Fans who love to wax nostalgic about spending their Saturday nights or Sunday mornings cheering on wrestling stars like Dick the Bruiser, Ric Flair, and the Funk Family may have already read a book called Wrestling at the Chase, a series of ringside stories from announcer Larry Matysik. Matysik, who died in 2018, had hoped to publish a coffee table book about the show’s history and stars. He didn’t get to see that vision come to life, but sports historian Ed Wheatley’s Wrestling at the Chase, new from Reedy Press, makes that long-held dream a reality.
This bright, informative hardcover volume feels like a treasured scrapbook dedicated to the place Wrestling at the Chase held in the hearts of fans during its heyday. In its time, it was one of the most popular shows in St. Louis, ranking behind only Cardinals baseball and the local news in viewership. “Ladies Love Wrestling! Even grandmas go for the grunters,” reads a news clipping on one page. On another, a larger-than-life-size can of Stag sits alongside promoter Sam Muchnick’s plans to keep wrestling profitable.
“Mat Moments” throughout the book feature fun facts and quick anecdotes from the show’s history, and other strolls down memory lane include famous moves, ephemera, and a whole section called “They Wrestled Here,” dedicated to the champs, fan favorites, and colorful characters who delighted fans both ringside and on KPLR. For the folks still missing those weekend matches, Wrestling at the Chase is sure to find a special place on the coffee table.
