10 Fascinating WWE WrestleMania 7 Facts
8. Bob Costas Pulled Out Of Show Due To Iraqi War Portrayal
If you watched the recent ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the XFL (and if you haven't, you need to), you know that longtime NBC presenter Bob Costas wanted nothing to do with what he perceived to be a low-brow, tawdry attempt at a sports enterprise. Ten years earlier, Costas washed his hands of another Vince McMahon showcase, this one being WrestleMania 7.
Costas was set to take part in a light-hearted skit with Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, debating the need for instant replay in professional wrestling. Instead, Costas backed out, due to increasing discomfort over WWE's invocation of a very real war into a cartoony storyline. Comedienne Roseanne was also slated for an appearance, and apparently pulled out of the show for the same reason. For the pre-taped bit with Steinbrenner, Costas was replaced by jovial ESPN broadcaster and former football player Paul Maguire.