Rick Carlisle Reacts to Tyrese Haliburton’s WWE Passion After Pacers Star’s Wish Puts Health in Jeopardy

When it comes to pro wrestling, everyone knows who the biggest fan is. Of course, it’s Tyrese Haliburton. He has been a lifelong fan of WWE and has been a part of the program since 2024. Well, it’s hard to forget how Hali stared down at the New York Knicks superstar, Jalen Brunson on Smackdown. Now this obsession brings us to a question. How influential is Haliburton’s love for WWE on the Indiana Pacers?

Simply put, not much. The Pacers head coach, Rick Carlisle didn’t expect Zach Lowe to ask him if the 25-year-old has taught him a thing or two about pro wrestling. Coach Carlisle shared, “I grew up watching wrestling here and there on television. We didn’t have cable TV where I grew up. We were up near Canada, but we had a thing where you had to turn the antenna toward one of three cities, and two of them were Canadian. There wasn’t a lot of programming up there.”

Speaking about Haliburton’s love for WWE, the 65-year-old stated, “But he is completely in on it.” He added, “It’s interesting to me, the whole culture of it. I think it’s amazing what those guys do, what those women do, how they throw their bodies around, all that kind of stuff, the drama that’s created and everything else. I tip my hat to that industry for being able to do what they do; I thought Tyrese and Brunson the year before were kind of the epitome of the whole thing. So, I’ve learned more about it, I guess, to answer your question. I can’t say that I’m anywhere near as invested in it as him, but I have great respect for what they’re doing with that whole thing.”

Feb 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tyrese Haliburton
attends the Men’s Royal Rumble match during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

WWE captivates by fusing athleticism with bold storytelling, creating a spectacle that thrills like sport and drama combined. Its scripted matches maximize suspense while showcasing real physical skill. Characters evolve through rivalries, alliances, and personal drama, drawing fans deeply into unpredictable arcs. Grand entrances, music, and fireworks amplify the spectacle, while global tours and community engagement strengthen fan connection. WWE is athletic theater at its finest.

Turning back to Hali and his undeniable love for the game, he seems ready to push boundaries and risk it all for one goal. It may sound extreme at first, yet everything changes once you see what he is asking for.

Tyrese Haliburton’s endless attempts at convincing WWE COO Paul “Triple H” Levesque

Tyrese Haliburton’s love for professional wrestling goes beyond casual fandom. He stared down Knicks nemesis Jalen Brunson at Smackdown in June and appeared in the WWE 2K25 videogame. He also served as a guest analyst at ESPN’s Wrestlepalooza at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers’ home. Now, he is diving into the business side by launching his own WWE shirt. It is inspired by John Cena, who overcame an Achilles injury like Haliburton.

The Pacers superstar relentlessly pursued the thrill of the ring and admitted on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story that he repeatedly asked WWE COO Paul “Triple H” Levesque to let him take a table bump, where wrestlers slam each other through a table as part of a stunt. Legal concerns in his NBA contract blocked it, but Hali’s daring attitude shined through: when told the NBA would never allow it, he shot back, “Who cares?”

May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) reacts after shooting a three point basket during the second quarter against the New York Knicks of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Tyrese Haliburton is a superstar in the Pacers’ jersey and a WWE aficionado at heart. From staring down Jalen Brunson on Smackdown to launching his own WWE shirt, he lives the thrill. He chases risks like table bumps with fearless obsession, blending athleticism, drama, and boldness. Haliburton proves fandom can collide with ambition, creating a spectacle all his own.

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