20 Best Wrestling Books Ever

14. Cross Rhodes: Goldust, Out Of The Darkness - Dustin Rhodes

Damien Sandow With Book
World Wrestling Entertainment

As one of the most polarising characters in wrestling history, Goldust is somewhat surprisingly still on WWE television today. That particular guise first appeared in 1995, but Dustin Runnels had quite the journey before going under the gold face paint and making heads turn wherever he went.

The son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, Runnels is very candid about struggling to exist in the shadow of his famous father throughout Cross Rhodes. The book is a journey, one depicting Dustin as a likeable person who hasn't always been able to cope with the pressure. That's something stemming from his youth, one spent idolising a TV character more than having a solid father figure.

Personal demons and controversy make for a lethal concoction of stories and self-reflection. Out Of The Darkness is a WWE book, but it's clear that Runnels wanted full control over the content.

Emotion is the most prevalent aspect, swaying brilliantly between stories about personal redemption and tragedy (the death of Brian Pillman, for example).

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.