21 Hip Hop and R&B Artists Who’ve Appeared at WrestleMania
This week on WWE Monday Night Raw, Lil Wayne announced that not only will he be at the 40th annual WrestleMania in Philadelphia, but that he’d be debuting his new single at the event. In addition to Wayne’s appearance, WrestleMania 40 will feature Meek Mill, who is from Philly, and who will be voicing the opening video for WrestleMania, which will be set to his song “Dreams and Nightmares”.
These two are the latest hip hop and/or R&B artists to appear at WWE’s annual pro wrestling mega-event. But they’re far from the only ones. Many of the biggest names in hip hop and R&B have appeared at the event that WWE has calls “The Grandest Stage of Them All”.
The Grandest Stage of Them All
WWE’s yearly WrestleMania show has been called the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. Established in 1985 when the company was known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), the very first WrestleMania was held at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Right off the bat, WrestleMania became known as the event that featured not only larger-than-life wrestlers, but major celebrities as well. The first WrestleMania had Mr. T, Muhammed Ali, Cyndi Lauper, Liberace and Broadway’s Rockettes take part in the show. Each year that followed included some of the biggest names in music, movies, television and sports.
From Pee Wee Herman to Donald Trump to Kim Kardashian, Arnold Schwarzenegger to Shaquille O’Neal to Willie Nelson, WrestleMania has hosted some big names in entertainment. In the hip hop world, Snoop Dogg is by far the WrestleMania MVP. He’s taken part in 4 Manias as performer, host and even wrestler.
Beginning in 2020, WrestleMania went from a single night event to a 2-night event. This year’s WrestleMania 40 is being held on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event can be seen both nights on the Peacock streaming service beginning at 7:00 PM, with a kick-off show starting at 5:00 PM each night.
WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California.
It Starts With “America The Beautiful “
While most major sporting events in the United States begin with the singing or playing of the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, WrestleMania generally starts with a rendition of “America The Beautiful”. The song began as a poem written in 1895 by author and poet, Katharine Lee Bates. American composer Samuel A. Ward added music to it in 1910 and it became one of the most beloved and patriotic songs in American history.
It was especially beloved by former WWE owner and promoter, Vince McMahon. He preferred “America The Beautiful” to “The Star Spangled Banner”. Beginning with the second WrestleMania event in 1986 when the legendary Ray Charles performed the song, “America The Beautiful” has been a mainstay of the event. Some years saw both the national anthem and “America The Beautiful” performed. But WWE has always chosen some of the most notable singers in music to give their rendition of “America The Beautiful”.
Here are the hip hop and R&B acts that have made appearances at WrestleMania.
Aloe Blacc – WrestleMania 31
Aloe Blacc sang “America The Beautiful” at WrestleMania 31.
In 2015, Aloe sang “America the Beautiful” at WrestleMania at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Ashanti – WrestleMania 19
Ashanti sang “America The Beautiful” at WrestleMania 19.
Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington hosted WrestleMania in 2003 and Ashanti was there to sing “America the Beautiful”.
Bad Bunny – WrestleMania 37 & WrestleMania 39
Bad Bunny has been at a number of WWE events including 2 WrestleManias.
A lifelong wrestling fan, Bad Bunny first appeared at a WrestleMania in 2021 as a wrestler. He and WWE wrestler Damian Priest wrestled a tag team match against The Miz and John Morrison at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
In 2023 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, Bad Bunny returned to serve as a guest commentator for the Spanish commentary team during a match between the Rey Mysterio and his son, Dominik Mysterio. Bunny left the commentary table to get involved in the action as well, assisting Rey in winning the match.
Fantasia Barrino – WrestleMania 26
Fantasia sang “America The Beautiful” at WrestleMania 26.
R&B singer, actress and American Idol season 3 winner, Fantasia sang “America the Beautiful” in 2010 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Boyz II Men – WrestleMania 15
Boyz II Men sang “America The Beautiful” at WrestleMania 15.
The legendary group appeared at WrestleMania in 1999 to sing “America the Beautiful” at First Union Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Diddy – WrestleMania 28 & WrestleMania 29
Diddy made it to 2 WrestleMania events.
In 2012, Diddy was at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida for WrestleMania to introduce Machine Gun Kelly who performed his song “Invincible”.
Diddy returned the very next year at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey where his song “Coming Home” was used as the official WrestleMania 29 theme song.
Fifth Harmony – WrestleMania 32
Fifth Harmony performed “America The Beautiful” at WrestleMania 32.
R&B/Pop quintet Fifth Harmony sang “America the Beautiful” in 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Flo Rida – WrestleMania 28 & WrestleMania 33
Flo Rida has appeared at multiple WWE events including 2 WrestleManias.
Flor Rida performed his songs, “Wild Ones” and “Good Feeling” in 2012 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.
He returned in 2017 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida to perform the WrestleMania 33 theme song “Greenlight” with Pitbull and LunchMoney Lewis.
Aretha Franklin – WrestleMania 3 & WrestleMania 23
Aretha Franklin sang “America The Beautiful” before both Detroit WrestleMania events 20-years apart.
When you think “Detroit R&B”, you think of the Queen of Soul. The late, great Aretha Franklin. So, it was fitting that she sang “America the Beautiful” at the only 2 WrestleManias in the Detroit area. Way back in 1987 at the Pontiac Silverdome, then again in 2007 at Ford Field.
Ice-T – WrestleMania 2000
Ice-T led The Godfather to the ring at WrestleMania 16.
In the late 1990s, WWE had a wrestler named The Godfather who’s catch phrase was, “Pimpin’ ain’t easy”. So, who better than Ice-T to perform his theme song at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California in at the 16th annual WrestleMania as The Godfather made his way to the wrestling ring?
Kid Ink – WrestleMania 31
Kid Ink performed “Money and the Power” at WrestleMania 31.
Kid Ink performed his single, “Money and the Power” with rock drummer Travis Barker and singer Skylar Grey at Levi’s Stadium in Cali in 2015.
Gladys Knight – WrestleMania 4
Gladys Knight sang “America The Beautiful” at WrestleMania 5.
The R&B legend sang a rendition of “America the Beautiful” in 1988 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
LL Cool J – WrestleMania 31
LL Cool J and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
LL appeared in the introduction video for WrestleMania 31 in 2015. Although it was cool, there was a tremendous missed opportunity to use “Mama Said Knock You Out” in some form.
John Legend – WrestleMania 24
John Legend performed “America The Beautiful” at WrestleMania 24
The multiple-time Grammy Award winner sang “America the Beautiful” at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando in 2008.
Lil Uzi Vert – WrestleMania 39
Lil Uzi Vert performs during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Uzi was at SoFi Stadium in 2023 to perform “Just Wanna Rock” as then-WWE tag team champions The Usos’ made their way to the ring.
Pitbull – WrestleMania 33
Pitbull appeared at WrestleMania 33.
Mr. Worldwide came out with Flo Rida and LunchMoney Lewis to perform the 2020 WrestleMania theme song “Greenlight” in Orlando.
Run-D.M.C. – WrestleMania 5
Run-DMC performed an original song at WrestleMania 5
The legends performed “The WrestleMania Rap,” a song created specifically for the 1989 event, in Atlantic City.
Salt-N-Pepa – WrestleMania 11
Salt-N-Pepa sang their hit “Whatta Man” as Lawrence Taylor came to the ring at WrestleMania 11.
In 1995 at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, former NFL linebacker Lawrence Taylor had a match against WWE Superstar Bam Bam Bigelow. The ladies of Salt-N-Pepa performed their single “Whatta Man” as Taylor made his way to the ring.
Snoop Dogg – WrestleMania 24, WrestleMania 27, WrestleMania 32 & WrestleMania 39
Snoop Dogg during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Snoop is a big-time WWE fan. In 2008 he was Master of Ceremonies for the unfortunately named “Playboy BunnyMania” women’s match in Orlando. He was involved in a backstage segment at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in 2011. In 2016 he performed the song “Sky’s the Limit” for Sasha Banks’ entrance at AT&T Stadium. Sasha and Snoop are actually related to one another. Last year at WrestleMania 39, Snoop was the host of both nights alongside WWE Superstar, The Miz. He also drove Rey Mysterio out in a lowrider and actually wrestled in a short match against The Miz which Snoop won.
Snoop Dogg has been such a big part of the WWE Universe that they inducted him into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.
Wale – WrestleMania 37
Wale brought Big E out at WrestleMania 37.
Wale is another WWE mega-fan. In 2021 in Tampa, Florida, he performed “Feel the Power” as then-WWE Intercontinental Champion Big E entered the ring.
Michelle Williams – WrestleMania 22
Michelle Williams attended WrestleMania 22 where she sang “America The Beautiful”.
The former Destiny’s Child diva sang “America the Beautiful” in 2006 at Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois.
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