If you're a wrestling fan, you are eagerly anticipating Wrestlemania 26 March 28th in Arizona. The official "Road To Wrestlemania" began last night with the Royal Rumble where "The Rated R Superstar" Edge returned and won the whole deal guaranteeing him a trip to the big dance on March 28th. Here's some video:
Over the years, Hip-Hop has played a role in Wrestlemania. Sometimes it was a great idea...aaaaand sometimes some further thought should have been given. Here are The 10 Most Hip-Hop Moments At Wrestlemania.
10. TOO COOL & CHYNA VS. THE RADICALZ AT WRESTLEMANIA 2000
Oh man...remember Too Cool? It was quite possibly the worst representation of anything Hip-Hop related WWE ever came up with. Whether it was their ridiculous outfits or the faux G-Funk intro music, Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay were about as Hip-Hop as Brian Austin Green:
9. KIM KARDASHIAN AS "GUEST HOST" FOR WRESTLEMANIA XXIV
WWE Wrestlemania XXIV - Ken Kennedy Interview
Joe The Balla | MySpace Video
Let's be honest here. Kim Kardashian had no clue what she was doing at Wrestlemania XXIV. But as usual with Kim K., we don't really care. Hip-Hop loves Kim Kardashian. As one YouTube poster so eloquently put it "I wanna host her ass." Touché my friend...touché.
8. LIMP BIZKIT PERFORM "ROLLIN'" INTRO FOR UNDERTAKER AT WRESTLEMANIA XIX
Believe it or not people actually used to let Limp Bizkit perform in public. And what's even crazier is that Fred Durst used to rock with Method Man and get production from DJ Premier. Limp Bizkit also toured with Eminem and Xzibit. Yes kids, Limp Bizkit used to have their foot firmly planted in the Hip-Hop world. With the exception of Fred Durst's "rapping", this intro for Undertaker was kind of dope. It's one of the last times we saw Fred Durst's backwards hat/t-shirt combo. As Undertaker (the dead man Undertaker not the Stone Cold rip-off biker Undertaker) would say, "Reeeest...iiiiin...peeeeeace."
7. ICE-T PERFORMS "PIMPIN' AINT EASY" AND LEADS THE GODFATHER TO THE RING AT WRESTLEMANIA 2000
There is no video (or photos) of the entrance anywhere online. I assume this is because given WWE's current PG direction, they aren't too keen about video of one of their superstars being led to the ring by strippers while Ice-T shouts "grab your bitches." The Godfather used to be one of my favorite superstars. He was weak in the ring but great on the mic and the "ladies" who always accompanied him to the ring enhanced his appeal.
6. PETER ROSENBERG INTERVIEWS TRIPLE HHH AND CHRIS JERICHO DAYS BEFORE WRESTLEMANIA 25
Few people love wrestling AND Hip-Hop as much as me. Peter Rosenberg is one of those people. In fact, I'm convinced this dude would leave Hip-Hop and radio behind if Vince McMahon let him go on the road and set-up the ring or something. These interviews are great and while they weren't technically AT Wrestlemania, they served a purpose in getting the Hip-Hop heads amped up for Mania...plus Triple HHH says "where Hip-Hop lives" which is just funny for some reason.
5. FLOYD MAYWEATHER CRASHES WRESTLEMANIA 24
Complete with his own entrance Rap called "Yep", Floyd strolls to the ring minked out with his goons while making it rain on the WWE Universe. Goons? Check. Makin' it rain? Check. All sorts of excess? Check. Choreographed beef? Check. That sounds like Hip-Hop to me.
4. SALT-N-PEPA PERFORM "WHATTA MAN" FOR LAWRENCE TAYLOR AT THE AWFUL WRESTLEMANIA 11
(Fast forward to 3:58...unless you wanna watch some classic Vince)
Salt-N-Pepa were lookin' right at Mania 11.
3. SNOOP DOGG CLOTHESLINES SANTINO MARELLA AT WRESTLEMANIA XXIV
Forget Bradshaw's "clothesline from hell", Snoop straight LEVELED Santino Marella at Wrestlemania XXIV. Snoop acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the "Bunnymania" match. Here is another clip of the D-O double G introducing the participants:
Craziest thing about this match was when the stadium lost power. Craziest thing about that Mania? The fireworks accident:
2. JOHN CENA AT WRESTLEMANIA 19
John Cena WrestleMania XIX Rap
The Champ | MySpace Video
So the rumor was that Jay-Z or Fabolous were to show up at Wrestlemania 19 to battle John Cena. This never materialized (I highly doubt Hov would have showed up to Mania) so Cena had two cardboard cutouts set-up (Hov resembling Austin Powers and Fabolous Mini-Me) and proceeded to battle anyways. I mean damn, he even called Hov a bitch! Best line from Cena:
Directed towards Jay-Z - "The only way he stay hard is by rockin' another fella"
It's too bad Cena raps slower than Eli Porter but still one of the most Hip-Hop moments at Mania (plus Cena knows Freddie Foxxx...the real Freddie Foxxx).
1. RUN-DMC AT WRESTLEMANIA V
This took place in 1989. Keep in mind Hip-Hop was still dangerous, unique, and not for the mainstream yet. Props to Vince McMahon for seeing the future. "And just when you thought you had seen it all/Run-DMC/Wrestlemania y'all..."
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