It charts the rise and fall in popularity of British professional wrestling over the course of the twentieth century.

The book consists almost entirely of interviews with professional wrestlers or those who knew them, including Mick McManus, Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Kendo Nagasaki and the female wrestler Klondyke Kate, often giving the appearance of a conversation between the interviewees and the author.

Garfield also interviewed those involved in the promotion of professional wrestling, with a particular focus on the decision of LWT chief Greg Dyke to drop the sport from its schedules in 1988.

[1] The Independent described the book as "an affectionate account packed with drama, humour, tragedy and intrigue.

"[2] The Guardian praised it as "Funny, tragic and full to the brim with outrageous arse-whupping, The Wrestling does its subject proud.".