Death Of The Territories: Expansion, Betrayal and the War That Changed Pro Wrestling Forever
(Paperback)
Publishing Details
Death Of The Territories: Expansion, Betrayal and the War That Changed Pro Wrestling Forever
By (Author) Tim Hornbaker
ECW Press,Canada
ECW Press,Canada
18th September 2018
Canada
Classifications
General
Non Fiction
796.812097
Physical Properties
Paperback
280
Width 152mm, Height 229mm
Description
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 power plays and embarrassing mistakes.
Reviews
"Tim Hornbaker's Death of the Territories is a tightly researched, engaging read that tells of the turbulent years surrounding Vince's conquest of the wrestling world and the struggles of those that tried to keep up." -- Every Read Thing blog
Author Bio
Tim Hornbaker is the author of eight nonfiction books, including National Wrestling Alliance: The Untold Story of the Monopoly that Strangled Pro Wrestling and Capitol Revolution: The Rise of the McMahon Wrestling Empire. His biography Turning the Black Sox White was nominated for SABRs Larry Ritter Award and the Seymour Medal in 2015. He lives in Tamarac, FL, with his wife, Jodi.
