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My Life In Wrestling
472-pages includes an indepth wrestler reference index The long-awaited autobiography of Gary Hart is more than just another wrestling memoir. Its the book that everyone who loves old-school wrestling has waited years to read. From his unique and privileged vantage point, Gary Hart shares, among other things, a behind-the-scenes history of World Class and Texas wrestling, the compelling story of the plane crash that took the life of Bobby Shane, and detailed insight into some of the biggest wrestling angles of all time, such as "the Dusty turn" in 1974 and Christmas night 1982 in Dallas. My Life in WrestlingWith a Little Help From My Friends is a ruthlessly honest look at one of the greatest wrestling minds of all time, written with humor, intelligence, and a deep affection that only Playboy Gary Hart himself could provide.
472 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 6, 2021
My Life In Wrestling is the biography of wrestling personality and booker Gary Hart.
One of my measuring sticks for a good wrestling book is how quickly it gets to the wrestling business. I think Gary was balls deep by the three percent mark.
I mostly know Gary Hart from his managing days in WCW and World Class so I was surprised at how many territories he worked, a lot of the time as the booker. Gary goes into detail about working for Jim Herd, Jimmy Crockett, the Funks, Jim Barnett, and Fritz Von Erich.
I had no idea how much booking Gary did, like him being the one to turn Dusty Rhodes face and consequently into one of the biggest attractions of his day. Like a lot of other wrestling books, he goes into what a shit show WCW was under Jim Herd.
The book is told in a matter of fact tone. Gary is up front about everything that happened, like threatening to cut a promoter with his straight razor to get his money to calling Jerry Jarrett a hillbilly bastard every time his name comes up. Gary admits to making some mistakes along the way as well as when he got the rug jerked out from under him. The most emotional parts of the book are when Gary saved Austin Idol and some others from a plane crash but couldn't save Bobby Shane and pretty much everything involving the Von Erichs.
Once his last run with Crockett was over, Gary gradually faded away while promoting occasional shows in Texas. It's kind of a shame the way things ended because he had a great mind for the business.
It took me a long time to finally read My Life in Wrestling and it was worth the wait. Five out of five stars.
One of my measuring sticks for a good wrestling book is how quickly it gets to the wrestling business. I think Gary was balls deep by the three percent mark.
I mostly know Gary Hart from his managing days in WCW and World Class so I was surprised at how many territories he worked, a lot of the time as the booker. Gary goes into detail about working for Jim Herd, Jimmy Crockett, the Funks, Jim Barnett, and Fritz Von Erich.
I had no idea how much booking Gary did, like him being the one to turn Dusty Rhodes face and consequently into one of the biggest attractions of his day. Like a lot of other wrestling books, he goes into what a shit show WCW was under Jim Herd.
The book is told in a matter of fact tone. Gary is up front about everything that happened, like threatening to cut a promoter with his straight razor to get his money to calling Jerry Jarrett a hillbilly bastard every time his name comes up. Gary admits to making some mistakes along the way as well as when he got the rug jerked out from under him. The most emotional parts of the book are when Gary saved Austin Idol and some others from a plane crash but couldn't save Bobby Shane and pretty much everything involving the Von Erichs.
Once his last run with Crockett was over, Gary gradually faded away while promoting occasional shows in Texas. It's kind of a shame the way things ended because he had a great mind for the business.
It took me a long time to finally read My Life in Wrestling and it was worth the wait. Five out of five stars.
September 29, 2021
Gary Hart’s My Life in Wrestling is the white whale of wrestling memoirs. Long since out of print, hardcover copies go easily for over a grand on the secondary market. Given that I was never, ever going to pay that much for any book let alone this one, I just assumed I would never get a chance to read one of wrestling’s great books. Then, out of the blue, a friend messaged me to let me know he had a copy I could borrow and we were off to the races.
Gary Hart is a man who – albeit for one night – spent his entire career outside of Vince McMahon’s WWF, so that alone immediately attracted me to his story. It’s not often you get to experience the life story of someone involved in the wrestling business who did not work for Vince – especially during the 80s where seemingly every man and woman jumped ship from their respective promotions to be a part of McMahon’s growing empire.
Beginning as a wrestler, Gary made his way around the territorial system in the 1960s before he would eventually settle into an on-screen managerial role. This is where Gary would find his true passion in the wrestling business. Gary would create characters and use those characters to develop talent who could then work all over the United States and beyond. Gary is credited with introducing and developing such legendary characters as Pak Song Nam, The Spoiler, The Great Kabuki, The Great Muta, The One Man Gang, King Kong Bundy, Gino Hernandez, The Ultimate Warrior, Al Perez, and a veritable rogue’s gallery of villains.
While Gary’s work as a manager and talent developer would already be enough to secure a spot in any wrestling Hall of Fame, his legacy as the booker (or match-maker) for Fritz Von Erich’s Dallas territory is arguably his finest work. WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling) as it came to be known, was one of the hottest promotions outside of the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-80s. It’s credited with introducing entrance music to go along with wrestler introductions as well as off-site recorded vignettes used to further expand on rivalries and character work.
Gary talks about his work in positioning Fritz’s sons (the Von Erich boys) as must-see talents who would draw thousands to shows every week. His landmark storyline involving The Von Erichs against The Fabulous Freebirds would go on to carry the promotion for years after Gary had left to work for Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas.
Gary certainly has no shortage of things to talk about – both triumphant and tragic – but the one thing that puts the book above so many other wrestling memoirs is that you really get a feel for Gary’s voice. Hart isn’t here to pull punches or save face – if he didn’t like you or thought an idea was of little value, he is not shy about letting you know. He doesn’t spend the whole book trashing people but he certainly has an axe to grind regarding a few prominent figures. While Gary is certainly not alone is his disdain for wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, his hatred for Sting completely threw me for a loop as Sting is generally a guy not many people seem to have a negative thing to say about.
I am so happy that I was able to read Gary Hart’s book. I worried that it could not possibly live up to the hype and that ultimately, I would be disappointed. Like the long-lost match between Bret Hart and Tom MaGee that was unearthed a few years ago. It was almost better left to your imagination. That is not the case here. Gary Hart’s My Life In Wrestling has a permanent spot in my upper-echelon of wrestling memoirs.
Gary Hart is a man who – albeit for one night – spent his entire career outside of Vince McMahon’s WWF, so that alone immediately attracted me to his story. It’s not often you get to experience the life story of someone involved in the wrestling business who did not work for Vince – especially during the 80s where seemingly every man and woman jumped ship from their respective promotions to be a part of McMahon’s growing empire.
Beginning as a wrestler, Gary made his way around the territorial system in the 1960s before he would eventually settle into an on-screen managerial role. This is where Gary would find his true passion in the wrestling business. Gary would create characters and use those characters to develop talent who could then work all over the United States and beyond. Gary is credited with introducing and developing such legendary characters as Pak Song Nam, The Spoiler, The Great Kabuki, The Great Muta, The One Man Gang, King Kong Bundy, Gino Hernandez, The Ultimate Warrior, Al Perez, and a veritable rogue’s gallery of villains.
While Gary’s work as a manager and talent developer would already be enough to secure a spot in any wrestling Hall of Fame, his legacy as the booker (or match-maker) for Fritz Von Erich’s Dallas territory is arguably his finest work. WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling) as it came to be known, was one of the hottest promotions outside of the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-80s. It’s credited with introducing entrance music to go along with wrestler introductions as well as off-site recorded vignettes used to further expand on rivalries and character work.
Gary talks about his work in positioning Fritz’s sons (the Von Erich boys) as must-see talents who would draw thousands to shows every week. His landmark storyline involving The Von Erichs against The Fabulous Freebirds would go on to carry the promotion for years after Gary had left to work for Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas.
Gary certainly has no shortage of things to talk about – both triumphant and tragic – but the one thing that puts the book above so many other wrestling memoirs is that you really get a feel for Gary’s voice. Hart isn’t here to pull punches or save face – if he didn’t like you or thought an idea was of little value, he is not shy about letting you know. He doesn’t spend the whole book trashing people but he certainly has an axe to grind regarding a few prominent figures. While Gary is certainly not alone is his disdain for wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, his hatred for Sting completely threw me for a loop as Sting is generally a guy not many people seem to have a negative thing to say about.
I am so happy that I was able to read Gary Hart’s book. I worried that it could not possibly live up to the hype and that ultimately, I would be disappointed. Like the long-lost match between Bret Hart and Tom MaGee that was unearthed a few years ago. It was almost better left to your imagination. That is not the case here. Gary Hart’s My Life In Wrestling has a permanent spot in my upper-echelon of wrestling memoirs.
April 5, 2017
The best wrestling memoir I've read.
October 21, 2024
A very thorough view of the career and life of wrestling manager and executive Gary Hart. From his beginnings on the streets of Chicago through his formative wrestling years in Texas with WCCW, Hart’s story is fascinating. Of course, any autobiography needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but Hart offers plenty of insight into the business back in the pre-modern day wrestling era. Plenty of stories on the personalities of wrestling in Texas as well as the famed Von Erich family and other wrestlers closely linked to him including Bruiser Brody and Abdullah the Butcher. Nice short chapters makes it an engrossing and fast read.
October 12, 2024
6/5
This is a wonderful book! I may not have as much insight into memoir’s and biographies as I do other genres, but the personality and natural charisma of Mr. Hart bleeds through every sentence he writes and it’s a shame this book is no longer in print and widely available. It chronicles his life and career in wrestling spanning the 60s all the way into the late 90’s which many would consider the golden era of the profession. The insight into the inner workings of the business and the incredibly detailed stories and accounts of all his stops in the different territories throughout the States and abroad really pulls you in and makes you feel like you were there experiencing it along with him. The best part of the book however comes in learning about the man himself and the lifelong friendships formed, and tragedies suffered in a cruel and unforgiving business.
This is a wonderful book! I may not have as much insight into memoir’s and biographies as I do other genres, but the personality and natural charisma of Mr. Hart bleeds through every sentence he writes and it’s a shame this book is no longer in print and widely available. It chronicles his life and career in wrestling spanning the 60s all the way into the late 90’s which many would consider the golden era of the profession. The insight into the inner workings of the business and the incredibly detailed stories and accounts of all his stops in the different territories throughout the States and abroad really pulls you in and makes you feel like you were there experiencing it along with him. The best part of the book however comes in learning about the man himself and the lifelong friendships formed, and tragedies suffered in a cruel and unforgiving business.
August 26, 2018
Growing up in the late 70's and 80's, I never missed watching Saturday night wrestling. Gary Hart was a major reason for my enjoyment. Of course only knowing the stories that unfolded on a weekly basis, I had a pure hatred for Gary, as he was an arch enemy of my heroes, the Von Erich's. Some 30 years later, and now understanding kayfabe, this behind the scenes look at what was going on, how storylines were created, the locker room politics, and everything else that we were not exposed to back in this era, was a real interesting and entertaining read. I will pro ably read this again, and try to follow along with some old footage of these in ring situations, to see if I can spot some of these behind the scenes stories unfold. Absolutely a great and interesting read! I highly recommend this to any wrestling fan from the territories era..
May 24, 2016
If you are a wrestling fan over 30, you'll enjoy this book.
Gary wrote an honest and unfiltered view of his career in wrestling as a wrestler, manager and booker. He broke some incredible names into the business, gave many household names their start.
And he tells it like it is too, how some bookers could hold grudges over a decade, how bad some people were as judges of character.
If you want an amazing read spanning over 20 years across various federations, I can highly recommend this to you.
Gary wrote an honest and unfiltered view of his career in wrestling as a wrestler, manager and booker. He broke some incredible names into the business, gave many household names their start.
And he tells it like it is too, how some bookers could hold grudges over a decade, how bad some people were as judges of character.
If you want an amazing read spanning over 20 years across various federations, I can highly recommend this to you.
June 11, 2020
Phenomenal memoir from seemingly one of the greatest minds in wrestling history. Gary Hart doesn't hold back on those he fell out with nor the mistakes he made. Many stories go into great depth and gives a greater understanding of what life was like in the territory days. Several stories about the Von Erichs that I had not heard previously.
November 8, 2011
An excellent inside look at a fascinating industry by an old school kayfaber. This is a must read for all hardcore smart marks
July 28, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. One of the best sports bio's I ever read.
March 30, 2020
Immensely overrated. Please don’t spend the money it’s going for on eBay, etc. PDF version in easily available on the internet.
August 11, 2023
I will always hold a special respect for people who have survived plane crashes.
The thing is, I didn’t know that Gary Hart survived the plane crash before I started reading this book because I didn’t even know who Gary Hart was! This book just kept being brought up in lists of the best books about the business, and I finally decided to read it.
It’s a long one, and it took me a while to finish, but I loved every bit of it. Could it be the best book about pro-wrestling ever written? Probably, which is why it’s shocking that we do not hear about Gary Hart more often. In fact, I think I belonged to the majority when I started reading this book and had no idea who the author was in the wrestling universe. And after reading about all he did for the business, I am surprised. Now I smirk every time I see him in old footage, like in Dark Side of the Ring’s latest season (which did not pack the same punch of the previous installments, unfortunately).
Out of all the other wrestling books that I’ve read - and I have read quite a few - the only one that compares in terms of care, dedication, and passion that were put into it is Bruno Sammartino’s book. And the next one to compare will be the book Chris Jericho will write in the future to bring his whole anthology together. Calling it right now.
Coincidentally, Bruno Sammartino himself shows up in this book a lot since the time period covered, in terms of the talent featured in it, stretches from the age of Fritz Von Erich, all the way to Lo-Ki, and I may just have become the first person ever to put those two in the same sentence.
The thing is, I didn’t know that Gary Hart survived the plane crash before I started reading this book because I didn’t even know who Gary Hart was! This book just kept being brought up in lists of the best books about the business, and I finally decided to read it.
It’s a long one, and it took me a while to finish, but I loved every bit of it. Could it be the best book about pro-wrestling ever written? Probably, which is why it’s shocking that we do not hear about Gary Hart more often. In fact, I think I belonged to the majority when I started reading this book and had no idea who the author was in the wrestling universe. And after reading about all he did for the business, I am surprised. Now I smirk every time I see him in old footage, like in Dark Side of the Ring’s latest season (which did not pack the same punch of the previous installments, unfortunately).
Out of all the other wrestling books that I’ve read - and I have read quite a few - the only one that compares in terms of care, dedication, and passion that were put into it is Bruno Sammartino’s book. And the next one to compare will be the book Chris Jericho will write in the future to bring his whole anthology together. Calling it right now.
Coincidentally, Bruno Sammartino himself shows up in this book a lot since the time period covered, in terms of the talent featured in it, stretches from the age of Fritz Von Erich, all the way to Lo-Ki, and I may just have become the first person ever to put those two in the same sentence.
March 4, 2021
Gary Hart was in the wrestling business for a bit. Gary Hart hates Jeff Jarrett's dad Jerry and Tully Blanchard's dad Joe. Gary Hart really hates Ken Mantell. Gary Hart doesn't give a shit about Sting. Gary Hart was instrumental to the careers of The Spoiler, The Von Erichs, Gino Hernandez, Bruiser Brody, Abdullah the Butcher, the Fabulous Freebirds, Great Kabuki/Muta and to some extent Harlem Heat, Ultimate Warrior. Gary Hart survived a plane crash and invented the fucking green mist. Lots of Gary Hart's friends died (Brody, Gino, five of the Von Erichs plus Fritz, his buddy from the plane crash). Gary Hart thinks Dave Meltzer is a piece of shit. Gary Hart likes to smoke weed.
February 28, 2021
I've tried to get my hands on a copy of this book for years & it was well worth the wait. This may be the best wrestling bio I've read. Not only do you get great stories from someone who was in the business for some of the more important times of the NWA territory days, but you get a lesson in booking a territory. Such great, smart stuff to sink your teeth into. Find yourself a copy, its well worth it, especially for fans who re!her the territory days.
May 18, 2018
Great book by a professional wrestling vet. I had heard from the Internet Wrestling Community that it was a good read. Really wanted to track down some of his matches and check them out.
If you’re a fan of professional wrestling, add this tome to your reading list.
If you’re a fan of professional wrestling, add this tome to your reading list.
November 22, 2023
This book had so much nostalgia and rekindled my love for WCCW. Gary Hart was a huge part of my childhood and the Great Kabuki was one of my all-time favorites. If you wrestling, especially Texas wrestling, try to find this book.
August 31, 2019
One of the best wrestling books I have read. Highly recommended!
February 29, 2020
This book was amazing, I could not put it down! The stories were detailed and kept your attention thought the entire book.
Wish it did not end
Wish it did not end
March 26, 2020
I really loved this book . All the behind the scenes action let's you learn A lot old school wrestling
July 13, 2021
Outstanding
March 16, 2022
A truly excellent read. Hart was a man who saw and did it all. A marvelous storyteller that illustrates so much of what was the business.
May 21, 2023
Best wrestling book ever.
May 22, 2016
Truly one of the best books about professional wrestling I have ever read. Like in another briefly lost treasure, the Lou Thesz autobiography, "Hooker", Gary Hart pulls no punches and, after 20 years out of the business, really kept few, if any, secrets on how the business worked all throughout his career.
As a fan, I only ever knew of Gary Hart as a manager, and never knew he was such a key figure in so many major angles, promotions and wrestling gimmick creations. His stories certainly shed a whole new light on the demise of the territory days beyond the over simplified mantra from so many that "Vince put them all out of business." That this book is unavailable for purchase, aside from very expensively on the secondary market, is insane. This is a best seller rotting in someone's filing cabinet. Someone needs to get this book into Lulu or Amazon's self publishing system so people can buy it again. It lives up to the hype!
I so selfishly wish Hart had lived even another 5 or 6 years as he would have been such an amazing guest on all of the wrestling podcasts that have popped up since 2012.
As a fan, I only ever knew of Gary Hart as a manager, and never knew he was such a key figure in so many major angles, promotions and wrestling gimmick creations. His stories certainly shed a whole new light on the demise of the territory days beyond the over simplified mantra from so many that "Vince put them all out of business." That this book is unavailable for purchase, aside from very expensively on the secondary market, is insane. This is a best seller rotting in someone's filing cabinet. Someone needs to get this book into Lulu or Amazon's self publishing system so people can buy it again. It lives up to the hype!
I so selfishly wish Hart had lived even another 5 or 6 years as he would have been such an amazing guest on all of the wrestling podcasts that have popped up since 2012.
March 30, 2016
"Now - I’m not down on wrestling fans, but fans don’t know what they want. They shouldn’t know. That’s not their job. Their job is to come and be entertained - and hopefully be tricked - so they’re elated with adrenaline rushing through their body."
Now there's a distinct whiff of bullshit from many of Gary Hart's words in this memoir of his life and times as a wrestling manager in the territory days, and later in the Crockett/Turner NWA. It's impossible to escape the notion that the reader is constantly being worked, as he contradicts himself from page to page as the circumstances demand.
But every now and then there's a glimpse of wisdom that stands out for its crystal clarity. And it's those, as well as the general entertainment value of reading Hart tell his stories no matter how much he might be kayfabing you, that make this worth seeking out for any dyed-in-the-wool wrestling fan.
Now there's a distinct whiff of bullshit from many of Gary Hart's words in this memoir of his life and times as a wrestling manager in the territory days, and later in the Crockett/Turner NWA. It's impossible to escape the notion that the reader is constantly being worked, as he contradicts himself from page to page as the circumstances demand.
But every now and then there's a glimpse of wisdom that stands out for its crystal clarity. And it's those, as well as the general entertainment value of reading Hart tell his stories no matter how much he might be kayfabing you, that make this worth seeking out for any dyed-in-the-wool wrestling fan.
February 27, 2016
One of the best books ever about professional wrestling by a star heel manager (and booker and producer) in the various promotions in Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Florida in the '60's through the 90's. Big focus on his often tumultuous and sad relationship with the tragic Von Erichs, and the rise and fall of World Class Championship Wrestling, it doesn't scrimp on his battles with the powers that be in other promotions. Although often verbose and grammatically tortured, it was refreshing to read a book that was not ghost written. (I hope no one ghost-wrote or edited this, unless they were trying to disguise the fact.)
January 10, 2019
This book is long out of print -- or at least I thought it was -- despite being one of the most detailed and accurate autobios of all time. Hart's recall is top-notch, and I've mined the book for quotes like the ones I used in this Ringer article:
https://www.theringer.com/2018/10/22/...
If you want an understanding of how the wrestling biz worked for a guy who largely avoided the WWF and a few other major markets, this is it.
https://www.theringer.com/2018/10/22/...
If you want an understanding of how the wrestling biz worked for a guy who largely avoided the WWF and a few other major markets, this is it.
December 15, 2009
Right behind Bret Harts biograpghy for best book on wrestling. Funny, sad, introspective, this has it all. Gary is humble and doesnt take all the credit for the success he had in the buisness but he has no problem defending his status and legacy. He pulls no punches and at the same time doesnt glamorize events, he just simply tells it like he saw it.
September 6, 2014
One of the very best pro wrestling biographies I have ever read, featuring an incredible attention to detail, refreshing honesty and gripping stories about the best and worst parts of pro wrestling.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews