The NBA has unveiled the rosters for the 2025 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, with WWE Superstar Bayley among the standout names set to take the court. As All-Star Weekend heads to San Francisco, Bayley—a proud Bay Area native—joins an exciting lineup at the Golden State Warriors’ Chase Center.
Coached by San Francisco sports legends Barry Bonds and Jerry Rice, the game features a strong Bay Area presence. Alongside Bayley, the roster includes former 49ers star Terrell Owens, ex-Warriors players Baron Davis and Matt Barnes, and WNBA standouts Allisha Gray and Kayla Thornton. Other big names suiting up include popular streamer Kai Cenat, comedian Druski, and musician Shaboozey.
With her athleticism and competitive spirit, Bayley should be right at home in this star-studded matchup. While WWE and the NBA are separate worlds, there have been several interesting crossovers between WWE Superstars and the NBA over the years. Here are some notable connections:
WWE Stars Playing in the NBA
- Kevin Nash – Before becoming “Big Sexy” in WWE, Nash played college basketball at the University of Tennessee and even had a brief stint as a professional basketball player in Europe.
- Giant González (Jorge González) – The 7’7″ wrestler who competed in WWE (then WWF) as “Giant González” was originally drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 1988. However, injuries prevented him from having an NBA career, leading him to professional wrestling.
NBA Players Appearing in WWE/Wrestling
- Dennis Rodman – The former Chicago Bulls star famously teamed up with Hulk Hogan in WCW during the late ‘90s, even wrestling Karl Malone during the height of their NBA rivalry.
- Karl Malone – Partnered with Diamond Dallas Page to take on Hogan and Rodman in WCW’s Bash at the Beach 1998.
- Shaquille O’Neal – Shaq has made multiple WWE appearances, including a face-off with Big Show at WrestleMania 32.
- Dwight Howard – Though never an official WWE star, Howard attended a WWE tryout in 2022, hinting at a potential post-basketball career in wrestling.
WWE Superstars with NBA Ties
- Bayley – A lifelong Golden State Warriors fan, Bayley has frequently represented the team in WWE appearances and even took part in the 2019 NBA Finals celebration.
- The Undertaker – A well-known fan of the NBA, particularly the Dallas Mavericks, The Undertaker has made appearances at NBA games and even engaged in a friendly rivalry with LeBron James over championship belts.
While no WWE Superstar has had a major impact as an NBA player, the connections between the two worlds—whether through fan support, celebrity games, or one-off appearances—continue to pop up.
