The boxing legend ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson has been a pillar of sports entertainment since the start of his career. Mike Tyson, in 1986, was on the marquee of every news headline because he became the youngest Heavyweight Champion in sports history.

Soon ‘Iron Mike’ rose to prominence as his hard knock-out punch became his signature in boxing. Then, in 1989, Vince McMahon and the company decided to bring Mike Tyson’s fame to WWE. However, did the boxing legend appear in Vince McMahon’s WWE?

Twenty-four years ago, WWE brought heavyweight legend Tyson to stack the ultimate card of WrestleMania 14. But before WrestleMania, during an episode of Monday Night Raw in 1998, Mike Tyson squared off in an iconic brawl against Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Why didn’t the boxing legend Mike Tyson step inside the WWE in 1989?

Of course, the WWE Universe ate the premium showcase of Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Mike Tyson. However, Tyson could have appeared in WWE before 1998. So it wasn’t the first time Tyson had interacted with WWE.

On the latest episode of Something to Wrestle, WWE Executive Bruce Prichard revealed Tyson would have arrived before 1998. However, Tyson ditched the company because of the following reason.

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“Mike Tyson was scheduled, and he had actually been advertised, and we were ready to go in February of 1989 with a match between Hulk Hogan and the Macho Man Randy Savage. But Tyson had a match in Tokyo, Japan, against one Buster Douglas, and the outcome of that didn’t go according to plan per se. Because Tyson got his a** knocked out and was unable to appear,” Prichard mentioned.

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Bruce Prichard noted WWE invited ‘Iron Mike’ for a match between Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage. Tyson faced boxer Buster Douglas in Japan during that time, and Mr. Douglas left ‘Iron Mike’ in the dust in that fight.

James “Buster” Douglas came to the rescue of WWE!

Speaking of Mike Tyson falling short next to Buster Douglas, he couldn’t make it to the wrestling ring after that. WWE Executive Bruce Prichard clearly stated that Tyson was advertised for Hogan vs. Savage. But because of a very disappointing fight, ‘Iron Mike’ turned his back on WWE.

Later, when the company was left high and dry by Mike Tyson, WWE brought his opponent, James “Buster” Douglas, to fill in his spot.

Bruce Prichard continued, “It wasn’t that he [Tyson] was unable to appear. He just didn’t appear for us. And we then circled the wagons, and we got Buster Douglas to come in and save the day for us. So yeah, it was not our first encounter with Mr. Tyson.”

Boxing legend had an incredible opportunity to be inside the ring with Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. However, Tyson blew his chance because of an awful fight!

WWE Used a Master Plan to Hype ‘Villainous’ Mike Tyson’s WrestleMania Appearance

Finally, after almost a decade, ‘Iron Mike’ rekindled to Mr. McMahon’s WWE to share the ring with Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14.