The book helps “pull back the curtain” on the wrestling business although most stories have been told in some regard on the Grilling JR podcast.0
I would have like a bit more steak and less sizzle at times but as a “non-reader” - I finished the book in three days.


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Under the Black Hat: My Life in the WWE and Beyond Paperback – 1 April 2021
by
Jim Ross
(Author),
Paul O'Brien
(Author)
Jim Ross
(Author)
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Product details
- Publisher : Tiller Press (1 April 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1982130547
- ISBN-13 : 978-1982130541
- Dimensions : 13.97 x 2.03 x 21.27 cm
-
Best Sellers Rank:
119,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 82 in Wrestler Biographies
- 167 in Wrestling (Books)
- 671 in Biographies of Opera Performers
- Customer Reviews:
Product description
Review
“I realized very quickly at the beginning of my WWE career that if I was going to be successful, I needed a conduit between me and the global audience watching from home. That conduit was Jim Ross. Proud to say we reached that global audience in a very big way." —Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
“Jim Ross is not only the greatest wrestling play-by-play man ever, he's the architect behing the greatest roster in WWE history. He's also a master storyteller, and this book is the perfect forum for his forty years' worth of tales. So put on your black hat and get ready for an amazing read that's anything but 'bowling-shoe ugly'!" —Chris Jericho, former WWE champion, Inaugural AEW champion, and New York Times bestselling author
“JR is a legend on and off the screen. He has been a driving force behind a big generation of wrestling fans, and has helped to grow one of the greatest media marketing forces in history—and that's just the tip of the iceberg. His ability to connect with some of the most powerful entertainers of our time is unparalled. Any book from JR will be a must-read." —Mark Cuban
"[A] must-read for wrestling fans....Ross is most compelling when he reveals his vulnerability and explores the caverns of his psyche and his heart, detailing how both were tested in his turbulent years working for McMahon and in the wake of his late wife Jan’s death....A master storyteller at the broadcast table, Ross takes the reader on an entertaining ride in this fun memoir." —Josh Needelman, Charleston Post and Courier
“[Under the Black Hat] is a candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of WWE and that personal crises he weathered.” Jim Varsallone, MiamiHerald.com
“Jim Ross’ latest autobiography is available now in print and digital formats and it is a fantastic read about the latter half of his career and some of the personal adversities he overcame. A follow-up to his bestselling memoir Slobberknocker, he talks about his career in the wrestling business, getting older, leaving WWE and the sudden death of his wife, Jan.” —Wrestle Zone, Mandatory.com
"I literally read Jim Ross’ Under the Black Hat over the course of one day, and just two sittings. I even kept putting off much-needed restroom breaks so I could keep turning the pages. I found myself thinking “just one more chapter,” chapter after chapter… It’s an excellent book, and well worth your time. I definitely put it up there among the best memoirs in the business. —Mick Foley, NYT Bestselling Author and Legendary Pro Wrestler
"Paul O'Brien is one of the best wrestling minds out there, and a truly gifted writer. I knew he and the legendary JR would deliver a book full of humour, pain and triumph. I was not wrong. Loved it.” —Former WWE World Champion “The Man” Becky Lynch
“A cursory glance at the television broadcasting industry shows that Ross is an anomaly. On-air roles are for the young and glamorous, and the elder statesmen are typically ushered out and replaced with their younger counterparts. Ross has persisted and endured, a touch of the past that fits seamlessly into the present” —Justin Barrasso, Sports Illustrated
“Jim Ross is not only the greatest wrestling play-by-play man ever, he's the architect behing the greatest roster in WWE history. He's also a master storyteller, and this book is the perfect forum for his forty years' worth of tales. So put on your black hat and get ready for an amazing read that's anything but 'bowling-shoe ugly'!" —Chris Jericho, former WWE champion, Inaugural AEW champion, and New York Times bestselling author
“JR is a legend on and off the screen. He has been a driving force behind a big generation of wrestling fans, and has helped to grow one of the greatest media marketing forces in history—and that's just the tip of the iceberg. His ability to connect with some of the most powerful entertainers of our time is unparalled. Any book from JR will be a must-read." —Mark Cuban
"[A] must-read for wrestling fans....Ross is most compelling when he reveals his vulnerability and explores the caverns of his psyche and his heart, detailing how both were tested in his turbulent years working for McMahon and in the wake of his late wife Jan’s death....A master storyteller at the broadcast table, Ross takes the reader on an entertaining ride in this fun memoir." —Josh Needelman, Charleston Post and Courier
“[Under the Black Hat] is a candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of WWE and that personal crises he weathered.” Jim Varsallone, MiamiHerald.com
“Jim Ross’ latest autobiography is available now in print and digital formats and it is a fantastic read about the latter half of his career and some of the personal adversities he overcame. A follow-up to his bestselling memoir Slobberknocker, he talks about his career in the wrestling business, getting older, leaving WWE and the sudden death of his wife, Jan.” —Wrestle Zone, Mandatory.com
"I literally read Jim Ross’ Under the Black Hat over the course of one day, and just two sittings. I even kept putting off much-needed restroom breaks so I could keep turning the pages. I found myself thinking “just one more chapter,” chapter after chapter… It’s an excellent book, and well worth your time. I definitely put it up there among the best memoirs in the business. —Mick Foley, NYT Bestselling Author and Legendary Pro Wrestler
"Paul O'Brien is one of the best wrestling minds out there, and a truly gifted writer. I knew he and the legendary JR would deliver a book full of humour, pain and triumph. I was not wrong. Loved it.” —Former WWE World Champion “The Man” Becky Lynch
“A cursory glance at the television broadcasting industry shows that Ross is an anomaly. On-air roles are for the young and glamorous, and the elder statesmen are typically ushered out and replaced with their younger counterparts. Ross has persisted and endured, a touch of the past that fits seamlessly into the present” —Justin Barrasso, Sports Illustrated
About the Author
Jim Ross has been involved in professional wrestling for more than forty years. Elected into the WWE, NWA, and National Wrestling Halls of Fame, Ross is also a New York Times bestselling author, a BBQ guru, and the cohost of his own podcast, Grilling JR. He is the weekly voice of All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite, shown on TNT in the United States, TSN in Canada, and ITV and FITE in the United Kingdom. In addition to Under the Black Hat, he is the author of Slobberknocker: My Life in Wrestling and two cookbooks: J.R.’s Cookbook and Can You Take the Heat?
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Customer reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
1,099 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
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Top reviews from other countries

Robert
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the main event of wrestling books
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2020Verified Purchase
After a read JR's first book I thought I was very disappointed, I thought it lacked detail and failed to show real incite into the time JR spent at the top of the wrestling business in front and behind the curtain. I felt it was underwhelming particularly when compared to JJ Dillon's book who had had the same job as JR.
However this latest book you can see JR has been freed of the political restrictions of writing a book under a WWE contract and this is a great read, I would love for him to go back and redo his first book with this writer.
This book is a massive improvement on the first book and is a great read.
However this latest book you can see JR has been freed of the political restrictions of writing a book under a WWE contract and this is a great read, I would love for him to go back and redo his first book with this writer.
This book is a massive improvement on the first book and is a great read.
4 people found this helpful
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K. G. A. Alavi
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Wrestling was my mistress, but she did not always love me back"
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2020Verified Purchase
A very good book. This book picks up right where Slobberknocker finished. As I said the writing got better towards the end of that book I am glad that continued into and throughout this book.
J.R's relationship with the WWF/WWE is like the ultimate toxic relationship no matter how badly one side treats the other one they are too in love with them to leave or they just keep coming back. I think he says it best
"Wrestling was my mistress, but she did not always love me back"
The first book was Jim's start in the business now he is well established, though many fans know him for his voice and story telling. Many people probobly did not know his work behing the scenes. Also how much and how hard he works. This is something that really resonates and appeals to me about the story. I have always respected hard work over ability. However when you take someone with all the passion and talent of Jim Ross works harder than anyone not named Vince, you can see the effects and results on the industry.
The book takes takes place from the Attitude era, the good, bad and some terrible angles/storylines. Many of the terrible angles involved Good Old J.R the character not by choice.
This book just has a great nostalgic feel to people like me who were along for the ride of these eras. Even though I switched to altunitives to the WWE after a couple of the terrible angles I still heard or knew everything going on. There are a couple of cross references to story's brought up in Chyna's and Mick Foley and Chris Jericho's book. I would day Jim Ross has seen it all in the business but I had no idea exactly how involved he was. As much as I respect hard work Jim's love and obsession of the business had wrestling at the top everything and everyone else was second onwards. I wish Jim luck in the future. Never the end as he said retirement never lasts in this business.
J.R's relationship with the WWF/WWE is like the ultimate toxic relationship no matter how badly one side treats the other one they are too in love with them to leave or they just keep coming back. I think he says it best
"Wrestling was my mistress, but she did not always love me back"
The first book was Jim's start in the business now he is well established, though many fans know him for his voice and story telling. Many people probobly did not know his work behing the scenes. Also how much and how hard he works. This is something that really resonates and appeals to me about the story. I have always respected hard work over ability. However when you take someone with all the passion and talent of Jim Ross works harder than anyone not named Vince, you can see the effects and results on the industry.
The book takes takes place from the Attitude era, the good, bad and some terrible angles/storylines. Many of the terrible angles involved Good Old J.R the character not by choice.
This book just has a great nostalgic feel to people like me who were along for the ride of these eras. Even though I switched to altunitives to the WWE after a couple of the terrible angles I still heard or knew everything going on. There are a couple of cross references to story's brought up in Chyna's and Mick Foley and Chris Jericho's book. I would day Jim Ross has seen it all in the business but I had no idea exactly how involved he was. As much as I respect hard work Jim's love and obsession of the business had wrestling at the top everything and everyone else was second onwards. I wish Jim luck in the future. Never the end as he said retirement never lasts in this business.
2 people found this helpful
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Roberto
3.0 out of 5 stars
JRs Career Covered, But lack of candour elsewhere
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 May 2020Verified Purchase
JR talks about his time in wrestling covering 1998-2018. Covering such a lengthy period is bound to mean some parts are skimmed over and there are some stories which look more interesting than they are set out in the book.
The shows, promos and matches are all known already so from books such as this you are looking for an insight behind the curtain. In that regard this book both succeeds and fails.
When talking about his own experiences within the WWE. Particularly his experiences of working with Vince McMahon and the often seemingly cruel way in which he was treated, Ross is candid and writes in some depth. However he appears reluctant to name names or reveal stories about others throughout the book.
For an industry containing so many controversial and difficult individuals and with JR at the heart of it for a significant amount of time I would have expected more revelations and accounts of first hand experiences behind the scenes. This book just doesn’t have those.
If you want to know about JR’s own thoughts and career. This is a good book. If you are looking for a juicy insight in to the goings on behind the scenes this book will not tick that box.
The shows, promos and matches are all known already so from books such as this you are looking for an insight behind the curtain. In that regard this book both succeeds and fails.
When talking about his own experiences within the WWE. Particularly his experiences of working with Vince McMahon and the often seemingly cruel way in which he was treated, Ross is candid and writes in some depth. However he appears reluctant to name names or reveal stories about others throughout the book.
For an industry containing so many controversial and difficult individuals and with JR at the heart of it for a significant amount of time I would have expected more revelations and accounts of first hand experiences behind the scenes. This book just doesn’t have those.
If you want to know about JR’s own thoughts and career. This is a good book. If you are looking for a juicy insight in to the goings on behind the scenes this book will not tick that box.

Chris Guest
5.0 out of 5 stars
Much better than the first.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 April 2021Verified Purchase
I read Slobberknocker (the first of J.R’s autobiographies) and it left me flat, but black hat is everything the first book isn’t and it’s all the better for it.
The story is woven nicely with JR’s wife Jan being at the centre of it. It is clear that they were very much a team and the love they had for each other permeated every facet of their lives. It is at times a deeply personal and emotional read.
The WWE obviously features in it quite a bit and the analysis of JR’s relationship with Vince McMahon is at best complicated, but interesting stories told about the wrestlers are ones that are not common knowledge and it truly shows the other side of their world.
Great read and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Definitely has to be up there with Mick Foley and Bret Hart as one of the best wrestling autobiographies out there.
The story is woven nicely with JR’s wife Jan being at the centre of it. It is clear that they were very much a team and the love they had for each other permeated every facet of their lives. It is at times a deeply personal and emotional read.
The WWE obviously features in it quite a bit and the analysis of JR’s relationship with Vince McMahon is at best complicated, but interesting stories told about the wrestlers are ones that are not common knowledge and it truly shows the other side of their world.
Great read and couldn’t recommend it highly enough. Definitely has to be up there with Mick Foley and Bret Hart as one of the best wrestling autobiographies out there.

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most relatable book I've ever read. 5 out of 5.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 February 2021Verified Purchase
After reading JR's first book, I wasn't as thrilled for the sequal as I could have been.
By the time I reached the end of the first chapter though, I knew I'd be on the hunt for my next read within days.
Under the Black Hat is written by a man who now knows he doesn't need approval for his words or opinions. They're his. Many reviewers have said this is because he's no longer under the employ of WWE, however, I feel this is more to do with a man who has taken everything life has thrown at him (and taken from him), and decided enough is enough.
This book was truly written from the heart, with the passion of the man who's voice was responsible for raising goosebumps on viewers arms for a generation. The last chapter alone is worth the price of the book.
Through the pages, JR lets us in on stories which have never been told, with his dry style and no BS approach. The chapters are succinct, with no filler. Just the tales and turbulence of his life and how he felt and dealt with each blow.
The book closes with one of the most descriptive and heartbreaking chapters I've ever read, but still, good ole JR still finds a way to send the fans home happy.
By the time I reached the end of the first chapter though, I knew I'd be on the hunt for my next read within days.
Under the Black Hat is written by a man who now knows he doesn't need approval for his words or opinions. They're his. Many reviewers have said this is because he's no longer under the employ of WWE, however, I feel this is more to do with a man who has taken everything life has thrown at him (and taken from him), and decided enough is enough.
This book was truly written from the heart, with the passion of the man who's voice was responsible for raising goosebumps on viewers arms for a generation. The last chapter alone is worth the price of the book.
Through the pages, JR lets us in on stories which have never been told, with his dry style and no BS approach. The chapters are succinct, with no filler. Just the tales and turbulence of his life and how he felt and dealt with each blow.
The book closes with one of the most descriptive and heartbreaking chapters I've ever read, but still, good ole JR still finds a way to send the fans home happy.
One person found this helpful
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