25 Years Before It Was Sold, WWE’s Audacious Gamble on Mike Tyson Paid Off as WrestleMania Ratings Skyrocketed

By the nineties, the boxing world saw a different version of Mike Tyson. It was far removed from the image everyone had of a world-conquering champion. Post dissolution of his marriage to Robin Givens in 1989, he lost for the first time since his debut to Buster Douglas on 11th February 1990. By 1991, major headlines splashed the news of his arrest over the Desiree Washington case. After serving a three-year prison term, Tyson staged a comeback in 1995.

However, his run of poor luck wasn’t over. On 28th June 1997, the world witnessed Tyson biting off Evander Holyfield’s right ear. As much as the match got suspended, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ received a rap on the knuckle when the Nevada State Athletic Commission canceled his boxing license. But the thirty-year-old former champion soo discovered a light at the end of the tunnel. For the stakeholders facing a rival’s tough challenge, ‘Iron Mike’ was the fallback hope.

When Mike Tyson shook up the wrestling world

WWE’s “On This Day in WWE” observes the anniversaries of WWF, WCW, and WWE, among others, through its Twitter handle @OTD_in_WWE. Former Senior Vice President of WCW and later General Manager of WWE shared his thoughts on a landmark decision taken twenty years ago through the handle. He reminisced about the day Mike Tyson was signed up and said, “I thought if they use him right, it’s gonna be a game-changer, and sh*t’s gonna be really serious.“

Enter The Baddest Man on the Planet

By the mid-nineties, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly World Wrestling Federation (WWF), had to share space with a rival. Founded in 1988, the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) soon pulled over viewers and sponsors, ousting the WWE’s dominance. Big boss Vince McMahon saw some of the big names in the rolls leaving WWE. Soon he took a step never attempted before.

Tyson, at the time, famous for living a lavish lifestyle, saw his fortune sink to reportedly $146,000.

Soon he received the WWE’s offer. ‘Iron’ Mike was to officiate as an enforcer of a match during Wrestlemania 14, with stars Shawn Michaels and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. So much so that Tyson received an honorary membership to Michaels’ team called D-Generation X. The former champion made multiple guest appearances on RAW. That brought Steve Austin to a broader audience and eventually made him a superstar.

For the Wrestlemania cameo, Mike Tyson reportedly received $3 million.

His massive influence and impact received acknowledgment even from the rival WCW’s president, Eric Bischoff. He reportedly said, “When they used Mike Tyson as effectively as they did to setup Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Mr. McMahon character, then I really knew I was in deep s***.”

During Wrestlemania 17, Mike Tyson joined hands with Steve Austin. The move saw WCW’s back broken, and WWE eventually won the Monday Night Wars.

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