Generally speaking, the majority of first-world citizens are at least casually familiar with the sport of professional wrestling. Pro wrestling, better known today by its WWE-rebranded moniker “sports entertainment,” is an extremely polarizing piece of popular culture. It is simple to dismiss modern-day wrestling as trivial; however, there was a time when professional wrestling was massively popular and pro wrestlers were the highest grossing athletes in the world. Between 1948 and 1993, the National Wrestling Alliance (“NWA”) acted as the largest, most powerful governing body in professional wrestling. Although non-wrestling fans my protest, the NWA’s story has universal appeal. What happens when a large group of shrewd businessmen take
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Mr. Hornbaker has twenty years’ experience as a wrestling researcher, and has written numerous, well-reviewed books on the topic. His incredibly detailed style of writing contributes to a somewhat arduous reading experience; however, readers who value education over entertainment will find his meticulousness advantageous. With his years of experience and his reputation among wrestling scholars, Mr. Hornbaker provides an authoritative assessment of the NWA’s complete …show more content…
Sometimes referred to as a “cartel,” the promoters that made up the NWA came under fire in the mid-1950’s for what the U.S. government considered a breach of antitrust laws. Accused of illegally monopolizing the wrestling industry, the NWA’s practices were being heavily investigated. As the result of Sam Muchnick’s political connections, the NWA was able to sign a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice in 1956 to avoid additional investigations, thus saving the Alliance from certain dissolution. Though captivating, this incident is not universally known to most modern-day wrestling fans, thus Mr. Hornbaker’s thorough analysis of this piece of wrestling’s gritty past is extremely valuable. Tim Hornbaker’s “National Wrestling Alliance – The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling” offers an in-depth and authoritative look at a bygone era of professional wrestling. Suitable for both the curious newbie and the long-ago indoctrinated smark (wrestling slang meaning “smart mark,” or a fan who knows wrestling is choreographed, but suspends disbelief anyway), Mr. Hornbaker’s book is an invaluable resource for wrestling enthusiasts the world
Mr. Hornbaker has twenty years’ experience as a wrestling researcher, and has written numerous, well-reviewed books on the topic. His incredibly detailed style of writing contributes to a somewhat arduous reading experience; however, readers who value education over entertainment will find his meticulousness advantageous. With his years of experience and his reputation among wrestling scholars, Mr. Hornbaker provides an authoritative assessment of the NWA’s complete …show more content…
Sometimes referred to as a “cartel,” the promoters that made up the NWA came under fire in the mid-1950’s for what the U.S. government considered a breach of antitrust laws. Accused of illegally monopolizing the wrestling industry, the NWA’s practices were being heavily investigated. As the result of Sam Muchnick’s political connections, the NWA was able to sign a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice in 1956 to avoid additional investigations, thus saving the Alliance from certain dissolution. Though captivating, this incident is not universally known to most modern-day wrestling fans, thus Mr. Hornbaker’s thorough analysis of this piece of wrestling’s gritty past is extremely valuable. Tim Hornbaker’s “National Wrestling Alliance – The Untold Story of the Monopoly That Strangled Pro Wrestling” offers an in-depth and authoritative look at a bygone era of professional wrestling. Suitable for both the curious newbie and the long-ago indoctrinated smark (wrestling slang meaning “smart mark,” or a fan who knows wrestling is choreographed, but suspends disbelief anyway), Mr. Hornbaker’s book is an invaluable resource for wrestling enthusiasts the world