Pro Wrestling Through The Power Slam Years: 1994-2014

As the title signifies, Pro Wrestling Through The Power Slam Years: 1994-2014 is the story of professional wrestling during the 20-year period that Power Slam: The Wrestling Magazine resided on newsagents’ shelves. For those unaware of the magazine, the first issue of Power Slam went on sale in July 1994. The final issue hit the shops in July 2014. Pro Wrestling Through The Power Slam Years: 1994-2014 provides in-depth critique of the key events in the WWF/WWE, WCW, ECW, TNA and other companies during that period, including Vince McMahon’s steroid trial, Hulk Hogan’s move to WCW, the influence of Atsushi Onita’s FMW on Western wrestling, the grown-up approach to wrestling spearheaded by ECW, the reinvention and awe-inspiring rise of WCW, the Montreal double-cross and its far-reaching ramifications, and the WWF’s long-awaited transition from family-friendly entertainment provider to contemporary boundary-breaker, fronted by the ultra-charismatic Steve Austin and The Rock. Pro Wrestling Through The Power Slam Years: 1994-2014 delves into the Monday night war: the dizzying heights both the WWF and WCW ascended as they pushed each other to the limit of their bank accounts and imaginations, followed by the demoralising depths to which WCW sank, before it was purchased by the WWF’s parent company at a rock-bottom price in 2001. It wasn’t a case of “Where did it all go wrong for WCW?” It all went wrong. The book recounts ECW’s attempts to go national in the States, and the financial problems it encountered which also resulted in its closure and purchase by the WWF’s parent company in 2001. It examines the launch of NWA: TNA, and its journey to national television and beyond. Ring Of Honor’s impact on the business. Brock Lesnar’s split from WWE in 2004 and return in 2012 on his own terms, along with his wrestling-related adventures in the interim. The John Cena era in WWE. The Benoit tragedy. The fall and rise of New Japan Pro Wrestling in the 2000s. The rise and fall of Pro Wrestling NOAH. NXT. The launch of the WWE Network. The growth of PROGRESS, ICW, PCW, RPW and other companies in the U.K. — and so much more. All these companies, happenings, people and ventures are chronicled in the book, without fear or favour. In addition, Pro Wrestling Through The Power Slam Years: 1994-2014 contains a history of Power Slam magazine and its predecessor Superstars Of Wrestling, which ran from January 1992-June 1994. The story of the magazine reads like a pro wrestling match-up, in some respects. Seemingly down for the three count at the end of 1996, Power Slam made a miraculous comeback in the second half of 1997, and continued publishing for the next 17 years.