Death of the Territories: Expansion, Betrayal and the War That Changed Pro Wrest

The Nile on eBay   Death of the Territories by Tim Hornbaker

Expansion, betrayal and the war that changed pro wrestling forever.

FORMATPaperback LANGUAGEEnglish CONDITIONBrand New Publisher 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.

Author Biography

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 SABR's Larry Ritter Award and the Seymour Medal in 2015. He lives in Tamarac, FL, with his wife, Jodi.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Chapter One: The Established System Chapter Two: Titan Sports Chapter Three: The Beginning of the End Chapter Four: Southern California Chapter Five: The Surviving Territories Chapter Six: A New Era in Professional Wrestling Chapter Seven: "They Sure Got Rid of Me" Chapter Eight: The Great TV Expansion of 1984 Chapter Nine: An Industry at War Chapter Ten: Rock 'n' Wrestling Chapter Eleven: Cooperation and Crisis Chapter Twelve: WrestleMania Chapter Thirteen: The Only Game in Town Chapter Fourteen: Year of the Supershow Chapter Fifteen: The War Expands Again Chapter Sixteen: Grappling with Turbulence Chapter Seventeen: Manifest Destiny Chapter Eighteen: Loyalty versus Money Chapter Nineteen: A Bruising Tragedy Chapter Twenty: The End of an Era Endnotes About the Author Copyright

Review

"Death of the Territories is a book that needs to be on every wrestling historian and fan's book shelf." -- Lance Writes blog"Death of the Territories is the new standard-bearer in books for this era of American pro wrestling. I cannot recommend it enough." -- Voices of Wrestling"Hornbaker provides readers with an extensive and well-researched look into the history of the pro wrestling territory system ... Hornbaker lays out the story in an engaging way which makes Death of the Territories hard to put down." -- Clearing Out the Clutter"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"Tried-and-true wrestling fans will find lots to get excited about." -- Publishers Weekly"With Death of the Territories, Tim Hornbaker further establishes himself as possibly the finest wrestling historian writing today." -- Jon Langmead, Writer, PopMatters, SLAM! Wrestling

Long 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.

Review Quote

"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

Promotional "Headline"

Media copies sent to wrestling media list. Author interviews pitched to wrestling podcasts (Jobbing Out, Rasslin' Memories, PW Torch, OWW, 6:05 Super Podcast, etc.). Pitch to Fighting Spirit Magazine (he's been a contributor) Support author participation in wrestlingclassics.com forums. Pitch business-side interviews and excerpts on McMahon history and the start of WWE ( Newsweek , Business Insider , Wall Street Journal , Fortune , Bloomberg Businessweek , Fast Company , Business Today ) Excerpt pitching to wrestling, sports, and entertainment publications ( Sports Illustrated , Entertainment Weekly , ESPN the Magazine , Newsweek , CBS Sports , SportsBusiness , Pro Wrestling Illustrated ). Author lives in Ft. Lauderdale, focus on media outlets there ( Sun-Sentinel ). Collaborate with marketing team to use social media research on regionality to target media outlets in wrestling hubs.

Feature

Short Description Death of the Territories reveals one man's TKO of professional wrestling's old territorial system. Tim Hornbaker tells the exclusive story of how, with television as his battering ram, Vincent Kennedy McMahon flattened his opponents to kick-start a wresting revolution. Sales and Market Bullets Death of the Territories features in-depth information about the wrestling boom of the 1980s Describes how Vince McMahon's WWE grew into the powerhouse it is today Marks the first ever detailed look at the death of the fabled wrestling territories Offers an exciting look at the highs and lows of wrestling during a time of major transition We will be running regional advertising in wrestling hubs Target fans on the active wrestling communities of Reddit Audience Wrestling fans of all ages, but particularly fans during the 1980s-1990s

Excerpt from Book

Chapter One The Established System From makeshift mats in barns to the largest arenas in the world, professional wrestling has really come a long way to become an international phenomenon. Though its evolution has been gradual, it received significant help from innovative promoters looking to change the core aspects of the business. For example, the matches themselves needed to be improved. Instead of developing at a snail''s pace with protracted rest holds, bouts became more action-packed and exciting with aggressive competitors using a whole host of newfangled moves. The introduction of the flying tackle and the dropkick in the late 1920s and early ''30s was revolutionary, and promoters wisely built upon their popularity. Around the same time, wrestlers were testing the waters with character-based gimmicks, and good versus evil feuds were born, invoking incredible audience reactions. This is all old hat in today''s marketplace, but in the early days, everything was remarkably unsophisticated. With no clear-cut and defined wrestling organizations to manage the day-to-day operations of the industry, the sport was completely devoid of orderliness. It wasn''t until the 1920s and ''30s that circuits were fashioned and shows were offered on a more regular basis in specific regions. Wars between grappling syndicates were legendary, akin to those between crime organizations erupting across the United States. But in place of bootlegging and prostitution, promoters were at odds over high-value attractions and territorial control, and money was the bottom line. Those who had it wanted more, and small-timers just wanted to make a living. On September 16, 1930, the sport''s first major three-letter acronym to be used with any consistency made its debut with the advent of the National Wrestling Association. An outgrowth of the National Boxing Association, the NWA was administered by state athletic commissioners, and its mandate was to keep pro wrestling on the level. In truth, those involved were often more interested in the political ramifications and profit margins of the sport than anything else. They monitored the business, stepped in when convenient, but mostly collected money for little in return. The promoters who dealt with the NWA were protected to a certain extent, and if they kept their noses clean, they were allowed to run their operations unhindered. Rather than be pushed around by political appointees, promoter Paul Bowser in Boston struck back at the NWA concept by creating his own private group, the American Wrestling Association, in 1931. He occasionally worked with local bureaucrats for photo opportunities to garner publicity, but he had the first and last say in whatever happened in his rings. Columbus, Ohio, promoter Al Haft followed with the Midwest Wrestling Association that same year, and, like Bowser, Haft crowned his own regional "world" heavyweight champion, the first of whom was John Pesek. Haft was fully autonomous in his leadership, unlike those in NWA states who were bogged down by hierarchy and regulations. Bowser and Haft created a local circuit for their wrestlers and champions, and by the mid-1930s, most major promoters had done the same. On a national level, promotional alliances such as "The Trust" were organized and thrived until being destroyed by greed. Wrestling was plagued by a general lack of integrity among promoters, and partnerships were almost always on shaky ground. For that reason, the sport entered a never-ending cycle of conflict. Within the chaos were innumerable heavyweight title claimants, and conniving promoters were doing everything in their power to tear down their rivals. Wrestlers jumped sides with impunity, seeking the best financial deal they could make, and again, an overall lack of integrity left everything fair game. Yet, some promotional alliances survived. In 1948, Paul "Pinkie" George of Des Moines, Iowa, aligned with affiliates in several neighboring states and expanded his localized "National Wrestling Alliance" into a budding cooperative. This new NWA was completely independent of all established organizations, including the still-active National Wrestling Association. Unlike the Bowser and Haft groups, the Alliance wasn''t structured with one man at the top of the pyramid, but allowed each and every man to have an equal membership. And since the body was founded and run by the promoters themselves, they implemented a crafty set of bylaws that protected their interests. Pro wrestling had never seen anything like it. Of the many statutes written into the new organization''s bylaws, the acknowledgment of specific territories was among the most consequential. In common wrestling lingo, a "territory" was defined as a region in which a promoter operated, from one city to multiple states. The NWA supported territory ownership, meaning that once an Alliance-affiliated promoter laid claim to an area, he was untouchable. If an outsider attempted to run a competing promotion, the full power of the NWA would be turned against them. Alliance members would also respect the boundaries of their brethren, allowing all members to book matches and promote events without fear of interference. Member-promoters structured their enterprises as they saw fit, and each office had its own flavor. As a whole, the Alliance acted as an umbrella entity that united the various promotions and sponsored the recognition of a single world heavyweight champion. This sanctioned titleholder traversed the entire NWA map, appearing for promoters in cities large and small across dozens of states. His task was to demonstrate night after night that he was the best in the world, proving to fans that the Alliance was the most important organization in wrestling. Lou Thesz, who was given NWA support as heavyweight kingpin in 1949, took up that extraordinary challenge and succeeded in every regard. His clean-cut, no-frills style was crucial as promoters pushed wrestling''s legitimacy. In this kayfabe era, it all worked beautifully. Focusing on bringing in the best big-named talent and fostering a long-term relationship with the wrestling public in their areas, promoters used television to welcome a new generation of enthusiasts to the sport. Must-see performers like Gorgeous George and Antonino "Argentina" Rocca lit up arenas from coast to coast. Within its first year, the Alliance had spread from its humble beginnings in the Midwest to include Los Angeles, Toronto, Honolulu, and New York and all points in between. Membership was attractive to promoters because the NWA''s wide-ranging influence all but guaranteed success. But the NWA didn''t eradicate the competitiveness of wrestling promoters and, in some cases, might have heightened the drama. For example, in 1950, Chicago''s Fred Kohler, a bespectacled entrepreneur with an enormous sense of humor, found no comedic value in the help his cross-town rival, and non-NWA member, Leonard Schwartz was receiving from Al Haft, his supposed Alliance brother. To Kohler, it was an egregious violation of organization rules. He pleaded his case to Alliance members to have Haft immediately cease his incursion into the Windy City. Haft believed he had a right to book his wrestlers to Schwartz, and the situation escalated into a full-fledged feud. Adding the importance of television to the fray, and with great sums of money involved, neither side wanted to back down. Kohler, in a fit of anger, resigned from the NWA, only to be coaxed back a short time later. Finally, after painstaking negotiations, the conflict was resolved with both operations running peacefully in Chicago. Under the watchful eye of the National Wrestling Alliance, the esteemed territorial system was born. The map of North America was effectively partitioned and boundaries were set. For the most part, every city on the continent was assigned to one territory or another, and when questions arose about the status of any particular town, the democratically voted administrators of the group worked to iron out the problems, often with special committees appointed to mediate. While the NWA operated with surprising functionality, big personalities were involved, and the men in the Alliance were known for their loud and sometimes obnoxious behavior. They epitomized a boys'' club mentality -- smoking, drinking, and swearing freely -- and when things got contentious, anything was possible. In some cases, egos were exceptionally fragile, as shown by the ill-fated 1957 plot to split the NWA world heavyweight championship. The idea was to give a recognized claim to French tumbler Edouard Carpentier, while lineal champion Lou Thesz ventured overseas. The sneaky deal was snapped in two after Carpentier''s manager Eddie Quinn of Montreal protested independent promoter Jack Pfefer''s attendance at the NWA''s annual convention.f His hatred of Pfefer was so strong that he stormed out of the convention and quit the NWA, bringing an end to the dual championship ploy. A few years later, Quinn rejoined the Alliance, but he never made peace with Pfefer. Quinn was one of many colorful members involved in the NWA during the 1950s and ''60s. Johnny Doyle in Hollywood was a lavish spender who loved airplanes and the ritzy nightclub life. Toots Mondt of New York was a sizable man with an impressive background on the mat. He knew how to create superstars and turned ex-boxing champion Primo Carnera and the Argentinean high-flyer Antonino Rocca into box-office sensations. When he wasn''t backstage at a wrestling event, he was usually at the nearest gambling venue, amassing substantial debts. His self-destructive personality hurt a number of once-thriving promotions, and business at Madison Square Garden dwindled in the early to mid-1950s because of his lackluster management. But regardless of his vices, he was still considered a member of wrestling royalty. Frank Tunney in Toronto was the opposite of Mondt, and was as straight

Description for Sales People

WWE held a UK Championship Tournament in 2017 to crown the first U.K. champions - all shows sold out. WWE Live will be returning to the U.K. May 2018 with seven Live Events and broadcast editions of Raw and SmackDown Live. Never-before-revealed information makes Death of the Territories a must-read for fans. Tim Hornbaker has previously authored two ECW wrestling titles National Wrestling Alliance and Capitol Revolution.

Details ISBN1770413847 Author Tim Hornbaker Pages 280 Publisher ECW Press,Canada Year 2018 ISBN-10 1770413847 ISBN-13 9781770413849 Format Paperback Publication Date 2018-09-18 Imprint ECW Press,Canada Subtitle Expansion, Betrayal and the War That Changed Pro Wrestling Forever Place of Publication Montreal Country of Publication Canada DEWEY 796.812097 Short Title Death of the Territories Language English UK Release Date 2018-09-18 Audience General AU Release Date 2018-09-17 We've got this

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