When Wrestling Was Rasslin'

When Wrestling Was Rasslin' PDF

Author: Peter Birkholz

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2012-11-07

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 9781539199991

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Promoter Peter Birkholz tells all the stories from inside the ring and behind the scenes of nostalgic wrestling history based on his decades of experience with the Houston Wrestling Promotion. The world-famous Promotion, along with territorial promotions throughout the country, produced plenty of wild and exciting action for thousands of fans every Friday night, and shaped the landscape of professional wrestling for decades. Come along with stars like Rick Flair, Fritz von Erich, Bronko Nagurski, Lou Thesz, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, and Paul Boesch as they change sports history forever.

Wrestling to Rasslin

Wrestling to Rasslin PDF

Author: Gerald W. Morton

Publisher: Popular Press

Published: 1985

Total Pages: 169

ISBN-13: 9780879723248

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Wrestling to Rasslin’ traces the roots of one of man’s oldest competitive sports. Beginning in sporting bars in the late 1800s and graduating to Barnum sideshow tents, wrestling has thrilled the world over with such early athletes as William Muldoon, George Hackenschmidt, and Tom Jenkins. After World War II and the advent of television, wrestling took a turn toward the dramatic, emphasizing conflicts between good and evil.

Wrestling to Rasslin

Wrestling to Rasslin PDF

Author: Gerald W. Morton

Publisher: Popular Press

Published: 1985

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13:

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"Wrestling to Rasslin' traces the roots of one of man's oldest competitive sports. Beginning in sporting bars in the late 1800s and graduating to Barnum sideshow tents, wrestling has thrilled the world over with such early athletes as William Muldoon, George Hackenschmidt, and Tom Jenkins. After World War II and the advent of television, wrestling took a turn toward the dramatic, emphasizing conflicts between good and evil.

Death of the Territories

Death of the Territories PDF

Author: Tim Hornbaker

Publisher: ECW Press

Published: 2018-09-18

Total Pages: 272

ISBN-13: 1773052322

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For decades, distinct professional wrestling territories thrived across North America. Each regionally based promotion operated individually and offered a brand of localized wrestling that greatly appealed to area fans. Promoters routinely coordinated with associates in surrounding regions, and the cooperation displayed by members of the National Wrestling Alliance made it easy for wrestlers to traverse the landscape with the utmost freedom. Dozens of territories flourished between the 1950s and late ’70s. But by the early 1980s, the growth of cable television had put new outside pressures on promoters. An enterprising third-generation entrepreneur who believed cable was his opportunity to take his promotion national soon capitalized on the situation. A host of novel ideas and the will to take chances gave Vincent Kennedy McMahon an incredible advantage. McMahon waged war on the territories and raided the NWA and AWA of their top talent. By creating WrestleMania, jumping into the pay-per-view field, and expanding across North America, McMahon changed professional wrestling forever. Providing never-before-revealed information, Death of the Territories is a must-read for fans yearning to understand how McMahon outlasted his rivals and established the industry’s first national promotion. At the same time, it offers a comprehensive look at the promoters who opposed McMahon, focusing on their noteworthy power plays and embarrassing mistakes.

Wrestling at the Chase

Wrestling at the Chase PDF

Author: Larry Matysik

Publisher: ECW Press

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 267

ISBN-13: 1550226843

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St. Louis was the capital and Muchnick the ruler of pro wrestling before Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment took over. Muchnick and St. Louis paved the way for the multi-billion-dollar sports entertainment industry broadcast worldwide from the stadia and showpiece venues of the States. The centre of this magical operation was a TV programme called Wrestling at the Chase', which ran from 1959 to 1983 from the majestic Chase Hotel. Matysik, Muchnick's protege and longtime ringside announcer, recalls with touching fondness the legends of his time.'

Identity in Professional Wrestling

Identity in Professional Wrestling PDF

Author: Aaron D. Horton

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2018-03-02

Total Pages: 318

ISBN-13: 1476667284

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Part sport, part performance art, professional wrestling's appeal crosses national, racial and gender boundaries--in large part by playing to national, racial and gender stereotypes that resonate with audiences. Scholars who study competitive sports tend to dismiss wrestling, with its scripted outcomes, as "fake," yet fail to recognize a key similarity: both present athletic displays for maximized profit through live events, television viewership and merchandise sales. This collection of new essays contributes to the literature on pro wrestling with a broad exploration of identity in the sport. Topics include cultural appropriation in the ring, gender non-comformity, national stereotypes, and wrestling as transmission of cultural values.

Red Headed Geek

Red Headed Geek PDF

Author: Billy C. Wirtz

Publisher: Tickling Keys, Inc.

Published: 2012-12-01

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13: 1615473335

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Neither an exposé of the dark underbelly of wrestling nor a justification of its existence, Red Headed Geek is a loving, firsthand look inside the regional wrestling circuits of yesteryear by a former manager who's been tossed from the ring, bashed with a folding chair, and had painfully honest conversations with the wrestlers themselves. Billy C. Wirtz gives a distinct view of the strange world of wrestling, offering a look into the actual workings of the business and the underlying reasons for its popularity, as well as an explanation for its status as an often maligned and misunderstood subculture and its vital role in American working-class entertainment. He recounts his painful &“on-the-job&” training—explaining certain practices and dispelling some commonly held myths and beliefs—and discusses his personal and professional relationships with wrestlers such as the Fabulous Moolah, Diamond Lil, Sir Oliver Humperdink, and dozens of others, from the legendary to the never-heard-ofs. The book also contains a glossary of wrestling slang for those who aren't as familiar with the sport. For the die-hard fan or the total nonbeliever, this book presents one man's honest perspective and observations on a fascinating subculture.

Grappling Glory

Grappling Glory PDF

Author: Ross Bernstein

Publisher:

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 1932472312

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Celebrate the history and tradition of wrestling and ìrassling.î Featured are interviews and biographies from such local legends as Vern Gagne, Jesse Ventura, Ric Flair, Mean Gene Okerlund, Bronko Nagurski, Baron Von Raschke and others.