New York Knicks All-Star guard, 2026 Finals MVP, and NBA Champion Jalen Brunson was acknowledged by the WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event after all his efforts to bring the title back to NYC. Unfortunately, Tyrese Haliburton had other plans, making it clear that the rivalry is not over in Madison Square Garden.
Tyrese Haliburton Arrives at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Crashes Jalen Brunson Acknowledgment Ceremony
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event in MSG graphic featuring Jalen Brunson and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in MSG graphic featuring Jalen Brunson and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns. (Photo Credit: WWE)
There was a heavy NBA presence tonight at WWE SNME in Madison Square Garden, as New York Knicks star Center Karl-Anthony Towns threw out Slam Dunk Chokeslams earlier in the night. To conclude the event, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns invited Jalen Brunson out to the ring for his “Acknowledgment Ceremony,” presenting him with a custom blue-strapped, New York Knicks-inspired version of the WWE World Heavyweight Title.
A photo of NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns, who attended WWE Saturday Night's Main Event.
A photo of NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns. (Photo Credit: By The White House – YouTube: President Trump Attends the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden – View/save archived versions on archive.org, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=193827287)
As Roman Reigns commanded everyone in NYC to acknowledge them and throw up the “1s,” “Burn It Down!” would blare through The Garden’s speakers, only for Indiana Pacers superstar Tyrese Haliburton to crash the party instead of Seth Rollins, with a steel chair in hand, putting a damper on the proceedings. Brunson was more than ready to fight, as he faces off against the ultimate villain for the New York Knicks.
Rollins would appear from behind and blast an unsuspecting Reigns. Seth would set up for The Stomp, but the “King of New York” would stand in his way, guarding the “Tribal Chief.” Reigns would come to, hitting a Superman Punch and Spear on Seth Rollins, two weeks out from their showdown at SummerSlam 2026.
Rollins, along with Haliburton, would hightail it out of there. Reigns would put the custom title around the Captain’s waist and give him the WWE World Heavyweight Title to hoist up, as Roman would hold up the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy in front of a packed and ecstatic New York Knicks crowd.
It has been a wild night tonight, but one thing was for certain: New York once again won tonight.