NBA’s Tyrese Haliburton recently revealed he wanted to make an entrance with the 17-time WWE Champion John Cena during his heel run. The Franchise Player is one of the biggest stars of professional wrestling, set to retire in December from in-ring competition.
Haliburton is a huge wrestling fan and has been present in the crowd at many WWE events in the past. The NBA star’s most recent appearance was during SummerSlam 2025 Premium Live event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Speaking to celebrity-turned-wrestler Logan Paul on his Impaulsive podcast on Wednesday, Tyrese revealed that he once said to WWE’s head of creative, Triple H, about walking out with a heel John Cena in New York if he had an NBA Trophy. Tyrese is currently out of action due to tearing his Achilles tendon after matches against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the New York Knicks.
“I talked to Triple H one time. I was like ‘if (John) Cena was a heel in New York and we win a championship, let me walk him out with the (NBA) trophy.'”
Tyrese Has Always Been A WWE Guy
Tyrese Haliburton came in support of John Cena during his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at Summerslam. He gave Cena his crutch, which was used as a weapon during the match.
Haliburton has been a huge fan of World Wrestling Entertainment. He revealed on the podcast that wrestling is his second-favorite thing behind the NBA. The Pacers star’s first event was WrestleMania 19, and he is grateful for the great gestures of WWE over the years.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Haliburton steps into the squared circle in WWE, as we have seen many sports guys crossing over to professional wrestling, like Pat McAfee, Shaq, and more. It remains to be seen if the Pacers star pursues professional wrestling after the NBA.
The Heel John Cena Act Would Have Drawn Huge Reactions In New York
John Cena turned heel in March, which shocked not only the wrestling world but the entire entertainment world. However, he surprised the fans by turning back into a good guy on the SmackDown before Summerslam at MetLife Stadium.
If the former WWE Champion didn’t turn babyface and make his heel entrance with none other than Tyrese Haliburton in New York, it could have blown the roof off the house. The headlines alone would have put both the NBA and WWE as the two most talked-about topics.
However, the act could potentially happen again if WWE gives Tyrese the opportunity. The NBA star could still walk out with John Cena, but as a babyface. The energetic entrance of the Cenation Leader, along with Tyrese, will certainly be a sight to see if it happens in the upcoming months.
Published: Aug 28, 2025 03:35 pm