Top 8 celebrities who showed up at ring side

Kim Kardashian hosted Wrestlemania 24WWE has always wanted to have crossover appeal. Vince McMahon and co want to consider that their company is relevant in American pop culture and have continuously invited various celebrities as guest stars on the show.Muhammed Ali was the guest referee for the main event of Wrestlemania 1!!!While some like Bob Barker and Cyndi Lauper did quite well during their short segments on the show, many others have fluffed on the big stage. Remember how Jeremy Piven referenced to Summerslam as Summerfest. While celebrities often mess up on their own, WWE has often made their life even harder by booking them ridiculously – like how Kevin Federline was booked to pin John Cena on Raw.Kim Kardashian was the hostess of Wrestlemania 24 and even wrestled as part of a promo for Total Divas. This list includes the top 8 instances of celebrities showing up at the WWE.

#1 Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman punches Dolph Ziggler

The X-Men star has made multiple appearances at the WWE, and they have all been appreciated warmly by the pro wrestling crowd, who are not always keen on celebrities taking the spotlight away from wrestlers.

But Jackman, a self-confessed wrestling fan, has the physique to go with his Hollywood status and let us be honest, it is not every day that the fans get to see a top notch movie star.

So it was hardly surprising when Jackman was cheered to the skies in 2011 when he made a Raw appearance getting in Dolph Ziggler’s match and punching him later in the night during his match with Zack Ryder.

He would make another appearance in the WWE three years later in a comedy segment with Damien Sandow – who had dressed up as Magneto – and a now face Ziggler.

#2 Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson at Wrestlemian

During his heyday in professional boxing, Mike Tyson took time out to act as the special enforcer for the WWE title match between Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14.

Tyson would be built up during the weeks leading up to the event, shoving Austin on Raw and becoming an honorary member of Michael’s Degeneration X. At Wrestlemania, Tyson would double cross Michaels and count the 1-2-3 for Austin to win the Championship.

‘Iron Mike’ was paid $ 3 million by the WWE for these appearances. Tyson would return to the WWE in 2010, teaming up with Chris Jericho against D-X, only to knock his partner out in yet another twist.

He would be inducted into the Celebrities wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012

#3 Freddie Prinze, Jr

Freddie Prinze Jr worked for the WWE for three years

This Hollywood star is unique in this list as he is the only one to work for the WWE as a permanent employee – the husband of Sarah Michelle Gellar – was so much into professional wrestling that he was taken on board the WWE in 2008 as a member of the creative staff.

He would be rehired again in 2010 to work as a director and producer, a role he occupied till 2012.

He has made an on-camera appearance in a comedy segment with Santino Marella where the former Intercontinental champion dressed up as the villain in Prinze’s famous ‘I know what you did last summer’ movies.

He has also appeared in a dream sequence as Vince McMahon’s doctor as well as in a segment involving Randy Orton.

#4 Arnold Schwarzenegger

Terminator was in the WWE too

The Hollywood star and former Governor first made an appearance in the WWE in a 1999 edition of SmackDown. He would hand a chair to Steve Austin allowing him to even the odds against Triple H and would later punch the Game in the face after the match.

In 2013, he would be the surprising pick to induct wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino into the WWE Hall of Fame. A year later, Schwarzenegger would reappear on Raw alongside Joe Manganiello to plug their movie ‘Sabotage’ alongside Hulk Hogan.

They would be interrupted by The Miz and the three of them would kick the ‘Awesome one’ out of the ring, with Schwarzenegger doing his famous Terminator line ‘Hasta la vista baby’ to end the segment.

#5 Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson was at Wrestlemania

Pamela Anderson was one of the most fawned over celebrities in the 1990s and it was no surprise that the then WWF contacted her to make an appearance at the Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania events of 1995.

Several promos were aired prior to her Rumble appearance with superstars including Diesel and Shawn Michaels, leaving kayfabe messages on her answering machine. Anderson announced at the Rumble that she would make an appearance at Mania in the corner of the man who wins the Rumble match.

However at Wrestlemania, she accompanied the champion Diesel to the ring instead of the Rumble winner Shawn Michaels.

She would have another brush with the WWE in 2006 when she shared a kiss with WWE Diva Trish Stratus during that year’s Canada Walk of Fame ceremony.

#6 Stephen Amell

The best celebrity in ring performance by a long shot

The Arrows star deserves his spot in the list because he actually wrestled at a PPV for the company – and he did not just stand outside the ring waiting for a tag that never came.

Instead, Amell got dirty in the ring and took a number of bumps, winning over the crowd with his dedication to put together a match to the best of his ability. Already in great shape, Amell executed multiple wrestling moves in the ring and was part of the winning team alongside Nevil against Stardust and King Barrett.

Maybe a career in pro wrestling beckons for the Canadian actor.

#7 Donald Trump

Donald Trump after receiving a Stone Cold Stunner

The Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump has made multiple appearances in the WWE, most notably in a Wrestlemania hair vs hair match against Vince McMahon.

The match was supposed to be between the two billionaires, but two representatives – Bobby Lashley and Umaga did battle in the ring all the same. Trump was protected during the promos and the match such that the WWE fans had gone to resent the so-called babyface Trump.

Trump was victorious in the match, but the only bright spot was the Stunner that special referee Stone Cold delivered on the controversial businessman after a beer fest to thunderous applause.

This an example as to how not to book celebrities in a WWE feud.

#8 Floyd \'Money\' Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather beat the Big Show at Wrestlemania

The biggest celebrity entry into the WWE over the past decade, professional boxer Floyd Mayweather wrestled The BigShow at Wrestlemania.

In a classic case of WWE fans not wanting to see celebrities get the better of pro wrestlers, the heel BigShow was cheered at the expense of Mayweather leading up to the match, forcing the WWE to let Mayweather indulge in heel antics to gain heat.

The feud began with Mayweather breaking The Big Show’s nose courtesy of a punching combination at No Way Out and it culminated in a No Disqualification Match at Wrestlemania 24. The 150 pound Mayweather would be booked to win the match by knocking out the 500 pound Big Show with a brass knuckle punch, much to the chagrin of the crowd.

‘They asked me if I'd work with Money Mayweather and put him over, and I said absolutely. I've put over way worse," said Show a number of years after the match.