On April 1, 2007, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) held its annual WrestleMania event at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The twenty-third iteration of the show featured a promotional attraction titled the “Battle of the Billionaires.” The storyline involved a wager between WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and real estate developer Donald Trump.
Origins of the Rivalry
The on-screen conflict between Vince McMahon and Donald Trump began in January 2007. WWE programming presented a narrative in which McMahon expressed dissatisfaction with Donald Trump receiving media attention. The storyline incorporated the real-life business history between the two, noting that Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey, hosted WrestleMania IV and WrestleMania V.
The angle escalated during an episode of Monday Night Raw designated as “Fan Appreciation Night.” Vince McMahon stood in the ring to address the audience. Donald Trump appeared on the arena’s video screen, interrupting McMahon. Trump criticized McMahon’s management style and claimed he could run the company more effectively. Following this verbal exchange, money fell from the ceiling of the arena onto the audience.
In subsequent weeks, Trump challenged Vince McMahon to a physical wrestling match. McMahon declined the offer, claiming after his Hell in the Cell match several months earlier, his doctor advised him to never compete again in the ring. Instead, McMahon proposed a match between designated representatives. Trump proposed the stipulation of a “Hair vs Hair” match, which McMahon agreed to.
Selection of Representatives and Referee
Vince McMahon selected Umaga as his representative. The character was presented as an unstoppable force, managed by Armando Estrada. Umaga had recently held the Intercontinental Championship and maintained a high win-loss record.
Donald Trump selected Bobby Lashley, as his representative. Lashley held the ECW World Championship at the time. His background included amateur wrestling and service in the United States Army.
To manage the potential for interference during the match, the WWE Board of Directors (a fictional governing body within the storyline) announced the appointment of a special guest referee. Stone Cold Steve Austin, a retired wrestler known for his on-screen rivalry with Vince McMahon during the late 1990s, accepted the role. Austin stated in promotional segments that his primary objective was to enforce the rules, regardless of the billionaires’ preferences.
The Event at Ford Field
WrestleMania 23 took place on April 1, 2007. WWE announced an attendance of 80,103. The “Battle of the Billionaires” was positioned as one of the primary attractions of the broadcast, taking place late in the card.
Vince McMahon entered the arena first, walking to the ring. Donald Trump entered next with money falling from the rafters during his entrance.
The match began with Bobby Lashley and Umaga exchanging power moves. Umaga controlled the early portion of the contest. Armando Estrada, Umaga’s manager, attempted to interfere. Bobby Lashley countered this by pulling Estrada into the ring and executing a running powerslam on him.
As the match progressed, Umaga regained control. He executed a Samoan Drop on Lashley. However, the referee, Stone Cold Steve Austin, refused to count a pinfall because Umaga refused to break a hold when instructed. This led to a physical altercation between Austin and Umaga. Umaga incapacitated Austin with a “Samoan Spike” to the throat.
With the referee unconscious, Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon’s son, entered the ring. He attempted to aid Umaga. Shane McMahon and Umaga attacked Bobby Lashley together. Shane McMahon put on a referee shirt to count a pinfall attempt by Umaga, but Austin recovered and pulled Shane McMahon out of the ring.
Physical Involvement of Trump and McMahon
During the period where the referee was incapacitated, Vince McMahon approached the ring apron. He introduced a steel trash can into the ring to be used as a weapon against Bobby Lashley.
Donald Trump, observing from ringside, physically engaged Vince McMahon. Trump tackled McMahon to the ground. He delivered several punches to McMahon’s head before standing up. This interaction drew a reaction from the crowd at Ford Field.
Inside the ring, Umaga attempted to strike Austin again. Austin avoided the attack and executed a “Stone Cold Stunner” on Umaga. Bobby Lashley then hit Umaga with a spear and covered him for the pinfall. Austin counted to three, awarding the victory to Bobby Lashley and Donald Trump.
The Head Shaving Segment
Following the match, Vince McMahon attempted to leave the ringside area. Bobby Lashley pursued him up the entrance ramp, apprehended him, and carried him back to the ring.
Inside the ring, a barber’s chair had been set up. Steve Austin and Bobby Lashley forced Vince McMahon into the chair. They used leather straps to secure his arms and wrists. Donald Trump stood by with a set of electric clippers.
The shaving process took several minutes. Donald Trump, Bobby Lashley, and Steve Austin took turns removing Vince McMahon’s hair. Once the shaving was complete, the participants applied shaving cream to McMahon’s scalp and used razors to remove the remaining stubble, leaving him completely bald. They then held a mirror up to McMahon’s face.
After the shaving segment concluded, the participants celebrated in the ring. Steve Austin offered Donald Trump a beer. As Trump drank, Austin executed a “Stone Cold Stunner” on Trump. Trump fell to the canvas. Austin then left the ring.
Financial Performance
The event generated significant revenue for World Wrestling Entertainment. WrestleMania 23 achieved approximately 1.2 million pay-per-view buys globally. This figure established a new company record for pay-per-view purchases, surpassing previous WrestleMania events.
The event grossed over $24.3 million. The participation of Donald Trump garnered coverage from business and entertainment news outlets that typically did not cover professional wrestling. This mainstream attention contributed to the high buyrate. The record set by WrestleMania 23 stood until 2012, when WrestleMania XXVIII (headlined by The Rock vs. John Cena) surpassed it.
Aftermath and Legacy
Following WrestleMania 23, Vince McMahon incorporated his bald head into his television character. He appeared on shows wearing durags to conceal his scalp. The storyline continued for several months, culminating in McMahon winning the ECW World Championship from Bobby Lashley in a handicap match at the Backlash pay-per-view later that month.
Bobby Lashley continued to perform as a top-tier athlete in WWE until his departure in 2008. He later returned to the company in 2018. Umaga continued his career until his release in 2009; he passed away later that same year.
Donald Trump maintained a relationship with WWE following the event. In 2009, he appeared in a storyline where he “purchased” the Monday Night Raw franchise from Vince McMahon, only to “sell” it back shortly after. In 2013, WWE inducted Donald Trump into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame.
