WrestleMania week is here, and the 41^st annual spectacular is tightly interwoven in the pop culture fabric.

While WrestleMania has always been the spotlight of the WWE year, it was the third edition in 1987 that put the body slam on its wrestling industry rivals. Veteran writer and historian Keith Elliot Greenberg looks back at how the WWF — as it was known then — won the wrestling war in his new book “Bigger! Better! Badder! WrestleMania III and the Year it All Changed.”

At the Pontiac Silverdome, Hulk Hogan body-slammed Andre the Giant to victory in a legendary match that remains the most famous in pro wrestling history.

“The fact that they sold out an NFL stadium was something inconceivable to the public, including the wrestling public,” Greenberg said in a phone interview with Off the Bottom Rope.

While the stories of WWF’s ascension to pro wrestling dominance, the Hulk-Andre match, and the myths behind WrestleMania III have been explored by other historians and documentaries, Greenberg talks to several WWF executives who shared the story of not only the event, but the years of buildup. He also talked to heads of rival promotions.

Despite knowing Greenberg, who asked him to participate, former WWF/WWE chairman Vince McMahon declined to be interviewed for the book.

Not long after the success of WrestleMania III, several smaller regional wrestling promotions closed. The company that eventually became World Championship Wrestling survived, but only until  the WWF bought them out in 2001 — officially ending the wrestling war.

A Weeklong Spectacular Comparable to the Super Bowl

Greenberg has covered wrestling for more than 40 years for several publications, including the official WWF Magazine. He’s written several wrestling books and often appears as the historian on WWE documentaries.

WrestleMania used to be just a one-day spectacular. Now, it is a weeklong celebration of all things wrestling, comparable to the Super Bowl. Cities bid and pay a site fee for the spectacular.

Fans will descend from around the world, stay at hotels, attend several official WWE events such as the Hall of Fame, the WWE World exhibit, and other wrestling cards. Even The Undertaker is holding a one-man act.

“It is a true pilgrimage for wrestling fans who come from around the globe. None of that would exist without WrestleMania III. WrestleMania III sent a message that this was something on par with the Super Bowl and the World Cup,” Greenberg said.

Greenberg said he’s attended most WrestleManias, covering for various publications. But, he can’t even receive a media credential this year, writing for UK-based Inside the Ropes. He said the WWE received more than a thousand media credentials.

“People who don’t even follow wrestling week-to-week want to be at WrestleMania because it is a destination to be. That is why there will be celebrities at WrestleMania. They want to be seen there,” Greenberg said.

The Attendance Myth

The WWF claimed that 93,173 fans jammed into the Pontiac Silverdome in 1987, shattering the world indoor attendance record. That number has been debated, analyzed and examined ever since. Greenberg dedicates a chapter into whether that number is accurate or WWF myth-making.

“It’s an eternal debate. I interviewed executives who are responsible for making sure those seats were filled. They adhere religiously to 93,173,” Greenberg said. “There are some question marks there.”

More likely, 78,000 paid to attend, but the mythical number also includes anybody in the building — wrestlers, ticket takers, and even those who snuck into the building.

“That’s a lot of people going to professional wrestling, when you consider that up until that point professional wrestling was considered low-brow entertainment,” Greenberg said.

The true number may never be known.

“It doesn’t really matter. The number itself is part of mythology, you could make a biblical analogy; Was every animal really on Noah’s Ark?” Greenberg said.

WrestleMania 41

WrestleMania 41 takes place Saturday and Sunday at Allegiant Stadium near Las Vegas, home of the Raiders. Similar to when Hulk Hogan took on the newly villainous Andre the Giant, this year’s main event features hero Cody Rhodes defending the Universal WWE championship against new bad guy John Cena on Sunday.

A triple threat match highlights Saturday’s card, with the most dominant wrestler in the last decade Roman Reigns facing CM Punk and Seth Rollins.

Ticket reseller StubHub lists $269 as the lowest price for a single ticket Sunday, in the third deck.

Among the other sanctioned WWE events for the week include the regular Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw at the T-Mobile Arena; the Hall of Fame at the Fontainebleau; shows for NXT, the WWE’s development territory; The Undertaker’s show; and even a Sunday morning “The Roast of WrestleMania.”

Several other wrestling promotions use the week to hold dozens of events in and around Las Vegas. And, for those who can’t get a ticket to the stadium, several hotel/casinos are hosting watch parties.

Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski, who is known to dabble in the ring himself, is hosting a pool party, where tickets remain for $89.99.