REVIEW: Al Snow's biography...Self Help
Posted: May 9th 2019 By: Alan Wojcik
For many people who watch professional wrestling, AL SNOW first came into their world on ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) or WWF (now called WWE) TV carrying a mannequin HEAD which had written on it HELP ME in backward letters in the Attitude Era of the late 1990's.
However, his career actually began several years before that, beginning in the mid-1980's as a performer and training camp owner/teacher. So why did it take him so long to get to an international stage? How did Head come to be his sidekick? Was he really the masked performer Shinobi and
Avatar??
All that and more in his new memoir SELF HELP: LIFE LESSONS FROM THE BIZARRE WRESTLING CAREER OF AL SNOW (ECW PRESS, $19.95 US, 304pp.)
With help from co-author Ross Owen Williams (he helped Bob Holly with his book) and a foreword from WWE HOF'er "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, the story of how Allen Savern became Al Snow is weaved in an entertaining and educational way. Throughout the book Al stops and offers a "Life Lesson" that will definitely stick with you. Al is a throwback because he grew up and began working in the old wrestling world, where the US was carved up into territories with set boundaries. We get some good stories on his upbringing and the decision to become a wrestler, how he was paired with legendary Fabulous Kangaroo performer Al Costello (read up on your history kids), how he was a bar room fighter and trainer for UFC/MMA legend Dan Severn plus his arrival in the WWF of the 1990's.
The book covers all of Al's ECW/WWF experience including teaming with Steve Blackman, trips with Mick Foley, the creation of the Tough Enough MTV contest series and its talent succes stories like Kenny King and John Morrison, how he helped create superstars in the Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental program, how he exited WWE and joined TNA (now called Impact Wrestling) as on-air and behind the scene talent and what he currently does today. Along the way he holds nothing back on performers he had issues with like Austin Aries, James Storm, Dixie Carter, Andy Barton (he was part of TNA management) among others. Buy this book and enjoy the tales of Al Snow.
The book is on sale as of May 7th in stores and online retailers like Amazon. Thanks must go to Susannah Ames of ECW Press. For more information on Al, check out his twitter feed @TheRealAlSnow. Follow Alan Wojcik through @MyNameIsWojcik and www.facebook.com/KayfabeWrestlingRadio
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
- 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
- 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
- 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
- 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02
- 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
- 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
- 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
- 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
- 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
- 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
- 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
- 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
- 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
- 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
- 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
- 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
- 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
- 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
- 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
- 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
- 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
- 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
- 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
- 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
- 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
- 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
- Joe McCarthy Apr 30th Today!
- Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th Today!
- Billie the Kiid Apr 30th Today!
- Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th Today!
- Prince Maivia May 1st
- Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
- Barrett Brown May 2nd
- Americos May 2nd
- Big Bossman May 2nd
- Don Fields May 2nd
- Kari Wright May 2nd
- Lester Welch May 3rd
- Johnny Humble May 3rd
- Lily McKenzie May 3rd
- Jay Hazzard May 4th
- Malik Mayfield May 4th
- El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
- Dory Funk May 4th
- Bull Schmitt May 4th
- Maria Brigitte May 5th
- Bill Watts May 5th
- Zane Morris May 5th
- El Gallardo May 5th
- Olivier Vegos May 5th
- Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
- Princess Victoria May 5th
- Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
- El Matador Dos May 5th
- Claire Watson May 6th
- Hercules May 7th
- Richie Adams May 8th
- Jake Danielsson May 9th
- Tito Santana May 10th
- Rook Tyler May 10th
- Sunny War Cloud May 10th
- Billy Brown May 10th
- Jerry Brown May 10th
- Psycho May 11th
- Big J May 11th
- Charming Charles May 11th
- Brock Baker May 12th
- Sol Yang May 12th
- Bill Howard May 12th
- Sensei Jamo May 12th
- Dave Ryda May 13th
- Little Boy Blue May 13th
- Lars Manderson May 13th
- Karl Krupp May 13th
- Prince Mahalli May 13th
- Stan Kowalski May 13th
- Maggie Rae May 13th
- Danny Hodge May 13th
- Payton Scott May 13th
- Pete Maguire May 13th
Current Champions
Wrestling For a Cause
Heavyweight Champion
Wrangler Rhett
- Tag Team Champions: Iron Mountain
- Hometown Heroes Champion: Titan Yin
- Prime Champion: Dan Webber
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