Reddit reviews Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America

You should buy this book:

Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America https://www.amazon.com/dp/027598401X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bJ5kxbHKX6P8F

It wasn't overnight, but for a shorter read here's a good look at perhaps the most important change agents in wrestling:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Dust_Trio?wprov=sfsi1

All of these are ones that I own and would recommend:

https://www.amazon.com/Shooters-Toughest-Men-Professional-Wrestling/dp/1770410406/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&qid=1493334562&sr=8-38&keywords=pro+wrestling+books

https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-Professional-Wrestlers-All-Time/dp/1770411046/ref=sr_1_55?ie=UTF8&qid=1493334635&sr=8-55&keywords=history+of+pro+wrestling

https://www.amazon.com/Ringside-History-Professional-Wrestling-America/dp/027598401X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1493334676&sr=8-4&keywords=history+of+professional+wrestling

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneers-Professional-Wrestling-Tim-Corvin/dp/1480804584/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1493334676&sr=8-8&keywords=history+of+professional+wrestling

• The World According To Dutch and Tales from a Dirt Road by Dutch Mantel are both great
  
• Swimming with Piranhas: Surviving the Politics of Professional Wrestling by Howard Brody - not a wrestler, but a prolific promoter and former NWA President
  
• The Professional Wrestler In The World Of Sports-Entertainment and The Somebody Obession by Matt Murphy are really good to give insight into the business in the indies.
  
  
  BONUS:
  
  
• Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America - By Scott Beekman