Way of the Blade: 100 of the Greatest Bloody Matches in Wrestling History

That's the three word review for Way of the Blade. If you are the sort of person who would even consider buying a collection of reviews of the greatest, bloodiest matches in the recorded history of professional wrestling, you should absolutely buy this book immediately.This is his first book, but Schneider's been writing about professional wrestling since the mid 90s, and he writes about wrestling with encyclopedic knowledge, bottomless passion, an endless parade of simile and metaphor, and a unique-bordering-on-quirky perspective. Like Bill Simmons on basketball if Simmons were actually skilled enough to justify his enormous financial success. Phil could've phoned this one in - just pulled out one hundred old blog and message board and newsgroup posts, cleaned out a couple typos, and publish - but he adds fresh context to the performers and the performances. Even if you've read his writing before, he'll give you something new.It starts in 1957 in France, goes through Mexico in 2019, and covers basically every major (and several minor) promotion in wrestling history in between, both chronologically and geographically. If Phil doesn't mention it, footage of people bleeding there never reached American shores. Sure, yes, FMW and ECW and even IWA-MS and CZW, but also French Catch and Maeda's UWF. The AWA and AEW. War Games and Apuestas. Flair, Funk, Black Terry, Slim J. People you've seen your whole life and at least a couple you've never heard of. Matches well regarded as timeless classics and stuff so obscure it's a miracle anyone not in the building ever heard of it.It's a history lesson and a watch list and if you love bloody, violent pro wrestling, you need it.

Lifelong fan of Phil Schneider's writing and thoughts, and this FOUR HUNDRED PAGE compendium of the best and most memorable bloodbaths from the last half century just knocks it out of the park. My jaw hit the floor the minute that this arrived. Schneider recounts these moments so viscerally that readers are transported to the front row of these contests and can be forgiven for checking their shirts for splatter stains as a result. The art by Chris Bryan is likewise staggering, and frameable prints of these drawings should be immediately commissioned. Don't think twice, pick this up now - it's a 1.7 on the Muta scale.

This book is about blood, blood in pro wrestling matches, but the blood isn't gratuitous. While the death matches of the 90s and 00s are touched upon, it's not gore for the sake of gore. Instead, it's an examination of emotion in wrestling, with blood as one of the starkest, strongest, deepest, most primal narrative tools, the ultimate point of escalation, the ultimate blurring of the line to create suspension of disbelief. The blood isn't the point and the blood isn't the end; it's the means to the end of creating something emotionally resonant (which, of course, was about drawing in fans and separating them from their money).I'd argue as well that the match reviews in the book are not simply an end unto themselves. They're a means, and through them, with the natural and organic style that the best wrestlers use to make their own craft seem effortless, Phil Schneider reframes the entire history of pro wrestling and pro wrestling criticism. There are two predominant narratives out in the wild. The first is framed by WWE, the one written by the winner where pro wrestling is best understood as family friendly entertainment, dragged out of bingo halls, putting smiles on faces. The second is the initial counterculture approach, driven by smart fans and dirt sheets and that flourished on the internet, whereas the methodological, "lazy" matches of the early 80s gave way to action-filled, workrate heavy spectacle. In this second approach, the star rating is god.Schneider plots another path by examining matches from every era and from all over the world, utilizing the crimson lens of blood to highlight the unifying thread that, if you let go of your preconceived notions, can open you up to a universal greatness of pro wrestling. Instead of focusing on rote and repeated ritual and catch phrases or meticulously planned and executed spots, he hones in on this true universal element: the emotional need that calls for the introduction of blood within a match, the players who so expertly utilize it as a tool, the overall effect upon a crowd that clamors to see it not for its own sake, but because of what it represents within the great story in which they've given themselves over to.He strikes at this by examining the text of the matches themselves, while providing readers with the context they need to connect the disparate pieces between, for example, 1950s France and 1980s Japan, and to give them all the tools to watch the matches and judge for themselves. For every match, Chris Bryan has drawn an iconic image. Some of these called out to me immediately due to my familiarity. Others made me want to seek out what I hadn't seen all the more. Most of all, though, these images provide yet another unifying factor, showing how the audience, the details, the era may change, but the core emotional resonance in these great matches, that bit that pulls at the human heart, always holds the same type of power.It's an easy read, where you can dive in and pore straight through and see, through examining exemplary matches, how wrestling progressed between the years and across regions, or where you can take it one match at a time, a few minutes here and a few minutes there, where you can even watch along. A lifelong fan, someone who has spent years discussing pro wrestling, will find something new, some new way of looking at a thing they love. Someone who knows nothing about wrestling, will learn about both its wildest and most important corners through its most powerful unifying element. Schneider has spent his life watching wrestling, thinking about wrestling, writing about wrestling, and those who take the journey through this book will find a new way to view it, new things to appreciate, ones that will carry forward long after they've set it down.

You don't have to be a fan of blood baths to be a fan of this book. This witty, digestible anthology of reviews covers the wrestling landscape over time and space in such a unique way. There are three reasons you should by this book:1) It functions as a series of detailed mach recommendations. Sure you can get that anywhere, but not like this. You get just enough feel for the match to want to see it, but not so much you feel like you don't need to. Plus, the chances that you have seen all these matches is somewhere between slim and none. This includes many of wrestling's greatest hits, but it is also packed with hidden gems.2) It is deceptively heavy on approachable wrestling history. While not organized around history, this provides context for 100 different matches and in doing so provides 100 nicely detailed snippets of history that give you a great sense of what is going on in each match and why. The result at the end is far from a complete picture, but it is also not insignificant.3) You should support this man's work. Phil Schneider has been absolutely crucial over the years in getting wrestling into the hands of wrestling fans. From tape trading, to reviews, to unearthing entire catalogues, the wrestling content wouldn't look like it does today without this dude. I say that as someone who has no personal relationship with him. He doesn't know me, but I know his work and reputation and am happy to support this project.

The illustrations are incredible, as everyone says when they mention this book, but I wanna talk about the writing. It is very hard to write about a subculture in a way that is fun and conversational without sounding like you're talking down to the half of your audience who are already familiar, or to dive deep into a subject without being alienating, but Phil Schneider strikes the perfect balance.Whether you are a new wrestling fan, or are old enough to know what RSPW stands for, this book will give you a new perspective on the sport we love. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Not a bad book but written to a formula and uses all the clichés. Personally, was hoping for a little more in-depth information about the matches included. The formula he uses gets a little repetitious. If you’re a wrestling tragic (which I am) then it’s an OK read.

Fantastic artwork.Short write ups for each match but they're informative and right to the point.Buy this if you love pro wrestling

Loved it throughly.