Modern politics of the United States have drawn comparisons to professional wrestling[1][2][3] and many wrestlers and wrestling personalities across the world have served in elected and appointed office throughout the years.[4][5][6]
Currently serving in office
| Wrestler or Personality | Country Elected In | Name of Highest Elected or Appointed Office | Year Term started |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiroshi Hase |  Japan | Governor of Ishikawa Prefecture[7] | 2022 |
| Kane |  USA | Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee[5] | 2018 |
| Ian Riccaboni | USA | Salisbury Township School District School Board[8] | 2023 |
| Raymond Rougeau | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada | Mayor of Rawdon, Quebec[9] | 2021 |
| Rick Steiner | USA | Cherokee County School District (Georgia) School Board[10] | 2006 |
Previously elected or appointed
| Wrestler or Personality | Country Elected In | Name of Highest Elected or Appointed Office | Year Term started |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Barnett | USA | National Council of the Arts[11] | 1977 |
| Maven Bentley | USA | Cheltenham Township School District School Board[12] | 2019 |
| Billy Two Rivers | Canada | Kahnawake Chief[13] | 1996 |
| B. Brian Blair | USA | Hillsborough County, Florida Commissioner[14] | 2004 |
| The Great Sasuke | Japan | Iwate Prefectural Assembly[15] | 2003 |
| Tony Halme |  Finland | Parliament of Finland[16] | 2003 |
| Antonio Inoki | Japan | Japanese House of Councillors[17] | 1989; 2013 |
| Abraham Lincoln[18] | USA | President of the United States | 1861 |
| Linda McMahon | USA | Administrator, Small Business Administration[19] | 2017 |
| Atsushi Onita | Japan | Japanese House of Councillors[20] | 2001 |
| Jesse Ventura | USA | Governor of Minnesota[21] | 1998 |
| Matt Morgan | USA |
Mayor of Longwood, Florida[22] | 2019 |
Ran unsuccessfully
| Wrestler or Personality | Country Office Sought In | Name of Office Pursued | Year Pursued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Demon Jr. |  Mexico | Mayor, Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City[23] | 2021 |
| Bob Backlund | USA | United States House of Representatives[24][25] | 2000 |
| Carístico | Mexico | Mayor, Cuauhtémoc[23] | 2021 |
| Jerry Lawler | USA | Mayor, Memphis, Tennessee[26] | 1999; 2009 |
| Moondog King | Canada | House of Commons of Canada[27] | 2004 |
| Rhyno | USA | Michigan House of Representatives[28] | 2016 |
| Tinieblas | Mexico | Mayor, Venustiano[23] | 2021 |
| Nikolai Volkoff | USA | Maryland House of Delegates[29] | 2006 |
| Whipper Billy Watson | Canada | York East 1965 federal election Candidate | 1965 |
Other professional wrestlers or personalities involved in politics
- Former WWF World Heavyweight Champion The Iron Sheik worked as a bodyguard for Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family for several years.[30]
- National Wrestling Alliance, Pro Wrestling USA, Ring of Honor, and World Championship Wrestling promoter Gary Juster served in former Minnesota Governor Walter Mondale's gubernatorial administration.[31]
- Wrestler and All-Star Wrestling founder Jean Rougeau was a personal bodyguard of Legislative Assembly of Quebec member René Lévesque.[32]
References
- ↑ Hendrickson, John (March 26, 2023). "How Wrestling Explains America". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Kruse, Michael (March 24, 2023). "How Pro Wrestling Explains Today's GOP". Politico. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Riseman, Abraham Josephine (February 26, 2023). "The Best Way to Explain the G.O.P. Is Found in the W.W.E." The New York Times. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Mathews, Bobby (January 27, 2023). "Unexpected Politicians: Wrestlers Who Ran for Office". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- 1 2 Banas, Erica (January 24, 2023). "Wrestlers Who Tried Their Hand At Politics". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Tempest. "10 TIMES WRESTLERS GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS". WrestleTalk. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Hase wins governor's race in Ishikawa after LDP split, grudge". The Asahi Shimbun. March 14, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Nadon, Josh (August 1, 2023). "Ian Riccaboni elected to local school board". Wrestling Observer. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Goodyear, Sheena (November 10, 2021). "How pro wrestling prepared Raymond Rougeau to be a Quebec town mayor". CBC. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Stafford, Leon (April 4, 2023). "Cherokee school board member accused of verbal abuse of trans wrestler". Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ "Keeping a Firm Hold on the Arts – The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
- ↑ "Cheltenham's Tyrone Scott & Abington's Charles Max Barsky: High school wrestlers who went on to professional careers". Parliament of Canada. October 23, 1996. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ↑ "Evidence: Transport (27)". Glenside Local. July 11, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2009.
- ↑ Makropoulos, Georgiann (November 3, 2004). "1Wrestling Newsline". Archived from the original on November 4, 2004. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
- ↑ "Masked wrestler wins Japan election". CNN. April 13, 2003. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ↑ "Ranneliike.net – Homokansan yhdistävä tekijä". Archived from the original on May 8, 2005. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ↑ "Iraq to Free 36 Japanese Hostages". AP NEWS. Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
- ↑ "Abraham Lincoln: A Wrestler As Young Man". History Channel. Retrieved 2023-08-07.
- ↑ Pramuk, Jacob (December 7, 2016). "Trump picks wrestling magnate Linda McMahon to lead Small Business Administration". MSNBC.
- ↑ "News: Mr. Liar's political quiz". insercredit.com. August 15, 2007. Archived from the original on October 25, 2011.
- ↑ Fisher, Marc. "Jesse 'The Body' Wins Minn. Gubernatorial Race." Washington Post. November 4, 1998. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Staff Directory". Historic Longwood, Florida. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- 1 2 3 Janowitz, Nathaniel (January 21, 2021). "The Masked Luchador Blue Demon Jr. Wants to Run for Office in Mexico—Without Showing His Face". Vice. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ Gubala, Jeff (July 13, 2000). "Bob Backlund announces his run for Congress". CT Insider. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ↑ Herszenhorn, David M.; Zielbauer, Paul (November 8, 2000). "THE 2000 ELECTIONS: CONNECTICUT – THE HOUSE; Gejdenson Upset as 5 Incumbents Prevail". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- ↑ "Lawler running for mayor". SLAM! Sports. Associated Press. July 7, 1999. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2007.
- ↑ Oliver, Greg. "Sailor White to continue in politics". SLAM! wrestling. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- ↑ Raven, Benjamin (November 8, 2016). "WWE's Rhyno gored by Abdullah Hammoud in Dearborn state House race". MLive. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- ↑ Rodricks, Dan (January 26, 2006). "Once-evil wrestler has quiet life in Glen Arm". The Baltimore Sun. Baltimore: Tronc, Inc. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
- ↑ Ellison, Lillian (2003). The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle. ReaganBooks. p. 163. ISBN 978-0-06-001258-8.
- ↑ "Staffing" (PDF). Minnesota Historical Society. December 3, 1976. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ↑ "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: The Rougeau Family". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
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