Modern politics of the United States have drawn comparisons to professional wrestling and many wrestlers and wrestling personalities across the world have served in elected and appointed office throughout the years.
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 | 2022 |
| Kane |  USA |
Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee | 2018 |
| Ian Riccaboni | USA |
Salisbury Township School District School Board | 2023 |
| Raymond Rougeau |  Canada |
Mayor of Rawdon, Quebec | 2021 |
| Rick Steiner | USA |
Cherokee County School District (Georgia) School Board | 2006 |
| Hiroko Suzuki | Japan
|
Funabashi city council | 2015 |
| Matt Morgan | USA
|
Deputy Mayor of Longwood, Florida | 2023 |
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 | 1977 |
| Maven Bentley | USA |
Cheltenham Township School District School Board | 2019 |
| Billy Two Rivers | Canada |
Kahnawake Chief | 1996 |
| B. Brian Blair | USA |
Hillsborough County, Florida Commissioner | 2004 |
| The Great Sasuke | Japan |
Iwate Prefectural Assembly | 2003 |
| Tony Halme |  Finland |
Parliament of Finland | 2003 |
| Antonio Inoki | Japan |
Japanese House of Councillors | 1989; 2013 |
| Shinobu Kandori | Japan |
Japanese House of Councillors | 2006 |
| Abraham Lincoln | USA |
President of the United States | 1861 |
| Linda McMahon | USA |
Administrator, Small Business Administration | 2017 |
| Atsushi Onita | Japan |
Japanese House of Councillors | 2001 |
| Jesse Ventura | USA |
Governor of Minnesota | 1998 |
| Matt Morgan | USA
|
Mayor of Longwood, Florida | 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 | 2021 |
| Bob Backlund | USA |
United States House of Representatives | 2000 |
| Carístico | Mexico |
Mayor, Cuauhtémoc | 2021 |
| Jerry Lawler | USA |
Mayor, Memphis, Tennessee | 1999; 2009 |
| Moondog King | Canada |
House of Commons of Canada | 2004 |
| Rhyno | USA |
Michigan House of Representatives | 2016 |
| Tinieblas | Mexico |
Mayor, Venustiano | 2021 |
| Nikolai Volkoff | USA |
Maryland House of Delegates | 2006 |
| Whipper Billy Watson | Canada |
York East 1965 federal election Candidate | 1965 |
| Drake Younger | USA
|
Florida House of Representatives | 2022 |
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.
- 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.
- Wrestler and All-Star Wrestling founder Jean Rougeau was a personal bodyguard of Legislative Assembly of Quebec member René Lévesque.
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.
- ^ Banas, Erica (January 24, 2023). "Wrestlers Who Tried Their Hand At Politics". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- Tempest (3 November 2020). "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.
- ^ "Staff Directory". Historic Longwood, Florida. 6 September 2022. 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.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. 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.
- Winnard, Liam (2021-08-05). "Drake Wuertz Running For Florida House Of Representatives". WrestleTalk. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
- 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. Archived from the original on April 30, 2015. Retrieved 2017-12-29.