Missy Hyatt: First Lady of Wrestling

• Publisher:   Ecw Press
• Number Of Pages:   176
• Publication Date:   2001-10-01
• ISBN-10 / ASIN:   1550224980
• ISBN-13 / EAN:   9781550224986

Reading this book was what I imagine sitting down to talk to Missy Hyatt over coffee about her career in wrestling would be like. From her beginnings as the girlfriend of Jake "The Snake" Roberts to the present day, this book clearly shows why she is the "First Lady of Wrestling" in a way that feels like you are chatting with your best friend. The writers do not throw in too much technical lingo of the profession and they keep the information flowing in a chronological manner that has an organic flow so it should appeal to even non-wrestling fans who would like to read about a remarkable woman's career. I'm a fan of the old USWA shows out of Memphis, and reading about her and Gilbert's time there brought back a flood of memories of my childhood. If you are a wrestling fan, you must read this book.

What I thought would be a tawdry tell-all, turned out to actually be a sweet look back at the career of probably the greatest valet/female manager in the history of professional wrestling. Like many other who have read it, my favorite recollections were of her love story with Eddie Gilbert. With the volatile nature of professional wrestling, I really believe that if Missy and Eddie had met under different circumstances and in a different profession...Eddie would still be alive and they would still be married, with children and enjoying a life together. And somehow, I think Missy would agree. A good book as far as wrestling publications go, but reading it disarmed me. I thought I was going to get a lot of dirt, and what I got was totally different...and refreshingly welcome.

It was nice to read about the expereinces of Missy Hyatt in the world of Professional Wrestling. Up until the WWE became the monopoly in Pro wrestling, wrestling has always been my number one passion, and my favorite days were in the late 80s to mid 90's, although I grew up on wrestling in the early 70's with Ray Stevens, Pat Patterson, and Big Time Wrestling in the Bay Area.
Anyhow, reading Missy's personal and professional life in the lime light was fun, and also to read about the tragedies of losing her ex-husband and the relationship problems that she endured helped to see her as a real person who was learning from the depths of life which leads one to grow, develop, and mature.
Finally, the book is a nice blend of the excitement associated with life in the fast lane and coming to terms with the life fans don't see when the camera is off. Brian Jensen, Ph.D.

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!

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.

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