Ever since the first WrestleMania, celebrities and professional wrestling has always had an overlap. While former wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Rowdy Roddy Piper, The Rock, and John Cena moved from the squared circle to acting, it isn't uncommon to see wrestlers sitting in the front row of Monday Night RAW or getting in the show itself. In fact, there was a time when WWE's flagship show would have a new celebrity host every week.
From June 2009 to May 2010, the show was hosted by a wrestling legend or a celebrity including Freddie Prinze Jr, Mike Tyson, Mark Cuban, Maria Menounos, and Snoop Dogg, to the likes of Al Sharpton, Jeremy Piven, and Jewel. They very rarely produced entertaining segments, and occasionally fluffed their lines, like Jeremy Piven famously referring to SummerSlam as "Summerfest." In the wake of the incident between Adam Cole and Pat McAfee on NXT, it's time to look back on the five best and five worst celebrity/pro-wrestler feuds of all time.
10 WORST: John Cena Vs. Ken Jeong
Speaking of Piven's SummerFest debacle, the other celebrity that co-hosted that night was Ken Jeong. At the time, people mainly knew Jeong for his role as Leslie Chow in The Hangover. Jeong and Piven appeared on RAW to promote their film The Goods. On that episode, Jeong was involved in a segment with John Cena.
In the last segment of the show, Jeong attacked Cena from behind with a metal bar, only for Cena to no-sell the attack. Jeong then pretends that it wasn't him. At the end, Cena picks Jeong up in a Military Press and throws him into Jack Swagger and Carlito, both of whom were standing outside the ring. Jeong then appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to call out Cena, stating that he was legitimately hurt during the segment.
9 BEST: Stephen Amell Vs. Stardust
Cody Rhodes has made it well known now that he despised the Stardust character while working for WWE. However, the character did allow him to be involved in one of WWE's best celebrity moments involving the star of CW's Arrow. Rhodes, like Stardust, would continuously taunt Stephen Amell on social media and the two had a ringside confrontation on an episode of RAW.
With Amell at ringside, Stardust taunted the actor and pushed him before returning to the ring. Amell, using all the tricks he learned as the Arrow, jumped the barricade and speared Rhodes. The action led to a tag team match between Stardust and his partner Wade Barrett taking on Neville and Amell at SummerSlam 2015. The match holds up and is undoubtedly one of the between a celebrity and a wrestler.
8 WORST: Melissa Joan Hart Vs. Kevin Owens
In 2015, actress Melissa Joan Hart took to Twitter to complain about Kevin Owens. The former Clarissa and Sabrina admitted that she was only a casual fan but she still took issue with the former NXT and Universal Champion's wrestling style. During an episode of RAW, Joan Hart called Owens "lazy," which he didn't take well.
Owens and Joan Hart continued to feud on Twitter. Owens ended up blocking the actress to put an end to it, though many WWE fans sided with Owens. The New Day's Big E and Kofi Kingston took Owens' side, while Goldust sided with the actress.
7 BEST: Lawrence Taylor Vs. Bam Bam Bigelow
At the 1995 Royal Rumble, Lawrence Taylor had finished his 12-year hall of fame career and was sitting in the front row. In the final of the Tag Team Tournament, Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka lost to the team of the 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly after a miscue between the two.
After the bout, Bigelow took issue with the legendary linebacker laughing at his misfortune. Bigelow then pushed the former footballer, leading to a heated confrontation. The two faced off in the main event of WrestleMania XI, with Taylor defeating Bigelow after hitting him with a flying forearm.
6 WORST: Drew Carey Vs. Kane
At the 2001 Royal Rumble, Drew Carey was a special backstage guest of WWE. The star was hoping to speak to Vince McMahon to get tips on how to run a PPV. Instead, Carey got into hot water with the boss for hitting on Trish Stratus, and Drew was entered into the Royal Rumble.
Carey entered as the fifth entrant, just as Matt and Jeff Hardy attacked and eliminated each other, leaving him alone in the ring. Unfortunately, Kane was the next entrant and made a bee-line for the star comedian. Before Kane could hit Carey with the chokeslam, the Big Red Machine was hit from behind by Raven. Carey would go on to eliminate himself from the match, and Kane would later induct Carey into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
5 BEST: Pete Rose Vs. Kane
Before Kane would assault Drew Carey, he would face off against legendary baseballer Pete Rose. Rose first appeared at WrestleMania XIV as the special guest ring announcer for the match between Kane and the Undertaker. Following the match, Kane picked up the "Hit King" and hit him with a Tombstone Piledriver.
The two would continue to attack each other over the next few years, with Pete Rose constantly trying to get revenge on Kane. Rose was a natural performer and adapted quickly the WWF, cutting great heel promos. In 2004, Rose was inducted into the Celebrity Wing of the WWE Hall of Fame by none other than Kane.
4 WORST: Jon Stewart Vs. Seth Rollins
As Jon Stewart wrapped up his tenure as the host of The Daily Show, he was engaged in a feud against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Rollins, as a part of The Authority, mocked Stewart in a Daily Show-styled segment. This led to Stewart making an appearance at SummerSlam, betraying Cena and allowing Rollins not only to retain his title but also win Cena's United States title.
The following week on RAW, Stewart tried to explain himself. Stewart claimed that the reason he attacked Cena was that he didn't want Cena to pass Ric Flair's record 16-World title reigns. In response, Cena hit Stewart with an Attitude Adjustment.
3 BEST: Mr. T Vs. Roddy Piper
Leading into WrestleMania I, the biggest attraction on the card was undoubtedly the star-studded main event which saw A-Team and Rocky star Mr. T team up with Hulk Hogan to face off against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. The match also included Muhammad Ali as an outside guest referee, Billy Martin as the guest ring announcer, and Liberace as the Special Guest Timekeeper.
Later, Mr. T and Piper squared off again at WrestleMania II in the main event of the New York section via a boxing match. Mr. T won the rematch after Piper picked up the actor and hit him with a body slam, resulting in disqualification.
2 WORST: David Arquette Vs. Jeff Jarrett
David Arquette is an interesting figure in wrestling circles. While promoting his 2000 movie Ready to Rumble, Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight Title in a tag match. Arquette pinned Eric Bischoff to win Jeff Jarrett's title, while Diamond Dallas Page also participated. Arquette successfully defended his title against Tank Abbott on the episode of Monday Nitro.
At Slamboree, Arquette, Page, and Jarrett were booked in a Triple Cage match. Towards the end, Arquette turned on Page and sided with Jeff Jarrett. Arquette hit Page with a guitar, allowing Jarrett to reclaim the title. This feud is better remembered for its weirdness than anything else.
1 BEST: Andy Kaufman Vs. Jerry Lawler
Comedian Andy Kaufman and Jerry 'the King' Lawlers feud is the stuff all celebrity vs. wrestler feuds hope to be. Behind the scenes, Kaufman and Lawler were good friends but their appearance on The David Letterman Show sparked a feud that created an amazing storyline.
Lawler, a legendary figure in Memphis wrestling, was upset at Kaufman wrestling women as a part of his act and claiming to be the Intergender World Champion. During the segment, Lawler knocked Kaufman off his chair. The feud led to heated matches between the two at Lawler's Continental Wrestling Association.