Neal Pruitt's Secrets of WCW Nitro | wrestling stories from the voice of the nWo | Bischoff | Schiavone | Flair | Austin

WCWNitroBook.com

Former World Championship Wrestling producer Neal Pruitt - perhaps best known to fans as the unforgettable voice of the New World Order - discusses the previously unheard stories behind the production of a variety of classic WCW Nitro moments, including: Roddy Piper's trip to Alcatraz; The creation of the nWo logo; Hollywood Hogan's initial heel 'promos'... And much more! This podcast focuses on the magic created behind the camera during an iconic period in professional wrestling. In an unprecedented level of detail, Neal takes fans into the production truck and reveals the technical wizardry that helped create some of the most memorable segments in WCW history. Subscribe now!

  1. OCT 21

    SPECIAL UPDATE: THE HULK HOGAN STORY

    JUST LAUNCHED ON KICKSTARTER: THE HULK HOGAN STORY!  On the morning of July 24, 2025, the most famous professional wrestler in history – Terry 'Hulk Hogan' Bollea – passed away in Clearwater, Florida. Within days, I started to receive correspondence from readers who asked if I would consider writing a biography on the 'Immortal One' himself. This was somewhat serendipitous because without much fanfare, I had already initiated such a project! In the wake of Bollea's death, however, it became clear to me that my untitled book – tentatively known as The Hulk Hogan Story – couldn't be adequately confined to a single volume. It is thus now my intention to develop a biographical trilogy on this most important subject – the first of its kind in the genre. That's right...three full-length books on the life, career and unparalleled cultural impact of Hulk Hogan! This groundbreaking series of books will be informed by over 100 exclusive interviews – not to mention the comprehensive research for which my books are already known. The final work will be available in paperback, audiobook and e-book formats, with a special hardcover edition – never again to be reprinted (!) – offered as a 'Kickstarter Exclusive' reward. Your pledges will support the substantial research, printing, shipping and other direct costs that are required in launching a project of this scope. Pledges of $30 or more allow backers to pre-order the books at a discounted rate (and unlock exclusive extras)!  So what are you gonna do...when The Hulk Hogan Story runs wild on you?

    5 min
  2. SEP 18

    BEYOND NITRO: The Audio Book is now available!

    BEYOND NITRO: Untold Stories from the WCW era...is now available in AUDIO format! Order NOW -> https://guyevansbooks.com/products/beyond-nitro-untold-stories-from-the-wcw-era-audiobook Synopsis Bestselling author Guy Evans ('NITRO') returns with a monumental 680-page volume on World Championship Wrestling, bringing to light scores of revelatory insights in the process. Informed by over 100 new interviews, hundreds of internal company documents, confidential corporate materials, and never-before-seen financial records, BEYOND NITRO goes to places that no pro wrestling book has! BEYOND NITRO is divided into three parts, as outlined below: Part 1: Untold Stories – a series of engrossing personal profiles of people with a unique connection to WCW; Part 2: Where The Big Boys Played – an examination of various aspects of the WCW story which often escape introspection, such as the byzantine nature of its corporate accounting system, the company's historical Southern lineage, and the impact of its pioneering production team; Part 3: A Wrestling Odyssey – a look at some of the changes which occurred in the wrestling business post-WCW, including a noticeable change to the mainstream wrestling style, the proliferation of what is sometimes called 'the wrestling bubble', and the phenomenon of WCW experiencing a 'second life' through the waves of '90s nostalgia. To supplement this rather weighty structure – and to break up the presentation more generally – six 'interlude' chapters are included of various lengths, ranging from incredibly detailed (e.g., 'Spiked!') to relatively direct in scope (e.g., 'Don't Touch That Dial'). In all cases, these 'interludes' relate to a theme (or set of themes) explored in the preceding chapter. In the process, the book is able to delve into some thrilling uncharted waters, relative to the world of late '90s WWF - and even TNA during the 2010s. BEYOND NITRO features exclusive interviews and comments from: Eric Bischoff, fmr. WCW President; Stuart Snyder, fmr. WWF President & COO; Keith Mitchell, legendary fmr. WCCW, WCW, TNA and AEW producer; Kevin Sullivan, fmr. WCW head booker and wrestler; Jerry Jarrett, legendary wrestling promoter and booker; Kevin Kay, fmr. President of Spike Television; David Schwarz, fmr. Senior Vice President of Communications at Spike TV; Scott Fishman, Executive in Charge of Production at Spike TV; Eric Fleischer, fmr. Sr. Director of Consumer Insights, WWE; Christine Lawrence, fmr. Senior Director of Media Insights and Analytics, WWE; Michael Capretta, fmr. VP of Global Research and Insights, Warner Bros. Discovery; David Sahadi, fmr. Creative Director, WWE; Sami Callihan, fmr. Impact World Champion; Lash LeRoux, fmr. WCW wrestler; Scott Hudson, fmr. WCW announcer; Neal Pruitt, fmr. WCW feature producer and 'voice of the nWo'; Dick Cheatham, fmr. group controller for TBS; Jenni Sloan, designer of the nWo logo... And many, many, many more! Informed by the same attention to facts, research, analysis, drama and detail which made NITRO a bestseller, Beyond NITRO is finally here. It's a simply sensational sequel!

    1 min
  3. 06/13/2024

    Episode 45: Who Killed WCW? (Episode 2)

    Neal and Guy talk Episode 2 of VICE's Who Killed WCW? series! BOOK INFO SITTING RINGSIDE, VOLUME 1: WCW  DavidPenzerBook.com SYNOPSIS From 1995 to 2001, Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) famously battled Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for Monday night ratings supremacy. While on the WCW side, numerous autobiographical accounts have been written of the time period, relatively few participants witnessed the 'War' in its entirety. As the unmistakable 'voice of WCW' and its long-time ring announcer, David Penzer was featured on every episode of Monday Nitro and Thunder - the only on-screen personality in WCW to do so. Moreover, he witnessed the proceedings from the best seat in the house - ringside! In this candid, revealing and highly entertaining memoir, Penzer recounts his unlikely journey to the big-time - from his humble beginnings in South Florida to the lofty heights of WCW and the 'Monday Night Wars'. With an affable, engaging and self-effacing style, Penzer takes readers behind the curtain like never before, revealing both the personal and professional struggles he encountered in rising the ranks of a famously tough business. In Sitting Ringside Volume 1, Penzer also 'opens the vault' on a veritable 'treasure trove' of bonus materials - from production notes, to show formats, to internal documents which he has kept for over 20 years. Fans may be surprised to discover what's included! As Kevin Sullivan states in the book's foreword, Penzer was the "least likely to succeed in the wrestling business" - but over the course of a ten-year (1991-2001) association with WCW, Penzer became a utility player like no other. In addition to fulfilling the role of WCW's lead ring announcer, Penzer provided assistance on the production end of the business, as well as talent relations, and even the creative department during the company's dying days. As such, he provides an intriguing insiders' account of WCW's 'rise and fall' - delivered with unprecedented insight and perspective. In particular, Penzer demonstrates an astute, compelling, and highly nuanced view of several of his most well-known contemporaries, including: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper; Chris Jericho; Eric Bischoff; Kevin Sullivan; Vince Russo; Dusty Rhodes; Jody Hamilton; Tony Schiavone; 'Mean' Gene Okerlund; and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan. Co-written by NITRO author Guy Evans, Sitting Ringside Volume 1 is a unique look at an historic era in pro wrestling - and one man's dream to be a part of it. Foreword by Kevin Sullivan Contains rare documents, show formats and notes from behind the scenes at World Championship Wrestling! Print Length: 500 pages

    22 min
  4. 06/06/2024

    Episode 44: Who Killed WCW? (Episode 1)

    Neal and Guy are back to discuss Episode 1 of VICE's Who Killed WCW? series! BOOK INFO SITTING RINGSIDE, VOLUME 1: WCW  DavidPenzerBook.com SYNOPSIS From 1995 to 2001, Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) famously battled Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for Monday night ratings supremacy. While on the WCW side, numerous autobiographical accounts have been written of the time period, relatively few participants witnessed the 'War' in its entirety. As the unmistakable 'voice of WCW' and its long-time ring announcer, David Penzer was featured on every episode of Monday Nitro and Thunder - the only on-screen personality in WCW to do so. Moreover, he witnessed the proceedings from the best seat in the house - ringside! In this candid, revealing and highly entertaining memoir, Penzer recounts his unlikely journey to the big-time - from his humble beginnings in South Florida to the lofty heights of WCW and the 'Monday Night Wars'. With an affable, engaging and self-effacing style, Penzer takes readers behind the curtain like never before, revealing both the personal and professional struggles he encountered in rising the ranks of a famously tough business. In Sitting Ringside Volume 1, Penzer also 'opens the vault' on a veritable 'treasure trove' of bonus materials - from production notes, to show formats, to internal documents which he has kept for over 20 years. Fans may be surprised to discover what's included! As Kevin Sullivan states in the book's foreword, Penzer was the "least likely to succeed in the wrestling business" - but over the course of a ten-year (1991-2001) association with WCW, Penzer became a utility player like no other. In addition to fulfilling the role of WCW's lead ring announcer, Penzer provided assistance on the production end of the business, as well as talent relations, and even the creative department during the company's dying days. As such, he provides an intriguing insiders' account of WCW's 'rise and fall' - delivered with unprecedented insight and perspective. In particular, Penzer demonstrates an astute, compelling, and highly nuanced view of several of his most well-known contemporaries, including: 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper; Chris Jericho; Eric Bischoff; Kevin Sullivan; Vince Russo; Dusty Rhodes; Jody Hamilton; Tony Schiavone; 'Mean' Gene Okerlund; and Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan. Co-written by NITRO author Guy Evans, Sitting Ringside Volume 1 is a unique look at an historic era in pro wrestling - and one man's dream to be a part of it. Foreword by Kevin Sullivan Contains rare documents, show formats and notes from behind the scenes at World Championship Wrestling! Print Length: 500 pages

    28 min
4.6
out of 5
105 Ratings

About

Former World Championship Wrestling producer Neal Pruitt - perhaps best known to fans as the unforgettable voice of the New World Order - discusses the previously unheard stories behind the production of a variety of classic WCW Nitro moments, including: Roddy Piper's trip to Alcatraz; The creation of the nWo logo; Hollywood Hogan's initial heel 'promos'... And much more! This podcast focuses on the magic created behind the camera during an iconic period in professional wrestling. In an unprecedented level of detail, Neal takes fans into the production truck and reveals the technical wizardry that helped create some of the most memorable segments in WCW history. Subscribe now!

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