As a matter of full disclosure, I preface this review by writing that am a former-contractor of Kayfabe Commentaries (KC).
I am a fan of shoot interviews. So, when Sean Oliver announced that he was going to release a book about the video interviews that he has conducted and produced with wrestlers throughout the last 10 years, my curiosity was piqued.
Long-time KC fans will find stories that Sean has alluded to for years elucidated upon in this book for the first time in a public manner. The long hinted-at wrestler who – after the interview began – was deemed to be in no condition to participate, even after Jake Roberts of all people tried to sober him up, is finally identified by name. Speaking of Jake, there is an interesting story about how his edition of Breaking Kayfabe did not get past the first few minutes of filming, and Marty Jannetty’s strange KC appearance is also addressed. A deal gone sour with Konnan has also long been referenced in KC lore and Sean gives us the scoop on how Konnan took the interview money and ran without fulfilling his side of the agreement. These stories, and more, are told in all their glory for the readers.
One specific chapter is largely devoted to Dixie Carter’s YouShoot episode, and deservedly so. Sean writes that there were questions that TNA management requested not be asked of the boss, and I wish he told us some of the questions that TNA wanted nixed before the interview, but he didn’t. Nonetheless, that chapter is a fascinating look into what it is like working behind-the-scenes with the second biggest U.S. wrestling organization.
Part of the challenge of writing this book must have been how to organize it. Should Sean organize it into chapters – one chapter about the wrestlers who did YouShoot and the related stories, one on Timeline, one on Breaking Kayfabe, etc.? Probably not that, as there is likely too many stories for each edition to fit as one chapter. In the finished product, Sean does as commendable a job as probably could have been expected and manages to fit his story into a cohesive, primarily (but not entirely) linear format.
That being said, there were some interviews that the book never addressed that I wanted to hear about. Justin Credible’s sobriety looked and sounded notoriously questionable during his Timeline – The History of ECW edition, and Justin doesn’t get mentioned in the book. While the majority of the landmark guests were addressed (such as Bruno Sammartino, Roddy Piper, and Harley Race), there were some important guests of KC shows who weren’t covered, most notably Bret Hart and Eric Bischoff. Perhaps, leave the reader wanting to know more is what a good book is supposed to do.
This book’s 230+ pages features plenty of insight into the shoot interview market, how it functions, and the evolution of its customers. Sean also explains how he develops business relationships with wrestlers, WWE piggybacking off of KC’s themes, and how podcasts have affected the shoot interview market.
This book is definitely worth reading and would serve as a great Christmas present to any wrestling fan, especially one of interviews or podcasts. It can be purchased in paperback or digital format from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Kayfabe-Stories-Supposed-Wrestling-Production-ebook/dp/B077P1VJ2B. For more info and a sample chapter, visit seanoliverbooks.com. More information on Kayfabe Commentaries can be found at kayfabecommentaries.com.
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