Professional Wrestling

• 1988: Trump hosted Wrestlemania IV at the Trump Plaza Casino in Atlantic City. “In the confusion surrounding the Olympics, isn't anyone outraged that the World Wrestling Federation has declared vacant Hulk Hogan's championship belt? To find out who will win it, a pay-television audience is expected to spend about $20 million, according to Jim Troy, a W.W.F. senior vice president. The event will be Wrestlemania IV on March 27 at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. Troy, the former Rangers' right wing, expects about 900,000 homes to buy the show, at $19.95 each. Donald Trump says proudly, ‘I'm holding the belt.’ (New York Times, February 23, 1988)
• Analysts projected that Wrestlemania IV would be watched by 1 million people through pay-per-view, grossing $20 million. “About 10 million American homes are set up to pay for a special event through a cable box. About 1 million of them are expected to tune in to WrestleMania IV on March 27 at $19.95 a set, for a gross of $20 million.” (New York Times, March 4, 1988)
• 1989: Trump Plaza in Atlantic City again hosted Wrestlemania, with Trump performing in an opening act. “Wrestlemania V is about love, hate, possibly death - all for $19.95. That's cheap for an event that casts Donald Trump, Morton Downey Jr. and rappers Run-D.M.C. as opening acts. The main event: a face-off between well-chiseled gladiators grappling for the affections of a lovely maiden. And it all takes place in your living room Sunday, at least if you're one of the cable homes with pay-per-view hookups. […] But the battle royale, at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, is more than just a cable programming breakthrough. This titanic clash climaxes pro wrestling's most compelling (i.e., well-hyped) rivalry ever.” (USA Today, March 31, 1989)