100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments
34. ‘Battle Of The Billionaires’ (WrestleMania 23)
The world was a different place in 2007. Steve Austin was hitting stunners on Donald Trump, Vince McMahon was crying on camera after getting his head shaved, and Bobby Lashley vs. Umaga was the match WWE used to frame their 'Battle Of The Billionaires'. It's somewhat bizarre to look back on 'Mania 23 and see Trump being treated like a babyface man of the people compared to Vince's villainous Mr. McMahon character.
It's even stranger to think that Trump would go on to become US President twice after this.
Only a fool could deny the pure entertainment value of this money-based skirmish though. Credit where credit is due, WWE knew that Trump would bring some mainstream media attention. McMahon was only too happy to make a fool of himself in front of as many people as possible if it meant maximising his profit margins too. Business success was all that mattered for an undercard attraction like this one.
Fans loved every second of the drama. Lashley vs. Umaga was a solid enough match, but most eyes were on Trump, McMahon and Austin. They were the true stars here, and everybody knew it. Wisely, Vince gave punters what they wanted. His comeuppance was satisfying, and 'Stone Cold' laying Trump out with a stunner scratched that itch as well.
In the end, everyone was happy. The 'Battle Of The Billionaires' could never knock some other big moments off their lofty perch, but it absolutely merits a place in the top 50. It melded everything the McMahons hoped to create come WrestleMania time. Celebrity, soap opera and personal stakes.