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Anthony Gharib, ESPN
Tyrese Haliburton loves working up a crowd and it was no different on Tuesday at WWE’s NXT show in Orlando.
The Indiana Pacers guard played a part in helping set up the NXT Championship Match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams. Haliburton had the contract of the match in hand and had to make sure Page and Williams signed it.
But before the two wrestlers could come out, he took a verbal jab at the crowd.
While introducing some of his teammates, including Myles Turner and James Johnson, that came along with him, the crowd serenaded him with boos. Haliburton had a clever response.
“I would boo too if I had to be an Orlando Magic fan.”@TyHaliburton22 came with some backup in the form of some @Pacers teammates and then let the NXT crowd hear it! 😂#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/bvfeXNw7Ja
— WWE (@WWE) September 18, 2024
The star’s comeback prompted more boos from the fans, but he moved on to focusing on getting the contract signed.
Haliburton also had an interaction with WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels backstage.
.@TyHaliburton22 got the @ShawnMichaels stamp of approval! 🙌 #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/kEI8WZ0zDG
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) September 18, 2024
The Magic went 2-1 against the Pacers and Haliburton last season, with Haliburton averaging 20.3 points, 8.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds in those matchups. The two sides did not face off in the postseason.
Haliburton is no stranger to the WWE scene. In June, the Pacers star went face-to-face with New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson on “Friday Night SmackDown.”
Haliburton made his way to the ring alongside Logan Paul, who was facing LA Knight and Santos Escobar in a match at Madison Square Garden. Haliburton and Brunson then engaged multiple times, including a staredown after the match before Haliburton and Paul slid out of the ring.
Orlando will have an early opportunity to get at the two-time NBA All-Star next season. The Magic and Pacers face off on Oct. 28 in Orlando.