WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event once again had a nostalgic flair, with several legends of the ring appearing at the event. During the show, Ted DiBiase, Dory Funk Jr. and ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan were spotlighted in the crowd.
Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura was part of the show after making his return to WWE with last month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event special. The WWE Hall of Famer and former Minnesota governor was excited to see Bron Breakker and Sheamus go to war for the Intercontinental Championship.
Alundra Blayze was also in the crowd, with the WWF Women’s Championship. Blayze infamously dropped the title in the trash after she moved to WCW in 1995.
The Brainbusters Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were shown following Jacob Fatu’s assault of Braun Strowman. The pair had previously been a part of AEW.
Mark Henry, another AEW alum, was also in the crowd at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Henry’s son Jacob recently signed with WWE, leaving fans excited to see what’s to come for the young powerhouse.
The appearance of these legends, alongside the in-ring action of the modern-day roster, provided an exciting night for the WWE Universe. With four Saturday Night’s Main Events planned per years, fans can expect many more nostalgic moments featuring legends of the past on WWE programming in the future.
There had been speculations about the status of the wrestling veteran despite being praised for his work at the last show in December, especially after the recent return of Hulk Hogan. Ventura however, powerbombed all rumors with a post on on X, confirming that he will in fact return to the airwaves as scheduled.
“So very excited for Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend in San Antonio. The Body returns to Texas this Saturday Night!”
Jesse Ventura signed a new legends contract with WWE and returned to the promotion last year, putting his long-standing grudge against the company aside. At the time it was announced that the veteran wrestler and broadcast personality will be calling 4 shows for the company every year.
His status for the January 2025 event became questionable again however, when WWE announced a new partnership with Hulk Hogan’s beer company and brought him in for an appearance at Raw’s Netflix premiere on January 6.
The former governor of Minnesota has long been at odds with Hogan since learning that the latter exposed his efforts of forming a wrestling union to Vince McMahon in the late 80s.
Many believed that Hogan will be making an appearance at the NBC exclusive event after his return but after Ventura’s announcement, it’s safe to say the Hulkster will not be at the show.
This past Saturday night, Jesse “The Body” Ventura made a triumphant return to WWE as a commentator for Saturday Night’s Main Event. After decades away from the company, Ventura reflected on his experience in a heartfelt post on his Substack. He shared his thoughts on stepping back into the world of wrestling, connecting with the new generation of talent, and his satisfaction with WWE’s new leadership.
Ventura’s return was a nostalgic and meaningful moment for the wrestling legend, who credits his son, Tyrel Ventura, for helping make it happen. “First of all, it was truly an honor to come back home to the WWE,” he wrote. “I have to thank my son, Tyrel, for putting the wheels in motion last summer. It’s been such an incredible feeling to return to the place where my career essentially began or, more accurately, really took off from.”
A New Era in WWE Leadership
In his post, Ventura highlighted the fresh energy he felt backstage, contrasting it with the WWE of his era. “The biggest thing I noticed was how different the energy and vibe is backstage,” he said. “You don’t feel a battle of egos like you often did back in my day. From the executive level to the locker room level, you instead feel a very strong sense of teamwork and creativity.”
He attributed this transformation to the leadership of Paul “Triple H” Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan. Ventura was full of praise for their efforts to foster a collaborative and innovative atmosphere:
“I think Paul, Nick Khan, and the team at WWE are creating a truly incredible and unique environment unlike any I have seen before in the world of wrestling.”
The New Generation
Ventura also enjoyed reconnecting with the wrestling world by mentoring and engaging with the current roster. “I loved being backstage and sharing stories, advice, and laughs with some of this generation’s new talent,” he shared.
His return marks a significant chapter in his relationship with WWE. After being away for years due to his tumultuous history with Vince McMahon, Ventura is clearly delighted with the company’s new direction.
Jesse Ventura loved being part of the Saturday Night’s Main Event.
WWE decided to opt for the retro vibes when they revived Saturday Night’s Main Event as part of their new deal with NBC. Apart from using sets and costumes inspired by the classic shows, they also brought in legendary wrestler and broadcast personality Jesse Ventura to be a part of the event.
The former governor of Minnesota reflected on his experience at the event in a new post on his Substack. He claimed to have been truly honored to be back home and thanked his son for putting the wheels for it in motion:
“First of all it was truly an honor to come back home to the WWE. First off, I have to thank my son, Tyrel Ventura, for putting the wheels in motion last summer. It’s been such an incredible feeling to return to the place where my career essentially began or, more accurately, really took off from.”
Jesse Ventura was paired with Joe Tessitore as part of a special panel and he made multiple appearances during the event. The legendary wrestler was also on commentary for the main event match between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens.
Writing about the feeling behind the scenes, he praised the new WWE regime for creating a positive environment. He claimed that the difference in energy and vibe backstage was the biggest thing he noticed during his visit:
“You don’t feel a battle of egos like you often did back in my day. From the executive level to the locker room level you instead feel a very strong sense of teamwork and creativity. Everyone is running in the same direction. Fuelled by a desire to see everyone succeed, not just themselves.”
The wrestling veteran noted that this positive change speaks volumes about the leadership of Triple H, Nick Khan, and the rest of the management team. He concluded his post saying that he loved being backstage sharing stories and having a laugh with the new generation of talent.
This return was not a onetime thing. WWE has already announced the date for the next edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event and Ventura has confirmed that he’ll be appearing at the show set for early 2025.
Jesse Ventura is back with WWE under a new Legends deal, and the Hall of Famer’s family played a huge role in his surprising return. Speaking to the New York Post, the former Governor of Minnesota shared his reasoning for his WWE comeback.
“I did it selfishly for my kids. I’m 73 now. I ain’t gonna be around forever. I want to position it where if anybody makes money off my name, I want my kids to have a piece of it.”
Ventura’s return to WWE has certainly come as a surprise, given his tumultuous past with the promotion. For decades, Ventura claimed that Hulk Hogan tattled to Vince McMahon that Jesse was mounting a campaign to unionize the locker room, souring his relationship with McMahon. Years later, Ventura would successfully sue WWE and McMahon for royalties stemming from his commentary being used on Home Video.
With McMahon gone from WWE, Ventura has been welcomed back with open arms, including appearing on episodes of Raw and SmackDown in recent months. After “Hell froze over,” Ventura’s future, and the future of his family, looks very bright for the WWE legend.
Jesse Ventura won’t be restrained at this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event show, in what will be the first of several appearances for ‘The Body.’ Speaking on the Bill Simmons podcast, Ventura promised to hold nothing back when he returns to commentary for the December 14, event.
“Handcuffs are off, I can say anything I want about anyone. I am very excited about it.“
Ventura’s role on commentary at this week’s Saturday Night’s Main Event is a throwback to the original shows of the 1980s, where he also donned the headset. On the podcast, Ventura shared that his appearance this Saturday won’t be a one-off, as he’s set to be a part of the show on January 25, 2025, and beyond.
“I don’t discuss finances, but it’s acceptable, and I’ll be doing four a year.”
The WWE Hall of Famer won’t be the only throwback to WWE’s past fans can expect at Saturday Night’s Main Event. WWE has promised to bring “that old school look and feel to Nassau Coliseum” for the show. PW Insider reports that the broadcast will reflect this retro theme, similar to the original SNME shows.
Ventura was at the December 7, edition of WWE SmackDown in his native Minnesota, and with a brand new WWE Legends contract, is ready to work closely with the promotion.
WWE has announced the return of Jesse “The Body” Ventura to the commentary table for Saturday Night’s Main Event, set to air live on December 14, 2024, at 8/7c on NBC. The retro-themed event will take place at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, honoring the legacy of the original series, which debuted nearly 40 years ago.
Ventura, a WWE Hall of Famer known for his sharp wit and charismatic commentary, was a staple of the show during its 1980s run. His return marks his first appearance on WWE programming in over a decade.
Triple H addressed Ventura’s WWE homecoming, welcoming back and touting his credentials on the beloved series. He wrote on X, “Nobody reps Saturday Night’s Main Event like ‘The Governor.’ Welcome home, Jesse.”
Ventura hyped his upcoming WWE return on social media, writing, “That’s right the Governing Body returns to Saturday Night’s Main Event! So excited to get back into the broadcast booth. A very big thank you to TripleH, WWE and my son Tyrel for helping make my return a reality.”
Return of The Body
Ventura’s comeback follows his signing of a WWE Legends deal earlier this year, a move months in the making. He was previously seen backstage at Monday Night Raw, fueling speculation about his involvement in upcoming events.
For longtime fans, Ventura’s return is a highlight, promising a mix of his signature wit and historic storytelling. WWE is pulling out all the stops to make this an unforgettable tribute to one of wrestling’s most iconic shows.
The December 14 special is expected to celebrate the original Saturday Night’s Main Event era, with rumors of appearances by other WWE legends like Hulk Hogan and Wendy Richter adding to the nostalgia.
Match Card for Saturday Night’s Main Event (12/14)
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. IYO SKY
World Heavyweight Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Finn Bálor
Jesse Ventura’s first assignment as a contracted ‘WWE Legend’ is scheduled for this December. Ventura will appear at Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME), according to the Wrestling Observer. The event will siumcast live on NBC and Peacock on Saturday, December 14 from the historic Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.
The upcoming SNME promises a nostalgic atmosphere, highlighted by the use of the classic 1984 hit “Obsession” by Animotion in event advertisements.
With Survivor Series: WarGames on November 30 marking WWE’s final premium live event of 2024, SNME will take center stage as the company’s biggest December showcase. The inclusion of Jesse “The Body” Ventura guarantees that fans are in for something special.
December 14 will be a homecoming for WWE, Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Ventura. The former Minnesota Governor was on commentary with Vince McMahon for the very first SNME, held on May 10, 1985, at the Nassau Coliseum.
WWE Hall of Famer Jesse Ventura is officially back with the company. The former Governor of Minnesota has signed a WWE Legends contract and is looking ahead to some fun projects in the near future. Ventura posted a video on his Substack page explaining why he’s back with WWE after two decades.
“Hell has frozen over. Yes, hell has frozen over. I’m back in the WWE as a legend, I’ve gone through negotiations, we’ve reached agreements and I feel very good about. I’m 73 years old now and my life has gone full circle.”
– Jesse Ventura on finishing his career with WWE
Ventura says he earned his first fame and fortune in the wrestling industry, and although he achieved success in Hollywood and in politics, he likes the idea of coming back to wrestling in the twilight of his life and finishing things off as a pro wrestler.
Jesse Ventura was an active wrestler for WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation) from 1984 to 1986, but was forced to retire from the ring due to health issues. He served as an announcer from 1985 through 1990.
WWE Legends Contracts
WWE Legends contracts honor former wrestlers who have made significant contributions to the company. These contracts ensuring post-retirement income for alumni and Hall of Famers, while also allowing WWE to utilize their likenesses for merchandise and promotional activities.
Vince McMahon may have approved some unique angles during his time, but the idea of a WWE political party proved too much for the billionaire. On a recent edition of the Insight podcast, WWE Hall of Famer/Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura shared the angle he pitched to McMahon.
“I went out to him and I said ‘Vince, we can do an angle right now. You can come out with the WWE and say we’re going to have our own nominee for president, the WWE party, the World Wrestling Party.'”
Ventura’s idea included getting ballot access in all 50 states, while on-screen, McMahon would tease that he’d be the party’s official candidate in the race to the White House. Just as McMahon would announce his candidacy, he’d be interrupted by ‘The Body.’
“I’m a governor. I’m the natural WWE candidate for president, then you do a schmoz where Vince and I get two wrestlers to represent us. Whoever wins gets the nomination.”
The match would see Ventura’s representative get the win, confirming Jesse as the official Presidential candidate representing the WWE Party. When asked why the angle didn’t play out, Ventura shared that McMahon didn’t bother to tell him ‘no.’
“He didn’t even bother to call me to turn me down. I thought that was the most disrespectful thing… If he did just called me and said, Jesse, it’s too crazy. It’s too hokey. I don’t think we can do it. I would have said fine. I gave it a try. But he didn’t even call me back.”
While the WWE Party never left the drawing board, McMahon would be represented in a high-profile match with something on the line at WrestleMania 23. The ‘Battle of the Billionaires’ saw Donald Trump’s representative Bobby Lashley defeat McMahon’s Umaga, resulting in McMahon having his head shaved bald.
The late Antonio Inoki was elected twice to Japan’s House of Councillors while The Great Sasuke was elected to Iwate’s Prefectural Assembly in 2003. In 2017, Linda McMahon, who lost two senate campaigns, was appointed Administrator, Small Business Administration, under President Trump.
Perhaps the most internationally recognized wrestler to enter office is known more for his political career than his time in the ring. Before his rise to political history, Abraham Lincoln wrestled in his teens and reportedly trained in catch-as-catch-can wrestling.
The future President held championship gold by the age of 21. According to eyewitness accounts at the time, a frustrated Lincoln once lifted an opponent who was fighting dirty by the neck, raised him in the air, and slammed him into the ground, a move not too different from today’s Chokeslam.
Harold von Schmidt for Esquire in 1949 — Photo from “New Salem, a History of Lincoln’s Alma Mater”, Joseph M. Di Cola
Ventura himself served as Governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. The WWE Hall of Famer has teased running for President in the past but has never gone much further than that. He has endorsed the Harris/Walz ticket for this November’s election.
WWE Hall of Famer Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura has reached a new contract with WWE that just needs a handful of signatures to be made official. On the Insight podcast, Ventura was asked about his status with the company.
“I can say this, contracts have been written, contracts have been agreed upon. And all it requires is two signatures, one from them, and one from me. And I will be back with the legends.”
When asked if there’s a time frame on when this deal will be finalized, Ventura added that it’ll be “fairly quickly” and agreed with the age-old adage that “time is money.” The WWE Hall of Famer agreed with the suggestion that this new contract has been helped by the exit of Vince McMahon.
Jesse Ventura and WWE
Ventura has had a contested relationship with WWE in the past, stemming from his attempts to form a wrestling union. Vince McMahon was informed of these plans by Hulk Hogan, according to Ventura, who promptly fired ‘The Body’ from the company.
Ventura’s relationship with McMahon was also soured when Jesse sued for royalties in 1991 when he learned that other non-featured performers received royalties for videotape sales. Jesse had previously been told that only featured performers received such royalties. Ventura won $801,333 on a jury verdict from Titan Sports and the judge awarded him $8,625 in back pay for all non-video WWF merchandising.
Ventura was at the July 29, 2024, edition of WWE RAW, which took place in his beloved Minnesota. Borrowing a line from CM Punk, Ventura said that “hell froze over” again, referencing his previous issues with the company.
Ventura has decades of experience in the wrestling industry and has been able to make a name for himself in politics and entertainment out of the ring. With this new contract seemingly finalized, fans can expect to see much more of ‘The Body’ in WWE projects.
WWE Hall of Famer & former Governor of Minnesota Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura recently sat down with Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC to talk politics and the U.S. presidential election. Voters will go to the polls this November to elect either Vice President Kamala Harris or Former President Donald Trump as the next President of the United States.
On Tim Walz
Tim Walz is the current Governor of Minnesota and the running mate of Harris. In the interview, Ventura recalled Walz seeking his advice following his first victory in the race to be governor.
“He called me and set up a being with me to pick my brain. No other Governor has ever done that, Republican or Democrat but Tim Walz did. And what that showed me, Tim Walz is the kind of guy who’s out for success and he will reach across the aisle.”
Ventura also spoke about JD Vance’s attacks on Walz, as the running mate of Trump has accused Walz of ‘stolen valor’ despite Walz’s twenty years as an officer in the U.S. Army. Ventura explained that after twenty years, an officer can retire when they want to. Ventura added that, as a former Marine, he knows what it means to show respect to those who have served and that Vance should behave like a Marine.
On Hulk Hogan Endorsing Donald Trump
At the Republican National Convention, Hulk Hogan publicly endorsed Donald Trump and called the former President his hero. Ventura chuckled to himself as Sharpton reminded him of Hogan’s endorsement and recalled Hogan’s attempts to block Ventura’s effort to form a union in pro wrestling.
“It doesn’t surprise me to see Hogan with the Republicans because Hogan’s as anti-union as you can get… It was Hulk Hogan who ratted me out to Vince McMahon and I was fired and lost my job.”
On Donald Trump
Years before he dominated the Republican Party, Trump was part of the ‘Reform Party’ after being recruited by Ventura himself. The WWE Hall of Famer said that Trump is not the same man who came to him years ago and believes the billionaire’s politics are solely based on what benefits himself.
“Donald Trump is for Donald Trump. And Donald Trump is going to do whatever it is that supports Donald Trump… He saw that he could take over the Republican Party so he changed his views. He want from pro-choice to no rights for women’s reproductive. He’s gone far right.”
Ventura added that Trump’s claims of being a Christian man, one that is echoed by many of his supporters, are hollow.
“He’s trying to say he’s now a religious person. Well to me, if you’re going to be a religious person, you have to live it. And Donald Trump hardly lives it…. I’m an agnostic athiest and I think that I’m more religious than he is.”
Ventura suggested that Republicans would have had a far harsher response if Barack Obama had had multiple affairs while they “embrace” Trump.
CM Punk is just days away from his first televised one-on-one match in WWE in over a decade. WWE’s digital team caught up with Punk prior to Monday’s WWE Raw at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
We know that CM Punk has been spotted at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando several times over the past several months, but we haven’t seen much of him in the ring until now.
CM Punk Trains for SummerSlam
Punk reflects on starting his pro wrestling career in Minnesota 24 years ago as he tapes his wrists and prepares to move around. He says, “I’m going to give them a show tonight before we see the multi-time WWE & AEW Champion jump from the apron into the ring and run the ropes at a healthy pace.
He said, “arm feels great” as he smiled to the camera, a promising sign he’ll be in top shape this weekend.
CM Punk & Jesse Venutra
We then see new footage of CM Punk meeting WWE Hall of Famer Jesse “The Body” Ventura. Punk is shown telling Ventura that they met once about a decade ago and introducing himself again. He extended his hand and said, “CM Punk, Phil” and Ventura recalled, “Oh yeah, you’ve got that unique name. I always tried to figure that name out, how in the hell did you come up with a name like CM Punk?”
Punk agreed it’s a stupid name and said it was his nickname as a child, because he was a little brat kid. “Well, good for you, it served you a purpose then, you can’t forget it.”
Ventura later jokes, “When you get to be my age, you’re just another old man.”
During a separate conversation with with Jimmy Traina for the SI Media podcast, Punk commented on the surreal meeting with The Body:
“I saw Governor Ventura the other day, said Punk. Absolutely, 100% blown away, one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me in my life is when he tells me that he saw I came back, and he said, ‘The place must have changed. If Punk is back, I’ll go back.”
Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura has acknowledged that many will have been surprised by him attending WWE RAW, given his past issues with the company. The WWE Hall of Famer/former Governor of Minnesota was at the July 29, episode of the Red brand which took place in St. Paul, Minnesota. On Twitter, WWE cameras shared Ventura’s meeting with WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.
Though a wrestler and broadcaster in the WWF for years, Ventura’s return to WWE is something of a surprise. In 1991, Ventura brought litigation against the promotion after discovering that non-feature performers received royalties on videotape sales but he had not. Four years earlier, Ventura had waived his rights to royalties on videotape sales when he was falsely told that only feature performers received such royalties.
The case entered federal court and Ventura won $801,333 when a jury ruled in his favor. The judge also awarded Ventura $8,625 in back pay for all non-video WWF merchandising featuring Ventura. The suit soured Ventura’s relationship with WWE, which had consistently been under strain due to Ventura’s previous attempts to form a union in wrestling.
Despite this, Ventura was welcomed back for SummerSlam 1999 (after his Governor victory) and he officiated the Minnesota pay-per-view’s main event. Ventura also returned for an ‘Old School Raw’ in 2009 in which he once again donned the headset alongside Vince McMahon on commentary.
Talks between WWE and Jesse Ventura would not be happening if not for the promotion’s change of regime, the Hall of Famer has claimed.
In April, it was reported that ‘The Body’ was speaking with WWE for the first time in a considerable amount of years. On an edition of Frank Morano’s podcast, Venture gave further details about these talks.
“I am back negotiating with them. We’re in talks right now. I have contracts with my attorney right now with WWE. We don’t know right now fully. They want to bring me back under their Legends [deal].”
Ventura noted that there aren’t many names associated with the first WrestleMania who are left. He named Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, Andre the Giant, and Junkyard Dog as some of the many names associated with WrestleMania 1 who are no longer with us.
WWE’s change in direction under Triple H has helped Ventura enter negotiations.
The former Minnesota Governor has had a strained relationship with WWE for years, thanks in part to his successful lawsuit against Vince McMahon. The late 80s suit saw Ventura paid royalties for Home Video releases in which he provided commentary, despite McMahon insisting that only in-ring talent should be paid. On the podcast, Ventura said his ongoing talks only came about now that McMahon is gone.,
“I can only say [negotiations] happened because of the change in direction of the company.”
Despite the lawsuit, Ventura made a return as a guest referee at SummerSlam 1999 (which took place in Minnesota during his time as governor.) He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 and made an appearance on Raw in 2009. It remains to be seen when fans will next see ‘The Body’ on WWE TV but with a Legends deal in the works, it could be sooner than you’d think.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his running mate for American Vice President on March 26 and it will not be Jesse Ventura.
The pro wrestling legend along with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers were reportedly on RFK Jr.’s short list to tag up with the Independent candidate in his 2024 Presidential campaign for the White House, but it actually ended up being neither celebrity.
During a rally today in Oakland, CA Kennedy announced that his running mate would be attorney and entreprenur Nicole Shanahan. Shanahan, along with Kennedy, will be the youngest person running for the Vice Presidential office at the age of 38.
Jesse Ventura Broke New Ground As Governor Of Minnesota
Jesse Ventura made history when he became the governor of Minnesota in 1998 as he defeated both Democrats and Republicans to win the office. Serendipitously enough, Ventura put politics in a headlock at the same time pro wrestling did with pop culture.
Although not his running mate, Ventura has shown his past support for RFK Jr. in his Presidential candidacy. Ventura has always been a big proponent for a major third political party and has shown his appreciation for RFK’s independent run during a previous rally in Arizona.
“I always say Jack Kennedy was the greatest president of all in my lifetime,” he said. “And the reason I say that is because they let him serve the least amount. He didn’t even get one term. That’s why he’s the best, because they couldn’t let him go past, not even one term. Well, maybe it’s time to elect another Kennedy.”
Could Jesse Ventura be back in politics? If Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has some influence, “The Body” could once again become “The Mind.”
RFK Jr., who is running indepedent for the 2024 Presidential election, confirmed to The New York Times that he’s considering to famous names for his vice presidential pick: Ventura and star NFL quarterback for the New York Jets, Aaron Rodgers.
Ventura notoriously became the governor of Minnesota for one term back in 1998 which left both Democrat and Republican parties stunned. Ventura and Rodgers both have been strong advocates for a third party to compete against the two stalwart parties in America. Ventura shared the following a month ago on social media.
“We must end the duopoly of Republican and Democrat control in Washington. Electing a third party or independent candidate for President would be a major kickstart to that process but in order to do that you have to have ballot access.”
Ventura also spoke at RFK Jr.’s Arizona rally in February, stating that if RFK Jr.’s father and uncle, John F. Kennedy, both weren’t assassinated, then the United States we see today would be very different.
“I always say Jack Kennedy was the greatest president of all in my lifetime,” he said. “And the reason I say that is because they let him serve the least amount. He didn’t even get one term. That’s why he’s the best, because they couldn’t let him go past, not even one term. Well, maybe it’s time to elect another Kennedy.”
Aaron Rodgers is quite the unexpected wild card as he happens to still be an active NFL player, but did suffer a season-ending Achilles injury. Rodgers also happens to share some indirect ties to pro wrestling as during thhe NFL season he is a weekly guest on “The Pat McAfee Show” and is good friends with the WWE Raw color commentator.
SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo happened to interview Ventura back in 2023 and they do lightly touch upon his interest in getting back into politics, but also share memories of forthcoming WWE Hall Of Famer Muhammad Ali, “Superstar” Billy Graham and Bruno Sammartino.
Legends pass away like regular humans, which is a hard reality to face. Sadly, the world lost a remarkable talent as Carl Weathers passed away recently. The pro wrestling world took notice as well.
Tributes For Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers died on Thursday at the age of 76. His family said in a statement that he “died peacefully in his sleep.” We do not know the cause of death yet, but the world is mourning this great loss.
Xavier Woods from WWE honored the late Carl Weathers, who recently passed away. Weathers’ portrayal of Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise served as the inspiration for Woods’ TNA persona, Consequences Creed.
“Today one of my biggest inspirations died. Carl Weathers brought Apollo Creed to life and in doing so he inspired me to become something that helped me achieve my wildest dreams. You really never know what you just doing what you love does to inspire others. #Rip Carl Weathers”
Jesse Ventura shared the screen with Carl Weathers. He posted a photo of them together on the set of Predator, along with a touching tribute.
We lost an icon. Carl Weathers was a phenomenal talent, a true professional, and a dear friend. All my sympathies and love to his family. I loved working with him on Predator and then celebrating that film with him at various conventions in the ensuing years. Thank you, Carl.
We lost an icon. Carl Weathers was a phenomenal talent, a true professional, and a dear friend. All my sympathies and love to his family. I loved working with him on Predator and then celebrating that film with him at various conventions in the ensuing years. Thank you, Carl. pic.twitter.com/29OJoe8qcu
Sean Waltman also paid his respects to the great man that the world lost this week. While posting an animate gif of Weathers playing Chubbs Peterson from Happy Gilmore, in the scene where he’s showing Happy that he got both hands back after his death, X-Pac wrote: “Thank you for everything.”
Carl Weathers was a great actor, and he kicked down barriers for others with his fantastic career in entertainment. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
Our thoughts are with Carl Weathers’ family, friends, and fans at this time as they cope with losing such a talented man. RIP.
Chris Jericho recently clarified his employment status with AEW. He did so on an episode of Jesse Ventura’s “The World According to Jesse” on RT America. Jericho stated he is an AEW employee and receives health benefits from the organization, not an independent contractor.
Ventura and Jericho discussed various aspects of how wrestlers’ employment is handled by promotions.
“I know you for one always stood up for a union in wrestling,” Jericho said to Ventura. “I think the way a union will happen is when television stations go through the Screen Actors Guild type of thing and force the union to happen.”
The interview can be viewed in its entirety below:
https://youtu.be/PWsdsWqMzgs?t=858
Chris Jericho On Independent Contractor Status
“You could steal half the talent if you simply made the wrestlers employees,” Ventura said.
Ventura then stated several reasons why wrestlers should not be classified as independent contractors. Jericho then clarified his status with AEW.
“I don’t know everybody’s specific deals but for myself, I am an employee of AEW,” Jericho clarified. “So there are inroads for that, atleast for me, I’m a registered employee of the company.”
Jericho will face Adam “Hangman” Page at AEW All Out on August 31st, 2019.
“I was paying $5,000 a year and this was way back in the 80s, just for health care,” Ventura said.
Jericho continued to say that the benefits and employee status he was given played a role in him deciding to sign with AEW.
Former WWE Superstar and Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura spoke to TMZ Sports this week and had some newsworthy things to say about his future in pro wrestling and politics.
It’s been rumored that WrestleMania 36 will take place from Ventura’s home town of Minneapolis. The 66-year-old said he’s in great physical shape and teased that he could be part of WrestleMania one more time.
“I’m just telling you I’m in fighting shape,” Ventura said as he pulled up his shirt and showed off his abs. WWE has yet to announce which city will host WrestleMania in 2020, but Ventura says the company will bring the show to Minneapolis “if they’re smart.”
“I ain’t saying I am [wrestling again] but I’m just saying [WrestleMania] is in Minneapolis,” Ventura said. “If they were smart, if they’re smart, I’m not saying they’re smart.”
Ventura vs. Trump?
Jesse Ventura isn’t ruling out a Presidential run in 2020, either. In fact, Ventura said if he does run, President Trump won’t have a chance against him.
“If I do do it, Trump will not have a chance,” Ventura said. “For one, Trump knows wrestling. He participated in two Wrestlemanias. He knows he can never out-talk a wrestler, and he knows I’m the greatest talker wrestling’s ever had.”
Ventura also mentioned in the video he is getting a lot of interest from the Green Party about possibly running for President. His main points of focus are renewable energy and cannabis legalization.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been hinting that he has political aspirations, but former Minnesota governor Jesse “The Body” Ventura says he shouldn’t bother. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, Ventura offered some advice to the fellow WWE Hall of Famer about politics: “Don’t bother with it.”
“You have a phenomenal career in Hollywood. Why would you want to go into politics? Ride the Hollywood horse until it falls,” Ventura said of The Rock’s political dreams. “Are you kidding me? Politics, he can’t earn near the money he’s making. Unless he just truly wants to make a difference I guess. But, Dwayne’s a very talented man, no doubt about it. And I would encourage him not to waste it in the political arena.”
In addition to several hints on social media, The Rock told Time Magazine earlier this year that the thought of being governor or president is “very alluring” to him. Johnson was a registered Republican as of 2014 and spoke at the party’s National Convention back in 2000. Ventura became the governor of Minnesota back in November ’98 when he ran as an independent to narrowly and unexpectedly defeat two major-party candidates.
Ventura also talked about current U.S. Presidential candidate and former WrestleMania headliner Donald Trump. Ventura recalls meeting him at the early WrestleMania events held at Trump’s venues and Trump supporting him during his run for Minnesota governor. Ventura says that even though Trump is running as a Republican, he doesn’t believe he actually is one.
“Donald Trump is not a Republican. Donald Trump has been an Independent truly his whole life,” Ventura said. “He just chose to go after the nomination with the Republican party, just like Bernie Sanders did with the Democrats. Like I initially stated when they [ran], I said I was ecstatic over it because they were destroying the two parties and I thought that was wonderful. As you know I despise these parties; I think they’re the problem, they’re not the solution. And I believe we should ban political parties, and the forefathers agree with me.”
WWE Hall of Famer Jesse “The Body” Ventura recently spoke with Graham Bensinger for his sports interview show In Depth with Graham Bensinger. Here are some highlights from the interview:
What’s the likelihood you ever try and run [for president]?
“Who knows? I’ll decide that next spring because I won’t get in now. Why would I get in now and waste money?… Let’s wait ’til it’s down to two of them. Let’s wait ’til the Libertarian convention next June, where the Libertarians announce their candidate and that candidate gets ballot access throughout the whole country. Then you time it out. You spend the least money, you come in, you destroy their two candidates – if you’re allowed in the debate. If they got the fricking guts to let me in a debate, I’ll come in and destroy their two candidates and steal the election in November, just like I did in Minnesota.”
“Would you like to be president?”
“No, not particularly. But in the back of my mind, there’s always that patriotic voice saying to me, ‘If not you, then who? Who’s gonna restore America? Who’s gonna take on the two party dictatorship and beat them? Who can do that?’ Well I’ve done it twice; haven’t lost yet. Why do you think I’m a scary guy to them?… Because I’ve never lost to them.”
If he has hard feelings toward Vince McMahon:
“Is Vince [McMahon] a ruthless billionaire businessman? Yes, but you probably have to be. I bare no grudge against Vince.”
If he ever held a grudge against McMahon:
“No. I just, when I disagreed with him I did the proper thing – I took him to federal court and beat him and I have a retirement now. He has to pay me for every tape I’ve ever been on as long as he sells them. So quarterly, I get a check from him and have since 1991. I call it my wrestling retirement. I’m the only wrestler in the world that has it – a retirement. Even though technically it’s not.”
“You and Hulk were once good friends. What’s the likelihood of that ever being repaired?”
“Never… I can’t trust him. I’m never friends with anyone I don’t trust. I have to have trust with someone to be their friend. And he’s the one that ratted me out to Vince [McMahon] when I tried to unionize. I found that out under a federal deposition when Vince was put under sworn [oath]… My attorney said, ‘Did you hear Mr. Ventura?’ ‘No.’ ‘Well then how do you know he did?’ With no hesitation Vince went, ‘Hulk Hogan told me.’ And I didn’t show any emotion, but I almost tipped over in my chair because he was my friend… but then understand why. When we went to court, I saw in WrestleMania 3 Hogan got paid more than all of us combined. Now, why would he want a union when he’s getting taken care of?”
His lawsuit against Chris Kyle, who claimed in his bestselling book American Sniperthat he punched someone at a bar who had insulted Navy SEALs. He later said the person he hit was Ventura, a claim Ventura said was a lie used to boost book sales.
“I said [to Kyle], ‘If you’ll go out with me to the media, admit you fabricated the story, I will forgive you and we’ll go our separate ways.’ He wouldn’t do it. He didn’t have the honor. He didn’t have – this hero from the war didn’t have the courage to tell the truth. And he’s not a hero. You know why? He’s a backstabbing liar. He whored the trident for money and fame. He took an old-timer like me and threw me under the bus so he could get money. You know why he’s not a hero? Because heroes have to have honor. A liar has no honor.”
Why he got emotional after winning governorship of Minnesota when he received a pair of red Everlast gloves from his childhood idol and hero, Muhammad Ali, with a message that read, “To Governor Jesse Ventura: You shocked the world”:
“Because he’s your hero. And I get emotional now because he gave up the greatest title in the world, being a man of his conviction. And if I can be half that man – he is the greatest. No, he gave up the title, the most prestigious title in the world, because he refused to go to war… And he stood up and said I’ll give up the greatest title in the world because I will be a man of conviction.”
WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross recently updated his official blog with his latest thoughts and opinions on a number of current topics. Below are some of the highlights.
On John Cena’s U.S. Challenge on Sunday: “WWE has a golden opportunity, no pun intended, to do some water cooler talk-like business this Sunday at the HIAC event in Los Angeles in the US Title Open Challenge offered up by the title holder John Cena. The table is perfectly set for a challenger to take a giant step in becoming much more relevant if they defeat John Cena for the United States Title. Cena is and will remain WWE’s biggest, full time star no matter the outcome of Sunday’s US Title match but what Cena can do is elevate a talent into the much needed main event sphere of WWE. With Cena stepping away from WWE for a few weeks to apparently tape a new TV show for Fox, or so I’m hearing, giving another wrestler the ‘rub’ elevates the new champion and gives Cena a destination, if desired, when he returns.
I’d love to see WWE take a bold more on this matter come Sunday notwithstanding taking other calculated risks to move additional talents up the ladder. It’s not an impossible feat if one has the courage to pull the trigger and try a new, creative approach. How about Samoa Joe getting the valued, Cena ‘rub?'”
On Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar this Sunday: “Been asked a lot about the outcome of the Lesnar vs. Taker match inside HIAC Sunday and I see Brock winning. Could there be a strong piece of creative waiting in the wings for this match? Will another competitor, or more, get involved? Could Lesnar AND Taker both be left down at the end of Sunday’s show or does that simply defy logic? That could help ‘make’ multiple heels to a large degree. If Lesnar wins and there is an opportunity, do the two warriors shake hands at the end of their battle? No matter the extracurricular stuff than may transpire, I’ve got Lesnar winning the match.”
On Tyler Breeze’s SmackDown debut: “Enjoyed antagonist, Tyler Breeze’s debut Thursday night on Smackdown and the Lance Storm Wrestling Academy product has some viable, old school traits that WWE should be able to monetize. Would WWE be so bold as to have Breeze upset John Cena to become the new WWE Champion Sunday in LA? Stranger things have happened in the biz over the years.”
On Jesse Ventura’s recent comments about him: “Been asked to comment on Jesse Ventura’s recent statements on “Busted Open Radio about working with me. I dropped the ball on that matter and I’m man enough to admit it. I was jealous and frustrated over what Jesse was earning for a few hours of work a week while I was hitting it hard multiple days a week and earning less than half of what he was earning. Just reading that sentence back is embarrassing as I was unnecessarily pissed at the wrong guy. Jesse and I did not have the chemistry that he had with Vince McMahon or Gorilla Monsoon and I did not have the mojo with the Governor that I had with the King, Paul Heyman, Bob Caudle, Jim Cornette and others. I wish we had done better for the fans sake but the failure to do so is on me. I was burning out and the stress and pressure of WCW politics was getting the better of me I’m sad to admit. As a result of that scenario, I soiled the sheets. Life Lesson learned.”
Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.
WWE Hall Of Famer and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura recently appeared as a guest on Busted Open Radio to talk about a number of topics. Below are some of the highlights.
On his book “American Conspiracies” and what he hopes to accomplish with this book that he didn’t with the first: “First of all, I didn’t choose to re-release it. My publisher Sky Horse publishing wanted to do an updated version, so I said fine and had no problem with that. We released a new version with four new conspiracies because generally the way the Government operates, you can probably get a new conspiracy out of them every year. They will do something they don’t want you to know about, they will cover it up with the cloak of National Security, and then you have to uncover it to find out the things they are doing now.”
On the possibility of entering the presidential race and what chances he might have of winning: “Well, if you look at the situation right now, there is the start of a revolution happening here. You can see it in the Republican Party right now. Their three leaders have never held the office at the any time. You’re watching these two parties disintegrate in their own way before your eyes, which is good. Come next spring time, the pipers will be out and it will be down to two people when the Libertarians name their candidate. They go to the Libertarian convention, name their candidate, then from June to November you will be on the ballot in 47 to 48 states. Then the key would be to get into the debates. You have to be in the debates to have a chance to win. You need to wait in my case, if I am going to do it. I wait until they get down to one or two people so you save money and don’t spin your wheels and waste your time.”
On Donald Trump and his presidential qualifications: “Donald Trump was a supporter of me way back in the days of the reform party in the 90s. I knew Donald for twenty or twenty five years now since back to WrestleMania four or five and all that. He has always threatened to run but has never gone through with it, but now he has gone through with it and he is in for the long haul. The problem is, if he doesn’t get the Republican nomination, what happens to all the people that were going to vote for him? Would they just go back to the normal Republican? Or would they look for something else? The same thing could be said for Bernie Sanders. He is an Independent infiltrating the Democrats. He won’t get the nomination either and what will happen to all his voters? Where will they go? Will they simply go back to the Democratic Party? I don’t think so. When you look at the whole nation, the last election, 64 percent of the people chose not to vote, that is almost two-thirds of the nation didn’t vote. Well those are potential customers for me if I run because that’s how I won in Minnesota. I was getting people who didn’t normally vote to get out and vote.”
On hosting ORA’s “Off The Grid” television show: “It’s on ORA TV which is on the internet Monday through Friday and I am off the grid when I do it. What you are going to get is Jesse Ventura in a ten to eleven minute interview on any subject. It really turns me loose and being on the internet there aren’t any FCC regulations, I’m in total control of my show, and it’s the most fun I have ever had doing a show.”
On his reaction to the Hulk Hogan scandal: “Maybe the people are seeing the real Hulk Hogan. Let’s all remember we play parts in wrestling and may be nothing like we are in real life. Maybe we are seeing what Hulk Hogan is in real life. I am only speculating on that so bear that in mind. We would always laugh when he would tell the little kids to say their prayers and eat their vitamins, and we would always laugh and say, ‘oral or injectables?’ What kind of vitamins are we talking here? I remember when Hogan would always deny that he used steroids and I would always laugh.”
On why he left WCW: “The real story was, when they brought me in they paid me big money because I made the jump from the WWF. A lot of people couldn’t handle the money they were paying me to just be an announcer, Bill Watts included, who was the head booker. I think Jim Ross was very jealous because he wouldn’t work with me. I would toss him lines and he wouldn’t respond to them, and he even admitted that he didn’t do the best job he could when he worked with me in WCW. I think Jim was jealous of the money I was getting which wasn’t my fault. He shouldn’t have blamed me for it. There never was the chemistry there with Jim Ross that I had with Vince or Gorilla. The reason it ended up the way it did, was they brought Hogan in and then Hogan had me immediately dismissed. I remember, I had six months to go on my contract and I never had to work. They just paid me and I sat at home. Hogan came in and he did not want me on the mic there. He had the power to do it so Eric Bischoff—that little—I have a few names for him, the back stabber Eric Bischoff, and I never worked my last six months as soon as Hulk Hogan was brought in.”
WWE Hall Of Famer and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura recently spoke with the Minnesota Star Tribune about the possibility of once again becoming active in the political world.
Although Ventura has spoken about joining Donald Trump’s ticket in recent weeks, there has been no formal invitation from Trump’s presidential campaign.
Ventura noted that he has been invited to the Libertarian Party Convention in 2016 and is considering running for president of the United States of America on that ticket, but that he would not join that political party.
“I would challenge the American people to make history with me and elect the first president since George Washington, the father of our country, who does not belong to a political party,” Ventura said.
Ventura also noted that he has not ruled out the possibility of seeking a second term as Governor of Minnesota. Ventura commented, “People come up to me every day and tell me to run for governor.”
