The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Pro Wrestling by David Shoemaker aka The Masked Man
Release Date: October 31, 2013 ~ 400 Pages
If you read nappyafro enough, you find out that a few of us love professional wrestling (By the way, check out our pro wrestling podcast The FRO Horsemen if you haven’t). When that being said, I wanted to get a book about pro wrestling in here somewhere and The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling by David Shoemaker is a great pick.
I always thought David Shoemaker, aka The Masked Man, was one of the best writers about professional wrestling and this book help cement that. Almost each chapter is devoted to a deceased wrestler from Bruiser Brody to Macho Man to Brian Pillman to Yokozuna. He also covers the history of topics like race in wrestling and female wrestlers. It’s a good read for people who’ve been watching wrestling since they were five years old (Like me) to people who just started watching because they wanted to know what the whole “Yes Movement” was about.
Notable Moment: You ever wanted to get emotional about the life of Brian “Crush” Adams? Read the chapter about Brian “Crush” Adams.
Should you read it?: For all wrestling fans but be warned, it’s not a short read.
