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  • Nitro

  • The Incredible Rise and Inevitable Collapse of Ted Turner's WCW
  • By: Guy Evans
  • Narrated by: Guy Evans
  • Length: 17 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (43 ratings)

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Nitro

By: Guy Evans
Narrated by: Guy Evans
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Publisher's Summary

In April 1999, Entertainment Weekly asked its readers what many were surely wondering to themselves: How did wrestling get so big?

As a consequence of the heated ratings competition between World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the spectacle had taken over Monday nights on prime-time cable television. But in a departure from the family-friendly programming produced by the last industry boom - the 1980s wave, which made household names of Hulk Hogan, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and Andre the Giant - the new era of wrestling combined stunning athleticism with a raunchy sex appeal, engrossing story lines, and novel production techniques that reflected a changing society and its shifting values. 

Once again, wrestling was a ubiquitous phenomenon - only this time, it seemed as though the fad would never end. With both WCW and WWF expanding into other forms of entertainment - movies, video games, music, and the like - the potential for growth appeared to be limitless. 

But with uncertainty surrounding its corporate future, and increasingly uninspired programming eroding its audience, WCW stood on the verge of collapse. Three years into a five-year plan devised by its charismatic leader - a former Blue Ribbon Foods salesman named Eric Bischoff - the company whose unexpected ascension initiated the entire boom was operating on borrowed time. 

For by the end of the five-year plan, WCW ceased to exist.

But Nitro is a story about much more than WCW and the Monday Night Wars. It is a story of an era, a time in which the media and cultural landscape precipitated - and later supported - pro wrestling's mainstream popularity. It is a story of how a company made in the image of an intuitively brilliant risk-taker betrayed its original promise. It is a story of how a handful of men, each struggling with their own limitations, facilitated a public obsession that changed television forever.

*Features interviews and comments from 120+ WCW/TBS employees*

©2018 Guy Evans (P)2020 Guy Evans

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

A well written and narrated insight in the rise and fall of WCW

Guy Evans has put together an enjoyable to follow recounting which transitions easily between statements and facts about not only WCW but the workings in TNT and the way they viewed the product. His narration is emotive when quoting some of these larger than life personalities whilst being paced and matter-of-fact when explaining the rest like any good history lecture. A great pickup for any wrestling fan or anyone who wants an insight to what was once the biggest federation in one of the most unique entertainment mediums.

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Fantastic!

As child in the 90s I was a huge WCW fan. I can't across this book and honestly didn't expect too much but it is an incredibly comprehensive story detailing the history of the WCW.

Very well written and told.

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Excellent Audiobook

Great listen, really went into detail fantastic book if you enjoyed wrestling and WCW in the 90s you need to listen to this book.

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Great read

If you grew up with this in your tv and enjoyed watching you will really enjoy this book. Great detail - very interesting.

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awesome book

best book on this topic that I have listen to, very detailed and well researched, highly recommend

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A true documentary

This book is heavily researched and extremely engrossing.

I wish that this exact format and story would be adapted into a docuseries as it actually gives you a full run down of the WCW story. Brilliant stuff

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