About Time | Turning the Tables: The Story of Extreme Championship Wrestling

The real ECW, the real story. | Turning the Tables: The Story of Extreme Championship Wrestling | John Lister

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	• Turning the Tables: The Story of Extreme Championship Wrestling John Lister Exposure Publishing, 2005 - 196 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Great Historical Look At ECW

My initial viewing experience in Cleveland (OH) with the ECW television program was through shows airing on a small station based in Akron/Canton (OH) that was not picked up by most cable outlets outside that area. I was lucky enough to have a Sony Watchman that picked up the station.

Based on that TV show and word of mouth, ECW sold out its first show in Cleveland at the Agora nightclub, which was known for holding metal shows. Needless to say it wasn't the typical crowd found at WWF and WCW house shows held at the larger venues in the city.

Lister captures that energy and excitement of ECW as it built up its following from Philadelphia and the East Coast to taking the product nationwide, and then the collapse of the organization (with the rebirth as a subsidiary of WWE).

Lister is not hampered one bit by not having access to those involved in ECW for interviews (most likely due to the recent book and DVD put out through WWE). Rather, Lister takes secondary sources, along with his encyclopedic knowledge of the organization through viewing shows live and on tape, to weave an outstanding and unbiased look at the company.

He also points out key points in storylines that appeared in WWF/WCW sometimes years later and also has enough information on what was happening in the major organizations to place ECW in its proper historical perspective.

A major plus is Lister's comprehensive list of wrestlers who were part of ECW. That in itself is worth the price of the book.

I want to remember ECW as the inovative organization with performers willing to push the (bingo) cards off the table and that kicked hard to force WWF/WCW to alter its product, no matter how lame the knock-offs ultimately were to fans "in the know."

If there is one book you want to pick up to chronicle the history of ECW, Turning the Tables is it.

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About Time

I haven't had a chance to read the book as of this entry, but I feel it was about time that someone wrote a book about ECW. Too often people will herald WCW and WWE but forget about the ideas and stars from ECW that both companies made fortunes off of. ECW is near and dear to my heart as it was a welcomed change to what wrestling was showing at the time. I wish this book included more of the classic ECW pictures from times past but I still anticipate sitting down to read it.

The real ECW, the real story.

From the author behind acclaimed wrestling travelogue Slamthology, Turning The Tables takes a fascinating and detailed look at the company that revolutionised professional wrestling, the reasons behind both its success, and its downfall, and all with the insight and acerbic wit that readers of his previous book have come to expect from this author.

Like many rags to riches to rags stories, the tale of ECW is a captivating one, and here John Lister takes us on the complete journey, covering every major incident throughout ECW's storied history, the characters, the angles, the fans, and the deals taking place behind the scenes. There's even a shocking discovery that blows the lid on a long established piece of ECW folklore. Even long term fans have plenty to learn from this book, and will also enjoy reminiscing about the glory days of the original ECW. For fans whose only exposure to ECW is the recent WWE revival, and wondering what's the original story behind the relaunched version they see today, Turning The Tables will bring them completely up to speed.

Some critics may make mention of the fact that the author didn't actively interview anyone connected with ECW for this book, but actually, that makes it the better of the ECW books on the market. In writing this book, the author has no agenda, no bias, and as a journalist and long-time fan not actively involved with the company or its employees, has no need to twist the facts, gloss over certain events, or attempt to rewrite history. Turning The Tables gives a more complete picture of the story than similar books, rather than having the pacing and emphasis determined by who was available for interview at the time of writing, and it's because of this that it really stands out above its competition.

So, for fans of professional wrestling and ECW - be it the original incarnation or the 21st century relaunch - Turning The Tables is an invaluable guide to the cult company that left an indelible scar carved into the forehead of the business.

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Ture

great book so many facts and great way to introduce a new fan to ECW

Extreme Championship Wrestling........... Oh My God!

IT WAS the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of violence, and it was the age of extreme. But this tale began in the city of brotherly love -- Philadelphia. Extreme Championship Wrestling is a cultural anomaly that will forever go down in the memories of wrestling fans as a revolutionary style of anti-establishment fueled by a cult of passionate fans that had as much to do with the product as the men inside the ring.

John Lister, based out of the United Kingdom, set out to uncover the seedy underbelly of the phenomenon known to wrestling fans the world over as ECW. The concept is technically the property of Vincent Kennedy McMahon but the memories belong to the fans. "Turning the Tables, The Story of Extreme Championship Wrestling" is a celebratory journey down memory lane for crazy fans of Extreme wrestling. Lister takes readers back even before the beginning and after the end, hitting on all points in between. He exposes what happens backstage and recalls some of ECW's most unforgettable moments. Credit is given to the important people who kept the company going as long as it did, and proper tributes paid to the army of extreme wrestlers who gave their blood, their bodies, and in some cases their lives, to make ECW so great.

Turning the Tables is a great book about something that interests all wrestling fans. Through the pages of this book you will experience the true influence that ECW had on all aspects of today's wrestling product and you will be left with a newfound feeling of respect for Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Rating: 7/10 - Must have a genuine interest.

Reviewed by Obsessedwithwrestling.com's Brad Dykens

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ECW was the upstart promotion which revolutionised the wrestling industry. Turning The Tables is the first published history of the company which grew from a run-down bingo hall to become a national pay-per-view competitor... then crashed in a sea of debt.

John Lister (author of Slamthology) gives an independent, objective and informative account that reveals hidden secrets and shatters common myths. From a little-known truth about ECW's most famous feud to a blow-by-blow account of what really happened in Revere, this book will give you the true story behind America's most controversial wrestling group.

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