For over half a century, Superstars have battled to win the WWE Championship. While the name may have changed, the prestige attached to the championship has exploded. That is due in no small part to the immortals of wrestling that have held this coveted title - Bruno Sammartino taking the title from the first holder Buddy Rogers; the totally unexpected win of Superstar Billy Graham; Hulk Hogan's win over the Iron Sheik, who had refused a pay-off to injury Hogan; Andre the Giant's surrender of the title to Ted DiBiase; the newcomer win of the Undertaker; the commanding wrestling abilities of Bret Hart; Shawn Michaels's win in Montreal; the stunning victories of "Stone Cold" Steve Austin; the triumph of the People's Champion, The Rock; Triple H playing the game; the never surrender attitude of John Cena. This is the chronicle of how the title that is now known as the WWE Championship became sports-entertainment's most coveted prize.
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About the Author
Kevin Sullivan began his sports entertainment career in 1998 when he accepted a position with World Wrestling Entertainment's web site, WWE.com. Over the next 10 years, he split time working with both the web site and WWE Magazine. Despite electing to leave the company in 2008, Sullivan's contributions to the world of sports entertainment have continued; he has authored several WWE books, including the 2009 New York Times bestselling WWE Encyclopedia. Sullivan currently resides in Stamford, Connecticut, with his wife and son.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In the profession of sports-entertainment, any and every wrestler strives to be the best at what they do, and that is obviously to become heavyweight champion of the world. Of course, this being wrestling and outcomes being pre-determined, one might instantly presume there's no meaning and prestige in being a champion of wrestling.
But to be world champion of wrestling, means that you're generally regarded as the best at what you do. To go out there and to give the audience the best match of the night, to be the centrepiece of all the major storylines and angles, to be the biggest star imaginable of your organisation and leave a legacy that fans can revere forever.
So many world titles in different wrestling organisations have become illustrious prizes, building the aura of both title and titlist. But perhaps the WWE's heavyweight championship is truly the greatest prize in all of wrestling. Because as Mick Foley once said, "The WWF has always been able to make it's world title mean something."
Looking at the history of WWE Championship reigns, there's certainly very little evidence to dispute that theory. The WWE HAS always been able to make its world title mean something, whether it be the countless classic matches that the belt has been contested for, or from a storyline standpoint, or the calibre of an athlete chosen to hold it, or when the title has been vacated or when its been the focal point of WrestleMania.
Kevin Sullivan (the co-author of bestseller WWE Encyclopedia) tries to sum up everything that makes the WWE title so important with this delightful hardback chronicling everything from its creation to the most recent title change (which at the time of writing was Sheamus' second WWE title win at Fatal 4-Way 2010).
Having loved WWE Encyclopedia and all the sterling work Sullivan did for that book, I immediately took the chance to purchase a copy of this book. And once again, Sullivan's brilliant research and engaging writing style really comes into play, making Rich History of the WWE Championship great material, both for historians and new fans.
Like WWE Encyclopedia, Sullivan carefully divides his attention and focus to the most relevant parts of the title's history, and does an excellent job summing it all up over three hundred pages. Focusing on the calibre of the athletes, the classic battles, the title changes and audience reactions, the importance of the different reigns, all the storyline feuds that spun-off from it and all the controversies that emerged; the writer once again shows how much he cares about the subject matter.
You can expect to read things like the significance of the first champion Buddy Rogers, the incredible reign of the virtually unbeatable Bruno Sammartino, the awe-inspiring era of Hulk Hogan, the revolutionary changes Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin brought with their reigns, the shocking meteoric rises the Undertaker, Diesel, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar and Sheamus, and the behind-the-scenes frustrations with Shawn Michaels GODLIKE first title run. Plus the eras of Triple H and the Rock, the AMAZING year-long reign of John Cena, the emotional and beautiful wins of Pedro Morales, Eddie Guerrero, Jeff Hardy and Mick `Mankind' Foley, the shocking triumphs of Ivan Koloff, Sgt. Slaughter, Edge, JBL, Mr. McMahon and the Ultimate Warrior, and the controversies surrounding the wins and brief reigns of Kane, Andre the Giant, Yokozuna and Randy Orton.
Reading again about such classic bouts like Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold vs. The Rock, Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam, as well as the infamous Montreal Screwjob, Edge's live-sex celebration, to multiple title switches at WrestleMania 9 and No Mercy 2007, the Money in the Bank cash-ins, and the whole Iraqi sympathiser angle surrounding Sgt. Slaughter brought back so many memories. And Sullivan again does all those moments justice. A timeline at the back of the book, detailing every WWE title change up until Sheamus' second reign, along with the introduction at the beginning make it a cracking book overall.
It's interesting as well reading some of the interviews from people over what their title victories and runs with the belt meant, such as Bret Hart, Big Show, Diesel, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid (who incredibly saw winning the WWE Championship as more of a hindrance than an honour!). But even though it all makes for superb reading, I can't help but feel it lacklustre somewhat. Compared to how in-depth WWE Encyclopedia was, Rich History of the WWE Championship is somewhat quick and over before you know it, kind of like WWE Showdowns. Perhaps it could've done with another hundred pages, smaller font and more content to justify the price. That Sullivan also kind of blurs the line between kayfabe and shoot when chronicling the title's history may also confuse or off-put some readers.
Nevertheless, this is a cracking book, one that's definitely worth a read. Alas, WWE Encyclopedia remains the best piece of literature that WWE has ever released, but because it's Kevin Sullivan that's written this, you can't go far wrong.
But to be world champion of wrestling, means that you're generally regarded as the best at what you do. To go out there and to give the audience the best match of the night, to be the centrepiece of all the major storylines and angles, to be the biggest star imaginable of your organisation and leave a legacy that fans can revere forever.
So many world titles in different wrestling organisations have become illustrious prizes, building the aura of both title and titlist. But perhaps the WWE's heavyweight championship is truly the greatest prize in all of wrestling. Because as Mick Foley once said, "The WWF has always been able to make it's world title mean something."
Looking at the history of WWE Championship reigns, there's certainly very little evidence to dispute that theory. The WWE HAS always been able to make its world title mean something, whether it be the countless classic matches that the belt has been contested for, or from a storyline standpoint, or the calibre of an athlete chosen to hold it, or when the title has been vacated or when its been the focal point of WrestleMania.
Kevin Sullivan (the co-author of bestseller WWE Encyclopedia) tries to sum up everything that makes the WWE title so important with this delightful hardback chronicling everything from its creation to the most recent title change (which at the time of writing was Sheamus' second WWE title win at Fatal 4-Way 2010).
Having loved WWE Encyclopedia and all the sterling work Sullivan did for that book, I immediately took the chance to purchase a copy of this book. And once again, Sullivan's brilliant research and engaging writing style really comes into play, making Rich History of the WWE Championship great material, both for historians and new fans.
Like WWE Encyclopedia, Sullivan carefully divides his attention and focus to the most relevant parts of the title's history, and does an excellent job summing it all up over three hundred pages. Focusing on the calibre of the athletes, the classic battles, the title changes and audience reactions, the importance of the different reigns, all the storyline feuds that spun-off from it and all the controversies that emerged; the writer once again shows how much he cares about the subject matter.
You can expect to read things like the significance of the first champion Buddy Rogers, the incredible reign of the virtually unbeatable Bruno Sammartino, the awe-inspiring era of Hulk Hogan, the revolutionary changes Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin brought with their reigns, the shocking meteoric rises the Undertaker, Diesel, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar and Sheamus, and the behind-the-scenes frustrations with Shawn Michaels GODLIKE first title run. Plus the eras of Triple H and the Rock, the AMAZING year-long reign of John Cena, the emotional and beautiful wins of Pedro Morales, Eddie Guerrero, Jeff Hardy and Mick `Mankind' Foley, the shocking triumphs of Ivan Koloff, Sgt. Slaughter, Edge, JBL, Mr. McMahon and the Ultimate Warrior, and the controversies surrounding the wins and brief reigns of Kane, Andre the Giant, Yokozuna and Randy Orton.
Reading again about such classic bouts like Hulk Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior, Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels, Stone Cold vs. The Rock, Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar, John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam, as well as the infamous Montreal Screwjob, Edge's live-sex celebration, to multiple title switches at WrestleMania 9 and No Mercy 2007, the Money in the Bank cash-ins, and the whole Iraqi sympathiser angle surrounding Sgt. Slaughter brought back so many memories. And Sullivan again does all those moments justice. A timeline at the back of the book, detailing every WWE title change up until Sheamus' second reign, along with the introduction at the beginning make it a cracking book overall.
It's interesting as well reading some of the interviews from people over what their title victories and runs with the belt meant, such as Bret Hart, Big Show, Diesel, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels and Sycho Sid (who incredibly saw winning the WWE Championship as more of a hindrance than an honour!). But even though it all makes for superb reading, I can't help but feel it lacklustre somewhat. Compared to how in-depth WWE Encyclopedia was, Rich History of the WWE Championship is somewhat quick and over before you know it, kind of like WWE Showdowns. Perhaps it could've done with another hundred pages, smaller font and more content to justify the price. That Sullivan also kind of blurs the line between kayfabe and shoot when chronicling the title's history may also confuse or off-put some readers.
Nevertheless, this is a cracking book, one that's definitely worth a read. Alas, WWE Encyclopedia remains the best piece of literature that WWE has ever released, but because it's Kevin Sullivan that's written this, you can't go far wrong.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Very disapointed in this book, when I saw it was written by Kevin Sullivan, a known name on the wrestling business. As such he he would have a wealth of stories. however the opportunity was wasted. Kayfabe was not broken, and as such the I found the tone of the book patronising and dull. spend your money on the dvd version at least it is watchable
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
19 reviews
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Cursory Look at the WWE Title
9 Jan 2011
By realsendric
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
I was quite excited when I read the WWE was putting out a book on the history of the WWE Title, as I am very interested in the storied history of it. However, the end product was little more than a cursory look back, and the "Rich History" promised in the title of the book is sorely lacking.
I understand the WWE is currently marketing to younger views. Thus they would want to make the book accessible to a wide audience, but at a price of nearly $30.00 I was expecting a lot more than I got. For example Bruno Sammartino's eight year reign is glossed over in about three pages of text, most of which was about his childhood (information cribbed from his book or old interviews no doubt). Pedro Morales, Bruno's second reign, and Bob Backlund receive a little more coverage, but not much more. Antonio Inoki's disputed title reign is mentioned but is quickly dismissed, and the incident between Valentine and Backlund where the title is held up is ignored.
Other, short Title reigns are dismissed in a few sentences. For example "The Rock's fourth WWE Championship reign was much like his previous three-short. Less than one month in, he lost the title back to Triple H in a grueling sixty-minute Iron Man Match at Judgment Day. Luckily for The Rock, he was able to to regain the gold from The Game just one month later at King of the Ring."
Here the author goes through two title changes and doesn't mention that Shawn Michaels was the guest referee for the Iron Man Match, that Undertaker's interference cost Rock the title, mentions nothing that happened on the Raws in between, and doesn't even explain that the King of the Ring match was a 6 Man Tag where the title could change hands pitting Triple H, and Vince and Shane McMahon against The Rock, The Undertaker and Kane. The book is full of these omissions.
Once again, when I pay $30 for a book on the "Rich History" of the WWE Title I don't expect to get less history than a Wikipedia page on any given former champion. Finally, my biggest complaint is that there is not one citation in the whole book. The author just cuts and pastes quotes and basically plagiarizes from other wrestler's books, former interviews and televised interviews and leaves the reader the reader hanging as to where he got them from. I know he had to have done a little research, so where are the citations? I understand that this is not an academic book but this level of laziness and literary dishonesty is unacceptable.
On the up side there are a lot of pictures, and for someone (like a kid) who just wants the basic history of the WWE Title I could mildly recommend it. However, anyone who has a serious interest in this topic should not waste his or her money. You can find pages more of information at Wikipedia alone.
I understand the WWE is currently marketing to younger views. Thus they would want to make the book accessible to a wide audience, but at a price of nearly $30.00 I was expecting a lot more than I got. For example Bruno Sammartino's eight year reign is glossed over in about three pages of text, most of which was about his childhood (information cribbed from his book or old interviews no doubt). Pedro Morales, Bruno's second reign, and Bob Backlund receive a little more coverage, but not much more. Antonio Inoki's disputed title reign is mentioned but is quickly dismissed, and the incident between Valentine and Backlund where the title is held up is ignored.
Other, short Title reigns are dismissed in a few sentences. For example "The Rock's fourth WWE Championship reign was much like his previous three-short. Less than one month in, he lost the title back to Triple H in a grueling sixty-minute Iron Man Match at Judgment Day. Luckily for The Rock, he was able to to regain the gold from The Game just one month later at King of the Ring."
Here the author goes through two title changes and doesn't mention that Shawn Michaels was the guest referee for the Iron Man Match, that Undertaker's interference cost Rock the title, mentions nothing that happened on the Raws in between, and doesn't even explain that the King of the Ring match was a 6 Man Tag where the title could change hands pitting Triple H, and Vince and Shane McMahon against The Rock, The Undertaker and Kane. The book is full of these omissions.
Once again, when I pay $30 for a book on the "Rich History" of the WWE Title I don't expect to get less history than a Wikipedia page on any given former champion. Finally, my biggest complaint is that there is not one citation in the whole book. The author just cuts and pastes quotes and basically plagiarizes from other wrestler's books, former interviews and televised interviews and leaves the reader the reader hanging as to where he got them from. I know he had to have done a little research, so where are the citations? I understand that this is not an academic book but this level of laziness and literary dishonesty is unacceptable.
On the up side there are a lot of pictures, and for someone (like a kid) who just wants the basic history of the WWE Title I could mildly recommend it. However, anyone who has a serious interest in this topic should not waste his or her money. You can find pages more of information at Wikipedia alone.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Own
28 Nov 2010
By Chipotle4All
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Each year, the WWE puts out a handful of items that true fans must have ... this is one of those items. I received it in the mail a few days ago and read it cover to cover in just two days (and I'm starting it again tonight ... not joking).
It's a very easy read and manages to take the reader through the entire history of the WWE. In fact, the book actually starts a few years before there ever was a WWE. It talks all about how Buddy Rogers' NWA title win in the early 1960s helped form WWE. That part was a lot of fun because you rarely get that type of history from a WWE product.
Another fun part was Sgt. Slaughter talking about how his life changed for the negative after he won the gold. There's a lot of good stories like that in there.
It's a very easy read and manages to take the reader through the entire history of the WWE. In fact, the book actually starts a few years before there ever was a WWE. It talks all about how Buddy Rogers' NWA title win in the early 1960s helped form WWE. That part was a lot of fun because you rarely get that type of history from a WWE product.
Another fun part was Sgt. Slaughter talking about how his life changed for the negative after he won the gold. There's a lot of good stories like that in there.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
27 April 2013
By Angel
- Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase
Great book!!!
I love it I mean it starts from champ 1 to the last champ in the 2010 year
I love it I mean it starts from champ 1 to the last champ in the 2010 year
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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