I Was a Teenage Professional Wrestler

Author, Ghost Writer, Editor: Ted Lewin
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Released: 9/94

The Good
A lightning fast read that is mostly a series of anecdotes. What I really liked is that Ted Lewin did not write this assuming the reader is a smart fan, so he explains things to some extent. However, he does not let his explanations kill his tales and there is plenty of namedropping and insider lingo to make a smart fan feel good. This was marketed by Scholastic, so I picture a thirteen year old reading this today. I think he could get it and probably get through the book without putting it down because it never mentioned Jeff Hardy, barbed wire tables or some sexual escapade with a ringrat. Lewin writes a straightforward book that is positive and fun for anybody. Since this predates the pro-wrestling autobiography craze, it must be considered a little differently. I think it delivered what Lewin wanted it to, nothing more, nothing less.


The Bad
Who the heck is Ted Lewin, people probably ask. Mark Lewin was a big deal in several places, but he's not exactly a legend and this is his brother? That knock is obvious, but that does not really inhibit what this book wanted to be. I think the brief, sometimes random and often unnecessary stories are what one would knock this autobiography for. The selling point, he started wrestling as a teenager, is not really the central issue...in fact, you might say he downplays it. The major story is in fact him being an art student by day and a pro-wrestler by night, but I guess "The Wrestling Art Student" doesn't have the same ring to it.


The Rating: ***