Book Review: Pro Wrestling: A Comprehensive Reference Guide

Abstract

Professional wrestling is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world, delivering spectacles that are equal parts athletic competition and theatrical performance. As pro wrestlers have grown in stature from local heroes to worldwide superstars, so too has the wrestling industry grown from traveling road shows to globally televised productions. Despite the massive success of pro wrestling, a literature search reveals a dearth of reference guides and scholarly analysis on the subject. In Pro Wrestling: A Comprehensive Reference Guide, author Lew Freedman provides a much-needed guide for newcomers to this unique hybrid of sport and performing art.