When NBA Rivalry Hit the Squared Circle: Rodman and Malone in WCW
The sports world witnessed an unusual fusion when two NBA legends, Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone, took their intense rivalry from the basketball courts to the world of professional wrestling. This bold foray into the WCW (World Championship Wrestling) ring marked a milestone in the history of sports entertainment, merging the excitement of high-level basketball with the theatrical spectacle of wrestling. It all began with a tense confrontation in the 1998 NBA Finals. In Game 6, with the Bulls and the Jazz battling for the championship, Rodman and Malone had an altercation that anticipated their future collaboration in the ring. This incident, which included falls and shoves, was the prelude to a bigger story that was brewing. The connection between Malone and the world of wrestling already existed. Diamond Dallas Page, a renowned wrestler, struck up a friendship with Malone, who was an avid wrestling fan. Page, upon learning of Rodman’s return to WCW, proposed an idea: a tag team match where he and Malone would face Rodman and Hulk Hogan.Eric Bischoff, a key figure in WCW, facilitated the deal during a meeting at Malone’s house. Rodman’s arrival on Nitro, the WCW program, during the NBA Finals, was a publicity stunt. Rodman, in a segment with Hogan and Bret Hart, set off fireworks, and later, along with Hogan and Bischoff, participated in a scene that simulated a celebration. Then, he attacked Page with chairs alongside Hogan. However, Rodman’s participation was not without controversy. His absence from the Bulls’ training sessions, due to his participation in Nitro, cost him a fine from the NBA and the Bulls. Despite this, for WCW, it was a masterstroke. The incident generated extensive media coverage, setting the stage for the Rodman and Hogan vs. Malone and Page match at the “Bash at the Beach” event. Bischoff, aware of the delicate situation, spoke with Rodman and Malone before the game. He asked them not to affect the outcome of the match, but to take advantage of any opportunity to show their animosity. The rivalry in the ring, according to Rodman’s agent, completely changed the dynamic between both players. Sports commentator Bob Costas criticized the participation of Rodman and Malone in wrestling, calling it a “fake event”.I told [Malone], ‘I know you want to do this.’ I said, ‘How about you and me against Rodman and Hogan?’ I told him, ‘Would you have any problem with that?’ He said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘That could be interesting.’
Diamond Dallas Page
