“Can beat you any day,” When Stone Cold Steve Austin challenged Mike Tyson for a fight
Mike Tyson and steve austin brawled in the ring to create one of the most memorable moments in the history of Monday night Raw
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Mike Tyson and Stone Cold (Image Courtesy Metro UK)
Mike Tyson was one of the most popular sports stars in the 90s. To capitalize on his popularity WWE invited the baddest man on the planet to an episode on RAW in 1998. This is when ‘ Iron Mike’ crossed his path with the Texas rattlesnake Stone cold Steve Austin.
The segment began with Vince McMahon and Mike Tyson present in the ring to make a special announcement. They were then interrupted by Stone cold who marched to the ring and confronted Mike Tyson. Stone cold acknowledge that he respects Mike for everything he has achieved in the Boxing ring before saying, “I can beat you any day of the week, twice on Sunday. You think you can beat me? No!.. Do I think I could beat you? Yes!”
Austin then provoked Tyson by showing some vulgar signs. As a result of which Tyson pushed Austin away and a brawl broke out in the ring. This segment went on to become one of the most memorable moments of the attitude era. Mike Tyson was involved in multiple storylines in the buildup to WrestleMania 14 and even featured in the match between Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels as a special guest referee.
Related: Why did Mike Tyson deny fighting the Olympic medalist Riddick Bowe?
How did Mike Tyson land in WWE?
In the 90s WWE and WCW were two of the biggest wrestling promotions. WWE has been lagging behind its rival organization in the ratings since the NWO’s creation in WCW. Even all major WWE stars had jumped to WCW leading to a major downfall in WWE viewership.
WWE needed to improve their products to turn their fortune soon and needed a miracle. That miracle came in the form of Mike Tyson. Tyson has just been banned from boxing for biting Evander Holyfield‘s ear during a fight. He was purportedly down to his last $150,000, which, while a lot to some, was apparently not enough to support his expensive lifestyle. McMahon saw this as the ideal time to seize the opportunity. McMahon signed a $3.5 million for multiple appearances till wrestle mania 14.
This worked wonders for WWE as they finally managed to beat their rival WCW in tv ratings. From that moment on, WWE didn’t turn back, and within three years, WCW was forced out of business and acquired by WWE in 2001. Mike Tyson was even inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contribution to the late 90s.
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Soumya Ranjan
(2167 Articles Published)