Spandex; Screw Jobs and Cheap Pops: Inside the Business of British Pro Wrestling - Softcover

"Perfectly encompasses the world of Professional Wrestling in Britain; past and present." --John Ashdown, The Guardian

"A fascinating and entertaining read. barely a page goes by without a top name being quoted or a report from one of the country's many independent companies, and it's clear that this has been a labour of love for Dunn. The affection she feels for the industry pours from the page, and the relationships she has built over the years with the wrestlers themselves pays dividends here, as they open up and are unflinchingly honest about their trade." --The Void

"This book is absolutely compulsory reading for anyone involved in British wrestling." --Callum Leslie, PlaceToBeNation.com

"The most comprehensive overview of British Wrestling. We have named the book The British Wrestling Bible when discussing it on the show and it is every bit as good as we have been describing it." --The Wrestling Mania

"Dunn's writing style is a major boon to the book... an enduring style which captivates the reader from start to finish. An excellent look at an area of wrestling that is steeped in a rich history, but an area that is making its own history in the 21st century and is arguably in the best shape it has been in since its heyday of the 1970s and 1980s. It is a book that is difficult to put down, is a pleasure to read, and will appeal to fans both old and new, casual or hardcore." --Screen Jabber

"Much more than just a catchy title, Spandex, Screw Jobs and Cheap Pops is a fascinating read for both ardent wrestling fans and those with just a passing interest in the sport... What makes it truly essential reading, and ensure it becomes a go-to text for British wrestling historians in much the same way as Simon Garfield's The Wrestling, is the sheer amount of interviews that are interspersed throughout the book's narrative. Reading like a who's who of the industry today, almost any name that you can possibly associate with the British wrestling scene gets to have their say in Dunn's book." --CollarandElbow.com

"I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone wrestling fan whether you know about the British scene or not." --Total Wrestling Show

"Carrie has once again proven her worth as one of the best UK-based wrestling journalists, and TW hopes that this is not her last wrestling-related book. At times hilarious, and at other times completely heartbreaking, but always captivating, TW gives Spandex, Screw Jobs and Cheap Pops a huge thumbs-up." --Total Wrestling Magazine

"A thorough and extensive encyclopedia of the British scene" --Nigel McGuinness, star of Ring of Honor

"Exhaustively researched, snappily written, full of humour and with passion on every page, Spandex, Screw Jobs and Cheap Pops deserves to change the way people think about British wrestling." John Ashdown, the Guardian Spandex, Screwjobs and Cheap Pops is an excellent look at an area of wrestling that is steeped in a rich history, but an area that is making its own history in the 21st century and is arguably in the best shape it has been in since its heyday of the 1970 s and 1980 s. It is a book that is difficult to put down, is a pleasure to read, and will appeal to fans both old and new, casual or hardcore. Review by Tom Mimnagh http://www.screenjabber.com/spandex-screw-jobs-and-cheap-pops-book-review --John Ashdown, the Guardian

"Spandex, Screw Jobs and Cheap Pops is, in essence, the perfect companion piece to Simon Garfield's The Wrestling. Without opinion, agenda or bias, Carrie Dunn presents a snapshot of the current emerging British wrestling scene. From promoters to wrestlers to fans, all angles are considered as part of the rich tapestry of this book. "While it provides great insight into how the scene works and the minds behind it, it also serves as a wonderful introduction to British wrestling for those who are perhaps new to it. If you've only ever watched WWE, read this book and then give British wrestling a try - it should really be compulsory to do it in that order! Dunn also expertly portrays some of the perhaps often forgotten elements of British wrestling, including a great summary of the state of British women's wrestling. "Perfectly timed for 'where we are now, and where we are going', this book is absolutely compulsory reading for anyone involved in British wrestling." Callum Leslie - PlaceToBeNation.com and the Answering The Ten Count podcast --PlaceToBeNation.com

A fun look at the thriving UK professional wrestling scene, and how it's reviving itself for a smart, sceptical 21st-century audience after the World of Sport glory days were tarnished when fans found out that "it's not real". Carrie Dunn talks to some of the top British wrestlers, some of them now international stars, and finds out about their careers, what motivates them to risk their necks on a weekly basis, and their dreams of mainstream fame. They reveal what really happens behind the scenes at shows and training schools, and how they balance their dangerous part-time job with family life and - in most cases - a 9-to-5 job that pays the bills. She asks promoters what they believe their audiences want to see, about the sport's resurgence, uncertain finances and turf wars. And she talks to the scene's hardcore fans about wrestling's chances of a return to prime-time TV.