Author: “Live from New York, it’s SATURDAY NIGHT!” For over forty years, WWE and Saturday Night Live, better known as SNL, have shared one of the most quietly influential partnerships in entertainment history. Ten times, professional wrestlers walked through the doors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza and left their mark on the world’s most famous stage. But not everyone made it out unscathed, and at least one man nearly lost everything trying to keep the whole thing going.
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Get My Copy — $0.991. Hulk Hogan and Mr. T Host SNL the Night Before WrestleMania I (March 30, 1985)
1985 was a pivotal year for the World Wrestling Federation. Thanks in part to his role in Rocky III (1982), Hulkamania was running wild, and the man behind the mania, Hulk Hogan, was quickly establishing himself as the biggest icon in sports entertainment. As such, the inaugural WrestleMania was set to take place on March 31st, 1985, featuring Hogan and his Rocky III co-star Mr. T billed to take on Paul Orndorff and Roddy Piper in the main event.
To help promote what was being billed as “The Greatest Wrestling Event Of All Time,” Hogan and Mr. T hosted the March 30th edition of Saturday Night Live, one night before the event at Madison Square Garden, only two miles from SNL headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The opening monologue featured Hogan and Mr. T talking about how they had been training all over the country, drinking “grapefruit juice” and eating “skinny little chickens,” and that they had come to SNL for a much-needed laugh.
When an audience member heckled the two, Mr. T took it upon himself to confront the fan. Thankfully, this was staged and not a repeat of the Richard Belzer incident that had occurred only three nights prior.
The show was a big success, and one of the first examples of the crossover between professional wrestling and mainstream entertainment. One person backstage who was impressed was SNL executive producer Dick Ebersol.
Originally, Dick had no intention of meeting with Vince McMahon, despite others strongly encouraging him to do so. It was a conversation with David Letterman that made him change his mind.
Ebersol recalled his and Vince’s first meeting in his memoir From Saturday Night to Sunday Night: My Forty Years of Laughter, Tears, and Touchdowns in TV.
“On the surface, you’d think Vince and I couldn’t have been less alike, in our backgrounds, our dispositions, and our interests. But sure enough, we hit it off immediately. What I remember thinking as Vince told me his story in our first meeting was how smart he was, and also how gutsy he was.
“For all his outsized public persona, Vince was genuine, soft-spoken, and thoughtful one-on-one in conversation.” Ebersol continued, “Like a lot of kids, I’d watched wrestling from time to time growing up. But it wasn’t until I met Vince that something immediately occurred to me: at the heart of the success of his operation was storytelling. Wrestling was, in effect, a live-action cartoon, with pretend heroes and villains, and rivalries and feuds, best delivered with a dose of humor and fun. Every one of those elements of the show was part of a story.”
This meeting of minds led to the creation of Saturday Night’s Main Event, a series of one-off shows with a pay-per-view feel to be broadcast on NBC during SNL’s time slot, with its premiere episode debuting later that year.
The partnership between Dick and Vince continued with various other projects, including the formation of the original XFL. Not all ideas can be winners.
2. The Rock’s First SNL Appearance and What It Sparked (March 18, 2000)
Another year, another WrestleMania. Fifteen years after Hulk Hogan and Mr. T took to the stage, it was The Rock’s time to shine. But he did not come alone.
The main event for WrestleMania 2000 was a Fatal Four-Way match, pitting the Great One against Triple H, Mick Foley, and The Big Show, with “a McMahon in every corner.” As such, his three opponents and Vince McMahon himself guest-starred on the March 18, 2000 episode.
Speaking to Corey Graves on the WWE YouTube show “Superstar Ink”, The Big Show, Paul Wight, reflected on the first meeting with the SNL crew.
“We got to have fun. Even in the production meeting with Lorne Michaels, it was like, ‘you guys have fun, enjoy yourselves,’ and Vince came up to me and was like, ‘Have fun! Don’t be a stick in the mud, have fun!'”
Despite it not being Vince’s playground, Vince still commanded the room. It was something comedian and former WWE writer Matthew McCarthy was familiar with, as he told the Sam Brown University podcast.
“I was doing a pilot for a Nickelodeon show, and Hugh Fink, a former SNL writer, was the showrunner. All he wanted to talk about was Vince McMahon because he wrote at SNL when Dwayne Johnson first hosted. So Vince McMahon went with him to the Lorne meeting, and he said, ‘Vince took over the meeting. None of the SNL writers knew what was going on because they’d never seen someone out-alpha Lorne before.’
“It got to the point where Vince was sitting on Lorne’s desk like, ‘Let me explain comedy to you guys!’ If you watch that episode, it’s not one of the cast members, it’s not The Rock, the person who says ‘Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!’ It’s Vince McMahon.”
That’s right. If you watch the cold open, The Rock is not even involved. It’s Vince backstage explaining to the other three superstars how to behave, and it gave Paul Wight an opportunity to practice his improv skills.
“I remember the funny thing was we did the chair spot where I hid it behind my back. We didn’t plan that; that was just me clowning, and Vince played off it. ‘What have you got behind your back?’ ‘Nothing.’
“When I got rid of the chair, Chris Kattan was back there watching us off-camera. I just looked at him and went like that (makes a come-here gesture), and he just jumped into my arms.”
Mick Foley also flexed his on-the-spot muscles with a spot that was not planned. During the Nicorette sketch, Chris Parnell plays a husband who wants to live smoke-free, but rather than use a patch, The Rock delivers a beatdown every time he feels a craving. The sketch culminates with Big Show, Triple H, and Mick Foley showing The Rock what a real beatdown looks like, with Foley telling Pod Meets World, A Boy Meets World Podcast:
“Somebody asked me when I dropped ‘the People’s Elbow‘ on one of the cast members, he said, ‘I’m surprised Rock let you do that when he saw it in rehearsal.’ I said, ‘I didn’t do that in rehearsal.’ … He wouldn’t have let me do it.”
The real star of the show, however, was The Rock. He delivered the opening monologue, despite worked interruptions from his WWE co-stars, and provided many laughs throughout his sketch performances. Although The Rock had already recorded small roles for shows such as Star Trek: Voyager and Boy Meets World, many point to this episode as the true launch of his Hollywood career.
As Foley recalled, “I could see The Rock’s future expanding as the show was going on. He just crushed it. I mean, he crushed it. He really nailed every one of his skits.”
It was a sentiment echoed by The Big Show.
“It was really seat of the pants, we showed up that day. Rock had done his stuff and got a chance to rehearse all week. You always knew The Rock was destined for other stuff. He just had so much personality, and his charisma in a room just radiated.”
So how did the cast treat the wrestlers? With great respect, according to Foley, despite not knowing who half of them were.
“The cast could not have been nicer, but I wasn’t that aware of who they were because they hadn’t hit reruns yet … they weren’t on syndication,” Foley said, adding: “Everyone I met was really nice to me. I wish I’d been more aware, but unless they’d been on the show for more than four years, I probably had not seen them.”
And as for Big Show?
“They were all so, so cool with us. I did such a great job, I haven’t been invited back!”
Big Show may not have been invited back, but The Rock certainly was…
3. The Rock Returns to SNL to Promote The Scorpion King (April 13, 2002)
The Rock’s second time hosting saw him flying solo. Although he was still a part of WWE, he had one foot firmly planted in Hollywood with a couple of movie roles under his belt. In fact, this guest spot was not to promote a WWE pay-per-view, but rather his first true starring role as the titular Scorpion King, which was set to hit theatres the following week.
The opening saw him teach Chris Kattan how to throw a fake punch, and there was even a parody of his upcoming film in which Seth Meyers played The Rock’s ungrateful, spoiled son, “The Scorpion Prince.”
But the most memorable sketch of the night was The Rock as Bigfoot, in full makeup and costume, promoting his duet album with Will Ferrell’s Neil Diamond character.
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Add Us on Google4. Dwayne Johnson Debuts “The Rock Obama” on Saturday Night Live and Drops the WWE Name (March 7, 2009)
The Rock was set to return on November 10th, 2007, but the Writers Guild of America went on strike, forcing the show to air reruns in its scheduled episode’s place.
Despite the strike ending in February of 2008, it would not be until March 7, 2009 that, finally, THE ROCK HAD COME BACK to SNL, this time to promote his upcoming Race to Witch Mountain.
This episode was notable for two reasons. It was the first time The Rock hosted under his real name, Dwayne Johnson, rather than his WWE moniker. His transition from professional wrestler to movie star was fully complete.
It was also the first episode to introduce The Rock Obama. In the sketch, Fred Armisen as Barack Obama gets angry during a GOP senators meeting and transforms into The Rock Obama, clearing the room by throwing various politicians through walls and windows.
The sketch worked well thanks to Dwayne Johnson’s natural speaking cadence being similar to the then-president’s, and The Rock Obama became the People’s Champ’s first recurring character on the show.
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5. John Cena Makes His SNL Debut in a Tracy Morgan Cameo (March 14, 2009)
John Cena made his SNL debut in 2009, albeit briefly, in a cameo during the cold open.
Former series regular Tracy Morgan returned to host, and the opening sketch saw him trying to fight his way through 30 Rockefeller Plaza, despite no one actually standing in his way.
John Cena was the final obstacle of the piece, standing between Tracy and the entrance to the studio. Despite the fact that all Cena wanted to do was say “welcome back,” he received a punch to the face for his troubles.
Cena’s next appearance would come in a substantially bigger role.
6. “The Rock Obama” Returns with Gerard Butler as Host (October 17, 2009)
The Rock returned, this time not as host. That duty fell to Gerard Butler. Instead, Dwayne Johnson once again portrayed The Rock Obama, once again dismantling the Republicans who had pushed him too far.
Although his screen time was brief, he did get to open the show with the immortal line: “Live from New York, it’s SATURDAY NIGHT!”
7. The Rock Cements His SNL Legacy with Two Recurring Characters (March 28, 2015)
The People’s Champ was back on hosting duties, promoting his new film Furious 7.
Of course, Dwayne Johnson once again broke out his Rock Obama character, but also debuted a new sketch that went a little closer to home, drawing on his WWE roots.
The Rock played KoKo Watchout, who cut a deeply personal promo on his opponent Trashyard Mutt, played by Bobby Moynihan.
Having a second recurring character truly cemented The Rock as part of SNL’s legacy, but the real honor would come on his next visit.
8. Ronda Rousey Hosts SNL Before Her WWE Debut (January 23, 2016)
At the start of 2016, Ronda Rousey traded her MMA gloves for a hosting gig on Saturday Night Live. Rousey was beginning to wind down her combat sports career and, much like The Rock before her, was exploring other avenues for her undeniable charisma.
The most talked-about sketch of the night was Teacher Trial, in which Ronda played a teacher going to court for a relationship with her student, portrayed by Pete Davidson. While some criticized the skit as trivializing teacher-student dynamics, many viewed it as a satirical look at the double standard in how accusations against men and women are received.
Although Rousey had yet to step foot in a WWE ring at the time of the recording, she spoke with UFC during the build-up to the show, reflecting on how a competitive background can prepare a performer for the notoriously demanding schedule of Saturday Night Live.
“As an athlete, you get conditioned to perform under pressure. I think it’s one of the hardest things to do in this business, and I think I’m going to get a lot more confidence doing this than my next feature film.
“Yeah, I’m nervous, but no one’s trying to kill me. The worst that can happen is that I suck. To some people, the worst that can happen is I suck is like death to them. I’ve seen worse, so it’s really not that scary.
“It’s really interesting to see the process. You come in on Monday, and no one really knows what they’re doing. On Tuesday they write all night long, then we really start looking at what we’re doing on Wednesday. I’m just amazed at how people can be so creative on a deadline like that. This is the only place that enforces a crazy, athlete-like work ethic in this industry.”
9. John Cena Gets His Full SNL Hosting Moment (December 10, 2016)
John Cena returned to SNL in December 2016, this time on full hosting duties. His opening monologue was interrupted by Bobby Moynihan as “The Waddler,” who received a back-cracking hug from big John, Leslie Jones, who was distracted by Cena’s presence, and Kenan Thompson, who broke a chair over the back of the Doctor of Thuganomics.
Although John has only hosted once, he certainly left an impression, with memorable sketches including The Science Project, Majestic the Mighty Owl, and The Karate Teen.
This comedy showcase for John helped pave the way for his Hollywood career, which has leaned heavily into comedy roles.
Cena spoke with WWE.com the week of his hosting gig, drawing a parallel between SNL and WWE that cut right to the heart of both worlds.
“It’s a live performance at its core. We share so much with everyone who takes this stage. This is their ring; this is their forum; they are set in a live environment where anything can happen, and they have to perform. They have to perform to this audience and to the world, and I like that. I think that’s the common bond that we share with them, and I think that’s more of an admiration that I have.
“Any performer here who can make their mark in a skit you can remember, or they can become larger than life, it’s the same as we do. Names like Hogan, Austin, and The Rock have made their mark in our arena and become so big that they transcend outside of it.
“I mean, everybody has their favorite Saturday Night Live moments, but this very stage is like a platform for making so many people throughout the world laugh well beyond the minutes that they’re on this stage. This has been a goal of mine to perform with elite-level live performers in a venue that is not my normal shtick.
“I want to be able to say on Sunday morning that I gave it my all here, that I was able to be creative enough to add to the broadcast, but humble enough to know that, hey, this ain’t my house.”
Cena continued, “It’s time to see what I can learn from this experience and then just go out and have fun, like every single night in the WWE. I listen, I learn, I pay attention, I study, I focus, and then the trumpets hit, and it just becomes a blur. Because of the noise and the atmosphere, it’s a weird, wild, indescribable emotional blur. I hope this is the same experience.”
10. John Cena’s Last SNL Appearance in Kim Kardashian’s Sketch (October 9, 2021)
John Cena’s most recent appearance on SNL came as part of a Kim Kardashian sketch called “The Dream Guy.” In the skit, Cena was one of several celebrity contestants, alongside Chris Rock, Chace Crawford, Tyler Cameron, and Amy Schumer.
And that marks the last pro wrestling appearance on SNL to date, though it is worth noting that many other hosts and cast members have since gone on to become WWE alumni. Performers such as Bad Bunny and Jelly Roll, and actors such as Johnny Knoxville and Hugh Jackman, have all appeared on WWE television in one form or another.
Although not a cast regular, Andy Kaufman appeared in many of the early episodes of SNL and went on to become “The Intergender Wrestling Champion,” famously feuding with Jerry “The King” Lawler in one of professional wrestling’s most celebrated angles.
Ghostbusters featured many members of the SNL community, and that franchise has also crossed over many times with the wrestling world.
Of course, it is a two-way street, and many famous SNL players have occasionally set foot in a WWE ring.
The cast of MacGruber, Will Forte and Kristen Wiig, guest-hosted Raw on April 19, 2010, at New Jersey’s Izod Center, promoting the film based on the beloved SNL sketch, during which they accidentally blew up R-Truth.
Forte and Wiig caught up with WWE.com after Raw to discuss their experience.
“The experience of being at WWE vs SNL? There are a lot of parallels,” said Forte. “You’re going out there, you got one shot to do it right. There’s a lot of pressure, so it’s similar that way, but it’s so different at the same time.”
Wiig added, “The lights, the music, everybody wants to be there. It’s just so joyful and fun!”
On top of that, long-time Weekend Update hosts Colin Jost and Michael Che ended up competing on the biggest stage of them all.
The two had a mini feud with Braun Strowman, which culminated with them taking part in the WrestleMania 35 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 7, 2019.
Well, perhaps “taking part” is generous. The duo spent most of their time hiding under the ring, only to pop out and attempt to topple Braun.
Their attempt was in vain, and only angered the Monster Among Men, who sent the two jokers flying over the top rope.
Jost and Che shared their experience on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
“I remember the doctor talked to us before. By the way, even the doctor is jacked at WrestleMania. We’re like, ‘Any advice?’ and he says, ‘Just don’t try to get a head injury.'”
But for Che, it was not his head that got injured, but rather his feelings.
“When you get booed by 80,000 people, it hurts your feelings! You make eye contact, they’ll tell you specifically what they don’t like about you!”
“They gave us these tights. We didn’t want to wear them, but they suggested we did, and you know what? I like tights now.”
SNL and professional wrestling have enjoyed a long and versatile history together, and it will only be a matter of time before a superstar sets foot onto the hallowed ground of 30 Rockefeller Plaza once again.
