James Dixon, Benjamin Richardson (Illustration) Jim Cornette (Foreword)
Lulu.com, 2014
Hardcover, Paperback, Ebook
James Dixon's Titan Sinking: The Decline of the WWF in 1995 tells the story of the "sports-entertainment" juggernaut's worst financially (many would also argue creatively) performing year since Vince McMahon assumed the reigns of the WWF/E. Dixon, a member of the History of Wrestling team, uses a plethora of apt resources to present a complete and concise look at a year that was fraught with backstage political posturing and a product that left much to be desired on several fronts. Dixon and the History of Wrestling team have written several books detailing various periods and promotions including annual editions of The Raw Files, WWF/E Video Guides and the Superstar Series. Titan Sinking is the first in a proposed trilogy focusing on the WWF/E in the mid-late 1990s. Titan Shattered, the second part of the trilogy, was released in 2015. More information on the group's titles can be found on their website.
Dixon does a great job describing pre-1995 WWF. He provides enough information to both set the scene and to peak the interest of fans of all levels of knowledge about the subject without getting too bogged down in the story's prologue. As well, Dixon is able to provide readers with a keen understanding of many of the personality strengths and flaws of the key players from 1995 WWF. Dixon also keenly juggles the plethora of issues and incidents that occurred throughout the year, discussing them chronologically as they happened and were resolved and/or tabled for a later date. Many readers will be surprised to see how many significant events occurred in and around the WWF in that one calendar year.
The author's real strength is his ability to compile information from many sources that add great perspective to a very well constructed and cohesive story. Some may argue that there is very little new information contained in the book as the vast majority of the quotations used originate in interviews conducted by others. Source wise, however, Dixon has obviously combed through copious amounts of video and print interviews and separated the wheat from the chaff. The result is a very entertaining and informative read that paints a very vivid picture of the backstage climate of 1995 WWF. While it would have been easy to chronicle the year from the standpoint of a fan or to make an attempt at telling the story from the point of view of one or more of the promotion's performers, Dixon does a good job in assuming a role not unlike that of an omnipresent Greek Chorus and uses the sourced material to reinforce the points he is making.
There are a few errors here and there (i.e. Jim Barnett being identified as Jim Herd) and there are times when the author takes a bit of dramatic license pertaining to the actions, thoughts or motives of those featured in the story, however none of this is detrimental to the book's credibility, purpose or structure.
The vast majority of readers will thoroughly enjoy Titan Sinking. As it was not published by one of the larger publishing companies who specialize in pro wrestling books, it is an easy one to have missed or have overlooked. Titan Sinking is head and shoulders above most other titles in the wrestle-lit genre.
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