WrestleMania is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the promotion World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The events feature wrestlers from the promotion's roster competing in a variety of professional wrestling match types, performances with pre-determined outcomes between wrestlers with fictional personalities that are portrayed as real for the entertainment of the audience. The WrestleMania franchise debuted in 1985 with WrestleMania I, and has been produced annually since then. WrestleMania XXVI is the most recent production, with WrestleManias XXVII and XXVIII scheduled for 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Aside from professional wrestling performances, celebrity involvement has been a major key in the production of WrestleMania events. WWE involves celebrities in the WrestleMania events to gain more hype and media attention for the event, in this way receiving more attraction to the event, pay-per-view buys, and ticket sales. The celebrities involved with WrestleMania events have come from a range of occupations, including singing, acting, professional boxing, and modeling, and usually appear in non-wrestling roles, such as singing, promoting a subject, or managing wrestlers at ringside. There have been exceptions, however, in which celebrities have had a professional wrestling role.
One of the first celebrities to appear at the first WrestleMania was Mr. T, who wrestled in the main event in a tag team match with Hulk Hogan. Aretha Franklin appeared at the third WrestleMania and sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful." Franklin appeared 22 years later at WrestleMania 23 and sang another rendition of the same song. At times, WWE has inducted celebrities into their Hall of Fame. For example, Chicago Bears defensive lineman William Perry wrestled in a match that involved other NFL football players, and he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a "Celebrity Inductee" in 2004. Another celebrity was Mike Tyson, who appeared at WrestleMania XIV and was originally planned to enforce the ringside area, although he was involved in a physical altercation with Shawn Michaels (Michael Hickenbottom). Pete Rose has made the most celebrity appearances at WrestleMania, with four overall appearances. Overall, there have been 99 celebrities involved at WrestleMania: 32 athletes, 29 musicians, 19 actors, and 20 others from different backgrounds.
Celebrities[]
Actors[]
| Celebrity | Appearance | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. T | WrestleMania I | Wrestled in a tag team match with Hulk Hogan against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. |
| Robert Conrad | WrestleMania II | Guest referee at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. |
| Cathy Lee Crosby | WrestleMania II | Guest commentator at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois. |
| Susan St. James | WrestleMania II | Guest commentator at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. |
| Cassandra Peterson | WrestleMania II | Guest commentator at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California |
| Joan Rivers | WrestleMania II | Guest ring announcer at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York |
| Ricky Schroder | WrestleMania II | Guest time keeper at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California |
| Mr. T | WrestleMania II | Participated in a boxing match against Roddy Piper. |
| Steve Allen | WrestleMania VI | Interviewer |
| Marla Maples | WrestleMania VII | Guest time keeper |
| Regis Philbin | WrestleMania VII | Interviewer, Guest commentator |
| Jennie Garth | WrestleMania X | Guest time keeper |
| Burt Reynolds | WrestleMania X | Guest ring announcer for the main event |
| Rhonda Shear | WrestleMania X | Guest time keeper |
| Pamela Anderson | WrestleMania XI | Valet of Diesel in his WWF Championship match against Shawn Michaels |
| Jenny McCarthy | WrestleMania XI | Valet of Shawn Michaels in his WWF Championship match against Diesel |
| Jonathan Taylor Thomas | WrestleMania XI | Guest time keeper |
| Nicholas Turturro | WrestleMania XI | Interviewer and guest ring announcer |
| Freddie Prinze Jr. | WrestleMania XXVI | |
| Raven Symoné | WrestleMania XXIV | Promoted the Make-A-Wish Foundation in an in-ring segment |
| Mickey Rourke | WrestleMania XXV | Involved in an altercation with Chris Jericho |
| Freddie Prinze Jr. | WrestleMania XXVI | |
| Paul Reubens | WrestleMania XXVII | Appeared in a backstage segment |
| Arnold Schwarzenegger | WrestleMania 31 | Appeared in a video intro for Triple H |
Athletes[]
| Celebrity | Profession | Appearance | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muhammad Ali | Professional boxer | WrestleMania I | Guest referee for the main event |
| Billy Martin | Second baseman for the New York Yankees | WrestleMania I | Guest ring announcer |
| Dick Butkus | Linebacker for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania II | Guest referee |
| Jim Covert | Offensive tackle for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania II | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players |
| Darryl Dawkins | Basketball player | WrestleMania II | Judge for the boxing match between Mr. T and Roddy Piper |
| Lou Duva | Professional boxing trainer | WrestleMania II | Manager of Roddy Piper in his boxing match against Mr. T |
| Bill Fralic | Offensive guard for the Atlanta Falcons | WrestleMania II | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players |
| Russ Francis | Tight end for the San Francisco 49ers | WrestleMania II | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players |
| Ernie Holmes | Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers | WrestleMania II | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players |
| Ed Jones | Defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys | WrestleMania II | Guest referee |
| Tommy Lasorda | Pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers | WrestleMania II | Guest ring announcer at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California |
| Harvey Martin | Defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys | WrestleMania II | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players |
| William Perry | Defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania II | Wrestled in a Battle royal, an elimination style match in which the last person remaining is the winner, involving other NFL football players |
| Dick Butkus | Linebacker for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania VII | Involved in a skit |
| Bob Uecker | Catcher for the Atlanta Braves | WrestleMania III | Interviewer, Guest commentator, Guest Ring Announcer |
| Bob Uecker | Catcher for the Atlanta Braves | WrestleMania IV | Interviewer, Guest commentator, Guest Ring Announcer |
| Paul Maguire | Linebacker for the Buffalo Bills | WrestleMania VII | Involved in a skit |
| Carl Banks | Linebacker for the New York Giants | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Rickey Jackson | Linebacker for the New Orleans Saints | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Steve McMichael | Defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Ken Norton, Jr. | Linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Chris Spielman | Linebacker for the Detroit Lions | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Lawrence Taylor | Linebacker for the New York Giants | WrestleMania XI | Wrestled in a standard wrestling match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Reggie White | Defensive end for the Green Bay Packers | WrestleMania XI | Manager of Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Larry Young | Umpire | WrestleMania XI | Guest referee |
| Pete Rose | Player/Manager for the Cincinnati Reds | WrestleMania XIV | Guest ring announcer and involved in a physical altercation with Kane |
| Mike Tyson | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XIV | Ringside enforcer for the main event and was involved in a physical altercation with Shawn Michaels |
| Eric Esch | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XV | Fought in an unscripted Brawl For All boxing match, knocking out opponent Bart Gunn |
| Vinny Pazienza | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XV | Guest referee for the Brawl for All rules match between Eric Esch and Bart Gunn |
| Kevin Rooney | Professional boxing trainer | WrestleMania XV | Judge for boxing match between Eric Esch and Bart Gunn |
| Pete Rose | Player/Manager for the Cincinnati Reds | WrestleMania XV | Dressed as the San Diego Chicken and involved in an altercation with Kane |
| Chuck Wepner | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XV | Judge for boxing match between Eric Esch and Bart Gunn |
| Pete Rose | Player/Manager for the Cincinnati Reds | WrestleMania XVI | Was involved in an altercation with Kane and Rikishi |
| Pete Rose | Player/Manager for the Cincinnati Reds | WrestleMania XX | Appeared as a part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2004 |
| Akebono Tarō | Sumo wrestler | WrestleMania XXI | Wrestled against The Big Show in a Sumo match |
| William Perry | Defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears | WrestleMania XXII | Appeared as a part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2006 |
| Floyd Mayweather Jr. | Professional boxer | WrestleMania XXIV | Wrestled in a No disqualification match against The Big Show |
| Bob Uecker | Professional baseball | WrestleMania XXVI | Appeared as a part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2010 |
| Shaquille O'Neal | Professional basketball | WrestleMania 32 | Participated in Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal |
| Rob Gronkowski | Professional football | WrestleMania 36 | Host and WWE 24-7 Championship winner |
Musicians[]
| Celebrity | Genre(s) | Appearance | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyndi Lauper | Pop | WrestleMania I | Manager of Wendi Richter in her match against the Fabulous Moolah |
| Liberace | Pianist | WrestleMania I | Guest time keeper |
| Ozzy Osbourne | Heavy metal | WrestleMania II | Manager of The British Bulldogs in their match against The Dream Team |
| Cab Calloway | Jazz/blues | WrestleMania II | Judge for boxing match between Mr T and Rowdy Roddy Piper |
| Ray Charles | R&B/Soul | WrestleMania II | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Alice Cooper | Rock | WrestleMania III | Manager of Jake Roberts in his match against The Honky Tonk Man |
| Aretha Franklin | Soul | WrestleMania III | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Gladys Knight | R&B/Soul | WrestleMania IV | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Run-D.M.C. | Hip-hop | WrestleMania V | Performed The WrestleMania Rap, a song created specifically for the event |
| Robert Goulet | Ballad | WrestleMania VI | Sang a rendition of "O Canada" |
| Willie Nelson | Country | WrestleMania VII | Sang a rendition of "God Bless America" |
| Reba McEntire | Country | WrestleMania VIII | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Little Richard | R&B | WrestleMania X | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Donnie Wahlberg | Pop | WrestleMania X | Guest ring announcer |
| Salt-N-Pepa | Hip-hop | WrestleMania XI | Performed "Whatta Man" for Lawrence Taylor in his match against Bam Bam Bigelow |
| Boyz II Men | R&B/Soul | WrestleMania XV | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Ice-T | Hip-hop | WrestleMania XVI | Performed "Pimpin' Ain't Easy" for The Godfather |
| Motörhead | Heavy metal | WrestleMania XVII | Performed "The Game" for Triple H's entrance |
| Drowning Pool | Alternative metal | WrestleMania XVIII | Performed "Tear Away" for the event and "The Game" for Triple H's entrance |
| Saliva | Alternative metal | WrestleMania XVIII | Performed "Superstar" for the event and "Turn the Tables" for the Dudley Boyz' entrance. |
| Ashanti | R&B | WrestleMania XIX | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Limp Bizkit | Nu/rap metal | WrestleMania XIX | Sang the theme song "Crack Addict" for the event and the theme song "Rollin'" for The Undertaker's entrance. |
| Motörhead | Heavy metal | WrestleMania XXI | Performed "The Game" for Triple H's entrance |
| P.O.D | Alternative metal | WrestleMania XXII | Performed "Booyaka 619" for Rey Mysterio's entrance |
| Michelle Williams | R&B | WrestleMania XXII | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Aretha Franklin | Soul | WrestleMania XXIII | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| John Legend | R&B/Soul | WrestleMania XXIV | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Snoop Dogg | Rap | WrestleMania XXIV | Master of Ceremonies for the Bunnymania match between Maria Kanellis and Beth Phoenix. |
| Kid Rock | Rock | WrestleMania XXV | Performed a medley of "Bawitdaba", "Rock N Roll Jesus", "Cowboy", "All Summer Long" and "So Hott" |
| Nicole Scherzinger | Pop | WrestleMania XXV | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
| Fantasia Barrino | R&B/Soul | WrestleMania XXVI | Sang a rendition of "America the Beautiful" |
Other[]
| Celebrity | Occupation(s) | Appearance | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Rockettes | Dance company | WrestleMania I | Escorted Liberace to the ring as the guest time keeper |
| Chet Coppock | Radio broadcaster | WrestleMania 2 | Guest ring announcer |
| John Menick as Herb | Portrayed Herb in Burger King's "Where's Herb?" | WrestleMania 2 | Guest time keeper at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York |
| G. Gordon Liddy | Talk show host | WrestleMania 2 | Judge for boxing match between Mr. T and Roddy Piper |
| Clara Peller | Portrayed "Lady" in Wendy's "Where's the Beef?" commercial | WrestleMania 2 | Guest time keeper at the Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, Illinois |
| Mary Hart | Television personality | WrestleMania III | Interviewer, Guest Timekeeper |
| Robin Leach | Television host | WrestleMania IV | Read the rules of the tournament and Presented the WWF Championship to Randy Savage after Savage won it in a tournament |
| Donald Trump | Businessman | WrestleMania IV | His owned venue hosted the event |
| Vanna White | Television personality | WrestleMania IV | Guest time keeper |
| Donald Trump | Businessman | WrestleMania VII | Interviewed in the crowd |
| Donald Trump | Businessman | WrestleMania XX | Interviewed in the crowd |
| Morton Downey, Jr. | Talk show host | WrestleMania V | Guest on Roddy Piper's "Piper's Pit", an in-ring talk show segment |
| Donald Trump | Businessman | WrestleMania V | His owned venue hosted the event |
| Rona Barrett | Businesswoman | WrestleMania VI | Interviewer |
| Regis Philbin | Television Personality | WrestleMania VII | |
| George Steinbrenner | Businessman | WrestleMania VII | Involved in a skit |
| Alex Trebek | Television personality | WrestleMania VII | Guest ring announcer |
| Ray Combs | Comedian | WrestleMania VIII | Guest ring announcer |
| Sy Sperling | Businessman | WrestleMania X | Gave a hairpiece to WWF ring announcer Howard Finkel |
| Gennifer Flowers | Model and Porn actress | WrestleMania XIV | Guest ring announcer and interviewer |
| 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 |
| Tara Conner | Beauty queen | WrestleMania 23 | Escorted Donald Trump to the ring during the "Battle of the Billionaires" |
| Zuleyka Rivera | Beauty queen | WrestleMania 23 | Escorted Donald Trump to the ring during the "Battle of the Billionaires" |
| Donald Trump | Businessman | WrestleMania 23 | Was physically involved in WrestleMania 23 with the "Battle of the Billionaires." |
| Kim Kardashian | Model | WrestleMania XXIV | Hostess |