Scott Teal

Scott Teal is a wrestling historian, author and publisher known for documenting the history of professional wrestling through books, magazines and newsletters. His work primarily focuses on preserving first-hand accounts from wrestlers, promoters and other industry figures from the territory era of professional wrestling. Through his publishing company Crowbar Press, Teal has released numerous wrestling biographies and historical works, including books about Lou Thesz, Ole Anderson, and Bill Watts. He conducted extensive interviews with wrestling personalities to capture their stories and experiences before they were lost to time. Teal served as editor and publisher of Whatever Happened To...?, a newsletter dedicated to tracking down and interviewing retired wrestlers. His research and documentation efforts have helped preserve important oral histories from professional wrestling's past that may have otherwise gone unrecorded. As both an author and publisher, Teal maintains high standards for historical accuracy and fact-checking in an industry often clouded by exaggeration and conflicting accounts. His body of work represents one of the most comprehensive collections of documented wrestling history from the territory days.

Readers consistently praise Scott Teal's attention to detail and thorough research in documenting wrestling history. His books are valued for preserving first-hand accounts from the territory era through direct interviews with wrestlers and promoters. What readers liked: - Meticulous fact-checking and verification of historical claims - Raw, unfiltered stories told by the subjects themselves - Focus on lesser-known but important wrestling figures - High production quality of Crowbar Press books - Extensive photos and documentation What readers disliked: - Higher price points compared to mass market wrestling books - Limited availability of some titles - Some readers found the interview-style format repetitive - Technical printing issues in a few early releases Ratings: - Amazon: Average 4.7/5 across titles (mostly 4-5 star reviews) - Goodreads: 4.3/5 average - Wrestling Observer/F4W reviews consistently positive "No one does a better job documenting wrestling history accurately" appears frequently in reader feedback. Several reviewers noted Teal's work serves as primary source material for other wrestling historians.

The Wrestling Archive Project, Volume 1 - Collection of interviews with 1960-70s wrestlers including Ole Anderson, Jerry Jarrett, and Les Thatcher.

Whatever Happened To...? - Biographical accounts and career histories of various professional wrestlers who faded from the spotlight.

Jim Cornette's Behind the Curtain - Compilation of photos and stories from Jim Cornette's personal wrestling memorabilia collection.

The Wrestling Archive Project, Volume 2 - Second volume of wrestler interviews featuring Nick Bockwinkel, Bill Watts, and others from the territory era.

Tennessee Wrestling History - Chronological documentation of professional wrestling in Tennessee from the early 1900s through the 1970s.

Bruiser: The World's Most Dangerous Wrestler - Biography of Dick the Bruiser, detailing his career and impact on Midwest wrestling.

Grand Dragon: The Life of Leonard Kaplan - Biography of wrestling promoter and businessman Leonard Kaplan who operated in Tennessee.

George Gulas: The Last Territory Promoter - Career history of wrestling promoter George Gulas and the end of the territory system.

Greg Oliver covers professional wrestling history through oral histories and biographical accounts, focusing heavily on archival research and first-hand interviews. His writing style and depth of wrestling coverage parallels Teal's approach to documenting wrestling's territorial era.

Tim Hornbaker writes detailed accounts of wrestling promotions and chronicles the business side of professional wrestling from the early 1900s through modern times. His research methodology and focus on wrestling's behind-the-scenes operations align with Teal's documentation style.

Bertrand Hébert presents wrestling history through territorial perspectives with emphasis on Canadian wrestling scenes and biographical storytelling. His work combines historical record-keeping with performer narratives similar to Teal's documentation methods.

Dennis Brent chronicles Memphis wrestling history through photography and first-hand accounts from his time as a ringside photographer. His preservation of wrestling's visual history and insider perspective mirror Teal's efforts to document wrestling's regional territories.

Mark James focuses on territorial wrestling history with detailed records of match results and events from various southern promotions. His compilation of historical wrestling data and emphasis on preserving territory-era information reflects Teal's archival approach.