A Star Shattered: The Rise & Fall & Rise of Wrestling Diva

I really thought I would totally dislike this book. I've considered Tammy Lynn to be the Lindsey Lohan, Tom Arnold, or any Kardashian of wrestling, never being a big fan of her or her antics. I have to admit my opinion changed somewhat. I wasn't thrilled with the first couple chapters as she described herself as the best thing to happen to pro wrestling. The wholesome, naive girl she portrayed herself I pretty much ignored as I've only come to know her as the sort of wrestler, manager and troubled person seeking the spotlight. I did eventually relax my opinion not really knowing of her pre wrestling life, family and medical ambitions. I was well aware of her and Chris Candido. Then the book became more of a therapeutic outlet. The good times, but horrible ways promoters and some wrestlers treated her. I remember well the tragedy of Chris Candido's untimely and needless death. I knew Tammy had several alcohol related arrests but WOW, no idea her drinking was that out of hand. Then her luck in love contributed to heartbreak, tragedy, further alcohol abuse which still unfortunately plagues her to the present as recent as February, 2017. I really appreciate her candor as she writes as if she's telling her story directly to you. It's easy to blame her for her bad decisions and craving fame as I did coming into this book based on my own opinion of her. Yes she should and could've been more responsible and she does admit that But as she pointed out with so much trust and manipulation you have to walk in her shoes to fully understand. The reason I gave it four stars was for foul language and some confusion in the timeline. I truly hope Tammy Lynn does find piece, her dreams and most of all the true love she is so desperate to find.

This wasn't a bad read for me. But I would stress being a fan of wrestling and having some knowledge of the wrestlers back in the late 90's. For me, that was the golden years of wrestling. My age and the Attitude era lined up perfectly and I was really big into wrestling. Sunny of course was a bombshell and over 20 years later I still look at her as one of, if not the original diva. I'd have no problem putting up her beauty against any diva that has come through while in her prime.Aside from my peak of loving wrestling back in Sunny's prime of being there I wanted to see what she went through, via her eyes. I found it quite interesting. But like I said, you have to be a fan. You have to know who Sunny was in the wrestling business. It really helps put what she writes about into much better perspective.I enjoyed it, it was a good autobiography. There are some spelling errors and incorrect words used. Nothing major. There are also some chapters/timelines just thrown in where Tammy thought it fit best, I didn't always agree but that was also fine. If you like wrestling and like Sunny this is worth the read for sure.

Like many fans who watched the WWF in the mid-90’s, Sunny was one of the few highlights during that terrible time before the Attitude Era. Sunny’s undeniable sex appeal and charisma made her appearances memorable, even when the WWF had her slumming by managing teams like the Smoking Gunns and the Godwinns. While Sunny wasn’t the first gorgeous lady in wrestling, she was arguably the first WWF Diva. Now, Tamara Sytch tells her story, chronicling her tumultuous rise and fall in the 2016 book, A Star Shattered: The Rise & Fall & Rise of Wrestling Diva (A Star Shattered). Like any autobiography, Sytch doesn’t seem to come clean on everything, but she provides some deep looks at the many troubled times in her career. In 1996, Tammy Lynn Sytch was at the top of her career, working in the WWF as the super-hot vixen, Sunny. That year, Sytch was the most downloaded woman on America Online, Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Manager of the Year, she sold a record-breaking number of issues of RAW Magazine thanks to her appearance in a bikini, and she was a popular on-screen character. The only thing Sytch didn’t do was wrestle matches. However, by 1998, Sytch would be gone from the WWF as her life spiraled out of control. A Star Shattered details Sytch’s entry into the world of wrestling. By no means modest, she talks of how her good looks, charisma, and (implied) ability to work people helped her rise to the top. Sytch broke into wrestling when she accompanied her boyfriend Chris Candido during his early years as a wrestler. Sytch took photographs of the matches and occasionally accompanied Candido to the ring (even though she was unpaid). However, after a run in Memphis, Jim Cornette invited her to work for his Smokey Mountain Wrestling Promotion. When the WWF saw her, Sytch was invited for a try-out and she quickly became the biggest female star in the WWF since Miss Elizabeth (although their characters were much different). Sytch discusses her time in the WWF, discussing the different jobs she worked, her affair with Shawn Michaels, and the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry. There are a few road stories but what’s interesting is how successful her run in the WWF was until the arrival of Marc Mero’s wife, Sable. From there, the two women clashed, quickly becoming more than rivals, but bitter enemies. Sytch gives her account of why she left the WWF for ECW. It’s different than what you may have heard so readers will find it interesting to read it and compare it to what they have read elsewhere. By the time Sytch left the WWF, her career was going downhill. A trip to WCW was uneventful and Sytch blames Kimberly Page for her problems there.Sytch seems to blame everyone but herself for her problems so it’s difficult to believe everything she writes. Her rationalization of her affair with Shawn Michaels is weak as she cheated on boyfriend Chris Candido in one of the worst-kept secrets in wrestling. Candido’s refusal to face the truth or confront Sytch soon led to many in the WWF writing him off. However, Sytch ended up staying with Candido until his untimely death in 2005. It’s obvious Sytch knows how to play the publicity game (and people as well). Whether she’s pulling a publicity stunt such as selling her WWE Hall of Fame ring, or commenting on her sex partners in interviews Sytch knows how to stay in the spotlight. Now if she can only use this to stay out of jail, she might have life left in her career.

Very entertaining and salacious book, but I can't say she comes across as likable. The opposite of that. She goes into a lot of detail regarding discussions and encounters of all kinds, so the book is hard to put down.She lied to Chris and her Mother about who she was with on a certain Caribbean holiday. She admits to her mendacity, which of course has the reader questioning what else is false.She said, she never had alcohol before she was 22 and has never smoked pot. Questionable for a popular New Jersey girl born in the 1970s. Nevertheless, she never really expounded upon why she never drank until then. Her Dad was a big drinker, so I suppose that was the answer, though that was never blatantly addressed.She talks a lot about being a Daddy's girl and about a niece she adored, but hardly ever mentions her Mom or 3 siblings.Very fun read not just on her, and who she liked, and didn't like, but also a birds eye view into Smokey Mountain Wrestling and the WWF, as I believe it was called at the time.

Meh! A little pretentious and misguided. A sad tale of a really sad life. Sunny was the original Diva but good lord has she faded. The title sums it up. Sad sad sad

Not A bad read. Really light on Chris Candido. Average at best. Could've been better. Still worth checking out. Okay?

Read the book by Chris Candido's life as well as this one. Lacks the depth of a true autobiography and loses the plot halfway through it. This should be a good story of abuse, battles within alcoholism, death with a close family. A bit of a let down

Really good insight to a great star within the wrestling industry I would recommend it

I really enjoyed this book. Really good. Hard to put down at times. Read it in 3 days which is big for me. Must read for anyone who loves the wrestling business!