saintakim's review against another edition
3.0
Wrestling has birthed two of my favorite quotes ever, one of them alternatively attributed to Johnny Valentine, Terry Funk and Roddy Piper (three undeniable greats) is "I can't make them believe wrestling is real, but I can make them believe I'm real".
It is the main trickery of wrestling, and any performance be it politics, entertainment or blood sports, it's fake but if the guy in front of you does he job, you will in some sort of way care about him, care enough about him to buy a shirt or something or to pay a ticket to see him again or to look away from the shady practices of the whole capitalism appartus in front of you because maybe, just maybe he will get what he deserves at the end of the day or next time.
some people nowadays call that parasocial relationships; the carnies have been calling that working for centuries brother. America is the land of the worker.
I don't care much about Jon Moxley, I find him unecessary edgy, sloppy, unfinished, try hard, so throghouly entrenched in an aesthetic framework that I can't find compelling nor entertaining. Just like this book. But I'll never call Jon Moxley a bad wrestler because at the end of this book, even though I doubted his sincerity and was annoyed at his corniness, I felt Jon Moxley was real.
Wrestlers have few avenues to do that, a promo, a sequence of moves, the way the camera capture them, a grimace or the way they stand. What makes a crowd care ? a lot of people have discussed that. Moxley has it, he showcases it in this book. You can doubt any BS coming out of his mouth, you still believe HIM, that he is real.
(When Moxley describes his childhood, especially the landscapes of hopes and dispear of Cincinnati, he is at is best as a writer)
It is the main trickery of wrestling, and any performance be it politics, entertainment or blood sports, it's fake but if the guy in front of you does he job, you will in some sort of way care about him, care enough about him to buy a shirt or something or to pay a ticket to see him again or to look away from the shady practices of the whole capitalism appartus in front of you because maybe, just maybe he will get what he deserves at the end of the day or next time.
some people nowadays call that parasocial relationships; the carnies have been calling that working for centuries brother. America is the land of the worker.
I don't care much about Jon Moxley, I find him unecessary edgy, sloppy, unfinished, try hard, so throghouly entrenched in an aesthetic framework that I can't find compelling nor entertaining. Just like this book. But I'll never call Jon Moxley a bad wrestler because at the end of this book, even though I doubted his sincerity and was annoyed at his corniness, I felt Jon Moxley was real.
Wrestlers have few avenues to do that, a promo, a sequence of moves, the way the camera capture them, a grimace or the way they stand. What makes a crowd care ? a lot of people have discussed that. Moxley has it, he showcases it in this book. You can doubt any BS coming out of his mouth, you still believe HIM, that he is real.
(When Moxley describes his childhood, especially the landscapes of hopes and dispear of Cincinnati, he is at is best as a writer)
dani_65's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
jaylyn_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
from early beginnings to a chapter dedicated entirely to sandwiches, claudios dad jokes and heartbreaking stories. this book had me hooked from the first page. as much as mox says this book is not good enough to buy throughout the first few chapters (it is trust me) i literally could not put this damn thing down. mox is an excellent book and one of my faves of the year.* i laughed, i cried, and i grinned like a fucking idiot. jon moxley you are everything and more.
ps, claudio should release a joke book.
* i am extremely biased bc childhood nostalgia is a disease but this book is good i swear.
ps, claudio should release a joke book.
* i am extremely biased bc childhood nostalgia is a disease but this book is good i swear.
hushed's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
tsuxis's review against another edition
read this cause a friend wanted me to. i wont rate it cause im not rly a wrestling fan so i dont know any of the ppl in here enough to judge like that but i enjoyed this book nonetheless. pick uo the audiobook if you can, he keeps screaming in your ear at random moments.
joestephenson96's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable, if not a bit chaotic. Definitely one of the better wrestling books and a really interesting career
majones117's review against another edition
5.0
Listen to the audiobook if you can. Jon Moxley gives a perfect reading of his book.
dereklank's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0