Mike Tyson Names His Favorite Pro Wrestlers From History

Over the years, Mike Tyson has expressed his fascination for professional wrestling by appearing in some WWE and AEW events. On the latest Hotboxin’ episode with pro wrestler and actor David Arquette, Tyson talked about his fascination with pro wrestling. In conversation with David Arquette and Henry Cejudo, Mike Tyson discussed old-school professional wrestlers.

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The Baddest Man on the Planet’ also named his own favorite wrestlers of all time.

“When I was young, I liked Mil Máscaras, Bruno Sammartino-he’s my champion, Moondog Mayne, Pedro Morales, Killer Kowalski, Don Leo Jonathan, that was my thing, man,” said Mike Tyson.

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Mike Tyson and pro wrestling go way back

Back-to-back losses in combat sports are not a good look for the losing athlete and usually suggest a decline in performance. In 1997, Mike Tyson had suffered his second consecutive loss to Evander Holyfield. However, this second defeat was not normal by any standards. To this day, fans associate the second Holyfield fight with ‘Iron’ Mike constantly biting Evander Holyfield’s ear in the fight itself.

This violation cost him a disqualification, a $3 million fine, and a permanent suspension from the ring. Even with a suspension from the sport, Mike Tyson’s popularity grew even more because of his iconic antics in the second fight with Holyfield.

Then came in Vincent McMahon, who made Tyson sign with the World Wrestling Federation promotion. A year after the Holyfield defeat, Tyson appeared on Royal Rumble 1998 in the audience. Soon after, he also joined Vince McMahon in the ring at WWE Raw. Mike Tyson and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin engaged in a brawl in the ring. Upon getting in his face, Mike Tyson pushed Steve Austin, and they separated the two immediately.

In that same year, Steve Austin fought Shawn Michaels for the WWF championship. Mike Tyson intervened in the fight when he felt Austin was being cheated and being robbed of his rightful victory. Tyson helped Steve Austin defeat Shawn Michaels and ultimately become the 1998 WWF champion.

After this, Tyson has made several other pro wrestling appearances in WWE and AEW. ‘Iron’ Mike has shared before that he has always been a fan of pro-wrestling. His favorite wrestler, Bruno Sammartino, inspired him to pursue this further.

However, arrests through his teen years prevented Tyson from becoming a wrestling star. As a result, he later met his boxing trainer Cus D’Amato and changed the sport of boxing forever.

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