Swimming With Piranhas: Surviving the Politics of Professional Wrestling

by Howard Brody, James E. Cornette (Foreword)

In this memoir, the former president of the National Wrestling Alliance, Howard Brody gives a first hand account of how he’s been able to survive the world of pro wrestling politics, despite getting a few bloody noses along the way. Brody delves into the historical aspects of his time at the NWA, describing encounters – both good and bad – with some of professional wrestling’s most powerful and creative minds including Vince and Linda McMahon, Eric Bischoff, Paul Heyman, Tod Gordon, Antonio Inoki, Hiro Matsuda, the Funks, Dusty Rhodes, Jim Cornette, Hulk Hogan, and more. Brody describes how he got hooked on the business, how he raised money to shoot a ladies wrestling TV pilot, and how he finally ended up in the NWA, serving as its president from 1996 to 2001, and the controversy surrounding how and why he left. Delving into the inner workings of booking and promoting shows, from dealing with talent to building managers, radio and television stations, Brody explains the differences and similarities between small, medium and large promotions, and talks about the nature of negotiating and selling wrestling to television networks and sponsors. Swimming With Piranhas covers aspects of the pro wrestling business that have yet to be captured on paper. This book reveals the true war stories as Brody takes the reader into the boardrooms and back offices of the most exciting business in the world: professional wrestling.

Genres: Nonfiction

430 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

Reviews

[Adrian Labbe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable read for the most part. If you're looking for a behind the scenes look at the wrestling business, this offers a little bit of that. It's mostly based around licensing and syndication of wrestling television shows. I'm not sure if I'll go out of my way to read it again but, it was a fun ride while it lasted.

[Andy Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

412 page wrestling book, how can I not like it?