Creating the Mania: An Inside Look at How Wrestlemania Comes to Life

by Jon Robinson

Creating the Mania takes fans backstage with an all-access pass to the behind-the-scenes stories of WrestleMania 34. Follow the yearlong life cycle of WWE’s biggest event, from how the storylines were developed to how the host city was selected, from the logistics and planning behind hosting over seventy thousand members of the WWE Universe to the rivalries and matches playing out inside the ring, in a book that chronicles the events leading up to the “Showcase of the Immortals.” This Journey includes exclusive interviews with top Superstars, including Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Kevin Owens, The Miz, and “Phenomenal” AJ Styles, breaking down their year leading up to ‘Mania and the highs and lows that go along with being a WWE Superstar — pushing their hardest, all with the same goal in mind . . . to main-event WrestleMania.

Genres: Sports

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2018

About the author

Jon Robinson is an award-winning author and journalist whose work has appeared across media including ESPN, Sports Illustrated, GamePro, and IGN.com. He has written eight books, including Rumble Road, The Attitude Era, NXT: The Future is Now, and Creating the Mania. His book, The Ultimate Warrior: A Life Lived Forever won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Biography. His first YA novel, Sunshine and the Full Moon is set to release June 2021.

Reviews

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Jon Robinson takes a look at the tremendous amount of planning it takes to bring together WWE’s annual flagship show, WrestleMania.

Honestly, with Creating The Mania, I was expecting a WWE produced fluff-piece.  However, I was pleasantly surprised with both the honesty from those involved as well as the impressive detail on display from Robinson.  Extensive interviews with performers, writers, producers and representatives from host cities reveal the twists, turns, bumps and potholes that make up the road to WrestleMania.

What I found most interesting was the planning process when it comes to finalizing the card as well as choosing the winners and losers.  It’s been known for a few years that WWE head-honcho Vince McMahon rarely has anything nailed down and will often change his mind on finishes multiple times - even mid-match!  With the main event of Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar seemingly planned up to two years in advance, it blew my mind that even three months out from the biggest show of the year, that was the only match set in stone.  I suppose that adds to the belief that when it comes to ticket sales, the brand is what people pay to see rather than performers and specific matchups.

Although I did say earlier in the review that I appreciated the candid nature of the book, it’s hard to imagine the author was allowed to criticize much within a WWE-produced release.  Missing is any real critique of the creative process when a storyline or angle falls flat - for example, the 25th Anniversary episode of Monday Night Raw is painted as a success despite the poor reception from fans and critics alike.  The negative response to the main event is largely ignored (aside from a sentence or two) and missing is any mention of the controversy surrounding the “Fabulous Moolah” Battle Royal.  There were also a few mistakes surrounding specific events (Bobby Roode won the NXT Championship in January 2017, not April 2017..), which just came across as amateurish.

Despite the above, I did enjoy this book overall.  The amount of work it takes to not only produce an event the size and scope of WrestleMania, but to keep the WWE machine rolling is an incredible achievement.  I consider myself a nerd when it comes to the behind-the-scenes components of wrestling, and by interviewing guys like Ed Kostky (head writer on WWE RAW), you get a glimpse into the inner workings of the WWE monster.

This is one of the better in-house WWE produced books I’ve read in recent years.  I’ve already recommended it to a few people, so hopefully this isn’t the last book written by Jon Robinson within the WWE Universe.

[Matt Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: I received this a promotional copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book overall, but felt that it seemed to switch between a "kayfabe" presentation and a real presentation at times and that may confuse some readers.

I enjoyed how this book went in-depth on the whole WrestleMania process, starting with how they pick a host city and all of the preparation that happens in the 1+ year leading up to the event.

There are some spectacular up-close pictures in the book, and while they are in black and white, they are still very clear.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of wrestling will enjoy this book. It was a lot more open and honest than I thought it would be, in that ‘behind the curtain’ type way. Good insight into almost all storylines leading into Wrestlemania, with interesting thoughts from talent on their storylines, and some other thoughts which I thought weren’t “WWE-positive” and wouldn’t have made the cut (ie - people lamenting Ronda Rousey’s special treatment).

I enjoyed the logistical chapters, in terms of how long in advance the plan the event with a city, camera work, creative insights etc. It would’ve been nice to have more of the “business” of Wrestlemania as well as the storylines, but maybe that’s a book for another day.

I would recommend to any WWE fans.

[ReadinRasslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible look at the behind the scenes process of WrestleMania 34 and the year's worth of booking leading up to it. Wrestlers, backstage personnel, and fans alike are interviewed on the hard work involved in making WrestleMania a yearly spectacle. This was incredibly well done and a great look at the whirlwind of WrestleMania season. Robinson really does the work in presenting the hectic nature behind WWE, how anything can change at a moment's notice, and dives deep into the passion that everybody interviewed has for the wrestling industry. A great, deep look into the inner workings of the biggest event in pro wrestling.

[Randall Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always skeptical of official WWE books, but this is the best one I've read. Book goes in-depth talking to the creative team about why certain choices were made, and the wrestler interviews really take you behind the scenes in a way I haven't read before. It also has chapters on wrestlers who I haven't read a lot about before, like Elias, The Usos, and Ricochet from NXT. If you're a wrestling fan, this is must-read.

[Angela Resendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cool inside look at Mania. A must read for WWE fans. Things will make sense as you read the Superstars take on their behind the scenes view of Wrestlemania.

[Tom · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was awful. Slow reading, and not much about wrestlenania.

[Lance Lumley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great read that tells how the WWE prepares for their Wrestlemania card, which is the biggest event of the year. Interviews with WWE stars, production people, and officials are all detailed in the book. There are great insights by those behind the scene talking about ideas proposed a year in advance, to how the WWE picks the city to hold the event, along with the meetings that take place throughout the year.
This is not the normal WWE related book- this book mentions wrestler's pasts, including Ring of Honor, TNA, and other leagues, as well as proposed story lines that had to be changed and some that we haven't seen yet. This is a refreshing book and well written.
For an In depth review go to https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/201...

[Randall Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always skeptical of official WWE books, but this is the best one I've read. Book goes in-depth talking to the creative team about why certain choices were made, and the wrestler interviews really take you behind the scenes in a way I haven't read before. It also has chapters on wrestlers who I haven't read a lot about before, like Elias, The Usos, and Ricochet from NXT. If you're a wrestling fan, this is must-read.

[Anthony Huether · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book. Wonderful insight about the process of Wrestlemania and what all goes into Wrestlemania. Biggest drawback is the later chapters, it really slows down.