Under the Black Hat

By Jim Ross

Under the Black Hat - Jim Ross
  • Release Date: 2020-03-31
  • Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 172 Ratings

Description

From legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross, this candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of the WWE and the personal crises he weathered at the height of his career is “a must-read for wrestling fans” (Charleston Post Courier).

If you’ve caught a televised wrestling match anytime in the past thirty years, you’ve probably heard Jim Ross’s throaty Oklahoma twang. The beloved longtime announcer of the WWE “has been a driving force behind a generation of wrestling fans” (Mark Cuban), and he’s not slowing down, having signed on as the announcer of the starry new wrestling venture All Elite Wrestling. In this follow-up to his bestselling memoir Slobberknocker, he dishes out about not only his long career, which includes nurturing global stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and John Cena, but also about his challenges of aging and disability, his split from collaborator Vince McMahon, and the sudden death of his beloved wife, Jan. The result is a gruff, endearing, and remarkably human-scale portrait, set against the larger than life backdrop of professional wrestling.

Ross’s ascent in WWE mirrors the rise of professional wrestling itself from a DIY sideshow to a billion-dollar business. Under the Black Hat traces all the highs and lows of that wild ride, in which Jim served not only as on-air commentator, but talent manager, payroll master, and even occasional in-ring foil to threats like Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Undertaker. While his role brought him riches and exposure he had never dreamed of, he chafed against the strictures of a fickle corporate culture and what he saw as a narrow vision of what makes great wrestlers—and great story lines. When suddenly stricken with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis that makes it impossible to smile, he started down his greatest fear—being cast out of the announcing booth for good.

Picking up where Slobberknocker left off and ending on the cusp of a new career in a reimagined industry, Under the Black Hat is the triumphant tale of a country boy who made it to the top, took a few knocks, and stuck around—just where his fans like him. Not only being one of the greatest wrestlers of the WWE, Ross is also “a master storyteller, and this book is the perfect forum for his forty years’ worth of tales” (Chris Jericho, former WWE champion).

Reviews

  • JR is the best!

    5
    By clarkaflac
    Great book! Super fast read. I could hear JR voice as I read the book.
  • Under the Black Hat

    5
    By Grogu69
    Truly Amazing. Thank you J.R.
  • Great follow-up to Slobber Knocker

    5
    By DJ WREK
    This book came out right before the pandemic and I got too consumed by news and what’s happening to read this. As time has passed, I know have picked it up and loved it. Great continuation of his last book and a tear-jerker when he talks about Jan passing. As a married man myself, I cannot imagine the pain he went through. I highly recommend this book on the journey of JR at his lowest and persevering.
  • G.O.A.T

    5
    By Drank81
    A great book on the greatest of all-time!!!
  • A fantastic sequel from one of the best!

    5
    By Petey S.
    This book both killed me with laughter and tugged at my heart. A great look inside the biggest name in pro wrestling!
  • Fantastic read!

    5
    By big dawg sublimation
    Couldn’t put the book down and finished it in 3 days! It was so interesting reading WWE stories from his point of view. Just unbelievable sorry telling from the GOAT
  • JR is a legend

    5
    By trav1571
    The greatest wrestling biography I’ve ever read. You won’t be able to put this book down!
  • And great successor to Slobberknocker!!!

    5
    By The RCWR Show
    Read Jim Ross Slobberknocker when it was first released and for me as far as books released for that year his book was no.1 on my list of great reads. I knew it was only a matter of time before he did a follow up. Here we are years later as he’s released his follow up. I was fortunate to read an advanced copy as part of the press media months ago and read it a few times now. Folks I can honestly say it is a page turner. You’re really hooked in and connected to the man UNDER THE BLACK HAT. It’s fun learning about interesting little things about Vince McMahon and the way Jim smoothly brings it up. Had no clue Vince loves eating cold sandwiches with a knife and folk for example. For folks who don’t check out his podcasts with Conrad you also learn more behind the scene stories on WWE RAW moving to TNN, Smackdown on UPN, J.R dealing with his second round of Bell’s Palsy, trying to navigate strong bondS and relationships with the likes of Steve Austin and The Rock while laying the hammer down on guys like Ken Shamrock to dealing with heartbreak in the untimely passing of his wife. Also, navigating through WWE for many great milestones to transitioning out of commentary completely from WWE, WWE going Wall Street, death of Owen Hart, Cash and Carry, and loads more. He’s been the voice of pro wrestling for decades and part of many lives including mine and he’s greatly transitioned his talents in storytelling in another great autobiography that’s witty, full of laughs, wisdom, and brutal honesty. There’s no fluff here folks. Wrestling fans and Jim Ross fans I say to you this is a great read and a must own so pick up a copy. You won’t be disappointed.