Tyson Fury reveals he was meant to face Drew McIntyre at major WWE UK pay-per-view before COVID cancelled plans

The COVID-19 pandemic ensured the entire sporting calendar was altered quite significantly in 2020.

Almost every major event was suspended, but WWE managed to persevere with shows every week from their Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

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It did cost them WrestleMania in front of a packed crowd and they haven’t left the state of Florida for over a year now.

reported last year that WWE had hoped to bring a major pay-per-view to the UK in 2020 to capitalise on Drew McIntyre becoming the first-ever British born UK champion.

“Sources say WWE was keen to capitalise on McIntyre becoming the first-ever British world champion in the company and the hunger of the UK fanbase for a big-time pay-per-view,†ITR wrote.

Speaking to , WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has now confirmed those plans were in place and he was meant to face then-WWE champion McIntyre.

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“I was supposed to go to SummerSlam last year and I was supposed to go to WrestleMania last year and then I was also supposed to fight Drew McIntyre in a PPV event in the UK, but none of that happened thanks to COVID.

“So COVID’s cost me SummerSlam, Royal Rumble, PPV with Drew McIntyre, the [Deontay] Wilder rematch, and the [Anthony] Joshua fight. So thank you COVID [laughs].â€

McIntyre and Fury have verbally jousted for the better part of 2020 and it is certainly no coincidence. They were obviously building to a potential matchup, but given how unpredictable the recovery from the pandemic has proven, the plans have been shelved.

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England hopes to break free from the shackles of the pandemic on June 21 this year, so there is every chance WWE will return to the UK for the first time since 2019 either for their usual November UK tour or, more certainly, in 2022.

Fury is going to be a busy man this year regardless. His undisputed heavyweight title matchup with WBO, WBA, IBF and IBO champion Anthony Joshua is set to be announced any day now and they’re set to have two fights in 2021.

If they don’t manage to fight this year, Fury has suggested he will box regardless.