Pro Wrestling's Greatest Rivalries


Book Description

Find out more about the top rivalries in the wrestling world from yesterday and today. The title features informative sidebars, a glossary, and further resources. SportsZone is an imprint of Abdo Publishing Company.




WWE Greatest Rivalries


Book Description

The greatest rivalries in the WWE wrestling ring revealed. They grapple at WrestleMania, at SmackDown Live, and Royal Rumble. They battle on RAW, at SummerSlam and Survivor Series. They clash inside-and outside-the ring. The titanic rivalries of WWE Superstars such as The Rock vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena vs. Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks, are a vital part of WWE's edge-of-the-seat appeal. Every member of the WWE Universe will have their favorite - you just have to take sides. Who would you cheer for as they chase the Championship, employing their charisma, signature moves, and the most cutting insults they can think of? And, of course, rivalries in WWE aren't just between individual Superstars - they may be between tag teams, like The Usos and The New Day, or even involve Superstars from one show staging a sudden attack on the Superstars of another! This book lifts the lid on all the drama behind WWE's greatest rivalries, highlighting the crucial clashes and each side's biggest wins. Discover how each rivalry started - was it simply pursuit of a common goal, or a bitter personality clash? Find out who has hurled the most biting barbs, why enemies suddenly become allies, and how grudge-strewn wars have ended in mutual respect. Armed with key stats and info, you can follow every twist and turn of these epic encounters, embracing many of the most memorable moments in the history of WWE.




Outrageous Pro Wrestling Rivalries


Book Description

"Details the greatest rivalries past and present in pro wrestling"--




Showdowns


Book Description

Two decades of the top twenty fan favorites and the matches that made them famous. It starts with an insult...then comes a push, a shove...a betrayal. Before you know it, the two wrestlers are at each other's throats. It's a rivalry, it's personal...it's a showdown. Some showdowns are straightforward: John Cena wants to prove himself by taking on JBL; Randy Orton knows that if he can slay Undertaker, it will prove that he is the legend killer. Others are grudge matches -- The Rock is finally going to put Stone Cold Steve Austin, the bionic redneck, in his place. There are conflicts we can all identify with: Steve Austin doing to Mr. McMahon what we dream of doing to our boss every Monday morning. There are the epic showdowns that evoke the eternal struggle: Undertaker versus Kane. And the truly bizarre: Mankind against Shawn Michaels. Here for the first time ever, Jeremy Roberts (co-author of Controversy Creates Cash and Batista Unleashed) examines the top twenty rivalries of the past twenty years. Roberts takes us on a veritable tour of recent wrestling history, from Hulk Hogan's showdowns with Randy Savage to the gargantuan struggles between Undertaker and Batista. The high-flying action of the Hardy Boyz, the Dudleys, Edge & Christian -- all are examined in what amounts to a brief for the wrestlers' inclusion in the hall of fame. From the Monday Night Wars between nWo and D-Generation X to the real-life conflict that spawned Matt Hardy's memorable bloodfest with Edge, Roberts takes you into the ring so vividly you'll come away with bruises.




Showdowns


Book Description

Two decades of the top twenty fan favorites and the matches that made them famous. It starts with an insult...then comes a push, a shove...a betrayal. Before you know it, the two wrestlers are at each other's throats. It's a rivalry, it's personal...it's a showdown. Some showdowns are straightforward: John Cena wants to prove himself by taking on JBL; Randy Orton knows that if he can slay Undertaker, it will prove that he is the legend killer. Others are grudge matches -- The Rock is finally going to put Stone Cold Steve Austin, the bionic redneck, in his place. There are conflicts we can all identify with: Steve Austin doing to Mr. McMahon what we dream of doing to our boss every Monday morning. There are the epic showdowns that evoke the eternal struggle: Undertaker versus Kane. And the truly bizarre: Mankind against Shawn Michaels. Here for the first time ever, Jeremy Roberts (co-author of Controversy Creates Cash and Batista Unleashed) examines the top twenty rivalries of the past twenty years. Roberts takes us on a veritable tour of recent wrestling history, from Hulk Hogan's showdowns with Randy Savage to the gargantuan struggles between Undertaker and Batista. The high-flying action of the Hardy Boyz, the Dudleys, Edge & Christian -- all are examined in what amounts to a brief for the wrestlers' inclusion in the hall of fame. From the Monday Night Wars between nWo and D-Generation X to the real-life conflict that spawned Matt Hardy's memorable bloodfest with Edge, Roberts takes you into the ring so vividly you'll come away with bruises.




Top 25 Rivalries in Wrestling History


Book Description

For the first time ever, WWE counts down the most intense rivalries of all time. With each segment narrated by a different WWE or mainstream personality, each rivalry takes on a life of its own as fans get an inside, never-before-seen perspective on their favorite showdowns.




Pro Wrestling's Greatest Matches


Book Description

"From good guys ("faces") to bad guys ("heels") and everything in between, Pro Wrestling's Greatest will give young readers a look inside the thrilling world of professional wrestling. Each book builds suspense as a top ten list counts down to the biggest and best in each category. Readers will learn the secrets and stories behind these legendary athletes and their exploits in the ring."--Page 4 of cover.




The Greatest Matches and Rivalries of the WrestleMania Era


Book Description

What are the greatest matches and rivalries of the WrestleMania Era? It has never sat particularly well with long-time pro wrestling columnist and podcaster, "The Doc" Chad Matthews, the blanket statement that pro wrestling greatness is completely up to each individual, period, end of sentence. In fact, he strongly disagrees, having long posited that professional wrestling is reasonably objectifiable, like modern college football rankings in the Playoff Era. In America's gridiron pastime, the college game relies on a select few, organized into a committee, to choose the best four teams worthy of competing for the championship each season. Though the decisions are also considered subjective, the Playoff committee rankings are reasonably objective too. It is not as if Alabama is picked because their crimson jerseys are pretty or USC is chosen because the President of the United States has an affinity for Los Angeles. There are basic criterion used to evaluate the resumes of each viable candidate. Breaking down wrestling's greatest is no different. Utilizing something he calls "objective subjectivism" - a euphemism that acknowledges pro wrestling as obviously somewhat subjective but petitions for acknowledgment of pro wrestling also being inescapably capable of objectification (like Hollywood and College Football) - Matthews has mined the annals of WWE and NWA/WCW lore to discover the specific traits that define the greatest matches and rivalries and, having pinpointed these elements, has found a logical way to separate the truly great from the very good, to compare the totality of stories like Daniel Bryan vs. The Authority or Stone Cold vs. Vince McMahon to overall rivalries like Triple H vs. The Rock or Edge vs. Undertaker to iconic matches like Steamboat vs. Savage or Angle vs. Michaels in order to construct the ultimate historical countdown.




Heartbreak & Triumph


Book Description

WWE Super Star Shawn "Heartbreak Kid" Michaels shares the stories of his decades-long wrestling career, his life, and his faith in this WWE Super Star biography. Heartbreak & Triumph introduces Michael Shawn Hickenbottom, the youngest of four children whose conservative upbringing made him quiet and reserved. But upon discovering Southwest Championship Wrestling one night, Hickenbottom realized instantly what he wanted to become. From there, Hickenbottom fully recounts his exciting and vast career history, and how he transformed into "The Heartbreak Kid." Shawn shares firsthand details of the allegation that brought about HBK's classic Ladder match with Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X; the incident in Syracuse that set the stage for Shawn's unbelievable "comeback" victories at Royal Rumble 1996, and in the Iron Man WWE Championship match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII; and how his escalating backstage feud with Hart inadvertently built toward the formation of "D-Generation X," as well as the first-ever "Hell in a Cell" contest against Undertaker. Beyond the squared circle, Michaels clears the air about his days running with The Kliq, their contributions to WWE's wildly successful "Attitude" era, and the consequences of their uncharacteristic Madison Square Garden "Curtain Call" in May 1996. And for the first time anywhere, Michaels shoots completely straight about his role in one of the biggest scandal in wrestling history, the infamous "Montreal screwjob" at Survivor Series 1997. While reliving the crippling back injury that forced him to retire in his prime following his WWE Championship loss at WrestleMania XIV, Michaels credits the new loves in his life—his second wife Rebecca, his children, and his newfound faith—with giving him the strength to kick his habit, recover physically, and make a jubilant return to the ring at SummerSlam 2002. Now back on top and doing what he enjoys most, the WWE Superstar regards Heartbreak & Triumph as the perfect means "to review my life, and attempt to figure out how I became the person I am."




WWE Championship


Book Description

A deluxe oversized hardback book packed with photos, telling the story of the WWE Championship from Buddy Rogers in 1963 to current champ Bobby Lashley! Buddy Rogers, Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Rick Flair, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, John Cena, Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley are just a few of the 50-plus Superstars who've body slammed their opponents, thrilled countless millions of wresting fans, and lofted the WWE Championship belt in triumph over the WWE's legendary 60-year history. And now, mixing everything from the Spinebuster and Lionsault to the Stomach Claw and Rock Bottom, WWE Championship: The Greatest Title in Sports Entertainment goes to the mat for WWE fans, exploring the changing face of the WWE Championship through its beloved wrestlers and their epic battles in the ring. Hundreds of action photos and posed portraits capture the most memorable moments and personalities in WWE history. Among the greatest matches revisited are: - WrestleMania VI's Ultimate Challenge between Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior - Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart's Iron Man Match at WrestleMania XII - Hulk Hogan’s famous Slam Heard ‘round the World against André the Giant at WrestleMania 3. - Triple H and Cactus Jack's Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2000. Author Jeremy Brown takes a "raw" look at the WWE Championship by breaking down each WWE era in chronological order: - Early Years - 1967-1980s - The Golden Era - 1980s to early 1990s - New Generation -- Early 1980s to mid-1990s - Attitude Era - Mid-1990s to early 2000s - Reality Era - 2014 to 2016 - The New Era - 2016 to the present WWE Championship: The Greatest Title in Sports Entertainment is the perfect gift for WWE uber-fans and wrestling newcomers alike.