Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling

Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling is a 2005 history book written by Heath McCoy about the Canadian professional wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling and its associated wrestling territory. It was published by CanWest and later ECW Press and was well received by former workers of the organisation as well as journalists of the professional wrestling industry.

Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling
Cover to the 2007 updated revision edition, featuring Bret Hart and the Dynamite Kid
AuthorHeath McCoy
LanguageEnglish
SubjectProfessional wrestling
GenreHistory book
PublisherCanWest, ECW Press[1]
Publication date
2005
Publication placeCanada
Media typeHardcover and paperback
Pages336[1]
ISBN978-1550227871

Publication history

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The book was initially released in 2005 and was published by CanWest.[2] In 2007 McCoy and ECW Press release a revised and updated version. The second edition contains a bonus chapter which covers the development of several key persons of the book since the originals release.[3] Some of the revisions concerned professional wrestler Chris Benoit which were added in because McCoy felt that it would be wrong for him to write a book about Stampede Wrestling and only mention Benoit's double murder and suicide in passing.[4]

Content

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The book covers time before the promotion's founding when focusing on its founder and owner Stu Hart, his childhood, amateur wrestling time, military service and early career as a professional wrestler as well as the courtship of his future wife Helen Smith.[5] Its main focus is as the title says Stampede Wrestling, its founding as well as its highs and lows in the industry beginning in 1948 under the name Klondike Wrestling. By 1952 Hart had purchased another minor promotion in the Alberta area, merged them and renamed it Big Time Wrestling. It was later renamed Wildcat Wrestling and finally Stampede Wrestling.[5] The book also centers in large parts on the Hart wrestling family and their work for the promotion. All of Hart's twelve children receive coverage in the book and mainly focuses on how Hart's descendants have influenced the promotion and kept it alive.[5]

Reception

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The book is critically acclaimed and widely regarded as the most in depth coverage of the Stampede territory to date.[3][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Sports journalist and wrestling historian Dave Meltzer expressed that the book was fantastic and that people should try to acquire the updated edition from 2007.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b McCoy, Heath (2007). Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. ISBN 978-1550227871.
  2. ^ McNamara, Andy (October 31, 2005). "Saddle up with new Stampede book: Heath McCoy brings memories of the Calgary promotion to life". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  3. ^ a b McNamara, Andy (November 9, 2007). "Stampede book gets back in the saddle: Revised and expanded edition of Pain and Passion hits even more shelves". Slam! Wrestling. Canoe.ca. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  4. ^ McCoy, Heath (October 30, 2008). "Pain and Passion: Heath McCoy's Thoughts". Book Marks. stormwrestling.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-10. Retrieved 2017-02-27.
  5. ^ a b c Cubitt, Bill (November 10, 2005). "New book brings Stampede of memories". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  6. ^ Caldwell, James (February 7, 2007). "Of Pain & Passion, Have a Nice Day, and Von Erichs?". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  7. ^ Johnson, Mike (September 10, 2007). "LOOKING AT THE NEW BOOKS SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE THIS MONTH: BATISTA, BRET HART, STAMPEDE WRESTLING, CHRIS JERICHO AND MORE". Pro Wrestling Insider. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  8. ^ Tees, David (July 11, 2011). "BOOK REVIEW: PAIN & PASSION: THE HISTORY OF STAMPEDE WRESTLING BY HEATH MCCOY". PWInsiderxtra.com. PWInsider. Archived from the original on 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  9. ^ "Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling by Heath McCoy". Pro Wrestling Books. January 19, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  10. ^ Bixenspan, David (June 23, 2010). "Author of Stampede Wrestling book covers Martha Hart's lawsuit for The Vancouver Sun, Jim Ross comments on the suit, and more". CageSideSeats. Archived from the original on 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  11. ^ "Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling". CageMatch.net. Archived from the original on 2012-11-15. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  12. ^ Dykens, Brad (May 18, 2006). "Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling Review". Online World Of Wrestling. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  13. ^ "Pain And Passion". Rockin' Robin's Wrestling Books. The Canadian Connection. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved 2017-02-15.
  14. ^ "The next wrestling event at Calgary's Stampede Corral could be its last". August 15, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-08-15.
  15. ^ "PWTorch - WWE News and Pro Wrestling Coverage Since 1987". www.pwtorch.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  16. ^ Bixenspan, David (February 28, 2011). "Book review: Bruce Hart's "Straight From The Hart" is entertaining, but problematic". cagesideseats.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  17. ^ "PWTorch.com - CORNER CUBE MONDAY: Torch awards - best babyface, reviewing Bret Hart's book, WWE DVDs in '08". www.pwtorch.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
  18. ^ Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling
  19. ^ Hart Family Saga Is Enough To Fill A Book And It Did
  20. ^ Meltzer, David (7 February 2013). "WON twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-22.

Further reading

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