Review: ‘Titan Shattered’
James Dixon covers WWE’s tumultuous year of 1996.
As Vince McMahon comes under fire again for doing business with Saudi Arabia, overseeing SmackDown’s ratings collapse on FOX and relaunching the XFL, it seems apropos to revisit his toughest obstacle: Ted Turner’s WCW.
While there are many materials on the subject, none are as comprehensive and riveting as James Dixon’s “Titan” series, particularly, “Titan Shattered: Wrestling with Confidence and Paranoia.” In 256 pages, Dixon breaks down the tumultuous year of 1996, when McMahon was perhaps at his most desperate. Faced with many of his top stars defecting to WCW, a disgruntled, floundering champion and an audience burnt out on his cartoonish product, the WWF owner was forced to abandon his principles in order to steer his sinking ship to profitability.
Dixon analyzes McMahon’s shift in marketing from kids to teens and young adults, reluctant partnering with promotions like All Japan and ECW, unprecedented acknowledgement of the competition, finally allowing talent to use their real names and most importantly, restructuring of contracts, offering downside guarantees rather than just opportunity.
A former wrestler himself on the British independent circuit, Dixon is the chief editor and writer at historyofwrestling.co.uk and editor of WrestleTalk Magazine, as well as the Complete WWF Video Guide series, and the Raw Files series. His immense knowledge of the industry comes across in his brilliant writing, leading readers by the hand behind the curtain and answering all their questions regarding decades-old tales. In addition to original interviews with Jim Cornette, JJ Dillon and others, he draws quotes from a variety of books, DVDs, websites and other wrestling media, providing an all-encompassing perspective on juicy, controversial events.
Dixon hits all the high points of 1996, including WrestleMania XII, the Curtain Call, Austin 3:16, Survivor Series and Brian Pillman’s “Loose Cannon” persona, as well as the formation of the New World Order and the original angle that inspired the super group. Additionally, he delves into the history of inter-promotional feuds, one of my favorite parts of the book.
He also covers the tenures of low-key figures like Ahmed Johnson, Ron Simmons, Marc Mero and Tracey Smothers. Maybe because we haven’t heard their stories as often or as loud as other stars, their sections are eye-opening and fundamental in understanding the backstage hierarchy of WWE at the time. Whether it was the racism Johnson experienced or high school drama that plagued Smothers’ run, you’ll be left re-evaluating your adoration of certain big-time players.
Published in July 2015, Titan Shattered has become the perfect companion piece to many “Something To Wrestle With” episodes as Bruce Prichard toes the company line, acting as almost a spokesperson for McMahon’s side to these stories. With Prichard’s perspective and Dixon’s backstory, topics like Pillman, Bret Hart, Vader and In Your House: Beware of Dog become fully fleshed out, leaving the reader with a better understanding and appreciation.
Another highlight is the transcripts and legal documents of McMahon, Bischoff, Turner and WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt, trading allegations of defamation and trademark infringement back and forth. Furthermore, it’s fascinating to see how in the infancy of the internet, Vinnie Mac would go on message boards or other online outlets to comment on real-life situations like Nash leaving. Even though social media has made the world more connected today than ever before, McMahon is more distant than ever, with his Twitter account clearly being run by a P.R. team.
Back in 96, before the company was publicly-traded, business was more intimate, more personal. McMahon was in the fight of his life, and Dixon superbly captures that desperation.
“Titan Shattered: Wrestling with Confidence and Paranoia” is available at Amazon.
About Author
Great article.