Ty Murray is known as the King of the Cowboys, and with good reason.

He’s a nine-time World Champion, and has ridden bulls, bareback and saddle broncs. In the years since, he’s gone scuba diving with sharks, taught celebrities how to ride bulls, and danced with the stars. Most recently, he and his wife Jewel lent a hand building a new home for a needy family.

To that resume, he can soon add hosting WWE Monday Night Raw.

After a year of schedule conflicts, Murray and Jewel will be in Indianapolis two days after the Iron Cowboy Invitational to host Raw at Conseco Fieldhouse. This particular Raw performance will feature wrestling superstars Sheamus, The Miz, and Big Show, along with Shawn Michaels, Triple H and others.

For Murray, his involvement is about awareness.

“I feel like it’s another way to get the sport of bull riding out to a giant audience,” Murray said. “It’s already sold out, and they do huge numbers on television worldwide.”

And, of course, “it’s a fun deal.”

Murray later joked, “Nacho Libre has nothing on me.”

As hosts of the show, which will be broadcast Feb. 22 at 9 p.m. ET on the USA Network, Murray said that he and Jewel were told they will essentially serve as puppeteers of the program. They expected to have a phone call with producers later today or tomorrow to discuss their roles in more detail.

“For me, it’s exciting because we’re living in a world where they’re starting to include me and the sport of bull riding and cowboys into more mainstream popular culture,” said Murray. “I see it as we ought to be there to try and make more people aware of the sport.

“The more fans that professional bull riding gains, the better opportunities there are for everybody involved.”

— by Keith Ryan Cartwright