Pablo Torre Finds Out The Last Bromance: How Wrestling Corrupted the NBA Finals (PTFO Vault)
Jan 2, 2026
Neil Punsalan, a comedy writer and correspondent, dives deep into the intriguing intersection of pro wrestling and the 1998 NBA Finals. He questions whether Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone's wrestling antics compromised the integrity of the championship. The discussion include the marketing genius of Eric Bischoff, Rodman's wild crossover stint, and the dramatic on-court moments designed to fuel a wrestling storyline. With compelling eyewitness accounts, Neil presents evidence that challenges the legitimacy of one of basketball's greatest showdowns.
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Wrestling Used The NBA For Free Advertising
- WCW exploited mainstream sports audiences by staging crossover moments to get free media during high-profile NBA windows.
- Eric Bischoff viewed Rodman and Malone as marketing platforms worth a multi-million dollar investment to buy massive sports attention.
How DDP And Malone Became Close
- Diamond Dallas Page describes befriending Karl Malone after spotting him at an NBA game and getting backstage access.
- That friendship led to DDP visiting Malone's trophy-lined home and eventually discussing an on-screen wrestling pairing.
On-Court Moments Were Positioned As Promotion
- Rodman and Malone deliberately seeded on-court moments to capture cameras and hype their upcoming WCW match.
- Those engineered tie-ups and gestures amplified the wrestling narrative inside NBA broadcasts.