Former WWE champion Drew McIntyre has warned Tyson Fury not to "screw up" against Dillian Whyte.
The heavyweight duo have gone back-and-forth over the past two years since Fury's debut in the WWE back in 2019. And with the promotion set for a huge UK pay-per-view event in Cardiff later this year, the stage may be set for the pair to finally do battle.
But first, Fury must defend his world heavyweight title in the boxing ring against Dillian Whyte. He faces his fellow Brit in front of 94,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night, and after declaring that it will be his final boxing match, he could move back into 'sports entertainment' as early as this year.
"I can't see him not winning," McIntyre said of Fury's chances against Whyte. "He is the better fighter, the bigger guy and he's an absolute cardio machine. He might not look like the athlete of the day but he goes and goes like an Energizer bunny.
"He's proven with the Wilder fights that he can take what would be significant knockout punches and keep going, that's Whyte's best chance is getting a knockout. I've got my money on Tyson, but all I'll say is 'don't screw it up'.
"We've been talking about maybe making something happen for the past couple of years, obviously with everything on my plate right now I'm not focused on telling him 'let's do this thing' or 'let's make something happen'.
"My attention is on getting back to the WWE Championship or the Universal Championship, both currently held by Roman Reigns. I'm targeting Roman right now, but if Tyson wants to make something happen, he has our number so give us a call and most importantly don't screw it up on Saturday."
McIntyre, who last held the WWE gold in February of last year, and will be pushing to get back on top in time for their first major stadium show in the UK since Summerslam 1992. He has indicated that he would like to face Fury in a special bout when they stage the event, but understands that boxing retirements rarely last, and the Manchester native could be swayed into other options.
"I've heard him say this before as well," McIntyre said of Fury's retirement talk. "One day, if he keeps going like this he's going to be the boy that cried retirement. He'll be like [Conor] McGregor where he'll say 'I'm done, I've nothing else to prove' and then the next fight comes along and the money offer and they say 'maybe one more'.
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"This could be huge, and like I've said the ball is in his court. Get the fight won on Saturday and if he wants to do something after talking this trash over the last couple of years give us a call.
"My attention is fully on how I can be fighting for the title and be champion in five months time. I want to go into Cardiff either as champion or be fighting for the title. But if that doesn't work out and I've got something with a name like Fury, especially in the UK where he's a big name, I'd love it.
"You've got him, the best in his world, vs Drew McIntyre, one of the best in my world. Together on home soil in the UK, that's going to draw attention not just from wrestling fans but fans outside of wrestling and draw eyeballs."
WWE returns to the UK next week with live events in Newcastle and London on April 28 and 29. Tickets are available through ticketmaster.co.uk.
