The World According to Wrestling is back...in book form and it's out on 18 June!

Here is a sample chapter of Lords of the Ring: The World According to Wrestling, available to order now in hardback and ebook and available as an audiobook on Audible and Spotify.

"Brilliant and electrifying...I loved every trash-talking, spandex-wearing and body-slamming page of it. Do try this at home." - Dan Schreiber, Host of No Such Thing As Fish

Wrestling is at a new peak of popularity but for years it has operated as an unregulated soap opera

with controversial storylines and surprising presentations. It is a world where fact and fiction are regularly blurred, where stereotypes dominate and ruthlessness reigns supreme. But what does this eccentric phenomenon tell us about our society and culture? And why does it matter?

In Lords of the Ring, Dan Higgins makes it his mission to find out. Examining the myriad ways that our social, cultural and political landscape intersects with the sport, he explores how wrestling relates to and has shaped our ideas about gender, race, national identity and sexuality. Higgins also turns to the sport's relationship with politics – including how Donald Trump cultivated a character on the scene – shining a light on the key characters inside and outside the ropes, as well as their unlikely, unusual, and sometimes

dark stories.

The guests in this episode are former WWE writer Court Bauer, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Brad Maddox and Ryan Satin.

In the wrestling writer's room, you're often damned if you do and damned if you don't. So who are these people? How are the shows written? And what is the life of a wrestling writer like? In the final episode of series 2, we explore the creative process.

The World According To Wrestling is hosted by Dan Higgins and produced by Danny Smith, Rob Brandon, Dan Higgins and Ben Higgs. The show was edited by Danny Smith and mixed by Will Berger. The visual identity is by The design practice of James Lunn and the illustrations are from the pen of Paul Cooper. Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

The guests in this episode are Rikishi, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Neville, Dave Meltzer and Court Bauer.

Throughout it's history, wrestling has churned out all sorts of overt national stereotypes. Everything from the heroic all Americans and evil Russians to British kings, Irish leprechauns and Samoan wildmen. How do the wrestlers playing these characters feel? And has the industry moved on? Let's find out.

The World According To Wrestling is hosted by Dan Higgins and produced by Danny Smith, Rob Brandon, Dan Higgins and Ben Higgs. The show was edited by Danny Smith and mixed by Will Berger. The visual identity is by The design practice of James Lunn and the illustrations are from the pen of Paul Cooper. Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

The guests in this episode are Dave Meltzer, Ryan Satin and Abbey Arthur.

As a journalist, how do you cover wrestling? As a sport, a TV show or both? Is it reported for real? What is this world and who occupies it? Let's find out.

The World According To Wrestling is hosted by Dan Higgins and produced by Danny Smith, Rob Brandon, Dan Higgins and Ben Higgs. The show was edited by Danny Smith and mixed by Will Berger. The visual identity is by The design practice of James Lunn and the illustrations are from the pen of Paul Cooper. Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

The guests in this episode are Court Bauer, Sam Adonis, Dave Meltzer and Heather Bandenburg.

Did the President of the United States use wrestling as a dress rehearsal for his political career? How was the character of "Donald Trump" written and what legacy did he leave behind in wrestling? Let's dive deep into the politics.

The World According To Wrestling is hosted by Dan Higgins and produced by Danny Smith, Rob Brandon, Dan Higgins and Ben Higgs. The show was edited by Danny Smith and mixed by Will Berger. The visual identity is by The design practice of James Lunn and the illustrations are from the pen of Paul Cooper. Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

The guests in this episode are Paul "Triple H" Levesque, Finn Balor, Neville, William Regal, Dave Meltzer, Klondyke Kate, Andy Quildan, Robbie Brookside, Court Bauer, Ryan Satin and Fred Dinenage.

The World Of Sport, the fresh new brands that make up the UK scene and what WWE did next.

The World According To Wrestling is hosted by Dan Higgins and produced by Danny Smith, Rob Brandon, Dan Higgins and Ben Higgs. The visual identity is by The design practice of James Lunn and the illustrations are from the pen of Paul Cooper. Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

The guests in this episode are Bob Zmuda, Klondyke Kate, Abbey Laith, Kris Levin, Andy Quildan and Dave Meltzer.

Intergender wrestling. Men wrestling women. Does it still happen? Is it empowering? Does it encourage domestic violence? And what does Andy Kaufman have to do with it all? Let's explore.

The World According To Wrestling is hosted by Dan Higgins and produced by Danny Smith, Rob Brandon, Dan Higgins and Ben Higgs. The visual identity is by The design practice of James Lunn and the illustrations are from the pen of Paul Cooper. Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

Thanks also to:

Andy Spratley, Hannah Bambridge, Gemma Thérèse Pearce and Alasdair Davies.

In one of his most open and candid interviews in recent years, Kurt Angle speaks to The World According To Wrestling about a potential return to WWE, the drug problems in the past, how WWE deals with injuries now, what he thinks of Gable and Jordan, Shane McMahon, the different phases of his career and lots more.

Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

Thanks to

Kurt Angle, Danny Smith, Rob Brandon, Vicky Thomas, Paul Cooper, Alasdair Davies, Andy Spratley and Amer Chadha-Patel.

Former WWE superstar John Morrison - known as Johnny Mundo in Lucha Underground - talks about the crossover between film and wrestling, live screen-testing of his character name in WWE, where he thinks the real revolution in women’s wrestling is happening, who he'd like to wrestle, and the future of Lucha Underground.

Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

Thanks to

John Morrison, Rob Brandon, Danny Smith, Ben Higgs, Vicky Thomas, Paul Cooper, Alasdair Davies, Andy Spratley and Amer Chadha-Patel.

Bill DeMott, former Head Trainer at NXT and WWE's Performance Center - and WWE, WCW and ECW superstar - talks about the training process, character development, women's wrestling, breakout stars and lots more.

Original music in this episode by WeAmSam.

Thanks to

Bill DeMott, Rob Brandon, Danny Smith, Ben Higgs, Vicky Thomas, Paul Cooper, Alasdair Davies, Andy Spratley and Amer Chadha-Patel.