Mat Memories: My Wild Life in Pro Wrestling, Country Music, and with the Mets

A man with three different names ties together the stars of professional wrestling, country music, and the New York Mets.John Arezzi was a lifelong Mets fan who dreamed of a job in baseball. In 1981, he took a job with the Mets Class A team in North Carolina. But Arezzi had another love: professional wrestling. He ran a fan club for the villainous “Classy” Freddie Blassie as a teenager, then progressed to wrestling photographer, and finally even stepped into the ring himself as John Anthony. Eventually he escaped to pursue a new life in altogether different world: country music. After adopting a new name, John Alexander, his many accomplishments include discovering both Patty Loveless and (decades later) Kelsea Ballerini. But wrestling is tough to shake …In the 1990s, Arezzi hosted the pioneering radio talk show Pro Wrestling Spotlight. He also ran the first major conventions, assembling a wrestling who’s who to meet with fans. He promoted shows, both at home and abroad, and was a key figure behind importing lucha libre into America.Mat Memories is Arezzi’s chance to hold the mic, and he holds nothing back — he names names and tells the untold behind-the-scenes stories: from the ring, the stage, and the diamond. Short DescriptionTying together the stars of professional wrestling, country music, and the New York Mets is one man, John Arezzi. In a fascinating memoir, Arezzi brings the reader along on his wild ride, from a pioneering wrestling radio show to baseball’s minor leagues to working with Patty Loveless, Kelsea Ballerini, and Taylor Swift.Sales and Market BulletsArezzi’s insider radio show, Pro Wrestling Spotlight, was a must-listen for wrestling fans in the greater New York City area in the 1990s, to the point where fans would tape his broadcast and send cassette tapes to other eager fans.Arezzi is a major player in the professional wrestling space. He ran the first major wrestling fan festivals, was called upon by the mainstream media to offer up his take on the 1990s scandals in the then-WWF, actively promoted domestic and international wrestling shows, and was a key figure bringing Mexico's lucha libre into major cities in the U.S.Stars in each of Arezzi’s industries have shown their support by writing a foreword for his memoir: John Gibbons (baseball), Sarah Darling (country music), and Mick Foley (wrestling).AudienceWrestling fansCountry music, Nashville music scene fansMLB and baseball fans, sports radio listeners