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  • Nitro

  • The Incredible Rise and Inevitable Collapse of Ted Turner's WCW
  • Written by: Guy Evans
  • Narrated by: Guy Evans
  • Length: 17 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (47 ratings)

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Nitro

Written 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

What listeners say about Nitro

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    4 out of 5 stars

HORRIBLE NARATIVE

THIS WAS READER I HAVE EVER HEARD, AS THE BOOK JUMPS FROM COMPLETE DIFFERENT TOPICS IN SECONDS, SKIPPING WHOLE POINTS OF A TOPIC
THIS IS 1 BIG JUMBLED UP MESS!! NEVER STAYING ON POINT AND NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW 1 TOPIC RELATES TO ANOTHER!! HORRIBLE SUMMARY OF WCW DAYS! AWFUL VOICE! GIGANTIC WASTE OF MONEY

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great for any wrestling fan during this era

almost an in depth view very interesting yo hear how it all went down. could've called it Eric Bischoff the ticking time bomb.

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Loved this book

There will always be an argument over what eneded WCW. This book gives you the answer, TBS execs and the Time Warner merger.
Add all the other issues that contributed, but hearing all the stuff going on in the offices and behind the scenes. Great read.

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WCW Nitro Book

This book truly gives you another angle of what went down in WCW without WWE umbrella effecting the story.

I really enjoyed this while biking and plan to re listen!

Get it now!

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  • DMCizzle
  • 2021-01-05

way better than the death of wcw

Guy Evans took the time to interview key executives that were actually there and knew what was going on behind the scenes at the corporate level. Bryan Alvarez and RD Reynolds' the death of wcw as entertaining as it is was based off of 3rd hand information and an axe to grind with Eric Bischoff. If you are looking for the definitive WCW book this is the book for you.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2020-11-23

SO good, it brought me to anger tears!

I was a huge wcw fan, and was aware of some of this stuff going on. But I didn't know ALL of this went on!

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  • Tony
  • 2021-03-14

Fun Listen

It's about the most in-depth retelling of the Nitro era ever. I knew most of it going in, but I learned some things and a few more details about what I already knew. The narrator is great and the story flows well. Some parts get glossed over a tad, but you could write a book about a lot of the topics covered. If you're into pro wrestling history (why else would you be reading this?) then it's a must-buy in my mind.

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  • jamie
  • 2020-11-04

a must listen for wrestling fans

The Monday night wars was the biggest time if pro wrestling history. This is the story of WCW nitro and the in depth analysis of what was a success and what ultimately went wrong.

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  • BangoSkank
  • 2020-09-24

The Best Book on The Monday Night Wars

Can't suggest this book enough. This is my favorite era of wrestling for many reasons and I have always tried to fully understand what ultimately contributed to the complete collapse of WCW. Guy Evans demonstrates very clearly what the internal and external issues were that Bischoff faced. It's so detailed and well-researched that I started to get stressed as he described the mismanagement of WCW & Turner Broadcasting.

Highly recommend this book for all serious wrestling fans.

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  • Chris
  • 2020-05-26

Excellent Account of the WCW story

Guy Evans has produced probably the most thorough & reliable account of the WCW story. Evans talks to people in many facets of the companies involved and actually has the facts to back up the narrative.

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  • Steven Gerweck
  • 2022-12-14
Listener received this title free

A must have for wrestling historians

"Nitro" is the essential book on the rise and ultimate demise of Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling. Guy Evans provides the pertinent components of the astonishing downfall of what was the world's most prominent wrestling promotion. The author provides statistical analysis, and breaks down the monumental bone-headed decisions that landed WCW into the hands of their rival, Vince McMahon. Evans documents the on going legal battles between wrestling giants WCW and WWF. In "Nitro," you will relive the final days of WCW, and discover the plans a potential buyer had for the impoverished wrestling company. Evans also examines the evidence of a plausible sabotage of the organization. The author's meticulous research is phenomenal, and the story-telling is sensational.

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  • Andrew Belet
  • 2022-07-22

Comprehensive Look at a sad story

I watched WCW from a very young age, and was 17 when it shut down. It was always sad to see the company dissappear, and this book does evoke those same feelings. Still, it is so superbly written, that the conclusion is more than satisfying. I reccomend this book to any and all wrestling fans!

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  • Benjamin Dingess
  • 2022-07-13

Great listen

I really enjoyed the full story of the wrestling I grew up on. I loved hearing the distinct memories I recall vividly and the thoughts that went behind them. This book provided profound finances and submissions from those who were behind the scenes. To any WCW fan of the 90’s, this is a must-have in your library. Kudos to Guy Evans on a great write, and a great read.

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  • Neil Moss
  • 2022-07-12

Growing up watching Nitro, this is the book!

I grew up watching WCW with my brother. We got around when the nWo was forming. This is THE WCW book to read/listen. Great details from not only WCW wrestlers and management, but also the workings at Turner. also Guy Evans with the awesome narration!

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