Bob Holly: The Hardcore Truth
Reviewed by Chris Welsh

Bob Holly has always interested me. Over the years certain stories and incidents have defined him and his career and it has just become part of, well, Bob Holly.

This book is probably one of the best wrestling Autobiographies. Mainly because it provides so much history, fun anecdotes, and the viewpoint of Bob himself. A fun fact, I learned so much about racing just from this book. He has had an interesting life and some of his early experiences are hilarious and also rough at the same time. It provides so much inside and depth to a longstanding WWE superstar.

It's interesting hearing his WWF/WWE experience, I didn’t realise how long he was part of the roster. He was one of the longest-serving wrestlers who crossed over from the cartoonish late eighties/early nineties era into the ‘Attitude Era’ and beyond. I was a bit too young for the Therman ‘Sparky’ Plugg gimmick. I can’t remember him until his days as Hardcore Holly and since I am a connoisseur and ardent fan of tag team wrestling. I liked him in the Holly’s. I liked the Holly’s. As a few of my friends have said and I agree, he looked like a brick outhouse. He fitted into the hardcore aspect of wrestling.

The stories he tells about the WWF/WWE are also brilliant, some good and some bad. His stories about the clique are really interesting and you see his no-nonsense attitude when it comes to dealing with them.

The book also addresses the issues of him being a guy to test new talent. Like many stars of the era, he was trained old school. Physical, being stretched and tortured almost as he puts it. It is all in the aim to toughen him up for the hardships of wrestling life and test how much he wants it. So, like his training, he does the same. As did many of his peers and predecessors.

What I think for me was the most mind-blowing is he addresses his tough and stiff style of wrestling, especially with newbies, and admits to it, moreover, he also calls out Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho who he says were also tough and physical wrestlers. I never really thought of them as such but actually when I did think it made sense.

The other thing I was most interested in was the Tough enough incident. Where he was shown to have taken liberties with contestant Matt Cappotelli. He puts his point across that wasn’t shown on camera; where they were joking around and messing in the ring. I won’t go into detail but it adds some perspective. I am still not one hundred percent sold but it is nice to hear the other side.

Several autobiographies come off as bitter. This doesn’t, I read frustration with the company and I imagine he isn’t the only wrestler to feel like that. He speaks highly of plenty of wrestlers and their careers. There are a few he doesn’t, but who does love everyone? He talks freely and isn’t critical for the sake of it. He tells it as he sees it. It feels organic and genuine. I would suggest anyone who is on the fence about him or maybe believes lots of the myths read this. Hell, I recommend every fan of professional wrestling read this, it is one of the best Wrestling Autobiographies around.

you can pick the book up here