Skip Bayless names replacement for Shannon Sharpe on 'Undisputed' and begs 'let me annihilate you' amid rivalry

FOX SPORTS host Skip Bayless has his hopes set on a big name to replace Shannon Sharpe on the popular sports morning show.

The 71-year-old outspoken sports personality wants former NBA legend Charles Barkley as his next argument partner on the Fox Sports show "Undisputed."

Sharpe announced his departure from the famous TV show last month, and fans have speculated who will fill his place since.

The former NFL legend left Bayless and "Undisputed" after agreeing to exit his contract with the network. 

👉 For more insights, check out this resource.

However, Bayless shed light on who he wants to be the new cohost on the latest episode of his podcast "The Skip Bayless Show" on Thursday.

"Charles Barkley would be my dream debate partner on 'Undisputed,'" Bayless said.

👉 Discover more in this in-depth guide.

"I would dive out of bed every morning out here in Los Angeles at two o'clock in the morning to get to work with Charles."

Bayless stated Sharpe's decisions tore him up previously but expressed after hearing Barkley called him a "damn idiot" during TNT's coverage of "The Match" between Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce against Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson that sparked him.

"Please, Charles, please come and please work with me, this 'damn idiot.' What a joy it would be to do battle every day with Charles Barkley live on television," Bayless declared.

He continued to state that Barkley would make his job easier because debating him would be uncomplicated.

"I could semi-retire. I could mail it in. "Bayless said.

"I could dare, I say, actually have a life and forget about prepping so furiously hard night after night after night for every day's 'Undisputed.'"

"All I'd have to do is let Charles go first and listen to him make a fool out of himself. I'd get to sit back and watch him walk himself right into an indefensible trap. I wouldn't even have to try."

"So please, please, please, Charles, come be this damn idiot's debate partner."

"Please let me annihilate you on a daily basis… Let me make barbecue chicken out of you, as Shaq often says that he did."

Barkley has yet to address Bayless and respond to the offer publicly, and he will unlikely accept.

He is the cohost of TNT's award-winning show, "Inside the NBA," alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson, and Kenny Smith. He signed a new 10-year deal with the network.

As for Sharpe's next career move, he's reported in "early talks" with FanDuel to replace McAfee or join ESPN's Monday Night Countdown crew.