A recent viral wave on social media has centered on the supposed “death” of Marge Simpson, a development stemming from the season finale of The Simpsons. The episode, which aired in May 2025, presented a flash-forward sequence showing a deceased Marge in the afterlife, a moment that has prompted widespread discussion among fans about the character’s legacy.
While the scene occurred in a non-canon future timeline, the attention it generated provides a timely opportunity to explore one of the show’s most enduring and surprising cultural relationships: its decades-long connection with the world of professional wrestling and WWE.
From Bret Hart to Gorgeous Grampa
The Simpsons‘ engagement with professional wrestling runs deeper than casual parody, with the series featuring direct appearances from WWE stars and dedicating entire episodes to the industry. The most iconic of these moments occurred in 1997, when Bret “The Hitman” Hart became the first professional wrestler to guest star on the show. In the season 8 episode “The Old Man and the Lisa,” Hart appeared as himself, memorably evaluating Mr. Burns’ mansion after the billionaire lost his fortune. Initially, producers had planned for Hart to voice a generic character, but they redesigned the role to feature him as himself after witnessing his immense popularity firsthand.
The series later dedicated an entire 2013 episode, “Gorgeous Grampa,” to the wrestling world. It revealed that Grampa Simpson was once a famous heel wrestler named “Glamorous Godfrey,” a clear homage to the legendary Gorgeous George. The episode delved into wrestling’s theatrical nature, using authentic terminology like “heel” and “face” and exploring the concept of kayfabe.
Even Marge Simpson herself has been at the center of a combat sports storyline. In the 2009 episode “The Great Wife Hope,” she becomes a mixed martial artist to protest the violent “Ultimate Punch, Kick and Choke Championship,” a parody of UFC. Marge ends up in a sanctioned fight against the promotion’s creator, a character designed as a caricature of WWE’s Vince McMahon.
Over its long run, the show has consistently referenced the wrestling world. Shane McMahon’s theme music, “Here Comes the Money,” was featured in a 2021 episode, and various segments have parodied the more extreme style of ECW. This history continued recently when John Cena became the second professional wrestler to appear on the show. In the Season 36 premiere in September 2024, Cena played himself, humorously revealing that he is also a licensed midwife in Springfield and helping deliver the baby of Comic Book Guy before motivating Bart.