What Donald Trump's weird WWE Hall of Fame speech tells us about his debate strategy
Eleven years ago, Donald Trump delivered an uncharacteristically short and all-but-forgotten speech before a decidedly unfriendly crowd.
But Trump's extemporaneous address to professional wresting luminaries and fans during the 2013 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony in New York City — Trump himself was an inductee — is a curiosity worth momentarily revisiting, if only for what Trump prophesied about a pair of presidential debates with Joe Biden, the first of which is scheduled for tonight, June 27.
Here are five notable foreshadowings:
Trump loves twins
“We had back-to-back WrestleManias, and it was really terrific. It was a terrific time," Trump said in his WWE Hall of Fame speech, referring to WrestleManias IV and V, which the then-World Wrestling Federation staged in Atlantic City, in a convention hall next to Trump's Trump Plaza hotel and casino. (Trump Plaza fell into disrepair during the 2010s and was imploded in 2021.)
Trump has an affinity for twin billings. He wasn't satisfied with one Atlantic City property, so he launched another. (And then another.)
Trump wasn't satisfied with one stint as president, either, so he's attempting to become the second former president — Grover Cleveland was the first — to win two non-consecutive terms.
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And Trump's second impeachment acquittal in two years helped embolden him to again run for president. "Our historic, patriotic and beautiful movement to Make America Great Again has only just begun," Trump said at the time.
So it's no surprise that Trump agreed to debates against Biden — one tonight on CNN, the next in September on ABC. It's the same number — two — that the two men participated in during the 2020 presidential campaign.
It's all about the ratings
“To this day, it has the highest ratings, the highest pay-per-view, in the history of wrestling of any kind. I’m very honored by that. And perhaps that’s why I’m being inducted," Trump said of his "Battle of the Billionaires" proxy match with then-WWE CEO Vince McMahon at WrestleMania 23.
The match ended up with McMahon getting his head shaved — and Trump being slammed to the canvas by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin.
A spectacle it certainly was — one that allowed Trump to engage in a most cherished pastime: boasting about how he alone can make or break a televised event.
Donald Trump, Stone Cold Steve Austin and WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley get ready to shave Vince McMahon's head after McMahons lost the main event of the night, "Hair vs. Hair", between Vince McMahon and Donald Trump. WrestleMania 23 at Detroit's Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on April 1, 2007. (Photo by Leon Halip/WireImage via Getty Images)
Since the first Trump-Biden 2024 debate is scheduled to air on CNN — and will not be broadcast on all national networks simultaneously as was standard practice for Commission on Presidential Debates-sanctioned debates — viewership could be massive.
And given that Trump has endlessly ragged "failing" CNN for its ratings, bet that Trump will use the first debate as proof — if there is proof to be had — that he alone has captured the imagination of America's body politic.
Expect Trump to play the heel
"Tough. Tough people. Thank you very much everybody," a smirking Trump said as the crowd booed him as he started his WWE speech.
"I really do love you people, even the ones that don’t like me so much," Trump said in conclusion, as a version of The O'Jay's hit song, "For the Love of Money," reverberated through the arena.
Writing for The Baffler, Mike Edison defined a wrestling "heel" as such: "The role of a heel is to get 'heat,' which means spurring the crowd to obstreperous hatred, and generally involves cheating and pretty much any other manner of socially unacceptable behavior that will get the job done."
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And to paraphrase the late wrestling legend Gorilla Monsoon: Trump resembles that remark.
Trump — ever the provocateur — will almost certainly avoid the high road en route to the June debate in Atlanta as he bills himself as Biden's physical and mental superior.
For example, a lectern nearly toppled over while Trump delivered a recent speech in Minnesota. Trump posted to social media: "As far as the podium, I actually stopped it from falling due to good reflexes and strength, two elements which Joe Biden does not possess."
Hype machine in overdrive
"Now, Vince has been trying for the last six years to break our pay-per-view record. He’s had some great people on. But it’s not going to happen. And the same enthusiasm and love that you have for me tonight — I feel it. That’s why you all came down to watch me get my ass kicked and my head shaved, but it didn’t happen," Trump bragged to the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony crowd, which again showered him with jeers.
Compare that to Trump's acceptance last month of Biden's debate challenge.
“I am Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account.
Donald Trump celebrates his victory over Vince McMahon at the main event of the night, "Hair vs. Hair", between Vince McMahon and Donald Trump. WrestleMania 23 at Detroit's Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on April 1, 2007. (Photo by Leon Halip/WireImage via Getty Images)
"It’s time for a debate so that he can explain to the American People his highly destructive Open Border Policy, new and ridiculous EV Mandates, the allowance of Crushing Inflation, High Taxes, and his really WEAK Foreign Policy, which is allowing the World to 'Catch on Fire,'" Trump continued. "I am Ready and Willing to Debate Crooked Joe at the two proposed times in June and September."
Trump added: “I would strongly recommend more than two debates and, for excitement purposes, a very large venue, although Biden is supposedly afraid of crowds — That’s only because he doesn’t get them. Just tell me when, I’ll be there. 'Let’s get ready to Rumble!!!'”
Trump could yet pull out
"I will challenge Vince next year to a fight. And I will kick his ass. If he wants. I will kick his ass!" Trump bellowed in reference to McMahon.
Despite his bluster, Trump did not pursue another "battle of the billionaires" melee. Rather, Trump went into political business with McMahon's wife, Linda McMahon, who would later become a Trump megadonor and his administrator of the federal Small Business Administration.
Little of this is surprising — and speaks to how Trump's political career, like his pro wrestling dalliance, is peppered with backtracks, flip-flops and about-faces.
Consider that Trump has been a Democrat, independent and Reform Party member before becoming a Republican.
He used to donate money to A-list liberals before strictly supporting conservatives.
He first flirted with a run for president in 1988. Ahead of Election 2000, at the behest of former pro wrestler and Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, Trump briefly sought the presidency as a Reform Party candidate, but quit. Trump flirted again with a run ahead of Election 2012 before withdrawing from consideration after "considerable deliberation and reflection." He even publicly pondered running for governor of New York in 2014, then didn't.
Meanwhile, Trump has been all over the map on issues such as abortion, Social Security, Medicare, gun background checks and a host of others.
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump stands next to a podium placed next to him to challenge President Biden to a debate as he speaks at a rally outside Schnecksville Fire Hall on April 13, 2024, in Schnecksville, Pa. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
And lest we forget, Trump nixed a scheduled debate between himself and Biden on Oct. 15, 2020. Trump simply refused to participate in what would have been a virtual event — the Commission on Presidential Debates made it such because Trump, who had contracted COVID-19 earlier that month at a time when vaccines weren't yet available, declined to say whether he had tested negative for the virus.
Trump refused to participate at all in any of the several 2024 Republican presidential primary debates.
Trump for weeks has demanded Biden take a drug test before the first debate, and he hasn't relented despite Biden ignoring him.
The takeaway?
While the June 27 Biden-Trump tilt is all but chiseled in granite, there's still plenty of time for Trump to withdraw from September's royal rumble.
This article originally published on Mary 21, 2024, and has been updated to reflect new developments.