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The Death of WCW: 10th Anniversary Edition of the Bestselling Classic ― Revised and Expanded Paperback – October 1, 2014
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But by 2001, however, everything had bottomed out. The company — having lost a whopping 95% of its audience — was sold for next to nothing to Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. WCW was laid to rest.
What went wrong? This expanded and updated version of the bestselling Death of WCW takes readers through a detailed dissection of WCW’s downfall, including even more commentary from the men who were there and serves as an object lesson — and dire warning — as WWE and TNA hurtle toward the 15th anniversary of WCW’s demise.
- Print length456 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherECW Press
- Publication dateOctober 1, 2014
- Dimensions6 x 1.4 x 9 inches
- ISBN-101770411755
- ISBN-13978-1770411753
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
World Championship Wrestling was not supposed to die.
Anyone with even a basic understanding of its inner workings knew this to be true. As the company began to hit its peak around 1997, all signs indicated that WCW was destined to thrive and prosper. The promotion had so many unfair advantages, it seemed that not only would it continue to expand its profits, but it would also eventually turn every other wrestling promotion in the country into dust.
And why wouldn’t it?
More importantly, how couldn’t it?
The promotion had the single greatest array of talent the wrestling world had ever known. The two men who defined professional wrestling in the 1980s, Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, both made their home in WCW. The most popular wrestlers of the 1990s, including Sting and Bret Hart, competed in WCW rings, as did Scott Hall and Kevin Nash, who revolutionized the business as the Outsiders, and shortly thereafter formed the nucleus of the infamous New World Order. The company had the most talented in-ring workers: men like Chris Benoit, Eddy Guerrero, and Dean Malenko, as well as the greatest high-flyers from around the world — Rey Mysterio Jr., Juventud Guerrera, and countless others. And, perhaps above all, WCW also employed the man who would lead the industry into the next millennium, the man fans flocked to arenas to see: Bill Goldberg. Such a roster of talent had never been seen in a single pro-wrestling promotion before.
When their flagship show WCW Monday Nitro was created, many older fans returned to watch the stars they’d grown up on, creating the largest wrestling audience the cable industry had ever seen. WCW was in a place no company had been since Vince McMahon took the World Wrestling Federation national in the mid-1980s: that is, poised to kill the WWF once and for all. Many wrestlers were eager to jump ship to WCW, some looking to increase their paydays, others out of fear that the WWF wasn’t long for this world. Essentially, they were looking to survive.
WCW was looking beyond that. Nitro had surpassed not only Raw in the ratings, but every other program on cable television. They weren’t just the number-one wrestling show; they were the number-one cable show, period. Every week, Nitro presented three hours of live action, featuring cutting-edge story lines, amazing matches, and production values the likes of which the wrestling world had never seen before. In addition to the sky-rocketing ratings, WCW was one of the biggest and most profitable touring groups in the country, as fans swarmed to arenas for live Nitros and for the monthly megashows. Fans who couldn’t attend the matches live ordered in record numbers via the miracle of pay-per-view, spending upwards of $30 a month just to watch the special events. And let’s not forget the insane amounts of merchandise sold, from T-shirts to posters to magazines to bandanas to wrestling teddy bears to key chains to beanie babies to sipper cups to every stupid tchotchke piece of crap imaginable — all with the WCW logo slapped right on it.
Everything was making the company money, to the tune of more than a $55 million profit in a single year.
So let’s restate once more, for the record, that WCW was not supposed to die.
In fact, not only was WCW never supposed to vanish from the face of the Earth, but the mere thought that the company could ever perish was laughable.
How could this company go the way of the dodo? WCW zealots would tell you — inaccurately, but that’s beside the point — that it had been around for over 100 years. One hundred years! Not only had it been around longer than any other wrestling company, they’d insist, but also longer than almost any other viable form of entertainment. It had been around longer than movies or television. It had been around longer than the National Football League. By God, WCW wasn’t just a wrestling company, it was an American institution!
As impressive as it was that the company could trace its roots back “nearly to the days of Abraham Lincoln,” more impressive was the fact that it was owned by the biggest media mogul in the entire universe, Ted Turner — the real reason why the company could not, would not, die. There was simply too damn much money behind it. Turner had purchased the company in the late 1980s almost as a toy, a hobby, and, if truth be told, he wasn’t greatly concerned if the thing ever made a dime. Anything it lost was just pocket change, and anything it made likely was as well. But since wrestling had been a cornerstone of the Turner networks since the launch of the Superstation, he pledged to keep it around, no matter what.
So he had their shows airing on his networks, TBS and TNT, and in prime viewing hours: Monday nights, Wednesday nights, Saturday nights, and Sunday nights. Think about that: in any given week, more often than not, WCW was being featured on the Turner networks during prime time. If another timeslot was needed for a new show, or perhaps a bimonthly special, Uncle Ted was just a phone call away. Backed with the power of the Turner networks, promotion of the pay-per-view events was nothing short of grandiose.
How on Earth could anyone imagine that World Championship Wrestling might die?
Product details
- Publisher : ECW Press; No edition (October 1, 2014)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 456 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1770411755
- ISBN-13 : 978-1770411753
- Item Weight : 1.68 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.4 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #671,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #408 in Wrestling (Books)
- #1,014 in Sports History (Books)
- #5,617 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book entertaining and informative. They describe the writing style as well-written and easy to read. The humor is described as humorous and ironic. Readers appreciate the in-depth look at the fall of WCW and the backstage politics, drama, and backstabbing that went on during the run of the company. The updated material from the original book is appreciated.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read. They appreciate the author's insights into WCW and find it entertaining.
"...one, I was finished with this book in 2 days because it was too captivating to put down..." Read more
"...Anyway it's definitely worth the money even though it's largely the same book." Read more
"...If you are from the South or were a WCW fan, this book has amazing insights and for those of you that just want to know why WCW failed, you will..." Read more
"...There are also new forwards and epilogues in addition to the ones in the previous tome...." Read more
Customers find the book provides insightful information about WCW's backstage policies and events. They appreciate the detailed coverage of many events and the author's analysis. The book covers the history of the last five years in a well-written manner, providing valuable insights and lessons learned.
"...For a wrestling fan, this book is the ultimate recap of found memories and what could have been...." Read more
"...The book gives great behind the scenes details and the author identifies lessons that should have been learned during WCW's existence and how the..." Read more
"...that they wielded was some of the best and truly urged on a great period for wrestling...." Read more
"...and the tone comes off as swarthy and arrogant, it is an exhaustive look at the fall of WCW...." Read more
Customers find the book's writing style engaging and easy to read. They describe it as well-written, concise, and informative, with a dry sense of humor that they enjoy. The book is described as a quick, straightforward read despite its length, with a few pictures.
"A very easy and well structured read...." Read more
"...It's written with a very dry and blunt sense of humor which really appeals to me for some reason...." Read more
"...The book also suffered from run-on sentences and errors that should've been weeded out prior to printing...." Read more
"...wrestling journalist for Figure Four Weekly, their writing style worked for me and ensured there wasn't a dull moment when reading this book...." Read more
Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it humorous and ironic to read about the mistakes made by WCW.
"...It's sad, humorous, and nonetheless ironic to read these...." Read more
"...It's written with a very dry and blunt sense of humor which really appeals to me for some reason...." Read more
"...But, despite that it's poorly written and the tone comes off as swarthy and arrogant, it is an exhaustive look at the fall of WCW...." Read more
"...Overall, I thought the book was quite a funny read and would recommend to any wrestling fan interested in hearing all about WCW." Read more
Customers find the book provides an in-depth look at the fall of Was and how it unfolded. They appreciate the detailed account of backstage politics, drama, and backstabbing that occurred during the run. The book is a quick read with a few pictures and chronicles the internal struggles.
"...For younger readers it is a good look at what amounts to a minute in wrestling history." Read more
"...A neat look at the backstage politics, drama, and backstabbing that went on during the run of one of the best wrestling companies of all time...." Read more
"...It's a pretty quick read that has a few pictures and chronicles the internal implosion of the WCW...." Read more
"...The hardcover version looks so nice, I would recommend that version if you get the chance!" Read more
Customers appreciate the book's updated material from the original. They find the new sections, prologues, and epilogues to be great additions. The revised edition of the original book is a good follow-up to the first one.
"...A great new forward is included from Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, along with a new epilogue to illustrate how TNA..." Read more
"...Moving on, the book has new asides...." Read more
"The is a revised edition of the original book and is a great cautionary tale of what not to do when running a wrestling promotion...." Read more
"...I was pleasantly surprised to find the changes, including revised prologues and epilogues, as well as new sections to showcase how the WWE and other..." Read more
Customers find the book humorous and ironic, with a sad ending.
"...It's sad, humorous, and nonetheless ironic to read these...." Read more
"...Highly entertaining and sad book at the same time." Read more
"Funny, Sad and Baffling..." Read more
"Great book, sad ending..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative quality. Some find the facts and stories good, with no exaggerated or unfair tales. They describe the book as a gripping account of all the drama that took place behind the scenes. However, others mention inaccurate retellings of events and a narrative that meanders onward.
"...Death of WCW, this book remains a gripping account of all the drama that took place behind the scenes and how it affected what..." Read more
"...It is a great book with effective themes that push the central narrative and thesis to help one understand the calamity of WCW...." Read more
"...reports from 3rd and 4th hand sources, mis quotes and misrepresentation of events that don't match up with video archive footage available on WWE..." Read more
"...For the most part, I enjoyed the stories and reading about some of WCW's more confusing exploits...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015A very easy and well structured read. The authors, for the most part, try not to speculate on the faults of WCW as a company, but rather present facts and historical examples of the business where WCW management didn't learn. This leads a reader to consider how a business is impacted, not just a wrestling business, by faulty management.
While the authors most likely don't have business degree backgrounds (and why they probably didn't elaborate more on business theory) the book can be a good teaching tool for any company executive. With a small understanding of the inner workings of pro-wrestling, the book allows the reader to see how mismanagement of talent/employees, lack of cash reserve, short term v long term objectives, and failure to understand a customer base can ruin one's business at a rapid pace.
Ultimately you see that a company who adopts a #1 or None mindset will eventually achieve the later part of that goal. To see how management could take a guaranteed successful property for several decades to come, provided the show minimal fiscal responsibility, and disregard that responsibility at ever opportunity, serves to remind how fast a fun thing like WCW can turn to tragedy.
For a wrestling fan, this book is the ultimate recap of found memories and what could have been. So many sport books and documentaries focus on athletes that never lived up to potential. WCW is the ultimate example of this. No former #1 draft pick, All American, Collegiate Player of the Year who busted in pros can match how WCW went from being the most dominate name in the industry to the industry's biggest joke.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2014Synopsis: RD Reynolds and Brian Alvarez put together the gripping account of how the National Wrestling Alliance, Jim Crockett Promotions, and Ted Turner managed to give birth to World Championship Wrestling in an effort to carve out a national promotion which could compete against World Wrestling Entertainment (née Federation.) The book details the rise of a young wrestling professional, Eric Bischoff, who went from being a third-string announcer to the mastermind behind one of the most popular storylines in wrestling today. However, the book also chronicles the ill-effects of cronyism, nepotism, mismanagement, wasteful practices, and lack of proper planning that the organization suffered - leading to it's eventual demise. With the 10th Anniversary of the book released, articles have been updated and expanded to include consequences that are still felt today, as well as missed (or gained) opportunities to correct past mistakes.
Much like the original Death of WCW, this book remains a gripping account of all the drama that took place behind the scenes and how it affected what everyone saw in the ring. If you're thinking this was simply a re-release with some new pictures, however, think again. Though much of the original story prevails, additional comments were spliced into the text from those involved (some identified, some anonymous) who decided to sound off now that most of what happened is out in the open. The book now includes a "Lessons Not Learned" addendum to show how today's two nationally-televised wrestling promotions (WWE and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling) have either failed to learn (or in some cases, did learn) from the mistakes which led to WCW's demise. A great new forward is included from Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, along with a new epilogue to illustrate how TNA (which is currently fighting for it's own survival) managed to replicate WCW's record of futility by hiring the same hands which led to the demise of WCW.
So does the book have some bias? Sure, but there's also enough documented elsewhere to show that the tales weren't too exaggerated or unfair (even the acknowledgements thank Vince Russo, a target in the book to be sure, for being a good sport about what was written.) The book also suffered from run-on sentences and errors that should've been weeded out prior to printing. Yet with the new content comes new reasons to read. Much like the first one, I was finished with this book in 2 days because it was too captivating to put down (even though I read the bulk of the content the first time around.)
I recommend this book to wrestling fans. I also recommend it to business students as well to show how not to run a company. Will some of the pro-WCW/TNA marks be upset that the tone was critical of their favorite organizations? Heck, will some of the pro-WWE marks be upset because the tone was critical of their organization, too? Maybe, but the proof's in the pudding: WCW is dead, TNA is dying, and the WWE's ratings are a fraction of what they used to be. I just hope there's still a national wrestling promotion when it's time to discuss the 20th Anniversary of this book.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2015In this update of the Death Of WCW, which has about double the pages of the original book, many things are covered that weren't in the original such as various angles that weren't covered the first book such as the Black Scorpian angle, the monster truck battle between Big Show and Hulk Hogan, and several more and they all have a common theme, they make absolutely no sense, a WCW tradition.
A real eye opener was Jim Herds comments. Herd, who famously fired Ric Flair in the summer of 1991 following failed contract negotiations, basically admits that firing Flair was a huge mistake and that he was the best performer in the entire company by far. It's amazing what hindsight does to people.
Moving on, the book has new asides. These are titled Lesson Not Learned in which mistakes by WCW are stunningly repeated by the WWE and in some cases TNA in the coming years, long after the company dies. The staggering details of Hulk Hogan 's first WCW contract are also revealed.
Lance Storm also talks about his first night in the WWE which is a good read.
It's too bad Vince Russo was not interviewed for this book. I would have loved to hear his side of things as he's portrayed as a clueless baffoon throughout the first and second versions of the book. Jim Cornette, a sworn enemy of Russo, rips him for his lack of understanding of psychology in wrestling. Psychology in wrestling is extremely important so it's easy to see why Russo struggled so much in WCW as nothing he came up with made any sense.
A key thing that was eliminated in this version was Bischoffs role in creating the confusing Team Challenge Series in the AWA. It was long accepted as fact but Bischoff said he had nothing to do with in his book and there's nothing else to back up the claim so out it went.
At the end of the book is a long list, though I swear it's only a partial list of the general idiocy in TNA, with many mistakes eerily similar of the mistakes WCW made.
Anyway it's definitely worth the money even though it's largely the same book.
Top reviews from other countries
- Robert McCarthyReviewed in Canada on May 16, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars More than 5 stars!
Such an outstanding book for wrestling fans of the classic era. I love how the book didn't completely trash the WCW and acknowledged that for a significant period of time it was the premier wrestling promotion who just fell with bad booking. If I could give it 30 stars I would!
- StephenReviewed in Spain on June 16, 2020
2.0 out of 5 stars Description, not Insight
Essentially just week-by-week descriptions of bad Nitro angles and matches, if that floats your boat. Problem is, everyone already knows WHAT happened to WCW; the purpose of a book like this is to investigate the HOW and the WHY. You won’t find that here. I love Brian Alvarez’s radio show but this book is pretty redundant.
- KrisReviewed in Australia on August 10, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars My son loved it.
My son loved it.
-
sonneReviewed in Germany on October 2, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars buch als geschenk
Lieferung war sehr gut. und das buch verspricht was es hält. Der Leser ist begeistert. Das Buch ist auf jeden Fall weiter zu empfehlen
-
Sergio LentiniReviewed in Italy on March 7, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Superbo
Semplicemente, il miglior libro mai pubblicato sull'argomento wrestling. Scritto con straordinaria competenza e senza alcuna presa di posizione pregiudiziale. Una vera manna per gli appassionati.