October 13, 2003 Observer Newsletter: Wrestling history book Chokehold detailed, more
I don’t expect too many people, other than historians and the most hardcore of fans, to be reading the book “Chokehold,” written by Jim Wilson and Weldon Johnson . But decades from now, it will probably be considered the most important book on pro wrestling covering the second half of the 20th century.
The 556-page book is a combination of the career of Wilson and the unauthorized history of the National Wrestling Alliance. It’s also a look at scandals, court cases and double-crosses that have plagued the industry from Dick Shikat shooting on Danno O’Mahoney to steal the world heavyweight title on March 2, 1936, in Madison Square Garden, which ended up changing the power structure of the business, to current WWE. The book has more about what really goes on behind the scenes in pro wrestling than any other book, and far more on what the pro wrestling business really was in the 70s.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.