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NEW BOOK ON MEMPHIS WRESTLING RELEASED, UPDATED DETAILS ON ALL FORTHCOMING PRO WRESTLING-RELATED BOOKS

Randy Hales, who had an important role in Memphis Wrestling for decades, has released a new book titled Living The Dream: Memphis Wrestling: The Randy Hales Story.

Promotional material for the book notes:

"Randy Hales knows Memphis wrestling…he’s lived it his entire life. From humble beginnings as a fan, fascinated by the larger-than-life heroes and villains doing battle in the squared circle, to getting involved as a picture seller and ring announcer, to rising up the ladder as booker and promoter, to finally running his own company, Randy Hales has done it all in the Memphis wrestling scene…and lived to tell about it. Through all the highs and lows, and thousands of miles traveled, Living The Dream is the story of how passion and hard work allowed a shy, awkward kid to live his dream and go on to become the Founder, Owner, and President of his own professional wrestling company that helped develop future wrestling superstars. Living The Dream takes you inside the Memphis wrestling scene with tons of stories about your favorite legends, wild stories from the road, infamous mega-matches of Memphis, and all about being a WWE developmental system. From “The King” to “The Superstar”, from Mid-South Coliseum showdowns to Louisville Gardens throw downs, Randy Hales shares what it was like to be a part of the wild, wild world of Memphis wrestling and the incomparable legacy it left behind."

ADDITIONAL FORTHCOMING RELEASES:

10/13 - We Promised You a Great Main Event: An Unauthorized WWE History by Bill Hanstock - "The astounding and entertaining story of the biggest company in pro wrestling - WWE - World Wrestling Entertainment, told in full for the first time.  Spectacle and scandal, heartbreak and triumph - professional wrestling has it all: glamorous, world-famous stars. Riveting drama. Breathtaking physicality. Feuds and betrayals. Heroes and heels. Scripted battles and amazing surprises. Pro wrestling is the sport that everyone knows - and no one cares - is pure, manufactured entertainment.  What Vince McMahon has built with World Wrestling Entertainment is extraordinary. Today, WWE is a multi-billion-dollar business that broadcasts over 10 hours of original programming to over six million fans globally every week. Over the course of more than eight decades in the professional wrestling business, the McMahon family has created a near-monopoly in the industry.  Yet despite this success, no one has told the fascinating and enthralling story of WWE in all its complexity. No one before has taken a complete look at its entire history - the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unexpected. For all its achievements, WWE is a company that has seen its share of crime and tragedy, including rampant early wrestler deaths, suicides and murders, sexual harassment, union busting, assault, steroid abuse, and human trafficking.  We Promised You a Great Main Event is the story of the McMahon family and WWE’s unprecedented rise. Drawing on a decade of covering wrestling, Bill Hanstock synthesizes insights from historians, journalists, and industry insiders with his own knowledge and deep research to produce the most accurate and entertaining history of the WWE available. Full of amazing characters and astonishing stories from the ring to corporate boardrooms, it is a story as audacious, shocking, hilarious, and sensational as any WWE spectacle."  

11/15 - Professional Wrestling: Politics and Populism (Enactments), Edited by Sharon Mazer - "A wildly popular form of mass media and live entertainment, professional wrestling makes a spectacle of violent acts. With its long history of working contemporary events into storylines and commenting upon cultural and military conflicts, professional wrestling is also intrinsically political. Its performance—theatricalities, machinations and conditions of production, figurations, and audiences—arises from and engages with the world around. Whether flowing with the mainstream of popular culture or fighting at the fringes, professional wrestling shows us how we are fighting, what we are fighting about, and what we are fighting for.  This edited volume asks how professional wrestling is implicated in the current resurgence of populist politics, whether right-wing and Trump–inflected, or leftist and socialist. How might it do more than reflect and, in so doing, reaffirm the status quo? While provoked by the disruptive performances of Trump as candidate and president, and mindful of his longstanding ties to the WWE, this timely volume looks more broadly and internationally at the infusion of professional wrestling’s worldview into the twinned discourses of politics and populism. The contributors are scholars from a wide range of disciplines: theater and performance studies; cultural, media, and communication studies; anthropology and sociology; and gender and sexuality studies. Together they argue that the game’s popularity and its populist tendencies open it to the left as well as to the right, to contestation as well as to conformity, making it an ideal site for working on feminist and activist projects and ideas."

11/17 -  Killing the Business - The Young Bucks by Matt and Nick Jackson - "Famous for their high-flying moves, superkicks and viral videos, Matt and Nick Jackson are two of the hottest and most talented competitors in professional wrestling today. Known as the Young Bucks, this pair of ambitious brothers are an inspiration to both fans and aspiring wrestlers worldwide due to their message of resilience and determination. That they are also faithful family men devoted to their loved ones gives them additional appeal.   A warm, heartfelt story of hope, perseverance, and undying ambition told with the brothers’ wit and charm, The Young Bucks begins in Southern California, where two young boys grew up dreaming of success and fame.   Matt and Nick look back on the sacrifices they made to achieve their ambitions, from taking odd jobs to pay for their own wrestling ring to hosting backyard events with friends. They share their joy at being recruited into the amateur California circuit and the work it took to finally make it professionally, and speak frankly about what it means to have the support of millions of fans cheering their talents in arenas nationwide.   The Young Bucks talk endearingly about their sport, their faith, and their families, sharing personal reflections and behind-the-scenes anecdotes while paying tribute to the wrestling acts and inspirations that came before them. They also elaborate on this historical time in the evolution of wrestling, as the sport and its culture dramatically change day by day.  Alternating between each brother’s perspective from chapter to chapter, this entertaining memoir is a complete portrait of what it means to grow into - and give back to - wrestling, the sport and profession they embody and love."

12/1 - WWE Tough Love Valentine's Day Book - "Is your love tough enough? Celebrate Valentine's Day with WWE! These 12 exciting press-out cards are the perfect way to share your love of wrestling with your friends and family. Give flowers to your ghoul-friend from Undertaker, or be like Becky Lynch and let Seth Rollins give you a ring!  Also included are instructions for kids to make their own envelopes, and two sheets of stickers that allow kids to decorate the cards and envelopes in fun ways!"

12/8 - WWE: The New Day: Power of Positivity (Graphic Novel) - "Everyone knows The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E ) are six-time Tag Team Champions - including the longest reign in WWE history - but now, for the first time, discover the true origins of this unforgettable trio.  IT’S THE NEW DAY GRAPHIC NOVEL, YES IT IS!"

12/22 - WWE Studios' Rumble animated movie tie-ins:

Monster Matchup! - In a world where monsters are real and monster wrestling is a popular sport, these heavy hitters will do whatever it takes to be champions. Learn more about your favorite wrestlers in this 8x8 storybook!  All your favorite characters are here! There’s underdog Rayburn Jr., larger-than-life Tentacular, gargantuan King Gorge, the pile-driving powerhouse Axehammer, and many more amazing monsters to meet!

Movie novelization - Imagine a world where monsters are real and monster wrestling is a popular sport! Can sixteen-year-old Winne Coyle coach an inexperienced, out-of-shape monster, and turn him into a champion? Rumble fans everywhere will love spending more time with their favorite monsters in this hilarious and feel-good novel which includes eight pages of full-color stills from the movie.

Back in the RIng - After growing up in his father’s shadow, Rayburn Jr. has tried to live his life out of the spotlight. But sometimes, the world needs a champion, and with his trainer, Winnie, by his side, the time has come for Rayburn Jr. to shine.

The World of Monster Wrestling - This book chronicles some of Rayburn Jr.’s most memorable fights from the film. Kids can use the paper monsters to reenact their favorite wrestling scenes. Punch-out interlocking cardstock pieces form a wrestling ring to add to the interactive fun!  The paper monsters come with cardstock stands so they can stand upright and be displayed when kids aren’t playing with them!

2021

January 2021 - Nikki and Brie Bella's memoir Incomparable  - Paperback edition.

2/23/21 - Mayor Kane: My Life in Wrestling and Politics -  Paperback edition

3/2/21 - Jim Ross' Under The Black Hat: My Life in the WWE and Beyond -  Paperback edition.

3/2/21 - WWE Superstar Handbook: The Essential Facts and Stats on More than 300 WWE Superstars!  - "Meet the biggest Superstars of all time!  This fact-packed book brings together hundreds of the biggest, baddest, and most impressive Superstars from across sports entertainment history.  Includes detailed information, facts and stats on your favorite Legends and the brand-new breakout stars of the current roster. Who is strongest, André the Giant or Big Show? Whose signature move includes the most spins? Who has won the most WWE Championships? Find out with fun facts about each Superstar, including their key statistics like height, weight, and greatest victories.  Easy to read and packed with detail, the fun and colorful WWE Superstar Handbook is the must-have guide to WWE's larger-than-life competitors."

4/6/21 - Mat Memories: My Wild Life in Pro Wrestling, Country Music and with the Mets by John Arezzi - "A man with three different names ties together the stars of professional wrestling, country music, and the New York Mets.  John Arezzi was a lifelong Mets fan who dreamed of a job in baseball. In 1981, he took a job with the Mets Class A team in North Carolina. But Arezzi had another love: professional wrestling. He ran a fan club for the villainous “Classy” Freddie Blassie as a teenager, then progressed to wrestling photographer, and finally even stepped into the ring himself as John Anthony. Eventually he escaped to pursue a new life in altogether different world: country music. After adopting a new name, John Alexander, his many accomplishments include discovering both Patty Loveless and (decades later) Kelsea Ballerini. But wrestling is tough to shake … In the 1990s, Arezzi hosted the pioneering radio talk show Pro Wrestling Spotlight. He also ran the first major conventions, assembling a wrestling who’s who to meet with fans. He promoted shows, both at home and abroad, and was a key figure behind importing lucha libre into America.  Mat Memories is Arezzi’s chance to hold the mic, and he holds nothing back ? he names names and tells the untold behind-the-scenes stories: from the ring, the stage, and the diamond."

4/27/21 - The Wrestlers’ Wrestlers: The Masters of the Craft of Professional Wrestling by Dan Murphy & Brian Young - "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."

6/8/21 - New Day: The Power of Positivity - "Everyone knows The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E ) are six-time Tag Team Champions - including the longest reign in WWE history - but now, for the first time, discover the true origins of this unforgettable trio. IT’S THE NEW DAY GRAPHIC NOVEL, YES IT IS! WWE Superstars Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E debuted as a team called The New Day...and changed the WWE Universe forever!  Everyone knows The New Day are six-time Tag Team Champions - including the longest reign in WWE history - but now, for the first time, discover the true origins of this unforgettable trio.  Follow young Kofi, Xavier, and Big E as they learn about the world of wrestling, take on opponents big and small, and battle their egos - and those around them - as they struggle to find success in solo careers. But when they realize they’re stronger together than apart, the New Day is born - and set on a collision course against their greatest rivals to determine if they’ll have a place in WWE history!  Evan Narcisse (Rise of The Black Panther), Austin Walker (Friends At The Table) and Daniel Bayliss (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) reveal the untold story behind one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history!"

FORTHCOMING, NO OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE SET

Fall 2020 - Chris Jericho book on all of his matches.- 

2021 - Brian Solomon's biography on The Original Sheik.

 

Spring 2022 - Lufisto autobiography.

TBA - Justin Credible autobiography.

TBA - Renee Young Cookbook.

TBA - Bobby Fulton Autobiography.

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