SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: The Undertaker (L) pushes Bam Neely into the corner during WWE Smackdown at Acer Arena on June 15, 2008 in Sydney, Australia.
The Cleveland Cavaliers opened the 2016-2017 season in a big way on Tuesday night.
The Cavs received their championship rings for their victory against the Golden State Warriors in last year’s NBA Finals, and raised the first championship banner in Cleveland in 52 years. Cleveland also easily defeated the New York Knicks 117-88.
The biggest surprise of the night, however, came when WWE superstar The Undertaker was spotted hanging out around the Cavaliers’ locker room before the game.
And he didn’t just appear as Mark Calaway, the 51-year-old man most people know as The Undertaker. He was dressed in his usual wrestling attire– the long black jacket, gloves, hat and all.
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Several of the Cavaliers naturally freak out, as wrestling fans. Star forward LeBron James must have been excited, given that he was shown wearing an Undertaker shirt during last year’s NBA Finals, as his team trailed the Warriors 3-1.
Another Cavs player, Kyrie Irving, also showed off an “Ankletaker” shirt earlier this month, a shirt that has become wildly popular amongst NBA fans.
Clearly, the respect is mutual:
Will The Undertaker continue to serve as the Cavs’ lucky charm? Only time will tell.
The Cavaliers will next visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 15: The Undertaker (L) pushes Bam Neely into the corner during WWE Smackdown at Acer Arena on June 15, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Gaye Gerard/Getty Images)
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