Two-time WWE Champion Bobby Lashley reflects on working with Donald Trump
Bobby Lashley's tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment came to an end in August 2024. Mere months after leaving the Stamford-based promotion, he signed with All Elite Wrestling.
In a recent sit-down interview with Chris Van Vliet, Lashley reflected on his time with WWE. He touched upon a bevy of topics, including his WrestleMania match against Umaga. In 2007, Vince McMahon and Donald Trump had an entertaining rivalry, leading to them choosing a wrestler to represent them for a bout at The Show of Shows. It was dubbed the "Battle of the Billionaires" and had Trump in The All Mighty's corner at ringside.
Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Bobby Lashley recounted a moment backstage prior to WrestleMania 23 when former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, who was on Umaga's side for the match, discussed selling for Donald Trump. The two-time WWE Champion admitted that he did not know the now 78-year-old Trump would get physical during the bout until it happened:
"I can tell you [this]. I remember backstage, Vince was saying—because Trump wanted to be a part of it, he wanted to do something, he was like, 'I want to beat somebody up' or something like that—and Vince's whole thing was like, 'When he starts punching me, I'm going to put my head down so that he can punch my head. That's the hardest part,' so it's going to hurt his hand." [From 46:00 to 46:26]
The All Mighty said it was a big deal because so many high-profile names were in the bout, including WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin, who served as a special guest referee.
Bobby Lashley opens up about his trilogy with Brock Lesnar in WWE
Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley kicked off a program in early 2022 that lasted on-again-off-again for an entire year. The Beast Incarnate and The All Mighty scored one pinfall victory each over the other, but their rubber match at Elimination Chamber 2023 ended in a disqualification in favor of Lashley.
Lesnar had hit a low blow after being unable to escape The Hurt Lock. He then went berserk and attacked everyone in sight. The feud was later deemed a tie.
In the same interview with Chris Van Vliet, the 48-year-old AEW star revealed that he wanted to incorporate their mixed martial arts background into the program. Both of them have had successful MMA stints in their career.
"I wanted to do a lot more with it," Lashley expressed with some disappointment. "Brock was a natural bully, but in this sense, he was kind of a babyface, because he was that guy coming back and forth and I was a heel at the time. But it could have showed how we prepared for a fight with each other and it could have showed something different," he said.
Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley parted ways after Elimination Chamber. Lesnar's last appearance for WWE was in August 2023.
If you use any quotes, please credit INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.