Review Of New World Wrestling Insanity Book

Courtesy of Alan J. Wojcik:

Just when you thought World Wrestling Insanity author James Guttman was taken away in a straight jacket by the WWE political correctness police he returns with a new book. This one is called World Wrestling Insanity presents: Shoot First…And Ask Questions Later (ECW Press, 216pp, $19.95). Thanks to the success of his debut book and the website he runs of the same name, Mr. Guttman created an internet based radio show called Radio Free Insanity with one goal in mind, interview former and current professional wrestlers in an uncensored environment (currently posted on the site is former WWE/ECW star Nunzio.) In addition he created an archive site called www.ClubWWI.com which is a pay service; I believe $4.99 a month. In addition to Mr. Guttman and friends; several wrestlers like D’Lo Brown, Bull Buchanan, Lisa "Ivory" Moretti, Kevin Kelly and Orlando Jordan contributed columns or their own internet based broadcasts.

Like the Between the Ropes radio show based out of Orlando, Florida did a few years ago; this book is a collection using snippets of the more than 100 interviews Mr. Guttman has conducted with legends like Nick Bockwinkel, Dory Funk Jr. Bruno Sammartino, Jerry "the King" Lawler, Harley Race as well as current stars like AJ Styles, Rhino and Christian Cage to name a few. Plus mix in executives and creative staff like Les Thatcher, Eric Bischoff and Tod Gordon and you have some great stories to read. Current Florida Championship Wrestling (WWE Developmental) head trainer and also a WWI.com contributor Dr. Tom Pritchard gives the introduction and he doesn’t surprise this reviewer when he reveals that he is an asshole who had no clue why he was asked to do the introduction.

As someone who has been conducting interviews since 2001 (insert shameless plug for http://alanwojcik.com here), I was interested to read how someone else researches their subjects, the legwork in getting them to sit down (Mr. Guttman chased some for years like Bobby Heenan) and the process involved in getting it to the internet for broadcast. I must commend him on the wide variety of interview subjects. Like the people mentioned above plus Kevin Nash, Damien Demento, Corporal Kirschner, "the Missing Link" Dewey Robertson, Bad News Allen, Scott Steiner and extra kudos for surviving an interview with former Four Horseman member Ole Anderson who takes Guttman to the proverbial woodshed, for what reason I have no idea and I read the book. I will not spoil the surprises that lay inside the book but I will say Mr. Guttman will never be invited to the McMahon Christmas party but I doubt he cares as his web show guest list gets bigger and better each week.

You can buy this book in major retailers or online at www.ecwpress.com or www.worldwrestlinginsanity.com