Donald Trump never had a “real” wrestling career like the men in the ring. But he did play a prominent role in WWE storylines that became so big that they are still being talked about today in highlights, memes, and compilations. And one moment stands out above the rest: the night Trump—in front of a stadium audience—helped shave WWE boss Vince McMahon’s head.
It starts in Atlantic City: “Trump Plaza” on the poster
Long before politics, Trump was already a name that perfectly suited the show business of pro wrestling. In the late 1980s, WrestleMania IV (1988) and WrestleMania V (1989) were “branded” in Atlantic City with Trump’s real estate: on TV and in promotions, it was marketed as (promoted as) Trump Plaza.
A small but important nuance: the events took place in the Atlantic City Convention Hall (although “promoted as Trump Plaza”).
2007: “Battle of the Billionaires” — millions watch, one man goes bald
Fast forward to WrestleMania 23 (2007). WWE built a mega storyline around two egos: Donald Trump vs. Vince McMahon. The twist: they wouldn’t wrestle themselves, but would each choose a champion “representative.” And the stakes were delightfully absurd and mercilessly simple:
The losing billionaire had to have his head shaved.
Trump’s man was Bobby Lashley; McMahon’s choice was Umaga—with “Stone Cold” Steve Austin as special guest referee.
And then the moment when the arena explodes: Lashley wins. A deal is a deal. McMahon goes into the chair. In front of the audience, with cameras rolling, and with Trump—as part of the act—joining in to “finish off” the shaving humiliation.
As if that wasn’t enough WWE chaos: in the aftermath, Trump also had to deal with a Stone Cold Stunner.
2009: Trump “buys” Monday Night RAW (in the WWE world)
WWE went one step further in 2009 with a storyline in which Trump was announced as the new “owner” of Monday Night RAW during a press conference. It was presented as entertainment—but WWE did publish corporate news about it, including details such as ticket refunds and a commercial-free RAW.
2013: Hall of Fame — yes, really
And now for a fact that many people don’t know: Trump didn’t end up in the WWE archives “just like that.” In 2013, he was inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame, with WWE explicitly referring to WrestleMania IV & V and WrestleMania 23 as reasons for his “WWE legacy.”
So… was he a wrestler?
Not in the traditional sense: not a full-time performer, no title run as a pro. But rather: a celebrity figure who was featured several times in WWE’s biggest showcases, with one of the most recognizable “celebrity moments” ever—shaving McMahon’s head after a stadium match.
