George Kittle creates viral moment with Tyrese Haliburton at WrestleMania 42

Photo by Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images

The first night of WrestleMania 42 took place last Saturday, bringing together major names from across sport and entertainment inside Allegiant Stadium.

Among those in attendance were multiple high-profile athletes, with NFL and NBA stars mixing with celebrities from other fields throughout the show.

Two of those figures quickly stood out, as Tyrese Haliburton and George Kittle combined for one of the night’s most memorable moments.

George Kittle steals spotlight with viral WrestleMania moment

San Francisco 49ers tight end Kittle and Haliburton, the Indiana Pacers’ star guard, were both shown on screen during the event in Las Vegas.

As Haliburton prepared to take a sip of his beer, Kittle intercepted the drink and downed it in one gulp, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

The moment became one of the highlights outside the ring, reflecting the crossover appeal of the WWE show.

Other celebrities in attendance endorsed WrestleMania’s appeal, such as Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith and KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza.

Moment comes amid scrutiny on Tyrese Haliburton

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

While the scene was light-hearted, it comes during a curious period for Haliburton.

He is currently working his way back from an Achilles rupture that ruled him out for the entire season.

That recovery process has drawn criticism, with some pointing to his recent form, as he had evidently gained some weight during that span.

Kittle’s playful moment may have been harmless, but it has just added to the attention surrounding Haliburton’s form as he looks to return to full fitness.