Ace Steel has great memories of appearing as Donald Trump on Monday Night Raw.
During an episode of Raw in January 2007, he appeared dressed as WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump for a “match”. Ace Steel as Donald Trump faced a woman dressed like Rosie O’Donnell, referencing their real-life feud.
“Trump” won the match, throwing Fudgie the Whale at Rosie’s face and pinning her after a second turnbuckle “hairbutt”.
Ace Steel spoke with Bill Pritchard of WrestleZone, where he discussed working with the WWE during this time. He said he has “nothing but good memories” of the segment, as he helped build up to the “Battle of the Billionaires” at WrestleMania 23.
“Nothing but good memories of that segment,” Ace Steel said. “I was in front of millions on Raw for, you know, I have to look at the tally, the counter on how long we were on. But I’m going to say at least ten minutes. The whole segment. And then weeks after that, I know it was building an angle that year to get to WrestleMania. But I was on the magazine shows for weeks, and weeks, and weeks.”
“The late night, like whatever headline news used to be. I keep seeing it appear by segment, would continue to be on week after week, because it was the Rosie-Trump War in the media. For myself, there’s no politics involved with this whatsoever. I played a part. For myself, it was the eye-opening thing that you got to open up the mind to the entertainment factor a little bit more.”
He Shifted His Perspective, Embraced Comedy
Ace Steel continued. He revealed how the move to the WWE helped change his perspective on wrestling, and embraced the comedy side of the sport.
“And I’m often told the story of… That was 2007, early on in January I believe. January or February. 2006 I was the complete pro wrestler that I could be, with look, body, I just got back from a Pro Wrestling Noah tour in late ’06. But nothing was really jiving anymore. I was on WWE’s radar and again, I’m a serious pro wrestler. I’m doing what I… Exhausting every avenue as far as that goes. And I did a spoof. I did a spoof where the crowd was like just completely crapping on it. And I thought, ‘Oh man!’ That’s what… Vince said he wanted at the time. He just wanted the exposure. We hit a home run for him.”
“For the company to launch it into, what they want was a publicity stunt really. But I hit a home run with it. And my technical aspect of being a worker at that point came in, you know, the type of worker I was and being able to allow myself just to goof off. That came into play 100% because I was the one who led that match and kept it on track. Even though it was pretty much comedy all through. But it just showed me right, I have nothing but great memories. I was at the Scott Trade Center in St. Louis, a huge venue. Again, just… What a crazy opportunity when you got folks in the back just vying for two minutes of TV time. And I have to do that.”
Ace Steel Looks At It As A Career-Changing Opportunity
Despite the slapstick nature of the match, Ace Steel is grateful to be given the chance to portray Donald Trump on Raw. He revealed how he signed a WWE developmental contract two weeks later, and the match helped him fulfil his childhood dream.
“And as luck would have it, two weeks later, I was signed to a developmental deal. For all the things that I have been doing wrestling-wise, I thought… And I was… I was on pace to do Ring of Honor, Japan. I was in the mix and that’s what did it.
“You got to look back at things like that and just snicker and laugh. And it’s funny that a lot of people have it… Some people want to take a shot, ‘Oh it’s the best thing he’s ever done.’ Whatever. I got to do it. I got to do many other things they don’t know about. You know, I fulfilled—number one was fulfilling my childhood dream of doing this. To be good at it, and to excel, and here, that’s the icing on the cake that I’m still involved in the industry, still doing what I love.”
