Mike Tyson to take part in AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view event

Mike Tyson is making yet another headline, but this time it’s not for his much-discussed return to boxing training or his ideas to possibly fight again.

The 53-year-old former world heavyweight champion will return to the pro wrestling world on May 23, when he is scheduled to appear at All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Double or Nothing, a pay-per-view event.

Tyson will be on hand to present the newly-created TNT championship to either Cody or Lance Archer, who are finalists in the tournament to crown the first champion.

Like many star fighters over the decades, Tyson has some history in pro wrestling. Back in 1990, Tyson was scheduled to be the guest referee for the Hulk Hogan vs “Macho Man” Randy Savage WWF championship match at The Main Event in Detroit. However, Tyson was shockingly knocked out by Buster Douglas on February 11, so Douglas was drafted in on less than two weeks’ notice to replace Tyson.

Mike would finally come to the WWF (now WWE) in early 1998, and served as a “special guest enforcer” for the Shawn Michaels vs “Stone Cold” Steve Austin main event at WrestleMania XIV. The entire Tyson-Austin-Michaels angle is credited with helping to kickstart the turnaround of the Monday Night Wars, with the WWF clawing back to overtake its rival World Championship Wrestling (WCW), which had been dominating the TV ratings. Tyson actually wasn’t that well-received by wrestling fans at the time, especially after he aligned with the villainous Michaels ahead of the match, but ultimately he was fair and even sided with the incredibly popular Austin after it was over, landing a “knockout punch” on a protesting Michaels after Tyson made the three count in the match.

Double or Nothing doesn’t have an announced location as of yet, but AEW have been running shows in Jacksonville, Florida, where their ownership is based.