Over the years, WWE has had no shortage of celebrity appearances, bringing stars from Hollywood, music, and sports into the world of professional wrestling. Some of these appearances have been pure entertainment, while others have made a lasting impact on WWE’s legacy. From iconic matches to unforgettable moments, here are the 15 best celebrity appearances in WWE history.
1. Mr. T at WrestleMania I (1985)
It’s impossible to talk about celebrity appearances in WWE without mentioning Mr. T, who helped put WrestleMania I on the map. The actor and star of The A-Team teamed up with Hulk Hogan to face “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff in the main event.
- Mr. T’s involvement drew massive attention to WWE, helping make the first WrestleMania a cultural phenomenon.
- His in-ring performance and physicality showed he was serious about wrestling, adding legitimacy to his appearance.
Mr. T’s presence in WWE’s first-ever WrestleMania is often credited with launching the event into mainstream success .
2. Mike Tyson at WrestleMania XIV (1998)
Mike Tyson was one of the most shocking and influential celebrity guests in WWE history. As the special enforcer for the WrestleMania XIV main event between Shawn Michaels and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Tyson’s role added a major boost to WWE’s growing popularity during the Attitude Era.
- Tyson’s involvement helped WWE beat WCW in the Monday Night Wars and solidified Austin’s status as a top star.
- His shocking punch that knocked out Michaels after the match was one of the defining moments of that era.
Tyson’s presence at WrestleMania XIV was a game-changer, helping WWE secure its place as the dominant wrestling company .
3. Cyndi Lauper and the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection (1980s)
Cyndi Lauper, a pop icon in the 1980s, played a pivotal role in bringing mainstream attention to WWE. Her involvement in the Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Connection alongside Wendi Richter and Captain Lou Albano helped merge the worlds of music and wrestling.
- Lauper’s appearance at The Brawl to End It All on MTV in 1984 brought WWE to a new audience, cementing the partnership between wrestling and pop culture.
- Her rivalry with “The Fabulous Moolah” and support for Wendi Richter was a major highlight of WWE’s expansion in the ’80s.
4. Shaquille O’Neal at WrestleMania 32 (2016)
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal made his presence felt in WWE at WrestleMania 32 during the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Shaq entered the match as a surprise participant and immediately confronted Big Show, creating a memorable big-man standoff.
- Though his time in the ring was brief, the moment garnered massive attention, with fans clamoring for a one-on-one match between Shaq and Big Show.
- Shaq’s involvement added star power to an already stacked WrestleMania card.
5. Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show at WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
Floyd “Money” Mayweather, the undefeated boxing champion, stepped into a WWE ring at WrestleMania XXIV to take on the much larger Big Show in a highly publicized match.
- Mayweather brought his brash attitude and signature cockiness to WWE, and the match became a David vs. Goliath spectacle.
- Against all odds, Mayweather used his speed and boxing skills to defeat Big Show, adding to his undefeated record in a different sport.
6. Stephen Amell at SummerSlam (2015)
Stephen Amell, the star of the TV show Arrow, made a surprisingly impressive WWE debut at SummerSlam 2015, teaming with Neville to face Stardust and King Barrett.
- Despite having no prior wrestling experience, Amell delivered an athletic and credible performance, earning the respect of both fans and wrestlers alike.
- His cross-promotional rivalry with Stardust was well-received and showcased Amell’s dedication to the craft.
7. Bad Bunny at WrestleMania 37 (2021)
Bad Bunny, the Grammy-winning rapper, stunned the WWE Universe with his in-ring debut at WrestleMania 37, teaming with Damian Priest to take on The Miz and John Morrison.
- Bad Bunny trained for months ahead of the match and delivered several jaw-dropping moves, including a Canadian Destroyer.
- His commitment to performing like a true WWE superstar earned him widespread praise, with many calling it one of the best celebrity performances in WWE history.
Bad Bunny set a new standard for celebrity appearances by showing that a true fan with the right training can excel in the ring .
8. Donald Trump at WrestleMania 23 (2007)
Donald Trump, before becoming the 45th President of the United States, took part in one of WWE’s most famous storylines: the Battle of the Billionaires at WrestleMania 23.
- Trump and WWE Chairman Vince McMahon chose representatives (Bobby Lashley for Trump and Umaga for McMahon) to fight, with the losing billionaire having to get their head shaved.
- After Lashley won the match, Trump helped shave McMahon’s head in the middle of the ring.
9. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the WWE Hall of Fame (2015)
Action movie icon and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has had multiple appearances in WWE over the years. In 2015, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a celebrity inductee.
- Schwarzenegger has appeared on WWE programming as a guest host and even had a physical altercation with Triple H during a segment.
- His close relationship with WWE helped bring attention to the brand from fans of bodybuilding and action films.
10. Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 31 (2015)
Before becoming a full-time WWE superstar, Ronda Rousey made a surprise appearance at WrestleMania 31, where she teamed up with The Rock in a segment to take down Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.
- Rousey’s involvement in the segment generated a huge reaction from the crowd, with fans anticipating her eventual WWE debut.
- Her appearance further cemented the bond between WWE and the world of combat sports.
11. Logan Paul at WrestleMania 37 and Beyond (2021-2022)
Controversial YouTuber Logan Paul has made multiple WWE appearances, including at WrestleMania 37 and SummerSlam 2022. His most memorable moment came when he teamed up with The Miz at WrestleMania 38 to face Rey and Dominik Mysterio.
- Paul impressed fans with his athleticism and in-ring performance, performing several high-risk maneuvers.
- Despite being known for his polarizing reputation, Paul’s natural ability in the ring earned him praise from fans and critics alike.
Paul’s involvement in WWE has shown that celebrities can successfully transition into wrestling with enough dedication and training .
12. Snoop Dogg at WrestleMania 32 (2016)
Snoop Dogg, the legendary rapper, made a memorable appearance at WrestleMania 32 when he accompanied his real-life cousin Sasha Banks to the ring. Snoop performed a custom entrance for Banks, showcasing his connection to WWE.
- Snoop Dogg has appeared in WWE multiple times and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame (Celebrity Wing) in 2016.
- His involvement in WWE has always been fun, adding an element of coolness to his appearances.
13. Maria Menounos at WrestleMania 28 (2012)
TV host Maria Menounos has made several appearances in WWE, but her most notable came at WrestleMania 28, where she teamed with Kelly Kelly to defeat Eve Torres and Beth Phoenix.
- Menounos, a lifelong WWE fan, performed surprisingly well in the ring despite battling injuries.
- Her commitment to the match and her respect for the business earned her admiration from fans and WWE superstars.
14. Machine Gun Kelly on Raw (2015)
Machine Gun Kelly, the multi-talented rapper and actor, performed live on Monday Night Raw in 2015 before getting powerbombed off the stage by Kevin Owens in a shocking moment.
- MGK’s involvement in the segment generated headlines, and his willingness to take a bump showed his dedication to WWE.
- He also appeared at WrestleMania 28, performing for John Cena’s entrance.
15. Hugh Jackman on Raw (2011)
Hugh Jackman, best known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men franchise, appeared on Monday Night Raw in 2011 to promote his film Real Steel and got involved in a match between Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder.
- Jackman was in Ryder’s corner and delivered a punch to Ziggler during the match, helping Ryder win.
- His appearance was fun, and Jackman embraced the WWE environment with his larger-than-life personality.
