Wrestling and politics has had a long and storied history together. From the recent House of Representatives attempt from Rhyno in his hometown of Dearborn, Michigan to Jesse “The Body” Ventura becoming Governor of Minnesota in 1998. Internationally, Antonio Inoki was elected to the Japanese House of Councils in 1989 (he was actually a negotiator for Japan in Iraq who got the return of Japanese prisoners) and The Great Sasuke (mask and all) got on the Iwate Prefectural Assembly in 2003. US President Abraham Lincoln actually spent time as a carnival wrestler – in the “catch as catch can” style – before entering politics, most famously against Jack Armstrong in 1831.
But perhaps nothing was more equally shocking-yet-somehow-not-surprising as today’s announcement that President-Elect Donald Trump was adding WWE co-founder Linda McMahon to his White House Cabinet as his administrator for the Small Business Administration.
“As an entrepreneur myself, I have shared the experiences of our nation’s small business owners and will do my best to advocate on their behalf. My husband and I built our business from scratch, building it to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees.”, LINDA McMAHON, from her statement, December 7, 2016
The President-Elect backed up his appointment, which still has to be approved by the Senate, in his own statement.
“Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives advising businesses around the globe.” DONALD TRUMP, from his statement, december 7, 2016
Linda McMahon confirmed the appointment via Twitter herself:
Honored to be appointed by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as head of @SBAgov advocating for our small businesses & entrepreneurs!
— Linda McMahon (@Linda_McMahon) December 7, 2016
And it didn’t take long for the wrestling world to chime in:
Congrats to @Linda_McMahon on being chosen to lead the #SBA! I know she'll provide the same insight and dedication that helped build @WWE.
— Triple H (@TripleH) December 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/Goldust/status/806648511836155904
Great choice by @realDonaldTrump by picking @Linda_McMahon to help small business. https://t.co/uqiB0Yjqso
— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) December 7, 2016
Good for Linda.
Legitimately one of the nicest people around.
— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) December 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/EBischoff/status/806615115948662784
Great selection by @realDonaldTrump as LEM was a great boss for over 20+ years to me. @WWE https://t.co/b6zGvTB1lE
— Jim Ross (@JRsBBQ) December 7, 2016
Congrats @Linda_McMahon on your nomination. I’m very proud and know you’ll do an excellent job. #SBA
— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) December 7, 2016
Congratulations Mom, I am so proud of you! President-Elect @realDonaldTrump made an excellent choice for the head of @SBAgov! https://t.co/2wUPw3ctWl
— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) December 7, 2016
Between a reality star like Trump and a production mind like McMahon’s, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a new political reality show on the WWE Network soon…The WWEst Wing? And just like that, Linda McMahon just trumped the WWE’s entire women’s division in mainstream press (expect a match between Linda and Brock Lesnar at Summerslam).
Well, maybe if we’re lucky, she can talk the President Don to appear at Wrestlemania next year. After all, he owes her husband a rematch. And for the first time in years, people may actually cheer for Vince McMahon.
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