(Part 2) Best products from r/SquaredCircle

The TL:DR version is that when Wrestling from a regional industry to a national one in the 1980's, the NWA territories put their eggs in the Jim Crockett Promotions basket. It's an interesting, but too long for this post history why. Crockett did well for a time, but a combination of behind the scenes mismanagement and WWF ended up driving Crockett into bankruptcy in 1988. Turner Broadcasting bought the TV company side(overly simplifying that) that's how WCW was born.

As far as fans knew NWA = WCW. In reality, WCW was the TV and wrestling company. The NWA was a committee that controlled the booking the NWA titles. In 1991 there was controversy regarding who should be NWA Champion. Some complicated title history shenanigans happened and basically you needed up with two titles. The WCW title and the NWA title. The title histories of both belts criss cross through between 1991-1993 with some reigns being recognized by both, and some recognized by only one side. There was also a WCW international title in 1993-1994. It's all very complicated. In 1994 WCW and the NWA finally 100% split.

The NWA decides to crown a Champion based out of Philadelphia's NWA: Eastern Championship Wrestling booked by Paul Heyman. They pick Shane Douglas. Douglas and Heyman swerve the NWA and disown the title forming Extreme Championship Wrestling. By that point the NWA is basically a joke. Nothing but a bunch of indie promotions with no hope calling themselves the NWA. The NWA did crown Dan Severn as NWA champion in 1995. He wore it to UFC and WWE, which was cool, and the title did pop up in New Japan and Mexico a few times over the years, but basically the people that where in charge of the NWA from this point on didn't have any sort of power or money to compete. They were local indies basically. TNA started as an NWA indie and that brought the title back into prominence a little bit in the early 2000's. TNA eventually grew big enough that they felt like they didn't need the NWA name any more. After that the NWA went back to being a local indie thing until Billy Corgan bought it.


The history of the NWA is basically the history of professional wrestling on a global scale. I recommend this book. It's a long, but very interesting read.

[edit]

This was one of the first PPVs I watched. My friend taped it and I watched the VHS for weeks straight. I had fun watching it, so that's why WM IX is one of my favourite WrestleManias. I know it sucks, but it was fun.

From what I remember, The Official Insiders Story to WrestleMania has an interesting tidbit on IX: It was someone from Caesars that demanded Hogan win the title. They thought all along that's what they were getting - A WrestleMania with Hogan holding up the title at the end.

Viva La Raza:The Legacy of Eddie Guerrero

Breaking the Code: Behind the Walls of Chris Jericho

The Shawn Michaels Story - Heartbreak & Triumph

Shawn Michaels - My Journey

Bret "Hitman" Hart: The Best There Is, The Best There Was, The Best There Ever Will Be

These are some that I have and like, I don't know if you like Ric Flair or WCW but i liked all the DVDs they did on them as well.

The Masked Man writes for Grantland and wrote for Deadspin for a while. He just wrote a pretty awesome book last year called The Squared Circle



Peter Rosenberg is a hip hop DJ in New York who really likes wrestling and interviews wrestlers pretty frequently on youtube.

• The World According To Dutch and Tales from a Dirt Road by Dutch Mantel are both great
  
• Swimming with Piranhas: Surviving the Politics of Professional Wrestling by Howard Brody - not a wrestler, but a prolific promoter and former NWA President
  
• The Professional Wrestler In The World Of Sports-Entertainment and The Somebody Obession by Matt Murphy are really good to give insight into the business in the indies.
  
  
  BONUS:
  
  
• Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America - By Scott Beekman

It's a video player that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. It has a ton of apps that can play videos from different services, like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and most importantly for our purposes, WWE Network. You can also use it to play videos from an iPhone or Android device, kind of like a Chromecast. I got one for traveling, and I actually ended up using it more often than my HTPC at home. It's great.

http://smile.amazon.com/Roku-3500R-Streaming-Stick-HDMI/dp/B00INNP5VU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=undefined&sr=8-1&keywords=roku+stick

That new biograpy of Pillman has good reviews on Amazon. I have it on my ereader, but it is on waiting list behind few other books. Wrestling books are always a great read. In case of interest: https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Like-Fox-Definitive-Chronicle/dp/1976541247

If you like/love/are interested in Andre the Giant, I would definitely recommend Box Brown's Graphic Novel. I got my hands on it a couple of weeks ago, and it's fantastic:

http://www.amazon.com/Andre-Giant-Legend-Box-Brown/dp/1596438517

Here are some links to some online comps of Brody with commentary by a fan,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34VLfHQU7H4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoDd6j9vyMM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KBKMOqqiJA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F3vwwz7TiY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c--xX4z3E8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OILiEdqKTDo

and here is a book I'd recommend,

https://www.amazon.com/Brody-Triumph-Tragedy-Wrestlings-Rebel/dp/1550227602/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497315013&sr=8-1&keywords=bruiser+brody+book

and some podcasts,

https://www.mixcloud.com/bsradio/wrestling-sunday-school-episode-1-bruiser-brody/


http://www.blogtalkradio.com/vocnationradio/2016/05/15/i-love-80s-wrestling-podcast-remembering-bruiser-brody

https://mlwradio.libsyn.com/history-in-the-making-bruiser-brody

*3'rd podcast is VIP subscription based so you'll have to pay to hear it but it's good and I'd recommend it.

this. There's an amazing book that recently came out all about the case and Peter Thiel: Conspiracy by Ryan Holiday

It's a great look into why Thiel wanted so badly to crush Gawker, and how he found a way thru Hogan. They also talk about the trial and the aftermath. Great Read

if its on the wwe network, watch this

if its not, just spend $5 and buy it.

in the end, i think mick foley says it best in the dvd.. "between early 96 and late 99, was the best time for wrestling fans" or something like that.

If you believe the story of how the double wristlock took its name in Brazil, that’s not always true lol. Hearing about how badly Helio had his arm twice broken always amazes me. Kimura showed the world the power of pro wrestling! So much so that that fight permanently changed the name of what was once a traditional judo move.

Though yeah, we’ve all seen proper Kimuras now. Bye bye shoulder. An actual double wrist lock would probably vary based on position/leverage though, no? For example, an Americana is still a double wristlock, and usually combined with some sort of leg scissor in Catch. Does an Americana from top mount in BJJ tweak the shoulder still? I am genuinely asking lol. I feel like it. Would be based around the forearm/elbow.

For those of you wondering about the history of the Kimura I mentioned.

This is also a FANTASTIC read for any wrestling history fan or grappler.

And a great companion to that book.

Worth the purchase if you like the old time wrestling stories

https://www.amazon.com/Sisterhood-Squared-Circle-History-Wrestling/dp/1770413073

I agree some newbies like Liv might not know about it, but I was debating people yesterday that I 100% believe most of the women in the locker room knew about it. Just seems like a story that would really catch on, especially considering the wrestlers like Becky and Sasha that consumed wrestling all of their lives

If you enjoy stories about Andre, I urge you to purchase this graphic novel by my friend, Box Brown, https://www.amazon.com/Andre-Giant-Legend-Box-Brown/dp/1596438517.

It is as heartbreaking as it is lovely. A fine read. I am quite looking forward to this documentary as well.

Bushido Season 1 is free on Amazon Prime - another user pointed this out last week. It's great.

https://www.amazon.com/Bushido-Way-Of-The-Warrior/dp/B07N6MKTNZ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1549373771&sr=8-2&keywords=bushido

​

I'm a huge fan of the WWE's "vintage" collection. The designs are simple and get the point across without obnoxious graphics. I have 3 of those (Nakamura, AJ Styles,and The New Day).

The only other shirt I have is from MITB2011 (CM Punk's "Best in The World" design).

I really enjoy them too. He's actually coming out with a book, looking forward to checking that out.

Mostly I just find it cool that a mainstream publication is taking pro wrestling seriously, I think it's a great move on the part of Grantland to differentiate them from ESPN or typical sports content on the internet.

I'm a bit of an amateur historian of the XFL. Feel free to ask me any questions you might have.

I anticipate people might ask if there are any good books written about the XFL. I highly recommend Brett Forrest's The Long Bomb. Forrest is a great storyteller, and did a lot of good research for this book. There's some editorializing, but it's never heavy-handed. DO NOT READ It Was Football, Stupid. I want those hours of my life back.

None I can think of that are all interviews as wrestling was protected. Try this though or Lou Thesz's book.

As for some good Mania era dirt, check out Sex, Lies, and Headlocks. It ain't perfect but it's a good read.

And check out Dave Meltzer's Tributes books. They're reprintings of obituaries from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter but they're most likely new to you. If they're not new to you, don't bother.

Hope that helps.

Box Brown's graphic novel is incredibly good (his Andy Kaufman/Jerry Lawler graphic novel is too).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JO0ULZ6/

When I saw WLW I immediately thought of the autobiography of Matt "The Missile" Murphy [The Somebody Obsession] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Somebody-Obsession-Nobodys-Desperate/dp/1456339303) who talks quite a bit about WLW in the early stages and the KC wrestling scene. Definitely a book I'd recommend for people who like reading stories about wrestlers lives.

There's another really good André graphic novel by Box Brown. Surprisingly well-researched, too. IIRC, there's a section of citations and sources in the back.

I just finished a newly released book about Brian Pillman. Highly recommend it - one of the best I've ever read. To go with that, I'd add Bret's book as well as Pain & Passion (book about Stampede Wrestling).

This one is pretty dope



Shinsuke Nakamura "Strong Style" Vintage T-Shirt, L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0R5774/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XbppybGCF3RKE

LOL, that picture sort of makes it look like a Dinosaur mask from the front

https://www.amazon.com/Rubies-Costume-Jurassic-World-T-Rex/dp/B00TO6EKFM/ref=asc_df_B00TO6EKFM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312127942459&hvpos=1o4&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3775443632723388824&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030988&hvtargid=pla-494442419678&psc=1

National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling

It's a great, very detailed book that goes back to even before the NWA was initially started.

Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling

Another great book all about the Harts promotion.

Damn, that's some impressive stuff from Thesz at 74!

His book was very good, worth a read

this book has some pretty good detail on the olden days of professional wrestling.

This book does a really good job of detailing the rapid decline of the XFL, as well as a look into the lives of those who were playing at the time.

I think Tim Hornbaker's great NWA book covers it too. Just a warning, it's written more like a history book than mass market non-fiction. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1550227416/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1503624950&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=nwa+wrestling&dpPl=1&dpID=51zwoNaeUIL&ref=plSrch

If you'd like to know the history, this book is a good place to start.

The match use to be on YouTube but it has since been taken down. It's on Bret's first DVD he did with WWE and it's only $5 on Amazon, totally worth it. http://www.amazon.com/WWE-Bret-Hitman-Hart-There/dp/B000AOEPU2

The story with Brody's boots is that for as big of a guy as he was, he always thought he had skinny legs. His wife came up with the idea of gluing rabbit fur to his boots to make his calves look bigger.

source

it's an excellent read.

Yeah. I picked up an AppleTV the week before WWEN launched, specifically for the purpose of viewing the network. It's small, runs smoothly, and is portable if necessary. It was worth the $90.

But the new Roku Stick is supposed to be a really impressive device and it's only $50. I'll be picking one up just so I can have the portability it brings. I know it's too late for WM, but here it is....

http://www.amazon.com/Roku-3500R-Streaming-Stick-HDMI/dp/B00INNP5VU

This AMA is now concluded.

For those doing the Wreddit Wreading Challenge, his latest book might interest you Sisterhood of the Squared Circle

I believe this is a really good one https://www.amazon.com/National-Wrestling-Alliance-Monopoly-Strangled/dp/1550227416/ I've heard anything by Tim Hornbaker is really good, but that might be a bit earlier than you are wanting

David Shoemaker's The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling may be one of the best books overall that I have ever read.

Jericho's two autobiographies are great. As for non-memoirs, check out David Shoemaker's "The Squared Circle: Life, Death and Professional Wrestling."

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend https://www.amazon.com/dp/1596438517/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zhDYDbNN02379

https://www.amazon.com/National-Wrestling-Alliance-Monopoly-Strangled/dp/1550227416

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend

any ideas why this book is so expensive ?

http://www.amazon.com/Hooker-Authentic-Adventures-Professional-Wrestling/dp/0970651600

See also:

Andre the Giant: Life and Legend

http://www.amazon.com/Andre-Giant-Legend-Box-Brown/dp/1596438517/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452257515&sr=8-2&keywords=andre+the+giant

Read this book

There was a Brody book. http://www.amazon.com/Brody-Triumph-Tragedy-Wrestlings-Rebel/dp/1550227602

Highly recommend this one on the history of Stampede Wrestling.

https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Passion-History-Stampede-Wrestling/dp/1550227874

There’s also one on the history of the NWA I’ve heard is a bit dry but informative.

For anyone who hasn't, I highly suggest reading Box Brown's graphic novel Andre The Giant: Life & Legend. It's a really heartfelt and moving biography of Andre's life, but it's also brutally honest. It talks about the trials of growing up the way he was, how he later became sort of an alcoholic and could often be an asshole to people, how he had a daughter he pretty much abandoned, but how he was also constantly in pain and wrestled up to the bitter end because the boys were basically the only family he had and he was lonely when he was home.

And of course, it covers all the big moments (Wrestlemania 3, Princess Bridge, etc.)

REALLY great read.

I really enjoyed The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling

It takes you through various periods of wrestling, from carnival days to the territories to the golden age as told by the wrestlers of those eras that have passed.

Back in 1998, History Channel made one called "The Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling."

But if you really want to learn about those days, I suggest you read three books: (1) National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling; (2) Gorgeous George: The Outrageous Bad-Boy Wrestler Who Created American Pop Culture; and (3) The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks.

The recent WWE 50 book may also be useful, but I've yet to read it.

haven’t read it but i heard squared circle by david shoemaker is good!

also Death of WCW by Bryan Alvarez if u want history on WCW!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1550227416?pc_redir=1408084640&robot_redir=1

I had this book a few years ago. I cannot recommend it though as it was stolen before I could really get into it.

• Bret Hart's Book
  
• Dynamite Kid's Book
  
• Ted DiBiase's WWE Book
  
• Ring of Hell by Matthew Randazzo - Re: Benoit - The Amazon rating is bad, but methinks it's just butthurt fanboys
  
• Hardcore History - The Unauthorized History of ECW by Scott E. Williams - Some of the dates are off and the name spellings aren't consistent, but a great read, especially if you're interested in the early days of ECW
  
• The NWA - The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling by Tim Hornbaker - Extremely detailed.
  Fixing the Indies by Norm Kaiser - Some of what he talks about is beyond the means of some indies, but the model is very sound.
  
• The Death of WCW by RD Reynolds & Bryan Alvarez - It reads like a dirtsheet, but the detail is there.

I mean, territories falling apart had been inevitable for a long time, starting with AWA breaking away and Lou Thesz's ego not allowing him to give Verne Gagne a test-run.

But the downfall sped up in the 80s, when the cracks from the 60's started to appear again. Territorial promotions were starting to use cable to put their wrestling on TV, where fans outside of the territory could see it. This flew in the face of NWA's business model - which required the territorial bubbles so fans couldn't see how the angles in their own areas conflicted with the what other territories were doing.

The NWA, as an organisation, wouldn't support national television because they no longer had control over what fans could see, and they got left behind because of it. It really screwed over smaller territories. Their larger promotions who had TV deals, the ones that arguably had the stars to match the WWF, were under poor management from people who were drunk on success. They pissed away money and expanded too quickly.

A lack of unity, resistance to embrace cable TV, and financial mismanagement by the bigger promotions opened cracks that Vince took advantage of. There's still debate as to whether Vince's tactics were unethical or not - I think the answer is somewhere in the middle, as the NWA left themselves wide open to be taken advantage of. And a lot of Vince's tactics were tactics that the NWA themselves had used decades before to take over wrestling in America.

But 'Vince killed the territories' is a very oversimplified version of events, which doesn't give the NWA their due blame for not changing with the times, and treating both fans and wrestlers badly.

For more information, this book is really useful: https://www.amazon.co.uk/National-Wrestling-Alliance-Strangled-Professional/dp/1550227416

But hey, the counter-arguments you made were totally valid as well.