40 Years Of Fascinating WWE WrestleMania Facts (Part 3)

8. WrestleMania 23 - You Were Spared The Worst Match Of All-Time

Kurt Angle Shawn Michaels Bobby Heenan
WWE

At WrestleMania 23, in an attraction that was a riot at the time but has dated about as horrendously as any other, Bobby Lashley (representing Donald Trump) defeated Umaga (representing Vince McMahon) in the Battle of the Billionaires. Vince, per the stip, was shaved bald in the post-match. This was an absolute monster of a hit on pay-per-view. Only the in-ring return of the Rock in 2012 broke the buy record it set. 

Nobody remembers the match itself, but it was probably quite a fun hoss fight swarming with ridiculous carny nonsense. It was all incidental to the finish you paid for, so while it was hardly important between the ropes, it was almost the worst match of all-time. 

When WWE first kicked this idea around, they toyed with running Hulk Hogan Vs. The Big Show to blend in a WrestleMania III 20th anniversary element. That was presumably scrapped since WWE does not understand how anniversaries work. 

The discussions never advanced beyond a certain point - Hogan and Vince had one of their trademark fall-outs around this time - but they lasted long enough for WWE to consider the Great Khali as his opponent. Christ almighty. 

A completely immobile man versus Khali? 

Doesn't bear thinking about.

 
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Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!