Enes Kanter wanted to play the villain.
On Sept. 9, Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter returned to Madison Square Garden to shoot an angle on WWE Raw. Kanter was familiar with MSG, having played 115 games for the New York Knicks from 2017 to 2019. He signed with the Boston Celtics in the offseason, so instead of receiving a heroes welcome at MSG, he was viewed as the enemy. Kanter fed into the heel role, revealing his Celtics jersey and egging on the crowd to a chorus of boos.
"It was just so fun. They asked me if I wanted to be a villain or a hero, and I’m like, “A villain!” They said, “You’re going to be the most hated man in New York that night.” I was like, “I’m ready for this, let’s do it.” It is more fun to play the villain. You get all the boos, you get in people’s faces and talk trash to them. I’m even thinking of becoming a WWE wrestler after basketball," Kanter told Boston Magazine.
Kanter would briefly win the WWE 24/7 Title in a segment taped before Raw, pinning R-Truth before immediately losing it back. Kanter, who had been sidelined with a left knee contusion, returned to the court on Monday against the Mavericks.
