Wrestling At the Chase is a little bit biography, a little bit of history, but all fun for fans of the old St. Louis promotion and its TV show as Larry Matysik takes us on a trip down memory lane. It starts out with how Larry got bit by the wrestling bug.

“In the beginning, there was this tiny brown box enclosing a thick glass screen. It was the phenomenon at the time – a television! Shadowy black and white figures moved about. One ghostly character had curled white hair and was tossing something from within a squared area surrounded by ropes. A strong voice from inside the box barked, “It’s the famous Gorgeous George throwing golden bobby pins to the crowd. Another body, this individual nothing less than a titan, jumped between the ropes. He was lean, hard, dark, handsome, and powerful. A warrior king. The voice from the box was awed: “There is the great Lou Thesz, being saluted by fans.” Suddenly action detonated – Thesz and George began flying from corner to corner in a savage ballet. The crowd roared, screamed, howled, exploded. That little box literally shook and pulsed – I sat transfixed by the spectacle. Man, was I hooked. Immediately. A seven-year-old addict. A wrestling junkie.”

From there, the wrestling wars are discussed. The destruction of the territories, the end of the St. Louis promotion, and the eventual domination Vince McMahon, Jr., would have over the pro wrestling world.

With a plethora of wrestling books out on the market, there are many choices, but this is definitely a must read.