I’ve been in love with reading ever since I learned how to read. My shelves were always filled with books on a variety of subjects, from Greek mythology to the misadventures of the Baudelaire siblings. I’ve also been watching wrestling for almost twenty years and gotten to read some cool books on it. So I thought it would be cool to marry these passions and present some of the best books I’ve read on wrestling. For these recommendations, I only used books about wrestling itself or wrestlers as a concept. Autobiographies and self-help books were not included.
1. The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling by David Shoemaker
If you like to get into the history of things like I do, this book is for you. Shoemaker takes us all the way back to the origins of professional wrestling, chronicling its rise to prominence from the carnival circuit all the way to the modern-day industry it has become. Full of information while remaining an engaging read throughout, I highly recommend this book to those who want to know all about the humble beginnings of our beloved pro wrestling.
2. Raw: The First 25 Years/Smackdown: 20 Years and Counting by Dean Miller and Jake Black
I included both of these books in the same spot because they’re pretty much the same thing, just chronicling different shows. A lot of stuff has happened in WWE over the last two decades (one of them being the change in name from WWF to WWE!) and even the die-hard fans can get their wires crossed when it comes to dates and events. These two books include easy-to-follow timelines for the shows with lots of attention paid to big moments in their histories. These are great refresher books for long-time fans and also great for new fans as they consolidate a lot of information from television (and other materials) into less-overwhelming portions.
3. NXT: The Future is Now by Jon Robinson
NXT had one of the biggest glow-ups of all time when it went from a funky little reality show to an actual third brand for WWE. NXT gave us Takeovers, pay-per-view events that showcase the best and brightest new talent and signees. NXT now even has a television deal with USA, scoring a second hour of programming in the process. This book goes through the history of NXT and its transformation into the black and gold brand as we know it today. It’s an interesting look and through the words, pictures, and additions from other superstars, you get a feel for just how much change occurred in a relatively short period of time.
4. Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women’s Wrestling by Pat Laprade
Women’s wrestling is the best it’s ever been right now. There are so many talented women out there putting on great shows, drawing in fans, and moving merchandise. This book is perfect for those who want to delve into the history of women’s wrestling and how far it’s come. It hits some great topics like the importance placed on image and even talks about harassment and discrimination, things that are still quite poignant today. This book is a fantastic reminder of the things female wrestlers have worked for and how previous women had to crawl before today’s women could run. Content warning for some descriptions of domestic violence and sexual assault.
5. Death of the Territories: Expansion, Betrayal, and the War that Changed Pro Wrestling Forever by Tim Hornbaker
By the time I started watching wrestling, the territory system was pretty much done and WCW was just about to close its doors. WWF had pretty much established itself as the kingpin of pro wrestling. But my grandmother introduced me to the territory days by talking about her own experiences going to shows and she even had a few tapes to show me. This book was a great bridge between my earliest memories of watching wrestling and the stories my grandmother told me. It’s another wrestling history staple that belongs on any fan’s bookshelf as it accurately and easily explains just how we got to the current environment of pro wrestling.
