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Product Description
Product Description
“Current fans and recovering Hulkamaniacs alike should find [Sex, Lies, and Headlocks] as gripping as the Camel Clutch.” —Maxim
Sex, Lies, and Headlocks is the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at the backstabbing, scandals, and high-stakes gambles that have made wrestling an enduring television phenomenon. The man behind it all is Vince McMahon, a ruthless and entertaining visionary whose professional antics make some of the flamboyant characters in the ring look tame by comparison. Throughout the book, the authors trace McMahon’s rise to power and examine the appeal of the industry’s biggest stars—including Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Gorgeous George, Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair, and, most recently, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. In doing so, they show us that while WWE stock is traded to the public on Wall Street, wrestling remains a shadowy world guided by a century-old code that stresses secrecy and loyalty.
With a new afterword, this is the definitive book about the history of pro wrestling.
“Reading this excellent behind-the-scenes look at wrestling promoter McMahon . . . is almost as entertaining and shocking as watching the most extreme antics of McMahon’s comic-book style creations such as Steve Austin and The Rock.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A quintessentially American success story of a cocky opportunist defying the odds and hitting it big . . . Sparkling cultural history from an author wise enough to let the facts and personalities speak for themselves.”—Kirkus Reviews
Sex, Lies, and Headlocks is the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at the backstabbing, scandals, and high-stakes gambles that have made wrestling an enduring television phenomenon. The man behind it all is Vince McMahon, a ruthless and entertaining visionary whose professional antics make some of the flamboyant characters in the ring look tame by comparison. Throughout the book, the authors trace McMahon’s rise to power and examine the appeal of the industry’s biggest stars—including Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Gorgeous George, Bruno Sammartino, Ric Flair, and, most recently, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. In doing so, they show us that while WWE stock is traded to the public on Wall Street, wrestling remains a shadowy world guided by a century-old code that stresses secrecy and loyalty.
With a new afterword, this is the definitive book about the history of pro wrestling.
“Reading this excellent behind-the-scenes look at wrestling promoter McMahon . . . is almost as entertaining and shocking as watching the most extreme antics of McMahon’s comic-book style creations such as Steve Austin and The Rock.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A quintessentially American success story of a cocky opportunist defying the odds and hitting it big . . . Sparkling cultural history from an author wise enough to let the facts and personalities speak for themselves.”—Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Shaun Assael, a senior writer for ESPN: The Magazine, is the author of Wide Open: Days and Nights on the NASCAR Tour.
Mike Mooneyham, an editor with the Charleston Post and Courier, pens the longest-running wrestling column in the country.
From the Hardcover edition.
Mike Mooneyham, an editor with the Charleston Post and Courier, pens the longest-running wrestling column in the country.
From the Hardcover edition.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
ON JULY 14, 1948, the six men who controlled most of the wrestling in the Midwest met in a small room at the President Hotel in Waterloo, Iowa. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index
ON JULY 14, 1948, the six men who controlled most of the wrestling in the Midwest met in a small room at the President Hotel in Waterloo, Iowa. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an essential read to any wrestling fan and gives a fantastic insight into the way the business has developed over the years from a variety of small franchises and roadshows into one of the worlds most extravagant, popular and hugely entertaining sports. Not only does this book let the reader in on the history of the WWF (Now WWE) but also takes you on a journey through the beginnings of WCW all the way through to the "Monday Night Wars" that occured in the mid to late nineties. A very enjoyable read that I could not put down and had it finished within two evenings.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I had been waiting for this book to come out for a while. A massive history and wrestling buff. This book would be right up my proverbiale. It doesn't disapoint. It is obviously well reserched and has a very impartial feel. It is however a little dry in spots and has no real messgae, but as a resource and piece of factual work and can't fault it. If you are a serious follower of the funked up world of pro wrestling this ones for you. Shame about the cak cover though...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Sex, lies & Headlocks shows what Vince McMahon is really like. It gives the lo-downs on some of the seadier things he has done, from being labelled a "corporate drug dealer" over the steroids scandal to his backstabbing of Bret Hart.
It starts with how many small localised organisations came together to form the NWA and on how the WWF and NWA (and later WCW) had running battles, right through to the Monday night wars that would eventually kill off the WCW.
Vince through the years showed sheer aggression to suceed and a willingness to bend the rules - particularly when it came to what he could and could not show on tv. That never bothered Vince, though. He was also so self confident that he could not accept his failures in WBF and XFL.
But eventually he came out smelling of roses on the other side with the dominant force in sports entertainment. I bet Vinces official biography/autobiography wont tell half these stories.
Still, if you are a wrestling fan you will enjoy this. I highly recommend it.
It starts with how many small localised organisations came together to form the NWA and on how the WWF and NWA (and later WCW) had running battles, right through to the Monday night wars that would eventually kill off the WCW.
Vince through the years showed sheer aggression to suceed and a willingness to bend the rules - particularly when it came to what he could and could not show on tv. That never bothered Vince, though. He was also so self confident that he could not accept his failures in WBF and XFL.
But eventually he came out smelling of roses on the other side with the dominant force in sports entertainment. I bet Vinces official biography/autobiography wont tell half these stories.
Still, if you are a wrestling fan you will enjoy this. I highly recommend it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Read
I got this book on Friday (25.01.2008) and had it finished within the day. It was a gripping book but I feel the only let down was it was very statistic driven. Read more
Published on 29 Jan 2008 by C. Young
No Holds Barred
Being in the UK, I was rather confused by the habit of using initials in representing TV stations and Wrestling Promotions throughout. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2007 by L. Hay
Dull
This book isnt realy interesting. theres some information in there that you wouldnt know (probably), but the book has one focus: to portrat Vince Macmahon and the WWE as evil, and... Read more
Published on 8 May 2005
Great but flawed book
"Sex, Lies, and Headlocks" is a fantastic read for fans of wrestling. The book is well written and informative. Read more
Published on 7 May 2004 by "simon_mulvaney"
Great Book
Sex, Lies and Headlocks is a great book. If you want to know what goes on behind the scenes of a wrestling promotion then this book is for you.
Published on 21 Feb 2004 by Paul Christopher Clarke
Shines the spotlight on the real wrestling world!
For years the wrestling world has been a very secretive organisation shrouded in controversy. The wrestling world has allways kept us in the dark and this book manages to bring... Read more
Published on 14 Feb 2004 by John Cotter
Sex, Lies and Headlocks
Excellent book to read if you are a wrestling fan, lets you know exactly how Vince McMahon got to where he is now. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2003 by "hazelkellner"
THE TRUTH ABOUT VINCE
One of the main selling points of this book is that it contains the things that won't feature in Vince's apparent, forthcoming official autobiography. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2003 by "graemedickie1"
Wrestling's Bible?
I managed to finish this book very quickly, for two main reasons; It is relatively short, and I couldn't put it down. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2002 by "emjay2kay"
Quite the let down
Having been a wrestling fan sice i was 5 now aged 22 i throught this book would be a good insite to what goes on in the wwe behind the scenes all we got for the first few chapters... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2002 by "burrows_316_"
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