Billionaire Mark Cuban recently reflected on his experiences participating in WWE, expressing significant respect for the athleticism and physical demands placed upon professional wrestlers. Cuban recalled two distinct appearances in the wrestling ring, one in 2003 and another in 2009, during an appearance on the "Build or Break" podcast.
Cuban's first foray into WWE occurred in 2003, shortly after he purchased the Dallas Mavericks. He agreed to a cameo appearance with the stipulation that he would both hit and be hit by a wrestler. This led to him receiving an RKO from Randy Orton. "I did it twice. I loved it," Cuban stated, recalling the practice sessions and the subsequent physical impact. "It still hurt but that was my rule in 2003 when I did it the first time."
His second appearance came in 2009, where he engaged with John Cena and a wrestler named Sheamus. For this appearance, Cuban agreed to put Sheamus through a table, a move that he knew would "look cool on video forever." He described the experience: "So, it was a real table, a regular table. … And they told me, ‘He’s going to put you right in the center of the table. It’ll just crack in half but keep your head down because if your head is up and you hit, you’ll break your neck.’" Cuban admitted to eating a substantial meal beforehand, which may have affected the execution of the stunt. "We broke the table. I did my whole pretend I’m dead thing and got out of the ring and all that stuff."
Following the table spot, Cuban experienced significant back pain for two weeks. This physical toll led him to conclude, "Those guys deserve so much respect. It may be orchestrated, but it’s still athletic and it’s still painful."
Cuban's willingness to engage physically in the WWE ring stands out, as it is uncommon for sports franchise owners to participate in such stunts. He emphasized the dedication and skill required of WWE performers, acknowledging the rigorous nature of their profession despite its pre-determined outcomes.