Tyrese Haliburton has confirmed that a recent injury prevented him from appearing in a planned WWE segment alongside John Cena. The Indiana Pacers guard revealed that the idea, which was discussed with Triple H, had to be canceled after his setback.
Speaking on the ImPaulsive podcast, Haliburton explained that the concept tied directly to both Cena and his team’s success. If Cena were to work as a heel in New York and the Pacers won a championship, Haliburton would have walked him to the ring carrying the trophy. He admitted that the disappointment was immediate, saying his first thoughts after getting hurt were about recovery, the next season, and the lost opportunity with Cena.
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Although the angle was scrapped, Haliburton still made his way to SummerSlam, this time only as a fan. Triple H offered him the chance to address the crowd, but Haliburton declined, joking that he expected to be heavily booed and that his crutches might even end up being used as weapons during the show.
Despite staying out of the spotlight, he explained that his motivation to attend was simple: watching what could be one of Cena’s final performances in the United States. For Haliburton, being present for that moment was worth it.
His connection with WWE has grown throughout 2025. In June, he was added as a playable character in WWE 2K25 as part of the “Dunk & Destruction Pack.” That inclusion followed his prior appearances on WWE programming, including an on-air confrontation with fellow NBA player Jalen Brunson on SmackDown.
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