WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the American promotion WWE, formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and is considered the flagship event of the company. The events feature wrestlers from the promotion's roster competing in a variety of professional wrestling matches. The WrestleMania franchise debuted in 1985 with WrestleMania I, [1] and has been produced annually since. WrestleMania 39 in 2023 was the most recent production.
Aside from professional wrestling performances, celebrities have been a major key in the production of WrestleMania events. WWE involves them to attract more hype and media attention for the event, in an effort to boost 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, sports, and modeling, and have been used in a variety of roles, such as live musical performances, backstage segments, ringside managers, and on some occasions, competing in a wrestling match.
Overall, there have been 143 celebrities involved at WrestleMania: 55 musicians (with groups counted as one), 34 athletes, 25 actors, and 29 from various other backgrounds. 10 of these celebrities have also been inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.
Celebrity(s) | Occupation(s) | Appearance | Role | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kitana Baker | Model | WrestleMania XIX | Involved in a pillow fight with WWE Divas, Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler | |
Tanya Ballinger | Model | WrestleMania XIX | Involved in a pillow fight with WWE Divas, Torrie Wilson and Stacy Keibler | |
Rona Barrett | Gossip reporter | WrestleMania VI | Interviewer | |
Ray Combs | Comedian/Game show host | WrestleMania VIII | Guest ring announcer | |
Tara Conner | Beauty queen | WrestleMania 23 | Escorted Donald Trump to the ring during the "Battle of the Billionaires" | |
Chet Coppock | Radio broadcaster | WrestleMania 2 | Guest ring announcer | |
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders | NFL cheerleading squad | WrestleMania 32 | Performed their signature dance to "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC and were a part of The Rock's entrance | [64] |
WrestleMania 38 | Performed Night 1 and appeared on stage and cheered Pat McAfee to the ring for his match against Austin Theory | [ citation needed ] | ||
Morton Downey Jr. | Talk show host | WrestleMania V | Guest on Roddy Piper's "Piper's Pit", an in-ring talk show segment | |
Gennifer Flowers | Model | WrestleMania XIV | Guest ring announcer and interviewer | |
Mary Hart | Entertainment Tonight host | WrestleMania III | Interviewer, guest timekeeper | |
John Menick as Herb | Portrayed Herb in Burger King's "Where's Herb?" | WrestleMania 2 | Guest timekeeper at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York | |
IShowSpeed | Internet personality | WrestleMania XL | Helped Logan Paul while dressed up as a bottle of Prime and got RKO'd by Randy Orton | |
Kim Kardashian | Reality TV star | WrestleMania XXIV | Hostess | |
KSI | YouTuber, professional boxer, musician and internet personality | WrestleMania 39 | Helped Logan Paul while dressed up as a bottle of Prime | |
Robin Leach | Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous host | WrestleMania IV | Read the rules of the tournament and Presented the WWF Championship to Randy Savage after Savage won it in a tournament | |
G. Gordon Liddy | Political figure/radio talk show host | WrestleMania 2 | Judge for boxing match between Mr. T and Roddy Piper | |
Maria Menounos | Television host | WrestleMania XXVIII | Teamed up with Kelly Kelly to defeat Beth Phoenix and Eve Torres | [ citation needed ] |
WrestleMania 31 | Guest interviewer | [ citation needed ] | ||
WrestleMania 32 | Guest interviewer | [ citation needed ] | ||
WrestleMania 33 | Guest interviewer | [ citation needed ] | ||
Clara Peller | Star of Wendy's "Where's the Beef?" commercials | WrestleMania 2 | Guest timekeeper at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois | |
Regis Philbin | Morning TV talk show host | WrestleMania VII | Guest commentator for the main event between Hulk Hogan and Sergeant Slaughter | |
Nicole "Snookie" Polizzi | Reality TV star | WrestleMania XXVII | Participated in a six-person mixed tag team match with Trish Stratus and John Morrison against LayCool (Layla and Michelle McCool) and Dolph Ziggler | |
Zuleyka Rivera | Beauty queen | WrestleMania 23 | Escorted Donald Trump to the ring during the "Battle of the Billionaires" | |
The Rockettes | Dance company | WrestleMania I | Escorted guest timekeeper Liberace to the ring | |
George Steinbrenner | New York Yankees owner | WrestleMania VII | Involved in a skit | |
Alex Trebek | Game show host | WrestleMania VII | Guest ring announcer | |
Donald Trump | Businessman Host of The Apprentice 45th President of The United States | 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." | |||
Sal Vulcano | Comedian | WrestleMania 35 | Appeared on the pre-show | |
Sy Sperling | Hair Club For Men owner | WrestleMania X | Gave a hairpiece to WWF ring announcer Howard Finkel | |
Vanna White | Game show hostess | WrestleMania IV | Guest timekeeper | |
Keith Colburn | Captain of the FV Wizard ( Deadliest Catch ) | WrestleMania XXVIII | Appeared in a backstage segment with Santino Marella and Mick Foley | [ citation needed ] |
Al Roker | Today Show weatherman | WrestleMania 33 | Guest ring announcer | [68] |
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