Customer Reviews

Missy Hyatt: First Lady of Wrestling

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Missy Hyatt was one of the first "modern day" wrestling divas and a pretty big star throughout the 80's and early 90's. This book is the story of her life and her career in the world of professional wrestling.

The writing style is pretty decent and comes across more as a "talk-story" session at the coffee shop. It's very easy (and fast) to read. Many of the wrestling fans "in the know" know about Missy's legendary promiscuity which the quotes on the back cover will allude to, but to be honest, the book is "relatively" clean and not the sleezy "kiss and tell all" book you'd think it would be. Of course she does give a laundry list of sorts of the many, many men she's been with in her life, but it's nothing overly filthy. In a movie rating it would be about a PG-13.

Overall, this book is just a neat story about a pretty average girl named Melissa and the MANY cool experiences, places and people she's had, seen and met throughout her life, not only in her wrestling career, but also as a celebrity.

In the book you get:

- A quick rundown of her childhood

- Her start in the wrestling business as a "groupie"

- Her pretty messed up relationship with Jake "The Snake" Roberts

- Her relationship with "Hollywood" John Tatum

- The formation of the "Missy Hyatt" character in WCCW and her program with Sunshine and Scott Casey

- Her stay in Bill Watt's UWF and program with Jack Victory, Dark Journey and the Missing Link and great stories about Sting, Steiner and J.R.

- The cute story of her courtship, life and marriage (and eventual divorce) to the late, great "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert while in the UWF.

- Her and Eddie's travels through the Memphis territory and the CWF

- Her BRIEF stint as a WWF Superstar with "Missy's Manor" and some great tales about her meeting with Vince McMahon

- Her rocky career in the WCW with some great tales about her meeting with Ted Turner, Ric Flair and Eric Bischoff

- Her relationship with Jason Hervey (Wayne Arnold (the big brother) from the Wonder Years)

- Her many, many flings thereafter (football players, hockey players, other wrestlers...)

- Her career in ECW with the Sandman and friendship with Paul Heyman

- Her current whereabouts (current career and college, but no mention of her `adult' website).

Overall, Missy's got some GREAT stories to share about all the people and places she's been to (and been with), and met. She has tons of great stories from the road and "backstage/off-camera" anecdotes about a lot of the others in the business. Among others she shares things about are Paul E, the Freebirds, Luger, Buff Bagwell, Road Warrior Hawk, Tommy Rich, Brutus Beefcake, Dr. Tom Pritchard, Shane McMahon and a HILARIOUS story about Val Venis.

I particularly enjoyed her stories about her relationship with Eddie Gilbert, being a fan of both of their work. It's just really sad things didn't work out between them and I could sense a lot of that sadness when she talked about him. It's obvious that there were still some strong feelings there. To me, it's equally sad that Eddie never did get the big breaks he deserved in the business because he was just ultra-talented...

Overall, this is a great book to read. It definitely holds its own up against the other wrestling autobiographies of recent years (and is A LOT better than an autobiography written by some OTHER female wrestling personality earlier this year...). She comes across as honest and real and the stories she has to share are great and even pretty funny. I wish there was more to read but what she says is short, sweet and to the point. There's also tons of GREAT photos in here of Missy and some of the other great wrestlers and celebrities she's met. The book is fairly short (at 164 pages) and it reads fast. I got through it in 3 sittings, total read time about 6 hours. In sum, if you're a wrestling fan you should love and enjoy Missy Hyatt: First Lady of Professional Wrestling.

Highly Recommended

I remember having a HUGE crush on Missy Hyatt when I was 16. She was the highlight of every week's episode of UWF Wrestling; The action was great, but I struggled with the reception of the UHF channel so I could see Missy, not Hacksaw Jim Duggan or The One Man Gang. (No offense to them!)

Well, in the wake of Mick "Mankind" Foley's smash Autobiographical books "Have A Nice Day!" & "Foley Is Good", Missy has penned her own story, with the help of Writers Charles Salzberg & Mark Goldblatt. I was expecting a sleazy bedroom tell-all, and what I got couldn't have been farther from that. It's actually a rather tame book, and Missy comes across as a sweet girl who led a somewhat wild life. She breaks the book down into brief chapters revolving around her tenures with the various Wrestling organizations (WCCW, WCW, UWF, WWF, ECW, etc.), and tells some wickedly funny stories about some of the people she met and worked with. There are a few sex-partner stories, but they don't get into explict detail. (She does tell VERY funny anecdotes about Ric Flair, Val Venis, and The Freebirds in particular.) She's got a pretty good sense of humor, and reading the book is almost like meeting an old friend you haven't seen in years and hearing an summary of what they've been up to. Unfortunately, Missy doesn't mention her recent foray into soft-core internet sites...

The book is VERY short; I'd estimate it only took a few hours to read. But when I was done, I wished it had been longer. It's a fun read, and the book is loaded with pictures, both color & black-and-white. Wrestling fans will have a ball reading this book.

This has to be every man's worst nightmare-- a woman who has dated pretty much everyone has decided to write a tell-all. I
can only imagine how nervous these guys were in the days leading up to the release date. The book can be defined as a cross between Missy's diary and her little black book. It's pretty much what anybody would expect it to be, dishing the dirt on some of the biggest names in and out of professional wrestling.

Here's a brief rundown of the men with whom Missy has engaged in "sexual relations": Tommy Rich; Jake Roberts (gave her
cocaine and halcyons); Hollywood John Tatum; Road Warrior Hawk (slept with him to get even with Jake for dumping her);
Hotstuff Eddie Gilbert (the love of her life); Dr. Tom Pritchard (slept with him to get even with Gilbert-- see a pattern here?); Atlanta Falcons' Bill Fralic; Jason Hervey of The Wonder Years ("...money was a big part of our relationship."); The Philadelphia Flyers' Rod BrindÁmour ("...had to put a bag over his head- mentally..."), Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (this poor guy really comes to take a beating in this book); Raven; Eric Watts (slept with him because "I didn't have time to do my laundry"); Brutus Beefcake; Scott Putski ("...like driving a Ferrari with a volkswagon engine. You rev it once, and it stalls."); Val Venis ("...shortest, lamest sex I'd ever had."); as well as numerous football and hockey players-- WHEW. If the rumor mill is to be believed, there are many more names missing from this list. Brian Pillman is never mentioned although she has appeared in a number of his memorial events, and Tom Zenk makes a veiled reference to a "menage" on the back of the book. My guess is that Pillman was excluded out of respect to his widow and children. Also, despite leasing an apartment just to be next door to Buff Bagwell, who had a girlfriend at the time, nothing sexual is ever mentioned.

The sexual exploits aside (which bears mentioning in this review only because it comprises the bulk of the book), Missy is
very candid in her views of the people and the goings-on in the business. For anyone who has read a wrestling biography you
will quickly come (sorry Jim Kelly) to realize that these are not regular/everyday folks. Terry Funk --a legend in this
profession who is just finishing his own book-- once told Missy that "...if (she) ever got stabbed after a match, (she) should take it as a compliment..." Years later Missy was almost stabbed before a match, and wonders aloud how she should take that. Ric Flair is referred to as a perv who loved to show everybody his penis. This is pretty much the same impression I was left with after reading Flair's own biography (a great read by the way). Even WCW owner Ted Turner comes across as a perv (surprise, surprise) as Missy recounts how he grabbed her ass and invited her to mud wrestle the first time they met.

The most baffling story however, even by wrestling standards, was when Freebird Buddy Roberts was caught attempting to urinate on Missy as she was getting ready to shower. Apparently "...Freebirds always pee on people they like. It's like a privilege... a ritual, a sign of respect." I'm not quite sure how to respond to that.

This was an enjoyable, easy read -- about a day and a half. Missy doesn't pretend to be anything she isn't which I appreciate in any autobiography. She openly admits that her in-ring persona was very close to the real life Melissa Hiatt. She admits to being a prima-donna who openly used her sexuality to get what and who she wanted. Arguably she was the hottest thing going before the days of Sunny, Sable and all the modern day Divas. The only glaring omissions that I thought should have
been covered was the ridiculous amount of work she has had done to her face in recent years, and her venture into internet
porn. It's a shame that such a beautiful woman has taken the path so many others have, and butchered herself in the quest to
stay young-- you'll know what I mean when you see the pictures. Aside from that I'd say definitely pick this one up.

I had high expectation for this book and I had been waiting for a long time. I expected her to have a little bit of everything but the Abby throwing her into the water(as a shoot) is not even in the book so she obviously left a lot of stuff out. She says it at the beginning no diary so exspect missing stuff but they were a lot of stuff I didn't know about like for exemple her short stay in the WWF. She has a great story to tell and a lot of dirt for us to find. You want to know who she slept with and other gossip on the wrestling world, it is in the book. It is the best book since the one by Larry Nelson for that type of stuff. I for one hope there is a second book coming about the wrestlingvixxens web site and the other stories left out of the book. For the mature fans who was a Missy Hyatt fan in the old days. Better than Rock, Angle and Chyna effort in the book world but just too dam short.

I had always heard of Missy Hyatt, but wasn't really familiar with the character so I bought the book. I had heard that it was full of information and all the goods in just about everyone in the wrestling business both past and present. There are some unexpected statements, but nothing is written in the book that isn't said on a typical girl's night out. The book is written in a very conversational tone, by a very forthright author. As it concludes the reader feels as if Melissa Hiatt told the story of a character and where that character tok the real person through the years. It also leaves the reader in in wander, wandering "what the hell was she thinking all that time?" Overall it is a good read for a lazy afternoon, but won't be something that will be taken along as a life lesson.

When it comes to Pro Wrestling literature, the true test of the books appeal comes from the number of times you remove it from your book shelf, dust it off, and begin rereading it again because the stories told from within both captivate and remind you of the Pro Wrestling History you grew up with. Mick Foley's first book "Have a Nice Day; a Tale of Blood and Sweat socks" is a perfect example of that type of book. In it there was the perfect mixture of a captivating story, insider information, and a chronicled history of his early career involvement in the old territorial system, which old time fans can relate too and find the inner workings of the business at that time interesting.
In contrast, there are works circulating out there involving Pro Wrestlers such as The Rock, Kurt Angle, and the performer formally know as Chyna, that leave the reader questioning his or her decision on the purchase. Being a hard core fan of Pro Wrestling, one will more than likely purchase any book in which an in ring performer tells their story, but in the case of the aforementioned WWF creations, with the exception of Foley, I found myself likening the purchase to that of spending money on an outfit I will only wear once before packing it away. The stories of The Rock, Angle, and Chyna (well, maybe not Chyna's) can be likened to that of a movie that is a good rental for a Friday night, but not one you would purchase for your collection. The reason being is that these 3 Sports Entertainers are still in the midst of living their stories. Instead of adding to their history, they chose to ride the wave of Pro Wrestlers telling their stories in book form rather than waiting for their lives to provide them with the proper material to make their Pro Wrestling Career an Eventful tale to be told and looked upon with historical impact.
With that being said, I would like to express my views on one of the newer books put out by an older performer in Pro Wrestling. "Missy Hyatt: The First Lady of Wrestling" was probably the most anticipated and hyped Pro Wrestling book to hit the markets since I can remember. Missy promised a juicy tell all book that would reveal "the dirt" on many Pro Wrestling performers from both past and present. From some, I have heard that the book did not live up to their expectations. Complaints ranged from the book being too short, the events were not chronologically correct, and that there were not any jaw dropping revelations in between the pages.
Now, I've been a die-hard Pro Wrestling fan for 20 years. That means my early exposure to the product occurred during the early 1980's. Not only was Missy Hyatt starting her career during this period but also in doing so she was revolutionizing the role of the Pro Wrestling Valet along with holding the title of "Pro Wrestling's Sexiest Women". Missy had the looks, the interview skills, and the charisma that is unmatched by any of the current crop of female eye candy you see on WWF TV there days.
Not only was Missy Hyatt a true pioneer for female Pro Wrestling performers, but she also had exposure to some of the greatest minds in the business. From her first Pro Wrestler Boyfriend, Jake Roberts, to her late ex husband, Eddie Gilbert, to the former owner of ECW and now WWF writer, Paul Heyman, Missy had the opportunity to witness first hand how the business operated.
Once Missy broke into the business, transforming from wrestling fan to wrestling diva, she paid her dues and made her rounds from territory to territory such as Georgia Championship Wrestling, Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling, Bill Watts UWF, Crocket Promotions NWA, The Memphis Circuit, Alabama Continental Wrestling, Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling, ECW, and even a brief unsuccessful run in the WWF. What makes this book such an exceptional read for fans of wrestling history is the fact that each territory and their history with Missy are covered within the book. This gives us the reader the opportunity to not only here a self centered story about Missy Hyatt herself but more so an opportunity to read stories that range from joy, sorrow, and sometimes outright bizarre concerning such legends as Eddie Gilbert, The Fabulous Freebirds, Jerry Lawler, Sting, Ric Flair, Vince McMahon, Bill Watts and so many others.
For those who complained that the details provided did not live up to the shock value hype, I think you are missing so much more that this book has to offer. Her accounts of her marriage and divorce to Eddie Gilbert was a book within itself and she truly represented the late superstar in a respectful light which could not help but come across as both sad and tragic. The quote that stuck out in my mind was Missy speaking about the untimely death. She writes " Two human beings fell in love, got married, fell out of love, got divorced...and then one of them died. There's no gimmick about that, There's no angle to work. "Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert" didn't die, My ex-husband did....And it hurts"
Missy Hyatt comes across in the book as both honest and critical, concerning fellow workers and herself. She gives praise to those she feels deserve it and bashes those she felt warrant the attacks. Right or wrong, this book is written from her viewpoint and should be taken as such. Nonetheless, I find the book similar to what I described in the beginning of the review. Just as Mick Foley's "Have a Nice Day" Missy Hyatt's story is one that I find myself reading and rereading over and over because I pick up a different aspect or emotion she is trying to relay to that of the reader every time...

Infamous wrestling personality Missy Hyatt, who is known as being one of the first "poster girl" managers in professional wrestling, has decided to write a tell-it-all book on her days in the business. Hyatt goes in depth about all the stuff that happened behind the scenes (and "under the sheets") during her brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation, her years with Eddie Gilbert in Memphis, and her star-making years in World Championship Wrestling. Missy talks about her relationships with Gilbert, Jake Roberts, Road Warrior Hawk, and Jason Hervy of "The Wonder Years" to name a few. She speaks on the well-known drug problems in the wrestling business and names some names. With wrestling autobiographies being all the rage since Mick Foley's best-selling "Have A Nice Day", you may be wondering how Hyatt's tale measures up with the others. I'd have to say that Foley's are miles ahead of the others because he is just such an entertaining writer but Missy's book is definetly a far more intruiging read than those offered by The Rock, Jerry Lawler, and Roddy Piper.

Missy Hyatt was a wrestling diva before there were wrestling divas. Yet still, many think she is the best of all-time and I would have a hard time arguing with that opinion.
In her career, Missy has seen and done it all. She was worked with all of the greats such as Flair, McMahon, PS Hayes, and Eddie Gilbert. Missy tells many wrestling stories and many non-wrestling stories. While she does dish dirt, she never brings it to a sleazy level. I love the blurbs about Roberts, Duggan, Von Erich and on and on.
She could feel bitter about being the one to set the table for today's divas, while never totally prospering like they are, but Missy just seems to have a positive outlook. Missy gives some opinions on today's divas without resorting to being catty.
Missy had packed a lot into her life up to the publication of this book. She does a pretty good job in letting the reader relive the moments with her. She has also packed quite a lot into her life after this book and I am hoping for the sequel!

I have followed Missy Hyatt's career off and on since
her days with World Class Championship Wrestling. This
book is very explicit in content. She tells about her
impressions of the various promotions she worked for,
various promoters, and wrestlers. She doesn't hold anything
back, like her feud with Lori Fullington, inside and
outside the ring. Fullington is the wife of the wrestler
better known as The Sandman, especially to ECW and WCW
fans. This book also talks about her sexual encounters with
Jason Hervey, Sting (the ex pro-wrestler, not the rock
star), Jim Kelly, Rod Brind'amour, Bill Fralic, Tom
Zenk, Eric Watts and others. She also talks about her relationship with her ex-husband Eddie Gilbert, and how
much it hurt when she received a phonecall from Paul E.
(Paul Heyman) about the tragic circumstances surrounding
the death of Hot Stuff. She also talks about Ted Turner
and Vince Mc Mahon.
It details how she had a WWF contract and taped segments
of Missy's Manor, but how she left the organization shortly
afterwards to be with Gilbert. This book is pretty graphic
in content, but I don't know if I would give it five stars,
only because while the information revealed is shocking,
I feel it could have been written better. This isn't a
book for a young child, but some of the accounts she tells
would make good copy, or sell well on a daytime TV talkshow
like Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake, Jenny Jones or something
along those lines, or perhaps even Howard Stern, or even
daytime TV soap operas themselves. I'm glad she's trying
to get her life back on track. Also the rumors of former
valet Dark Journey and her sexual relationship with Dick
Slater are briefly discussed, as are the women of ECW she
had contact with (Francine, Lori Fullington, Beulah,
Kimona, and others).

I'm a huge mark for the WWF but aside from her brief (and embarassing stint) with that company, I knew nothing of Missy Hyatt. But after hearing some of her interviews on The Law I decided to give this book a shot. I'm glad I did!

The book is short, to the point, and just plain fun! Missy cuts straight to the chase and simply tells us about her years involved with professional wrestling. We get stories about her intro, years in various organizations, times in the big companies, and times in between the sheets with some famous wrestlers. I must confess the dirt is fun to hear but - OUCH! Hurts to be Val Venis and Bills QB Jim Kelly I think.

The pictures in the book are a nice touch and Missy does manage to convey some fine story-telling about people like her wrestling ex-husband Eddie Gilbert (who I had never heard of but came to care about). I think the only drawback to her story is that there isn't really a growth factor. Missy is all about having fun in professional wrestling. When you read the book you'll be having fun too but it won't stay with you beyond that.

Still, with the recent run of wrestling books Missy Hyatt's biography stands at #2 right behind Mick Foley's outstanding Mankind: Have a Nice Day! Both of these books should be read by all fans of wrestling.