MR. T

It’s often been said that if the first WrestleMania had not been a success back in 1985, not only would there not have been any more WrestleManias, but WWE would have been in serious jeopardy because of the financial risk of putting on the event.

Thanks in large part to actor Mr. T – who at the time was one of the top stars on TV – WrestleMania was a resounding success, WWE flourished and here we are 26 years later hours away from WrestleMania XXVII being presented at a sold-out Georgia Dome and before millions of fans around the world via pay-per-view.

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MIKE TYSON

In the late '90s, the WWE was on the losing end of a ratings war with rival WCW for about a year and a half. While WWE had been gradually narrowing the gap, the company still needed something to get over the hump and past WCW.

Enter Mike Tyson.

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DONALD TRUMP

The man responsible for the largest WrestleMania buy rate in history isn't The Hulkster, The Rock or The Rattlesnake.

It's The Donald.

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PETE ROSE

Rose may have had tremendous success as a major league baseball player, but the all-time leader in hits didn’t fare as well in run-ins with Kane at three consecutive WrestleManias.

Rose made his initial WrestleMania appearance as the guest ring announcer for the match between The Undertaker and Kane at WrestleMania XIV (1998) in Boston. After Rose insulted the local sports teams, Kane came out and gave him a Tombstone Piledriver to the delight of the crowd.

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FLOYD MAYWEATHER

The man many regard as the best pound-for-pound fighter in boxing took a big step up – actually, make that a gigantic step up – in weight class when he took on The Big Show in a boxer versus wrestler match at WrestleMania XXIV (2008).

The match was set up with an angle at the No Way Out pay-per-view a month earlier. Mayweather, who was seated at ringside during the event, hopped the rail after being taunted by The Big Show.

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BOB UECKER

The self-deprecating “Mr. Baseball” was a catcher during his modest career in major league baseball, but he was a utility player for the WWF during his humorous appearances at WrestleManias III (1987) and IV (1988).

At WrestleMania III, Uecker was the guest ring announcer for the epic WWF title match between Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant. He also sat in on commentary with Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura for the six-man tag team match that pitted Hillbilly Jim and two midget wrestlers against King Kong Bundy and two midget wrestlers. The wise-cracking Uecker was the perfect choice to provide additional commentary on the comedy match.

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LIBERACE

As we all know, WrestleMania is unlike any other pro wrestling pay-per-view. It’s a glitzy spectacle, and nothing says glitzy spectacle more than Liberace and The Radio City Rockettes forming a high-kicking chorus line in the middle of the ring while “New York, New York” plays over the sound system.

That was the scene at the first WrestleMania in 1985 at Madison Square Garden prior to the main event match that pitted Hulk Hogan and Mr. T against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff. Liberace was the official timekeeper for the bout.

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LAWRENCE TAYLOR

Taylor, considered of the greatest NFL players of all time, stepped into the squared circle to face Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event of WrestleMania XI in1995.

The match was set up by an angle at the Royal Rumble a couple months earlier. After Bigelow was pinned by The 1-2-3 Kid in a tag team match that pitted Bigelow and Tatanka against The Kid and Bob Holly, Taylor – who was seated at ringside – heckled “The Beast From The East.” Bigelow responded by delivering a hard shove to “LT.”

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MUHAMMAD ALI

“The Greatest” was brought in to be the special enforcer referee for the historic main event at the first WrestleMania in 1985, which pitted Hulk Hogan and actor Mr. T against Roddy Piper and Paul Orndorff.

Ali stayed outside the ring for the most part while former wrestler Pat Patterson handled the in-ring refereeing duties.

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One of the reasons WrestleMania has become a fixture in pop culture is the involvement of mainstream celebrities. Over the years, numerous actors, athletes, musicians and other personalities have appeared in some capacity at WWE’s annual big event.

Beginning with this post and continuing daily through April 3, I will count down the Top 10 WrestleMania celebrities.

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