A memoir from wrestling legend and ground-breaking Black athlete, Rocky Johnson.

At 14, Rocky Johnson left Nova Scotia to seek fortune and make professional wrestling his career. An incredibly agile and talented wrestler for a man his size, he soon became a featured main-eventer in every territory he worked — from Los Angeles to New York, and all points in between. He also appeared in wrestling arenas worldwide, including in Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Samoa, and Puerto Rico.

In Soulman, Johnson not only explores his career accomplishments, but also reflects upon what his achievements, as a direct descendant of slaves, mean historically and for Black culture. In the South, he shattered racial barriers when he became the first African-American to win the Southern, Georgia, and Florida heavyweight titles, and in 1983, he teamed with Tony Atlas to become the first all-Black WWWF tag team champions.

Soulman: The Rocky Johnson Story is an in-depth look at the life of a self-made man who wouldn’t let anything stand in his way on the road to success.

Rocky Johnson's profile page

Scott Teal's profile page

For more than 20 years, Rocky Johnson was a top-tier professional wrestler, sought after by promoters from all over the world. He is a WWE Hall-of-Famer. Scott Teal may be the world’s most prolific historian of pro wrestling. Under his own imprint, Crowbar Press, he has written, edited, and published more than 140 works, and his books stand out as some of the most important and celebrated in the field.

“Soulman made me a bigger fan of Rocky Johnson than before I read the book. That's a sign of a great wrestling biography. Four out of five stars.” — Dangerous Dan’s Book Blog

“The parts that talk about Dwayne Johnson are quite funny at times and give more insight into one of Hollywood's biggest stars. The book would be most appreciated by fans who have a serious interest in the history of pro wrestling and would like to understand the scene in the 1970's from a sociological perspective.” — Career Advice & Pro Wrestling Business Blog

“Another engaging title, this is a story only one man could tell . . . it's a worthwhile read with neither unnecessary detail nor padding that will appeal to anyone with an interest in the territorial era.” — Pro Wrestling Books

“If you’re a fan of professional wrestling, you need to read this book. If you're a fan of memoirs generally, you need to read this book. If you’re just a fan of good, you need to read this book . . . Truly a remarkable tale, and absolutely very much recommended — even if you know nothing at all of professional wrestling and only know Rocky as Dwayne’s dad.” — BookAnon

“Any wrestling fan who is familiar with Rocky’s work or who wants to learn more about the business at that time should pick up this book.” — The Guy Who Reviews Sports Books blog