Say Hello to the Bad Guys

How Professional Wrestling's New World Order Changed America

By: Marc Raimondi

Narrated by: Marc Raimondi

From ESPN reporter Marc Raimondi comes a compelling, gripping narrative history of professional wrestling’s legendary faction, The NWO (New World Order), from their inception in 1996 to their influence on American pop culture today.

In 1996, professional wrestling was one of the most watched sports on cable television, with more than 5 million people tuning in every week. And in the late 1990s, pro-wrestling was the hottest thing in American pop culture, with companies making millions in action figures, video games, and simple black t-shirts emblazoned with three little letters: NWO.

The NWO, or New World Order, became a business like no other, and was responsible for the explosive ratings and rabid fanbase. It started with an ingenious storyline starring Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and the titular Hollywood Hogan—Hulk Hogan gone bad. Together, they formed a new era of characters to root for: The Bad Guys.

Never before had audiences cheered for the villains, rooting for them over the heroes. The NWO broke down wrestling’s fourth wall in a clever new way, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. And suddenly, watching professional wrestling not only became socially acceptable, but a necessity if you wanted to stay up to date with pop culture. Their impact was infectious and long-lasting. It was entertainment that shaped a generation.

Written by Marc Raimondi, a current ESPN reporter with nearly twenty years of experience in journalism, this narrative history explores professional wrestling’s most popular faction and how their existence influenced American culture like never before.

New..New..New..New World Order

Good book. Take me up memory lane. This book just forgot to make mention of the nWo making an appearance at WrestleMania during the HHH vs Sting match. Or……….maybe it was for the best not to mention that appearance seeing it made zero sense lol

Everything you need to know about the NWO

I highly recommend this to anyone who is a devoted wrestling enthusiast and, more importantly, a huge fan of the NWO and its history, especially when it comes to the founding fathers, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan. Unbelievable stories that I have never even heard about until listened to this book.

Research

Everything was well written. The pace was great! A true fan wrote this book for sure.

A fun jaunt into 90s wrestling

It was a very fun book that I could listen to again! I watched it all as a kid and to go back was awesome. Nothing really new if you watched and listened to some of the in-depth podcasts about the subjects but it was a good listen to nonetheless.

If you love wrestling, read this book!

Many thanks for taking me back to some great memories! Loved this book. Must read for wrestling fans