The Death of WCW: WrestleCrap and Figure Four Weekly Present . . . (WrestleCrap series) (Paperback)

~ R. D. Reynolds (Author), (Author) "World Championship Wrestling was not supposed to die..." (more)
Key Phrases: lano mike, ultimate swerve, scaffold match, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, New World Order (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A must-read for fans who want to be taken behind the scenes."  —New York Daily News

"A history book that anyone who has an interest in professional wrestling should read."  —epinions.com

"The exhilaration created by the dueling companies comes alive on the pages."  —Wrestling Observer Newlsetter

Product Description

This detailed tell-all of the demise of the former top pro wrestling company World Championship Wrestling explores the colorful personalities and flawed business decisions behind how WCW went from being the highest-rated show on cable television in 1997 to a laughable series that lost 95 percent of its paying audience by 2001. Behind-the-scenes exclusive interviews, rare photographs, and probing questions illustrate with humor and candor how greed, egotism, and bad business shattered the thriving enterprise. Wrestling fans will devour the true story of this fallen empire, which in its heyday spawned superstars such as Sting, Bill Goldberg, and the New World Order.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ecw Press (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550226614
• ISBN-13: 978-1550226614
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #222,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #70 in

  Books > Sports > Individual Sports > Wrestling

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Story of WCW's Amazing Rise & Fall, January 6, 2005

By	Tim Janson (Michigan) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

I've been reading Bryan Alvarez' column now for quite some time and he is one of the most respected people covering pro wrestling today. Along with R.D. Reynolds they tell the story of the remarkable Rise & Fall and eventual Death of WCW. Relive some of the classic moments as WCW began its increidble rise from a second rate wrestling company who once gave us Robocop in the ring, to the juggernaut that nearly did the unthinkable: Nearly putting Vince McMahon and the WWF out of business.

Through interviews with many of the stars and other participants we'll see how WCW used the WWFs long-time strategy of raiding its rivals talent rosters as they systematically stole nearly every major star that the WWF had in the 80's and early 90's: Hogan, Savage, Nash, SCott Hall, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, Sean Waltman, the Nasty Boys, Ultimate Warrior, and more. The eventual "turning" of Hulk Hogan and the creation of the NWO led to WCW winning the Monday Night ratings war with the WWF for over 80 consecutive weeks.

Riding high, WCW will soon collapse under its own weight. Soon, big, guaranteed contracts given to wrestlers take their toll on WCWs budget as guys like Nash, Hogan, Hall, and Hart would be injured for months at a time. WCW leaked money like a sieve, tossing about millions to bring in celebrities like Dennis Rodman, Jay Leno, and Karl Malone, and trying to make wrestlers out of people like Jerry Only of the Misfits.

Meanwhile egos clashed as the powerbrokers like Bischoff, Hogan, and Nash controlled everything and kept younger wrestlers down. Fights backstage and no advancement would eventually lead many younger stars like Chris jehrico, Chris Benoit, and Eddie Guerrero to jump ship to the WWF.

Small cracks became large fissures. WCW brings in Vince Russo to do the booking leading to some of the greatest embarrassments in the history of wrestling with Hogan lying down on the mat to lose and actor DAvid Arquette becoming WCW champion. Add to that, WCW could find no answer to the WWF's two hugely popular stars: Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.

It would all lead to a company that was once worthy tens of millions being bought by Vince McMahon for a fraction of that and opening up the last Nitro show announcing the purchase of WCW.

Many of these details are quite well known but the interviews are great and its amazing the way even years later some of the parties involved still refuse to accept any blame for WCWs downfall. Excellent Read!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Blame of WCW's Demise, October 29, 2005

By	The Blake - See all my reviews

It's hard to believe that a company could fold the way WCW did several years ago. At one time, WCW stood at the top of the wrestling mountain, and crushed the WWF/E in all ratings on television. It was obvious. WCW had became the number one promotion in the wrestling world. But gradually, something happened. WCW decided to go against the formula that brought them success. And when you do that, something bad is bound to happen.

When Eric Bischoff's idea to bring in Scott Hall and Kevin Nash from the WWF came about, no WCW management was for sure if it would save the ratings. It did just that. WCW became the mainstream wrestling product for most wrestling fans, as the N.W.O. changed wrestling forever. But, just as it was normal for WCW to do, they ran the N.W.O so long that it became stale. But rather than drop them, they continued the run, which eventually led to the likes of Scott Norton, Buff Bagwell, and even Virgil joining the group. Bad idea.

Also, the backstage situation was nothing short of a disaster. No one liked anyone. When you run a successful company, everyone wants to be the number one guy. Which is exactly why in the late 90's, the WCW World Title began to change hands on pretty much a weekly basis. Also, we can't forget one of the most memorable title reigns ever brought about by Vince Russo, and his idea was for........himself to become WCW Champion. Probably not good business there. Neither was the idea to have actor David Arquette win the WCW Title and beat two legitimate contenders, Jeff Jarrett and Diamond Dallas Page.

It becomes obvious in this book that there is more than one person to blame for the death of World Championship Wrestling. Vince Russo, Eric Bischoff, Dusty Rhodes, Lex Luger, Hulk Hogan, Goldberg, Jeff Jarrett, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and even David Arquette had vital roles in situations that led to the company folding.

For any former WCW wrestling fan, this book is an absolute must-read. This is one of the greatest wrestling books I have ever read, and it shows just how bad things can get in a company in a downward spiral. Some of the things you read in the book will be so completely absurd, that you would think some of these things weren't possible. But, it's true. And that is why WCW is no longer in business.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eat your heart out, Russo, December 11, 2004

By	Jeremy Thomas "411Mania Film Reviewer" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

R.D. Reynolds is one of the better writers of wrestling books, Mick Foley excluded, and he proves it here. He took the time to go incredibly in-depth on the Death of one of wrestlings greatest companies, World Championship Wrestling, and it shows. While Reynolds is (self-admittedly) not a fan of Vince Russo, Eric Bischoff, and Hulk Hogan, he keeps these prejudices to himself as much as possible and comes out with an excellent book for any wrestling fan who missed the humiliating end of WCW. A highly recommended read for any wrestling fan, even over Ric Flair's book (though not over Foley's).