A day after announcing–and then unannouncing–Mike Tyson as the host of the January 11 RAW, WWE formally confirmed Wednesday that Tyson will indeed be hosting the show.
“Very familiar with being the center of attention inside the squared circle, Mike Tyson is ready to return to the ring. Unlike old times, however, the former heavyweight championship boxer will not be slipping on the gloves and delivering knockout punches (maybe). He will, on the other hand, be delegating responsibility to WWE Superstars as Monday Night Raw’s special guest host on Jan. 11 from Minneapolis…The self-proclaimed “Baddest Man on the Planet” has never been one to hide his feelings or shy away from the spotlight. One of the most newsworthy and notorious sports celebrities in American history, Tyson will surely be prepared for all challenges on Raw,” reads the WWE release.
The fact that WWE so quickly re-confirmed Tyson as host is noteworthy, as it makes one wonder why WWE took the initial announcement down in the first place. It seems unlikely that WWE would be upset about the news getting out on Tuesday only to formally issue the statement on Wednesday.
Tyson’s edition of RAW goes head-to-head with UFC Fight Night Live on Spike TV.