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

WWE is the biggest, most successful wrestling promotion in history, and the centerpiece of their sports entertainment empire is WrestleMania. The Showcase of the Immortals has cemented the reputation of legends, made millions, and created iconic moments that stir the spirit of every diehard wrestling fan.

And you can’t possibly imagine how much goes into bringing that show to life.

Creating the Mania takes you behind the scenes of the storylines, the performers, and the production staff that work together to make The Grandaddy of Them All into a true spectacle. Each chapter represents a different pay-per-view event or important moment on a year-long journey to WrestleMania 34, and the wrestlers themselves are given the opportunity to share what WrestleMania and WWE mean to them.

As you might expect, there are some fascinating insights to be found here. (I, for one, loved the chance to get The Miz’s thoughts going into his now iconic “Talking Smack” segment with Daniel Bryan.) And it’s amazing how all of these interviews, even the ones nearly a year out from the event in question, reflect on the modern-day product. Some proved to be prophetic, while others — like all the hype surrounding the ultimately underwhelming Nakamura/AJ match — did not. But either way, it’s an intriguing glimpse into a moment in time for each wrestler on the road to WrestleMania.

And these interviews, anecdotes, and chronicles are ably supported by a plethora of photographs documenting WrestleMania moments, backstage scenes, and the incredible process involved in building a WrestleMania show. The photography is exciting, intimate, and illuminating in equal measure. (In particular, the picture of Daniel Bryan, mid-dropkick, arms open, is pure magic.)

Creating the Mania is the perfect gateway drug for casual fans, and a treat for diehard fans who love to learn the inside scoop.