Jesse Ventura challenges Trump to 'get in the ring', slams POTUS' WWE Hall of Fame honor

WASHINGTON, DC: Former WWE bruiser Jesse “The Body” Ventura called out President Donald Trump and dared him to “get in the ring" with him.

The challenge came during a Tuesday, March 24, appearance on Piers Morgan's Uncensored'. 

Trump has long enjoyed a cozy relationship with the wrestling world. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013 after hosting WrestleMania IV and V at Trump Plaza and taking part in the flashy “Battle of the Billionaires.”

He never actually laced up boots for a match, instead having a wrestler fight on his behalf against one representing former WWE boss Vince McMahon. 

By contrast, Ventura is a Vietnam War Navy veteran who built a wrestling career before stepping into politics as Minnesota’s governor from 1999 to 2003. These days, he’s been a vocal critic of ICE and the Trump administration’s involvement in Iran.

Jesse Ventura says Trump 'never earned' his WWE Hall of Fame status

The sparks really flew when host Piers Morgan brought up a 2004 WrestleMania 20 clip showing Ventura and Trump together. In it, Ventura declares, “You know what? I think that we may need a wrestler in the White House in 2008.”

Ventura brushed it off. He said he was “doing his job” and what he was “asked to do at the WWE,” before calling Trump’s Hall of Fame status a “tragedy.”

“Donald Trump does not belong in the wrestling Hall of Fame,” he said. “He never earned it. You know what I had to do to get into the pro wrestling Hall of Fame? At one point in my career I wrestled 63 consecutive nights in a row. That’s how you get into the Hall of Fame. When I was referring to putting a wrestler in the White House, I was talking about me not him!”

When Morgan pointed out the line sounded a bit open-ended, Ventura doubled down. “I was the former governor of Minnesota. I’m the only real former wrestler. I don’t include him. He’s only in the Hall of Fame because he stopped an investigation against Vince McMahon...” he said.

Jesse Ventura wants a 'showdown' with Trump

Ventura insisted he’s not eyeing another run for governor but teased something that could send him “straight to Washington” to “go face-to-face with this guy."

"I’ll put it to you this way — we withstood the onslaught of the Gestapo [ICE] in Minnesota. I was taught in war to ensure your backyard is secure. That’s the first thing you do. Well, Minnesota is now secure. We’ve repelled the onslaught from Trump. Now it’s time for us to go on the offense, so maybe it’s time to send the Navy Seal to Washington. Maybe it’s time for a showdown between the Vietnam veteran and the draft dodger.”

Pressed by Morgan on whether that “showdown” meant a literal fight, Ventura hedged but couldn’t resist one more jab.

“No, but if he wants it, he’s in the hall of fame,” Ventura said. “Let’s both get in the ring. He’s in the hall of fame, isn’t he? Even though he’s never, ever had a match.”

Morgan floated the idea of Trump extending a planned UFC event on the White House South Lawn into a face-off with Ventura. “Do you think he’d have the guts to do that? Are you kidding me? Ha!” the latter chuckled.

Morgan also credited Trump for getting back up after being shot in the ear, but Ventura wasn’t buying the hero narrative. “Have you ever heard of a blade job?” he shot back, referring to the wrestling trick of cutting oneself to draw blood. “C’mon, Piers, you’re going to tell me this guy is a big hero now?”

“If he’d have joined us in Vietnam, we might have won, huh? Why did he run and hide when he could have joined us and led us to victory?” Ventura added.