WWE may primarily focus on professional wrestling and live sports entertainment, but a key aspect of its appeal is delivering entertainment, especially during holidays. This can sometimes lead to exaggerated and humorous moments, particularly around Christmas.
Though Santa Claus isn’t usually linked with WWE, he has made several memorable appearances over the years. These range from brief backstage scenes to more significant parts in storylines, leaving fans with entertaining memories due to their comedic nature.
One notable incident is Mick Foley, portraying Mankind, battling against individuals dressed as Santa Claus, who were actually members of D-Generation X, in a chaotic and weapon-filled fight in 1999. Known for his love of Christmas, Foley’s unpredictable and violent character made this moment funny even if strange in hindsight.
In 2012, Alberto Del Rio created a shocking holiday moment by accidentally running over Santa Claus with his car during a Christmas-themed episode of Raw. This led to a storyline culminating in a match against John Cena, where Santa even assisted Cena with a festive move, adding humor and drama.
Another highlight occurred in 1997 when ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin clashed with a ‘fake’ Santa on the Christmas Raw. The Santa kicked a young fan out of the ring, drawing heat, and Austin responded by giving Santa a Stunner, creating a funny and lighthearted segment.
WWE also featured a match between “Good Santa” Mark Henry and “Bad Santa” Damien Sandow, filled with Christmas-themed antics, aimed at entertaining younger fans rather than serious competition. Similarly, at Armageddon 2004, Kurt Angle’s open challenge ended quickly with Santa tapping out, adding a quirky twist to the event.
The 24/7 Championship provided festive fun when Santa, portrayed by Bear Bronson, briefly won the title in 2019 before being pinned by R-Truth. In 2011, a backstage SmackDown party saw Santa granting wishes, which led to Hornswoggle speaking for the first time, transforming his character significantly.
Perhaps the most iconic moment involved Steve Austin dressing as Santa Claus during WWE’s Tribute to the Troops. Vince McMahon, playing the villain, attacked Santa, only to have Austin reveal himself by delivering a Stunner to McMahon, igniting the crowd.
Fan Take: These humorous and unexpected Santa-themed moments highlight WWE’s unique blend of sports and entertainment, bringing lighthearted fun to the wrestling world during the holiday season. For WWE fans, these segments provide memorable, festive relief from intense storylines, showing the company’s versatility and ongoing ability to surprise its audience.
