Tyrese Haliburton has never hidden his love for pro wrestling. From the moment he sat behind the announcer’s table at SummerSlam with his dad in 2021, to facing off with Jalen Brunson at Madison Square Garden during SmackDown, Haliburton has been a visible part of the WWE universe. But this weekend in Indianapolis feels different.

The NBA All-Star is out for the season with a torn Achilles, an injury suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. And while his Pacers fell short against the Thunder, Haliburton has been anything but absent. He’s been at community events, SummerSlam, NXT, and even helped announce his own playable character in WWE 2K25. Now, in the city where he became a franchise cornerstone, he’s watching as a different kind of icon prepares for his own final act. This weekend, John Cena wrestles in Indianapolis for the last time.

Visibly upset, Tyrese Haliburton posted a seven-word message on his Instagram story ahead of WWE legend John Cena’s final Indianapolis appearance at Wrestlepalooza on September 20, 2025: “GOAT last time in Indy lock in.” The video showed Haliburton lying in bed, surrounded by six championship belts, including the Indiana Pacers’ Eastern Conference belt and a WWE Universal Title belt, a nod to his dual fandom. 

Haliburton’s ties to WWE are well-documented. On an ESPN special on Friday, he predicted outcomes for Wrestlepalooza’s loaded card at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. On John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar, he said: “It could definitely happen. I don’t think it’s gonna happen, but it could definitely happen. It’s Brock’s first match back in a little bit…man, I was there at SummerSlam for this pop, this crowd reaction, this moment. And he looked unbelievable when he slid in the ring. Just the electricity in the arena was unbelievable. So he’s going to be jacked, he’s going to be ready to go. It definitely could happen.”

For Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship, Haliburton backed Rhodes after Big E’s nod: “I think Drew is gonna be fierce from the jump. He’s gonna be ready to go…But I think Cody’s definitely coming out with the win.” On the Women’s World Championship match between Iyo Sky and Stephanie Vaquer, he lauded Vaquer’s “unbelievable” rookie year and Sky’s “energy” and “total package” presence. The card also features The Usos vs. The Vision, as well as CM Punk with AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, amplifying local excitement.

Haliburton’s passion for wrestling is well-documented. At SummerSlam 2021 in Las Vegas, he sat ringside with his father. His 2024 SmackDown moment with Brunson, wearing a “Tyrese 3:17” shirt, and NXT appearance in Orlando, taunting Magic fans, cemented his WWE persona. At Royal Rumble 2025, Triple H teased his involvement, but Haliburton stayed sidelined to avoid injury. His

WWE 2K25 character, announced in May 2025, features his “Tyrese 3:17” shirt, tied to his “Stone Cold” Steve Austin fandom. And the WWE fan will get to live out some childhood dreams, as he’s quite involved with Wrestlepalooza.

Haliburton’s role at Wrestlepalooza 

Haliburton hosted Wrestlepalooza pre-event coverage on September 19, 2025, for ESPN’s special on ESPN2 and the ESPN app, alongside Peter Rosenberg and WWE stars. On Saturday, he’ll serve as an analyst, as ESPN and WWE leverage his crossover appeal for their first premium live event partnership.

A torn right Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against Oklahoma City sidelined Haliburton for the 2025-26 season. The injury crushed plans to walk out with Cena at SummerSlam 2025, holding the NBA Finals trophy: “The plan was, like, two months ago, and when I say plan, I mean, very, very loosely. I talked to H [Levesque] about it maybe one time. It was like, if Cena is a heel in New York and we [the Pacers] win a championship, let me walk him out with the [NBA Finals] trophy. When I got hurt, the first things were like [this cost me]– this game [Game 7], next season, John Cena.” Recovery is projected at 15 months, targeting late 2026.

Rehab shows promise. At Iowa’s CyHawk game, Haliburton appeared without a walking boot, wearing Iowa State gear, and recently shot free throws at the Pacers’ facility. He wears the boot in crowds for safety but projects optimism: “H-ll no,” he said on IMPAULSIVE, when asked if he regretted playing Game 7. His 2024-25 stats are 21.8 points, 11.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 40.2% from three. 

Haliburton’s $245 million extension is a sign that Indiana has faith in his return. Recent Achilles recoveries like Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson fuel hope. His presence at practices, community events, and WWE stages keeps team morale high. Pacers fans await his 2026-27 return, hoping he channels this energy to lead Indiana back to the Finals.