A WWE legend has claimed to know the shocking real reason why the company inducted current United States President, Donald Trump, into its Hall of Fame.
Despite never having wrestled a match, Trump was honoured as part of the Class of 2013, as an inductee into the Celebrity Wing. The President enjoyed a healthy relationship with former WWE CEO Vince McMahon over the years and worked with the company on a number of occasions.
WrestleMania 4 and 5 were held at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City and Trump himself was part of the most-heavily promoted bouts at WrestleMania 23 when he seconded Bobby Lashley against Umaga and Vince McMahon in a Hair vs Hair match, touted as ‘The Battle of the Billionaires.
However, according to Jesse ‘The Body” Ventura’, a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2004, Trump’s induction had nothing to do with his contributions to the WWE product.
During a recent appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, Ventura described Trump’s status as a Hall of Famer as “a tragedy.”
“Trump being a Hall of Famer is a tragedy. This guy has never been in the ring. I got a good friend, Ken Patera, Olympian, first man to overhead press 500 pounds. 25 years in the wrestling business. Kenny Patera is not in the Hall of Fame. Donald Trump does not belong in the wrestling Hall of Fame.”
Ventura enjoyed a successful career as an in-ring competitor during the 1970s and 1980’s, before transitioning into a commentary role. A highly effective heel on the microphone, he had a long-standing rivalry with Hulk Hogan during that time.
His time with the WWE came to an end after Ventuta had a number of disagreements with McMahon. First, the pair fell out over Jesse’s attempts to unionise professional wrestling in 1986. They would then get into another row over licensing, with Ventura winning a landmark legal case and departing the promotion.
In the late 1990s, Ventura parlayed his wrestling fame into a political career, serving as Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. However, when Morgan pointed out the similarities between himself and Trump (going from wrestling to politics), Ventura was fuming at the comparison. It led to revealing why Trump was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in the first place.
‘Real Reason’ Why Donald Trump was Inducted Into WWE Hall of Fame
Following his departure from wrestling, “The Body” then opted for a political path, While similarities of both Trump and Ventura going from a wrestling ring to an entirely different arena were made on Piers Morgan Uncensored, the Navy veteran was displeased at the comparison.
“I was the former Governor of Minnesota. I’m the only real former wrestler. I don’t include him. He’s only in the Hall of Fame because he stopped an investigation against Vince McMahon [for] sexual stuff.”
As is widely known, Vince McMahon was the subject of various sex scandals and hush money payments made to former members of staff that resulted in his resignation in January 2024. However, Ventura offered no evidence to back up his allegations.
For as much as Ventura would prefer to see Trump removed from the Hall of Fame, the US President remains a part of the Celebrity Wing, alongside names such as Mike Tyson, Kid Rock and Snoop Dogg. During WrestleMania weekend next month, NBA legend Dennis Rodman will become the latest celebrity inductee when he goes into the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026.
