WWE
Donald Trump, a US president in the WWE Hall of Fame
He has just won the US election to serve a second term, but Donald Trump has a history in wrestling.
Donald Trump has just won the US presidential election for a second time, this time defeating Kamala Harris. However, the magnate and owner of Trump Tower has a past in WWE due to his close friendship with Vince McMahon, the company’s former owner, which earned him a place in the WWE Hall of Fame.
WWE’s celebrity Hall of Fame
WWE has a section dedicated to celebrities who are inducted into the Hall of Fame. From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Ozzy Osbourne, this select group includes historical wrestling figures, which is why Trump is part of it. He has participated in several WWE events, including WrestleMania 23, where he famously bet his hair against Mr McMahon.
In 2013, on the eve of WrestleMania 29, wrestlers Mick Foley, Bob Backlund, Trish Stratus, Booker T, and Bruno Sammartino were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame alongside Donald Trump. Trump received the honor thanks to McMahon, who personally inducted him.
Trump shaved Vince McMahon
It was back in 2007 when Donald Trump stepped into a WWE ring for the first time, delivering a promo alongside Vince McMahon to announce the “Battle of the Billionaires,” an idea proposed by the businessman and now president. On an episode of Raw, both men declared they would have representatives fighting on their behalf, with their hair on the line at WrestleMania 23.
A few episodes later, on WWE’s flagship show, it was revealed that Umaga, the reigning Intercontinental Champion, would represent Vince, while Bobby Lashley, the ECW Champion, would fight for Donald. The rivalry escalated week by week, culminating in the announcement that the special guest referee would be McMahon’s longtime nemesis, Stone Cold Steve Austin.
At WrestleMania, the bout unfolded as expected, with Stone Cold doing everything in his power to favor Trump in the ring. In the end, Lashley emerged victorious, forcing McMahon to have his head shaved in front of the packed crowd at Ford Field in Detroit.
A few years later, in 2009, Trump returned to WWE to announce that he would be “purchasing” the Raw brand. While this storyline rivalry with McMahon did not reach the same heights as their first encounter, it paved the way for Trump to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame a few years later.
Trump had two Wrestlemanias at zero cost
In the 1980s, when the so-called “Super Bowl of Wrestling” was just four years old, Trump saw wrestling as a new business opportunity. As a result, he hosted WrestleMania IV and WrestleMania V at the Trump Plaza Casino and Hotel, which has since been demolished.
Both events featured the era’s biggest star, Randy Savage. At WrestleMania IV, Savage faced Ted DiBiase for the vacant WWF Championship, and a year later, he squared off against Hulk Hogan for the title. Notably, Donald Trump did not charge anything to host these two events.