7 of the Greatest Donald Trump Moments From His Time With the WWE!
Donald Trump is quite a multifaceted individual—he's a former American President, a current presidential candidate, an accomplished businessman, a politician, a media figure, and a WWE Hall of Famer.
Beyond his political and business ventures, Trump has a long-standing history with WWE, dating back to the height of Hulkamania in 1998.
Getty Images
Recognizing the financial potential of the burgeoning company, Trump sought to get involved. He hosted WrestleMania IV and V and participated in several memorable moments with WWE. After hosting Mike Tyson bouts at The Atlantic City Convention Hall, which was later marketed as Trump Plaza, Trump provided a venue for WrestleMania IV.
The spectacular event showcased Hogan and Andre the Giant on its poster. The two faced off in the quarterfinals of the WrestleMania Tournament, resulting in a double disqualification in front of 19,199 attendees.
"I just wanted a piece of it," Trump said on "The True Story of WrestleMania". "Everybody in the country wanted this event, and we were able to get it."
Leon Halip/Getty Images
While he’s not the first U.S. president to show an affinity for wrestling, Trump has had a unique and direct connection to the industry. As one of the most polarizing figures in American politics, Trump continues to loom large even after his presidency ended in 2020. His long-term relationship with Vince McMahon and WWE spans over three decades. Tracking this extensive history can be tricky, so here’s a timeline of Trump’s most significant moments in WWE:
In 2004, former Minnesota governor and wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura entered the ring at WrestleMania XX and called out Trump for an interview. After Trump assured Ventura that he would have “100 percent” of his “moral and financial support” should he decide to return to politics, announcers Jerry “The King” Lawler and Jim Ross speculated about a potential Ventura presidency with Trump as his vice president. “I think that we may need a wrestler in the White House in 2008,” Ventura remarked to the crowd. (He didn’t run but the foreshadowing was definitely there!)
The long-standing feud between Trump and actress Rosie O’Donnell began in 2006 when O’Donnell criticized Trump on The View for not stripping the crown from a controversial Miss USA winner. The rivalry became material for WWE’s “Monday Night Raw,” where wrestlers portrayed the two media figures battling in the ring. Guess who wins? McMahon promoted a match between the two, but instead, two independent wrestlers dressed as O'Donnell and Trump clashed in a ridiculous showdown.
Fans were not pleased.
They expressed their displeasure from the opening bell, booing and chanting.
On January 29, 2007, Vince McMahon hosted a fan appreciation night in the ring to celebrate becoming a billionaire. He called out a lucky fan to present something memorable. After presenting a Muscle and Fitness magazine featuring himself on the cover, the audience grew restless. Trump appeared on the titration, declaring that the fans didn’t appreciate McMahon and that the magazine wasn’t what they wanted. Trump then showered the audience with thousands of dollars. Consequently, the crowd shifted their appreciation from McMahon to Trump, angering McMahon, who vented at the fans and Trump before storming backstage.
At WrestleMania 23, Donald Trump was backstage with Tara Conner (former Miss USA), angrily on the phone with Vince McMahon, demanding food and water. The Boogeyman appeared behind the couch, munching on worms. While Tara Conner fled in fear, Trump calmly told Boogeyman to bring him some food. He continued to complain on the phone about the disarray of the place, making this one of Trump’s more amusing WWE moments.
Leading up to WrestleMania 23, Vince McMahon and Donald Trump began a feud, picking sides for the Battle of the Billionaires. They gathered in the ring for a contract signing to make the match official. McMahon announced that everyone would laugh at Trump after WrestleMania 23, laying out the stipulation that the losing billionaire would need to shave his head. McMahon chose Umaga as his representative, claiming no one would step up against him.
Trump then entered the ring and introduced Bobby Lashley as his representative. As both signed the contract, special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin entered the ring to warn them that one of them would leave WrestleMania bald.
On the June 15, 2009, episode of Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon sold his flagship show, Monday Night Raw, to Donald Trump as part of a storyline. Trump promised the WWE fans that he would deliver something unprecedented. He vowed that Raw would run commercial-free and that he would refund the ticket prices. Although this was all part of the storyline, it made headlines at the time. This move negatively impacted WWE’s stock and forced McMahon to repurchase the company at double the price he sold it for.
This is undoubtedly Trump's most popular and famed moment throughout his entire WWE stint! At WrestleMania 23, during the battle of the billionaires, both Trump and McMahon put their full heads of hair on the line. Vince McMahon’s representative, Umaga, faced Donald Trump’s representative, Bobby Lashley, with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the special guest referee. When Austin got knocked out during the match, Vince allowed his son, Shane McMahon, to take over as the referee.
To prevent McMahon from pulling any cheap tricks, Trump delivered a clothesline to Vince, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Lashley ultimately won the match, and McMahon attempted to escape. However, Stone Cold, Trump, and Lashley managed to catch McMahon and shave his head. Following the head-shaving, Stone Cold delivered a stunner to Trump.
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
It's surreal to reflect on Trump’s WWE appearances now that he is deeply entrenched in the presidential race. He is likely to remain the only WWE Hall of Famer to secure the Republican nomination. He is the first person to participate in both a presidential debate and receive a Stone Cold Stunner.
Initially, Trump served as a business ally and promoter. However, his role expanded over time. His personality fit too well with the bravado and flair of the squared circle for him to remain just a spectator.
It was only natural for him to transition from a carnival barker to one of the lion tamers inside the tent.