Chair Shots & Other Obstacles: Winning Life's Wrestling Matches

by Bobby Heenan, Steve Anderson

Chair Shots and Other Winning Life's Wrestling Matches is an introspective look into the wit and wisdom of legendary professional wrestler and manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. "Chair shots" is a part of wrestling vernacular, but it is also a metaphor for setbacks and impediments that one experiences in life. Heenan has had his share of challenges - both personal and professional. He also has learned his share of lessons, but not in a formal education setting. The world has been his classroom and observing life around him, his curriculum. In his new role of "self-help guru," Heenan dispenses that wisdom through tangible and downright funny examples and anecdotes of a 59-year life and a five-decade career in professional wrestling. And what a career it has been. Heenan shares his many "chair shots," from battling pesky promoters and fanatical fans to combating cancer, which Heenan refers to as "the ultimate heel." Heenan also shares his seemingly infinite supply of humorous stories about many wrestling legends Dick the Bruiser, Andre the Giant, Vince McMahon, and Hulk Hogan. Finally, "The Brain" sums up his experiences with a last bit of "Don't be a 'Bobby Heenan.' I'm not even saying to be a Ray Heenan. Just be a clown. That's the best advice I can give anyone...Now, when do I get paid?"

250 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

Reviews

[Lance Lumley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my go-to books when I'm not sure what to read. Heenan is the greatest manager of all time (and in my opinion-the greatest performer of all time in wrestling). This is his second book (the first one is just as great), but this book is more of a life journey book with wrestling stories added, as opposed to his first one which deals mainly with wrestling.
Heenan uses his wrestling knowledge to encourage the reader to handle life's struggles and journeys, such as "don't be a heel" and how to keep yourself from being a jobber (a person who loses all the time and doesn't achieve). There are great stories added to give examples, such as the time Heenan and other wrestlers were riding Verne Gagne's AWA plane, several pranks (also called "ribs") on people, and his opinion on certain times in his life, like his time in WCW.
Heenan also talks about his cancer fight in the book. There are funny cartoon drawings in the book as well, along with his famous "Heenan-isms."
One of the other interesting things I was not familiar with until reading this book again, were some the photo credits are by Dr. Mike Lano, who is known by more intelligent wrestling fans as a unique personality.
This is a great book to get (you can find it at discounted sites, and on amazon I'm sure), and is a funny and heart-filled book that you can read over and over again (which I do).

[Adam Adkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did. I am a huge Heenan fan and really enjoyed his first book. This one, however, is more of a self-help book. Having survived his cancer, Heenan gives his opinion on how to navigate through ups and downs. There's a few good stories in here and his voice shines through, but his first book is much better.

[ReadinRasslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bobby Heenan's second and final book, released a year after his first somewhat disappointing book, is a lot more introspective, humble, and is designed as a self-help book. Heenan gives his two cents on the wrestling industry, money, family, love, and his then-recent cancer diagnosis. The book is a lot more warm and welcoming than his first, which came off as a little bitter and ranty. This is also formatted much better and feels more cohesive. Some chapters can drone on a little long for my taste but all in all I vastly preferred this over Heenan's first book, and as someone who is now to choosing to look back at life with a glass half full, he feels ppropriate to be giving his two cents. Beyond the two Heenan books, there is still an expansive, detailed autobiography that he seemingly never delivered. The first Heenan book felt like it gave a shortened version of a book that could be more detailed, and regularly hopped around from one point in time to the next - this one, at the same page count as the first, adds a couple of new fun stories but isn't designed to be an autobiography. Heenan is still incredibly entertaining here and comes off as such a wonderful guy, and somehow I feel this worked ten times better in execution than his first book.

[Richard Tubb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the late Ray Heenan, better known to Wrestling fans as Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's, second book.

This book is framed almost as a self-help book, with Heenan sharing advice, insights and guidance, interspersed with wrestling stories, funny anecdotes and a dash of "The Brain's" sardonic wit.

Ray Heenan was clearly a family man, with deep love for his Mother, Wife and Daughter, and I found his stories a great insight into the man behind "The Brain" persona.

There are Wrestling stories involving Vince McMahon, the AWA, and many others that will delight Wrestling fans to read.

This book was an enjoyable read, but not a page turner.

I'm now off to seek out Heenan's first book, which I understand is a pure biography.

[Jason Presley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In contrast to his first book. Here we find post-cancer Ray Heenan in a much more introspective mood. From his unique perspective, but still with that same Bobby the Brain sense of humor and mischief, Mr. Heenan gives his views and advice on family, work, money, fun and life. Of course there are still a lot of wrestling stories along the way.

[Ronn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heenan's a pretty good writer and tells a good story, no question. And while I prefer his tales of pro-wrestling lore, the 'self-help' parts of this book are pretty funny too. The book doesnt require any deep thinking, but since I'm basically a 9 to 5 lifer humanoid, I'm probably not capable of a whole lot of deep thought anyway.

[Corey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love Heenan but the editing in this book was awful. The anecdotes on wrestling were sparse since this was penned as a sort of self-help book. Not worth another read, but at least worth a first reading if you love the Weasel.

[Bustagroovy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit of overkill with the advice, but some very good stories - especially towards the end.

[Cala Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny 😂🤣 insightful and heel personality shines though, we lost a great one when he passed

[Richard J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed thru the whole book!! The road stories and one liners had me laughing constantly.

[Brandon O'Neill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a mix of self-help in life and stories from the Brain's life. Kind of a weird mix, but it worked at times.

[D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bad sequal...