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.'
When Sam Muchnick and Harold Koplar had a chance conversation on a plane in [need year here], they had no inclination that their unique idea would turn into the iconic program Wrestling at the Chase. Spanning multiple generations of fans, the premier of the show in 1959 would launch a phenomenon and the onset of professional wrestling's golden years. Today, the WWE rules television and arenas nationwide, but without the leadership and promotion of this show, it may never have reached the standing it enjoys today.Hundreds of men and women, dressed to the nines, would be drawn ringside every Saturday night in the Khorassan Room of the opulent Chase Park Plaza Hotel while hundreds of thousands more tuned in at the stroke of nine to enjoy the spectacle. They'd marvel at such heroes of the sport as Bruiser, the Fabulous Moolah, Gorgeous George, King Kong, and Nature Boy. Then the next morning, a brand new audience of thousands would tune in for the re-airing of the show. America couldn't come cheer on their idols in person, so Muchnick, the Vince McMahon of his day, brought wrestling to the living rooms of America.Emmy-award winning producer Ed Wheatley brings the story of professional wrestling's rise to prominence to life in this exciting, ride-of-a-lifetime book. With hundreds of photos and the stories behind the famous monikers, relive the decades and the countless memories that have thrilled wrestling lovers for generations. The three legs of the stool (the location, the delivery, and the product) came together in Wrestling at the Chase; now its story comes through on each page.
Portrait of the legendary Bruiser Brody - a wrestler who dominated the pro scene despite his refusal to accept scripted defeats, until he was savagely murdered in 1988, allegedly by another wrestler.
From the host of the critically acclaimed pro wrestling podcast Straight Shoot, this graphic novel history of wrestling features the key grapplers, matches, and promotions that shaped this beloved sport and form of entertainment. As a pop culture phenomenon, professional wrestling--with its heroic babyfaces and villainous heels performing suplexes and powerbombs in pursuit of championship gold--has conquered audiences in the United States and around the world. Now, writer/podcaster Aubrey Sitterson and illustrator Chris Moreno form a graphic novel tag team to present wrestling's complete illustrated history. Featuring legendary wrestlers like Bruno Sammartino, Hulk Hogan, and The Rock, and modern-day favorites like John Cena, Kenny Omega, and Sasha Banks, the book covers wrestling's progress from the carnival days of the Gold Dust Trio to the dominance of the WWF/WWE to today's diverse independent wrestling scene, and it spotlights wrestling's reach into Mexico/Puerto Rico (lucha libre), the U.K. (all-in), and Japan (puroresu).
No-holds-barred, honest, and objective, this is a definitive look at the greatest pro wrestlers who ever stepped through the ropes. Blending the old and the new and delving into what made these 50 remarkable performers the best in their sport, this guide illustrates their contributions to the massively popular spectacle of the wrestling world. The antidote to the marketing-motivated claims made by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is provided here, sweeping aside the corporate profit motive of listing standouts who can sell DVDs and dolls and instead shooting from the hip, revealing who sincerely belongs among the cream of the crop. The complexity of choosingand rankingthe 50 finest ever from a strong group of talented candidates also spins a secondary tale about the evolution of pro wrestling and how this unique sport operates. Revealing these stars' compelling stories in detail, this collection adds up to an entertaining and enlightening description of a monumental business through the history of its legends.
Colt loves to wrestle. He dresses in his best wrestling gear, practices his moves, and bench presses his friends. But when the neighborhood doesn't approve of his habits, will anyone believe in his dream? Join Colt as he follows his passion, and discovers who will always be in his corner.
