknocker 2 (if that's what it gets called) I just hope it ends up more detailed.
March 28, 2024
I have already read his second book, which covered from the late 90s onward, so I went back and picked this up as it tells how the legend that is Jim Ross got into the wrestling business.
I really enjoyed this, JR is a guy who is passionate about what he does, and that definitely comes across. The insights into the business are fascinating, and he never shys from how his love for what he does has affected his personal life.
In the end, this is a great book because it is a guy talking about what he loves with real passion.
I really enjoyed this, JR is a guy who is passionate about what he does, and that definitely comes across. The insights into the business are fascinating, and he never shys from how his love for what he does has affected his personal life.
In the end, this is a great book because it is a guy talking about what he loves with real passion.
January 6, 2018
Big fan of Jim Ross and always enjoy reading wrestling biographies. A nice look at his early life and career up to the height of the Attitude Era in 1998. Hopefully, there will be a follow-up to fill in the last 20 years of his career as well.
January 14, 2022
An enjoyable overview of Jim Ross and how he became good ol' JR! It felt more like a whistle stop tour than an in-depth reveal, but I expect the next book delves deeper into the events briefly mentioned here. Treat yourself to the audiobook and let JR tell you his story himself, with all the gusto and energy of a "wrasslin'" pro!
December 12, 2022
comes across as a good man with interesting thoughts. he is likeable and with a good sense of humour. main flaw of the book was that he glosses over most of the 90s , and the book stops in 1999- lot more he can cover! could be a follow up - if there were to be i will be buying it
March 28, 2024
Excellent book. JR is the epitome of believing in yourself and working day and night to follow your dreams despite what gets in your way. Eloquently written in painting a vivid picture of friends and foes past and present and his journey from calling matches in his lounge as a kid to calling matches at Wrestlemania.
July 14, 2020
Interesting insight into the wrestling business from a different perspective.
July 10, 2022
Good ol’ JR.
November 28, 2024
A biography from the “Voice of wrestling” that when you read it you hear the “Voice of Wrestling”!! I really enjoyed this book and in fact am going to start reading his second book now.
December 15, 2020
Fascinating book!
March 14, 2023
It’s a strange book. It’s not a biography, that much is clear. It is a collection of stories from from JR’s point of view, starting with his attempts to enter the business when he was a teenager. It’s weird, though. He will spend pages and pages going through some background event that is not that memorable, and then people like Brian Pillman will only get a couple of short paragraphs. There is also the issue of the incorrect dates for easily verifiable events, which doesn’t really bother me but it just makes me wonder if the editor(s) just didn’t give a damn.
Rest assured though, the “GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! THEY'VE KILLED HIM! AS GOD IS MY WITNESS HE IS BROKEN IN HALF!” gets the respect it deserves, because if that event needs to be in any book, it’s in this one.
In addition to those highlights, the peeks into the more sentimental and emotional parts of JR’s life, dealing with his family life and his illness, made the difference. Especially knowing about JR’s current situation. I may be getting soft, but they are what pushed this book right into 4-star territory.
Rest assured though, the “GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! GOOD GOD ALMIGHTY! THEY'VE KILLED HIM! AS GOD IS MY WITNESS HE IS BROKEN IN HALF!” gets the respect it deserves, because if that event needs to be in any book, it’s in this one.
In addition to those highlights, the peeks into the more sentimental and emotional parts of JR’s life, dealing with his family life and his illness, made the difference. Especially knowing about JR’s current situation. I may be getting soft, but they are what pushed this book right into 4-star territory.
November 3, 2021
Tougher than a $2 Steak
Legendary announcer Jim Ross pens one of the most brazen accounts of wrestling history from his roots in the Deep South to his triumphant return at Wrestlemania XV after a slobberknocker with Bell's Palsy. The book instantly hooks a reader already familiar with his southern quips and sports references because this book truly reads in his accent. It is impossible to read this page-turner without hearing the authenticity of Jim's voice.
Jim begins the book with his earliest memories as a young child in rural Oklahoma with vivid recollections of the smallest details, including how impressed he was with a bush that never died despite how many times he peed on it. After moving onto college and being slapped in the face with the real world rather dramatically, a tumultuous turn of events eventually leads him on a collision coarse with Leroy McGuirk, who would kick-start Jim's career in the business.
The most interesting chapters of this book are unequivocally Jim's progression through McGuirk's NWA Tri-State and onto Bill Watt's Mid-South Wrestling. These stories are important because they are historic accounts often neglected in the rich history of professional wrestling, particularly the late-70's and early 80's. WWE/F's modern history, the bulk of which is still celebrated by the company today, begins closer to 1984-85. Through Ross's lens, the shifting landscape of the industry in the early 80's reveals many details most fans today have either forgotten or never understood fully. Though Vince McMahon is often cited as the sole violator of NWA's old territorial system, Bill Watts's feud and eventual acquisition of McGuirk's territory reveals the cutthroat nature of the business in areas that were still out of Vince McMahon's grasp at the time.
There are many stories that are just as funny as they are scary, particularly McGuirk's beef with Ted DiBiase that nearly led to tragedy. Jim's ability to colorfully illustrate his wild adventures with nothing but words is reminiscent of his play-by-play commentary that wrestling fans are familiar with. He also explains how he developed that technique, a story that will probably come as no surprise to anyone.
When Jim's career eventually leads to WWE/F, the book takes a very familiar turn for anyone that's ever read autobiographies about former WWE/F talent. The chapters from then on may as well be numbered in accordance to the Wrestlemania that particular adventure revolves around. It's an interesting phenomena to study, probably most similar to the sudden change of tone in Bret Hart's book when he left Stampede. Wrestlemania. Wrestlemania. Wrestlemania. Everything that happens in between just leads to another Wrestlemania. All other important life events feel almost secondary in terms of importance, at least in the author's perspective. From Day 1 in the company, the wild stories of shenanigans don't seem to alter the trajectory of anything.
Jim Ross proves with this book that his gift for narration extends far beyond the commentator's desk. He's made a living telling stories in real time and "Slobberknocker" is like an iron man match that rages across the southern United States before finally coming to a head at Titan Towers. It's an inspiring story for kids from remote rural communities who dream big and a must-read for any wrestling historian. Jim knows how to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, and this book is no different. It's a very fun read from cover to cover.
Legendary announcer Jim Ross pens one of the most brazen accounts of wrestling history from his roots in the Deep South to his triumphant return at Wrestlemania XV after a slobberknocker with Bell's Palsy. The book instantly hooks a reader already familiar with his southern quips and sports references because this book truly reads in his accent. It is impossible to read this page-turner without hearing the authenticity of Jim's voice.
Jim begins the book with his earliest memories as a young child in rural Oklahoma with vivid recollections of the smallest details, including how impressed he was with a bush that never died despite how many times he peed on it. After moving onto college and being slapped in the face with the real world rather dramatically, a tumultuous turn of events eventually leads him on a collision coarse with Leroy McGuirk, who would kick-start Jim's career in the business.
The most interesting chapters of this book are unequivocally Jim's progression through McGuirk's NWA Tri-State and onto Bill Watt's Mid-South Wrestling. These stories are important because they are historic accounts often neglected in the rich history of professional wrestling, particularly the late-70's and early 80's. WWE/F's modern history, the bulk of which is still celebrated by the company today, begins closer to 1984-85. Through Ross's lens, the shifting landscape of the industry in the early 80's reveals many details most fans today have either forgotten or never understood fully. Though Vince McMahon is often cited as the sole violator of NWA's old territorial system, Bill Watts's feud and eventual acquisition of McGuirk's territory reveals the cutthroat nature of the business in areas that were still out of Vince McMahon's grasp at the time.
There are many stories that are just as funny as they are scary, particularly McGuirk's beef with Ted DiBiase that nearly led to tragedy. Jim's ability to colorfully illustrate his wild adventures with nothing but words is reminiscent of his play-by-play commentary that wrestling fans are familiar with. He also explains how he developed that technique, a story that will probably come as no surprise to anyone.
When Jim's career eventually leads to WWE/F, the book takes a very familiar turn for anyone that's ever read autobiographies about former WWE/F talent. The chapters from then on may as well be numbered in accordance to the Wrestlemania that particular adventure revolves around. It's an interesting phenomena to study, probably most similar to the sudden change of tone in Bret Hart's book when he left Stampede. Wrestlemania. Wrestlemania. Wrestlemania. Everything that happens in between just leads to another Wrestlemania. All other important life events feel almost secondary in terms of importance, at least in the author's perspective. From Day 1 in the company, the wild stories of shenanigans don't seem to alter the trajectory of anything.
Jim Ross proves with this book that his gift for narration extends far beyond the commentator's desk. He's made a living telling stories in real time and "Slobberknocker" is like an iron man match that rages across the southern United States before finally coming to a head at Titan Towers. It's an inspiring story for kids from remote rural communities who dream big and a must-read for any wrestling historian. Jim knows how to keep the audience on the edge of their seats, and this book is no different. It's a very fun read from cover to cover.
August 19, 2017
I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book. As expected with Jim Ross, who has been in the wrestling business since the late 1970s, there is tons of good stories in here. Ross talks about working his way in Bill Watts's Mid South Wrestling all they way to the WWE. There are stories about stars like Ric Flair, Sting, Ted Dibiase, and his fellow announcers that he's worked with throughout the years.
This book isn't just a wrestling book, but shows how a man who loved something worked his way from the bottom to the top and achieved the American Dream.
This is a great wrestling book. There are some stories in it that some causal fans may not remember (he mentions a few people and angles that isn't described in detail before getting to the story- but readers can easily figure out the story's point-or look online for the complete background of the angles), but it doesn't mess up the story. This book should be in a wrestling fan's collection.
For a more in depth review, go to my blog page at: https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...
This book isn't just a wrestling book, but shows how a man who loved something worked his way from the bottom to the top and achieved the American Dream.
This is a great wrestling book. There are some stories in it that some causal fans may not remember (he mentions a few people and angles that isn't described in detail before getting to the story- but readers can easily figure out the story's point-or look online for the complete background of the angles), but it doesn't mess up the story. This book should be in a wrestling fan's collection.
For a more in depth review, go to my blog page at: https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...
October 11, 2017
Jim Ross is the greatest wrestling announcer of all time. Sadly, his ghostwritten book is just so-so. Strangely, it only goes until March 1999 in JR's timeline (maybe there's another one coming?) and while there are some interesting stories from his time in the business, it's altogether a fairly average entry in the world of ghostwritten sports personalities' memoirs. It could also have used a much closer look by a copy editor, for both typos and facts (the Montreal Screwjob is listed in November 1998 instead of the correct 1997). For all the flaws, it's not a bad book for wrestling fans, but it could easily be so much more.
December 30, 2017
Good Ol' JR's life in wrestling is a breezy read, for sure; I ploughed through it in a few sittings. But it's one let down by a few silly errors (that would been caught in another pass by a copy editor) and a significant lack of detail. I mean, not even counting that it's curtailed at an event that took place 19 years ago! That's all most likely for pragmatic or political reasons, but there's a general sense that Jim Ross the person wants to keep the reader at arm's length. In that case, why write an autobiography at all?
February 8, 2021
Jim Ross is the greatest play by play announcer in Professional Wrestling history. He knows how to tell a story.
But, this time, instead of telling the story of what he's seeing in the ring, he told the story about his own life and it's just as well done.
The chapters are short, but the stories are long.
As a lifelong fan of Professional Wrestling, I'm glad that I finally got around to reading this book. I look forward to reading the follow up at some point.
But, this time, instead of telling the story of what he's seeing in the ring, he told the story about his own life and it's just as well done.
The chapters are short, but the stories are long.
As a lifelong fan of Professional Wrestling, I'm glad that I finally got around to reading this book. I look forward to reading the follow up at some point.
November 9, 2017
I've been looking forward to SLOBBERKNOCKER since Jim Ross teased an autobiography years ago. He's one of the greatest minds in the wrestling business, and I knew any book he wrote would overflow with great stories of the industry's characters, promotions, and changes. The stories met my expectations, but the presentation often fell short.
SLOBBERKNOCKER recounts "Good Ol' JR's" childhood through his return to WWF/E's announcers table at WrestleMania 15 following a second and more serious bout of cerebral palsy. That span of time covers a huge slice of his life and over 40 years of wrestling history, but I was disappointed he decided to stop there. Maybe he took stock of what he wanted to say and decided, like Chris Jericho, that he had a large enough story to fill more than one book. If so, he made a wise decision. I'd rather wait a few years for another book than read through an abridged chronicle.
The stories JR tells are incredible on several fronts. First, he's one of a dying breed of wrestling professional, someone who has done it all. He wrote marketing materials for TV and radio studios; set up, tore down, packed up, and hauled the ring to and from wrestling shows; worked in wrestling territories in the days before WWF and WCW signed talent and forced the majority of promotions active during the '80s and '90s to close their doors; recruited and nurtured prospects such as Glenn "Kane" Jacobs, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and Kurt Angle; and much more.
Second, unlike many wrestlers of the modern era, JR broke into the business before there was big money attached to it. He worked his way up to positions that netted him six-figure salaries, but the keyword there is worked. He "paid his dues," as the old-timers used to say. I love stories about how territories operated, and JR does not shy away from details in most cases. Although the independent scene is blossoming, the money wrestlers can make is more than it ever has been outside of the big leagues—these days, that means WWE. JR is one of few wrestlers who will know what it was like to live hand to mouth, fed more by a passion for work you love than by food.
Third, JRs' stories ranged from hilarious to heartbreaking to heartwarming. I've never laughed aloud at a wrestling autobiography as I did reading about his drunken game of HORSE against Dusty "The American Dream" Rhodes, and I felt for him when he lost his parents, knowing that he could have spent more time with them if not for his single-minded dedication to his career.
As SLOBBERKNOCKER went on, however, the content began to suffer. I can forgive a few typos, having been on the receiving end of that criticism, but the number of gaffes stacked up to the point where they distracted from the stories being told. Many dates were also out of whack. "The Montreal Screw Job" is arguably the most infamous day in wrestling. It took place at the WWF Survivor Series pay-per-view in November 1997. JR knows that. He was there; he called the match. Yet he listed the date as 11/98. Hey, I understand accidentally pressing one key when you meant to hit the one beside it, but fudging a date this important should have been flagged by someone in revisions.
JR's voice became a hurdle as well. He has a way of speaking that works for announcing because commentary and the visual art of wrestling complement one another. That same voice didn't always translate to cogent and immersive storytelling. There were many passages that were so awkwardly phrased that I had to stop reading and figure out what on earth JR was trying to say. I understand the importance of preserving the voice of the person writing his or her autobiography, but an editor or JR's co-writer should have stepped in and ironed out many parts.
Details thinned at crucial points in the book. He developed a tendency to tell rather than show; the book's early half did a much better job of painting mental images than his later years. Additionally, JR dropped names and terminology without explanation, as if he figured his audience was wrestling-savvy enough to know who or what he was talking about. This sloppiness became more pronounced during the back half of the book, at odds with the first half when JR offered concise and easy-to-understand explanations that kept stories moving. Never assume your audience knows as much as you do, especially when you're Jim Ross, in which case not even Vince McMahon knows as much as you do.
SLOBBERKNOCKER shines when JR takes his time setting up a story and painting a picture in your mind. He's a rare talent in the business, and any vehicle through which he can share knowledge and anecdotes should be enshrined within the industry. That said, I hope he writes at least one more follow-up, and that subsequent books plug up the many holes SLOBBERKNOCKER sprung as it went along.
SLOBBERKNOCKER recounts "Good Ol' JR's" childhood through his return to WWF/E's announcers table at WrestleMania 15 following a second and more serious bout of cerebral palsy. That span of time covers a huge slice of his life and over 40 years of wrestling history, but I was disappointed he decided to stop there. Maybe he took stock of what he wanted to say and decided, like Chris Jericho, that he had a large enough story to fill more than one book. If so, he made a wise decision. I'd rather wait a few years for another book than read through an abridged chronicle.
The stories JR tells are incredible on several fronts. First, he's one of a dying breed of wrestling professional, someone who has done it all. He wrote marketing materials for TV and radio studios; set up, tore down, packed up, and hauled the ring to and from wrestling shows; worked in wrestling territories in the days before WWF and WCW signed talent and forced the majority of promotions active during the '80s and '90s to close their doors; recruited and nurtured prospects such as Glenn "Kane" Jacobs, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, and Kurt Angle; and much more.
Second, unlike many wrestlers of the modern era, JR broke into the business before there was big money attached to it. He worked his way up to positions that netted him six-figure salaries, but the keyword there is worked. He "paid his dues," as the old-timers used to say. I love stories about how territories operated, and JR does not shy away from details in most cases. Although the independent scene is blossoming, the money wrestlers can make is more than it ever has been outside of the big leagues—these days, that means WWE. JR is one of few wrestlers who will know what it was like to live hand to mouth, fed more by a passion for work you love than by food.
Third, JRs' stories ranged from hilarious to heartbreaking to heartwarming. I've never laughed aloud at a wrestling autobiography as I did reading about his drunken game of HORSE against Dusty "The American Dream" Rhodes, and I felt for him when he lost his parents, knowing that he could have spent more time with them if not for his single-minded dedication to his career.
As SLOBBERKNOCKER went on, however, the content began to suffer. I can forgive a few typos, having been on the receiving end of that criticism, but the number of gaffes stacked up to the point where they distracted from the stories being told. Many dates were also out of whack. "The Montreal Screw Job" is arguably the most infamous day in wrestling. It took place at the WWF Survivor Series pay-per-view in November 1997. JR knows that. He was there; he called the match. Yet he listed the date as 11/98. Hey, I understand accidentally pressing one key when you meant to hit the one beside it, but fudging a date this important should have been flagged by someone in revisions.
JR's voice became a hurdle as well. He has a way of speaking that works for announcing because commentary and the visual art of wrestling complement one another. That same voice didn't always translate to cogent and immersive storytelling. There were many passages that were so awkwardly phrased that I had to stop reading and figure out what on earth JR was trying to say. I understand the importance of preserving the voice of the person writing his or her autobiography, but an editor or JR's co-writer should have stepped in and ironed out many parts.
Details thinned at crucial points in the book. He developed a tendency to tell rather than show; the book's early half did a much better job of painting mental images than his later years. Additionally, JR dropped names and terminology without explanation, as if he figured his audience was wrestling-savvy enough to know who or what he was talking about. This sloppiness became more pronounced during the back half of the book, at odds with the first half when JR offered concise and easy-to-understand explanations that kept stories moving. Never assume your audience knows as much as you do, especially when you're Jim Ross, in which case not even Vince McMahon knows as much as you do.
SLOBBERKNOCKER shines when JR takes his time setting up a story and painting a picture in your mind. He's a rare talent in the business, and any vehicle through which he can share knowledge and anecdotes should be enshrined within the industry. That said, I hope he writes at least one more follow-up, and that subsequent books plug up the many holes SLOBBERKNOCKER sprung as it went along.
December 11, 2017
Very early in the book, JR talks about how he forgot to close the pen and his dad's prized breeding dog got knocked up by one of her pups. When it had the inbred puppies, his dad put them in a sack, gave JR a hammer, and told him to go the dump and take care of it. JR talks about how sad he was having to do that, how sad his mom was, even how sad his dad was. Then he beat them to death with that hammer. The next day, his dad took him into town, gave him $2 for a haircut, a movie, a popcorn and drink, and JR was the happiest he'd ever been. That's a whole lot to process in the span of a couple paragraphs. And now I can only imagine the flashbacks JR had every time the King would start yelling, "Puppies!"
Slobberknocker gives us a peak at a different time in wrestling, breaking into the business by impressing Bill Watts with the way he promoted a nonprofit show. You get some great stories out of that, Leroy McGuirk planning to murder Ted DiBiase for dating his daughter, ribs veterans played to make sure they didn't have to drive, and why nobody fucked with Danny Hodge.
I really enjoyed the behind the curtains look at Mid-South and helping to run it. This was near the end of the territory days and you get a couple of the dirty tricks Vince pulled to help snuff out the competition, though I can't help but think it would have been a much better story there if JR and McMahon weren't currently on good terms. Vince wanted on TBS, so he bought Georgia Championship Wrestling out and replaced their show with WWF programming. Fans were enraged. Turner couldn't remove WWF, but he could put Mid-South on at a different time. Mid-South was making some noise and Vince decided to sell his slot to Jim Crockett Promotions under the agreement that Crockett would be the only wrestling show on the network. Mid-South was out. Between things like that, talent poaching, running free shows against Mid-South/UWF's big events, it was hopeless.
We of course get Jim's time in WCW. I think the most enjoyable part of that was listening to him talk about the talent he saw in guys like Stunning Steve Austin and Flyin Brian Pillman. I also really enjoyed him talking about taking Paul Heyman under his wing, if only for using him for a ride after having his license suspended. JR passed on a lot of knowledge to Paul E Dangerously who would eventually become one of the best minds in the business.
The one spot I feel that lacks is the WWF. We get good coverage of his jump to the company, his battle with Bell's Palsy, firing, rehiring, and the greatest hits... being instrumental in the careers of Stone Cold, Mick Foley, The Rock, calling the infamous Hell in a Cell, his return after another attack of Bell's Palsy... but this is Jim Ross, the voice of the Attitude Era, longtime VP of Talent Relations. There could have been so much more there and instead we just get the biggest, most public moments. Of course, the story ends in 1999, which leaves a lot of room for another book in the future.
This isn't a knock on the book and doesn't factor into the rating at all, but it is worth mentioning. The audiobook might not be the way to go with this one. I'd heard JR mention on the podcast that recording the audiobook was really hard, and it shows. It's almost as if someone put the book into a text to speech program and gave it JR's voice. It's very mechanical, and emphasis is put on the oddest words fairly often. You do get used to it after a while, but it's far from the kind of delivery you would expect from Good 'ol JR.
Slobberknocker gives us a peak at a different time in wrestling, breaking into the business by impressing Bill Watts with the way he promoted a nonprofit show. You get some great stories out of that, Leroy McGuirk planning to murder Ted DiBiase for dating his daughter, ribs veterans played to make sure they didn't have to drive, and why nobody fucked with Danny Hodge.
I really enjoyed the behind the curtains look at Mid-South and helping to run it. This was near the end of the territory days and you get a couple of the dirty tricks Vince pulled to help snuff out the competition, though I can't help but think it would have been a much better story there if JR and McMahon weren't currently on good terms. Vince wanted on TBS, so he bought Georgia Championship Wrestling out and replaced their show with WWF programming. Fans were enraged. Turner couldn't remove WWF, but he could put Mid-South on at a different time. Mid-South was making some noise and Vince decided to sell his slot to Jim Crockett Promotions under the agreement that Crockett would be the only wrestling show on the network. Mid-South was out. Between things like that, talent poaching, running free shows against Mid-South/UWF's big events, it was hopeless.
We of course get Jim's time in WCW. I think the most enjoyable part of that was listening to him talk about the talent he saw in guys like Stunning Steve Austin and Flyin Brian Pillman. I also really enjoyed him talking about taking Paul Heyman under his wing, if only for using him for a ride after having his license suspended. JR passed on a lot of knowledge to Paul E Dangerously who would eventually become one of the best minds in the business.
The one spot I feel that lacks is the WWF. We get good coverage of his jump to the company, his battle with Bell's Palsy, firing, rehiring, and the greatest hits... being instrumental in the careers of Stone Cold, Mick Foley, The Rock, calling the infamous Hell in a Cell, his return after another attack of Bell's Palsy... but this is Jim Ross, the voice of the Attitude Era, longtime VP of Talent Relations. There could have been so much more there and instead we just get the biggest, most public moments. Of course, the story ends in 1999, which leaves a lot of room for another book in the future.
This isn't a knock on the book and doesn't factor into the rating at all, but it is worth mentioning. The audiobook might not be the way to go with this one. I'd heard JR mention on the podcast that recording the audiobook was really hard, and it shows. It's almost as if someone put the book into a text to speech program and gave it JR's voice. It's very mechanical, and emphasis is put on the oddest words fairly often. You do get used to it after a while, but it's far from the kind of delivery you would expect from Good 'ol JR.
January 5, 2018
Growing up, one of my favorite things in life was professional wrestling. I watched broadcasts of the local circuits in the Oklahoma region like WCW or Mid-South but also watched telecasts from other regions such as Georgia Championship wrestling on TBS, CWA out of the Memphis area, and even a little bit of WWF in the northeast. While at the grocery store, I'd read wrestling magazines while Mom shopped. I would hone in on the shots of the matches with a bit of "color" to them [blood]. I loved the spectacle, the violence, the blood, the drama, the battles between good and bad [in wrestling lingo, good guys were "babyfaces" while the bad guys are known as "heels"], the outrageous characters, the promo videos...I loved wrestling!
My friends and I would create our own characters or emulate our favorites and try to recreate their holds. My brother and I would jump on my poor mom on the floor and double-team her with leg locks, elbow drops, and even this dastardly move we called "The Lobster." Trust me, you don't want to have The Lobster applied to you. My best friend Scott and I got into trouble one afternoon after we double-teamed his younger sister Amy on a trampoline pretending to be our two favorite masked heels at the time: Mr. Wrestler #2 and The Spoiler. When Amy went crying into the house after Scott [er, Mr. Wrestler #2] got her in a figure four leg lock while applied a "claw" hold on her, we got a major balling out by his mother. It was worth it.
I would go watch it in person at an amazing Art Deco building in Tulsa--the Pavilion. I saw a lot of matches there but two standouts were Andre the Giant winning a Battle Royale and watching the heel tag team Midnight Express [led by Jim Cornett, their obnoxious rich boy manager who I loved] top the babyface duo Rock n Roll Express. I hated the Rock n Roll Express. I didn't care for most of the babyfaces to be honest--I liked the heels. They were more entertaining. One of my grandma's loved to watch two things on TV--preaching and pro-wrestling. She was a devout Pentacost & loved the babyfaces. I couldn't stand babyfaces. We had many discussions about how one of my "bad guys" was going to defeat her "good guys." She couldn't believe I wanted her babyface to beaten and bloodied but I openly rooted for such a thing. I once saw the Junk Yard Dog in an OKC airport and ran up to him and excitedly said, "JYD!" and he promptly barked at me, never breaking stride. It was one of the greatest moments in my 12 years on earth to that point.
So, yeah, my wrestling bonafides are legit, hence my interest in this autobiography of fellow Oklahoman and wrestling legend Jim Ross. My favorite childhood wrestling viewings are with Ross, or JR, as the announcer. He's simply the greatest wrestling announcer of all-time in my book. All-time. SLOBBERKNOCKER goes into details of all the things he did through the years in the business from ads, talent, bookings, announcing...he's literally done it all. Some good stories--I wish it had been a bit more tell all but I understand that JR didn't want to alienate some of the legacies of these performers so he kind of held back a bit I'm guessing. There were still a lot of folks mentioned I haven't thought about in a long time. I haven't watched pro-wrestling since the mid-to-late 1990s but I watched enough of it before then to last me a lifetime. This was a nice trip down memory lane.
My friends and I would create our own characters or emulate our favorites and try to recreate their holds. My brother and I would jump on my poor mom on the floor and double-team her with leg locks, elbow drops, and even this dastardly move we called "The Lobster." Trust me, you don't want to have The Lobster applied to you. My best friend Scott and I got into trouble one afternoon after we double-teamed his younger sister Amy on a trampoline pretending to be our two favorite masked heels at the time: Mr. Wrestler #2 and The Spoiler. When Amy went crying into the house after Scott [er, Mr. Wrestler #2] got her in a figure four leg lock while applied a "claw" hold on her, we got a major balling out by his mother. It was worth it.
I would go watch it in person at an amazing Art Deco building in Tulsa--the Pavilion. I saw a lot of matches there but two standouts were Andre the Giant winning a Battle Royale and watching the heel tag team Midnight Express [led by Jim Cornett, their obnoxious rich boy manager who I loved] top the babyface duo Rock n Roll Express. I hated the Rock n Roll Express. I didn't care for most of the babyfaces to be honest--I liked the heels. They were more entertaining. One of my grandma's loved to watch two things on TV--preaching and pro-wrestling. She was a devout Pentacost & loved the babyfaces. I couldn't stand babyfaces. We had many discussions about how one of my "bad guys" was going to defeat her "good guys." She couldn't believe I wanted her babyface to beaten and bloodied but I openly rooted for such a thing. I once saw the Junk Yard Dog in an OKC airport and ran up to him and excitedly said, "JYD!" and he promptly barked at me, never breaking stride. It was one of the greatest moments in my 12 years on earth to that point.
So, yeah, my wrestling bonafides are legit, hence my interest in this autobiography of fellow Oklahoman and wrestling legend Jim Ross. My favorite childhood wrestling viewings are with Ross, or JR, as the announcer. He's simply the greatest wrestling announcer of all-time in my book. All-time. SLOBBERKNOCKER goes into details of all the things he did through the years in the business from ads, talent, bookings, announcing...he's literally done it all. Some good stories--I wish it had been a bit more tell all but I understand that JR didn't want to alienate some of the legacies of these performers so he kind of held back a bit I'm guessing. There were still a lot of folks mentioned I haven't thought about in a long time. I haven't watched pro-wrestling since the mid-to-late 1990s but I watched enough of it before then to last me a lifetime. This was a nice trip down memory lane.
February 26, 2018
A quick paced, fun, autobiography that details Jim Ross’s journey from helping promote wrestling shows on his college campus to being head of talent relations and announcer for the biggest wrestling company. I highly enjoyed this autobiography. Jim gives the perfect mix of story and detail.
Surprisingly, the first half of this book is the most exciting. Jim paces his childhood really well, focusing only on great stories that built his character. A lot of detail is given to Jim’s start with Bill Watts and Leroy McGuirk and the are some unbelievably great stories here. The book then follows Jim’s life and ends in 1999.
I listen to Jim Ross’s podcast and on the podcast Jim has a tendency to fawn over the territory days and come off a little crotchety about the new era of wrestling any chance he gets. I was worried this book may become a soapbox. That is not a problem at all, Jim gives an honest look at his career and tells great stories. The Vince McMahon stories are unbelievably funny. The Gorilla Monsoon and Leroy McGuirk stories are so detailed, you feel like you were there. I feel Jim personally may have made an effort to not spend too much of the book talking about his respect for known friends in the business such as Bill Watts, “Dr Death” Steve Williams and Brian Pillman. The stories he does tell on Watts are perfect. Once you know the nature of the relationship between Jim Ross and Bill Watts, its easy to see why Jim Ross has always been considered a “Bill Watts” guy.
It is hard to criticize this book. I feel Jim made an effort to write a book that provided enough detail to make a wrestling historian entertained but not so much detail that an occasional wrestling viewer would be bored. I feel there are detailed books on the territory days and Jim’s time as WWF talent relations to be written.
My favorite insights I gained from the book were; what Leroy McGuirk asked Jim Ross to help him do when he thought his daughter was dating a wrestler, what a great person Danny Hodge was inside and outside the ring, Bill Watt's approach to wrestling announcing, both Muhhmad Ali’s and Mike Tyson’s passion for the wrestling business, how Vince McMahon was hypocritical when it came to his attitudes of WCW showing Clash of Champions I for free opposite Wrestlemania, how Ric Fliar’s perception of himself as champ hurt Sting and WCW, what Vince McMahon is like on the road, Ultimate Warrior’s insistence on putting over a word he made up (Destrucity) during his 96 comeback.
I can’t recommend this book enough. Jim Ross truly started from the bottom of the business and this book paints a great picture of that.
Surprisingly, the first half of this book is the most exciting. Jim paces his childhood really well, focusing only on great stories that built his character. A lot of detail is given to Jim’s start with Bill Watts and Leroy McGuirk and the are some unbelievably great stories here. The book then follows Jim’s life and ends in 1999.
I listen to Jim Ross’s podcast and on the podcast Jim has a tendency to fawn over the territory days and come off a little crotchety about the new era of wrestling any chance he gets. I was worried this book may become a soapbox. That is not a problem at all, Jim gives an honest look at his career and tells great stories. The Vince McMahon stories are unbelievably funny. The Gorilla Monsoon and Leroy McGuirk stories are so detailed, you feel like you were there. I feel Jim personally may have made an effort to not spend too much of the book talking about his respect for known friends in the business such as Bill Watts, “Dr Death” Steve Williams and Brian Pillman. The stories he does tell on Watts are perfect. Once you know the nature of the relationship between Jim Ross and Bill Watts, its easy to see why Jim Ross has always been considered a “Bill Watts” guy.
It is hard to criticize this book. I feel Jim made an effort to write a book that provided enough detail to make a wrestling historian entertained but not so much detail that an occasional wrestling viewer would be bored. I feel there are detailed books on the territory days and Jim’s time as WWF talent relations to be written.
My favorite insights I gained from the book were; what Leroy McGuirk asked Jim Ross to help him do when he thought his daughter was dating a wrestler, what a great person Danny Hodge was inside and outside the ring, Bill Watt's approach to wrestling announcing, both Muhhmad Ali’s and Mike Tyson’s passion for the wrestling business, how Vince McMahon was hypocritical when it came to his attitudes of WCW showing Clash of Champions I for free opposite Wrestlemania, how Ric Fliar’s perception of himself as champ hurt Sting and WCW, what Vince McMahon is like on the road, Ultimate Warrior’s insistence on putting over a word he made up (Destrucity) during his 96 comeback.
I can’t recommend this book enough. Jim Ross truly started from the bottom of the business and this book paints a great picture of that.
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