Dennis Rodman is going into the WWE Hall of Fame in recognition of his work in WCW. However, WWE did try to bring “The Worm” into the fold before he wrestled for the competition.
Marc Raimondi’s book Say Hello to the Bad Guys chronicles the rise, fall, and lasting appeal of the nWo. One passage in the book revealed how WWE (then WWF) attempted to get Rodman, then a centerpiece of the Chicago Bulls NBA dynasty, to appear at WrestleMania 13.
Dwight Manley, Dennis Rodman’s agent and business manager, got a call from Shane McMahon about WWF’s interest in bringing Rodman in.
“Rodman was polarizing and extremely controversial. He was once suspended for headbutting players on the opposing team,” Raimondi writes. “He dated Madonna and frequented gay bars. Meanwhile, he was the NBA’s best rebounder. Sports Illustrated labeled him ‘America’s most provocative athlete.’ In other words, he was perfect for 1990s professional wrestling.”
Dennis Rodman gave WCW a chance to match WWF’s offer
Manley says WWF made a sizable offer for Rodman to appear at WrestleMania 13, which took place at the Allstate Arena in Chicago. However, Rodman already had an established relationship with Hulk Hogan and opted to join WCW instead.
“Rodman and Hogan had originally been connected through Tony Carlini, a custom motorcycle guru in Southern California, and they became friends. But more than that, Rodman was a legitimate fan of pro wrestling going back to his childhood,” Raimondi wrote. “According to Manley, the WWF offered Rodman $500,000 to appear at the annual WrestleMania 13 pay-per-view. Rodman told Carlini, and Carlini went to Bischoff, who called Manley. Rodman was comfortable with WCW and “loved” Hogan, Manley said. So Rodman gave Bischoff a chance to match the WWF offer, which he did. Rodman spurned the WWF and signed for multiple appearances with WCW. It was only fitting that he would be joining his pal Hogan with the nWo.”
Dennis Rodman wrestled in three matches for WCW, including his in-ring debut at Bash At The Beach 1997. A year later, he teamed with Hulk Hogan to face Diamond Dallas Page and Karl Malone at Bash at the Beach 1998. Rodman had one more match, a loss to Randy Savage at WCW Road Wild 1999 in Sturgis, South Dakota.
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