McMahon Briefly Cedes WWE RAW to Donald Trump in One‑Week Stunt

In June 2009, Vince McMahon announced that WWE RAW had been transferred to Donald Trump, the then‑future 45th and 47th President of the United States.

The declaration was made live on WWE RAW, leading many viewers to assume the transaction was genuine. In reality, WWE never transferred ownership of RAW to Trump; the storyline was devised solely for television.

The angle served multiple strategic purposes. Primarily, it aimed to capture mainstream media attention, leveraging Trump’s prominence to reach audiences beyond wrestling fans, and to boost television ratings.

It also sparked curiosity among casual viewers. Additionally, the episode was presented as a commercial‑free broadcast, a novel approach that further amplified public interest.

Trump was already a well‑known figure in WWE circles, having previously hosted WrestleMania 4 and WrestleMania 5 at Trump Plaza. Fans also recalled the “Battle of the Billionaires” match at WrestleMania 23.

In the match, Bobby Lashley acted as Trump’s representative and defeated Umaga. Following the victory, Trump, Lashley, and special guest referee Stone Cold Steve Austin shaved Vince McMahon’s head inside the ring.

The storyline also provided McMahon with a new authority‑figure feud. While WWE has historically used such power‑struggle narratives effectively, this angle was intended to run longer but concluded after only a week.

Trump purchased WWE RAW on June 15, 2009, and sold it back a week later. On the June 22 RAW broadcast, he transferred ownership back to McMahon, with the storyline indicating he received twice the purchase price.

As the angle approaches its 17th anniversary, it stands out as one of the most unusual chapters in WWE history.

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