Synopses & Reviews
The power players behind the wildly popular and often controversial world of professional wrestling are examined in this chronological look at the past 10 years of wrestling entertainment. The competition between the four major wrestling organizationsWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW), the World Wrestling Federation (later renamed as World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE]), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)is rendered in detail, from wrestling's late-90s resurgence and the financial troubles of WCW and ECW to WWE's singular dominance and TNA's present-day struggle for market share. The reasons behind pro wrestling's popularity surge are explored in terms of key statistics such as television ratings, pay-per-view buy rates, and live-event attendance, as well as how the major organizations have capitalizedor noton wrestling's trends. Commentary from the authors' seven-year-old weekly wrestling radio program is featured throughout alongside opinions from The Rock, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, and Vince McMahon.
Synopsis
As wrestling dominated the pop culture airwaves in the late 90s, wrestlers like The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin became international cultural icons. But, by the turn of the millennium, wrestling began its downward descent. In early 2001, both WCW and ECW closed its doors and were bought out by WWE, whose fortunes hit the skids shortly after, despite their virtual monopoly. In 2002, a new group rose from the ashes of WCW and ECW -- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Between the Ropes examines the last decade of pro wrestling, looking at its unprecedented popularity surge that transformed it into a legitimate billion-dollar business, and the decision-making follies that put WWE back down on the mat. It examines the upstart TNA, and its current position on the cusp of a national breakthrough. Fritz and Murray study the four organizations, their rise and fall from a business, storyline, and character standpoint. Also included from the authors' show Between the Ropes are insights from major wrestling stars like The Rock, Hulk Hogan, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Ric Flair, Vince McMahon, Mick Foley, Bret Hart, Sting, Eric Bischoff, Chris Jericho, Rob Van Dam, and Shane Douglas.
Synopsis
The power players behind the wildly popular and often controversial world of professional wrestling are examined in this chronological look at the past 10 years of wrestling entertainment.
About the Author
"The love of wrestling...shines throughout the book.... Highly recommended." About.com"Outsider and insider perspectives...chronicl[e] the triumphs and failures of...ambitious wrestling companies." Obsessed With Wrestling"Brian Fritz and Christopher Murray's defining moment.... Should capture the fans just like the radio show did and still does." A1 Wrestling News"It's an honest wrestling book...chock full with inside information coming from eight years of doing the radio show." The Orlando Sentinel"Truly unique insights...a sense of immediacy not found in most other wrestling history books." The Galveston County Daily News"Allows the reader to go through key points in wrestling history with people that lived the experience." Wrestling Observer