Hardcore History Audiobook By Scott E. Williams cover art

Hardcore History

The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW

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Hardcore History

By: Scott E. Williams
Narrated by: Karl Miller
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About this listen

ECW was one extreme contradiction piled on top of another. It was an incredibly influential company in the world of professional wrestling during the 1990s, yet it was never profitable. It portrayed itself as the ultimate in anti-authority rebellion, but its leadership was, at various points, working covertly with the two wrestling giants, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. Most of all, it blurred the line between real life and the fantasy world of professional wrestling like no other company before it - many of those who thought they were conning others ended up being victims of the ultimate con.

Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW offers a frank and balanced look at the evolution of the company, starting even before its early days as a Philadelphia-area independent group called Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 and extending past the death of Extreme Championship Wrestling in 2001. Writer Scott E. Williams has pored through records and conducted dozens of interviews with fans, company officials, business partners, and the wrestlers themselves to bring listeners the most thorough account possible of this bizarre company.

The book sets out to answer several questions: Did World Championship Wrestling really try to destroy ECW by draining off its talent? Was Vince McMahon secretly as a friend to ECW, as he has claimed? What really caused the death of ECW? Who lied to whom? Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW will address all of those mysteries and many more in a story that is sure to be extremely controversial for fans and critics of both the ECW and professional wrestling.

©2006, 2007, 2011 Scott E. Williams. Foreword copyright © 2006, 2007, 2011 Shane Douglas (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
Combat Sports & Self-Defense Entertainment & Performing Arts Film & TV Sports Sports History Sports Writing
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Editorial reviews

The ECW was always an underdog in the world of wrestling, smaller and scrappier than its bigger brothers, the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. In journalist Scott E. Williams' Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW, Karl Miller intrepidly narrates the now defunct company's fascinating backstory, from its genesis in 1992 to its collapse in 2001. Miller's clear and sympathetic voice performance underlines the brutality of the sport, while critically unveiling the truth behind questions that still linger, including the ECW's relationship to Vince McMahon and the WCW, and the real reasons the ECW died.

Engaging Story • Detailed Accounts • Pleasant Narration • Compelling Content • Thorough History • Enjoyable Listening
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If you loved ECW back in it's hayday or are just a fan of hardcore wrestling in general, youll love this.

ECW

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I enjoyed the book but the reader mispronounced several names and the story was alright but I feel it could have been told a little better. All in all though I did enjoy the book and enjoyed it.

Good not great.

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Out of the dozen or so wrestling books I have read, this one stands out. It contained more detail than I was expecting, and while very pro-ECW, did present the negative aspects of the company.

Other than some strange mispronounced names every once in a while, the narration was better than multiple other wrestling audio books. There should be a requirement that book narrators be at least marginally familiar with the subject matter.

The only nitpick I have is the exclusion of some small details that a fan of ECW would recognize as missing.

More detail than I expected

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interesting book kind of makes me wonder what ECW was like I saw a couple of videos on YouTube don't think it was my cup of tea but the book was outstanding

I never saw ECW

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I enjoyed listening to this story. I love wrestling and it’s great getting more back story to everything. Congrats on HOF Hayman

EC Dub!!!

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It was really interesting to learn about the history of ECW especially since I am from Philadelphia and a huge wrestling fan.

Fantastic book

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I believe at some point the author notes that he's a newspaper writer, or maybe I made that up, I really can't remember. However this book reads like it was written by a newspaper journalist - which isn't bad since the book is strong on substance and structure but that also means its not strong on narrative and 'heart'. By that I don't mean it's dry but it does feel fairly detached at times.

With that out of the way I enjoyed the book as a recap of the history of ECW. It seems well researched and moves at a good pace. I knew a good part of the general history but this book fills in a ton of details. If you have any interest in the subject you'll most likely enjoy the book.

The reader does a good job even if it is a pretty straight read.

Well written, good coverage

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pretty good overall look especially behind the scenes will make you hate Vince more for what he did to wwes version of ECW. dude has no clue.

pretty good

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I love the story and the information, but the narrator's mispronunciation of names was distracting.

Learn the Names

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I enjoyed this very much. It gave a good look behind the curtain of ECW in it's glory days. lots of good sources

Great Wrestling Book

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