Brunson and Towns turn MSG into Knicks-WWE victory party
Jalen Brunson teamed with Roman Reigns while Karl-Anthony Towns hit chokeslams during WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Jalen Brunson got the royal treatment at Madison Square Garden, then helped Roman Reigns fend off a WWE ambush with Knicks rival Tyrese Haliburton lurking nearby.
The Knicks’ NBA championship celebration spilled into WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event on Saturday, where Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns both took part in the show, according to CBS Sports. The event marked WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event’s first appearance at MSG since 2007.
CBS Sports reported that the night came a little more than a month after New York won the NBA title in San Antonio, ending a 53-year championship wait. Brunson, named NBA Finals MVP, and Towns were back inside their home arena for a crossover that put Knicks orange and blue all over the wrestling ring.
Brunson gets crowned, then Haliburton crashes in
Brunson appeared in the final segment with Reigns, identified by CBS Sports as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and one of Brunson’s favorite wrestlers. CBS Sports noted that Brunson has used a Reigns-inspired handshake with a Knicks trainer before games.
WWE introduced Brunson as the “King of New York,” and Reigns acknowledged him in the ring. Brunson was also presented with a custom championship belt featuring a blue-and-orange stripe, according to the report.
WWE posted video of the Garden crowd cheering and chanting for Brunson as the segment unfolded. The scene shifted when music associated with Seth Rollins played in the arena.
Instead of Rollins appearing first, Haliburton walked out under the TitanTron, according to CBS Sports. The Indiana Pacers star has already been part of a WWE-ring confrontation with Brunson, and his arrival revived that Knicks-Pacers edge in front of a very New York crowd.
CBS Sports reported that Haliburton’s appearance distracted Reigns long enough for Rollins to attack. Brunson then got in the way on Reigns’ behalf, creating the opening for Reigns to hit Rollins with a Superman punch and a spear.
Brunson did not get physically involved, according to CBS Sports, which noted that he had been dealing with a surgically repaired hand and wrist during both of his WWE appearances.
Towns brings the chokeslams
Towns had a more hands-on role earlier in the show. CBS Sports reported that he came to the ring to help WWE wrestler Danhausen, described as a Knicks good-luck charm after he “uncursed” the team before its late-season surge.
Danhausen was outnumbered against JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio in a no-disqualification match. CBS Sports reported that McDonagh and Mysterio had stolen and ruined a Knicks jersey given to Danhausen during the Finals run.
Towns entered to back up Danhausen, then delivered chokeslams to both McDonagh and Mysterio, according to the report. The moves helped set up Danhausen’s win.
Afterward, Towns celebrated in the ring and held up five fingers, which CBS Sports said signaled “Knicks in 5.” WWE also posted clips of Towns’ appearance and the Garden crowd reacting to him.
For one night, the Knicks’ title party came with entrance music, championship belts and a pair of big men, one from basketball and one from wrestling, standing tall in the building New York just spent a season shaking.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.