Lords of the Ring ebok

A behind-the-scenes look at the weird and wonderful world of professional wrestling.

Wrestling is at a new peak of popularity, but for years it has operated as an unregulated soap opera with controversial storylines and surprising presentations. It is a world where fact and fiction are regularly blurred, where stereotypes dominate and ruthlessness reigns supreme. But what does this eccentric phenomenon tell us about our society and culture? And why does it matter?

In Lords of the Ring, Dan Higgins, makes it his mission to find out. Examining the myriad ways that our social, cultural and political landscape intersects with the sport, he explores how wrestling relates to and has shaped our ideas about gender, race, national identity and sexuality. Higgins also turns to the sport's relationship with politics - including how Donald Trump cultivated a character on the scene - shining a light on the key characters inside and outside of the ropes, as well as their unlikely, unusual and sometimes dark stories.