Normally there is quite a distance between a basketball arena and a wrestling ring, but the night of SummerSlam 2025 turned that boundary into a razor-thin line. Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who arrived at the show in a walking boot after tearing his Achilles tendon, unexpectedly became part of one of the evening’s key moments. His crutch changed hands, becoming an improvised “weapon” in John Cena and Cody Rhodes’s match for the Undisputed WWE Championship, and the entire sporting community instantly shifted its focus from NBA Finals statistics to the wrestlers’ flashy moves.
The Injury That Put the Season on Hold
Game 7 of the dramatic 2025 Finals was both a triumph and a tragedy for Haliburton: a torn Achilles deprived the point guard of a chance to finish the closing minutes and sent him on a long rehabilitation marathon. Yet even off the hardwood, the floor general remains in the spotlight—only now under WWE floodlights.
From Guest Spectator to Storyline Co-Author
SummerSlam promoters have always been known for flashy cameos, but the appearance of an NBA player in the opening minutes of a title match surprised even the most seasoned fans. Spotting Haliburton at ringside, Cena confidently grabbed one of the crutches and, staying true to his heel logic, suddenly attacked Rhodes, instantly adding fuel to an already heated rivalry.
The Crutch as an “Illegal” Prop
Using foreign objects is a classic storytelling device in professional wrestling, and Cena capitalized on the situation perfectly: the referee was distracted, the crowd was roaring, and the crutch in the legend’s hands became a symbol of the risk any competitor is willing to take in pursuit of the gold belt.
Fan Reaction and Mutual PR
NBA fans flooded social media with clips of Haliburton smiling as his “temporary leg” caught the powder smell of ring combat. For the Pacers it was a creative media angle to keep their playmaker’s name in the conversation even in the off-season, while WWE once again proved its ability to turn any detail into a viral moment.
What’s Next?
As Tyrese methodically regains his bounce and explosive speed, the sports world has enjoyed a rare crossover of two disciplines. And who knows—maybe the next joint shots of Haliburton and Cena will come not by the ropes but on a court where the score is kept in points, not pinfalls.
