Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Moira Van Dean doesn't trust Fritz Mundt, the man who broke her husband, Pepper's leg and effectively ended his professional wrestling career, sending the couple into a financial spiral that had resulted in them living in poverty while working for a traveling carnival. However, after the carnival leaves them behind following a barroom altercation that leaves Pepper seriously injured, they have no choice other than to accept Mundt's offer to pay Pepper as a trainer for heavyweight wrestler, Garfield Taft for a potential match against heavyweight champion Strangler Lesko. Despite Taft's brashness, Pepper is up to the task but, as Moira feared, there are obstacles. The training camp in Montana is a front for a bootlegging ring and the only way Lesko's team will give Taft, who is Black, a title shot is if he agrees to throw the match. Plus, it is clear Taft is suffering the effects of some serious illness he won't disclose. Review: I'm not sure why, ...

Synopsis: In the late 19th century, a teenaged Jack Curry went to work promoting boxing matches which, at the time, were illegal in most states. Ambitious and always looking for a way to make money, he began promoting professional wrestling matches on the side, not knowing he would be one of the main reasons it would eventually grow into a mainstream sport.  This non-fiction book tells Curry's story and how he, other promoters and the wrestling stars they groomed grew what once had been a carnival attraction into a sport that packed arenas with thousands of fans and the various obstacles, including themselves, that nearly caused professional wrestling to fail. Review:  As I've said before, other than on occasions when I can find absolutely nothing else on TV, I stopped watching professional wrestling around the time it started being referred to as "sports entertainment." In fact, I couldn't even name ten active professional wrestlers without looking them up. I ha...

Synopsis: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, women's professional wrestling gained new attention with the promotion Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling  (GLOW). This documentary discusses the rise and fall of that promotion through interviews with the women that were involved. Who's in it? The documentary includes interviews with Emily Dole, Dee Booher, and Angelina Altishin  Review: I was in the mood for a documentary earlier today and, even though I had seen Glow: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling before, about a decade ago, I decided to watch it again. My opinion of it was the same as it was the first time I watched it - it was well worth my time. I remember watching some episodes of GLOW when I was in junior high and high school. However, because it was aired late at night and not on a consistent day/time, it wasn't something I watched as often as I probably would have preferred. This documentary did a good job both reviving the memories of what I did see and f...

Synopsis: To those closest to him, he was Eddie Farhat, a son of Arab immigrants, a World War II veteran and a card-carrying member of the United Auto Workers union. To the rest of the world, Farhat would become known as The Sheik, a professional wrestler who didn't speak English and a history of goring his opponents with pencils and other foreign objects. This non-fiction book covers his wrestling career, including overseeing one of the most successful wrestling promotions in American history. Review: I don't think I've ever been anything more than a casual professional wrestling fan and, other than putting it on for background noise when there's nothing else on, rarely even watch it today. However, as someone who loves history, I do have an appreciation for the earlier years of the industry, especially the people who both helped it grow into what it is today and went to great lengths to hide the fact it was a scripted sport. So, when I came across Blood and Fire at...

Synopsis: Professional wrestler and promoter Fritz Von Erich seeks to build a wrestling dynasty with his four sons, Kevin, Kerry, David and Michael. However, every time the patriarch's dream seems to be coming true, tragedy strikes, adding credibility to a rumored family curse. Who's in it? The movie stars Zach Efron , Lily James , Jeremy Allen White , Maura Tierney and Holt McCallany. Review: I've been interested in seeing this movie since it first came out, mostly because I am familiar with the Von Erich family and the so-called curse that plagued them. However, since I knew it was the kind of movie my wife probably wouldn't like, I held off until I had some alone time to watch it. That finally happened this afternoon and, after seeing it, my overall opinion is mixed. The movie does a fairly decent job telling the family story, though probably with some dramatic liberties along the way. After seeing it, I was left with an understanding about why the family's su...

Synopsis: Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), based in Louisville, is one of the last remnants of the old territory days of professional wrestling and the only independent promotion with a weekly live television show. However, despite having a stable of talented wrestlers and intriguing storylines written by former wrestling star Al Snow, the promotion is struggling financially and unless things can be turned around, may be forced to close its doors. Review: I saw previews for this Netflix docuseries and thought it seemed interesting. As a casual pro wrestling fan, especially classic matches from the territory days, I found a behind-the-scenes show about an independent promotion intriguing. I finished watching the first seven episodes and it exceeded my expectations. The show provides a good mix of storylines, whether it is the relationships of the individual wrestlers, both in and out of the ring or the constant back and forth between Snow and investor Matt Jones over the company's dir...

Synopsis: As a child, Chris Multerer watched professional wrestling whenever he had a chance and, as an adult, had an opportunity to turn his love for pro wrestling into a 10-year career as a "jobber," a wrestler whose job it was to make the stars look good. In this autobiography, he shares the highlights from his career. Review: I didn't plan on checking out a non-fiction book when I was at the library. In fact, the only thing I had planned on checking out was another Perry Mason mystery. However, while waiting for my kids to get their books, I happened to see this one on display and decided to get it. I don't know if I ever was a die-hard professional wrestling fan and I certainly don't watch it very often today. However, growing up, I did enjoy watching matches from the American Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Federation, at least on occasion.  I have also read multiple autobiographies from well-known wrestlers and was intrigued about a book written...