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.
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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.
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John Cena has also previously interacted with Haliburton, and once humorously grabbed his crutch to use against one of his opponents. During Wrestlepalooza, Haliburton served as a guest analyst, providing commentary with WWE personalities on ESPN. He has even been featured in WWE 2K25, showing how much crossover appeal he has cultivated.
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His involvement shows us that Tyrese Haliburton has a genuine passion for wrestling and an ability to connect with fans across multiple platforms. For Pacers fans and wrestling enthusiasts alike, Haliburton’s presence was a reminder that athletes can be involved in other sports as normal, passionate fans, and through this, he has captured the hearts of fans across sports and entertainment.