It was supposed to be a one-off. Just a single appearance. A fluke, maybe. But instead, it became the moment that flipped the script on Tyrus’s entire career — and gave FOX News one of its most unlikely stars.

Tyrus, born George Murdoch, wasn’t new to cameras. He had spent years in front of roaring wrestling crowds as a WWE and NWA superstar, where body slams, feuds, and promos were the name of the game. But stepping into the unpredictable world of political television? That was another battlefield entirely.

What few people know — and what Janice Dean couldn’t stop laughing about on their recent podcast — is that Tyrus’s journey didn’t start with an audition, a reel, or a professional meeting. No, it started with a prank. A classic Greg Gutfeld ambush.

“Greg texted me, said, ‘Come hang out during the taping.’ I thought I’d just be watching,” Tyrus said, still amused. “Next thing I know, I’m mic’d up and live, and he throws me into this segment like, ‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’ It was sink or swim.”

And Tyrus swam.

With no prep and no plan, he delivered witty, sharp observations and added a unique flavor the show didn’t even know it needed. The audience responded immediately. His charisma was undeniable, and his ability to blend cultural commentary with real-world experience struck a chord. He wasn’t a polished pundit — and that’s exactly why it worked.

Janice Dean, longtime weather anchor and co-host on FOX, was one of the first to notice.

“I saw that 2018 episode when you just appeared out of nowhere,” she said through laughter. “But I had no idea it started with Greg trolling you! That’s so classic Gutfeld — unpredictable and brilliant.”

But behind the laughs was something deeper. Tyrus explained that his past in wrestling had trained him not just to perform, but to protect himself — with his words.

“In wrestling, everything you say in a promo can come back to haunt you. You can’t be sloppy,” he explained. “That taught me how to speak carefully. When I joined FOX, I brought that same discipline.”

That discipline soon turned into opportunity. After a few more appearances on Gutfeld!, the audience demanded more. Tyrus became a regular contributor, then a staple voice on the show, bringing a grounded, often humorous take that cut through the noise.

But perhaps most touching is the bond between Tyrus and Greg Gutfeld. What started as a prank evolved into mutual respect and genuine friendship. Tyrus calls Greg “one of the sharpest minds in media,” and credits him not only for giving him a platform, but for pushing him into discomfort — a place where Tyrus would thrive.

“Greg saw something in me I didn’t even see in myself. He made me earn it, but he also made it fun. That prank? That wasn’t just TV. That was a door opening.”

Now, Tyrus has expanded far beyond his Gutfeld! roots. He’s authored a bestselling book, headlined speaking events, and developed a reputation as one of the most authentic voices on FOX News — never afraid to be honest, never too polished to be real.

As Janice Dean wrapped up the podcast, she couldn’t help but reflect:

“Sometimes the best things in life happen when you’re totally unprepared. You didn’t plan it. You didn’t even ask for it. But there it is — your moment. And you nailed it.”

And that’s the legacy of Tyrus’s unexpected rise — a story that began with a laugh, and became one of the most unlikely success stories in cable news.

The applause may have come fast, but so did the pressure.

After his breakout moment on Gutfeld!, Tyrus found himself catapulted into a whole new world—one not of wrestling rings and choreographed conflict, but of live television, polarizing opinions, and constant public scrutiny. For most people, the shift from sports entertainment to cable news would be jarring. For Tyrus, it was a test of everything he stood for.

“Wrestling prepared me for a lot—but not for this kind of attention,” he admitted in a later interview. “In wrestling, your fans know the game. In news, people take everything at face value. One wrong word, and it’s viral.”

Suddenly, every sentence Tyrus spoke on-air was dissected, tweeted, analyzed, and—in some cases—weaponized. As one of the few Black conservative voices on a major news network, he was instantly a target for both admiration and attack.

He was called bold. Honest. Dangerous. Outspoken. Misunderstood. It depended on who you asked.

But Tyrus didn’t flinch.

What others saw as controversy, he saw as conversation. He leaned into his role—not as a provocateur, but as a truth-teller who refused to be boxed in. Whether discussing race, politics, family, or culture, he spoke from experience. He wasn’t interested in towing any party line. He was interested in being real.

“I wasn’t raised to be afraid of other people’s opinions,” Tyrus said on a panel. “And I’m definitely not going to start now, just because I’m wearing a suit instead of trunks.”

Behind the scenes, though, the transition wasn’t easy. He missed the energy of live crowds, the brotherhood of locker rooms, and the physicality of wrestling. But he also knew he had a new purpose—one bigger than he ever expected. Fans started reaching out, not to talk wrestling, but to say how much his voice meant to them.

Single moms. Veterans. Young men trying to find their place in the world. People tired of extremes, just looking for someone who spoke like a human being—not a politician.

And so, Tyrus stayed.

He studied harder. Thought deeper. Listened more. He became one of Gutfeld!’s most trusted regulars—not just for his punchlines, but for his perspective. And while he still got trolled online, he didn’t lose sleep over it. Because the guy who once battled giants in the ring wasn’t about to be rattled by Twitter.

Janice Dean later reflected on his journey:

“What I love about Tyrus is that he didn’t change to fit FOX. He helped FOX change by just being himself.”

Now, with years of TV under his belt, a loyal fan base, and a growing voice in national conversations, Tyrus stands as one of the most compelling transformations in modern media.

Not because he became a star.

But because he didn’t lose his soul getting there.