A refreshing autobiography - Rated 
Controversy Creates Cash is certainly a unique and enjoyable autobiography.Rather than a reliance on constant storylines which is so common in wrestling books,it was refreshing to read his perspective focusing on the business aspect and his mode for how to create entertaining television, such as marketing practices as well as the issues he had to face.While it could be said that Eric Bischoff does deflect some of the reasons wcw went out of business (eg the merger as opposed to the poor use of talent),it is undoubtable an interesting and entertaining read.
Mark David Bradshaw
Not great, but not bad either. - Rated 
I got through this book in about 3 days... I don't know if thats because it was so interesting or what but I came away from it remembering Sean O'Haires line "but I'm not telling you anything you don't already know". I hated WCW, but I like Bischoff, and it was interesting to read his side of the story. The only problem is that so much detail is lacking, and so much more could have been said. I thought it was a little disappointing, glossing over years of really, really bad booking at WCW and failing to answer several of the standard criticisms that were levelled at the company. I'm glad I read the book but I think unless you're a Bischoff fan you're really not going to get much from it. To be honest (and don't laugh) I actually enjoyed Hogan's book more!
Worth a look- but be sure to get both sides. - Rated 
I really enjoyed reading this. I was an avid wrestling fan during the wars, and the issues that surfaced since the battle ended remain of interest. So much so that many a book has been published.
Eric Bischoff's book has plenty going for it in terms of credibility. He knew the financial details, and the insider information which (as he claims throughout)"dirt sheets" simply think they know, or make up.
Bischoff has the decency to admit to making mistakes with personal issues. Arn Anderson was a true "blue collar" worker, and his send-off, with the nWo mocking him for no felt reason (there was no angle with him or the Horsemen planned) was a disgrace. At least Eric admits to it now.
I still feel some mistakes were kept from us, which is why I suggest anyone with more then a passing interest looks for additional material. He talked about how Kiss were a marketing dream, yet fails to reason why the segments with them performing did nothing to improve the ratings war, the sole reason they were brought in.
However he does shed plenty light on how the company got taken away from him. He was forced to work under conditions which meant WCW were the inferior product, and I think he does a good job convincing people this was the case (it convinced me over other accounts anyway). The AOL-Time Warner merger was demonstrated to be a key issue, one of the best parts of the book came when he was meeting executives, who were trying to tell him what he could and couldnt do.
"What is my show called?"
"Um...Nitro"
"What night is it on?"
No answer.
This, I feel, highlights superbly what he was up against.
He mentions "Chemical abuse" throughout. Following the time that this book was written, former WCW superstar Chris Benoit killed his wife and son, followed a day later by himself. WWE have come under scrutiny for refusing to recongise the drug problem in wrestling, at least Bischoff has to an extent here.
Bischoff's book gives a great insight into how a tiny organisation became a mulit-million dollar machine, then went out of buisness. Well worth a look, but as Ive said be sure to query some of his more dubious soundign claims.
ME ME ME ME ME ME ME - Rated 
I bought this book off amazon (where I get all my books) I've read most of the official WWE autobiographies, the only ones I haven't read are: William Regal's, Kurt Angles and Eddie Guerrero's. This book was good, short but good he gives alot of information about WCW during its peak years the thing that annoyed me about this book was how much he loves himself mainly his claiming all of the credit for WCW's and to some part WWE's success during the "Attitude" era that basically WWE got all their ideas from him and that if he got another chance he would take Vince McMahon on again, he bases this on the fact that WCW were above WWE in the TV ratings for 83 weeks or whatever it was, also his comments about Vince Russo are lifted from Bobby Heenan's book almost to the letter. Its a decent read if not a little self serving.
Highly Recommended (Even If You Hated WCW) - Rated 
Eric Bischoff has certainly been a hated figure for fans and wrestlers alike over the years. After all, he started off as a lowly "host" on WCW programming and eventually worked his way up to Vice President of the company (a position that changed hands on a regular basis before he was put in charge). He took WCW to the top, but in many people's eyes, he brought them right back down to the bottom.
Well, now Eric is here to give HIS side of the story. He starts off by correcting several inaccuracies regarding his qualifications and his role within the now defunct American Wrestling Association (amazingly, the door of opportunity opened for Bischoff after the promoter Verne Gagne gave him some free air time to plug his idea for a new kids toy, "Ninja Star Wars").
Bischoff eventually became an AWA announcer (although by his own admission, he was terrible. It was simply a case of "right place, right time" and no-one else being available, or in some cases, being worse than him). He talks about his job interview with WWF (he tried out for an annoucing job there, but didn't get it), but it's when he moves onto WCW (World Championshhip Wrestling) that things get really interesting.
Contrary to what you may think of Eric Bischoff, but when talking about his former employers and co-workers, he doesn't rip into or "chew them out" for no good reason. He tries to see the positives in every situation (although in WCW, at least internally, there weren't all that many).
Despite what people may think about the departure of announcer Jim Ross soon after Eric came to power in WCW, Bischoff doesn't bash "JR" completely and actually ponders why JR got the story round that he "fired" him (according to Eric, he didn't have enough authority to "fire" anyone at that point and actually agreed to let Ross go as he was unhappy in the company).
You'll also get the other side of Steve Austin's departure from the company, how Jesse "The Body" Venture took a personal dispute with Hulk Hogan a little too far, plus the birth of Monday Nitro and the dominance over the WWF, as well as the demise of WCW and Bischoff's eventual run with WWE.
A common criticism about this book was that Bischoff takes tremendous credit for the success of WCW, but does not shoulder much of the blame for its downfall. I would disagree. Up until the release of this book, no-one REALLY knew just how chaotic a place WCW was to work within (we've heard from the wrestlers, but we've never really heard a business perspective). Eric does admit to some of his faults, but emphasises how WCW was constantly full of "suits" who either hated or didn't understand wrestling. He also explains how the merger between Time Warner and Turner and another AOL merger was actually more of a curse than a blessing.
The only reason I didn't give this book the full 5 stars was because Bischoff simply doesn't spend long enough on his WWE career (although I guess he didn't want to upset the people he STILL works with). Also there are a few spelling errors and a picture of Sensational Sherri has the caption "Missy Hyatt" (who Bischoff really speaks his mind about). Obviously, the latter is not his fault.
Overall, this is recommended reading for any current WWE fan or anyone who used to watch WCW and is curious as to what really went on behind the scenes. Definitely one of the best wrestling bios in a while.
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