Mike Tyson Rumored to Appear at WrestleMania 41 in Vegas

Posted on: February 4, 2025, 12:13h. 

Last updated on: February 4, 2025, 01:08h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

WrestleCon announced on Tuesday that boxing icon Mike Tyson will make his first appearance at the annual professional wrestling convention, which returns to Las Vegas this year for only the third time in its 12-year history.

Mike Tyson KO’s Shawn Michaels with a right hook at WrestleMania XIV. (Image: WWE)

Of course, WrestleCon, to be held at the Westgate, is only back in Vegas on April 18-20 because so is WrestleMania (for only its second time in 40 years). And this convergence has tongues wagging that Iron Mike will appear at both events.

Will He Wrestle?

Perhaps. Several legit outlets, including The Times of India, reported last Thanksgiving about World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)’s interest in either a WrestleMania 41 rematch between Tyson and Jake Paul or a matchup between Tyson and Paul’s older brother, wrestler Logan Paul.

Though few Netflix viewers walked away satisfied watching Tyson lose the Nov. 15, 2024 exhibition match to Jake Paul, it was viewed by an estimated 180 million people worldwide. That makes it the most-watched sporting event ever streamed, and that’s really all that counts.

But even if Tyson doesn’t lace up the Lycra, he could repeat the role he played at WrestleMania XIV in 1998 — or something similar to it.

Back when the WWE still answered to the name WWF, Tyson was brought into the Boston-hosted wrestling championship as the special guest enforcer for the main event between Shawn Michaels and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Before the match, Tyson allied himself with Michaels’ group (D-Generation X) but then surprised fans by counting the pinfall for Austin and helping him take the championship belt.

After his loss, Michaels confronted Tyson, who proceeded to knock him out, garnering the WWF significant national media attention.

Wait … It’s FAKE?

Yes, we realize that this stuff is all scripted entertainment. That’s why legal sports betting on WWE events isn’t allowed in the US. But the creative (and safe) use of such a famous name more than 25 years ago suggests a very strong possibility of a repeat performance at WrestleMania 41.

Tyson also has a history with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). In May 2020, he appeared at the fledgling entertainment organization’s “Double or Nothing” event to present the inaugural TNT Championship to Cody Rhodes after his defeat of Lance Archer.

Tyson returned to AEW in April 2021 as a special guest enforcer for a Chris Jericho vs. Dax Harwood match on Dynamite. During the chaotic bout, Tyson knocked out pro wrestler Cash Wheeler, who tried entering the ring with a bat. This prevented Wheeler from helping Harwood, contributing to Jericho’s victory.

The official lineup for WrestleMania 41, to be held April 19 and 20 at Allegiant Stadium, has yet to be announced. A kickoff press conference for the event is scheduled for Saturday, February 8 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.