David Penzer was Sitting Ringside for some of the biggest moments in WCW history, and now he’s giving fans an unprecedented look behind-the-scenes with his new book.
Penzer spoke with WrestleZone while promoting his new book, Sitting Ringside: Volume 1. Penzer’s book offers new insight into his days in WCW, including some of the show formats that he held on to over the years.
For many years, Penzer hosted a Sitting Ringside podcast, and he was asked what led him to switch formats and write a book. Penzer said he never set out to write a book, and co-author Guy Evans originally pitched him on a scrapbook project. After three months of speaking, Evans suggested they shift gears and write an autobiography.
“I happened to be looking through my desk cleaning it out about 18 months ago. I saw a file folder with all these old WCW rare, never-before-seen formats,” he said. “It’s fun to see because it’s sorta the evolution of the format. From a one-page where you fill in the Enhancement Guys’ names, [to moving to] the last Nitro format where you have all these production notes and notes on what Vince McMcMahon’s going to do and all that kind of stuff. So it’s fun to look at.
“But I didn’t really know what to do with them. But I knew they were rare,” Penzer continued. “I knew people wanted to see ‘em or get them autographed or whatever. So I took a picture, one of the 1995 WCW Saturday Night formats, the front page. And I said, ‘Would anybody be interested in this?’ You know, obviously, the rest of the people reacted. So I was asking, ‘What do you think it is worth? And I’ve got 200 pages of these…”
David Penzer praises Guy Evans
Evans then said Penzer’s story of climbing the ladder in the business was fascinating and it was worth sharing. That, coupled with the rights to his podcast RSS feed being tied up contractually, led to the book, which he originally wanted to call “Stooge of the Year.”
The pair briefly worked together on Evans’ Nitro book. Penzer also credited Evans for his storytelling ability, noting Evans got him excited about hearing his own story in a new format.
“What I found out, and I don’t want to give him a big head, but what I found out is he’s quite brilliant at what he does. Very… There’s a lot of great wrestling writers out there, deep respect. But, I don’t know there’s anybody who tells the story of somebody else’s life like he does,” Penzer said. “There were times he would start to tell a story cuz I got the… After we got done with this and all, I got the book in chapters. So, he would start to tell a story in chapter two and I’d email — because he always wanted to know if there’s anything I wanted to change.
“So, I would email him back and say, ‘Well yeah, you didn’t finish the story.’ He goes, ‘Well, we finish the story in chapter four.’ Then I would read chapter four and it all made sense. So, he’s quite brilliant that way. It’s funny, I looked at my wife like after a few chapters, cuz he sent them to me every night or every other night. He would send me a chapter. So, I looked at my wife and I said, ‘This is my story and I’m anxious to see what comes next.’ That’s how good it is. So I give him… It is my story, but I give him a ton of credit for creating it the way that he has. And so I think people will enjoy reading it.”
More Sitting Ringside
Penzer says this book is pretty comprehensive and doesn’t leave too much out. His second book (tentatively titled Sitting Ringside: Volume Two) will focus on his time in the XWF. He and Evans also have plans for bonus material from his time in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, which ended in December 2023 at the Final Resolution tapings. Penzer is thankful for his journey in the wrestling business, and to those who supported him along the way.
“If that’s the way that it ends, my story, and my adventure, my book, and my adventure, you know what? I have no regrets. I’m blessed. I did this 30 years, I got to live my dream. It was so unprobable for it to happen but it did. And anybody that was along for the ride man, I just appreciate you being there for me.”
Sitting Ringside: Volume 1 is available now on GuyEvansBooks.com, DavidPenzerBook.com, or online retailers like Amazon.
Watch our full interview with David Penzer below:
