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BOOK REVIEW: WWE LEGENDS BY BRIAN SOLOMON

While certainly not the greatest book ever to come out from the WWE, WWE Legends does provide a good glimpse into the history of the WWE and its stars. The book itself looks at forty plus stars from the WWE’s heyday, but it limits its timeframe from the early days of Capital Wrestling (which would eventually form into the WWE) through the days before Hulk Hogan won the WWE Title for the first time.

Profiled in this book are Vincent J. McMahon, Toots Mondt, Antonio Rocca, Buddy Rogers, Arnold Skaaland, Captain Lou Albano, The Grand Wizard, Freddie Blassie, Gorilla Monsoon, Chief Jay Strongbow, Andre The Giant, Bob Backlund, Jimmy Snuka, Sergeant Slaughter, The Fabulous Moolah, Killer Kowalski, Johnny Valentine, Ernie Ladd, Billy Graham, Bruno Sammartino, Bobo Brazil, Pedro Morales, Ivan Putski, Peter Maivia, Rocky Johnson, Ivan Koloff, Mr. Fuji, Nikolai Volkoff, The Iron Sheik, The Graham Brothers, The Valiant Brothers, The Blackjacks, The Wild Samoans, Tony Garea, Pat Patterson, Ken Patera, The Magnificent Muraco, Haystacks Calhoun, Baron Mikel Scicluna and George Steel.

There are also a few mini-profiles at the end of the book that take a look at Bobby Davis, Luke Graham, Dominic DeNucci, Don Leo Jonathan, The Fabulous Kangaroos, Johnny Rodz, Miguel Perez, Toru Tanaka, Spiros Arion, Stan Hansen, Stan Stasiak, Tony Atlas, Waldo Von Erich, Red Berry, Sky Lo Lo, Little Beaver and Lord Littlebrook.

The book is an excellent read for any fan who is unfamiliar with the early days of the WWE and those who paved the way for the stars of today. However, if you are someone similar to myself, who has read the majority of the wrestling autobiographies out there, then there is really nothing new that you will learn by picking up this particular book.

The book is more like a small guide for wrestling fans who want to get a little information on a particular wrestler, then read up further on them in an autobiography and/or DVD collection. Just for the sake of this book review, here is a list of wrestlers in the WWE Legends book who has other autobiographies written about them…

(Note: In the ( ) brackets will be the PWInsider Store price for the book.)

* Bruno Sammartino - “Bruno Sammartino: An Autobiography Of Wrestlings Living Legend” ($24.95)

* Capt. Lou Albano - “Often Imitated, Never Duplicated: Captain Lou Albano” ($84.95)

* Freddie Blassie - “Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks” ($11.20)

* Andre The Giant - “Andre The Giant: A Legendary Life” ($12.00)

* The Fabulous Moolah - “The Fabulous Moolah: The First Goddess Of The Squared Circle” ($4.82)

* Billy Graham - “Superstar Billy Graham: Tangled Ropes” ($8.80)

* Ivan Koloff - “Is That Wrestling Fake? The Bear Facts” ($19.95)

Overall, the book is a fine read for those looking to get a little information on past WWE talents, but there is a much better way to find out about some of these amazing wrestlers.

You can find this book at the PWInsider Store for only $4.56!

You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com

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