Celebrities Who Wrestled in WCW and WWE: David Arquette, Jay Leno

Over the years there have been a surprising number of celebrities willing to step into a wrestling ring as competitors, particularly in the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Some of the more notable celebs include Andy Kaufman, Lawrence Taylor, Dennis Rodman, Jay Leno, and David Arquette.

Andy Kaufman Feuds with Jerry “The King” Lawler

Although it occurred outside WCW and WWE, actor Andy Kaufman’s feud with Jerry Lawler was perhaps the most famous celebrity-wrestler feud. In 1982 Kaufman and Lawler began feuding when Lawler gave him two piledrivers, which supposedly broke Kaufman’s neck. Their feud caught mainstream attention when Lawler slapped Kaufman in the face on Late Show with David Letterman and Kaufman threw hot coffee at him. Kaufman was avenged when wrestlers The Assassins gave Lawler a piledriver.
Lawrence Taylor vs. Bam Bam Bigelow at Wrestlemania XI




In 1995 pro football player Lawrence Taylor began feuding with Bam Bam Bigelow when they nearly got into a fight at the Royal Rumble after Bigelow pushed Taylor, who had been sitting at ringside. Bigelow challenged Taylor to a fight at Wrestlemania XI, which Taylor agreed to. He trained with then-WWF Champion Diesel in preparation for the match. Taylor defeated Bigelow with many of his football friends at ringside.

David Arquette as WCW World Heavyweight Champion

Actor David Arquette starred in the WCW-financed movie Ready to Rumble. On April 26, 2000 Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in a tag match with Diamond Dallas Page in which whoever pinned his opponent would get the championship. Arquette pinned Eric Bischoff and held the belt for two weeks. He lost the title on May 7th at Slamboree to Jeff Jarrett. Arquette’s championship reign was generally regarded as an embarrassment to pro wrestling.

Dennis Rodman in WCW

Pro basketball player Dennis Rodman first wrestled for WCW at Bash at the Beach in July 1997 in a tag team match with Hulk Hogan against Lex Luger and The Giant (Paul Wight). He once more wrestled in a tag team match for WCW at the same pay-per-view in July 1998. He teamed with Hogan another time against Diamond Dallas Page and another basketball player, Karl Malone.

Jay Leno in WCW

Late night talk show host and comedian Jay Leno became involved with WCW when at the August 8, 1998 Road Wild pay-per-view he teamed with Diamond Dallas Page to face Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff. Leno pinned Bischoff and was attacked by his opponents but was then rescued by Goldberg.

Raw Guest Hosts Who Have Wrestled in WWE

Many of WWE’s recent Raw guest hosts have mixed it up in the ring. Access Hollywood host Maria Menounos was in a tag team match with Kelly Kelly and Gail Kim against Beth Phoenix, Alicia Fox and Rosa Mendes. Cedric the Entertainer defeated Chavo Guerrero after interference from Hornswoggle and a giant Cedric impersonator. Actor Jon Heder wrestled in a tag match as “The Flame” with Big Show and Miz against DX and Hornswoggle.

Although most celebrities’ skill in wrestling has been mediocre at best and disastrous at worst, having non-wrestling celebrities wrestle has provided mainstream exposure for wrestling companies and the celebrities alike. It is a trade-off that will probably continue as long as there are celebrities and pro wrestling companies eager for attention.