Exploring a Life in Professional Wrestling: An Autobiography of a Former WWE Superstar

Amazon Customer: I’m happy with the book and and it wasn’t damaged or anything but I wish I bought his different book because this was is taking place too recent you could say.

United States on Oct 05, 2023

Jason: I was an avid wrestling fan for 10 years from 1998 to 2008. I loved listening to good ole JR call the matches. This book is a must read for any and all fans of Jim Ross.

United States on Aug 17, 2023

James ball: Son definitely loved this book

United States on Jul 18, 2023

Kindle Customer: A fantastic read, from a good man. An interesting insight into a fascinating business as well as the often disturbing mind if Vince McMahon

United Kingdom on Jun 07, 2023

Boomer: This was really well done. I haven't read JR's first book yet so went into this a little blind but was hooked immediately. After reading plenty of wrestler autobiographies it's really interesting to get the take of someone like JR, who is not only a great announcer, but was also heavily involved behind the scenes. This book gives a broad overview of his career in the WWE from the late 90's all the way up to his eventual exit from the company after WrestleMania 33.

There's plenty of stories here about many incidents I as a wrestling fan always wanted to know more about. The whole Jeff Jarret contract dispute which resulted in him holding the company up for money and potentially no showing his No Mercy match with Chyna. The horrible Austin heel turn at WrestleMania 17. JR's health issues and his true feelings about some of the humiliating angles Vince threw at him. It really is a fun and informative read. The most powerful part of the book is his description of the tragic accident that took the life of his wife Jan. As a married man myself I can't imagine how I would not fall to pieces in his position, and my heart breaks for the guy. I know something like that will never be...

United States on Apr 07, 2023

Chris Guest: I read Slobberknocker (the first of J.R’s autobiographies) and it left me flat, but black hat is everything the first book isn’t and it’s all the better for it.

The story is woven nicely with JR’s wife Jan being at the centre of it. It is clear that they were very much a team and the love they had for each other permeated every facet of their lives. It is at times a deeply personal and emotional read.

The WWE obviously features in it quite a bit and the analysis of JR’s relationship with Vince McMahon is at best complicated, but interesting stories told about the wrestlers are ones that are not common knowledge and it truly shows the other side of their world.

Great read and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Definitely has to be up there with Mick Foley and Bret Hart as one of the best wrestling autobiographies out there.

United Kingdom on Apr 07, 2021

Kindle Customer: After reading JR's first book, I wasn't as thrilled for the sequal as I could have been.
By the time I reached the end of the first chapter though, I knew I'd be on the hunt for my next read within days.
Under the Black Hat is written by a man who now knows he doesn't need approval for his words or opinions. They're his. Many reviewers have said this is because he's no longer under the employ of WWE, however, I feel this is more to do with a man who has taken everything life has thrown at him (and taken from him), and decided enough is enough.
This book was truly written from the heart, with the passion of the man who's voice was responsible for raising goosebumps on viewers arms for a generation. The last chapter alone is worth the price of the book.
Through the pages, JR lets us in on stories which have never been told, with his dry style and no BS approach. The chapters are succinct, with no filler. Just the tales and turbulence of his life and how he felt and dealt with each blow.
The book closes with one of the most descriptive and heartbreaking chapters I've ever read, but still, good ole JR still finds a way to send the fans home happy.

United Kingdom on Feb 13, 2021

Rob: JR talks about his time in wrestling covering 1998-2018. Covering such a lengthy period is bound to mean some parts are skimmed over and there are some stories which look more interesting than they are set out in the book.

The shows, promos and matches are all known already so from books such as this you are looking for an insight behind the curtain. In that regard this book both succeeds and fails.

When talking about his own experiences within the WWE. Particularly his experiences of working with Vince McMahon and the often seemingly cruel way in which he was treated, Ross is candid and writes in some depth. However he appears reluctant to name names or reveal stories about others throughout the book.

For an industry containing so many controversial and difficult individuals and with JR at the heart of it for a significant amount of time I would have expected more revelations and accounts of first hand experiences behind the scenes. This book just doesn’t have those.

If you want to know about JR’s own thoughts and career. This is a good book. If you are looking for a juicy insight in to the goings on behind the scenes this book will not tick that...

United Kingdom on May 14, 2020

DD: This book is a fairly quick, standard read. My three main criticisms:

1) JR tries to paint minor inconveniences as huge dramatic trials and tribulations with insurmountable challenges that needed to be desperately overcome. In Bret Hart's book, such challenges involved divorce, the death of both his parents, the tragedy of his brother Owen's death, his own near death experience, having coming back from a stroke and paralysis after a horrific accident, the double loss of his career (WWE and then WCW) and many more serious problems.

JR's challenges, however, involve him being moved from Raw to Smackdown, and having to participate in a dumb wrestling angle or two over the years. Hell, for the money and the lifestyle afforded to Ross by WWE, most of us would probably take a couple of snug punches from Triple H once every 2-3 years too. These whines don't do Ross any favors, as he doesn't come off so much as a victim worthy of empathy, but more of an entitled old man who takes himself a little too seriously and gets his panties in a twist at having to move from one highly paid prime time TV gig to another. Perhaps that's why McMahon liked messing with him so much in the...

United States on Apr 23, 2020

K. G. A. Alavi: A very good book. This book picks up right where Slobberknocker finished. As I said the writing got better towards the end of that book I am glad that continued into and throughout this book.

J.R's relationship with the WWF/WWE is like the ultimate toxic relationship no matter how badly one side treats the other one they are too in love with them to leave or they just keep coming back. I think he says it best

"Wrestling was my mistress, but she did not always love me back"

The first book was Jim's start in the business now he is well established, though many fans know him for his voice and story telling. Many people probobly did not know his work behing the scenes. Also how much and how hard he works. This is something that really resonates and appeals to me about the story. I have always respected hard work over ability. However when you take someone with all the passion and talent of Jim Ross works harder than anyone not named Vince, you can see the effects and results on the industry.

The book takes takes place from the Attitude era, the good, bad and some terrible angles/storylines. Many of the terrible angles involved Good Old J.R the character not...

United Kingdom on Apr 20, 2020