A new documentary breaks down how pro wrestling and WWE influenced President Donald Trump’s political success.
Hosted by satirist Munya Chawawa, the new Wrestling With Trump documentary examines US President Donald Trump’s relationship with pro wrestling and WWE. Chawawa travelled to the United States to interview notable names in wrestling for the feature. The list includes Hall of Famer Brutus Beefcake, former Superstar Muhammad Hassan, a former WWE writer, and three independent wrestlers. He also spoke with Trump insiders and MAGA supporters.
The experts discussed some of the core concepts Donald Trump drew from professional wrestling for his political campaigning. They also identified the following four key tactics he used to become a stronger President.
Donald Trump’s win-at-all-costs mentality
Donald Trump’s relationship with WWE dates back to the 1980s. The Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey, hosted both WrestleMania IV and V in 1988 and 1999. Trump became an on-screen figure in the promotion with the Battle of the Billionaires storyline in 2007. He also “owned” Monday Night RAW after buying it in a 2009 angle. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
In the documentary, some of the speakers explained the connection between Trump and WWE, and pointed out how one of the qualities he took from the business is a win-at-all-costs mentality.
WWE Hall of Famer Brutus Beefcake said, “Trump is a winner. He’s always going after what he wants, and making things happen. A lot of wrestlers are like that too.
Former WWE writer Christopher DeJoseph, who wrote the WrestleMania 23 Battle of the Billionaires storyline, said, “The match clearly had a huge impact on Trump. Look at the way he sets up his rallies, it’s the same thing. He’ll get the crowd to boo the villain, then give them what they want, throw them a bit of red meat and getting them to cheer.”
NWA’s Bryan Idol said the inspiration Donald Trump took from WWE is blatant. “I think the storytelling aspects of wrestling 1000% influenced Trump. Everything he does is from the psychology from a pro wrestler.”
He also showed a video of Trump’s rally entrance and pointed out how the presentation was similar to The Undertaker’s entrance in WWE, including the same music. He added, “I think he picked up all of the things he does in politics from professional wrestling.”
Using kayfabe to sell fiction as reality
Independent wrestler “Handsome” Beau James then explained how Donald Trump uses wrestling’s kayfabe aspect in his political strategies. “He’s the definition of wrestling, pulling the wool over people’s eyes, creating heroes and villains, taking it to a national, global stage.”
Sam Nunberg, Trump’s advisor for his 2016 campaign, confirmed that they used the kayfabe strategy deliberately to brand him as a heel. “We used the WWE as a model for the campaign. We branded him as a heel, an iconoclast, working for the people.”
As with wrestling storylines, the documentary claims that Trump’s supporters know some of his claims are exaggerated. However, they still choose to believe them. A MAGA supporter at a so-called “Magathering” at a bar told Munya Chawawa that he personally investigated “30,000 lies Trump told during his first term.” He also claimed they were all false allegations.
Donald Trump’s trash-talking
Bryan Idol then claimed that handing out nicknames like “Crooked Hillary,” “Sleepy Joe,” and “Lyin’ Ted” was Donald Trump’s direct pull from the wrestling playbook. He said, “It’s classic pro wrestling trash talk. He can nullify people by giving them ridiculous names.”
The tactic reduces his opposition to a single mockable trait. In wrestling terms, this would get the crowd on his side.
Creating the ‘foreign villain’
Pro wrestling has always needed an outsider villain, and former WWE Superstar Muhammad Hassan was positioned as one in 2004. However, a controversial segment led to his character being scrapped the following year, and he lost out on a reported World Heavyweight Championship run. He mentioned in the documentary that he feels guilty for playing the character.
Donald Trump has also deployed the same tactics with his claims that Haitian immigrants were eating pets in a small Ohio city. According to the documentary, it was designed to unite his supporters against a common enemy.
Muhammad Hassan reflected on the real-world damage such tactics can do, saying, “Targeting Mexicans, Guatemalans, people who’ve been in this country for decades. It’s had a devastating effect on the US.” [H/T Unilad]
Wrestling With Trump officially aired on Channel 4 on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
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