Paperback: 253 pages
Excerpt from "Wrestling with the Truth"
Copyright Bruno Lauer
When we were clear of the Coliseum, Sid [Vicious] began berating me, and in a very angry, almost insane tone of voice, he told me in great detail about what had taken place in the parking lot just a few short minutes before. "Sid, Im sorry " I offered, but he cut me off in mid-sentence.
"Sorry! Sorry? Is that supposed to help? I hit a fuing baby because you were fuing standing the fu around instead of getting in the fuing car!"
"But, Sid. I was talking to the RPMs because I havent seen them for a while, and ..."
At that point, Sid snapped, and in a combination of being insane with anger and not knowing just how inhumanly strong he was, he screamed, "Fu the RPMs, and fu you!" He grabbed me by the back of my head with his right hand, forced my head down between my knees, and held it there with all of his strength. I struggled to straighten up, but his brute force was inescapable. As my oxygen supply dwindled, my head felt as if it was going to explode, and I started to black out. Just before I passed out, Sid released his death grip on my neck and let me go.
Brunos book is phenomenal and I highly recommend it to everybody. You will learn a lot about the business of professional wrestling, and in the process, you will laugh your ass off.
Kurt Angle
"Wrestling with the Truth" is the title of this book, but it doesnt mean what you think it does. Bruno Lauer has no problem telling the truth. He believes in telling it like it is, and after spending 29 years as a manager in the business of professional wrestling, he has a lot of stories to tell.
Entertaining, visual, and vicious. A memorable memoir by a veteran performer who has seen and done it all in sports entertainment.
Chris Jericho, New York Times best-selling author
The story of Bruno Lauer, known professionally as Downtown Bruno and Harvey Wippleman, relates the fascinating, and often hilarious, story of his life. Direct and opinionated, he doesnt hold back anything, sharing both the good and the bad things that happened to him. Even his close friends arent safe from his scrutiny. Take it from Mick Foley, who read the first draft of the book and found himself on the receiving end of a few barbs thrown by Bruno: "Bruno's honesty can be, at times, a little painful."
A unique perspective from one of the most unique characters in the history of the wrestling business.
Mick Foley, New York Times best-selling author
As he retraces every step of his career, Brunos account of his life as a "sports entertainment" performer begins at age 13, when he joins a traveling wrestling troupe at a carnival, and ends when he wins the WWF "Womens" world championship wrestling title on prime-time national television.
This autobiography, complemented by 94 photos culled from Brunos personal scrapbooks, is a fresh glimpse of life behind the curtain of professional sports entertainment. As full of action, entertainment, heartbreak, and drama as anything that takes place inside a professional wrestling ring, Wrestling with the Truth is the story of a man who struggled to find his place in the wrestling business, and the success that came through his perseverance.
With a Foreword written by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
[excerpt] : Bruno Lauer and I have shared an extraordinary friendship that has spanned more than 20 years. : Throughout that time, the same words come to mind when I think of Bruno loyal, reliable, and as funny as hell!
Chapters
1 Fast Track to Nowhere
Growing up in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Bruno and friends go to the fair Discovering pro wrestling Ten dollars and a can of beer Brunos epiphany
2 The Difference Between My Ass and My Elbow
Meeting Lord Jonathan Boyd Working for Dale Mann in Kentucky Stretching the truth Advice from Jonathan Boyd Buying an outfit at the Salvation Army Thrift Store Juice and potatoes Master workers Marathon wrestling matches The referee calls the spot Cursed out in the dressing room
3 Dr. Lennerd Spazzinsky
Geto Mongols wrestling school Postering towns Wrestling Mighty Moses Dr. Lennerd Spazzinsky A laugh at Brunos expense Bruno helps Bigfoot get booked
4 Francie the Cancer Dog
Working independent shows Booked with Polynesian Pacific Championship Wrestling The birth of Downtown Bruno Lars Anderson gives Bruno his orders Confrontation with Lia Maivia Francie the Cancer Dog Establishing his character on television Lia Maivia takes offense The inside of an Oreo cookie The Pahala Samoan settlement A shocking discovery about Lars Anderson First meeting with Jerry Lawler Back to the States
5 The Return of Satan
Booked in Canada for the Bearman A starting date in Memphis Buying an $800 Ford Granada 800-mile road trip Arriving in Memphis, Tennessee Assessment of Mick Foleys mental condition Doing a Memphis-style promo First match Managing Boy Tony First lesson in Pro Wrestling Booking 101 The arrival of Bill Dundee Dundee bumps Bruno Paul Diamond the stooge, part 1 Bruno teaches Dundee a lesson
6 The Insane Kiwi
Living with Rocky Johnson Rocky stirs the pot Footrace with Bill Dundee Broken collarbone Paul Es bogus promotion Confrontation in a bar A case of amnesia The return of Jonathan Boyd The Rock and Roll RPMs Boyd loses his cool Boyd refuses to do the job
7 Dewey and Uncle Bruno
Dewey (Dwayne) Johnson and Uncle Bruno Dewey and Bruno go on a joyride Caught in the act! Buying a car for Dewey The Rock makes his WWF debut The Rock vs Steve "Brooklyn Brawler" Lombardi Paul Diamond the stooge, part 2 Confrontation with Randy Hales Working with Rocky Johnson Car trouble Breaking the rules Paul Diamond the stooge, part 3 The end of Paul Diamonds career as a stooge
8 The Heyman Kid
Paul E. Dangerously arrives in Memphis Brunos bag goes missing Setting up Paul E Paul E. caught in the act Sid Eudy makes his debut Calling Ronnie West Called on the carpet by Randy Hales Booked in Kansas City Bruno beats Randy Hales to the punch and gives his notice Loser Leave Town match Farewell to Memphis
9 Selective Retardation
Christine Jarrett reprimands Steve Cox Christine reprimands Tojo Yamamoto Jerry Lawlers pornographic drawing A tribute to Christine Jarrett Downtown Bruno, the high roller $65 a night guarantee Bulldog Bob Brown Cancer in a healthy body An invitation from Robert Fuller The race to cash the promoters checks Bob Brown tells Bruno to get juice Loser Leave Town match with Ric McCord Bruno unloads on Gene Anderson Brunos car is "stolen"
10 Lord Humongous
Meeting Sid Eudy Trip to Birmingham, Alabama Confrontation on the motel sidewalk A night in the motel with Sid Strange sounds in the motel room Bruno sleeps in his car Lord Humongous Origin of the Power Bomb Hugo vs Nightmare Danny Davis Sid accuses Bruno of shoplifting Bruno and the truck drivers 300-mile trip from start to start Sid breaks his own car window The sad condition of Jonathan Boyd Sid hits a baby Brunos life flashes before his eyes Wendell Cooley bears the brunt of Sids rage Sid wrestles Scott Hall Bruno and the Mississippi redneck Saved by a good Samaritan FUBU and racism Sid strands Bruno on the side of the road Changed payoffs Eddie Gilbert takes the book in Alabama Bruno gives his two-week notice Robert Fuller breaks the bad news to Bruno DWB puts a mickey in Brunos drink Paul E saves the day Bruno shares his feelings about Missy Hyatt
11 The Louisiana Assassin
Indian reservation tour for Steve Gatorwolf Louisiana and the IWF The Bronx Bomber and the Bronx Bull Wrestling schools Reunion with Mike "Rock and Roll RPM" Davis Iceman Parsons melts from the scene The new Rock and Roll RPMs The Louisiana Assassin Sika threatens his opponent with death Killing Houma, Louisiana The Cajun Assassin
12 The Flophouse
Back to the CWF in Alabama The IWF shuts their doors Managing Brian Lee and Jimmy Golden Living and working with Cactus Jack [Mick Foley] Eight men in an apartment Terry Simms brings everybody a "present" Giving notice and going back to Oklahoma Kicked out of he Tallequah Inn
13 Doing Hard Time
Going home to Memphis Daddy Phil and Bruno Hickerson Teaching a lesson to "Natures Best" Scott Steiner wins the title Steiner shoots on Gary Young Gary Young learns a lesson about tapping out in a shoot Jeff Gaylord and Mr. Coffeys cash box Eddie Gilbert comes to Memphis as booker Arrested for DUI Arrested for DUI TV star to felon
14 Bruno and the Baby
Living in Jerry Lawlers "guest house" Eddie Gilbert quits and Eric Embry becomes the new booker Bruno does a squash job for Miss Texas [Jacqueline] Doug Gilbert does a squash job for Gypsy Joe Bruno gives his notice and takes a job as referee for the USWA The final days of Tojo Yamamoto Jamie Dundee vs Downtown Bruno Eddie and Doug Gilbert "make" the Hangmen sell An offer that Bruno couldnt refuse The Breakfast Club An imposter Downtown Bruno borrows $50 from a church
15 The Big Time
Tryout with the WWF The Chief Jay Strongbow nickname and definition dictionary Owen Hart gets Strongbows goose Confrontation with George Steele in Brussels, Belgium Rene Goulet Meeting Hulk Hogan Brutus Beefcake, the self-absorbed ahole Bruno slaps Gene Okerlund Bruno gets a second look Harvey Herman is born Harvey Herman becomes Harvey Wipple Hired by the WWF Managing "Big Bully" Busick Busick misses his flight The Warlord and "another exciting match"
16 Hulk Hogan Takes a Bump
Managing Sid Vicious and Ric Flair against Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper Life on the road with Sid Vicious First overseas trip Curt Hennig, songwriter Drinking with John "The Berzerker" Nord Road Warrior Hawk gets drunk Steve Lombardis goes to Belfast for a vacation Soldiers with machine guns Pickle-and-mustard sandwiches Willie Nelson and Tatanka Sid Vicious quits and takes Bruno with him Vince McMahon calls Bruno at home Bruno returns to the northeast
17 Catching a Tumor
Managing Kamala Life with James "Kamala" Harris "Racism" on the road Kim Chee vs Kamala Kamalas wife "catches" a tumor Nailz attacks Vince McMahon Curt Hennig ribs the boys Babysitter for Giant Gonzlez Washing the Giants back Appearing on the "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee" show A heros welcome in Walls, Mississippi Bruno gets knocked unconscious Brunos next charge, Mr. Hughes Mr. Hughes borrows $50 The missing front tires The urine test Goodbye Mr. Hughes Bruno sits at home Managing Timothy Well and Steven Dunn The Wippleman curse Attack on Heathrow Airport The abandoned briefcase Calling Adam Bomb in the airport
18 Babysitter to the Stars
Abe Knuckleball Schwartz Traveling with Joey Marella The tragic accident that took the life of Joey Marella Brunos eyewitness account to the accident The hospital application Bruno gets the last rites Brunos feelings about Joey Marella and the accident
19 Bertha Faye, My Trailer Park Girlfriend
Kwang Reunion with Sid Vicious Kwang is reborn as Savio Vegas Rhonda Singh comes in as Bertha Faye The trip from hell Five Japanese lady wrestlers Company referee The referee "doll" Freelance referee
20 WWF Concierge
Bruno joins the production team Bruno Lauer and Steve Lombardi, WWE concierge Babysitting talent Thoughts and memories of Dwayne Johnson, Roddy Piper, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, Triple H, the Undertaker, Kurt Angle Shawn Michaels puts Oscar in his place The evil Bruce Prichard In memory of the late Mike Davis
21 WWF Womens Champion
Brunos "one-night stand" with 80-year-old Mae Young Orders from Michael Hayes Behind the scenes of a title change Harvina wins the WWF world womens championship Old-timers battle royal The close of a chapter in Brunos life
22 Shoot All Pandas on Sight
Full-time WWF concierge 9-11 tragedy Airport security The Chris Benoit tragedy
Bruno's Photo Scrapbook
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