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Under the Black Hat

My Life in the WWE and Beyond

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Under the Black Hat

By: Jim Ross, Paul O'Brien
Narrated by: Jim Ross
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About this listen

 From legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross, this candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of the WWE and the personal crises he weathered at the height of his career is “a must-read for wrestling fans” (Charleston Post Courier).

If you’ve caught a televised wrestling match anytime in the past thirty years, you’ve probably heard Jim Ross’s throaty Oklahoma twang. The beloved longtime announcer of the WWE “has been a driving force behind a generation of wrestling fans” (Mark Cuban), and he’s not slowing down, having signed on as the announcer of the starry new wrestling venture All Elite Wrestling. In this follow-up to his bestselling memoir Slobberknocker, he dishes out about not only his long career, which includes nurturing global stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and John Cena, but also about his challenges of aging and disability, his split from collaborator Vince McMahon, and the sudden death of his beloved wife, Jan. The result is a gruff, endearing, and remarkably human-scale portrait, set against the larger than life backdrop of professional wrestling.

Ross’s ascent in WWE mirrors the rise of professional wrestling itself from a DIY sideshow to a billion-dollar business. Under the Black Hat traces all the highs and lows of that wild ride, in which Jim served not only as on-air commentator, but talent manager, payroll master, and even occasional in-ring foil to threats like Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Undertaker. While his role brought him riches and exposure he had never dreamed of, he chafed against the strictures of a fickle corporate culture and what he saw as a narrow vision of what makes great wrestlers—and great story lines. When suddenly stricken with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis that makes it impossible to smile, he started down his greatest fear—being cast out of the announcing booth for good.

Picking up where Slobberknocker left off and ending on the cusp of a new career in a reimagined industry, Under the Black Hat is the triumphant tale of a country boy who made it to the top, took a few knocks, and stuck around—just where his fans like him. Not only being one of the greatest wrestlers of the WWE, Ross is also “a master storyteller, and this book is the perfect forum for his forty years’ worth of tales” (Chris Jericho, former WWE champion). Combat Sports & Self-Defense Entertainment & Celebrities Sports Wrestling Celebrity Combat Sports Inspiring Thought-Provoking Professional Wrestling
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absolutely awesome. a true legend . And an essential listen for any wwe fan

awesome

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A truly fantastic book which provides a look at JR's career, a history of some major WWE moments, and a look at the psychology of those behind the action we love.

wonderful

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Only criticism would be maybe he should have spent a little less time discussing his relationship with Vince and more time telling stories about the superstars but I guess it is a book about JR himself so...

Great listen for a wrestling fan

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I really enjoyed this as a follow up to JR's first book - Slobberknocker.

JR's famed storytelling through his commentary is just as passionate in this book. You can truly feel the passion he has for his business and his late wife. Thank you JR. 🤠

A true legend pulling no punches

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Never ever finished a book this was awesome read/listened to it in 2 days 👍 brillaint read

Really enjoyed it

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