Table of Contents

Foreword by “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Introduction

1. The Die Is Cast

2. Where It All Began

3. The NCAAs

4. Breaking In

5. From the Sheraton to the Trunk (Tri-States, 1973)

6. Getting Funked Up (Amarillo, 1974)

7. When Two Weeks Last Forever (Florida, 1974)

8. The First Battle of Atlanta (Georgia, 1975)

9. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (AWA, 1975)

10. A Star Is Rising: Florida and Georgia (1976)

11. The Audition (St. Louis, 1976)

12. The Six Words That Changed My Life (WWWF, 1977)

13. Carrie Me Away

14. The Build-Up

15. My Night at the Garden (February 20, 1978)

16. Getting Over (1978)

17. Taking Flight (1979)

18. A Favor for Antonio (Japan, 1979)

19. An Olympian, a Drill Sergeant, and a Young Hulkster (1980)

20. Monsters and Broadways (1981)

21. The Peak (1982)

22. It Takes Two to Tango (1983)

23. The Night the Lights Went Out on Broadway (December 26, 1983)

24. The Choice (1984)

25. Killing Mr. Kirkley (1985–1992)

26. Being Bad by Being Good: The Birth of “Mr. Backlund” (1993–94)

27. Looking Forward, Not Behind

Acknowledgments