Rope Opera: How WCW Killed Vince Russo [Paperback]

Vince Russo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 22, 2010

Highlighting the athlete renowned as the savior of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and the man who destroyed World Championship Wrestling (WCW), this behind-the-scenes autobiography documents the astonishing career of Vince Russo. Chronicling the rise, fall, and eventual rebirth of professional wrestling, this engrossing account answers questions such as How did Vince McMahon win the war between the WWF and WCW? What was Eric Bischoff really like? and Why did Hulk Hogan threaten lawsuits? Penned by a winner of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, this memoir details the author’s historic face-off with Hulk Hogan in Daytona Beach as well as the legendary Monday Night Wars. Exploring the inner workings of the sport’s most turbulent era, this memoir speaks from the center of the maelstrom, delivering a fresh and informed perspective on the current pro-wrestling scene. From the death of WCW to the rise of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling—the world’s fastest-growing and most cutting-edge wrestling promotion—this remarkable narrative demonstrates how a grown man can find peace within the insanity of the squared circle.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In the vernacular of professional wrestling itself, I think I've actually become a Russo 'mark' . . . Russo pretty much lets it all hang out here, warts and all."  —blogcritics.org

"I recommend [this book] to individuals who are curious about the behind-the- scenes occurrences of a wrestling company, specifically TNA. Moreover, the 255-page book depicts Vince Russo's account of his professional life in wrestling and personal life as a Christian. If anything, it gives readers a unique portrayal of Vince Russo as a person as opposed to Vince Russo the character."  —Slam! Sports

About the Author

Vince Russo is a Christian minister. He was the editor of WWF Magazine, the head of the WCW’s creative department, and the creative force behind the National Wrestling Alliance’s Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion. He is the author of Forgiven. He lives in Broomfield, Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (January 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550228684
• ISBN-13: 978-1550228687
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #143,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Wrestling

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, March 1, 2010

By 

Michael L. Sibbitt "eastmal4224" (Evansville, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rope Opera: How WCW Killed Vince Russo (Paperback)

I was really looking forward to this book, an insider's version of what went on with the failed WCW/Russo experiment. Russo does what a lot of saved people do, throw his religion in the mix, which would have been fine if this were billed as a religious book, but it wasn't. People are going to buy this book for the wrestling stuff, not so much for his religious beliefs. I was hoping for more names named, actual backstage stories, why he wrote certain angles and if he now thinks they were successful. The only in depth angles we were filled in on were the David Arquette and Bash at the Beach controversies. If the whole book would have been like those chapters, then I would have thought more highly of the book, but in it's current form, it was not worth the money I paid for it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Vince Russo latest book seems real at times and fake at others leaving you with mixed feelings on the book 3/5 stars, December 31, 2010

By 

alex fryling "youngfry" (erie pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rope Opera: How WCW Killed Vince Russo (Paperback)

I do have to say going into this book I loved the title of it. Was this a good book yes did it fulfill my expectations on what it was going to be like not that much. Don't get me wrong this was a very good book but there are certain things that make this book annoying. I will say this is an easy read for anyone. Yes it is around 250 pages or more but you never feel like it really is taking a long time to read. The one problem in my opinion with this book is there are too many chapters in the book. For being less than 300 pages there is no way there should have been 52 chapters in this book. I don't think this is Vince's fault but whoever was publishing this book should have thought on what it would look like when people bought the book. The one thing I will say is it covers all different aspects of Vince Russo's life. This did not just talk about his time in wrestling but it also went to talk about his family and how God help him become a stronger and different person. Now don't get me wrong as far as religion goes I am not one to judge because I don't go to church but they way this book is written at times by Vince Russo it seems like he is shoving views of God down are throat. He is not bad about it but when he talks about how much he changed in life and saying it is only because of god he sounds kind of phony. I say this because if you are truly going to change in life it needs to be more than just about god you as a person have to change as well. He does not even mention his wife in helping him change that much. He does give her a lot of credit to her and his kids in this book which is nice to hear. Another thing that is disturbing and once again this is his opinion it sounds like he was trying to justify how bad WCW got once he got there. Like there always seemed to be an excuse for the storylines that were going on. I will say the fall of WCW does not all lay on the shoulders of Vince Russo but in my opinion most of it does. It does seem a little weird that almost 99% of people attribute a lot of WCW''s fall to Vince Russo but yet him and probably some other people don't feel it is truly their fault. It just sounds fake. Overall this book is a solid book I am going to go with a 3/5 and a mild recommendation to pick up this book. I bought this book for $20 if you could get it between $10-$15 that is a much better buy. Not an Awesome book but not awful by any means.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boy, does this guy love to talk..., March 11, 2010

By 

Andrew M. Walsh - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rope Opera: How WCW Killed Vince Russo (Paperback)

I reviewed Vince's first book a while back (unfavorably) and this current book is more of the same. The book is 1/3 wrestling related and 2/3 Vince Russo talking about Vince Russo. The church-y content has been ramped down a bit, which is nice (this is supposed to be a wrestling autobiography, btw). I just get annoyed as Vince rambles on and on and on about any thought that entered his head as he was "writing". He jams a bajillion pop-culture references into this book, this gets old after chapter 2. There's a wrestling chapter, then 2 or 3 chapters about how he's bored, or his love for fantasy baseball, or his pals growing up, or how....
If this were a book about Vince Russo and WCW only, it would be a pamphlet. He's incredibly self absorbed, and I don't care enough about the guy to read 250 pages about him.
This book isn't worth your time or $.

Oh and by the way, I'll save you from having to read this book Everything about the failure of WCW... not his fault. He was sweet and considerate to everyone there, but all the backstage politics and management interfered with his 5 star ideas. "Boo hoo, it's not my fault!" Anything he does take blame for, he gives the most insincere apology you can imaging (of course followed by "it really wasn't my fault!"