The Grapple Manuel - Book Review

Guess what I got for Christmas?

When I heard that British wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki was writing a book called “The Grapple Manual”, I had visions of a book filled with stories from Nagasaki’s long and storied career, with tips on how to get into the wrestling business, and thoughts on his spiritual teachings.

Two Falls, Two Submissions or a Knockout - Book Review

One of the joys of working in the wrestling business is that you get to hear some great stories from people who have been in the business years, which is why I was looking forward to reading the following.

Turning the Tables: The Story of Extreme Championship Wrestling - Book Review

One of the biggest news stories of 2005 has been the wave of nostalgia that has swept the wrestling business with regards to Extreme Championship Wrestling, so it’s no surprise that someone’s finally released a book about the company.

Slamthology - Book Review

Wrestling fans in Britain will know of John Lister. A wrestling fan since the age of 14, Johnhas written for a number of publications over the past few years, most notably for the sadly departed and dearly missed Pro Wrestling Press.

I'm Next - Book Review

Either Mick Foley's excellent efforts have spoiled me, or this effort from one of wrestling's superstars is one of the worst books I have ever read.

Apartment 4B, Like in Brooklyn - Book Review

Evan Ginzburg has been in and around the wrestling business for a number of years, as editor of the Wrestling Then and Now magazine, helping to organize wrestling conventions, or acting as a booking agent for former WWE stars Johnny Valiant, Lanny Poffo and Nicole Bass, Ginzburg has built up quite a reputation.

Between The Ropes: Wrestling's Greatest Triumphs and Failures - Book Review

If truth be known, I had never heard of Brian Fritz or the “Between the Ropes” radio show until a few weeks ago, when a copy of this book found it’s way through my letterbox and onto my doormat.

Why Rocky is Such a Great Film

In about thirty minutes, what I regard as one of the best films of all time will be shown for the umpteenth time on BBC1. The film in question is Rocky.

Mick Foley's Have a Nice Day - Book Review

Having been a wrestling fan for most of my life, I was very interested to read this book. I must admit that I wasn't a huge fan of Foley the wrestler before I read this book. Afterwards, not only was I an even bigger fan of Foley, the wrestler, but a great admirer of Foley the writer, and even greater admirer of Foley, the man.

The Punisher Double Bill Film Review

The third in the Double Bill series moves into the comic book world of the anti-hero, and a look at the two big screen adventures of The Punisher.

WWE Are We There Yet - Book Review

One of the things I really enjoy about being in the wrestling business is the stories I hear.I’ve lost count of the number of stories wrestlers have told me about embarrassing moments from their time on the road. Indeed, when I interview someone in the business,I always ask he/she if they have a particular story they’d like to share with me, even if the story doesn’t make the final cut.

Old Boy - DVD Review

Over the past few years, I’ve taken a bit of an interest in far Eastern cinema, an interest that began after I saw Battle Royale for the first time. Which is why when I saw Old Boy in my local Woolworths, I purchased this DVD hoping to see a great film.

Metropolis Double Bill Film Review

The second in the Double Bill series goes back nearly eighty years, and looks at the work of one of the world’s greatest film makers, Fritz Lang.

Life on Mars Series 1 - TV Review

Imagine the scene - while investigating a series of murders in Manchester, Detective Chief Inspector Sam Tyler is hit by a speeding car. When he wakes up, everything is different. Sure, he’s still Sam Tyler, a Manchester police detective, but it’s no longer 2006, it’s 1973.

Lee Hurst Live - Video Review

The name of Lee Hurst hasn’t been heard a lot lately. The man who came to national prominence as David Gower’s sidekick on They Think It’s All Over has kind of dropped off the face of the planet since he left the show a few years ago, which is why I was anxious to get my hands on Lee Hurst Live, a video of his stand-up act from 1997.

Ju-On: The Grudge 2 - DVD Review

It was Hideo Nakata’s Ringu that first turned me on to the fine art that is the Japanese horror film. It was Nakata’s fault that I later watched Ju-On: The Grudge and it’s slightly inferior American re-make. It’s also Nakata’s fault that I brought Ju-On: The Grudge 2, in the hope that it would be just as compelling as the first film.

Debra Cashes in on the Benoit Tragedy

It’s been almost a week since the world learned of the tragic events surrounding the Benoit family in Atlanta, Georgia. Bret Hart put it perfectly when he said that this is probably the biggest tragedy to hit the professional wrestling industry, even bigger than the death of his brother Owen eight years ago.

While the British press has covered the story, we on this side of the pond have had to use the internet for the most part to get the latest details. That and Fox News.

I hadn’t paid much attention to Fox News before, but now I find myself tuning in on an almost nightly basis to find out what’s happening, and while I don’t necessarily agree with the way that some of our American cousins have sensationalised this story, there is one thing that has really annoyed me, and that’s the way that some people, and one in particular, have used this situation to put themselves back in the media spotlight.

RIP Chris Benoit

It’s 1am in the morning in Tuesday, June 26th. I’m sitting on my bed, switching off my laptop having just typed up some of the notes for my review of WWE’s Vengeance pay-per-view. Raw comes on air on Sky Sports, and the first thing I see is a still of my favourite wrestler, with the caption “In loving memory of Chris Benoit, 1967 - 2007. I find myself saying “you’re fucking joking.”

Vince McMahon then appears on the screen, standing in the middle of the ring in an empty arena. He tells the world that Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and son Daniel are dead.

I feel numb. I feel sick. I feel like someone has punched me in the stomach. I feel like someone is playing a cruel joke on me.

I Love Wrestling, But Hate the Wrestling Business

Over the past few months I’ve had a few e-mails about my column, asking me why it was that I only reviewed DVDs and pay-per-views now. “What’s happened to the old style columns you used to write?” they would ask. “Why don’t you give your opinions on what’s happening in the wrestling business anymore?”

Well, today I’m going to open up to you all, to tell you why it is I don’t give my views on the backstage happenings in the wrestling world.

You see, I really love wrestling. It’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. To me, there’s nothing more entertaining than seeing Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels at their peak, nothing better than seeing a Dynamite Kid v  Tiger Mask match, nothing better than seeing Jonny Storm or Jody Fleisch in an acrobatic tour de force, nothing better than seeing Ric Flair, who, despite being near his 60th birthday, is still giving so much to a business that has taken so much from him.

But on the other hand, I really hate the wrestling business. I saw so much crap during my time working in the British wrestling business that it’s turned me off reading about what’s going on in the locker rooms.

When you see promoters sabotaging other shows, when you see wrestlers smoking pot and snorting coke backstage, when you hear wrestler/promoters saying they’re not going to put a title belt on themselves, then see them do just that six months later, when you see a wrestler slagging off a fellow worker then acting like he’s a long-lost brother the next time they’re on the same show together, and when wrestlers shake your hand and tell you what a great mate you are, then ignore you for months on end, only breaking their silence to send you a threatening e-mail when you disagree with something they’ve done, it turns you off certain aspects of the wrestling business.

And this is only the tip of the iceberg.

I once wrote that the professional wrestling business is like no other business in the world. It really isn’t. No other business is scrutinised or criticised like the wrestling business.

It was just a couple of months after I quit working in the wrestling business that I came upon the startling revelation I’ve just made to you all. When the phone calls stopped coming, when my e-mail inbox stopped being clogged up, when I realised the truth about the majority of those working in the wrestling business - that certain people only want to know you because of what you can do for them, because they only want to know you so you can give them some free publicity.

Clerks 10th Anniversary Edition - DVD Review

It was in 1991 that a young man from a small town in New Jersey had an idea, and thirteen years later, that idea is now beloved by millions around the world.