Business is battle on business wars. We learn what it takes to win by looking closely at ambitious battles. The one in our latest series, W W S, verses, W C W and our new book the art business wars gets to the very heart of each conflict, unearthing all the valuable lessons gotta wondering calm slash the art of business wars to order your copy now And one replies to listen a business wars one week early and ad free in the wonder, YAP down the wonder, YAP in your apple or Google play Mobile appstore today, a listener this episode originally aired in twenty nineteen. Its April. Nineteen eighty four and the food Court of the CNN centre. In Atlanta, a startled group of tourists stopped in their tracks. Walking across the vast area. Atrium this whole coggan he's

during his signature, skintight, red and yellow wrestling here, and a pair of shade with him is a grinning Eric bitch off the executive, vice president of W C W Bush off hopes. Today, will be the day when he convinces the world's most famous wrestler to come work for him. He leads organ to the elevators presses. The call button when the elevator doors open the skinny business man inside steps back his jaw dry, if the site of the six foot seven inch three hundred pounds, Superstar Spandex Hogan looms over him uninstall. Surely imposing you go up the man gulps and nods Hogan, ambitious step inside is the man presses up against about while the elevator moments, Are they arrive on the fourteenth floor, the executives If Turner Broadcasting, the parent company CNN opening

shops, drive down the corridor to TED Turner's corner office. The cables be mobiles eyes light up the moment. He sees hope it. Turner loves wrestling and getting Hogan would be a major coup. He determined to make it happen, what ever the cost? Mr Erdogan, what a play you to meet you. I have long admired the work you do poking smiles at Turner. Likewise, brother, the moment they sit down. turner starts gushing about wrestling recalls how we started: Turner Broadcasting in nineteen. Sixty nine buying in Atlanta tv station. We had asked one show we could depend on for ratings and advertisers that show Georgia, championship grassland, gas rascal The tv ratings winner always has been always will be Why I bought W C w. I want them, ass rattling Joe around and that's why I want you hope

it is well aware that Turner wants him W C devotees offering him two million dollars for six months, work, plus a Jew see slice of paper view sales. The timing is good hoping to his new. TV series thunder in Paradise, is losing viewers fast, a high price returned. The ring could If the series a much needed boost well brother, I am also very excited about this new real excited I, like you, I, like this guy air occurred. I like what you are offering so send my attorney the contracts and I sign on the dotted line smiles break out across the room, but it's bishop, whose happiest of all he knows W C W needs star power to have any chance of challenging the W. W F, now he's got hoping he needs to find a way to weapon eyes.

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family, viewers and advertisers alike, but while Vince MC man's been busy battling to repair W W S battered image. A new threat is emerging and that's because after years of false starts TED Turner's W C w is finally ready to rumble. This is episode. Three prime time its April, one thousand nine hundred and ninety four Vince Mcmahon and one of his top executives are in the living room of his penthouse condo in Boca Raton Florida on the cob able and from them is a fax copy of the cap, track. W C w is offering all cocoa liberty. Ressler is now just a signature away from joining W C w, but hope in one to give the man who made him a superstar a chance to keep him. So he said The contract of MC man, they may

can barely believe his eyes ass. He skims over the contract. Two million dollars for six months; work man sinks into his couch, the W W F executive turns to his boss counter offer. No we can't afford to match that deal, let alone beat it. man's colleague isn't surprised, Everson Doktor, Georgia, hormones, conviction and nineteen. Ninety one for illegally supplying steroids to W w F wrestlers. man's wrestling promotion. Spinnet tailspin the glory years at the nineteen eighties or long gone profits, W W have once made from paper views, ticket sales and merchandising or evaporating fast, W W have tv shows are losing viewers to in the past twelve months, one hundred local tv stations have taken W W have off the air

and with its national reach and reputation crumbling major advertisers early. To win revenues and profits falling W, W Epps cutting costs to the bone. There have been so many lay offs that whole floors of the company's headquarters are now empty. Live events being dialed bag, salary, are being slashed by as much as forty percent staff there are even being encouraged to bring their own pans and pencils to work, losing hope. It is a hard blow, but my man covers with his usual bravado opens for Christ's sake, he's Today's guy he's not worth it. to focus on developing the next generation of wrestlers, not that big and can dwell on the hawks tours exit forlorn. he's, got a more urgent concern, staying out of prison

Sean Oshea, the assistant. U S attorney in New York is itching to MC man behind bars he's crawling all over my man and the W W S four months, demanding company records, questioning employees and probing their finances now, but thirty, some Prosecutors persuaded a grand jury to indict big man conspiring with doctors orient supply wrestlers with stairways Ming men, pleading his innocence, but the pressures getting to him. He worries that Oshea will find some way to turn the jury against him in court destroying and his family everything that has worked so hard to build, but, as me man braces himself for the worst W C w is on the verge of a breakthrough. Its July. Seventeen nineteen. Ninety four, and at the Orlando arena in Florence.

W C double use annual bash at the beach paper view is under way. The arena is packed with fourteen thousand frenzy thing, they're all here to witness a wrestling title fight. They ve been playing out in their imagination for years, a clash W C w champion richly five. W W S champion October and now The two men both work for W C, double that dream fight: finally about to happen, Ric flair would have to admit of all the factors he has had and he's had some great one slash five as his biggest match as pyrotechnics explode, Slayer enter the arena. to the ring wearing a flowing purple bathrobe covered in enough sequence, to make Liberace jealous

net, open mixes, w C w debut wearing a banana yellow bandanna with matching tank top in trucks. He halted self into the ring cups his hand to his ear on cue his band. Of course, the outcome spikes already decided, but that doesn't make the scripted twists and turns any less thrilling layer, pins Hogan, face down on the matters. The referee starts counting amount, but then before the third and final count open, rakes, free, close player. Where did

ACT within the ropes and delivers on chapter two homes, hugging, barely registers, the black layers manager intervene, she heads to the ring side and please in a set of brass knuckles, he puts them on and not spoken down with a powerful, but hugging doesn't stay down wrong begin slaps flared. The man then delivers his famous leg drop, moved, claim victory, but it's not the victory for hoping it's also a victor four w c w more than two hundred and thirty thousand homes bought the paper view its w c ws biggest earner in years but Vincent Man's, much too busy to focus on W C W triumphant paper view performance its July twentieth night, ninety four and in a long island courthouse in Union New York, the closing

you mentioned the case against MC manner under way, secure Sean, Oshea paces before the jury and his pinstriped suit. This is about corporate drug pushers, this corporate, conspired to pump up their wrestlers with a chemical cocktail of performance, enhancing drugs to key their cash register is going it shameful it's illegal after Oshea finished, W w F attorney. Jerry Mc Debit springs to his feet, Just heard some harsh rhetoric from the government and that's because If you dont have evidence, you fall back on tough language to support your case. The truth is the government has not produced any evidence. Of a violation of the nineteen. Eighty eight law gets non medical trafficking of anabolic steroids. The debt you w have never hired. Doctors are hoary and after the law changed and before dean. Eighty eight, it was now

illegal to buy and possess steroids for personal use, but the final words go to Oshea. He writes says, with fury and his eyes, determined to land a knockout punch before the jury, retires They say. We investigated the W W ep because we don't respect wrestling, do you know who has no respect for wrestling Vince Make Man He used wrestlers like slabs of meat. He pump them up. Steroids for profit. Man, and is legal team are stunned Bio, chaise, fiery, closing statement. until now they thought they'd shredded the government's flimsy case, but the vicious suppose chaise final words worries them telling how the jury might respond. Two days later make man is back in court. The jury has reached a decision

jurors into the courtroom. Mcmurphy braces himself for the worst he rises head, bowed, hands, clasped, heart racing judge turns to the jury's format. Has a jury reached a verdict. We add your honor. We find the defendant not guilty, w have fans in the courtroom exploded shares the judge. For order. Man hugs his wife and punishes the air. Oshea sits seething with anger. man's nightmare is over W W F can finally put the steroids scandal behind it, but the it is left W W, have bloodied and financially bruised and that situation. W C w is happy to exploit in November nineteen. Ninety five TED Turner's checkbook

steals away another W W have star Randy MACHO man savage, but with this Black Bearded Wrestler w W is getting more than just another name on its roster its. day since savage signed with W C W. Visiting the offices of good mark foods in rotting North Carolina he's here on a mission for his new boss, good mark foods, makes popular Slim, Jim Jerky Sticks and its executive. No savage well because he's the star of slim, gems, outlandish and sales, boosting tv commercials, but there's something that the executives dont know. So I've got some news I'm leaving the W W F, the negatives exchange worry glances slim, core marketing strategies based around Savage and the W W F good expends millions of dollars a year, plugging its Jerky on W W have shows. It seems

that strategies in tatters, but savage his with a solution in mind, here's the deal I'm going to W C w, and I want you to Take the money you spend on W, W F and invested in ten turner. Instead, a few days later, good marks executives, decide follow savage to the W C, w amplifying the damage. W W apps ruined finances, and the pressure keeps coming in early ninety, ninety five, W C W announces it will now air ten paper views every year, w W S feels forced to respond. It can't Sk W C w getting the upper hand in the lucrative paper VIII wrestling market, so it goes to better than W C w by announcing its going to do a paper view every month, but more paper views means extra costs,

and an even bigger workload for W W S, increasingly demoralized team. Its May ninety ninety five and in W W S headquarters in Stamford Connecticut swing man is holding a pep talk with his entire roster of wrestlers My man wants this meeting to reinvigorate the team spirits, but he's chosen bad time for days W W, have erred in your house. The first of its new monthly paper views the people losing interest in the W W at its heart. From the paper view, is the lowest ever for W W F make man puts up positive spin on the numbers important to remember that we made eighty four million dollars last year before my man can finish the rescuers on the bottom rung of W W S career ladder and rejects what you're telling

you're breaking in millions. Well, I'm out and robustly my ass for you live in a penis, Stayin, Roach motels and sleep in my car My man quickly clarified. Eighty four million dollars is the revenue. The groves after cod. We lost three point. Eight million last year wait there losing money, Now the wrestlers art angry their work better jobs make man scramble to reassure them, but on the other side. That's them Judge I want to get across the. case and all the rest of it are behind us better time. Our ahead. I promise you but doubts in his wrestlers mines are growing, the W C. W is gaining ground and flashing its cash to get the talent it wants, so has made man continues his pep talk, the wrestling

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Twenty two hundred Tucson at your nearest Sunday dealer or learn more at Hunter; USA, dot com call five six to three one for forty six, oh three for complete details. its main ninety. Ninety five executive law of the sea and in centre in Atlanta, TED Turner, wrapping up a meeting with his executive committee, the six year old billionaire hold these get together every month and all his top people are here process off the last item on the agenda and lean Back in his chair. all right, any other business. Are we done here when secular raises his hand. we had an unsolicited by out offer for W C W Scotch S at the head of turn. Ten t network leaps up and exciting and raises his palm to an executive across the table. Yes, I have

Turner narrows his eyes at the high fighting executives, but their reaction doesn't surprise him. He know is that most of his senior team hates double see W. they see. Wrestling is little more than low grade entertainment for low income viewers. You don't appeal to advertisers when Look it W C w. They see an embarrassing money loser, but only gets p to its live shows by handing out free tickets, but Turner's made it clear many times before that his wrestling promotion is here to stay and now that make ass pay for his gleeful display. He things forward and glared at the c n t director. W C dubious, not for sale, and you know what You got Ratlin on your network now. Putin rashly ninety anti in primetime Saturday's horrified, ten t supposed to be an upscale network wrestling is air.

Thank Tee Anti is not, but He also knows not to challenge turn her on this It's true, ninety, ninety five and don't you see nobody boss, Eric Bishop exits, the elevator at the fourteenth floor, the CNN Centre and heads into Ed Turner's office Turner's there waiting with Sassy Bay shove doesn't yet no Turner plans to give W c w a prime time slot on tee anti. Instead he's come, pitcher deal he's made with Asia STAR Tv that will bring double see W shows to China. If Turner approves the deal it will learn W C w much needed revenue and expanded appeal beyond North America. There's just one problem OX network, founder, Rupert Murdoch owns STAR Tv and TED Turner, hates Rupert Murdoch, so much he might shoot.

deal down, Miss off mediately launches in high time. We took W C w global W W have dominates Europe China is still an opportunity. The question is, how do we get Turner interrupts Eric Why isn't w c daddy a beating W Debbie F in the ratings? The off topic, question catches, Bishop off Guard, well, it's because We don't have a prime time slot a wide smile breaks across Turner space. How long will it take you to get a show ready three months at the latest Turner turns to Santa Badge issue. Give Eric one our anti into every Monday night. Sometimes be Debbie, F, Start TV deal is instantly forgotten bishops. Now gotta create a wrestling show, they can go ahead dead with w double

we have Monday night raw and win over the summer and his team thrash out a vision for W C double use. New prime time show they name it Monday Nightrobe, unlike raw with its pre taped action, nitrate, we broadcast live it also target eight. And thirty, nine year old males, rather than the family audience W W F chases to attract those older wrestling thin Nightrobe feature more realistic storylines unless cartoonish characters Bishop also figures W W S going stale because of its conventional story, arcs, where the guy wrestlers, always win. He decides that I travel set itself apart by being spontaneous unpredictable, don't you see w team schedules? Nightrobe first episode, four September. Fourth, raw won't be Erin dad evening due to the USA Networks coverage of the. U S open tennis tournament,

its W C w chanced to introduce its new, showed a wrestling fans. Before I go, head to head with a W w F, all they need now is a big surprise to get nitric off to an explosive start. Its Monday September, four nineteen ninety five and in his mention in Greenwich Connecticut been switched off and getting ready to watch Nightrobe debut he's not read about W C W new show. In fact he thinks Turner's decision to go head to head with raw is stupid? Still he wants to check out what W C w is up to

he grabbed his tv promoting switches to tee anti. Just as the show begin as the show unfolds, big man surprised it's better than he expected The lie broadcast seems to give it an extra edge, but then comes W C, double use big surprise. The cameras cut away from the ring to show W W F, wrestler Lex Luger heading past the crowd towards the ring make man's jaw.

drops. What the hell big man means as the shocking appearance of one of his top wrestlers electrifies, the two million wrestling vans watching Nightrobe at home. My man trust rob his head around. What he's watching was it alive w W, showing Canada last night? to be travelling to another. W W have showed a night. Why is he in Minneapolis? Luger worked for him Why is he on W C W tv show and then

man remembers the letter. In his brief case, the letter he's been meaning to get around to dealing with four months. The letter from Luger defying the man that his contract with the W W F, has expired. Less than an hour ago, man thought W C W Nightrobe weren't a major that to his wrestling empire, now he's reeling the Monday night Wrestling WAR has begun and W C w just one round. One on the next efforts raw and Nightrobe GO head to head, make man mocks, TED Turner and Eric Bishop, finds. Inspiration in from Hungary. This episode three of W W S verses. Don't you see w for business wars?

like our show. Please give us a five star rating in a review and be sure did Your friends follow business wars on Apple pie, Cast Spotify, Amazon, music, the wondering at wherever you're listening right now. Listen agree by joining wondering glass I'll, find some links and offers from our sponsors and the episode note supporting them helps us keep offering our shows for free. Another way you can support. The show is by filling small survey, it wonderingly dot, com, slash survey and tell us business stories, you'd like to hear a quick note about recreations, you ve, been hearing cases, we can't know exactly what was said. Those scenes or dramatization based on historical research. I'm your home David Brown, Tristan Donovan, wrote this story Karen is our senior producer and editor Donna high. Edited the story produced by Molly Frost, young is our associate. Producer are produced

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