Under the Black Hat

My Life in the WWE and Beyond

By: Jim Ross, Paul O'Brien

Narrated by: Jim Ross

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

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!!!

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

a great read

a great story by one of the best to ever do it. I highly recommend this book.

HR by JR

JR knocked it out of the ballpark. R.I.P Jan. Wrestling Fans Must Read This Book

The Perfect 1st Audiobook for Me

Absolutely loved the book! This is my first one and it was addicting. Thank you for your story JR!

excellent sequel to JR's first book

if you love pro wrestling, if you enjoyed the first book "Slobberknocker", if you want the behind the scenes look at the WWE, then you need this book! Jim Ross is incredible reading his own book

legendary career

an insightful funny and at times sad book by the immortal Jim Ross. highly recommended for all wrestling fans.

Simply amazing

Finished the book in a day and a half, very easy compelling listen! Great work J.R. !!

Awesome book!!’

Just like the first JR book it have great stories and great inside look of one of the best announcer in the sports entertainment business!!!!!!

Amazing story

I bought this audio book for my boyfriend, and I listened along with him. He's always been into wrestling, and over time I understood why.

He mentioned that the voice of wrestling, Jim Ross, had a book out, and I suprised him with this.

For myself, as someone only vaguely interested in wrestling, I found this to be such an entertaining and emotional read. I loved listening to Mr. Ross' voice, it's very soothing, and the story of his life is awe inspiring. Hearing what he's gone through, professionally and personally, kind of gives me a boost, makes me believe I can get through what's going on in my life.

The last chapter really wrecked me. I hadn't been aware of what happened to Jan, and I spent the entire chapter, and a half hour after that, ugly crying in the car. I just really loved this book, and I appreciated the insight into the man who's voice I've become so familiar with recently.