Wrestling books used to be a niche market. The half-joke was that publishers were wary of the idea wrestling fans could even read. Thankfully, that's faded as scores of terrific wrestling books can be found on the market. Many of them are collections on the best wrestlers or famous events. There is humor like "worst of wrestling" volumes but also amazing stuff like The Death of WCW. Of course, the highlights are biographies of wrestlers who can be very frank about their lives.
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Many of the best ones are from independent publishers, as WWE tends to make any book paint the company in a better light. However, some of WWE's own books can be great reads. While some autobiographies are sanitized, others are very frank and fun. There are also books detailing the company's history for younger readers. These are ten of the best books published by WWE that should be on any wrestling fan's bookshelf.
10 "Creating the Mania: An Inside Look at How Wrestlemania Comes to Life" By Jon Robinson
This overlooked volume examines just how much incredible effort goes into crafting Wrestlemania. Using Wrestlemania 34 as the template, Jon Robinson details how it takes almost a year to get the venue for the show and the logistics of the local government.
Some bits are surprising, such as how, aside from the Roman-Brock main event, no matches were set until just a few months beforehand. The interviews with the wrestlers are great on how it felt preparing. While it can seem a "fluff piece," it's also a wonderfully in-depth look at how WWE works for their biggest show.
9 "Second Nature: The Legacy Of Ric Flair And The Rise Of Charlotte" By Brian Shields, Ric Flair & Charlotte Flair
This 2017 book has the great idea of splitting the stories of father and daughter nicely. It begins with Ric discussing his 2008 retirement and how he could continue without the business he loved so much.
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It segues to Charlotte catching the wrestling bug and beginning her training in NXT. The passing of Reid gets a spotlight with how both were deeply affected by it. It's clear Ric is proud of his daughter as she carved her own championship career and makes this dual autobiography a compelling read.
8 "It's Good To Be The King...Sometimes" By Jerry Lawler
If anyone needs to update their biography, Jerry Lawler is it. Yet this 2002 book is still great with "The King" sharing his story. The only quibble is that it's just under 400 pages when Lawler has several books of material from his career.
Still, it's terrific showing how he became the hero of Memphis wrestling, his attempts to keep the USWA going, the drama with the AWA and joining WWE. A major bit is Lawler detailing how he quit WWE to protest his wife being fired ,only to discover she'd been cheating on him. While a sequel would be good, it's still a royal read for fans of the King.
7 "The Attitude Era" By Jon Robinson
WWE has been accused of "whitewashing" some of its past. That's what makes this hardcover so notable as it's an uncensored look at one of the greatest periods in wrestling history. It explores the Monday Night War, how WWE changed, and fun bits like original costume sketches for Mankind or Rocky Maivia.
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The insight from the wrestlers is great on how their characters evolved and changed the game, in addition to some fun backstage tales. For anyone who misses that era, this book is a wonderful trip down memory lane.
6 "Foley Is Good" By Mick Foley
With the subtitle "And The Real World Is Faker Than Wrestling", Mick Foley crafted another winner of a biography. While not as detailed as his first book, it's a delightful bit starting with Foley winning the WWE title in 1999. It discusses stuff from the Rock 'n Sock Connection to his first retirement and his stint as WWE Commissioner.
It also addresses some of the agonies his body has gone through over the years. Once more, Foley's wonderful humor sparks up the book with hilarious stories involving Al Snow and others. It's another winner of a wrestling bio from a master storyteller.
5 "To Be The Man" by Ric Flair and Keith Elliot Greenberg
Fans expected the biography of Ric Flair to be an amazing read and it didn't disappoint. The Nature Boy is upfront about his life. from being a "black market baby" to breaking into wrestling. The tales from the road are terrific as Flair shares how he rose up to NWA World Champion and became an icon for the business.
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Some bits can be wild (such as Flair's attacks on Mick Foley and Bret Hart), but there's still the passion for the business that helped the Nature Boy become one of the greatest wrestling stars of all time.
4 "The Rise And Fall Of ECW" By Thom Loverro
This 2006 book can play like a "novelization" of the best-selling DVD documentary. But it adds some new interviews and insight to how ECW rose to change the entire business. There are some great backstage stories of the insane goings-on, and Paul Heyman's spirit shines as he talks of the struggles putting it all together.
The illustrations are also great as it shows how, for all its heart, ECW couldn't handle the changes in the industry and was crushed by WWE and WCW. Yet the excellent text helps the already fantastic story of ECW shine wonderfully and why it became legendary.
3 "35 Years Of Wrestlemania" By Brian Shields And Dean Miller
This update of an already great volume is a beautiful tribute to the Showcase of the Immortals. Not merely a recap of each show, it delves into the history of Wrestlemania and how it rose while noting some flawed shows ('Mania II spread across three cities and the controversy around WrestleMania VII moving venues).
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Side chapters include the Streak, the Hall of Fame, and the celebrity involvement. It can be frank (even sharing the Benoit/Guerrero celebration at Wrestlemania XX) and the slick presentation is a reminder of why Wrestlemania is the biggest show of all.
2 "WWE 50" By Kevin Sullivan
Released for the company's 50 anniversary in 2013, this wonderfully illustrated book nicely details WWE's rise to power. The insight from Vince McMahon and others is terrific, showcasing how what began as a Northeast territory transformed into a juggernaut. The book can be surprisingly frank, calling out mistakes like the XFL and WWE's ECW revival.
It even mentions the long-taboo topic of Chris Benoit's passing. It ends with noting the transformation of NXT that would lead to a new life for the company. The beautiful photos and detail alone make this a remarkable memory of WWE's long history.
1 "Have A Nice Day: A Tale Of Blood And Sweatsocks" By Mick Foley
Mick Foley's 1999 book changed everything for wrestling publishing. Becoming a number one bestseller, it proved wrestling fans would enjoy an in-depth biography. Of course, it helps that Foley is a master storyteller, sharing his stories of growing up a fan and rising through the indies, ECW, WCW, and WWE.
The tales are fantastic, with Foley detailing everything from his Hell in the Cell war with The Undertaker, to his time with family. Still one of the best wrestling biographies ever, it also broke the mould and opened the gates for scores of great wrestling books to follow.
