Boxing Legend Mike Tyson Slandered by WWE Legend After Rare Vince McMahon Comparison: “He Was Lagging Behind”

At just 18 years old, Mike Tyson had the undivided attention of the boxing world by his sheer tenacity. As he went about dismantling his in-ring opponents in the next two years, Iron Mike was crowned the youngest heavyweight champion. There is no doubt that Tyson was in his prime in the 80s, a period that saw Vince McMahon take pro wrestling to newer heights. Although they were successful in their own genres, debates, and comparisons have been made about who had the bigger impact on the combat sports industry.

Recently, WWE legend and celebrated podcast host Jim Cornette weighed in on the Tyson Vs. McMahon debate, and surprisingly put the 77-year-old over ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’.

Jim Cornette says Vince McMahon did this thing better than Mike Tyson

Cornette, who hosts the Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru podcast, spoke on Vince McMahon’s permanence and business acumen, keeping him ahead of Tyson, who was a huge draw during his time as a boxer. The topic was pay-per-views.

While pay-per-views or PPVs have existed in pro-wrestling for decades, boxing has outdated it. Boxing PPV started in 1975 and it took pro-wrestling another 10 years to follow suit. Today, several pro-wrestling promotions have PPV events that outnumber boxing. However, during pro-wrestling PPVs’ nascent stage, pugilists ruled the roost. But Cornette still believes McMahon beat Tyson.

Boxing: Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr, Nov 28, 2020 Los Angeles, CA, USA Mike Tyson black trunks exits the ring after his split draw against Roy Jones, Jr. white trunks during a heavyweight exhibition boxing bout for the WBC Frontline Belt at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Scarnici/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports, 28.11.2020 21:33:26, 15246716, Boxing, NPStrans, Staples Center, Roy Jones Jr, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJoexScarnicix 15246716

“Vince McMahon made pay-per-view popular,” he said. When his co-host sarcastically agreed and said, “Vince McMahon, or as he was known in the 80s as Mike Tyson”, the former co-owner of Ohio Valley Wrestling threw numbers to justify his stand. The 61-year-old said Mike Tyson wasn’t pay-per-viewing four to 12 times a year like Vinnie Mac in the 80s. When the co-host agreed, Cornette replied: “Well see, he was lagging behind.”

While it is true that Vince McMahon made PPVs popular and a go-to strategy to bolster business for other promotions, it was only in the mid-90s that the WWE PPV numbers swelled. Prior to that, the Stamford-based promotion did only five shows a year. In 2022, WWE did 17 PPVs (now PLE), which included premium events from NXT, the company’s developmental territory.

Meanwhile, Tyson is no stranger to the WWE. In fact, McMahon was the first person to welcome him abroad in 1998. He also appeared in WrestleMania XIV as a special enforcer. Now, years later, Tyson has opened up about another WrestleMania appearance.

Mike Tyson wants to fight high-flying WWE newbie at WrestleMania for free

WrestleMania is WWE’s biggest premium live event and by far ‘the’ marquee event in the pro-wrestling world. At ‘The Grandest Stage of Them All’ mortals attain immortality as thousands throng the stadiums to witness wrestlers put on a spectacle. It is no surprise that 56-year-old Tyson wants a piece of that cake too.

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Speaking to Forbes, the WWE Hall of Famer revealed his desired opponent- internet celebrity-turned-boxer and pro-wrestler Logan Paul. “I would do it! I would kick his a**, yes I would do it. Even though I love him, though,” he said. “This is what I found out about WrestleMania: Everybody says ‘that’s fake, that’s fake.’ But the check is real. Deep down inside—don’t let [WWE] know—I would do this for free,” Tyson said.

Paul in the past has called out Tyson for a boxing exhibition match. While Tyson hasn’t been willing, his recent revelation is a sign that Iron Mike might take Paul on inside the squared circle. Now, it is up to the WWE to do what’s required. One cannot help but wonder, will it bolster the PPV figures? We’ll have to wait for the match for the time being.

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