WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Disney's Dumbo, in theaters now.
Tim Burton's Dumbo certainly adds a modern spin to the 1941 Disney classic, taking the circus the young elephant was part of, having it be bought out and then turned into the grand centerpiece of a theme park owned by the sinister Vandevere (Michael Keaton).
It's his way of ensuring everyone gets to see the star attraction, Dumbo, flying around as one of "the hidden wonders of the world." And, thanks to Vandevere's knack for flair and style, when he unveils Dumbo's majestic debut, the movie reveals the remake's biggest cameo, and it's one that'll delight boxing and pro wrestling fans everywhere.
The first show at Vandevere's Dream Land takes place as if it's a grand WresteleMania level event, which is no surprise because the owner wants every act to be a performance that'll leave fans wanting more. To spice up the event, he doesn't use Max (Danny DeVito), Dumbo's ringmaster, as was the case in the original film. Vandevere wants a massive spectacle, and in order to give it that big moment feeling, he recruits veteran voice of the boxing ring, Michael Buffer.
Buffer is, of course, known for introducing some of the biggest fights in history, including bouts featuring the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. After starting his career in 1982, he's also gone on to introduce big wrestling events, as well as NBA finals and NFL playoff games, making himself a household name in the process. But what makes his appearance so meta in Dumbo is the way he repurposes the signature catchphrase he made so famous to hype the crowd for the flying elephant's first official Dream Land appearance.
As he introduces Dumbo, instead of his iconic "Let's get ready to rumble!" line, he changes it to "Let's get ready for Dumbo!" delivering it with the same heft and emotion in his voice that gets sports lovers amped. It's a pretty funny line, but it still captures the intensity and passion the scene is supposed to evoke at the same time, as we then see Dumbo is being asked to fly hundreds of feet in the air off a pedestal, shockingly with no safety net.
To top it off, Buffer announces Dumbo in one corner, literally, and then does the same for Eva Greene's Colette Marchant, a French trapeze artist who performs at Dreamland, in the other corner. He pits her as the "challenger" who must tussle with Dumbo in an attempt to win his confidence so he'll allow her to mount his back and ride through the tent together for everyone's amusement. It's basically a take on the rodeo, but one where the stakes are certainly high. This makes it the ideal stage for Buffer, who's also appeared in the Rocky and Creed franchises, to throw his voice and excite folks for Dumbo's antics to come.
Directed by Tim Burton, Disney's Dumbo stars Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Colin Farrell, Nico Parker, Finley Hobbins, Michael Keaton and Alan Arkin.