Gene Kiniski (1928-2010) was internationally known to a generation of wrestling fans and to Canadians everywhere as "Canada's Greatest Athlete." Older fans and wrestling historians remember him best for his accomplishments in the ring, his run-'em-over approach to the game, his growly demeanor, and his razor wit he could unleash at will. Drawing on recollections from fellow wrestlers, promoters, and friends, this first biography of Kiniski gives a full account of the life of a champion pro wrestler who won over fans throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan in a career spanning more than three decades.

Gene Kiniski (1928-2010) was internationally known to a generation of wrestling fans and to Canadians everywhere as "Canada's Greatest Athlete." Older fans and wrestling historians remember him best for his accomplishments in the ring, his run-'em-over approach to the game, his growly demeanor, and his razor wit he could unleash at will. Drawing on recollections from fellow wrestlers, promoters, and friends, this first biography of Kiniski gives a full account of the life of a champion pro wrestler who won over fans throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan in a career spanning more than three decades.

St. Louis was the capital and Muchnick the ruler of pro wrestling before Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment took over. Muchnick and St. Louis paved the way for the multi-billion-dollar sports entertainment industry broadcast worldwide from the stadia and showpiece venues of the States. The centre of this magical operation was a TV programme called Wrestling at the Chase', which ran from 1959 to 1983 from the majestic Chase Hotel. Matysik, Muchnick's protege and longtime ringside announcer, recalls with touching fondness the legends of his time.'

A comprehensive look at the colourful villains, bad guys and heels who give professional wrestling so much of its character - from Gorgeous George and before to Ric Flair and the modern supervillains!

The heroic feats of ring gladiators have taken wrestling fans on an emotional journey—living vicariously through every body slam, dropkick, and piledriver. The investment of the crowd is demonstrated by their roars of excitement, their cheers for their heroes, and their catcalls at nasty ring villains. (Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada’s Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy re-lives those unforgettable moments between the ropes. It provides a fascinating snapshot of the world behind the curtain, and a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who have both competed in the ring and served as the very architects of the industry.

Why was Minnesota, a land known for its stoic farmers, reasonable politics, and comfortable casseroles, a hotbed of the wacky and wild world of professional wrestling? And how did that old-school wrestling become the Saturday night program of choice for thousands of midwestern families in the last half of the twentieth century? Professional wrestling historian and insider George Schire is here not only to set the record straight but to entice you into a world gone by, a world that comes alive through his colorful and perceptive reporting. As a kid, Schire found a way to escape the troubles of his life by becoming a wrestling fan, glued to the TV set and then later traveling to see every live "card" in the Twin Cities and many more throughout the region. Over the years he has been involved in all aspects of the sport, and he now offers detailed, behind-the-scenes accounts of important matches from 1954 to 1990 and stories of wrestler personalities, both in and out of the ring. He shares his own extensive collection of wrestling memorabilia-- photographs, program covers, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera--to honor the hardworking characters who forged serial storylines onstage week after week and who thrilled fans by carrying out their plots in the ring, with blood, sweat, tears, and high-flying body slams for all. An avid historian, George Schire has been a writer and columnist for national wrestling publications and a ring announcer. He currently cohosts a popular Internet wrestling show, "Old School/New School." He lives in Oakdale, Minnesota. "I thought I knew the sport of professional wrestling. Then I met George Schire! No one is more knowledgeable about the events and personalities that made professional wrestling what it is today." --Greg Gagne, former professional wrestler and titleholder

Bill Watts leads readers on a tour through his checkered life, starting with his stormy upbringing and his tumultuous years at the University of Oklahoma and culminating in a reawakened spirituality that snatched him back from the brink of destruction. The legendary pro wrestler talks frankly and fearlessly about his ugly encounters with the top names in the ring and his uglier encounters with the life and world surrounding the sport.