Knicks stars Brunson and Towns headline WWE broadcast at Madison Square Garden
Jalen Brunson receives custom belt as King of New York while Karl-Anthony Towns delivers chokeslams in return to MSG
The New York Knicks celebrated their recent NBA championship with a high-profile appearance at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, broadcast live from Madison Square Garden on July 18, 2026. The event, marking the first time the programme has emanated from the venue since 2007, served as a formal recognition of the team’s title victory in San Antonio just over a month prior.
NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson main-evented the show alongside WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns. Following an extended introduction that crowned Brunson the "King of New York," the starting point guard was presented with a custom championship belt featuring blue and orange stripes. Brunson, who has a history of performing a Reigns-inspired handshake with trainers, participated in the segment without physical involvement due to a surgically repaired hand and wrist.
Earlier in the broadcast, Karl-Anthony Towns provided in-ring assistance to WWE superstar Danhausen, who is regarded as the Knicks’ good-luck charm. Towns intervened in a no-disqualification match where Danhausen was outnumbered by JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, wrestlers who had previously stolen and ruined a Knicks jersey gifted to Danhausen during the finals run. Towns delivered chokeslams to both opponents, enabling Danhausen to secure the victory and hold up five fingers to signify "Knicks in 5."
The celebration was interrupted by the arrival of Seth Rollins, who is scheduled to challenge Reigns at SummerSlam in two weeks. Instead of Rollins, Indiana Pacers player Tyrese Haliburton appeared on the TitanTron, rekindling a pre-existing kayfabe rivalry with Brunson that dates back to 2024. Haliburton’s appearance served as a distraction, allowing Rollins to attack Reigns, but Brunson intervened to protect his friend, creating an opening for Reigns to hit a Superman punch and a spear on Rollins.
While Brunson has yet to engage physically in his WWE appearances due to his injury, Towns’ performance drew comparisons to The Undertaker. The event highlighted the intersection of professional basketball and wrestling entertainment, with the Knicks stars utilising the platform to cement their championship legacy in front of a home crowd at Madison Square Garden.
