Former President Donald Trump has rekindled ties with his old WWE associates in a bid to strengthen his 2024 presidential campaign. It’s been over a decade since Trump appeared on WWE programming, yet iconic wrestling figures are emerging to rally behind him as he campaigns for a return to the Oval Office.
This summer’s Republican National Convention featured a memorable moment with wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who dramatically tore off his shirt to reveal a Trump 2024 tank top, urging the crowd to “Let Trumpamania run wild, brother!” This stunt, a nod to Hogan’s iconic wrestling persona, highlighted Trump’s efforts to capture attention in unconventional ways.
In recent appearances, Trump has sat down for candid conversations with WWE stars like Tyrus and podcast host Mark Calaway, known to fans as The Undertaker. Calaway praised Trump for making “politics fun again,” to which Trump smiled and nodded in agreement. These exchanges, broadcasted widely, aim to resonate with audiences who often gravitate toward wrestling’s blend of spectacle and showmanship.
Trump’s strategy is focused on reaching key demographics, particularly young men, through wrestling and podcast platforms. “There’s a large audience of people who identify as apolitical or unorthodox, and wrestling podcasts can connect with them effectively,” says Abraham Josephine Riesman, author of Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America. Riesman argues that Trump’s political playbook mirrors professional wrestling’s tactics of blending fiction with reality and heightening emotions through spectacle.
Highlighting his long-standing connection to WWE, Trump’s partnership with Vince McMahon dates back to the late 1980s, when he hosted consecutive WrestleMania events at his Atlantic City hotel. Their infamous rivalry in 2007 peaked with the “Battle of the Billionaires” at WrestleMania 23, where Trump and McMahon faced off through their chosen wrestlers. The high-stakes event, where McMahon famously got his head shaved after losing, drew record-breaking pay-per-view views, marking one of WWE’s most memorable moments.
Despite leaving WWE programming after his 2013 Hall of Fame induction, Trump’s relationship with the McMahon family persisted. During his presidency, he appointed Vince’s wife, Linda McMahon, as the Small Business Administrator. She now heads the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute.
However, not all former WWE personalities are backing Trump. Former wrestler Dave Bautista recently criticized the ex-president in a viral ad, calling him “a weak, tubby toddler” and challenging his tough-guy persona.
By tapping into his wrestling roots, Trump is banking on the power of nostalgia and his larger-than-life image to gain momentum among voters. As the race heats up, his campaign’s unconventional approach is stirring attention, drawing parallels to his early days on the WWE stage.