The Road Warriors: Danger, Death, and the Rush of Wrestling

As the Road Warriors, "Animal" and "Hawk" made up one of the most famous acts in the pro wrestling heyday of the 1980s and 1990s. From the rise of the WCW to Vince McMahon's breaking of "kayfabe" (pretending that wrestling is real) and redefining wrestling as "sports entertainment" to steroid scandals, drug-related deaths, and spiritual awakenings, the Road Warriors were witness to it all%E2%80%94until the death of Hawk himself, of a heart attack, in 2003. In this intimate memoir, Laurinaitis recounts their training, their rise to glory, their fall from it, the second chances, and the entirety of their time together in the ring, providing a unique insight into professional wrestling. Laurinaitis is incredibly detailed in his recollections, practically taking readers on a step by step tour of his wrestling experiences. While fans or those familiar with his career will appreciate the minutia, others will likely be bored as titles, championships, and wrestlers stream forth by the dozen. Laurinaitis speaks with a welcome candor, but a bit more reflection on the sport and not just the matches would have been nice. (Feb.)