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The Hardcore Truth  By  cover art

The Hardcore Truth

By: Bob Howard,Ross Williams
Narrated by: Brian Holsopple
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Publisher's summary

The wrestling legend Bob "Hardcore" Holly tells all in this autobiography that chronicles his journey from fighting in bars for money to the bright lights of the World Wrestling Federation. Holly reveals how he took more body slams and clotheslines outside the ring than in and that long before he was known as "Hardcore Holly", he had an unquenchable passion for professional wrestling.

Ultimately, Holly would hold the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hardcore Championship seven times, the WWE Tag Team Championship three times, and the National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship once. But in the midst of his career achievements was a roller coaster of success and frustration, and Holly reveals the plethora of missed opportunities and broken promises that marked his road to television stardom. Replete with fast motorcycles, faster cars, wrestling bears, betrayal, and lost love, Holly shares his uncompromised view of his past and the current state of professional wrestling.

©2013 Bob Howard and Ross Williams (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

What listeners say about The Hardcore Truth

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    5 out of 5 stars

Better than expected, expectations were high.

The narrator spoke clearly and was not monotone, by any means. The story was great. As others have noted, after reading this, I also felt bad as Hardcore was shafted by the WWE many times but he stayed loyal to Vince & Co. Hardcore was very entertaining in his storytelling and recalled events in his past with great detail. I had a feeling this was going to be good, but it was better than I anticipated! Great book, Hardcore!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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One Of The Best Pro Wrestling Audiobooks Available

I grew up watching professional wrestling in the early 1990s, and I still watch it today. Throughout the 1990s and the 2000s, Bob Holly was a fixture in the WWE. His character changed from race-car-driver "Sparky Plugg," to Hardcore Holly — a no-nonsense wrestler during the "Attitude Era," when wrestling was more popular than ever. The Hardcore Truth is Bob Holly's autobiography, and the audiobook version is an Audible Original. The narrator does an excellent job of delivering the content in a direct and impactful way. What I found most interesting about The Hardcore Truth is that Bob spills the beans on anyone and everyone. He dishes dirt on everyone from Triple H to Diamond Dallas Page, with no reservations. I went into this audiobook respecting Bob Holly's work, and I left it feeling like I knew the man behind the wrestler. He's been called a bully and tough to work with, and I can see why people might think that. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of the WWE from the 1990s and 2000s, there's a lot to enjoy in The Hardcore Truth. It's a tell-all book from someone who was there for Owen Hart's death, the Chris Benoit double-murder-suicide, and other fascinating, and sometimes grim, milestones in wrestling. It's one of the best pro wrestling audiobooks available, and I highly recommend checking it out.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • VC
  • 12-26-16

Honest

What made the experience of listening to The Hardcore Truth the most enjoyable?

Bob Holly's brutal honesty. I am an investigator and can confidentially say that I know bullshit when I hear it and the stories in this book do not come across as bullshit.

What did you like best about this story?

Bob's personal feelings about other wrestlers.

What about Brian Holsopple’s performance did you like?

Great performance, but I would have preferred hearing Bob himself

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The stories about Owen Hart, Chris Beniot, and Eddie Guererro

Any additional comments?

Greatest opening sentence in literary history.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Huge respect for the Man Hardcore Holly

This was a great wrestling book full of great stories. I have a huge deal of respect after hearing this book. My only regret is wishing I could of saw him wrestle at a live event. It's a shame they never pushed him to his potential because I know he would of got over. His heart and passion for the business would of gotten him over alone. I've been watching his matches on the WWE network lately. I hope to see him again in the WWE doing something with them because he deserves it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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What an awesome read!

Easily one of the top 5 wrestling biographies I have ever read or listened too. That’s saying a lot for me, as I have over 100 titles that fit in that category spanning over 20+ years.

I loved his honesty, realness & detailed critiques of all situations & circumstances throughout book.

Highly recommend it. 🚀

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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AWESOME

This was an amazing book to read/listen to. No punches pulled! For anyone who has met Bob Holly at indy shows or anywhere else, know that he is straight forward and just a good guy! Loved listening and loved the behind the scenes that Bob gave us!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent story and narrator

I’m not at all into wrestling and just found this book by chance. That said, it’s a fascinating tale about a real man’s man. Such men are crapped on by leftists these days and so have become “toxic masculinity” bogeymen in modern media. Such men ought to be lauded as they once were; strength (physical and moral), determination, and straight-talking are sorely lacking in modern society and their absence is sorely felt. Thus, it was heartening (and entertaining) to listen to Bob’s tale related by a narrator whose voice perfectly portrayed this capital M man.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Really honest with no pretense.

I really enjoyed this. It flowed well and I trusted what Bob was telling me, even the few times I disagreed with his position. I really recommend this to anyone who was a fan of wrestling between the 80s and 2010. There's no 'fat' and you get the info you want while appreciating Bob as a decent guy who worked hard and achieved more than 99% of people who get into that business. In many biographies the author will spend way too much time on their early life while skimping on the parts people really want to hear about. Bob gives you just enough of his background to get to know him and where he comes from, but doesn't bore you with details nobody aside from his immediate family would care about. Recommended.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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I do like you now

enjoyed the book and the very honest opinions and views on his career and the wrestling business.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Shocking

I had no idea that Bob Holly had such great stories to tell! 5 stars for this book and much needed respect for a man that should have won the world championship

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