About the book
A road trip adventure that looks at professional wrestling—starring the Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, Tito Santana, and many more larger than life characters of the WWF in the 1980s, from the bestselling author of The Wax Pack.
\"Revelatory, emotionally on point, and addictively readable.\" —Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Fuzz
In 2005, Brad Balukjian left his position as a magazine fact-checker to pursue a dream job: partner with his childhood hero, The Iron Sheik (whose real name was Khosrow Vaziri), to write his biography. Things quickly went south, culminating in the Sheik threatening Balukjian’s life. Now seventeen years later, Balukjian returns to the road in search of not only a reunion with the Sheik, but something much bigger: truth in a world built on illusion.
Balukjian seeks out six of the Sheik’s contemporaries, fellow witnesses to the World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF) explosion in the mid-‘80s, to unearth their true identities. As Balukjian drives 12,525 miles around the country, we revisit the heady days when these avatars of strength, villainy, and heroism first found fame and see where their journeys took them. From working out with Tony Atlas (Tony White) to visiting Hulk Hogan’s (Terry Bollea) karaoke bar, we see where these men are now and how they have navigated the cliffs of fame.
The Six Pack combines the spirit of a fan with the rigor of an investigative reporter, tracking down former WWF employees, childhood friends, and mutually curious archivists. Wrestling is perceived as a subculture without a cultural home, somewhere between sport and theater—often dismissed as silly and low brow. But what makes this book so compelling is the humanity beneath each wrestler. The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, and the rest of the cast were not characters in a comic book movie. They were real people, with families and feelings and bodies that could break. Most of them did, in fact, break; some have been repaired, but none of them will ever be the same.
\"A gem of a book filled with wit, warmth, and wisdom.” ―Jonathan Eig, author of King: A Life, Ali: A Life, and Luckiest Man
Editions of The Six Pack
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780306831553
- EBook
- ISBN 9780306831577
Read an Excerpt
A road trip adventure that looks at professional wrestling—starring the Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, Tito Santana, and many more larger than life characters of the WWF in the 1980s, from the bestselling author of The Wax Pack.
\"Revelatory, emotionally on point, and addictively readable.\" —Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Fuzz
In 2005, Brad Balukjian left his position as a magazine fact-checker to pursue a dream job: partner with his childhood hero, The Iron Sheik (whose real name was Khosrow Vaziri), to write his biography. Things quickly went south, culminating in the Sheik threatening Balukjian’s life. Now seventeen years later, Balukjian returns to the road in search of not only a reunion with the Sheik, but something much bigger: truth in a world built on illusion.
Balukjian seeks out six of the Sheik’s contemporaries, fellow witnesses to the World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF) explosion in the mid-‘80s, to unearth their true identities. As Balukjian drives 12,525 miles around the country, we revisit the heady days when these avatars of strength, villainy, and heroism first found fame and see where their journeys took them. From working out with Tony Atlas (Tony White) to visiting Hulk Hogan’s (Terry Bollea) karaoke bar, we see where these men are now and how they have navigated the cliffs of fame.
The Six Pack combines the spirit of a fan with the rigor of an investigative reporter, tracking down former WWF employees, childhood friends, and mutually curious archivists. Wrestling is perceived as a subculture without a cultural home, somewhere between sport and theater—often dismissed as silly and low brow. But what makes this book so compelling is the humanity beneath each wrestler. The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, and the rest of the cast were not characters in a comic book movie. They were real people, with families and feelings and bodies that could break. Most of them did, in fact, break; some have been repaired, but none of them will ever be the same.
\"A gem of a book filled with wit, warmth, and wisdom.” ―Jonathan Eig, author of King: A Life, Ali: A Life, and Luckiest Man
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Six Pack about?
A road trip adventure that looks at professional wrestling—starring the Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, Tito Santana, and many more larger than life characters of the WWF in the 1980s, from the bestselling author of The Wax Pack.
\"Revelatory, emotionally on point, and addictively readable.\" —Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Fuzz
In 2005, Brad Balukjian left his position as a magazine fact-checker to pursue a dream job: partner with his childhood hero, The Iron Sheik (whose real name was Khosrow Vaziri), to write his biography. Things quickly went south, culminating in the Sheik threatening Balukjian’s life. Now seventeen years later, Balukjian returns to the road in search of not only a reunion with the Sheik, but something much bigger: truth in a world built on illusion.
Balukjian seeks out six of the Sheik’s contemporaries, fellow witnesses to the World Wrestling Federation’s (WWF) explosion in the mid-‘80s, to unearth their true identities. As Balukjian drives 12,525 miles around the country, we revisit the heady days when these avatars of strength, villainy, and heroism first found fame and see where their journeys took them. From working out with Tony Atlas (Tony White) to visiting Hulk Hogan’s (Terry Bollea) karaoke bar, we see where these men are now and how they have navigated the cliffs of fame.
The Six Pack combines the spirit of a fan with the rigor of an investigative reporter, tracking down former WWF employees, childhood friends, and mutually curious archivists. Wrestling is perceived as a subculture without a cultural home, somewhere between sport and theater—often dismissed as silly and low brow. But what makes this book so compelling is the humanity beneath each wrestler. The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, and the rest of the cast were not characters in a comic book movie. They were real people, with families and feelings and bodies that could break. Most of them did, in fact, break; some have been repaired, but none of them will ever be the same.
\"A gem of a book filled with wit, warmth, and wisdom.” ―Jonathan Eig, author of King: A Life, Ali: A Life, and Luckiest Man
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Six Pack?
Sports and Active outdoor recreation > Combat sports and self-defence > Wrestling
Where can I read a sample of The Six Pack?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780306831553
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Six Pack?
Brad Balukjian
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Six Pack is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780306831553) and ebook(ISBN 9780306831577)
Where can I buy The Six Pack online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Six Pack from below
Where can I buy The Six Pack?