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The Wrestlers' Wrestlers: The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling
A walk-through wrestling history, starting with the founding fathers such as Ed “Strangler” Lewis and the incomparable Lou Thesz, to modern-day masters such as Daniel Bryan and Kurt Angle. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider’s look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek “behind the curtain” and a rare look into the top stars’ thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites. The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers is a history of professional wrestling but also a tribute to the frequently misunderstood art itself. Featuring stars of the 1920s to today, this essential read deserves a prominent spot on the bookcase of every fan and historian.
- GenresNonfiction
368 pages, Paperback
Published April 27, 2021
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47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 16, 2021
Being a big professional wrestling fan, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity to read this new book by ECW press. ECW Press, coincidentally not named because of the former company, occasionally does Wrestling books that are very good. If you haven’t ever heard of them, The Death of WCW by Bryan Alvarez and R.D. Reynolds is worth a read for sure. This book in question, The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers – The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling has the initial experience of a typical curated top XX list, but what sets it apart from others is the source material for the list. The author went out to other wrestlers and asked “who would you say is a ‘Wrestler’s Wrestler?'”. The responses were varied and deep and not what one typically sees in these sorts of books.
“The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider’s look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek “behind the curtain” and a rare look into the top stars’ thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites.”
My biggest takeaway from this book are the sections about wrestlers that I am too young to have ever seen anything of. With the book spanning the 1920’s to modern times, information about wrestling in that post WWI era is always scarce despite hearing the occasional move being named after somebody today (Thesz Press comes to mind). Getting to read things about pioneers of the artform such as Karl Gotch, Strangler Lewis, and Lou Thesz was awesome, and with the latter, I have decided to pick up a copy of his book as it was the source for a lot of this material evidentially. One of my favorite recurring tidbits is the fact that in those early days of pure shooter styled wrestling, matches would sometimes last upwards of two hours in length. I can’t imagine sitting through that now, but it must have been a real sight to see back then!
This book occasionally has pictures to accompany the information presented, which is a nice touch. That way you can see some of these legendary men for yourself and see if the descriptions match up. All-in-all this book is a great addition to the bookshelf of any wrestling fan as long as they are willing to venture outside the recency barrier and see what the sport was like in the past. It doesn’t strive to be an encyclopedia or a definitive list in any way, but its interesting to see what qualities the actual wrestlers see as important to being a “Wrestler’s Wrestler”.
“The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler’s favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider’s look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek “behind the curtain” and a rare look into the top stars’ thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites.”
My biggest takeaway from this book are the sections about wrestlers that I am too young to have ever seen anything of. With the book spanning the 1920’s to modern times, information about wrestling in that post WWI era is always scarce despite hearing the occasional move being named after somebody today (Thesz Press comes to mind). Getting to read things about pioneers of the artform such as Karl Gotch, Strangler Lewis, and Lou Thesz was awesome, and with the latter, I have decided to pick up a copy of his book as it was the source for a lot of this material evidentially. One of my favorite recurring tidbits is the fact that in those early days of pure shooter styled wrestling, matches would sometimes last upwards of two hours in length. I can’t imagine sitting through that now, but it must have been a real sight to see back then!
This book occasionally has pictures to accompany the information presented, which is a nice touch. That way you can see some of these legendary men for yourself and see if the descriptions match up. All-in-all this book is a great addition to the bookshelf of any wrestling fan as long as they are willing to venture outside the recency barrier and see what the sport was like in the past. It doesn’t strive to be an encyclopedia or a definitive list in any way, but its interesting to see what qualities the actual wrestlers see as important to being a “Wrestler’s Wrestler”.
March 10, 2021
The Wrestlers' Wrestlers spotlights elite performers and analyzes exactly what made them your favorite wrestler's favorite wrestlers. Authors Dan Murphy and Brian Young interviewed more than 40 in-ring veterans, historians, referees, and promoters to get a unique insider's look at the people who have made a lasting impact on the world of professional wrestling. It offers a special peek "behind the curtain" and a rare look into the top stars' thoughts on their peers, their influences, and their personal favorites.
The Wrestlers' Wrestlers is a history of professional wrestling but also a tribute to the frequently misunderstood art itself. Featuring stars of the 1920s to today, this essential read deserves a prominent spot on the bookcase of every fan and historian.
As a fan of wrestling and history, when I saw this book I knew I had to request it and I was fortunate enough to be granted it. In The Wrestler’s Wrestler we see a compilation of some of the greatest wrestlers of all time and it is an incredible list, choosing wrestlers that come from every era and across the planet.
The expertise of the writers is so clear throughout this book and this book is incredibly well researched - it’s given me a new collection of books and things I need to read very soon as they delve into the history of this wonderful sport. It shows that they love this stuff, and they are academic about it.
This book is everyone you could ever need to know in professional wrestling, from the legends like Thesz and Gotch to the current era where they touch upon the likes of Cesaro and Mercedes Martinez, this book gives you a full and wonderful picture of the progress and growth of the sport from 1930s to now.
Non-Fiction is always at it’s best when it makes you stop and google for a moment because you want to know more as soon as possible, and the amount of times I paused to google matches and background just to build on the information they were giving me was wonderful - this book is the perfect base to begin reading about wrestling history, but also to nod and say, yes, best in the world.
I’m always impressed by the books ECW Press releases and this is just another to add to that tremendous list, if you love wrestling, you need to start buying their books, they are never less than impressive and this is further proof of it.
5*.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley for honest review).
February 14, 2021
This is a history of professional wrestling in America from how it first became popular in the early 20th century up to the present day and it does so mainly via the profiles of wrestlers and covers their careers. There are also brief sections covering how wrestlers get started, how they get to the next town, celebrities, the development of different styles of wrestling and enhancement talent.
As an admitted professional wrestling fan I loved this book. It was a good idea to have the Sinister Minister James Mitchell write the foreword. I enjoyed finding out about his fandom as a child. What is good about this book is that it covers the earlier wrestlers that unless you're an insider fan or a wrestling geek like myself you may never have heard of such as Ed 'Strangler' Lewis. It also profiles such wrestlers that don't always make it into books like this as books tend to focus on the modern era. By this, I'm referring to Johnny Valentine and Ray Stevens. It also does this in the modern era as well mentioning Brad Armstrong and the British greats such as William Regal, Dave Taylor and Dave Finlay. A true wrestling fan would love this book. This book could easily have been a lot longer without losing anything but you have to draw the line somewhere. Personally, I would have done profiles of the enhancement talent and included sections on referees and managers but wrestling fandom is subjective so that isn't really a criticism.
Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for this ARC of a fantastic book.
As an admitted professional wrestling fan I loved this book. It was a good idea to have the Sinister Minister James Mitchell write the foreword. I enjoyed finding out about his fandom as a child. What is good about this book is that it covers the earlier wrestlers that unless you're an insider fan or a wrestling geek like myself you may never have heard of such as Ed 'Strangler' Lewis. It also profiles such wrestlers that don't always make it into books like this as books tend to focus on the modern era. By this, I'm referring to Johnny Valentine and Ray Stevens. It also does this in the modern era as well mentioning Brad Armstrong and the British greats such as William Regal, Dave Taylor and Dave Finlay. A true wrestling fan would love this book. This book could easily have been a lot longer without losing anything but you have to draw the line somewhere. Personally, I would have done profiles of the enhancement talent and included sections on referees and managers but wrestling fandom is subjective so that isn't really a criticism.
Thank you to Netgalley and ECW Press for this ARC of a fantastic book.
April 22, 2021
Subtitle: The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is devoted to the concept of a “wrestler’s wrestler” – wrestlers that other wrestlers recognize for their skill and attitude, as well as for making their opponents’ performance look great in the ring. The authors interviewed over 40 wrestlers and others associated with the business and used their input to come with a list of about 60 wrestlers who met their criteria.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have met 13 of the wrestlers profiled through my involvement with both Harley Race and the Cauliflower Alley Club. My favorite story from the book involved one of those thirteen, Sputnik Monroe. I knew that Monroe was a star down south about 60 years ago. What I didn’t know was that he was also recognized as a civil rights icon in Memphis. The profile of each wrestler covers basic biographical data, career highlights, and comments from their contemporaries.
I gave The Wrestler’s Wrestlers five stars on Goodreads. In my opinion it’s a little more skewed toward the last 10-20 years than it should be, and it made me sad to read that so many of the stars from when I first started watching nearly 50 years ago have died, but I still loved this book from beginning to end.
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is devoted to the concept of a “wrestler’s wrestler” – wrestlers that other wrestlers recognize for their skill and attitude, as well as for making their opponents’ performance look great in the ring. The authors interviewed over 40 wrestlers and others associated with the business and used their input to come with a list of about 60 wrestlers who met their criteria.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have met 13 of the wrestlers profiled through my involvement with both Harley Race and the Cauliflower Alley Club. My favorite story from the book involved one of those thirteen, Sputnik Monroe. I knew that Monroe was a star down south about 60 years ago. What I didn’t know was that he was also recognized as a civil rights icon in Memphis. The profile of each wrestler covers basic biographical data, career highlights, and comments from their contemporaries.
I gave The Wrestler’s Wrestlers five stars on Goodreads. In my opinion it’s a little more skewed toward the last 10-20 years than it should be, and it made me sad to read that so many of the stars from when I first started watching nearly 50 years ago have died, but I still loved this book from beginning to end.
June 22, 2021
Good book, though not as helpful as Murphy's prior co-authored book on female wrestlers. "Wrestlers' Wrestlers" is an intriguing concept, and many of the later inclusions (e.g., Dave Taylor, Nigel McGuiness) fit that profile.
But if this was to be a book on "hands," focusing primarily on the under-covered 2000s indie scene (as the book on female wrestlers did, to an extent) would ensure there's less duplication of existing sources, such as the Johnson/Oliver Hall of Fame books (quoted frequently here, and for good reason). Perhaps such a work can serve as a follow-up, since the best profiles in here are people not covered elsewhere (Mike Quackenbush appears in KEG's book on indie wrestling, for example, but not as a standalone profile, so it's good to see him included, his "misdeeds" such as they are or were notwithstanding). Rip Rogers belongs in his own specific type of book, as do other, similar wrestlers (Colt Cabana in this era, perhaps), true "hands," as contrasted with "main eventers" such as Bob Backlund and Harley Race.
At any rate, an interesting read, with fresh quotes pulled from new sources (Terry Funk, Cabana, Johnny Mantell, et al.). If you haven't read any of the Johnson/Oliver HOF books and want something to keep above the toilet bowl in the bathroom, here's a good option.
But if this was to be a book on "hands," focusing primarily on the under-covered 2000s indie scene (as the book on female wrestlers did, to an extent) would ensure there's less duplication of existing sources, such as the Johnson/Oliver Hall of Fame books (quoted frequently here, and for good reason). Perhaps such a work can serve as a follow-up, since the best profiles in here are people not covered elsewhere (Mike Quackenbush appears in KEG's book on indie wrestling, for example, but not as a standalone profile, so it's good to see him included, his "misdeeds" such as they are or were notwithstanding). Rip Rogers belongs in his own specific type of book, as do other, similar wrestlers (Colt Cabana in this era, perhaps), true "hands," as contrasted with "main eventers" such as Bob Backlund and Harley Race.
At any rate, an interesting read, with fresh quotes pulled from new sources (Terry Funk, Cabana, Johnny Mantell, et al.). If you haven't read any of the Johnson/Oliver HOF books and want something to keep above the toilet bowl in the bathroom, here's a good option.
April 24, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for an advance copy of this book.
The Wrestlers’ Wrestler: The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling by Dan Murphy and Brian Young is a perfect introduction to the art of Professional Wrestling and a nice handy guide for knowledgeable fans who love to hear stories about the players and the sport. The authors both historians and writers of the profession have interviewed active and retired wrestlers to bring together a list of who the wrestlers would consider the one's that they would go out of their way to watch, respected the most in their field, and the men and women who respected the business.
The list is interesting and worthy of discussion for those listed and those omitted. A biographical sketch is given with notable feuds, matches and other information. There are various categories, classic, Attitude era, ranging from the turn of the 20th century to the modern day.
The book also serves as a nice history, a little light in Lucha, but a good primer on Japan and England and Europe but is mostly American or Canadian in scope. A great gift for the burgeoning wrestling watcher, or for a Memphis, Mid-South wrestling superfan.
The Wrestlers’ Wrestler: The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling by Dan Murphy and Brian Young is a perfect introduction to the art of Professional Wrestling and a nice handy guide for knowledgeable fans who love to hear stories about the players and the sport. The authors both historians and writers of the profession have interviewed active and retired wrestlers to bring together a list of who the wrestlers would consider the one's that they would go out of their way to watch, respected the most in their field, and the men and women who respected the business.
The list is interesting and worthy of discussion for those listed and those omitted. A biographical sketch is given with notable feuds, matches and other information. There are various categories, classic, Attitude era, ranging from the turn of the 20th century to the modern day.
The book also serves as a nice history, a little light in Lucha, but a good primer on Japan and England and Europe but is mostly American or Canadian in scope. A great gift for the burgeoning wrestling watcher, or for a Memphis, Mid-South wrestling superfan.
March 10, 2021
In THE WRESTLER'S WRESTLER, Murphy and Young highlight some of the best grapplers and in-ring works that have stepped into the squared circle since the former carnival sideshow act morphed into a sports entertainment spectacle. They give brief biographies and summaries of careers on some of the best wrestlers from the past hundred years. As part of their research, Murphy and Young interviewed over forty wrestlers, referees, and historians.
I have been a pro wrestling fan for as long as I can remember. I grew up during the Monday Night Wars, and my formative years were shaped by the Attitude Era—and I'll readily admit that it wasn't always the best influence. As a wrestling fan, I enjoyed reading about wrestlers from the different eras—most of whom I've heard of, but a few that I hadn't. It was interesting to learn more about each wrestler and the short bios left me wanting more. It was also intriguing to learn how pro wrestling went from legitimate wrestling matches and turned into the flashy sports entertainment spectacle that it is today. THE WRESTLER'S WRESTLER is a must read for pro wrestling fans of all ages.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
I have been a pro wrestling fan for as long as I can remember. I grew up during the Monday Night Wars, and my formative years were shaped by the Attitude Era—and I'll readily admit that it wasn't always the best influence. As a wrestling fan, I enjoyed reading about wrestlers from the different eras—most of whom I've heard of, but a few that I hadn't. It was interesting to learn more about each wrestler and the short bios left me wanting more. It was also intriguing to learn how pro wrestling went from legitimate wrestling matches and turned into the flashy sports entertainment spectacle that it is today. THE WRESTLER'S WRESTLER is a must read for pro wrestling fans of all ages.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
May 16, 2025
What begins as a solid encyclopedia of wrestling, quickly devolves into rapid-fire blurbs about too many wrestlers crammed into one book. Our narrator makes numerous pronunciation errors, which suggests bad directing, which adds to the frustration. By the end, this is mostly regurgitating stats from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (which I could care less about), and there’s way too long a section trying to almost defend Chris Benoit…meanwhile the book crucifies Dynamite Kid for behaviour that Benoit copied and then took to a lethal extreme? Make it make sense.
If you’re willing to sit and separate the wheat from the chaff, there’s more good than bad in this….but maybe the physical version would be best.
If you’re willing to sit and separate the wheat from the chaff, there’s more good than bad in this….but maybe the physical version would be best.
January 10, 2022
I don't know what I was really expecting from this book, but I do know that it didn't really deliver. In the end it came down to simply the authors becoming fan boys and putting up the wrestlers that they like. Too many of the wrestlers that they mentioned were ones I had seen and not been impressed by or ones who never really made it because they didn't have "it". This could have been so much more, instead of just a trip to fanboy land.
June 6, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review.
I like wrestling- I used to be quite a big fan- so I thought this would be quite a good book but I feel like this book focused on a lot of wrestlers that are already very big and known within the industry and there were only about two or three women mentioned within the entire book when there have been famous female wrestlers since pretty much the beginning of wrestling.
It wasn't bad but could be better.
I like wrestling- I used to be quite a big fan- so I thought this would be quite a good book but I feel like this book focused on a lot of wrestlers that are already very big and known within the industry and there were only about two or three women mentioned within the entire book when there have been famous female wrestlers since pretty much the beginning of wrestling.
It wasn't bad but could be better.
March 28, 2021
A decent book to get an overview of some of the best wrestlers from the beginning until current day. It isn't an in-depth history of wrestlers but gives details on some of the top performers. I found myself skipping around the book to read about different wrestlers so you don't need to read all of the chapters in order.
January 3, 2024
Great book! As a fan of professional wrestling it was awesome to see some of my favorites praised and appreciated by their peers and community and also it was interesting learning about some new guys from past eras !
February 25, 2023
I felt that some of the older innovators from the first 2/3rds of the 20th century were overlooked. But in general a great read and an interesting way to look at pro wrestling.
March 13, 2024
Would be five stars but they forgot to do a Mankind chapter
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2024
A very interesting work. Lots of great interviews and interesting details about the people who built wrestling into what it is today.
January 3, 2024
Lots of information here. Well-researched.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews