A pro-wrestling fan writes: World Wrestling Entertainment has often featured celebrity cameos. Usually, admittedly, it’s been midget impersonators or bad look-alikes, but last night’s WWE Raw on the USA Network actually had all three remaining big-name presidential candidates doing pre-recorded spots. (No Alan Keyes or Ron Paul: they were probably cutting promos for the Independent Wrestling Federation. Sorry, wrestling in-joke.) Now the news media has been pouring over the text, but how did it really speak to wrestling fans?

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First up, Hillary Clinton: When she appeared to be letting current (and deeply unpopular) WWE champion Randy Orton off the hook, some might see that as being similar to her soft-peddling on the current administration. Plus, why no mention of any groundbreaking women wrestlers, like the Fabulous Moolah or Trish Stratus?

Barack Obama: The one candidate that could get away with any comparison to The Rock, and the “Can you smell what Barack is cooking” line was the way to do it.

And, finally, John McCain: “Smaller government and bigger individuals” is exactly the thinking that got the WWE up before Congress on those steroid investigations. As for that “To be the man” moment, McCain comparing himself to Ric “Nature Boy” Flair might be a bad idea, since the 16-time world champion just retired.

This article appears in April 18 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.