The 17 Most Memorable Celebrity Pro Wrestling Appearances
Pro wrestling has been at the forefront of the crossover between sports and entertainment, with celebrities being integral to the success of major shows. Celebrities garner massive mainstream media coverage, and wrestling promotions have taken notice.
Some, like the late Pete Rose, have capitalized on their controversial pasts and leveraged them into wrestling angles. In other cases, their appearances have even changed the course of wrestling history.
1. Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson isn’t just one of the biggest boxing stars of all time, but he’s the most instrumental celebrity to ever step foot in a wrestling ring.
Tyson was one of the most discussed athletes in the world in 1998 when he showed up at WWE’s Royal Rumble show, appearing as a guest of the McMahon family. The next night on Monday Night Raw, he got in a fight with the top babyface in the company, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. He’d be the guest enforcer for Austin’s match against Shawn Michaels, acting as if he would support Michaels and D-Generation X. Instead, he counted the pin for Austin at WrestleMania, knocked out Michaels, and kickstarted the Attitude Era.
2. Mr. T
The first WrestleMania could have been a massive failure, but thanks to Mr. T, it became one of entertainment’s biggest brands.
The actor participated in the main event of the first Mania, teaming up with Hulk Hogan. The two of them squared off with “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper in a tag match. Mr. T’s appearance brought major mainstream attention to the show, as he and Hogan would go on to win the match after outside interference threw the bout off the rails. He’d return the next year and beat Piper in a boxing match.
3. Bad Bunny
Bad Bunny is one of the biggest music stars in the world. But before music, his biggest love was professional wrestling.
The lifelong wrestling fan has had a chance to step in the ring on multiple occasions. He debuted at WrestleMania 37, teaming with Damian Priest against John Morrison and The Miz. He impressed so much he got an invite to appear in the 2022 Royal Rumble match, before having a match of the year candidate San Juan Street Fight with Priest at Backlash in 2023. The two tore it down in front of their home crowd, with Bunny cementing himself as one of the most prolific celebrities to appear in WWE.
4. Logan Paul
In terms of pure athleticism, there has been no celebrity who has crossed over into sports-entertainment quite like YouTuber Logan Paul.
Paul has dipped his foot in the boxing ring, but WWE is where he found his true success. He was ringside for Sami Zayn’s match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 37, but would make his in-ring debut a year later teaming with The Miz against Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio. He’d sign a deal with the company, and have breakout singles matches with the likes of Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, and he even won the United States Championship.
5. Lawrence Taylor
Few were feared on the football field like Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Turns out, he was just as feared in the ring as well.
Taylor headlined WrestleMania XI against Bam Bam Bigelow, the only time a celebrity has main evented WrestleMania in a singles match to date. Moreover, Taylor would defeat Bigelow in the match, drawing major mainstream attention to WWE in the process. It was the only match he would have in the company.
6. Stephen Amell
Stephen Amell was one of the first celebrities to utilize athleticism as a focal point of his appearances in the ring.
The Arrow star first appeared in WWE at SummerSlam in 2015, teaming with Neville to battle Stardust and King Barrett. Amell was fearless, leaping off the top rope and bringing the crowd to its feet. He’d wrestle again at the famous All In independent wrestling show in 2018, where he lost to Christopher Daniels in a singles match. Amell received praise for his willingness to perform high-risk stunts.
7. Pete Rose
Pete Rose needed a new arena following being ruled permanently ineligible from Major League Baseball. So he turned to professional wrestling for a new performance outlet.
Rose appeared for WWE at three different WrestleManias, getting into physical altercations with WWE Superstar Kane. Rose would wear a variety of disguises, often trying to attack Kane before ultimately getting beaten up in the end. He’d eventually end up in the WWE Hall of Fame, a small consolation for not being in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
8. Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper was on top of the world in pop music in 1985, so naturally, she got a call to appear at the first WrestleMania. There was mass commercial appeal in music and wrestling crossover at the time, in what is referred to as the “Rock ‘N’ Wrestling” era.
Captain Lou Albano had appeared in Lauper’s famous “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” music video in 1983, which made her a perfect star to appear at WrestleMania. Lauper managed Wendi Richter in her championship match against Leilani Kai, a match in which Richter was victorious.
9. David Arquette
Only one celebrity has ever become a major world champion in wrestling, and he’s often credited for inadvertently putting a promotion out of business.
David Arquette made his Ready to Rumble movie in coordination with World Championship Wrestling, meaning an appearance on WCW TV was natural. But no one could have anticipated Arquette to become World Heavyweight Champion, which he did after pinning Eric Bischoff in a tag match. Arquette’s reign would last 12 days, and it would come under scrutiny from wrestling fans. The company would go out of business less than a year later in 2001.
10. Floyd Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the most heralded boxers of all time, and he had a major match at WrestleMania XXIV.
Mayweather Jr. had debuted at No Way Out in 2008, knocking out the Big Show to help Rey Mysterio. The original intent was for him to be a babyface, but fans quickly resisted his character. Instead, a double-turn would take place, and the two would face off at WrestleMania in a no-disqualification match. He knocked out Show with brass knuckles at the event, and was allegedly paid $20 million for the match.
11. Shaquille O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal’s size made him a natural fit for the squared-circle, and he eventually made his way to both WWE and All Elite Wrestling.
The Basketball Hall of Famer appeared in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32, coming to blows with The Big Show. He would show up once more in wrestling in 2021, where he teamed with a debuting Jade Cargill against Cody Rhodes and Brandi Rhodes in a brutal brawl. Shaq would even go through a table, showing he was unafraid to get physical in a big way.
12. Arnold Schwarzenegger
If there’s a shortlist of top action stars in Hollywood, Arnold Schwarzenegger has to be towards the top. That’s why his appearance in WWE in 1999 was such a big deal.
He showed up on an episode of Smackdown in November of 1999, promoting his movie End of Days. Arnold would get in a scuffle with Triple H, eventually knocking out “The Game.” It was a memorable affair for Schwarzenegger, and it even earned him induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
13. Drew Carey
One of the best parts about the Royal Rumble match is you never know who will show up. That was especially true in 2001, when one of the most unlikely celebrities ever stepped in the ring for the first (and only) time.
Drew Carey was chosen as the host of the pay-per-view, and attempted to get into the match multiple times. He was able to convince officials to put him in, and he entered at No. 5. The Hardy Boyz eliminated one another, leaving him as the only person in the ring before Kane came down to the ring. Carey wisely eliminated himself before any damage could be inflicted, and he ended up in WWE’s Hall of Fame as a result.
14. Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali’s appearance at WrestleMania I was massively important to the success of not just the event, but WWE going forward.
Ali was long-retired in 1985, but appeared as the special guest referee for the main event, as Mr. T and Hulk Hogan battled Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. A brawl broke out, and Ali would end up laying a heymaker on Piper. It was his only appearance in WWE, but it was a memorable one.
15. Dennis Rodman
The Chicago Bulls were the most famous sports team in the world during the 1990s, and Dennis Rodman’s eccentric personality made him a perfect fit for wrestling.
He would wrestle a couple of matches in WCW, even skipping his NBA Finals practice to appear for the company. His first match saw him join the nWo to team with “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan and face Lex Luger and The Giant at Bash at the Beach 1997. He’d return to the company the following year to battle an NBA foe, Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone.
16. Karl Malone
Karl Malone was the perfect compliment to Rodman, as WCW managed to snag two of the biggest stars in basketball for Bash at the Beach 1998.
Malone would team with Diamond Dallas Page at the Event to face Hogan and Rodman. Malone and Rodman had real-life heat as a result of their NBA Finals encounters, which made for natural pro wrestling feud. Hogan and Rodman would end up defeating DDP and Malone, but it was a memorable encounter that provided WCW with a major boost in the arm just before its eventual downturn.
17. Andy Kaufman
Though Andy Kaufman never appeared with a major company, his run in pro wrestling is one of the most important celebrity crossovers ever.
The comedian and entertainer decided to work for promotions around the United States, claiming to be the “Intergender Wrestling Champion of the World.” He would “challenge” women to matches as part of an elaborate act, before he ended up in Memphis in a famous angle with Jerry “The King” Lawler where Kaufman would end up “injured.” Their feud was even profiled in the Jim Carrey movie Man on the Moon.
