Report: Fury receiving huge paycheck for pro wrestling match
Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
According to multiple sources, Tyson Fury is making a massive amount of money to work for WWE in a pro wrestling match.
It looks like boxing isn’t the only thing that will be paying the bills for Tyson Fury in 2019. The former heavyweight champion of the word is coming off a win over Otto Wallin where he suffered a nasty cut over his eye, but will enter a whole new world later this month - the bright lights of WWE, the world’s largest pro wrestling organization.
On the debut of WWE’s Smackdown show on Fox, Fury was seen in the crowd getting heated at Braun Strowman. On Raw the next week, Fury was given a live mic and challenged Strowman to a match. That will take place on October 31st at WWE Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia.
These Saudi shows are huge moneymakers for WWE, as they are given a lot of cash by the Saudi government to come over. Apparently a huge chunk of that is going to Fury for this match, according to the Daily Mail - 15 million US, or thereabouts. For one match, and maybe more if he keeps working with them:
“Tyson Fury’s rematch of his epic world heavyweight title draw with Deontay Wilder is in serious doubt as he banks $15million (£11.9m) for his WWE debut this month, with the prospect of even more for a second wrestling extravaganza in the New Year”.
Another source corroborated those numbers, or in the ballpark at least:
Tyson Fury will reportedly earn £11.9 million ($15m) for his date with Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel. [Daily Mail]
— Alex McCarthy (@AlexM_talkSPORT) October 15, 2019
I've asked around and I'm told "it's in that ballpark."
This is a man who gave away his £2.5m purse from the Wilder fight to charity. I say good on him.
As mentioned, Fury’s rematch with Wilder is currently scheduled for February, but that might be delayed because of the cut Fury is still recovering from - and because of all this pro wrestling money he can make. Fury(29-0-1) and Wilder went to a controversial draw the first time around last December.
Also expected on the WWE Crown Jewel card is a match between WWE Universal champion Brock Lesnar and fellow former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.