Pat Laprade

Pat Laprade is a Canadian author, journalist and wrestling historian known for documenting the history of professional wrestling, with a particular focus on women's wrestling and the Montreal wrestling scene. Laprade co-authored "Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling" (2013) and "Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling" (2017). His work "Sisterhood of the Squared Circle" is considered one of the most comprehensive accounts of women's professional wrestling history. As a journalist and radio host based in Montreal, Laprade has covered wrestling for various media outlets including the Montreal Journal, Slam Wrestling and the Wrestling Observer. He has also worked as a French language commentator for WWE programming. Beyond his writing and broadcasting work, Laprade has served as a wrestling ring announcer and consultant, leveraging his extensive knowledge of wrestling history and the Montreal territory. He continues to document and preserve wrestling history through his ongoing research and publications.

Readers commend Pat Laprade's thorough research and detail in his professional wrestling books, particularly noting his access to primary sources and interviews. Multiple reviewers on Amazon highlight the comprehensive coverage in "Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs" and "Sisterhood of the Squared Circle." On Goodreads, readers appreciate his straightforward writing style but note his books can be dense with facts and statistics. Some readers mention preferring his biographical works to his historical overviews. Common criticisms include: - Text can feel like a collection of facts rather than a narrative - French-to-English translations can be awkward in places - Some sections lack depth on more obscure wrestling figures Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 average (392 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 average (187 ratings) Multiple readers on wrestling forums cite Laprade as a reliable source for Canadian wrestling history and women's wrestling documentation.

Mad Dogs, Midgets and Screw Jobs: The Untold Story of How Montreal Shaped the World of Wrestling A detailed historical account of Montreal's professional wrestling scene, examining its influence on the global wrestling industry from the early 1900s through modern times.

Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling A comprehensive chronological examination of women's professional wrestling, tracking its evolution from carnival attractions to mainstream entertainment while profiling key figures in the sport.

Greg Oliver chronicles wrestling history through extensive biographical works and territory documentation in books like "The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame" series. He founded SLAM! Wrestling and has conducted thousands of wrestler interviews over multiple decades.

David Shoemaker examines professional wrestling's cultural impact and historical development through works like "The Squared Circle: Life, Death and Professional Wrestling." He combines deep research with analysis of wrestling's intersection with broader popular culture.

Keith Elliot Greenberg documents wrestling history with a focus on specific moments and events that shaped the industry in books like "Too Sweet: Inside the Indie Wrestling Revolution." His background as a television producer and journalist brings insight into wrestling's broadcast evolution.

Brian Solomon explores wrestling's territorial era and profiles significant figures through books like "WWE Legends" and "Pro Wrestling FAQ." He draws from experience as a WWE employee and wrestling magazine editor to provide historical context.

Scott Teal preserves wrestling history through first-person accounts and reproductions of historical documents in his Crowbar Press publications. He conducted hundreds of interviews with territory-era wrestlers to document regional wrestling development.