Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsGood mix of horror and hilarity
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018
Professional wrestling was not a part of my childhood. My father was entirely in control of the television, and we watched cop shows and situation comedies. And, hey, I'm not complaining - it helped make me what I am today. But, I'll never forget that one Saturday afternoon at my grandparents' house, parked in front of the TV with Grandpa and my cousins, watching a large beast named Haystacks Calhoun do some pretty mean things to other people. The decades passed, and though I occasionally heard names like Andre the Giant, and Hulk Hogan, I was blissfully unaware of wrestling's existence . . . until my youngest son became a fan in his late teens.
I started watching because I felt sorry for the boy, sitting all alone in front of the TV, and because it seemed like a good way to share his hobbies. And, oddly enough . . . I kind of enjoyed it. It was entertaining, plus, there was the added draw of seeing lots of (mostly) well-built men in tiny underpants. And, YES! I KNOW IT'S FAKE! That's part of the appeal to me. I don't want to watch men (and women) actually hurting one another. If I did, I'd watch boxing.
Weeks turned into months, and before long, I had my favorites - The New Day, Neville, Cesaro. But, in that strange world known as the WWE, everyone comes and goes so quickly. I took a few months off, and hardly recognized the players when I returned. Why are my sweet Usos now bad guys? Why is everyone booing Roman Reigns, but cheering the much more obnoxious Seth Rollins? And, Neville - yoo hoo! Where are you?
Truly, it's easier to keep up with the Kardashians.
The wrestling world presented in this collection of stories is about as far from the McMahon family's sanitized version as you can get.
The characters in these tales get down and dirty, their matches are sweaty, nasty brawls. And, occasionally, the participants find themselves fighting for their very lives. The stories are all well written - some quite funny, others dead serious. All in all, it's a pretty gritty read, and not recommended for lightweights. Plus, there're bodily fluids a-plenty, so don't do like I did and read it while you're eating.
