Keith Elliot Greenberg Speaks On How WrestleMania III Changed Wrestling Forever

KEITH ELLIOT GREENBERG is an acclaimed author, wrestling historian, and New York Times bestselling writer. He’s seen it all – and written about it all – in the world of professional wrestling. Now he’s back with his latest book, BIGGER! BETTER! BADDER!: a fascinating deep dive into WrestleMania III and how that one night changed the wrestling landscape forever.

In the UK, Keith is a cult favourite. His work in WWF Magazine provided the words of our childhood. For fans without Sky TV, his feature articles – covering television feuds like Tatanka vs. Rick Martel and Ultimate Warrior vs. The Undertaker – were solid gold. Keith provided the background info and tied together storylines we could only follow in print.

Since those early days, Keith has gone on to co-author biographies for wrestling icons including Ric Flair, ‘Superstar’ Billy Graham, and ‘Classy’ Freddie Blassie. He’s become a trusted voice on WWE documentaries, often appearing as the company’s go-to wrestling historian.

Beyond the squared circle, his writing spans publications like The New York Observer and USA Today, as well as books on major pop culture events, including December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died. He’s also produced TV programmes for VH1, the History Channel, and others.

Now, Keith returns to wrestling’s golden age with his definitive account of WrestleMania III – the year Vince McMahon took the WWF boom to new heights. It was the biggest gamble of McMahon’s career. And it paid off. This was no longer fringe entertainment for misfits; WrestleMania III legitimised professional wrestling on a global scale. For UK fans, it was the first WrestleMania shown in cable homes via Sky Channel, opening the door to a whole new audience.

On Wrestling Life Episode 57, Keith joins Ben Veal to talk about BIGGER! BETTER! BADDER!, sharing insider stories, behind-the-scenes details, and the cultural impact of this pivotal moment in wrestling history. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the action, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss.

In a chat packed with insight, nostalgia and expert commentary, Keith talks about:

• What inspired him to write BIGGER! BETTER! BADDER!

• How different wrestling history might have looked without Vince McMahon

• The challenge of running a stadium show in 1987 – and pulling it off

• The enduring mythology of Hulk Hogan vs. Andre the Giant

• Whether Hogan vs. Andre should’ve been the first match inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame

• The truth behind the attendance figure and why the debate still rages 40 years later

• How WrestleMania III set the blueprint for today’s modern-day super shows.

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The UNTOLD Truth Behind Hogan vs. Andre's Iconic Clash

WrestleMania III was shrouded in mythology. Andre’s undefeated streak, his height and weight, the claim that he’d never been slammed, and that this was his first time ever facing Hulk Hogan. But as Keith Elliot Greenberg explains, the truth is a little more complicated.

“I calculated it. I was really nervous about it, because I knew that if my calculations were wrong there would be people who would know. I estimated that if you count tag team matches, they had been on the opposite side of the ring from each other in excess of 60 times.

“I saw Andre body slammed twice in 1980! I saw him body slammed in Madison Square Garden and I saw him body slammed at Shea Stadium. So that was just my experience.

“I interviewed Jacques Rougeau. He’d been on a show in Quebec in which Andre wrestled Hulk Hogan and he said he was so caught up in the hype – and he was a wrestler and he knew how the game was played – he forgot that they’d wrestled each other!”

Wrestling Perfection: Why Savage vs. Steamboat Still Holds Up

Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat at WrestleMania III wasn’t just the match of the night – it was the match of the year and, for many, the match of a generation. Keith Elliot Greenberg reflects on the bout’s meticulous planning and enduring legacy.

“When I co-wrote Ric Flair’s book, I remember Ricky Steamboat saying he enjoyed wrestling Flair more, because Flair and him could discuss a couple of high spots and then just call it in the ring.

“Randy Savage literally wanted to choreograph every single move and he would number every move. When they would practise he would say, ‘72, 4, 98,’ and Steamboat would be like, ‘I can’t remember it all!’ Of course the match was exquisite.

“When people say, ‘You know it’s fake, right?’ No it isn’t fake. That’s not fake. That is very meticulous physical theatre. No one can call that fake. Nobody can dismiss professional wrestlers as clowns or lowbrow entertainment when you learn about something like that.”

Keith Elliot Greenberg on The Hart Foundation vs The British Bulldogs Rivalry

The UK was represented on the card by Golborne’s most famous sons, Davey Boy Smith and Tom Billington. WrestleMania III featured the in-ring return of Dynamite Kid just three months after doctors told him he’d never wrestle again. Keith Elliot Greenberg recalls the family ties, the backstage drama, and the health risks behind this six-man tag.

“They were the core of Stampede wrestling – and they’re all related to each other. At the time The British Bulldog is married to Bret’s sister. Jim ‘the Anvil’ Neidhart is married to Bret’s other sister. Dynamite Kid is married to the sister of Bret Hart’s wife. I remember thinking to myself, ‘What’s Canadian Thanksgiving like in that household!?’

“It would never happen today because now there are health protocols. He [Dynamite Kid] would never have been allowed to check himself out of the hospital. He refuses to forfeit the championship and he goes and wrestles again.”

93,173? The TRUTH Behind WrestleMania III's Attendance

Was it 78,000 or 93,173? The real attendance figure for WrestleMania III remains one of wrestling’s most enduring mysteries. Keith Elliot Greenberg shares what he uncovered while researching BIGGER! BETTER! BADDER!

“Vince had a lot to prove. He was fighting to prove the legitimacy of his product. In order to do that and make those deals with sponsors and licensees he needed to break records. He enquired before WrestleMania III what the record was for that building and he said, ‘We’re beating it.’ And that’s before the tickets were all sold!

“So that number was conceived beforehand. He was also aware that there was going to be a Papal Mass over there. For years they used to tell me to write in WWF Magazine ‘we drew more people to WrestleMania III than the Pope at the same venue.’”

BIGGER! BETTER! BADDER! by Keith Elliot Greenberg is the definitive guide to “The Year It All Changed” – and is available now from all good bookshops, published by ECW Press.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Herbert is the author of the forthcoming book Rampage — a heartfelt tribute to the glory days of the WWF’s first UK boom. Packed with moments, merch, and memories, it explores how a golden era of American wrestling turned a generation of British kids into lifelong fans. Lee’s writing is a celebration of everything that’s great about professional wrestling. Follow the book's progress at @wwframpagebook.

WRESTLING LIFE ONLINE: REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT

Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.

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