Review: Stories Wrestling Can Tell

Cover of Stories Wrestling Can Tell featuring black and white photos of the family and wrestlers

Chin, Michael. Stories Wrestling Can Tell. Cowboy Jamboree Press, 2023. Review by Guillermo Rebollo Gil Michael Chin’s Stories Wrestling Can Tell is all heart. And all Hart! The heart is evident in the author’s tender, and sincere attempt at thinking through the memories that best encapsulate his relationship with his father and grandfather, as well … Read more Review: Stories Wrestling Can Tell

Before Shoot Interviews: Marc Mero

Johnny B. Badd posing in pink and blue trunks

“A cross between Little Richard and Muhammad Ali” is how Marc Mero, better known as Johnny B. Badd, described himself in 1992 when I talked to him. The description was quite apt for the muscular, tanned wrestler who wore lipstick, rouge, and skimpy wrestling tights. Mero was a newcomer to wrestling in 1992 but off … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Marc Mero

Review: Butts in Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story

Comic image of Tony Schiavone leaning on the ropes

Manning, Dirk, Tony Schiavone, and Friends. Butts in Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story. Source Point Press, 2021. Review by Christopher J. Olson With Butts in Seats, long-time professional wrestling commentator Tony Schiavone –with help from co-author Dirk Manning and several talented artists – provides a glimpse into his life both in and out of the … Read more Review: Butts in Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story

Before Shoot Interviews: Joel Goodhart

Joel Goodhart at the podium announcing the Battle of the Nature Boys match

At the time of this 1991 interview, Joel Goodhart–with his beard, glasses, and long hair– looked more like a roadie for the Grateful Dead than a successful, albeit controversial, wrestling promoter. Goodhart earned a loyal following by promoting an influential brand of wrestling called (at the time) “shock wrestling.”  In 1992, Goodhart declared bankruptcy and … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Joel Goodhart

Before Shoot Interviews: “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe

Larry Sharpe cutting a promo at the camera

After badgering Larry Sharpe for an interview at a 1991 wrestling fan convention outside of New York City, the “Pretty Boy” allowed me to follow him to his hotel room.  As we got to the hotel room door, Sharpe, who had recently wrestled his retirement match, muttered, “If you want this damn interview, it’ll have … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe

Call for WrestlePosium IV Presentations, Papers, Panels

It’s Time! It’s WrestlePosium Time! The President of the PWSA invites submissions for the association’s WrestlePosium IV. This virtual symposium will happen online on Saturday, April 1st, 2023. We are having the symposium with the WrestleMania festivities to be a part of the general festivities. For more on the WrestlePosium series, see https://www.prowrestlingstudies.org/home-2/wrestleposium-the-online-symposium/ The PWSA seeks … Read more Call for WrestlePosium IV Presentations, Papers, Panels

Before Shoot Interviews: Cat Garrett

USWA Logo

During my 1992 visit to the Memphis-based United States Wrestling Association (USWA), I was able to visit with African-American prelim wrestler Anthony “Cat” Garrett.  Garrett, who had just won his preliminary match that night, was standing next to a souvenir table and talking to his family, before he excused himself to talk to me.   … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Cat Garrett

PWSA Meet and Greet: Karen Corteen

What is your area of research? I am Programme Leader and Senior Lecturer in Criminal Justice, in the School of Justice Studies at Liverpool John Moores University. You can find my faculty profile here.  What led to your interest in pro wrestling and how do you approach pro wrestling from your scholarly discipline? I watched … Read more PWSA Meet and Greet: Karen Corteen

Before Shoot Interviews: Jeff Jarrett

Jeff Jarrett struts in white suit

After an hour of pestering the promoter of Memphis’s United States Wrestling Association (USWA) at a 1992 show, the promoter brought out one of the promotion’s top good guys (or “faces”), Jeff Jarrett, to talk to me. Sporting a mane of shiny blond hair and a friendly demeanor, Jarrett patiently described his wrestling career before … Read more Before Shoot Interviews: Jeff Jarrett