Story highlights Linda McMahon is twice a Republican candidate for US Senate in Connecticut 
 
 Donald Trump described her as "a phenomenal leader and champion for small businesses" 
 
 (CNN) President-elect Donald Trump picked Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, to serve as the administrator of the Small Business Administration, his transition announced Wednesday. 
 
 "Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country's top female executives advising businesses around the globe," Trump said in a statement. "She helped grow WWE from a modest 13-person operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide." 
 
 He continued, "Linda is going to be a phenomenal leader and champion for small businesses and unleash America's entrepreneurial spirit all across the country." 
 
 McMahon is the co-founder of the professional wrestling franchise WWE along with her husband, Vince McMahon, and twice a former Republican Senate candidate from Connecticut. She stepped down from her duties at WWE in 2009 and ran two failed bids for the Senate in 2010 and 2012. 
 
 She's donated $6 million in August and September to Rebuilding America Now, a super PAC that supported Trump's presidential bid. And she gave an additional $1 million in October to another super PAC backing Trump. 
 
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– As though to remind us that he'll be the first US president in the WWE Hall of Fame, Donald Trump has chosen WWE co-founder Linda McMahon to head the Small Business Administration. After stepping down from the WWE in 2009, McMahon, 68, ran twice for the Senate as a Republican in 2010 and 2012, but lost on both occasions, reports CNN. During those campaigns, McMahon supported a lower corporate tax rate and a reduction in regulations, per CNBC. Trump has promised to cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 15%, and ease regulations. McMahon now runs mentoring company Women's Leadership Live, per Politico. In announcing his decision, Trump described McMahon as "one of the country's top female executives advising businesses around the globe" who "helped grow WWE from a modest 13-person operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide." She will be a "champion for small businesses and unleash America's entrepreneurial spirit all across the country," Trump adds. In a tweet, McMahon—who criticized Trump for his comments about women before donating $6 million to a pro-Trump super PAC in August and September—says she is "honored" by the appointment, which requires Senate approval.