Ex Pro-Wrestler & Fox News Commentator Talks Books & His Everyday People Planet

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer

George Murdoch better known as Tyrus has quite literally been a larger than life figure for most of the 21st century, working as a bouncer and security guard for rapper Snoop Dogg, before gaining prominence as a professional wrestler. However, for the past decade many admirers of Tyrus are more familiar with him during his time on Fox News. 

In November of 2016 Tyrus accepted an invitation to be a guest commentator on The Greg Gutfeld Show. Not long after he became a regular contributor to the show, all the while making appearances on The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino and The Five. When Gutfeld's show was revamped as Gutfeld! in April of 2021 Tyrus became a co-host alongside Greg and Kat Timpf, thus beginning a new chapter in his career.

Tyrus admits, while making the occasional appearance on Greg's show he never imagined it would lead to a regular gig. "I didn't go in thinking long term. Yet it all happened rather quickly. I didn't really know much about Greg. I was aware of his show Redeye. I definitely didn't know much about politics."

However, the two bonded. "Greg and I hit it off right away. We share a certain chemistry. It wasn't long before he asked me to be a co-host. I said I don't live in New York. And besides, I was busy with a my wrestling career and had things happening in Japan."

He adds, "Bottom line I just wasn't sure a regular comedy show centered around politics and current events was where I needed to be. Obviously it's worked out and proved favorably for me. Looking back I needed something to do when I stepped away from wrestling." Tyrus retired from the sport in 2023.

Although he feels comfortable at Fox News he wouldn't say he's at home there. "Absolutely not. Home is when I'm with my family. Working at Fox is a part of what I do to take care of my family, to support what they want to do."

Just shy of turning 53 (Feb 21st), can Tyrus see spending another ten or more years at the cable news network. "If I finish my TV career at Fox, then that's good." But according to him, nothing is a definite. "Right now I'm in the middle of a grind. I travel. I have several business opportunities. At this stage of my life I do what's best for me and my family. I set the table on my own terms."

Like many Fox News personalities, Tyrus is kept busy throughout the day. He could sit in on a segment during America's Newsroom (weekdays 9-11am), do the same on The Story with Martha MacCallum (airs 3pm), make a guest appearance on The Five, before taping Gutfeld! that airs weeknights at 10pm. Aside from those regular and irregular gigs he could pop on any of Fox' radio formats. "They definitely keep me busy."

More than anything Tyrus appreciates the autonomy Fox allows him. "I've never been someone who fits into a mold. Never have been, never will. They let me be me. I asked them one time, do I need to wear suits. They said no. That's one of the things I enjoy best about working here, they let me do my own thing."

And if that wasn't enough he hosts Planet Tyrus, a semi-weekly podcast on Fox News formats including OutKick and Fox News Radio. He admits it's a departure from anything else he takes part in on the network. "We're not doing anything political. There's more than enough political shows on TV and Fox. My podcast is an extension of conversations I want to have, with real everyday people." 

He breaks the format down. "There's no filter. The conversations are candid and opinionated. The guests and the topics run all over the place. I talk with scientists, historians, and everyday people. We discuss anything and everything. A lot of it centers around common sense issues."

Still it's a departure from the norm. "Absolutely. Fox took a gamble on me. I wanted to give everyday people a voice. I believe conversation is good, and bold conversations are even better."

The bottom line. "I wanted the podcast to be different than anything else out there. It's just me talking to people. And it doesn't matter what side of the aisle your on or who you voted for." It must be working. His team says 'Planet Tyrus' saw a 21% increase in unique visitors month to month during December.

What does Tyrus do when he's not on camera and in the building. "A variety of things. Workout. Ride the bike. Face time with my kids. But most of all I spend my time reading and doing a lot of research. I look for other things that other people at Fox don't look for."

That mindset works when he guests on any of the panel driven shows throughout the day, and especially when he tapes Gutfeld!. "Absolutely. On Greg's show I have to be prepared. I consider myself the anchor for the show. What I don't want to do is say the same thing someone else just talked about."

He reiterates, preparation is the key on Gutfeld!. "In today's world the news cycles change so quickly, you don't know what the topics will be. So when you go in, your guns better be loaded."

Regular viewers to the show may recall Greg introduces the panel by using some sort of comedic jabs to their character, often making jokes about golden girls (senior ladies) and their affection for Tyrus' size and manliness. "I have no clue on what Greg is going to say during that segment of the show. But if you can't handle being made fun of on the show, there's no reason to be on TV."

Although Greg, Kat, and Tyrus are the mainstays, the other two chairs are often occupied by fellow Fox News personalities including several stand up comics that write for the show. Throughout its tenure Gutfeld! has played host to Hollywood types and politicians.

Without question one of the highlights for Tyrus on Gutfeld! was when President Trump appeared on the show just a little more than a month before the 2024 election. "A very classy man. A lot of people in the media and in general don't understand him, or how much he cares about people. He's totally invested in the country."

The two enjoyed an even more personable time together when Tyrus conducted a one-on-one interview with Trump a month later as part of his Tyrus & The Wise Men podcast. "We broke bread together. It was just a couple weeks before the election. We discussed several topics. He connects on a personal level. He's a big fan of wrestling. We talked about family and my daughter's love for horses."

Tyrus adds, "I consider myself a middle of the road guy. I'm open-minded. I voted for Obama twice because I believed in his message. I voted for Trump three times because I understood his common sense approach. Whatever I do and however I vote, I do what's best for me."

The various Fox News platforms Tyrus appears on have opened up opportunities in other areas as well for him. Over the past four years he's written three books recounting his life and career choices, including his autobiography 'Just Tyrus: A Memoir' (2022), followed by 'Nuff Said' (2023) offering up more personal stories. 

Tyrus' most recent full length book 'What It Is, America' was released in November of 2025 and provides readers his unfiltered, common-sense perspective on American life, politics, and culture through personal stories, observations, and commentary on current events. In the 288 page bare-knuckle account Tyrus explicitly calls out the Democratic Party and the Biden administration, focusing on what he describes as 'inane left-wing ideologies' and the administration's failures.

"'What It Is, America' is my own perspective. I chronicled what I saw and what was affecting me. I never asked democrats or republicans about what I was writing about. In a sense I'm telling a story through my own eyes. I'm being critical of myself." He adds, "I think history will show Biden was never the president of the United States. It was more of a shadow government run by an auto pen."

While Tyrus professes to be open-minded, he wonders why liberals and far left wing activists are out of touch with most of America. "I think when you live in a bubble, that becomes your reality. When you don't have conversations or listen to opposing viewpoints, you become completely oblivious to what's happening around you."

To prove Tyrus is well-rounded, he just released (Jan '26) his first children's book 'Georgie and Her Great Horse Adventures' with his daughter Georgie as his co-writer. The heartwarming story focuses on Georgie's journey, starting with her first horse, Earl, and her later partnership with the older horse, Roosevelt. 

Driven by pride in his daughter's story, Tyrus says it's among the best books he's written. "It was very inspirational for me. I enjoy writing and I really love reading. I believe kids should put down their phones and electronic devices and read more. I believe families should read more together. We need to return to some of those core values in life."

Not to be outdone, he and some co-creators just published 'The Unstoppable Tyrus', an 128-page action-packed graphic novel featuring the titular character on a quest for 'crystal keys' to secure a powerful crown. The novel emphasizes themes of inner turmoil and heroic choices, framing Tyrus as a character who must decide between absolute power and saving the world.

"It's my first graphic comic book, and it's not offensive. It's more old school. An adventure story. It safe for kids to read and I believe adults will find it entertaining. Again, I hope kids will put down their tablets and get back to reading." Published by Big Man Comics, it's available for pre-order now at https://www.bigmancomics.com/campaign/the-unstoppable-tyrus/

Closer to home and perhaps Fox viewers have noticed, Tyrus has slimmed down and become more fit than he has ever in his adult life. "It was a real life check. Sometimes as you get older you have this sense of invincibility. But that's far from the truth."

Several factors spurred his decision. "I lost two friends. One due to weight and other for being too jacked. When I retired from wrestling (2023) and one day you see a buddy dying you start to self-examine your own health. I was 50 years old and 375 pounds."

He admits there were more important reasons for the transformation. "Even though your family love and accept you as you are, it's not fair to them. So, I went back into a training program for my wife and my kids. I have to be around for them, and provide for them. I have a daughter who's into horses and a son playing travel baseball. I want to support the things they love to do." He adds, "I don't want to be the dad walking out on the field with a cane."

Tyrus credits his wife Ingrid, a holistic life practitioner and long time fitness enthusiast, for helping achieve his goals. His wife lost over 130 lbs. and has maintained her weight ever since. "She definitely inspires me. She started me on the right nutritional plan. I began eating a lot of steak and spinach. And I started adding cardio to my routine and changing the way I work out."

Apparently there's more to Tyrus than meets the eye. He played football in high school and in college, as well as trying out for several NFL teams, worked as a teacher and bodyguard before making his mark in professional wrestling. For the past decade he's been a respected Fox News personality and a New York Times bestselling author.

Clearly, Tyrus is driven. When he's not on Gutfeld! on Friday nights it's usually because he's travelling to bring his brand of comedy and commentary on the road. Don't under-estimate his entertaining skills. "I welcome touring all across the country, playing to sold out crowds. In junior high I won a talent show, and I was always the funniest dude in the locker room. It just so happens, I was big and athletics got in the way."

Confident in his abilities and talents, Tyrus doesn't let naysayers bring him down. "I don't let the negative bother me. I enjoy proving people wrong when they say I can't do certain things. It makes me work even harder. At this stage in my life I enjoy everything I do, thankful I have good people around me and a supportive family."

While things appear to be going in a positive direction for Tyrus, he doesn't like to get to comfortable. "I don't know if I've hit my stride. I'm balancing my career and my family. That's important to me. But I stress to my kids, diversify. Do as much as you can, as often as you're able, especially if it gives you fulfillment." Advice well received at any age!

For more on Planet Tyrus visit https://radio.foxnews.com/podcast/planet-tyrus/  or on Outkick at https://www.outkick.com/shows/planet-tyrus  Also available on YouTube channels. Past online streaming shows featuring Tyrus as host can be found at on Fox Nation at https://nation.foxnews.com/personalities/tyrus/  And f you want to catch Tyrus' comedy tour live there are several unofficial websites including https://www.tyrustour.com/

To read my review of 'What It Is, America' click on https://charleston.com/charleston-insider/arts-culture/tyrus-what-it-is-america-offers-readers-candid-observations