#Review ~ The Man Behind the Makeup: The Professional Wrestling Life and Times Of Jeff Bearden (@jwbatlarge), Who Wrestled As Giant Warrior, Big Tiger Steele, Colossus the Gladiator, and Butch Masters #ProWrestling #GiantWarrior #JeffBearden #ButchMasters

 

Amazon Kindle:
ASIN: ‎ B0BHFCWCB8
Publication Date: ‎ October 25, 2022
Print Length: ‎ 143 pages

Paperback:
Publisher: ‎ Book Ripple (October 27, 2022)
Paperback: ‎ 135 pages
ISBN-10: ‎ 1951797876
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1951797874

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3JfGoF5
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90589635-the-man-behind-the-makeup

About the Book:

International pro wrestling star Jeff Bearden has gone by many names: Butch Masters, Giant Warrior, Big Tiger Steele, and Colossus the Gladiator. Under these guises, he became part of wrestling history. Enter the wild, bloody life of pro wrestling during its Golden Age, from the viewpoint of one of its "biggest" stars. At seven feet tall, Jeff Bearden towered over his competition from the time he premiered in territory wrestling in 1987, through the crazed and dangerous wrestling scenes, infamy, and championships in Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Europe, Japan, India, and the Middle East. Bearden’s no-holds-barred career spanned 30 years and four continents.

Bearden takes readers through the shocking, the tragic, and the hilarious stories of his adventures. Trained by classic Texan wrestling stars Dory Funk Jr. and Dick Murdoch, Bearden went on to encounter legends of wrestling history: Bruiser Brody, the Von Erichs, André the Giant, Owen Hart, Abdullah the Butcher, and the Undertaker. He tells of his powerful friendship with WWE Hall-of-Famer Yokozuna. From the time he was a skinny pro basketball player, to his days as a green babyface, to his reign as a notorious, 375-pound heel, Bearden’s life is one astonishing story after another.

Bearden’s unusual career, and his freedom to choose venues anywhere and everywhere, provides unique insight into the wrestling world. He takes readers around the globe to learn the secrets and truths of a life spent joyfully whipping crowds into a frenzy from inside the ring, as well as his personal life outside. In wrestling and in life, you’re only as good as the guy you beat – even if that guy is yourself.

My Review:

I've been a fan of pro wresting since I was young, watching Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog, Macho Man Randy Savage, André the Giant, and others tumble across my television screen. I grew up just outside of Flint, MI and begged to attend wresting shows at the IMA Sports Arena (also known as Perani Arena, and now the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center). I never did get to see a live show there, and still haven't at any other venue.

When I was approached to review a copy of Jeff Bearden's book, I jumped at the chance. I'm so glad I took the time to read and appreciate Jeff's life story, the ins-and-outs of international wrestling, and his anecdotes. The behind-the-scenes commentary shows pro wrestling from the 80s and 90s in a whole new way. I've always known pro wrestling is "real" even when the haters like says it's "fake." It may all be choreographed but a lot is improv, the injuries can be and are real, and back in the day, very dangerous for an American in other countries. 

Jeff Bearden provides an open door look at pro wrestling from his point-of-view and it's not all wine and roses. I loved learning about his wrestling life, how he and others paved the way for wrestlers of today. I appreciated the openness, the honesty, the good and not so good, and descriptive context of the book. For anyone interesting in wrestling history, grab yourself a copy of The Man Behind the Makeup.

I was provided a paperback copy of this book.

My Rating: