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  • Under the Black Hat

  • My Life in the WWE and Beyond
  • Written by: Jim Ross, Paul O'Brien
  • Narrated by: Jim Ross
  • Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (161 ratings)

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Under the Black Hat

Written by: Jim Ross, Paul O'Brien
Narrated by: Jim Ross
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Publisher's Summary

From legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross, this candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of the WWE and the personal crises he weathered at the height of his career is “a must-read for wrestling fans” (Charleston Post Courier).

If you've caught a televised wrestling match anytime in the past 30 years, you've probably heard Jim Ross' throaty Oklahoma twang. The beloved longtime announcer of the WWE “has been a driving force behind a generation of wrestling fans” (Mark Cuban), and he's not slowing down, having signed on as the announcer of the starry new wrestling venture All Elite Wrestling. In this follow-up to his best-selling memoir Slobberknocker, he dishes out about not only his long career, which includes nurturing global stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and John Cena, but also about his challenges of aging and disability, his split from collaborator Vince McMahon, and the sudden death of his beloved wife, Jan. The result is a gruff, endearing, and remarkably human-scale portrait, set against the larger-than-life backdrop of professional wrestling.

Ross' ascent in WWE mirrors the rise of professional wrestling itself from a DIY sideshow to a billion-dollar business. Under the Black Hat traces all the highs and lows of that wild ride, in which Jim served not only as on-air commentator, but talent manager, payroll master, and even occasional in-ring foil to threats like Paul "Triple H" Levesque and Undertaker. While his role brought him riches and exposure he had never dreamed of, he chafed against the strictures of a fickle corporate culture and what he saw as a narrow vision of what makes great wrestlers - and great story lines. When suddenly stricken with Bell's palsy, a form of facial paralysis that makes it impossible to smile, he stared down his greatest fear - being cast out of the announcing booth for good.

Picking up where Slobberknocker left off and ending on the cusp of a new career in a reimagined industry, Under the Black Hat is the triumphant tale of a country boy who made it to the top, took a few knocks, and stuck around - just where his fans like him.

Not only being one of the greatest wrestlers of the WWE, Ross is also “a master storyteller, and this book is the perfect forum for his forty years’ worth of tales” (Chris Jericho, former WWE champion).

©2020 Jim Ross (P)2020 Simon & Schuster
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What listeners say about Under the Black Hat

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

My childhood announcer

I love this story and heartbroken at the end. My favourite part of driving to work and back. Thank you JR.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

slobberknocker

JR with another clutch book. Audible should employ him to read most of their wrestling books.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A sloberknocker of a book!!

I loved this book it picks up right where his first book left off. A must listen for any wrestling fan, and the end had me crying like a baby but i loved every minute of it. Thanks for the stories JR!!

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Amazing!

Loved it! I grew up listening to good old JR and enjoyed hearing him narrate his second amazing book. If you haven't read/listen to the first book it is worth the buy! Thank you jr

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic!

Well narrated, fantastic set of stories of JRs time from 2000 to today. Highly recommend if you're a wrestling fan.

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Engaging, Entertaining and Heartbreaking

it was engaging, entertaining and heartbreaking I couldn't stop listening to it! JR was fantastic and the narration was top notch.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Fantasic!

Good Ol' J.R. knows how to tell a story. Love hearing his voice again on AEW.

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One of the best!

Such a great story by JR!
Not just about wrestling but also beautiful love story. I’m a 32 old single male, who’s still seeking his Angel. Hopefully one day I can meet someone half as good as Jan was to JR...

Love you JR! Thanks for another great book

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JR is the man !!!!!

Great follow up JR. loved your first book. Hope there will be a 3rd soon 👍👍

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Another great book

What a great book, read to us by good old Jim Ross. if you haven't heard of this legendary man where have you been?

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