You only have a few days left to finish your Christmas shopping and if you’re still wondering what to get the loved one in your life who loves professional wrestling, I have the perfect gift ideas for you:
First, let’s start with some books. There are a few great biographies and autobiographies on the market. They can read about how their favorite wrestlers made it through the ranks to become a superstar (some of the wrestlers also fell from grace at times and talk about that in their books).
Of course, I’d recommend Rowdy: The Roddy Piper Story, written by Roddy’s children Ariel Toombs and Colt Baird Toombs. Roddy started the book before his death and his kids took on the challenge to finish it. Good read. I had the pleasure of interviewing Colt and there is a ton of passion in this project. You’ll feel that.
There’s also Hillbilly Jim: The Incredible Story of a Wrestling Superstar by Gary West, and for those who remember woman’s champion A.J. Lee (otherwise known as by A.J. Mendez Brooks) and who doesn’t, you can also preorder her book Crazy Is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules, which is due to come out on April 4, 2017. For your older wrestling fans, there is Wrestling with the Devil: The True Story of a World Champion Professional Wrestler–His Reign, Ruin, and Redemption Hardcover, written by former wrestler Lex Luger. It came out about three years ago, but it’s still a worthy read.
If your little one chants Yes! Yes! Yes! around the house, then he or she might enjoy Yes: My Improbable Journey to the Main Event of WrestleMania by one of the most popular superstars in recent WWE history, Daniel Bryan.
And finally, the WWE Encyclopedia Of Sports Entertainment came out a few months ago and really is a well done book by author Steve Pantaleo. I see many wrestling fans at autograph events with this book, trying to get as many autographs as they can.
If you have a slightly bigger budget, how about giving your wrestling fan a wrestling experience? I’ve been to multiple WWE events in my life and it’s such a fun, memorable time. It’s not too late to score tickets to the Super Bowl of WWE – WrestleMania 33. It will be held on Sunday, April 2 in Orlando, Florida and there are still seats available. Prices start at $200 and there are WWE travel packages available too that include tickets to the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony, accommodations and other events. Your wrestling fan will see such superstars as John Cena, and Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Trust me, it will be a Christmas to remember if you can grab some tickets.
Can’t afford the tickets to WrestleMania? Then pick up a couple of tickets to some house shows – which are local shows. The entire experience is still the same as what you see on television. I’m telling you that being there in person can’t be beat.
There are also t-shirts and other merchandise of their favorite wrestlers, but act quickly or you’re going to have to pay for overnight shipping. If you can, order any one of the Funko Pop dolls, they are becoming extremely popular as collector items and your little ones will enjoy a tiny version of their superstar. Both the current and the older wrestlers are available depending on the website (really, go look at Ric Flair’s…it’s too cute, so is Nicki Bella’s).
Another great last-minute gift idea is a subscription to the WWE Network which (fans, say it with me) is only $9.99. Your fan can see pay-per-views as well as original programming, such as the WWE Storytimes, Table for 3, Unfiltered, Holy Foley, and Total Divas. The coolest part about the subscription is that there are so many documentaries and previous events to go back and watch. When I watched wrestling the other day, one of the announcers said it would take more than a year to watch everything (I can’t even remember what he said, but it was a looooong time). It’s a perfect gift that will last for a long time beyond the holidays.
Happy Holidays!
