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Ring of Hell
POSTED: June 27, 2008 - 10:08 am
CATEGORIES: Wrestling
As all you regular listeners to the LAW know, we had author Matthew Randazzo on the show last week to talk about his new book Ring of Hell: The Chris Benoit Story and The Fall of Professional Wrestling.
Now, I know most of you haven't had a chance to read the book as I don't think it comes out until July. However, I think it's an important one to look at for a few reasons.
First off, I don't have any dispute with the idea that the pro wrestling business is an ugly one. We've been covering it for 10 years on the LAW. We know.
It's more Randazzo's style that bothers me. He comes from a crime writing background and has done two different books on the American Mafia. His style is incredibly sensationalistic and is sure to jump out at even the most jaded of wrestling fans. There is no doubt that wrestling is a dirty business, but in covering it the way he does, he undermines any really effect the book could have for being beneficial.
A lot of the time, reading the book comes off like it was written by people who just get off on any kind of sensationalistic crime story rather than a book that could help change wrestling. Plus, presented in this way, the people that need to take a book like this seriously won't. It will just be dismissed as trash.
If this had been Randazzo's intention, it wouldn't bother me as much, but as he is a long time fan and has studied the business and says he wants his book to help, I don't know if it will.
Anyway, enough from me. I want to know what you fans think about a book like this and how you go about covering a story like Benoit's.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the way Randazzo has told the story and the tone he has taken is the only way to approach it.
Or worst of all, is this all just hopeless dreaming and no book, no matter how well written, could help pro wrestling?
COMMENTS (4): Submit A Comment
1. dadirrtywhyteboi
June 27, 2008 - 11:04 pm
With all the controverise surrounding the book i think it will be an interesting read but the way that many others like yourself Mr. Lovranski have stated this book is too crime dramaish will hurt this book on how it could be a business changing book and how Randazzo reportedly treats anyone who would want to get into this business will raise a few eyebrows. I look forward to more book reviews Mr. Lovranski since you have a fantastic knowledge on Pro Wrestling books
2. paul
September 26, 2008 - 8:47 am
your a big asshole DAN
3. D.G.
October 2, 2008 - 9:54 pm
Considering the true nature of the sport, with its rampant drug abuse, countless premature deaths, politics, and questionable behaviors, I could hardly imagine Randazzo had any other viable option BUT to write it the way he did. Maybe the brutal nature of it WILL be beneficial to the sport as a whole. Because generations of sugar-coating it certainly hasn't worked so far. People working and peforming at the corporate levels in the wrestling buisness NEED to read books like this. They NEED to see video of the late Louie Spicolli completely drugged-out, and wandering around a hotel in his underwear, unable to find his room. Because if material of that magnitude doesn't evoke positive change, nothing will.
4. Anthony
October 3, 2008 - 9:02 pm
I liked Lance Storm's review. He brought a lot of good points up about the flaws of the book, it's sources and cited material.
And I doubt any book, any tragedy will help pro-wrestling. The only one that may help is when Vince passes, a self-destructive power struggle for his company ensues, and the result is a dissolved and broken industry. And that's optimism.
