The wrestling-to-politics pipeline in America seems to be crowding. And though wrestlers transitioning into politics isn’t a new phenomenon, one has to wonder whether Mr. Donald J. Trump’s ascension to the presidency has, to a degree, inspired a current cluster of former or part-time WWE talent, all of whom declared an interest in public office post-Trump candidacy.
To that point, Mr. Booker Huffman – known in the ring and on WWE television as Booker T – announced in 2016 his intent to run for Mayor of Houston in 2020, and in the process, praised Mr. Trump, a WWE Hall of Famer, for “talking like a man” instead of a politician.
“Donald Trump’s motive was great. He went straight to the people. He didn’t let anyone get in his way as far as the media blocking him for actually getting his message out,” said Mr. Huffman, himself a WWE Hall of Famer who runs a wrestling school in Houston and who hasn’t yet decided which party he’ll align with.
Mr. Glenn Jacobs for years portrayed Kane, a monster wrestler – and The Undertakers half-brother – who was billed as “The Devil’s Favorite Demon.” Now, Mr. Jacobs is a declared candidate for Mayor of Knox, Tennessee, and he’s running as a Republican. Like Mr. Huffman, Mr. Jacobs is a small business owner.
An ECW original who became a mild star in WWE as Rhyno, Mr. Terry Gerin – who last month lost his bid to represent the 15 District in Michigan’s House of Representatives – said wrestling not only prepares you for life but it prepares you for positions in politics because “you feel the emotion from the people” and you “know what they want.”
Mr. Gerin, like Mr. Jacobs, is a registered Republican, which means even if Mr. Trump hasn’t inspired them both, at the very least the president’s bizarre and controversial antics isn’t making them hesitant to fly under the banner of the GOP.
And then there’s Mr. Duane “The Rock” Johnson, arguably one of wrestling’s biggest stars who is now king of the silver screen. Mr. Johnson, who is connected to a Samoan family with a rich legacy in the wrestling business, this week said a 2020 bid for the presidency is “a real possibility.” Mr. Johnson, for the majority of his life, has entertained audiences not legislate, which given that a Trump presidency exist, means he’s qualified in today’s political climate.
Indeed, all of these stories forces the question of not whether political experience matters anymore, but rather what type of experiences exactly are needed to serve the public and legislate on their behalf?
Mr. Gerin, for example, as a part of his platform wanted to keep swimming pools and recreation centers open for kids. It’s safe to say the only experience needed to inform that political position is existing in a community with kids, right?
Mr. Huffman, who went to prison as a youth, wants to ensure everyone in Houston, no matter their current social-economic status, has a chance to build a better life. A young man born into poverty who became a global personality connected to a public traded company is quite the experience to have, and it’s an experience that can inform how one ensures opportunities for others.
The platform of Mr. Jacobs includes attracting new businesses to the area and keeping taxes low. As a small business owner and someone who truly understands the power of hype, Mr. Jacobs would likely understand what it takes to sell a town to others. More people working is, of course, good for the economy.
These former and part-time wrestlers may never actually obtain the office(s) they seek, but their attempts at politics make the argument that the greatest political experience one can have is common sense.