Bullet Club, WrestleMania 34 inspire book by pro wrestling historian Keith Elliot Greenberg
Before obtaining a college degree at Queens College in Communication in journalism, this longtime pro wrestling fan began writing pro wrestling stories professionally at age 19.
Since then, Keith Elliot Greenberg has become a noted pro wrestling historian, who is also a New York Times best-selling author. His illustrious work includes writing for WWF Magazine and penning the autobiographies of pro wrestling legends, i.e. “Classy” Freddie Blassie, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Ric Flair.
Greenberg, 61, said about his professional journalism beginnings: “As I worked my way around and tried to get into different places, I would be asked, ‘Why should we commission a kid like you to write stories for us?’
“I remember Us Weekly asked me, when I was in my early 20s, ‘Why would we send you to do something? What do you know about, that none of our staff writers know about?’ I said, ‘I bet I know more about professional wrestling than anybody here.’
“Once I had a professional wrestling story published in a national publication, I could pretty much pitch wrestling stories to everybody.”
Maxim, Men’s Journal, HuffPost, Playboy, and The Village Voice to name a few.
There’s also the mountain top of pro wrestling promotions, World Wrestling Federation, now know as World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Its publication department at the time served as a new venture for the expanding national and international company. For Greenberg, right place, right time.
From Us to us
In 1985 at Madison Square Garden, while covering WrestleMania, the original, for Us Weekly, he received an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I was sitting next to Ed Ricciuti, who was the editor of the WWF Magazine,” Greenberg recalled. “We were chatting, and he’s like, ‘Why don’t you just write for us.’”
He did, a 22-year relationship scribing stories and books for WWF.
Television producer is also part of an impressive resume. His credits include “America’s Most Wanted” and “48 hours.” He worked for VH1, History Channel, ID Discovery, A&E, MSNBC, Fox News, PBS and more.
New book
“Too Sweet: Inside the Indie Wrestling Revolution” chronicles the growth of indie wrestling from bingo halls to a viable alternative to WWE and speaks to those involved in the alternative wrestling leagues with remarkable candor, gaining behind-the-scenes knowledge of this growing enterprise.
Greenberg takes readers back to the beginning, when a half century ago outlaw promotions challenged the established companies, and guides us into the current era. He paints a vivid picture of today’s diverse promotions and the colorful figures who’ve starred in each.
Inspired by Bullet Club and WrestleMania 34, the book is both a dynamic snapshot and the ultimate history of a transformational time in professional wrestling.
In September 2018, more than 11,000 fans filled the Sears Centre Arena for the All In pay-per-view event, proving an independent pro wrestling group could draw a crowd of 10,000 or more.
Part 1 of my audio interview with Keith Elliot Greenberg. He discusses the book and its title. He also talks Bullet Club, WrestleMania 34, Shea Stadium, Ali-Inoki, writing start and more.
In 2019, WWE had its first major head-to-head competitor in nearly two decades when All Elite Wrestling debuted on TNT.
Part 2 of my audio interview with Keith Elliot Greenberg. He discusses ROH, New Japan, MSG, Championship Wrestling from Florida, original WrestleMania plan, working for WWF, and more.
Greenberg followed-up from the interview by noting the Ring of Honor match he discussed that occurred in the ballroom of the New Yorker Hotel pitted Samoa Joe versus Kenta Kobashi, not CM Punk.
As for the book, he explores a wide array of major, minor and outlaw wrestling promotions, including WWE, NXT, AEW, New Japan, ECW, MLW, Impact, ROH, NWA, Chikara, Combat Zone Wrestling, Revolution Pro, Shimmer, wXw, Game Changer Wrestling, IWA, and PWG.
The release date is Sept. 1, 2020. It is available wherever books are sold.
You can find links to different booksellers on the “Too Sweet” page on ECW’s website: https://ecwpress.com/products/too-sweet?_pos=1&_sid=c4d4a0d6a&_ss=r.
About the author
Keith Elliot Greenberg is a New York Times best-selling author and television producer, who wrote for WWE’s publications for decades and co-authored the autobiographies of WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair, “Classy” Freddie Blassie and “Superstar” Billy Graham, as well as the third edition of “WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment.”
Greenberg lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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This story was originally published August 30, 2020 at 9:56 PM.
