The Ten Most Impactful Celebrity Appearances at WrestleMania

Over the years, there have been those who strongly vocalize a distaste for the tradition of cross marketing in wrestling. The “RAW guest general manager era” has its detractors and some even go so far as to denounce the WWE Hall of Fame's “Celebrity Wing.” But even naysayers have to admit that, if it has to happen, WrestleMania is the time and place. Here’s ten of the most important instances that the stars and superstars aligned. 
(Disclaimer: This excludes solely musical performances.) 

Mr T - WrestleMania I 

If there’s anything that arouses 1980s zeitgeist as much as Netfix reviving 22-minute after school toy commercials, it’s the memory of The A-Team's mohawked badass in head-to-toe HulkaMania gear teaching kids to do jumping jacks and pushups at some community center along with the WWF Heavyweight Champion. Taking on Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff in a tag match with Hulk Hogan was one hell of a headliner and the promotional tour (including an infamous segment involving Richard Belzer) ensured that the seats in Madison Square Garden had butts in them. 

Pamela Anderson- WrestleMania XI  

There are lots of ways to shock the world without falling face first through drywall. One of them is to get the world’s #1 sex symbol onto your show. At the Royal Rumble 1994, Shawn Michaels managed to outlast 29 others and, wouldn’t you know it, he got an official congratulations by Pamela Anderson in the ring. The Heartbreak Kid bragged about it all the way to WrestleMania where the Baywatch babe herself was advertised to appear. When she opted to walk WWF Champion, Diesel, to the ring, Shawn didn’t lose his smile. It was wiped right off his face. 

 

Mike Tyson- WrestleMania XIV 

“The Baddest Man on the Planet!” That moniker, altered or co-opted by others since, came to prominence when it was screamed by WWF announcers whenever Iron Mike appeared, was mentioned, or theoretically existed during the build to WrestleMania XIV. Stripped of his boxing license for low-tier cannibalism, Tyson’s “ringside enforcer” role at WrestleMania created a media buzz and PPV buy-rate spike, paid off Tyson’s NSAC fines, and saw Steve Austin win his first World Championship. The Attitude Era was off and running. 

Bad Bunny- WrestleMania 37 and 39 

One of the most-downloaded, best-selling, highest-grossing touring acts in the world is a pretty big get. Bad Bunny entered the arena riding atop an actual semi truck with tag team partner, Damien Priest, behind the wheel. Wowing the crowd with a Canadian Destroyer and numerous reports of training intensely and respectfully for the match earned him kudos from even jaded fans. Staying affiliated with the brand, Bunny went on to become the 24/7 Champion, make it to the final five at Royal Rumble 2022, and intervene in the Dominik Mysterio vs Rey Mysterio match at Wrestlemania 39. That last instance led to a San Juan Street Fight opposite former friend, Damian Priest, in front of a red-hot crowd in Puerto Rico at Backlash. 

Eric “Butterbean” Esch- WrestleMania XV  

I said “impactful,” not “easy to watch.” Before the Paul Brothers and before some of Pride FC’s more questionable bouts, Art Dore’s Toughman Contest was the place to go for “sideshow fights. And none exemplified that Butterbean. By the time his legitimate boxing match against Brawl for All winner, Bart Gunn, rolled around, Esch was smack dab in the middle of a five year, 51 fight undefeated streak in the superheavyweight division. Bart’s 35-second knockout loss was crushing for his career, WWE wrestlers who succeeded on their own merit, and fans who often try to defend the badassery of pro wrestling to others. 

Pete Rose- WrestleMania XIV, XV, 2000, and XX  

It became one of the greatest running gags in wrestling history. You always knew that, if Ric Flair went to the top rope, he was coming down the hard way. If someone decided to headbutt a Samoan, they were going to regret it. And, if Pete Rose was around, he was getting a Tombstone courtesy of Kane. Pete played his part perfectly, resulting in an ironically endearing Hall of Fame induction. 

Donald Trump- Wrestlemania 23  

Red or Blue or something altogether new, this one is unavoidable. Having hosted two WrestleManias and appearing in the crowd at two others, The Donald’s relationship with the company and his notoriety from the hit reality series, The Apprentice, lent itself to the type of media hype former WWF/E owner, Vince McMahon, always craved. A storyline created around jealousy and purported ownership of the line “You’re fired!” culminated in a match where Umaga faced Bobby Lashley with Stone Cold Steve Austin as the referee and McMahon’s and Trump’s hair was on the line. Lashley’s victory gave us do-rag Vinnie Mac. The clothesline and punches Trump delivered to McMahon were ever-present memes during his election bids and presidency. 

Snoop Dogg- WrestleMania XXIV, XXVII, and 39 

A lot of celebrities can say they’ve been to WrestleMania and even been involved in matches. I can think of only one who can say that they saved a match. Having presided over the “Playboy BunnyMania” match and doing backstage segments with Teddy Long in the past (as well as performing for his cousin’s walkout,) it was no surprise to see Snoop at WM39. But when a skit with The Miz on Night Two turned into an unadvertised match with Shane McMahon, we were all surprised to find out that he wasn’t done. When Shane McMahon legitimately tore his quadriceps, Snoop Dogg stepped up and improvised a short sequence that saw him drop a People’s Elbow on the Must See Superstar and get the crowd cheering in what had been a disaster only a minute before. 

Ronda Rousey- WrestleMania 31 

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When Ronda Rousey joined The Rock in the ring at WrestleMania to hip toss Triple HHH and armbar Stephanie McMahon, the crowd went crazy for the then undefeated UFC champ. The notion was already out there but that was the moment where Ronda’s turn to WWE superstar became inevitable. Without it, Shayna Baszler may not have signed with WWE. Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong may never have met and started a family. And it’s nearly certain that we don’t get a women’s match as the main event of WrestleMania 35. 

Cyndi Lauper- WrestleMania I 

First of all, the woman is a national treasure and possibly the most glaring omission from the Hall of Fame. Those with enough gray in our hair remember when she was a pop sensation that, pre-Madonna-and-Whitney was unrivaled on young women’s tape decks. Her association with wrestling and accompanying Wendi Richter to the ring (as she had on previous MTV specials) would be like Taylor Swift doing it today. If the cost of the first WrestleMania was a gamble for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, the reaction to their involvement with Cyndi Lauper and MTV was a huge factor in calculating that risk.