I was tempted to just ignore all the Tyson Fury in the WWE stuff. It?s not that I?m AGAINST it. Actually, I?m all for new audiences being introduced to boxing and boxing?s most colorful characters. I view Fury?s WWE run in the same light as I see the KSI-Logan Paul YouTuber rematch at Staples Center. It?s a chance to bring new eyeballs and new energy to a sport that is remarkably (and often intentionally) stagnant when it comes to audience-building.
But Fury finding wrestling might be a kinda big thing, after all.
According to the UK?s Daily Mail, Fury is getting $15 million from this deal that will kickoff October 31 in Saudi Arabia against monstrous Braun Strowman, underneath a Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez main event. It?s not clear how many appearances need to be made for that cool 15 mil, but if it?s just a one-fight/$15 million deal, then, of course, it?s a no-brainer.
The big question for boxing fans, though, is whether any of this moonlighting in the world of fake rage in spandex will screw with big plans in the heavyweight division, specifically those plans related to a rematch (or rematches) with WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder.
?There?s a hell of a chance of that,? the life-long WWE fan Fury acknowledged.
?I was supposed to be resting while the eye mended but I?m excited about 385lbs of Braun coming at me,? Fury added. ?Yeah, me against Wilder is the biggest fight in boxing but I?m not thinking about that now. I?m just enjoying my life?and concentrating on WWE.?
Co-promoter Frank Warren, who says he was not informed of Fury?s WWE deal before it kicked off, doesn?t seem too pleased about all this.
?I?m not in favor of this and it does put the Wilder fight in jeopardy,? Warren said. ?But he?s a grown man who makes his own decisions. I hope it?s more a show than a fight.?
And, of course, it?ll be more show than fight. Doctors had actually advised Fury to stay away from physical exercise for six weeks and from sparring until around Christmas time to avoid the chance of re-opening the gash. But stuff happens in the WWE ring and all it takes is one errant elbow to open up the still-healing gash Fury sustained over his eye against Otto Wallin last month to ruin the scheduled February 22 PPV date with Wilder.
With or without the cut re-opening, though, Fury vs. Wilder, as well Fury in boxing altogether, could be questionable. Don?t think for a second that ?The Gypsy King? wouldn?t consider throwing his future in the tough work, often tough-luck world of boxing away for WWE money and a few showbiz appearances a year.
Other boxers have dabbled in pro wrestling, but none seemed as long-term-minded as Fury and, honestly, none seemed as perfectly-suited for the screams-and-bluster world of pro wrestling as Fury.
Wilder, who stands to lose a small fortune from Fury walking away from their possible return bouts, certainly seems like he wants to bring Fury back to sanity.
?I thought it was hilarious,? Wilder told the UK?s Independent. ?And I liked how the other wrestler told him he was going to be left on his back looking up at the lights just like Deontay Wilder did (to) him.
?It?s exciting times in the heavyweight division and you can tell the WWE, they understand what?s going on?But it was laughable that Tyson Fury described himself as the heavyweight champion of the world. They need to cut that BS out.
?Tyson, you are not the heavyweight champion of the world. You are just in the Top 10.?
The question is whether Fury, who currently sports a pretend, invisible heavyweight boxing belt as ?lineal champ? will choose to purse another pretend belt in the WWE.
