Donald Trump’s involvement within the 2007 WrestleMania 23 Battle of the Billionaires stays considered one of WWE’s most iconic—and weird—moments. Represented by Bobby Lashley, Trump went head-to-head (effectively, manager-to-manager) with Vince McMahon, who was backed by the late, nice Umaga. The high-stakes match concluded with McMahon’s legendary locks hitting the mat after Lashley secured the win.
On the Perception podcast, Lashley mirrored on the match’s buildup, calling it “humorous right through.” Watching Trump and McMahon have interaction in verbal sparring was, in Lashley’s phrases, “two powerhouses going forwards and backwards, they usually’re on high of all the pieces.”
The occasion’s promotional supplies initially had a unique vibe. Based on Lashley, “Someone put it down on paper that me and Umaga have been supposed to sit down within the chairs and have these guys [Trump and McMahon] standing with their palms on our shoulders.” Trump, nonetheless, nixed that concept, reportedly saying, “No, I don’t assume we must always do that… it makes me look outdated.”
Trump’s involvement within the precise match was equally memorable—and unpolished. Throughout the chaos, Trump delivered a now-famous clothesline to McMahon, a transfer that Lashley revealed wasn’t prepped prematurely. “Trump wished to be part of it. He wished to do one thing. He was like, ‘I wish to beat any person up.’”