Wrestler Pays Off WWE Lawsuit with $800k Winnings and Mounts Successful Return to Arenas After Four Decades Absence
In the 1980s, Jesse "The Body" Ventura was a flamboyant star in the Hulkamania-inspired boom of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). His back-and-forth with Gorilla Monsoon became part of WWE's soundtrack, and his charisma was undeniable. However, Ventura's in-ring career was curtailed by injuries, leading him to pivot into the commentary booth.
Ventura's legal dispute with Titan Sports (later WWE) in 1991 was a landmark victory for a wrestler against Vince McMahon's company. He filed a lawsuit alleging fraud and misrepresentation over videotape royalties. A federal jury sided with Ventura, awarding him $801,333 in royalties plus $8,625 in merchandising revenue. This victory was a significant moment in the wrestling industry.
Despite his legal dispute, Ventura returned to WWE, officiating a WWE Championship match between Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, and Mankind at SummerSlam 1999. He re-emerged on WWE's revival show in 2024, four decades after his heyday, and even made a return to WWE in the 2020s, appearing on various shows.
Ventura's win as a Minnesota Reform Party candidate made headlines worldwide, marking the beginning of his political career. He served as the mayor of Brooklyn Park and later the governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. His political rivals criticized his involvement in wrestling, ironically as one of WWE's top stars of the time, Kane, later became a long-serving mayor in the US.
Ventura's pride at being a product of the wrestling industry was evident during his return at SummerSlam 1999 and his re-emergence on WWE's revival show. In 2025, he delivered a villain-friendly performance from the commentary table and analyst desk. Ventura later confirmed that he was paid royalties for everything he participated in by the WWE.
One of Ventura's most memorable moments in the ring came at Minneapolis' Target Center, where he raised Mankind's hand in victory in front of a sold-out crowd. Four decades after his initial rise to fame, Ventura remains a symbol of the wrestling industry's ability to launch stars beyond the ring.
