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JOHN AREZZI, JOHN CENA BOOKS BEING RELEASED THIS TUESDAY & MORE UPCOMING BOOKS

By Mike Johnson on 2021-04-04 08:30:00

Several new books are slated for release this Tuesday:

4/6 - 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."

Arezzi is selling a signed copies here.

4/6 - John Cena's Be a Work in Progress: And Other Things I'd Like to Tell My Younger Self.  "A beautifully illustrated book of inspiration from the beloved entertainer and #1 New York Times bestselling author John Cena  "Be brave enough to embrace humility. The reward will be confidence."  For years, John Cena has been using his popular Twitter feed to uplift his followers with his unique brand of positivity. Now, he collects his favorite words of wisdom on the benefits of being bold and open-minded, embracing discomfort, and making the most of every opportunity.  Heartfelt and hopeful, Be a Work in Progress is the pick-me-up readers will turn to again and again to reap the benefit of Cena’s values.

4/6 - Do Your Best Every Day to Do Your Best Every Day: Encouraging Words from John Cena. "Bestselling author and entertainer John Cena motivates and inspires readers with this illustrated book of uplifting encouragements adapted from his popular Twitter feed. The perfect gift for graduations, birthdays, and life's biggest celebrations! Hope + Effort = Making the impossible possible.  In this colorfully illustrated book of encouragements, John Cena urges young readers to be who they are, act to make the world a better place, and never stop striving.  Aimed at elementary and middle schoolers, but fun and fitting for readers of any age, John's inspiring perspective and thoughtful advice are perfect for milestones like graduations, new siblings, and other big life moments, as well as for anyone who could use a little boost.  These affirmations about growing up and moving forward are sure to help kids find joy in their efforts and achievements."

ADDITIONAL FORTHCOMING BOOKS:

4/27 - 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."

5/4 - A Chosen Destiny: My Story by Drew McIntyre - "In this thrilling, no-holds-barred memoir, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre tells the incredible roller-coaster story of his life, from a small village in Ayrshire, Scotland, to the bright lights of WWE.  From a young age, Drew McIntyre dreamed of becoming WWE Champion and following in the footsteps of his heroes Stone Cold Steve Austin and Undertaker. With his parents’ support, he trained and paid his dues, proving himself to tiny crowds in the UK’s Butlin circuit. At age twenty-two, McIntyre made his WWE debut and was touted by none other than WWE Chairman Vince McMahon as “The Chosen One” who would lead WWE into the future. With his destiny in the palm of his hands, Drew watched it all slip through his fingers. Through a series of ill-advised choices and family tragedy, Drew’s life and career spiraled. As a surefire champ, he struggled under the pressure of expectations and was fired from the company. But the WWE Universe had not seen the last of this promising athlete. Facing a crossroads, the powerful Scotsman set a course to show the world the real Drew McIntyre. Buoyed by the support of his wife Kaitlyn, and the memory of his beloved mother, Drew embarked on a mission to recharge, reinvent, and revitalize himself to fulfill his destiny. Chosen Destiny is a story of grit, courage, and determination as a fallen Superstar discovers who he truly is and storms back to reclaim his dream."

5/18 - Messy In The Kitchen: My Guide to Eating Deliciously, Hosting Fabulously and Sipping Copiously - "A cookbook for quirky home cooks looking to impress friends and family with a fancy meal, delicious cocktails, and intoxicating conversation. Television personality Renée Paquette brings passion, experimentation, and an overly confident-in-the-kitchen attitude to home cooking. When she’s not traveling around the world for work, she loves to stay within the confines of her home and Instagram-Live her experiences, cooking up mouth-watering, house-transforming meals for friends, family, neighbors…and all of their dogs. She thinks nothing of toiling over a hot stove while also providing sweet, cozy ambiance for anyone who walks through the door. Whether you’re hosting over the holidays, planning an anniversary dinner, or just feel like throwing back some cocktails and lining your belly with carbs, Renée's got you covered.   Messy In The Kitchen is an array of over sixty feel-good, feel-fancy meals, including appetizers, sides, salads, soups, and cocktails, (and the playlists to accompany them), to inspire a new generation of home cooks. Full of Renee’s passion for cooking, readers will be inspired and empowered to toss the take-out menus, put together a guest list, set the table, roll up their sleeves, and dare to get a little messy in the kitchen!   Renée pulls from her foodie-family roots and guides you through the sometimes overwhelming process of making everything just right, including tips for entertaining and planning the perfect event. She offers the secrets and recipes you need to bring a bit of pizzazz to your home and make your dinner or dinner party a smash hit!"

5/25 - Chris & Nancy: The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling’s Cocktail of Death, The Ultimate Historical Edition by Irv Muchnick - "The Ultimate Historical Edition” extends the 2009 true crime account by connecting it to it to someone who was then a bit player in the wrestling world: Donald Trump.   A new introduction reflects on Trump’s business ties to WWE’s McMahon family, how wrestling “attitude” came to define the populist, demagogic Trump presidency, and their similar scandal management playbooks.  Muchnick ? the author of Wrestling Babylon and a co-author of Benoit: Wrestling with the Horror That Destroyed a Family and Crippled a Sport ?drilled down deep into public records and interviewed dozens of witnesses, inside and outside wrestling, to put together the authoritative account of the events of the gruesome June 2007 weekend in Fayette County, Georgia, during which World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Chris Benoit murdered his wife Nancy and their seven-year-old son Daniel, before proceeding to kill himself.  But this book goes beyond the crime itself to answer some of the most important questions behind it. The biography of Benoit, a wrestler’s wrestler, makes it clear that his tragedy was a microcosm of the culture of drugs and death behind the scenes of one of North America’s most popular brand of sports entertainment. The author probes the story of the massive supplies of steroids and human growth hormone found in his home ? all prescribed by a “doctor to the stars” who got indicted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and all dismissed by a WWE “wellness policy” that promoted everything except its talent’s wellness. The Benoit case led to unprecedented scrutiny of wrestling’s overall health and safety standards, by Congressional investigators and others, and this book is the primary source of what they found and what they should continue to look for."

6/1 - Eat Like A Luchador - "From the ring to the kitchen, celebrate lucha libre with popular Mexican dishes offering a modern twist from iconic athletes, legends, and superstars in this one-of-a-kind cookbook for wrestling fans and aspiring chefs alike.  Lucha libre -- or, professional Mexican wrestling -- is the most popular sport in Mexico after soccer and has become an international pop culture phenomenon all over the world. This officially licensed cookbook with the Legends of Lucha Libre includes more than 50 favorite Mexican dishes with a modern-day twist from the sport's most celebrated luchadores and luchadoras including Solar, Super Astro, Penta Zero M, Lady Maravilla, and more. Also included are fun stories and facts on championship details and family legacies, dozens of photos of wrestlers in the ring and in the kitchen, and illustrations of delicious food.  Written by Mexico's leading female lucha libre journalist, Mónica "Centellita" Ochoa has interviewed some of the most well-known wrestlers in lucha libre, costume designers, and restaurant owners from around the globe to compile this must-have collection of recipes fit for hungry luchadores and their families.  Recipes include: Super Astro's six-pound Gladiator Torta, Taya Valkyrie's sweet and savory Carne Asada, Penta Zero M's zero fear Chicken Fajitas with Bell Peppers, Tinieblas Jr.'s twist on Surf and Turf luchador-style, WWE Hall of Famer Amy Dumas's vegan Tlacoyo de Nopal and more!"

6/8 - 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 lea"rn 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!"

6/8 - WWE You're a Superstar!: Guided Activities to Unlock Your Star Power! - "Unlock the power of your inner Superstar through this 96-page guided activities book! WWE: You're a Superstar is a full-color extravaganza full of fun activities like choosing your own Superstar name and figuring out your finishing move in life! Perfect for the wrestling fan in training!  Unlock the power of your inner Superstar! WWE: You're a Superstar is a full-color, 96-page guided activities book devoted to developing your Superstar potential through fun activities including choosing your Superstar name, figuring out your finishing move in life, and even writing lyrics for your own entrance theme! Plus, the photos and bonus trivia about your favorite WWE Superstars will inspire you to new heights of greatness! Perfect for the wrestling fan in training!"

10/5 - WWE Championship: The Greatest Prize in Sports Entertainment Hardcover by Jeremy Brown -  "This deluxe oversized hardback book explores the history of the WWE Championship from Buddy Rogers in 1963 to the current WWE Championship held by Drew McIntyre.  In its near 60-year history, the main WWE Championship has been held by over 50 Superstars and had its name/design changed 13 times. This book will explore the changing face of the WWE Championship via the Superstars that have held the title as well as the greatest matches for the championship.  Richly illustrated with official WWE photography, this book covers the WWE Championship by exploring each era of WWE in chronological order. The book explores each era of WWE:

   •  Early Years- 1967-'80s
   •  The Golden Age- '80s to early '90s
   •  New Generation- Early '90s to mid '90s
   •  Attitude Era- Mid '90s to early 2000s
   •  PG Era- 2008-2013
   •  Reality Era- 2014-2016
   •  The New Era- 2016-present

Featuring historic photography and stories about the icons to have held the title including legends such as Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Ric Flair, Bruno Sammartino, Brock Lesnar, John Cena and many more. In addition, the history of the Championship is brought to life with the greatest title matches revisited - such as WrestleMania VI's Ultimate Challenge, Shawn and Bret's Iron Man Match, The Chair Shot Heard Around the World, and Triple H and Cactus Jack's Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2000.  A perfect gift, The WWE Championship: The Greatest Prize in Sport's Entertainment will be cherished by every member of the WWE Universe, new or old."

9/23 - Body Drop: Notes on Fandom and Pain in Professional Wrestling by Brian Oliu - "Professional wrestling is a strange beast full of contradictions--part live soap opera, part hypermasculine violent spectacle. It is an indelibly American pastime enjoyed by millions and leads a select group of wrestlers to international fame. It's also a sport that leaves many of its athletes broken and battered, at serious risk of addiction, poverty, and early death. Body Drop looks deeply at the nuances of professional wrestling and its strange place within American culture. Brian Oliu offers deeply personal meditations on such topics as disability, chronic pain, body image, masculinity, class, and more, all through the lens of American professional wrestling    Wrestling is a sport that is gleefully fake, but the people who love it are very real. In holding up this particular part of American culture to scrutiny, Oliu acknowledges that the wrestling world, like our own, is one that has been crafted, but by showing readers the scaffolding that holds everything up, he invites us to figure out what holds our own realities straight."

11/23 - Young Bucks: Killing the Business from Backyards to the Big Leagues by Nick and Matt Jackson (Paperback)

2022

January-  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!

Rumble 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!

FORTHCOMING, NO OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE SET

TBA - Chris Jericho and Alex Marvez book on all of his matches.

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

Spring 2022 - Lufisto autobiography.

TBA - Justin Credible autobiography.

TBA - Bobby Fulton Autobiography.

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