Worm To Return To WCW Ring

June 7, 1999 / 9:03 PM EDT / AP

Dennis Rodman has found a summer job as a wrestler.

Rodman, who has made a few cameo appearances inside the ring over the past couple years, signed with World Championship Wrestling on Monday to make at least five appearances this summer.

Rodman will make his 1999 debut on "WCW Monday Nitro Live" on TNT on July 5 and his deal with culminate with "Road Wild," an annual pay-per-view event on August 14 in South Dakota.

The ex-NBA star was released by the Los Angeles Lakers in April because he was a distraction to the team. He has maintained a relatively low profile since then, except for two lawsuits being filed against him.

A woman sued Rodman for assaulting her earlier this month in Las Vegas and a casino security guard sued him last month after accusing him of grabbing her breast while she was working at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Rodman's first hit the wrestling scene in 1997, but his best-known match came last year at "Bash at the Beach" when he and Hulk Hogan lost a tag-team bout to fellow-NBA player Karl Malone and Diamond Dallas Page.

The WCW also announced it signed rapper Master P, who recently established No Limit Sports, a professional sports agent business.

"The signings of Dennis Rodman and Master P clearly demonstrate the extensive worldwide appeal, audience, and reach of World Championship Wrestling," WCW president Eric Bischoff said.

Master P signed a one-year deal with WCW to appear in an undetermined number of events.