List of celebrities involved with WrestleMania
WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The events feature wrestlers from the promotion's roster competing in a variety of professional wrestling match types, performances with pre-determined outcomes between wrestlers with fictional personalities that are portrayed as real for the entertainment of the audience. The WrestleMania franchise debuted in 1985 with WrestleMania I,[1] and has been produced annually since then. WrestleMania XXXI is the most recent production.
Aside from professional wrestling performances, celebrity involvement has been a major key in the production of WrestleMania events. WWE involves celebrities in the WrestleMania events to gain more hype and media attention for the event, in this way receiving more attraction to the event, pay-per-view buys, and ticket sales.[2][3] The celebrities involved with WrestleMania events have come from a range of occupations, including singing, acting, professional boxing, and modeling, and usually appear in non-wrestling roles, such as singing, promoting a subject, or managing wrestlers at ringside. There have been exceptions, however, in which celebrities have had a professional wrestling role.
One of the first celebrities to appear at the first WrestleMania was Mr. T, who wrestled in the main event in a tag team match with Hulk Hogan. Aretha Franklin appeared at the third WrestleMania and sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful." Franklin appeared 20 years later at WrestleMania 23 and sang another rendition of the same song. At times, WWE has inducted celebrities into their Hall of Fame. For example, Chicago Bears defensive lineman William Perry wrestled in a match that involved other NFL football players, and he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a "Celebrity Inductee" in 2006. Another celebrity was Mike Tyson, who appeared at WrestleMania XIV and was originally planned to enforce the ringside area, although he was involved in a physical altercation with Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom). Pete Rose has made the most celebrity appearances at WrestleMania, with four overall appearances. Overall, there have been 99 celebrities involved at WrestleMania: 32 athletes, 29 musicians, 19 actors, and 20 others from different backgrounds.
Celebrities
Actors
Athletes
Celebrity | Profession | Appearance | Role | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ali, MuhammadMuhammad Ali | Professional boxer | WrestleMania I | Guest referee for the main event | |
Banks, CarlCarl Banks | Linebacker for the New York Giants | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow (Scott Bigelow) | |
WrestleMania 2 | Guest referee | |||
WrestleMania VII | Involved in a skit | |||
Covert, JimJim Covert | Offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania 2 | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players | |
Dawkins, DarrylDarryl Dawkins | Basketball player | WrestleMania 2 | Judge for the boxing match between Mr. T and Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs) | |
Duva, LouLou Duva | Professional boxing trainer | WrestleMania 2 | Manager of Roddy Piper in his boxing match against Mr. T | |
Esch, EricEric Esch | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XV | Fought in an unscripted Brawl For All boxing match, knocking out opponent Bart Gunn (Mike Polchlopek) | |
Fralic, BillBill Fralic | Offensive guard for the Atlanta Falcons | WrestleMania 2 | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players | |
Francis, RussRuss Francis | Tight end for the San Francisco 49ers | WrestleMania 2 | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players | |
Holmes, ErnieErnie Holmes | Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers | WrestleMania 2 | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players | |
Jackson, RickeyRickey Jackson | Linebacker for the New Orleans Saints | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow | |
Jones, EdEd Jones | Defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys | WrestleMania 2 | Guest referee | |
Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda | Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers | WrestleMania 2 | Guest ring announcer at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles | |
Maguire, PaulPaul Maguire | Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills | WrestleMania VII | Involved in a skit | |
Martin, BillyBilly Martin | Second baseman for the New York Yankees | WrestleMania I | Guest ring announcer | |
Martin, HarveyHarvey Martin | Defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys | WrestleMania 2 | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players | |
Mayweather, Jr., FloydFloyd Mayweather, Jr. | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XXIV | Wrestled in a No disqualification match against The Big Show (Paul Wight) | |
McMichael, SteveSteve McMichael | Defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow | |
Norton, Jr., KenKen Norton, Jr. | Linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow | |
O'Neal, ShaquilleShaquille O'Neal | Basketball player and analyst | WrestleMania 32 | Participated in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal | |
WrestleMania 33 | Set to face The Big Show | [24] | ||
Pazienza, VinnyVinny Pazienza | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XV | Guest referee for the Brawl for All rules match between Eric Esch and Bart Gunn (Mike Polchlopek) | |
Perry, WilliamWilliam Perry | Defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania 2 | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players | |
WrestleMania 22 | Appeared as a part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2006 | |||
Rooney, KevinKevin Rooney | Professional boxing trainer | WrestleMania XV | Judge for boxing match between Eric Esch and Bart Gunn | |
Rose, PetePete Rose | Player/Manager for the Cincinnati Reds | WrestleMania XIV | Guest ring announcer and involved in a physical altercation with Kane (Glenn Jacobs) | |
WrestleMania XV | Dressed as the San Diego Chicken and involved in an altercation with Kane | |||
WrestleMania 2000 | Was involved in an altercation with Kane and Rikishi (Solofa Fatu) | |||
WrestleMania XX | Appeared as a part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2004 | |||
Rousey, RondaRonda Rousey | MMA fighter | WrestleMania 31 | Appeared as a member of the audience and had an altercation with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon along with The Rock. | |
Spielman, ChrisChris Spielman | Linebacker for the Detroit Lions | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow | |
Taylor, LawrenceLawrence Taylor | Linebacker for the New York Giants | WrestleMania XI | Wrestled in a standard wrestling match against Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event | |
Tyson, MikeMike Tyson | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XIV | Ringside enforcer for the main event and was involved in a physical altercation with Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom) | |
Uecker, BobBob Uecker | Catcher for the Atlanta Braves | WrestleMania III | Interviewer, Guest commentator, Guest Ring Announcer | |
WrestleMania IV | Interviewer, Guest commentator, Guest Ring Announcer | |||
Wepner, ChuckChuck Wepner | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XV | Judge for boxing match between Eric Esch and Bart Gunn | |
White, ReggieReggie White | Defensive end for the Green Bay Packers | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow | |
Young, LarryLarry Young | Umpire | WrestleMania XI | Guest referee | |
Musicians
Other
Celebrity(s) | Occupation(s) | Appearance | Role | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Baker, KitanaKitana Baker | Model | WrestleMania XIX | Involved in a pillow fight with WWE Divas, Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler | |
Ballinger, TanyaTanya Ballinger | Model | WrestleMania XIX | Involved in a pillow fight with WWE Divas, Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler | |
Barrett, RonaRona Barrett | Businesswoman | WrestleMania VI | Interviewer | |
Combs, RayRay Combs | Comedian | WrestleMania VIII | Guest ring announcer | |
Conner, TaraTara Conner | Beauty queen | WrestleMania 23 | Escorted Donald Trump to the ring during the "Battle of the Billionaires" | |
Coppock, ChetChet Coppock | Radio broadcaster | WrestleMania 2 | Guest ring announcer | |
Downey, Jr., MortonMorton Downey, Jr. | Talk show host | WrestleMania V | Guest on Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs)'s "Piper's Pit", an in-ring talk show segment | |
Flowers, GenniferGennifer Flowers | Model and Porn actress | WrestleMania XIV | Guest ring announcer and interviewer | |
Hart, MaryMary Hart | Television personality | WrestleMania III | Interviewer, Guest Timekeeper | |
John Menick as Herb | Portrayed Herb in Burger King's "Where's Herb?" | WrestleMania 2 | Guest time keeper at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York | |
Kardashian, KimKim Kardashian | Model | WrestleMania XXIV | Hostess | |
Leach, RobinRobin Leach | Television host | WrestleMania IV | Read the rules of the tournament and Presented the WWF Championship to Randy Savage after Savage won it in a tournament | |
Liddy, G. GordonG. Gordon Liddy | Talk show host | WrestleMania 2 | Judge for boxing match between Mr. T and Roddy Piper | |
Menounos, MariaMaria Menounos | T.V. Correspondent | WrestleMania XXVIII | teamed up with Kelly Kelly to defeat Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres | |
Peller, ClaraClara Peller | Portrayed "Lady" in Wendy's "Where's the Beef?" commercial | WrestleMania 2 | Guest time keeper at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois | |
Philbin, RegisRegis Philbin | Television Personality | WrestleMania VII | ||
Polizzi, NicoleNicole Polizzi | Television Personality | WrestleMania XXVII | Participated in a 6-person mixed tag team match with Trish Stratus and John Morrison against Dolph Ziggler and LayCool (Layla and Michelle McCool) | |
Rivera, ZuleykaZuleyka Rivera | Beauty queen | WrestleMania 23 | Escorted Donald Trump to the ring during the "Battle of the Billionaires" | |
Rockettes, TheThe Rockettes | Dance company | WrestleMania I | Escorted Liberace to the ring as the guest time keeper | |
Steinbrenner, GeorgeGeorge Steinbrenner | Businessman | WrestleMania VII | Involved in a skit | |
Trebek, AlexAlex Trebek | Television personality | WrestleMania VII | Guest ring announcer | |
Trump, DonaldDonald Trump | Businessman | WrestleMania IV | His owned venue hosted the event | |
WrestleMania V | His owned venue hosted the event | |||
WrestleMania VII | Interviewed in the crowd | |||
WrestleMania XX | ||||
WrestleMania 23 | Was physically involved in WrestleMania 23 with the "Battle of the Billionaires." | |||
Sperling, SySy Sperling | Businessman | WrestleMania X | Gave a hairpiece to WWF ring announcer Howard Finkel | |
White, VannaVanna White | Television personality | WrestleMania IV | Guest time keeper | |
Colburn, KeithKeith Colburn | Captain of the FV Wizard (Deadliest Catch) | Wrestlemania XXVIII | Appeared in a backstage segment with Santino Marella and Mick Foley | |
References
- ↑ "WrestleMania History: WrestleMania I". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Cohen, Eric. "WrestleMania Celebrities". About.com (Professional Wrestling). Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ↑ Acklen, Lori. "WrestleMania Celebrity Sightings". Channel Guide Magazine. Archived from the original on 2008-06-06. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 "WrestleMania 2000 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 "Canada Hosts WrestleMania 6". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "WrestleMania XI Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ↑ "No worse WrestleMania than 11". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "WrestleMania 2 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "WrestleMania 2 Celebrities". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 "Celebrities at WrestleMania X". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 "Hart elevated at WrestleMania 10". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Burr, Ty (1991-05-03). "Strange Brutes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 "Celebrities Pack a Punch at WrestleMania XXIV". World Wrestling Entertainment Corporate. 2008-03-04. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "WrestleMania attracts Snoop Dogg". NZherald.co.nz. 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ↑ "Rourke, Flair laugh in the face of defeat". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "WrestleMania I Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "WrestleMania: The Dynasty Begins". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "No worse WrestleMania than 11". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "WrestleMania 15 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Austin wins title at WM15". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- 1 2 3 "WrestleMania 2 Results". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
- ↑ Dee, Louie (2008-03-30). "Show-n up". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ↑ "Floyd Mayweather Jr. Accepts One-on-One Match with Big Show". World Wrestling Entertainment Corporate. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ Watch: Shaq vs. Big Show at WrestleMania 33?, retrieved 2016-09-30
- ↑ "William Perry WWE Hall of Fame profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 "Pete Rose WWE Hall of Fame Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- 1 2 3 "WrestleMania XIV Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 Powell, John. "Austin wins WWF World Title at WrestleMania". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 "WrestleMania 3 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 "WrestleMania 4 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 "WrestleMania XIX Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 Powell, John. "WWE shines at WrestleMania XIX". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "Fantasia to perform at WrestleMania XXVI in Glendale". The Arizona Republic. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
- 1 2 "Steamboat – Savage rule WrestleMania 3". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 "WrestleMania X8 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 "Old vs. new at WrestleMania X8". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 Tello, Craig (2007-04-01). "Aretha Franklin makes momentous return". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "WrestleMania 2000 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "WrestleMania 2000 a flop". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 "Kid Rock and Nicole Scherzinger to perform at WrestleMania". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- 1 2 3 "Tournament spices up WrestleMania 4". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ Tello, Craig (2008-03-30). "Night of Legends". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- 1 2 3 "Hart elevated at WrestleMania 10". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 "WrestleMania 10 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 "WrestleMania 8 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 "WrestleMania 8, a two-for-one deal". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "WrestleMania 17 Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ Plummer, Dale. "Main events weak at WrestleMania 21". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 "WrestleMania 7, all out war". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "P.O.D. to play Mysterio to the ring at WrestleMania". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 "WrestleMania V Celebrities". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 "WrestleMania 5: The Mega Powers Explode". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ Burdick, Michael (2008-03-30). "Santino tamed by rabid Dogg". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
- ↑ "Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child Returns Home to Chicago to Perform America the Beautiful at WrestleMania 22". Business Wire. Findarticles.com. 2006-03-27. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "WrestleMania 22 Homepage". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Caldwell, James. "CALDWELL'S WWE WRESTLEMANIA 28 PPV REPORT 4/1: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV – Rock-Cena, Taker-Hunter, Punk-Jericho". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- 1 2 "WWE: Living Colour to Play CM Punk to the Ring at WrestleMania". The Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
- 1 2 Gray, Richard. "Mark Crozer Performing Wyatt Family Theme Song Live At Wrestlemania 30". Wrestling News World. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plummer, Dale. "Undertaker the champ, McMahon bald after WrestleMania". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
- ↑ "WrestleMania: WrestleMania XXIV". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
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