Professional wrestling personalities in politics explained

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 HaseGovernor of Ishikawa Prefecture[7] 2022
Kane2018
Ian RiccaboniSalisbury Township School District School Board[8] 2023
Raymond RougeauMayor of Rawdon, Quebec[9] 2021
Rick SteinerCherokee County School District (Georgia) School Board[10] 2006
Hiroko SuzukiFunabashi city council2015
Matt MorganDeputy Mayor of Longwood, Florida2023

Previously elected or appointed

Wrestler or Personality Country Elected In Name of Highest Elected or Appointed Office Year Term started
Jim BarnettNational Council of the Arts[11] 1977
Maven BentleyCheltenham Township School District School Board[12] 2019
Billy Two RiversKahnawake Chief[13] 1996
B. Brian BlairHillsborough County, Florida Commissioner[14] 2004
The Great SasukeIwate Prefectural Assembly[15] 2003
Tony HalmeParliament of Finland[16] 2003
Antonio InokiJapanese House of Councillors[17] 1989; 2013
Shinobu Kandori2006
Abraham Lincoln[18] President of the United States1861
Administrator, Small Business Administration[19] 2017
Japanese House of Councillors[20] 2001
Governor of Minnesota[21] 1998
Matt MorganMayor of Longwood, Florida[22] 2019

Ran unsuccessfully

Wrestler or Personality Country Office Sought In Name of Office Pursued Year Pursued
Blue Demon Jr.Mayor, Gustavo A. Madero, Mexico City[23] 2021
Bob BacklundUnited States House of Representatives[24] [25] 2000
CarísticoMayor, Cuauhtémoc2021
Jerry LawlerMayor, Memphis, Tennessee[26] 1999; 2009
Moondog KingHouse of Commons of Canada[27] 2004
Michigan House of Representatives[28] 2016
2021
Maryland House of Delegates[29] 2006
York East 1965 federal election Candidate 1965

Other professional wrestlers or personalities involved in politics

Notes and References

  1. Web site: How Wrestling Explains America . Hendrickson, John . March 26, 2023 . The Atlantic . August 7, 2023.
  2. Web site: How Pro Wrestling Explains Today's GOP . Kruse, Michael . Politico . March 24, 2023 . August 7, 2023.
  3. Web site: The Best Way to Explain the G.O.P. Is Found in the W.W.E. . Riseman, Abraham Josephine . The New York Times. February 26, 2023 . August 7, 2023.
  4. Web site: Unexpected Politicians: Wrestlers Who Ran for Office . Mathews, Bobby . Pro Wrestling Stories. January 27, 2023 . August 7, 2023.
  5. Web site: Wrestlers Who Tried Their Hand At Politics . Banas, Erica . Wrestling Inc.. January 24, 2023 . August 7, 2023.
  6. Web site: 10 TIMES WRESTLERS GOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS . Tempest . 3 November 2020 . WrestleTalk. August 7, 2023.
  7. Web site: Hase wins governor's race in Ishikawa after LDP split, grudge . The Asahi Shimbun. March 14, 2022 . August 7, 2023.
  8. Web site: Ian Riccaboni elected to local school board . Nadon, Josh . Wrestling Observer. August 1, 2023 . August 7, 2023.
  9. Web site: How pro wrestling prepared Raymond Rougeau to be a Quebec town mayor . Goodyear, Sheena . CBC. November 10, 2021 . August 7, 2023.
  10. Web site: Cherokee school board member accused of verbal abuse of trans wrestler . Stafford, Leon . Atlanta Journal Constitution. April 4, 2023 . August 7, 2023.
  11. News: Keeping a Firm Hold on the Arts – The Washington Post. The Washington Post.
  12. Web site: Cheltenham's Tyrone Scott & Abington's Charles Max Barsky: High school wrestlers who went on to professional careers. September 29, 2023. October 23, 1996. Parliament of Canada.
  13. Web site: Evidence: Transport (27). July 26, 2009. July 11, 2023. Glenside Local.
  14. Web site: 1Wrestling Newsline. April 7, 2007. Georgiann. Makropoulos. November 3, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041104030536/http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=20303. November 4, 2004.
  15. Web site: Masked wrestler wins Japan election. CNN. April 13, 2003. July 28, 2023.
  16. Web site: Ranneliike.net – Homokansan yhdistävä tekijä . December 24, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050508185131/http://ranneliike.net/artikkelit.php?alue=tapaushalme . May 8, 2005 . dead . mdy-all .
  17. Web site: Iraq to Free 36 Japanese Hostages. 2021-01-04. AP NEWS. January 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122220627/https://apnews.com/article/19304168907ddd3d0cecf9995f65d01c. live.
  18. Web site: Abraham Lincoln: A Wrestler As Young Man. 2023-08-07. History Channel.
  19. News: Jacob. Pramuk. December 7, 2016. Trump picks wrestling magnate Linda McMahon to lead Small Business Administration. MSNBC.
  20. Web site: News: Mr. Liar's political quiz. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111025184514/http://insertcredit.com/2007/08/15/news-mr-liars-political-quiz/. August 15, 2007. October 25, 2011. insercredit.com.
  21. Fisher, Marc. "Jesse 'The Body' Wins Minn. Gubernatorial Race." Washington Post. November 4, 1998. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  22. Web site: Staff Directory . 6 September 2022 . August 7, 2023 . Historic Longwood, Florida.
  23. Web site: The Masked Luchador Blue Demon Jr. Wants to Run for Office in Mexico—Without Showing His Face. August 7, 2023. January 21, 2021. Vice . Janowitz, Nathaniel.
  24. News: Bob Backlund announces his run for Congress . live . https://archive.today/20230212191817/https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Bob-Backlund-announces-his-run-for-Congress-16868225.php . February 12, 2023 . CT Insider . Gubala . Jeff . July 13, 2000 . February 12, 2023.
  25. News: THE 2000 ELECTIONS: CONNECTICUT – THE HOUSE; Gejdenson Upset as 5 Incumbents Prevail . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150527132940/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/08/us/the-2000-elections-connecticut-the-house-gejdenson-upset-as-5-incumbents-prevail.html . May 27, 2015 . The New York Times . Herszenhorn. David M. . Zielbauer . Paul . November 8, 2000 . February 12, 2023.
  26. Web site: Lawler running for mayor. https://archive.today/20130115095426/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/jul7_lawler.html. usurped. January 15, 2013. Associated Press. SLAM! Sports. October 8, 2007. July 7, 1999.
  27. Web site: Sailor White to continue in politics. https://archive.today/20120716232738/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/sailorwhite_may00.html. usurped. July 16, 2012. SLAM! wrestling. Greg. Oliver. October 3, 2016.
  28. Web site: WWE's Rhyno gored by Abdullah Hammoud in Dearborn state House race. MLive. Benjamin. Raven. November 8, 2016. November 10, 2016.
  29. News: Rodricks. Dan. Once-evil wrestler has quiet life in Glen Arm. July 29, 2018. The Baltimore Sun. Tronc, Inc.. Baltimore. January 26, 2006.
  30. Book: Ellison, Lillian. The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle. 2003. 978-0-06-001258-8. ReaganBooks. 163.
  31. Web site: Staffing . Minnesota Historical Society. December 3, 1976. August 7, 2023.
  32. Web site: SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: The Rougeau Family. https://archive.today/20150430002036/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/rougeaus.html. dead. April 30, 2015. SLAM! Wrestling. 2017-12-29.

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