Hardcore History

The Extremely Unauthorized Story of the ECW

By: Scott E. Williams

Narrated by: Karl Miller

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.

ECW

If you loved ECW back in it's hayday or are just a fan of hardcore wrestling in general, youll love this.

Good not great.

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.

More detail than I expected

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.

I never saw ECW

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

EC Dub!!!

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

Get a narrator with product knowledge

What a great book on the history of ECW! it is well written and has tons of quotes and backstage stories. As good as the book is, the narrator ruins it. His voice is flat with little intonation. I can forgive that, but I can't forgive the mispronounced names throughout. He could have jumped on YouTube to hear the names, he could have asked the author, he could have done his homework. Instead, we are treated to Chris Benoyt (Benoit) and Tony Skee-ah-voon (Schiavone) He ruined the entire book.

E C DUB!!!!!!!!!

What did you love best about Hardcore History?

Any and everything ECW..... Those three letters being chanted in a shabby little bingo hall in south philly, 20+years later still brings a smile to my face

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hardcore History?

I loved the accounts of the mass transit incident

Which character – as performed by Karl Miller – was your favorite?

Not characters

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not that kinda book

Any additional comments?

Good read/listen

Great history of ECW

Having grown up watching ECW this book was extremely entertaining and spot on. The narrator was alright, but not unbearable. The inside details and story do ECW justice. Now we just need an updated version. If you liked this book try also: The Death of WCW. It is an excellent listen with a great narrator.

interesting trip down memory lane

As a long time fan of professional wrestling, listening to the story of one of the most entertaining wrestling organizations ever was a treat. (Could have been told in a more condensed fashion.)

Well written, good coverage

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.