JUST TYRUS

A professional wrestling champion and cable news personality shares his road to notoriety.

Born George Murdoch in 1973, biracial performer and political commentator Tyrus grew up in an abusive, dysfunctional home where it was “chaos all the time.” In the schoolyard, Tyrus became confused and defensive when other kids “would make fun of the color of my skin,” which made him “good with my fists.” After his parents separated, he relocated with his mother to California, where football dominated his high school and junior college years. His obsession with wrestling led him toward multiple attempts at reinvention, including becoming a club bouncer, a member of Snoop Dogg’s bodyguard team, and eventually, contracts with World Wrestling Entertainment. The author relates all of his adventures through a series of vividly memorable anecdotes. One of the most memorable stories is about Snoop’s loopy yet rewarding world tour and a particularly packed night at the club where he ejected two unruly “midgets,” one in each hand by their belt buckles, using a move he dubs “the suitcase.” Seizing opportunities as they sprouted, Tyrus capitalized on his physically imposing presence; in 2006, he made his WWE debut as a street-thug superstar named “G-rilla.” He gained immense popularity in the ring and sustained a reputation as a No. 1 contender for years. After a somewhat turbulent relationship with both global and then independent wrestling corporations, he paused for movie roles and social commentary opportunities only to return to wrestle for the National Wrestling Alliance in 2021. Throughout, the author displays his thoughtful outlook on race, from his childhood through his initial attempts at joining the WWE, when comments about his skin color dug deep. The memoir is supercharged with the kind of verve and vitality fans of the wrestling champion will savor, but Tyrus never skimps on the personal details and outspoken opinions that have made his stint on Fox News endure.

A revealing glimpse of a multifaceted entertainer who defies easy labeling.