The legendary storytellers worthy of a spot in the pro wrestling hall of
fame You can't escape pro wrestling today, even if you want to. Its
stars are ubiquitous in movies, TV shows, product endorsements, swag,
and social media to the point that they are as much celebrities as they
are athletes. Pro wrestling has morphed from the fringes of
acceptability to a global $1 billion industry that plays an everyday
role in 21st-century pop culture. In this latest addition to the Pro
Wrestling Hall of Fame series, Greg Oliver and Steven Johnson explain
how the sport's unique take on storytelling has fueled its remarkable
expansion. Hundreds of interviews and original accounts inform this
exploration of the imaginative ways in which wrestlers and promoters
have used everything from monkeys to murderers to put butts in seats and
eyes on screens. From the New York City Bowery in the 1890s to a North
Carolina backyard in 2017, readers will encounter all manner of
scoundrels, do-gooders, scribes, and alligators in this highly readable,
heavily researched book that inspires a new appreciation for the fine
(and sometimes not-so-fine) art of storytelling.