Neal Pruitt's Secrets of WCW Nitro | wrestling stories from the voice of the nWo | Bischoff | Schiavone | Flair | Austin

Former World Championship Wrestling producer Neal Pruitt - perhaps best known to fans as the unforgettable voice of the New World Order - discusses the previously unheard stories behind the production of a variety of classic WCW Nitro moments, including: Roddy Piper's trip to Alcatraz; The creation of the nWo logo; Hollywood Hogan's initial heel 'promos'... And much more! This podcast focuses on the magic created behind the camera during an iconic period in professional wrestling. In an unprecedented level of detail, Neal takes fans into the production truck and reveals the technical wizardry that helped create some of the most memorable segments in WCW history. Subscribe now!

Episode 49: Remembering The Hulkster (Part 1) 11/16/2025

Episode 49: Remembering The Hulkster (Part 1) In this episode of Secrets of Nitro, Neal reflects on his close working relationship with Hulk Hogan at WCW, Hogan's famous heel turn at Bash at the Beach '96, and more. Part 2 coming soon! ENDING SOON ON KICKSTARTER: ! On the morning of July 24, 2025, the most famous professional wrestler in history – Terry ‘Hulk Hogan’ Bollea – passed away in Clearwater, Florida. Within days, I started to receive correspondence from readers who asked if I would consider writing a biography on the 'Immortal One' himself. This was somewhat serendipitous because without much fanfare, I had already initiated such a project! In the wake of Bollea's death, however, it became clear to me that my untitled book – tentatively known as The Hulk Hogan Story – couldn’t be adequately confined to a single volume. It is thus now my intention to develop a biographical trilogy on this most important subject – the first of its kind in the genre. That's right...three full-length books on the life, career and unparalleled cultural impact of Hulk Hogan! This groundbreaking series of books will be informed by over 100 exclusive interviews – not to mention the comprehensive research for which my books are already known. The final work will be available in paperback, audiobook and e-book formats, with a special hardcover edition – never again to be reprinted (!) – offered as a ‘Kickstarter Exclusive’ reward. Your pledges will support the substantial research, printing, shipping and other direct costs that are required in launching a project of this scope. Pledges of $30 or more allow backers to pre-order the books at a discounted rate (and unlock exclusive extras)! The Hulk Hogan Story will be an impossibly comprehensive, detailed and fair examination of the highs - and lows - related to Hogan's four-plus decades in the spotlight. So what are you gonna do...when runs wild on you? /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/39052500

SPECIAL UPDATE: THE HULK HOGAN STORY 10/21/2025

BEYOND NITRO: The Audio Book is now available! 09/18/2025

BEYOND NITRO: The Audio Book is now available! BEYOND NITRO: Untold Stories from the WCW era...is now available in AUDIO format! Order NOW -> Synopsis Bestselling author Guy Evans ('NITRO') returns with a monumental 680-page volume on World Championship Wrestling, bringing to light scores of revelatory insights in the process. Informed by over 100 new interviews, hundreds of internal company documents, confidential corporate materials, and never-before-seen financial records, BEYOND NITRO goes to places that no pro wrestling book has! BEYOND NITRO is divided into three parts, as outlined below: Part 1: Untold Stories – a series of engrossing personal profiles of people with a unique connection to WCW; Part 2: Where The Big Boys Played – an examination of various aspects of the WCW story which often escape introspection, such as the byzantine nature of its corporate accounting system, the company’s historical Southern lineage, and the impact of its pioneering production team; Part 3: A Wrestling Odyssey – a look at some of the changes which occurred in the wrestling business post-WCW, including a noticeable change to the mainstream wrestling style, the proliferation of what is sometimes called ‘the wrestling bubble’, and the phenomenon of WCW experiencing a ‘second life’ through the waves of ‘90s nostalgia. To supplement this rather weighty structure – and to break up the presentation more generally – six ‘interlude’ chapters are included of various lengths, ranging from incredibly detailed (e.g., ‘Spiked!’) to relatively direct in scope (e.g., ‘Don’t Touch That Dial’). In all cases, these ‘interludes’ relate to a theme (or set of themes) explored in the preceding chapter. In the process, the book is able to delve into some thrilling uncharted waters, relative to the world of late ‘90s WWF - and even TNA during the 2010s. BEYOND NITRO features exclusive interviews and comments from: Eric Bischoff, fmr. WCW President; Stuart Snyder, fmr. WWF President & COO; Keith Mitchell, legendary fmr. WCCW, WCW, TNA and AEW producer; Kevin Sullivan, fmr. WCW head booker and wrestler; Jerry Jarrett, legendary wrestling promoter and booker; Kevin Kay, fmr. President of Spike Television; David Schwarz, fmr. Senior Vice President of Communications at Spike TV; Scott Fishman, Executive in Charge of Production at Spike TV; Eric Fleischer, fmr. Sr. Director of Consumer Insights, WWE; Christine Lawrence, fmr. Senior Director of Media Insights and Analytics, WWE; Michael Capretta, fmr. VP of Global Research and Insights, Warner Bros. Discovery; David Sahadi, fmr. Creative Director, WWE; Sami Callihan, fmr. Impact World Champion; Lash LeRoux, fmr. WCW wrestler; Scott Hudson, fmr. WCW announcer; Neal Pruitt, fmr. WCW feature producer and 'voice of the nWo'; Dick Cheatham, fmr. group controller for TBS; Jenni Sloan, designer of the nWo logo... And many, many, many more! Informed by the same attention to facts, research, analysis, drama and detail which made NITRO a bestseller, Beyond NITRO is finally here. It's a simply sensational sequel! /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/38266125

Episode 48: Turning The Tables (Part 2) - Talkin' BEYOND NITRO 09/07/2025

Episode 47: Turning The Tables (Part 1) - Talkin' BEYOND NITRO 09/06/2025

Episode 46: Who Killed WCW? (Episodes 3 and 4 with special guest Scott Lansing) 09/06/2025

NEW BOOK (BEYOND NITRO) now available! 05/23/2025

Episode 45: Who Killed WCW? (Episode 2) 06/13/2024

Episode 45: Who Killed WCW? (Episode 2) Neal and Guy talk Episode 2 of VICE's Who Killed WCW? series! BOOK INFO SITTING RINGSIDE, VOLUME 1: WCW SYNOPSIS From 1995 to 2001, Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW) famously battled Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for Monday night ratings supremacy. While on the WCW side, numerous autobiographical accounts have been written of the time period, relatively few participants witnessed the ‘War’ in its entirety. As the unmistakable ‘voice of WCW’ and its long-time ring announcer, David Penzer was featured on every episode of Monday Nitro and Thunder - the only on-screen personality in WCW to do so. Moreover, he witnessed the proceedings from the best seat in the house - ringside! In this candid, revealing and highly entertaining memoir, Penzer recounts his unlikely journey to the big-time - from his humble beginnings in South Florida to the lofty heights of WCW and the ‘Monday Night Wars’. With an affable, engaging and self-effacing style, Penzer takes readers behind the curtain like never before, revealing both the personal and professional struggles he encountered in rising the ranks of a famously tough business. In Sitting Ringside Volume 1, Penzer also ‘opens the vault’ on a veritable ‘treasure trove’ of bonus materials - from production notes, to show formats, to internal documents which he has kept for over 20 years. Fans may be surprised to discover what’s included! As Kevin Sullivan states in the book’s foreword, Penzer was the “least likely to succeed in the wrestling business” - but over the course of a ten-year (1991-2001) association with WCW, Penzer became a utility player like no other. In addition to fulfilling the role of WCW’s lead ring announcer, Penzer provided assistance on the production end of the business, as well as talent relations, and even the creative department during the company’s dying days. As such, he provides an intriguing insiders’ account of WCW’s ‘rise and fall’ - delivered with unprecedented insight and perspective. In particular, Penzer demonstrates an astute, compelling, and highly nuanced view of several of his most well-known contemporaries, including: ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper; Chris Jericho; Eric Bischoff; Kevin Sullivan; Vince Russo; Dusty Rhodes; Jody Hamilton; Tony Schiavone; ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund; and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan. Co-written by NITRO author Guy Evans, Sitting Ringside Volume 1 is a unique look at an historic era in pro wrestling - and one man’s dream to be a part of it. Foreword by Kevin Sullivan Contains rare documents, show formats and notes from behind the scenes at World Championship Wrestling! Print Length: 500 pages /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/31725557

Episode 44: Who Killed WCW? (Episode 1) 06/06/2024

Episode 44: Who Killed WCW? (Episode 1) Neal and Guy are back to discuss Episode 1 of VICE's Who Killed WCW? series! BOOK INFO SITTING RINGSIDE, VOLUME 1: WCW SYNOPSIS From 1995 to 2001, Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW) famously battled Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for Monday night ratings supremacy. While on the WCW side, numerous autobiographical accounts have been written of the time period, relatively few participants witnessed the ‘War’ in its entirety. As the unmistakable ‘voice of WCW’ and its long-time ring announcer, David Penzer was featured on every episode of Monday Nitro and Thunder - the only on-screen personality in WCW to do so. Moreover, he witnessed the proceedings from the best seat in the house - ringside! In this candid, revealing and highly entertaining memoir, Penzer recounts his unlikely journey to the big-time - from his humble beginnings in South Florida to the lofty heights of WCW and the ‘Monday Night Wars’. With an affable, engaging and self-effacing style, Penzer takes readers behind the curtain like never before, revealing both the personal and professional struggles he encountered in rising the ranks of a famously tough business. In Sitting Ringside Volume 1, Penzer also ‘opens the vault’ on a veritable ‘treasure trove’ of bonus materials - from production notes, to show formats, to internal documents which he has kept for over 20 years. Fans may be surprised to discover what’s included! As Kevin Sullivan states in the book’s foreword, Penzer was the “least likely to succeed in the wrestling business” - but over the course of a ten-year (1991-2001) association with WCW, Penzer became a utility player like no other. In addition to fulfilling the role of WCW’s lead ring announcer, Penzer provided assistance on the production end of the business, as well as talent relations, and even the creative department during the company’s dying days. As such, he provides an intriguing insiders’ account of WCW’s ‘rise and fall’ - delivered with unprecedented insight and perspective. In particular, Penzer demonstrates an astute, compelling, and highly nuanced view of several of his most well-known contemporaries, including: ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper; Chris Jericho; Eric Bischoff; Kevin Sullivan; Vince Russo; Dusty Rhodes; Jody Hamilton; Tony Schiavone; ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund; and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan. Co-written by NITRO author Guy Evans, Sitting Ringside Volume 1 is a unique look at an historic era in pro wrestling - and one man’s dream to be a part of it. Foreword by Kevin Sullivan Contains rare documents, show formats and notes from behind the scenes at World Championship Wrestling! Print Length: 500 pages /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/31624712

Episode 43: Secrets of Nitro returns! 05/26/2024

Episode 43: Secrets of Nitro returns! Episode 43: Secrets of Nitro returns! After a four-and-a-half year hiatus (!), Neal and Guy return to the airwaves for Episode 43, discussing some old stories, the upcoming WCW series on VICE, and Guy's new book with David Penzer. Enjoy! BOOK INFO SITTING RINGSIDE, VOLUME 1: WCW SYNOPSIS From 1995 to 2001, Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW) famously battled Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for Monday night ratings supremacy. While on the WCW side, numerous autobiographical accounts have been written of the time period, relatively few participants witnessed the ‘War’ in its entirety. As the unmistakable ‘voice of WCW’ and its long-time ring announcer, David Penzer was featured on every episode of Monday Nitro and Thunder - the only on-screen personality in WCW to do so. Moreover, he witnessed the proceedings from the best seat in the house - ringside! In this candid, revealing and highly entertaining memoir, Penzer recounts his unlikely journey to the big-time - from his humble beginnings in South Florida to the lofty heights of WCW and the ‘Monday Night Wars’. With an affable, engaging and self-effacing style, Penzer takes readers behind the curtain like never before, revealing both the personal and professional struggles he encountered in rising the ranks of a famously tough business. In Sitting Ringside Volume 1, Penzer also ‘opens the vault’ on a veritable ‘treasure trove’ of bonus materials - from production notes, to show formats, to internal documents which he has kept for over 20 years. Fans may be surprised to discover what’s included! As Kevin Sullivan states in the book’s foreword, Penzer was the “least likely to succeed in the wrestling business” - but over the course of a ten-year (1991-2001) association with WCW, Penzer became a utility player like no other. In addition to fulfilling the role of WCW’s lead ring announcer, Penzer provided assistance on the production end of the business, as well as talent relations, and even the creative department during the company’s dying days. As such, he provides an intriguing insiders’ account of WCW’s ‘rise and fall’ - delivered with unprecedented insight and perspective. In particular, Penzer demonstrates an astute, compelling, and highly nuanced view of several of his most well-known contemporaries, including: ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper; Chris Jericho; Eric Bischoff; Kevin Sullivan; Vince Russo; Dusty Rhodes; Jody Hamilton; Tony Schiavone; ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund; and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan. Co-written by NITRO author Guy Evans, Sitting Ringside Volume 1 is a unique look at an historic era in pro wrestling - and one man’s dream to be a part of it. Foreword by Kevin Sullivan Contains rare documents, show formats and notes from behind the scenes at World Championship Wrestling! Print Length: 500 pages /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/31468807

A Secrets of Nitro update 04/20/2024

A Secrets of Nitro update A Secrets of Nitro update, including information on a new book from Guy Evans! BOOK INFO SITTING RINGSIDE, VOLUME 1: WCW SYNOPSIS From 1995 to 2001, Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling (WCW) famously battled Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation (WWF) for Monday night ratings supremacy. While on the WCW side, numerous autobiographical accounts have been written of the time period, relatively few participants witnessed the ‘War’ in its entirety. As the unmistakable ‘voice of WCW’ and its long-time ring announcer, David Penzer was featured on every episode of Monday Nitro and Thunder - the only on-screen personality in WCW to do so. Moreover, he witnessed the proceedings from the best seat in the house - ringside! In this candid, revealing and highly entertaining memoir, Penzer recounts his unlikely journey to the big-time - from his humble beginnings in South Florida to the lofty heights of WCW and the ‘Monday Night Wars’. With an affable, engaging and self-effacing style, Penzer takes readers behind the curtain like never before, revealing both the personal and professional struggles he encountered in rising the ranks of a famously tough business. In Sitting Ringside Volume 1, Penzer also ‘opens the vault’ on a veritable ‘treasure trove’ of bonus materials - from production notes, to show formats, to internal documents which he has kept for over 20 years. Fans may be surprised to discover what’s included! As Kevin Sullivan states in the book’s foreword, Penzer was the “least likely to succeed in the wrestling business” - but over the course of a ten-year (1991-2001) association with WCW, Penzer became a utility player like no other. In addition to fulfilling the role of WCW’s lead ring announcer, Penzer provided assistance on the production end of the business, as well as talent relations, and even the creative department during the company’s dying days. As such, he provides an intriguing insiders’ account of WCW’s ‘rise and fall’ - delivered with unprecedented insight and perspective. In particular, Penzer demonstrates an astute, compelling, and highly nuanced view of several of his most well-known contemporaries, including: ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper; Chris Jericho; Eric Bischoff; Kevin Sullivan; Vince Russo; Dusty Rhodes; Jody Hamilton; Tony Schiavone; ‘Mean’ Gene Okerlund; and Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan. Co-written by NITRO author Guy Evans, Sitting Ringside Volume 1 is a unique look at an historic era in pro wrestling - and one man’s dream to be a part of it. Foreword by Kevin Sullivan Contains rare documents, show formats and notes from behind the scenes at World Championship Wrestling! Print Length: 500 pages /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/30911088

NEW GUY EVANS AND ERIC BISCHOFF BOOK OUT NOW! 12/15/2022

NITRO: The Audio Book is now available! 12/01/2019

Episode 42: Directing Ted Turner 11/21/2019

Episode 41: A Tale of Two Companies 07/03/2019

From the Vault: Sean Waltman Interview (Starrcast 1) 07/03/2019

Episode 40: More Listener Questions...and Answers! 05/21/2019

Episode 39: The Voice of the nWo returns! 05/06/2019

Secrets of Nitro is coming to Starrcast! 08/30/2018

Episode 38: NITRO reviewed! 08/14/2018

Episode 38: NITRO reviewed! In a very special episode of Neal Pruitt's Secrets of WCW Nitro, Neal and Guy discuss the making of NITRO: The Incredible Rise and Inevitable Collapse of Ted Turner's WCW! ORDER THE BOOK NOW AT and Amazon.com! 175,000+ words, 56 chapters, and more new info than you'll believe! Paperback: E-book: Amazon: Synopsis In April 1999, Entertainment Weekly asked its readers what many Americans were surely wondering to themselves: how did wrestling get so big? As a consequence of the heated ratings competition between World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the spectacle had taken over Monday nights on prime-time cable television. But in a departure from the family-friendly programming produced by the last industry boom - the 1980s wave, which made household names of Hulk Hogan, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and Andre the Giant - the new era of wrestling combined stunning athleticism with a raunchy sex appeal, engrossing story lines and novel production techniques that reflected a changing society and its shifting values. Once again, wrestling was a ubiquitous phenomenon - only this time, it seemed as though the fad would never end. With both WCW and WWF expanding into other forms of entertainment - movies, video games, music and the like - the potential for growth appeared to be limitless. But with uncertainty surrounding its corporate future, and increasingly uninspired programming eroding its audience, WCW stood on the verge of collapse. Three years into a five-year plan devised by its charismatic leader - a former Blue Ribbon Foods salesman named Eric Bischoff - the company whose unexpected ascension initiated the entire boom was operating on borrowed time. For by the end of the five-year plan, WCW ceased to exist. But NITRO is a story about much more than WCW and the Monday Night Wars. It is a story of an era, a time in which the media and cultural landscape precipitated - and later supported - pro wrestling's mainstream popularity. It is a story of how a company made in the image of an intuitively brilliant risk-taker betrayed its original promise. It is a story of how a handful of men, each struggling with their own limitations, facilitated a public obsession that changed television forever. And so, with the inside knowledge of a journalist, the perspective of a historian, and the passion of a fan, author Guy Evans provides a fresh look at an unfortunate inevitability - the downfall of World Championship Wrestling. Bolstered by exclusive interviews with over 120 former TBS and WCW employees, NITRO is the definitive picture of the last wrestling boom. Featuring exclusive interviews and comments from: Eric Bischoff, fmr. President of World Championship Wrestling; Harvey Schiller, fmr. President of Turner Sports; Jamie Kellner, fmr. CEO of Turner Broadcasting System; Bill Burke, fmr. President of TBS network; Joe Uva, fmr. President of Turner Entertainment Sales and Marketing; Scot Safon, fmr. SVP of Marketing for TNT network; Kevin Nash, WWE Hall of Famer and 5-time WCW world champion; Diamond Dallas Page, WWE Hall of Famer and 3-time WCW world champion; Vince Russo, fmr. WCW writer; Marcus 'Buff' Bagwell, fmr. WCW superstar and 5-time world tag team champion; Kevin Sullivan, fmr. WCW superstar and head booker; Hugh Morrus, fmr. WCW superstar; Neal Pruitt, fmr. WCW Feature Producer and voice of the nWo; David Crockett, fmr. WCW Vice President of Production; Dick Cheatham, fmr. Group Controller for TBS; Alan Sharp, fmr. WCW Director of Public Relations; Mike Weber, fmr. WCW Director of Marketing; Rob Garner, fmr. WCW Vice President of TV Programming and Sales Jerry Jarrett, legendary wrestling promoter and booker... And many, many, many more! /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/6923505

NITRO IS HERE! 07/24/2018

NITRO IS HERE! THE WAIT IS OVER! NITRO: The Incredible Rise and Inevitable Collapse of Ted Turner's WCW is here!!! 175,000+ words, 56 chapters, and more new info than you'll believe! Paperback: E-book: Amazon: Synopsis In April 1999, Entertainment Weekly asked its readers what many Americans were surely wondering to themselves: how did wrestling get so big? As a consequence of the heated ratings competition between World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the spectacle had taken over Monday nights on prime-time cable television. But in a departure from the family-friendly programming produced by the last industry boom - the 1980s wave, which made household names of Hulk Hogan, 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper and Andre the Giant - the new era of wrestling combined stunning athleticism with a raunchy sex appeal, engrossing story lines and novel production techniques that reflected a changing society and its shifting values. Once again, wrestling was a ubiquitous phenomenon - only this time, it seemed as though the fad would never end. With both WCW and WWF expanding into other forms of entertainment - movies, video games, music and the like - the potential for growth appeared to be limitless. But with uncertainty surrounding its corporate future, and increasingly uninspired programming eroding its audience, WCW stood on the verge of collapse. Three years into a five-year plan devised by its charismatic leader - a former Blue Ribbon Foods salesman named Eric Bischoff - the company whose unexpected ascension initiated the entire boom was operating on borrowed time. For by the end of the five-year plan, WCW ceased to exist. But NITRO is a story about much more than WCW and the Monday Night Wars. It is a story of an era, a time in which the media and cultural landscape precipitated - and later supported - pro wrestling's mainstream popularity. It is a story of how a company made in the image of an intuitively brilliant risk-taker betrayed its original promise. It is a story of how a handful of men, each struggling with their own limitations, facilitated a public obsession that changed television forever. And so, with the inside knowledge of a journalist, the perspective of a historian, and the passion of a fan, author Guy Evans provides a fresh look at an unfortunate inevitability - the downfall of World Championship Wrestling. Bolstered by exclusive interviews with over 120 former TBS and WCW employees, NITRO is the definitive picture of the last wrestling boom. Featuring exclusive interviews and comments from: Eric Bischoff, fmr. President of World Championship Wrestling; Harvey Schiller, fmr. President of Turner Sports; Jamie Kellner, fmr. CEO of Turner Broadcasting System; Bill Burke, fmr. President of TBS network; Joe Uva, fmr. President of Turner Entertainment Sales and Marketing; Scot Safon, fmr. SVP of Marketing for TNT network; Kevin Nash, WWE Hall of Famer and 5-time WCW world champion; Diamond Dallas Page, WWE Hall of Famer and 3-time WCW world champion; Vince Russo, fmr. WCW writer; Marcus 'Buff' Bagwell, fmr. WCW superstar and 5-time world tag team champion; Kevin Sullivan, fmr. WCW superstar and head booker; Hugh Morrus, fmr. WCW superstar; Neal Pruitt, fmr. WCW Feature Producer and voice of the nWo; David Crockett, fmr. WCW Vice President of Production; Dick Cheatham, fmr. Group Controller for TBS; Alan Sharp, fmr. WCW Director of Public Relations; Mike Weber, fmr. WCW Director of Marketing; Rob Garner, fmr. WCW Vice President of TV Programming and Sales Jerry Jarrett, legendary wrestling promoter and booker... And many, many, many more! /episode/index/show/wcwmondaynitropodcast/id/6845555