Tyson Fury is the number one heavyweight on the planet, but he could have a new challenger on the horizon.
WWE champion Drew McIntyre believes that the ‘Gypsy King’ is ‘terrified’ of him. The Scot has been calling for a match up with the WBC World Champion. However, he isn’t confident that Fury will rise to the challenge.
The Brit is renowned for playing mind games with his opponents. Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko both struggled to cope with the antics of the 6ft 9in giant. But in McIntyre, Fury may have met his match.
Why would the Gypsy King be scared?
McIntyre, known as ‘The Chosen One’, became the first British champion in WWE history. In 2020, he emerged victorious in the iconic Royal Rumble match, hurling both Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar over the top rope. This victory secured him the main event spot at Wrestlemania 36, where he bested Lesnar again to win the championship.
‘The Furious One’ is notoriously confident, but McIntyre told Sporf that he was anything but when the pair encountered each other in person.
He said: “We’ve talked very publicly about it. We’ve gone back and forth with each other. He showed up to one of our shows just after Wrestlemania. I was doing my entrance, and when I went to the corner to set off my pyro, I glanced into the crowd, and he was there. He ducked me for the entire show. He literally went out of his way to avoid me. Frankly, I know that Tyson Fury is terrified of McIntyre.”
Does Fury have any experience in the WWE?
Braun Strowman was known as the ‘Monster Among Men’ to the WWE Universe, but he was no match for Fury when the pair met in the ring.
During Smackdown’s 20th anniversary show, Strowman taunted the Lineal Heavyweight King before brutally launching Dolph Ziggler into the barricade, which knocked Fury to the ground.
Security had to restrain the Brit when he jumped the barrier in response. The following night on Raw, Fury demanded an apology from the American. When Strowman refused to give the boxer what he asked for, a mass brawl broke out. The pair agreed to settle their differences in a one-on-one match-up.
Fury ultimately defeated the 385 pound monster at the Crown Jewel Pay-Per-View event after a massive punch knocked Strowman out of the ring. The former WWE Universal champion couldn’t answer the count.
Read: Tyson Fury shows personal transformation after Deontay Wilder win.
Could Tyson Fury vs Drew McIntyre headline a UK PPV?
The UK hasn’t hosted a PPV since Insurrextion in 2003, but that could soon change. There were rumours that SummerSlam would take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. But sadly for British wrestling enthusiasts, the company announced that the 2022 event would occur in America.
However, fans still have a glimmer of hope, as the world’s premier wrestling promotion has a vacant PPV date in September. Brits are hoping that this will end their long wait for a big card.
McIntyre believes that a contest with Fury would be the perfect match to headline an event of this magnitude.
The 36-year-old said: “If we get that significant event, we’re going to need some sort of match that’s going to draw eyeballs. I can’t think of anything bigger than a ‘Battle of Britain.’ with Fury. He has a gigantic name from his world, and I’m the first British champion. I have an ability to bring matches out of people who aren’t at a high level.
“I know that we’d have an entertaining match-up. He gets the entertainment side, and we’d have a really fun build-up. But imagine if we were on the same team. We would smash people, but we’ll worry about that when things start happening.”
Tyson Fury vs Drew McIntyre has all the makings of an incredible battle. The Gypsy King’s speed and punching ability would undoubtedly cause the Scot problems. But the wrestler’s rugged determination and grit could be enough for him to pin the world’s greatest heavyweight. Fans can now only hope that the WWE host a PPV event in September so that this fantasy fight can materialise.