When I was a kid, my brother Jimmy and I would watch wrestling all the time. The colorful characters, soap opera like drama, and high flying action had us hooked on the WWF like most of its superstars were hooked on Colombian marching powder. When offered the opportunity to interview author Charlie Jenkins about his book American Wrestling 1989, I leapt at the chance like Jimmy Snooka off the top rope. Meet Charlie Jenkins Charlie has worked as the Creative Director of a film and television industry and as an assistant to the writer’s room of the Amazon Original Series Lost in Oz. He has led or worked on digital campaigns for The CW, NBC, Hulu and Blizzard Entertainment properties. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his debut novel American Wrestling: 1989, a heartfelt and funny novel set behind the scenes of the pro wrestling industry’s golden era, for which he drew on his experiences working for an independent promotion. Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Charlie Jenkins 00:04:09 How The Undertaker Captivated a Young Wrestling Fan 00:06:50 Behind the Scenes of Wrestling: A Firsthand Account of the Minor Leagues 00:08:42 Why I Chose Fandom Over Corporate: A Creative's Journey in the Entertainment Industry 00:11:40 Behind the Scenes of a $20 Million Fantasy Franchise: The Rise and Fall of a Creative Director's Dream 00:13:06 From Screenplay to Novel: The Genesis of American Wrestling in 1989 00:16:04 From Passion to Page: A Journey of Wrestling and Writing 00:20:19 Lessons Learned: How My First Book Taught Me to Be a Better Writer and Entrepreneur 00:22:40 From Novel to Netflix: The Potential for a Wrestling Series Adaptation 00:26:32 The Bully Hero: Why Hulk Hogan Wasn't Always a Fan Favorite 00:28:34 The Dark Side of Wrestling: Drug Abuse, Death, and Unpleasant Fantasies 00:30:38 From Metal to Wrestling: Exploring the Best Wrestling Songs of All Time Buy American Wrestling: 1989 Amazon:https://amzn.to/3p3NDbB Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647424367 Connect With Charlie Website: https://www.charlie-jenkins.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliefromatlanta/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hgjenkins Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlieGJenkins Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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