Legends of Wrestling (Simon & Schuster)

Named for his catchphrase, 'Listen, you pencil-neck geeks' and written with Keith Elliot Greenberg, this is the colourful autobiography of one of the most memorable personalities ever to enter the wrestling world. Freddie Blassie weaves vibrant tales of fellow stars like John Tolos, The Destroyer, Killer Kowalski, Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik. He talks frankly about his carefully cultivated reputation, which included routinely biting opponents and spitting out their blood, and about his controversial dealings such as the infamous "boxer versus wrestler" bout with Muhammad Ali, who was then managed by Blassie. Outside the ring he details his numerous sexual exploits and writes candidly about his three marriages. He reflects throughout on the international superstardom of his heyday and on the cult status he attained in the later years of his career. A mirror on a half-century of wrestling history, this is a book every true wrestling fan will love to read.