BOOK DETAILS
PUBLISHER
Crowbar Press
PUBLICATION DATE
May 1, 2025
6x9 Perfect Bound
Pages: 218
Words: 117,944
Images: 97 b&w
Cover: Full color
ISBN: 978-1-940391-49-6
Item #: cbp101-twa
$22.95
$22.95
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Since the 1940s, professional wrestling in the Northeast part of the United States had been ruled by the powers behind the World Wide Wrestling Federation, and for the most part, that holds true to this day. Mention the words "pro wrestling" to people there and, most likely, they'll immediately mention the names Hulk Hogan, Bruno Sammartino, or Vince McMahon.
However, in 1990, a successful businessman and independent pro wrestling promoter named Joel Goodhart came along and introduced a style of wrestling that changed the way wrestling fans looked at wrestling. Whereas wrestling had always been presented in the U.S. as a legitimate contest of wrestling skill, Joel presented matches that were so violent and unpredictable that the action just couldn't be contained inside the ring. In fact, at Tri-State Wrestling Alliance shows, every fan had a ringside seat at one point or another because the wrestlers took their battles outside the ring and into every part of the arena.
Joel is considered by many to be the "father of extreme hardcore wrestling" here in the U.S., and in the early '90s, his Tri-State Wrestling Alliance shows in Philadelphia were the talk of the wrestling world. His shows were the polar opposite of the "cartoonish" product promoted by the established World Wrestling Federation.
In this book, Joel sits down for a series of in-depth interviews with Crowbar Press publisher Scott Teal and reveals the details of how he formed an independent wrestling company that became the talk of the wrestling world. He brought wrestlers to Philadelphia from other parts of the country and stacked his cards with top-tier talent. Added to the mix were local up-and-coming wrestlers, and their style of wrestling was every bit as violent as that of the big stars.
The process of putting that all together is the focal point of this book, which can best be summed up as Joel's (by his own admission) "riches to rags" story. In his zeal to bring the most exciting, albeit violent, pro wrestling to Philadelphia wrestling fans, Joel lost more than $150,000 (and that was a lot of money in those days) in less than two years. The behind-the-scenes details, however, are a fascinating look into what it takes to become a very successful wrestling promoter, and at the same time, an unsuccessful businessman.
Despite that, Joel Goodhart's style of promotion is credited with inspiring Tod Gordon's "Extreme Championship Wrestling" promotion and the WWF's "Attitude Era" that popularized high-profile superstars like "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock.
This is the story of how one man popularized what is known today today as "hardcore wrestling."
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Tod Gordon
1 Out of the Wrestling Closet
2 The Squared Circle
3 Watching a Radio Broadcast
4 Jim Cornette and the King of Prussia
5 Autographed Underwear
6 The Long-Haired, Snakeskin-Booted,
Seriously Sunglassed, 36-year-old Insurance Salesman
7 Tri-State Wrestling Alliance
8 Mr. Sandman Sleep Center
9 "For twenty-five dollars, she'll do anything!" |
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10 Phone Call from the Sheik
11 The Biggest Payday! | The Smallest Gate!
12 Five-Foot-Seven . in Both Directions!
13 The City of Brotherly Hate
14 The Bones That Talked
15 Hot Oil Wrestling
16 The Dream Match
17 Taking a Financial Bath
18 Sleeping Well at Night
19 Goodhart, Blackhart and Friendlyhart
20 The Legacy
21 Go-Go Professional Wrestling
22 It's Chubby Dudley's Fault |
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Abrams, Herb
Adams, Chris
Al the Sledgehammer
Albano, Captain Lou
Allen, Don E.
American Pit Bulls
Anderson, Arn
Anderson, Ole
Andre the Giant
Apter, Bill
Arezzi, John
Arion, Spiros
Armstrong, Bob
Artese, Bob
Ash, Bill
Austin, Steve (Stone Cold)
Autumn Armageddon
Ayres, John
B Bar A Boot Shop (Paris AR)
Baby Doll
Bar Wars
Bar Wars tournament
Barend, Johnny
Barkley, Charles
Bart, Black
Battle of the Bam Bams
Benoit, Chris
Bernaman, Betty
Bigelow, Bam Bam
Blackhart, Joel
Blackhearts (Tom Nash & David Heath)
Blackstone, Bonnie
Blanchard, Tessa
Blanchard, Tully
Blassie, Freddie
Blue Meanie
Blue, Misty
Bounty Hunter
Brandi, Tom
Brody, Bruiser
Brookshier, Tom
Brower, Bulldog
Brown, Dave
Bruno, Downtown
Bruno, Michael
Bus Stop, The (Philadelphia restaurant)
Butcher, Abdullah the
Candido, Chris
Capetta, Gary Michael
Carver W. Reed & Co.
Chaminade College
Champs Diner (Philadephia)
Cheetah Kid (Ted Petty)
Chi-Town Heat
Cinque, Marla
Clash of the Champions IX
Colón, Carlos
Condrey, Dennis
Continental Wrestling Alliance (Allentown PA)
Coralluzzo, Dennis
Corino, Steve
Cornette, Jim
Corrente, Sal
Crockett Cup 1988
Crockett, Jim
Cruise, Chris
Crybaby Waldo
Cujo the Hellhound
Cujo, Dave
Cusati, Tom
Daignault, Ron
Dallas Sportatorium
Dallas, Linda
Dangerously, Paul E.
Demolition Crush
Denenberg, Herb
DeNucci, Dominic
DeSpirito, Carmine
Dillon, JJ
Dog Pound, The
Dopke, Michael
Douglas, Shane
Drake, D.C.
Dudley, Chubby
Durante, Anthony
Eadie, Bill
Eastern Championship Wrestling
Eaton, Bobby
ECW
ECWA Super 8 Chickfight
Ellering, Paul
Embry, Eric
Equitable, The
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Fallen Angel (Nancy Sullivan)
Fantastics, The
Feinstein, Rob
Fernandez, Manny
Finegan, John
Flair, Ric
Foss, Carmella Fedrico Panfil
Four Horsemen, The
Friendlyhart Productions
Friendlyhart, Joel
Fullington, Jim (Sandman)
Fullington, Lori
Fulton, Bobby
Funk Jr., Dory
Funk, Terry
Furnas, Doug
Gallone, Larry
Galloway, Mary
Game Changer Wrestling |
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Gangrel (David Heath)
Garvin, Jimmy
Garvin, Ron
Geringer, Dan
Ghetto Blaster
Gilbert, Doug
Gilbert, Eddie
Goodhart, Danielle
Goodhart, Marc
Goodhart, Ross
Gordon, Tod
Gordy, Terry
Graham, Superstar Billy
Grand Wizard, The
Hart, Owen
Hartgood, Joel
Haynes, Billy Jack
Heath, David
Heenan, Bobby
Heffron, Brian (Blue Meanie)
Heyman, Paul
Hogan, Hulk
Honky Tonk Man
Honolulu International Center
Hoscheid, Richard
Hotbody, Johnny
Hyatt, Missy
I-95 Marketplace
Idol, Austin
Iizuka, Takayuki
Ingling, Rich
Iron Sheik, The
Jack, Cactus
Jannetty, Jimmy
Jannetty, Marty
Jarrett, Jeff
Jerry Lawler Show, The
Jewish Exponent, The
Jim Crockett Promotions
Joe, Tokyo (Joe Daigo)
Johnny O
Johnson, Rocy
Jones, Paul
Junkyard Dog
Juster, Gary
Kaluha, Mike
Kavanaugh, Ryan
Keirn, Steve
Kettner, Jim
Koloff, Ivan
Koloff, Nikita
Koshinaka, Shiro
Kowalski, Killer
Kroffat, Dan
Krone, Roger
Landel, Buddy
Lane, Stan
Lane, Veronica
Lano, Mike
Lawler, Jerry
LeRoux, Kat
Liger, Jushin
Little Louie
Luger, Lex
Marinelli, Debbie
Martin, Troy
Mastromatto, Danielle
McDaniel, Wahoo
McGonigle Hall
McMahon, Shane
McMahon, Stephanie
McMahon, Vince
Meltzer, Dave
Memphis wrestling
Micelli, Madusa
Midnight Express, The
Mighty Igor, The
Miss Linda
Molineaux, Jim
Monsoon, Gorilla
Monster Factory
Morant, Breaker
Morgan, Heidi Lee
Muraco, Don
Murdoch, Dick
Murnick, Elliott
Murphy, Dan
Muta, The Great
Muto, Keiji
Napolitano, George
Nash, Tom
National Wrestling Alliance
Neshaminy High School (Langhorne PA)
NWA (National Wrestling Alliance)
O'Hannon, Davey
"One and Done"
Original Sports Bar (Philadelphia)
Orndorff, Paul
Orton, Bob
Osbourne, Glen
Pacific Northwest heavyweight title
Pacific Northwest wrestling
Panfil, Paul
Patera, Ken
Peaches (Lori Fullington)
Pedicino, Joe
Penn Hall (Civic Center)
Perez, Al
Perez, Rick
Petty, Ted
Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia Eagles
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Philadephia Daily News
Pillman Jr., Brian
Precious (Patricia Garvin)
Prendergast, Craig
Prichard, Tom
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
Puerto Rico
Putski, Ivan
Race, Harley
Ragni, Bay
Raskin, Robert
Rasslecon
Rasslin' Review
Rasslin' Radio
Rebel, Rockin'
Redd, CN
Rhodes, Dusty
Rich, Tommy
Richards, Stevie
Richman., Ike
Ringmasters Wrestling School
Ritter, Sylvester (Junkyard Dog)
Road Warriors
Rock 'n' Roll Express
Rogers, Tommy
Roller Derby
Ross, Jim
Rotundo, Mike
Russell, Lance
Russen, Rob
Sabatino's
Sabu (Terry Brunk)
Sammartino, Bruno
Sammartino, David
Sampson, Missy
Sandman
Scozzari, Gordon
Sharpe, Larry (Pretty Boy)
Shaw, Ron
Sheik, The (original)
Sheraton Valley Forge (PA)
Shults, David
Siciliano, Jeannie Peletsky
Siki, Sweet Daddy
Smith, J.T.
Snuka, Jimmy
Spectrum, The (Philadelphia)
Spring Spectacular
Squared Circle Fan Club
Squared Circle, The
Steele, George
Steiner, Rick
Steiner, Scott
Stetson, Tony
Sting (Steve Borden)
Street, Adrian
Strongbow, Jules
Sullivan, Kevin
Summer Sizzler
SummerSlam
Sunshine (Valerie French)
Sytch, Tammy
Talent, Frank
Tartaglia, Michael (Michael Bruno)
Tearson, Michael
Temple University
Terminator, The
Teal, Scott
Tiger Jackson
Tri-State Wrestling Alliance
Tri-States Wrestling Alliance heavyweight title
Truitt, Steve
University of Miami
Vachon, Luna
Valiant, Jimmy
Vicious, Sid
Volkoff, Nicolai
Von Erich, Kerry
Von Erich, Kevin
Von Erich, Marshall
Von Erich, Ross
WCW (World Championship Wrestling)
WDVT-AM 900 (Philadelphia)
WFLN-AM 900 (Philadelphia)
Whatley, Pez
Williams, Steve
Windham, Barry
Winter Challenge
Winters, Larry
WIP-AM 610
WIP-AM 610 (Philadelphia)
Wizzard's Lounge
WNJE-AM 920 (Trenton NJ)
Wolfe, Gary
Woman (Nancy Sullivan)
Woodhaven Sports Center
Woodstock College
World Championship Wrestling
World Class Wrestling
World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico)
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Federation
WrestleMania IV
"Wrestling Eye"
"Wrestling Observer Newsletter"
WTTM-AM 920 (Trenton NJ)
WWE
WWF
WWWF
Wylde, Chris
Zanolle, Joe
Zbyszko, Larry |
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