WWE’s use of celebrities in 1994 & 1995:

[fg]

Think about this. Even though business was way down, WWE sure had used a lot of celebrities for their PPVs (predating the RAW guest host era by 15 years).

For WM10, they had a bunch of celebrities like Jenny Garth, Burt Reynolds (who looked like he didn’t want to be there.)
For KOR 94, they had Art “How much does this fella weigh” Donovan.
For SSlam 94, they had George Kennedy and Leslie Nielsen from the Naked Gun movies.
For SSeries 94, they had Chuck Norris.
For RR95, they had Pam Anderson
For WM11, they had a bunch if celebrities like Pam Anderson and Lawrence Taylor.

Just saying.

[jason1980s]

Aug 19, 2021 9:27:42 GMT -5 fg said:

For WM10, they had a bunch of celebrities like Jenny Garth, Burt Reynolds (who looked like he didn’t want to be there.)

Burt was actually a big wrestling fan and I think knew some of the wrestlers personally. I think his WM appearance lack of enthusiasm may have just come from him having to be himself whereas his movies always had a script to follow so maybe he was nervous. But from all I've heard and read about him and wrestling he's probably one of the bigger wrestling fan celebrities they had.

It does seem odd they had so many in one year at various PPVs but I guess they were trying to play it as WWF is such a big deal that everyone wants to be involved. At least they learned a few years later when Vince said "our wrestlers are the stars" so we don't need the celebrities.

[Deleted]

Business being down was the reason it was done. It was a desperation play because they had no stars of their own. It was in 99 or 2000 or whatever when Vince decided against using celebrities, stating "our stars are the celebrities". I guess that changed, hah. Sadly.

[Kyle Butler]

I think it was the first Raw of 1995 that had a William Shatner appearance as well

[thecrusherwi]

I think Vince thought that Wrestlemania XI was going to blast off the New Generation like Wrestlemania I launched the Rock N Wrestling Era into new heights. Lawrence Taylor was going to be the Mr T to his new Hogan: Diesel. They thought all the celebrities would attract a new audience. You can tell by Vince’s intro when he mentions all the people watching who might be new fans. They thought this was going to be their big break. WM XI had to have been one of the bigger disappointments in company history.

[Aceorton]

Aug 19, 2021 9:51:30 GMT -5 thecrusherwi said:

I think Vince thought that Wrestlemania XI was going to blast off the New Generation like Wrestlemania I launched the Rock N Wrestling Era into new heights. Lawrence Taylor was going to be the Mr T to his new Hogan: Diesel. They thought all the celebrities would attract a new audience. You can tell by Vince’s intro when he mentions all the people watching who might be new fans. They thought this was going to be their big break. WM XI had to have been one of the bigger disappointments in company history.

The idea that someone would decide to order WrestleMania because C-list "comedienne" Rhonda Shear or Nicholas Turturro from NYPD Blue was going to be there is just so delusionally Vince.

[Kyle Butler]

Aug 19, 2021 9:51:30 GMT -5 thecrusherwi said:

I think Vince thought that Wrestlemania XI was going to blast off the New Generation like Wrestlemania I launched the Rock N Wrestling Era into new heights. Lawrence Taylor was going to be the Mr T to his new Hogan: Diesel. They thought all the celebrities would attract a new audience. You can tell by Vince’s intro when he mentions all the people watching who might be new fans. They thought this was going to be their big break. WM XI had to have been one of the bigger disappointments in company history.

Vince was so stung by WM XI that WM XII had no celebrity involvement, despite Anaheim’s close proximity to Hollywood

[mrpeacock]

Aug 19, 2021 10:00:38 GMT -5 Kyle Butler said:

Aug 19, 2021 9:51:30 GMT -5 thecrusherwi said:

I think Vince thought that Wrestlemania XI was going to blast off the New Generation like Wrestlemania I launched the Rock N Wrestling Era into new heights. Lawrence Taylor was going to be the Mr T to his new Hogan: Diesel. They thought all the celebrities would attract a new audience. You can tell by Vince’s intro when he mentions all the people watching who might be new fans. They thought this was going to be their big break. WM XI had to have been one of the bigger disappointments in company history.

Vince was so stung by WM XI that WM XII had no celebrity involvement, despite Anaheim’s close proximity to Hollywood

Minus the OJ cameo

[The Enforcer]

Aug 19, 2021 9:33:40 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Aug 19, 2021 9:27:42 GMT -5 fg said:

For WM10, they had a bunch of celebrities like Jenny Garth, Burt Reynolds (who looked like he didn’t want to be there.)

Burt was actually a big wrestling fan and I think knew some of the wrestlers personally. I think his WM appearance lack of enthusiasm may have just come from him having to be himself whereas his movies always had a script to follow so maybe he was nervous. But from all I've heard and read about him and wrestling he's probably one of the bigger wrestling fan celebrities they had.

Plus, Burt had a recent broken hand from a pratfall on the show Evening Shade. He then used said hand to fight off a couple muggers in a bookstore parking lot (maybe as a nod to Cowboy Bob Orton, who can say). I'm thinking he might have been on some pain killers which would explain why he was kind of out of it during his guest announcing spot in WrestleMania X. But by all accounts, he was a big wrestling fan. One thing I remember is he gave a big old hug to Bret Hart after his title match against Yokozuna. I think he was genuinely excited about the victory.

[mrpeacock]

Aug 19, 2021 10:36:30 GMT -5 The Enforcer said:

Aug 19, 2021 9:33:40 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Burt was actually a big wrestling fan and I think knew some of the wrestlers personally. I think his WM appearance lack of enthusiasm may have just come from him having to be himself whereas his movies always had a script to follow so maybe he was nervous. But from all I've heard and read about him and wrestling he's probably one of the bigger wrestling fan celebrities they had.

Plus, Burt had a recent broken hand from a pratfall on the show Evening Shade. He then used said hand to fight off a couple muggers in a bookstore parking lot (maybe as a nod to Cowboy Bob Orton, who can say). I'm thinking he might have been on some pain killers which would explain why he was kind of out of it during his guest announcing spot in WrestleMania X. But by all accounts, he was a big wrestling fan. One thing I remember is he gave a big old hug to Bret Hart after his title match against Yokozuna. I think he was genuinely excited about the victory.

Also during I wanna say an estate sale, they had for sale an Islanders jacket given to him by Bobby Heenan with Burts name written on the front.

[SmashTV]

Aug 19, 2021 9:33:40 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Aug 19, 2021 9:27:42 GMT -5 fg said:

For WM10, they had a bunch of celebrities like Jenny Garth, Burt Reynolds (who looked like he didn’t want to be there.)

Burt was actually a big wrestling fan and I think knew some of the wrestlers personally. I think his WM appearance lack of enthusiasm may have just come from him having to be himself whereas his movies always had a script to follow so maybe he was nervous. But from all I've heard and read about him and wrestling he's probably one of the bigger wrestling fan celebrities they had.

Bret said in his book that, of all the celebrities he worked with in wrestling, Burt Reynolds was the most enthusiastic and a genuine fan.

Alternatively, on STWW Bruce said that Jenny Garth couldn’t have been more disinterested if she’d tried. I get that it’s probably an easy pay day, but at least be professional and feign some interest!

[salz4life]

Aug 19, 2021 9:33:40 GMT -5 jason1980s said:

Aug 19, 2021 9:27:42 GMT -5 fg said:

For WM10, they had a bunch of celebrities like Jenny Garth, Burt Reynolds (who looked like he didn’t want to be there.)

Burt was actually a big wrestling fan and I think knew some of the wrestlers personally. I think his WM appearance lack of enthusiasm may have just come from him having to be himself whereas his movies always had a script to follow so maybe he was nervous. But from all I've heard and read about him and wrestling he's probably one of the bigger wrestling fan celebrities they had.

It does seem odd they had so many in one year at various PPVs but I guess they were trying to play it as WWF is such a big deal that everyone wants to be involved. At least they learned a few years later when Vince said "our wrestlers are the stars" so we don't need the celebrities.

Yeah.... It wasn't Burt that didn't want to be there, it was Jennie Garth from what I've heard.

[wildojinx]

It was kind of big that they were able to get Pamela Anderson, who was one of, if not the most, the most popular actresses in the world at the time.

[cosmo]

Aug 19, 2021 10:00:36 GMT -5 Aceorton said:

Aug 19, 2021 9:51:30 GMT -5 thecrusherwi said:

I think Vince thought that Wrestlemania XI was going to blast off the New Generation like Wrestlemania I launched the Rock N Wrestling Era into new heights. Lawrence Taylor was going to be the Mr T to his new Hogan: Diesel. They thought all the celebrities would attract a new audience. You can tell by Vince’s intro when he mentions all the people watching who might be new fans. They thought this was going to be their big break. WM XI had to have been one of the bigger disappointments in company history.

The idea that someone would decide to order WrestleMania because C-list "comedienne" Rhonda Shear or Nicholas Turturro from NYPD Blue was going to be there is just so delusionally Vince.

I'm still surprised that they had Rhonda Shear at WrestleMania at all. It would have made more sense to have her do something on Raw so they they could done a cross-promotion with Up All Night, since they were both on the USA Network.

Now that I think about it, I'd have loved to see Rhonda show up on Raw, then some wrestlers show up on Up All Night doing skits during a showing of some ridiculous movie like The Bikini Carwash Company or Class of Nuke 'Em High.

[EZ: Brainy Bae]

I remember thinking that Bill Clinton impersonator was the real thing. What was even the point of that?

[fg]

Aug 19, 2021 16:05:28 GMT -5 EZ: Brainy Bae said:

I remember thinking that Bill Clinton impersonator was the real thing. What was even the point of that?

So did I. Even WWE’s own magazine in 1994 revealed him as fake.

The reason (other than to show that WM10 was a big deal) was so they can make reference to Bill’s big problem that he had in the Oval Office at the time. His tax problems. They did this by having IRS sit in back of “Bill Clinton.” If we only knew what Bill Clinton was going to do three to four years later.

[jason1980s]

Aug 19, 2021 11:14:59 GMT -5 mrpeacock said:

Also during I wanna say an estate sale, they had for sale an Islanders jacket given to him by Bobby Heenan with Burts name written on the front.

I really regret not bidding on that even though it may not have fit me. To me, this is a one of a kind item. How many Islander's jackets exist in the world? They weren't exactly a famous team or good guys that got merchandise. And I have been a huge Haku fan for a long time.

Also I did heard from Nikolai that Burt was a huge Freddie Blassie fan. It's a shame WWF actually didn't do more with Burt. They rarely capitalize on the guys who are actual fans other than Mike Tyson but even then they wouldn't make it out to be that he was such a big fan growing up.

[Celexa Bliss 54]

Aug 19, 2021 16:37:26 GMT -5 fg said:

Aug 19, 2021 16:05:28 GMT -5 EZ: Brainy Bae said:

I remember thinking that Bill Clinton impersonator was the real thing. What was even the point of that?

So did I. Even WWE’s own magazine in 1994 revealed him as fake.

The reason (other than to show that WM10 was a big deal) was so they can make reference to Bill’s big problem that he had in the Oval Office at the time. His tax problems. They did this by having IRS sit in back of “Bill Clinton.” If we only knew what Bill Clinton was going to do three to four years later.

I saw Survivor Series 1995. I think they had a good idea of what was to come lmao

As for the celebrity appearances, they also had various NFL players show up on Raw in the lead-up to WrestleMania XI. And when Vince was doing Raw from 93-94, then 95-97, there would always be pop culture and celebrity mentions made on commentary. In fact, I'm positive the OJ Simpson low-speed chase was brought up once and I know the trial came up a few times.

There was even a reliance on big names from the past during that time! Afa was prominent as The Headshrinkers' manager, then Captain Lou Albano came out of retirement to lead them to the Tag Titles. Bob Backlund, of course, won the title for a cup of coffee. Piper appeared on four PPVs between 1994 and 1996. Dick Murdoch. Dory Funk Jr. Jimmy Snuka. Jake Roberts (many would say he was past his prime by 1996). Iron Sheik. Nikolai Volkoff. Tony Atlas. Rocky Johnson. Fabulous Moolah. Terry Funk.

Basically, the over-reliance on celebrities and legends/part-timers isn't something that started recently. It's a well WWE has gone to many, many times.

[Gopher Mod]

Aug 19, 2021 18:40:49 GMT -5 Celexa Bliss 54 said:

Aug 19, 2021 16:37:26 GMT -5 fg said:

So did I. Even WWE’s own magazine in 1994 revealed him as fake.

The reason (other than to show that WM10 was a big deal) was so they can make reference to Bill’s big problem that he had in the Oval Office at the time. His tax problems. They did this by having IRS sit in back of “Bill Clinton.” If we only knew what Bill Clinton was going to do three to four years later.

I saw Survivor Series 1995. I think they had a good idea of what was to come lmao

As for the celebrity appearances, they also had various NFL players show up on Raw in the lead-up to WrestleMania XI. And when Vince was doing Raw from 93-94, then 95-97, there would always be pop culture and celebrity mentions made on commentary. In fact, I'm positive the OJ Simpson low-speed chase was brought up once and I know the trial came up a few times.

The low speed chase was straight-up a part of WM XII in the Piper/Goldust match (the Hollywood Backlot Brawl) and they mentioned the OJ Simpson trial on RAW a few times, including using WWF's 1-900 number for an informal poll asking if he was guilty or not.

[Celexa Bliss 54]

Aug 19, 2021 19:23:35 GMT -5 Gopher Mod said:

Aug 19, 2021 18:40:49 GMT -5 Celexa Bliss 54 said:

I saw Survivor Series 1995. I think they had a good idea of what was to come lmao

As for the celebrity appearances, they also had various NFL players show up on Raw in the lead-up to WrestleMania XI. And when Vince was doing Raw from 93-94, then 95-97, there would always be pop culture and celebrity mentions made on commentary. In fact, I'm positive the OJ Simpson low-speed chase was brought up once and I know the trial came up a few times.

The low speed chase was straight-up a part of WM XII in the Piper/Goldust match (the Hollywood Backlot Brawl) and they mentioned the OJ Simpson trial on RAW a few times, including using WWF's 1-900 number for an informal poll asking if he was guilty or not.

I meant it was mentioned on TV when it happened, but yeah lol that