Under the Black Hat

My Life in the WWE and Beyond

By: Jim Ross, Paul O'Brien

Narrated by: Jim Ross

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

From legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross comes a candid, colorful memoir about the inner workings of the WWE and the personal crises he weathered at the height of his career.

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 WWE is already an icon to generations of wrestling fans, and he's not slowing down, having just 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 about not only his long career, which includes nurturing global stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and John Cena, but also about the 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 Jim never dreamed of growing up in a small town in Oklahoma, 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.

©2020 Jim Ross (P)2020 Simon & Schuster

An emotional rollercoaster

I love me some JR. I must listen to any wrestling fan. Glad I purchased this audio book. A huge plus that this book was narrated by the legend himself.

Love JR, personal accounts.

it's a solid wrestling personality biography. JR pulls back the curtain without revealing too much and burying anyone. I really felt for JR when he explains the torment he was subject to in WWE.

JR Delivers Again!

Good Ole JR gives insight into a legendary career! Never a dull moment. Was very excited that JIm Ross was the voice for this Audio book. I did not want the book to end!!
Thank you for sharing. We love you!!!

A must read for any pro wrestling fan

I really enjoyed this one. Probably the best wrestling book I’ve read in years. A must read for any hardcore or casual wrestling fan.

The best wrestling book ever

this book is amazing it will make you laugh make you angry and even make you cry JR is in my opinion the best there ever has been and this book cemented that for me

Great

I loved this audio book. It was my first one and I hope any I listen to in the future are as good as this one .

Great story, Greater Man

This is an amazing book and a great follow up to his first book. There is no one better to tell stories about the wrestling business than the voice of wrestling himself, Good Ol' JR! Thank you JR, I cant wait for the next one! Boomer Sooner!

Emotional Roller coaster !!

As a lifelong fan this book took me though the highs and lows of my childhood. Laughing and crying through an emotional roller coaster JR called the story of his Life like a 5 star match!!!!

This book was very well read

JR proved with the reading of this book that he was indeed the voice of WWE.

Fan freaking tastic

Great read. If you love JR. You will love this! The best book ever no regrets!

10/10

10/10 one of the best wrestling books ever. meltzer would give this book 7 stars

Bored me to tears

This was after my favourite era in WWF but this story / style of writing bored me to tears

Only lasted few chapters, it was my own fault though, I was never a fan of his commentary either

wonderful

A truly fantastic book which provides a look at JR's career, a history of some major WWE moments, and a look at the psychology of those behind the action we love.

Fantastic.

A great book from start to finish. I enjoyed the candid stories and the delivery was very entertaining by JR.

Great audio book

JR telling his own Stories and his experiences what's not to like? It's fun it's sad, it's passionate and uplifting, I couldn't not give this 5 stars.

Very interesting Listen

Engaging and informative look at Jim Ross's career in the wrestling business and how he came to be where he was at various points of his career.

Great story doesn't miss the bits you want

Clever and interesting and doesn't miss a beat.

Suprising how emotional some bits felt what a life Jr has had

Utterly unputdownable

What a moving , interesting, enthusiastic and eye opening listen. Bought straight after Slobberknocker which is also highly recommended for any WWF/WWE fan growing up.
Two of the few books I will definitely listen to again.

Awesome

Fantastic !!! What a great book and it was made even better by good old JR reading it himself. I would recommend this to anyone.

Under The Black Hat

Fascinating story by my favourite commentator of all time. Highly recommended! Buy his other book too for the whole story.