Rating: 
Summary: Was this really researched well?
Review: The major concern I have is whether or not some rarely known facts were thoroughly researched. My concern comes from the fact that there were many inaccuracies in the book that I knew for a fact were wrong. For instance, the Rick Steamboat-Randy Savage WMIII match that Assael claims went nearly an hour, was actually a fifteen minute affair. Assael also writes that Lex Luger slammed Yokozuna on "July 4, 1995" just prior to his shocking appearance on Nitro. Problem was, the bodyslam actually took place July 4, 1993 - big difference. If he can't get this stuff right - which is can be found very easily in any old PWI Almanac - how can we trust him to know what was going on in meetings with Vince McMahon and Ted Turner held behind closed doors?
Rating: 
Summary: The "Real" Story?
Review: This book has a bad tendency to jump around a lot in history, going from one year to the next without any clear transitions, so in one page, you'll be talking about Bruno and Gorgeous George (Wagner), then the next, talking about Marc Mero and Sable.Putting that aside, it is a very enjoyable read, not terribly accurate in places, and often attributing personality traits to people mentioned within the book that seem inconsistent with what has been previously established. If you're looking for a National Enquirer type feel to the book, you won't find it here. Mr. Assael and Mr. Mooneyham attempt to paint a historical look at how the World Wrestling Federation became the global power that it is currently. Again, not terribly accurate in places, from what has been established previously by such notable people as Dave Meltzer, Mike Champman, and other wrestling personalities. However, aside from all that, it is still very entertaining and enlightening, but it lacks scope. It seems that the main purpose is to bring us from Vince Sr.'s Capitol Wrestling to the WWF's purchase of WCW in 2001 with as little detail as possible in between. A worthwhile purchase, but not an essential item. Wait until it becomes a remainder item, and get it for under $10.
Rating: 
Summary: Title is misleading
Review: This is billed as, "The Real Story of Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation", but this book is REALLY about the hisotry of the television development of the WWF, WCW, and NWA. The book is primarliy about how wrestling gained exposure through cable television and how the WWF and WCW eventually became giants through television and how WCW "overtook" the WWF in the ratings, and then going back to second fiddle to their eventual demise.
It's fairly easy reading. I finished this in two days.
Rating: 
Summary: Very fascinating book
Review: As a long time fan of wrestling, I've always been fascinated by the rise and fall and eventual rise again of Vince McMahon's WWF/E. If you're interested in an unbiased review of the history of wrestling, this is the book to buy. I'd recommend this book over just about any autobiography because it is written by outsiders, not former wrestlers who will put their own self-serving spin on things. This book does an excellent job of not only chronicling McMahon's rise to wrestling glory, but other promotors as well, namely, his longime archrival, Ted Turner. I was also pleasantly surprised to see an extensive review of the wrestling industry's beginnings all the way back to the formation of the NWA. Even if you're a hardcore fan this book will give you some little nuggets of information that you probably didn't know. The only complaint I have about this book is that the authors didn't go into much detail about the Stone Cold Steve Austin character. In my opinion, his character was the most important vehicle that allowed McMahon to rise from near bankruptcy and lead the WWF into it's most successful era of the late ninties. Having said that, however, I really do recommend this book. It's a good read and a quick page turner.
Rating:
Summary: cant put it down
Review: this book is very informative, not only on vince mcmahon but on the awa, ecw, nwa, and wcw. I can't put the book down and I'm up till about 2 AM everynight just to read it as it is a real page turner.
Rating:
Summary: AN INTERESTING READ
Review: THIS IS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE WWF AND THE GRADUAL TAKEOVER BY VINCE MCMAHON JR. IT GOES INTO GREAT DEAL ABOUT THE MONDAY NIGHT WARS WITH NITRO WHICH IS VERY DETAILED. ALSO COVERS THE STEROID SCANDAL, THE DEATHS OF SEVERAL WRESTLERS AND THE BEHIND SCENES OF THE DRAMA IN PRO WRESTLING. I REALLY FOUND THIS INTERESTING AND WAS TOTALLY CONSUMED WITH THIS BOOK. I HAVE NEVER READ A BETTER BOOK ABOUT THE INS AND OUTS OF PRO WRESTLING. READ IT. YOU WON'T BE SORRY.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Work
Review: The authors did a great job covering the last ten years of wrestling comprehensively and concisely. Because of the objective point of view and the tremendous research the authors did, this is by far the best book on wrestling I've read, at least since Mick Foley's first autobiography. Given the nature of the wrestling business, there won't be many more books like this.
Rating:
Summary: The squared circle is exposed.......
Review: Sex, Lies, and Headlocks is perhaps one of the most revealing narratives ever composed on the subject of professional wrestling. The authors have laid bare much material about the business that was once considered inside information and not for public consumption. In effect, the reader is treated to a fascinating back-stage look into how Sports Entertainment emerged from humble beginnings into a corporate and television empire. Centering around the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) dynasty is Vince McMahon, the company owner, with him being an essential focal point in the book. Virtually no stone is left unturned in the revelations of how be bought the company from his father and used, sometimes ruthlessly, whatever business tactics he needed to buy out his competition and solidify his domination in the wrestling market. Not without its myriad problems during its rise to greatness, the WWF would absorb many situations that pushed it close to failure on several occasions. Among some incidents would be rampant steroid use by wrestlers and revealing sex scandals in the 1980s. Rebounding from this and moving into the 1990s, Vince McMahon would eventually go head to head with media mogul Ted Turner regarding their many ugly battles to ruin each other and gain domination in the cable television market. Shifting into the late 1990s and approaching the new millennium, the WWF would finally begin its eventual rise to the top through perseverance and shrewd business dealings that have made it the sole professional wrestling powerhouse they are today. Sex, Lies, and Headlocks is a very well written and researched book and is probably the closest look you will ever get to truly knowing and understanding the WWF's history and its secrets. For all fans of Sports Entertainment, this book is a real treat and comes highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: one of the better wrestling books out there
Review: Having read several books on professional wrestling, I've seen many different stories and perspectives of the business (and of the WWF, in particular). Most of the books I've read have been personal biographies and focused mostly on the situations regarding that particular wrestler (be it Mick Foley, Hulk Hogan, or Bobby Heenan). These books have not dealt with WWF Corporate or with Vince McMahon (except as he related to the performer). Sex, Lies, and Headlocks focuses directly on WWF Corporate and Vince McMahon himself. The book begins by tracing the origins of the WWF. Even before Vince McMahon, Jr was born, we see his father starting his own federation and competing directly against the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). No mention is made, however, of the fact that Vincent McMahon, Sr, was on the board of the NWA and helped decide on who the NWA Champion would be. We do see McMahon, Sr, build up the WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) and have it be a successful federation on the east coast. McMahon, Sr. wanted his son to have nothing to do with the business but Vince was persistent and eventually became a ring announcer for his father. As time went on, Vince was given his own federation to own (a smaller regional federation). By the time his father was ready to retire, Vince was prepared to buy the WWWF. He did so and renamed it the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He was able to put together a company that while it was not losing money, it was not making very much, either. It wasn't until he decided to take a huge risk in putting together a huge event on closed circuit television that Vince was able to make his company a success. That even was Wrestlemania. If this book was only about the rise of the WWF, it would still be an interesting book....but it wouldn't be as good. This book also chronicles the rise of Ted Turner's WCW and how Vince McMahon ended up purchasing his long time rival's company. We are also introduced to the amount of steroid use that was rampant in the WWF in the 1980's (and may very well still be). I learned more about Vince's failed business ventures than I previously knew of (a professional bodybuilding federation?) and a bit more into the XFL. This was a very interesting book and it paints Vince McMahon in a very negative light. Since this gives a very one sided look at McMahon, it should also be read in conjunction with other wrestling books to give a more rounded perspective on McMahon and the company.
Rating:
Summary: No "protecting the character" here!
Review: Why is this book better than anything a "superstar" will ever write? Kurt Angle said it best in his own book when he spoke of needing to "protect the character". No superstar in his right mind will ever write objectively about his business for fear of being blacklisted. This book, written in third person by a couple of columnists, has no such concerns. Everything you've ever heard about the WWF/E is discussed, including much of the backstory from some of the angles that you might not have known. As someone whose grown up watching the WWF for well over 20 years now, it serves as great nostalgia where I could relive the Monday Night Wars, the Montreal Incident, all the biggies. Of course, I don't believe that Vince is fairly portrayed. I find it hard to believe that he's as nasty and unethical as the book makes him out to be. Luckily the same does not have to be said about the wrestlers -- when the authors think a wrestler got fat and lazy, they say so. Overall this has been the most entertaining book about wrestling that I've read thus far. Be on the lookout for more such books written by outsiders, just not The Outsiders. (Ok, how many people get that reference?)
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