Tyrese Haliburton, usually the hardwood dazzler for the Indiana Pacers, stepped into a completely different arena this week. The point guard attended the Wrestlepalooza event, hosted at the Pacers’ homecourt, Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Surrounded by thousands of other wrestling fans, Haliburton was immersed in the spectacle as Brock Lesnar and John Cena reignited a historic rivalry.

The match itself was a brutal display of dominance and power. Lesnar was determined to assert himself over Cena, for whom this was one of his final matches, and delivered multiple F5s, leaving the veteran Cena staggering despite many attempts to fight back. The crowd was emotionally charged, with multiple young fans visibly in tears as their hero tried in vain to stay in the fight. Haliburton also had a memorable reaction to this.

Haliburton was caught on video, eyes wide and mouth hanging open in shock as the match continued, showing how professional athletes can get caught up in the storytelling of the WWE. The official account of the WWE also posted his reaction, with the caption, “Tyrese Haliburton was all of us after that Cena vs. Brock Match 😅,” connecting his response to the universal feelings that wrestling fans felt that night.

Haliburton’s involvement with the WWE is deeper than some might expect. Over the last year, he has made appearances at major events like the SummerSlam and Monday Night Raw, even in a walking boot following his Achilles tear in the NBA Finals. John Cena has also previously interacted with Haliburton, and once humorously grabbed his crutch to use against one of his opponents.

Haliburton’s night at Wrestlepalooza didn’t end there. Backstage, he linked up with superstar Cody Rhodes, the Undisputed WWE Champion, ahead of his match against Drew McIntyre, exchanging some friendly words. After this, he gave Rhodes a pair of his new Puma signature shoe, the Hali 1, and Rhodes made a post on his X account thanking the Pacers guard. The caption read, “Thanks for the kicks @Hali,” catching attention from fans.

Tyrese Haliburton’s relationship with wrestling feels natural to viewers, and it becomes clear why once we look at his past. Haliburton is a self-professed wrestling fan, and this isn’t even the most high-profile appearance he has made on WWE.

Haliburton’s WWE History has Layers, Including Jalen Brunson

In 2024, Tyrese Haliburton found himself at the center of a crossover NBA-WWE storyline which blurred the line between typical NBA rivalry and the scripted entertainment that WWE is known for.

It all started when Knicks player Josh Hart trolled Haliburton’s fit on social media, commenting that he looked like he had, “just been swept by the Celtics,” referring to the Pacers being swept in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.

Haliburton clapped back, reminding Hart that the Pacers had eliminated the Knicks in a thrilling seven-game series in the previous round to reach the ECF, a retort that ignited social media and fueled their rivalry. The banter caught fire among fans, setting the stage for an unexpected escalation on WWE SmackDown.

At Madison Square Garden, Haliburton surprised the crowd with an unforeseen appearance, allying himself with Logan Paul in a entanglement involving LA Knight. Sitting ringside was Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson, who, in an attempt to prevent Hali from stealing the spotlight, stormed into the ring wielding a steel chair, crowd roaring as Brunson began his confrontation.

The faceoff went viral not just because of the historic rivalry between the Knicks and the Pacers, but also because Brunson had just undergone hand surgery, though he later laughed it off, saying he was fine.

The moment showed the WWE’s ability to weave in real-life sports rivalries into it’s own universe, and solidified Haliburton as more than a casual fan. He has become a crossover figure, whose NBA profile only heightens the spectacle.