Tenshin Nasukawa, the kickboxer who Floyd Mayweather wiped the floor with through a first-round demolition, has once again notched a victory in boxing.
The Japanese star, who boasts a 44-0 record in his chosen sport, is proving to be a handful in pugilism, as Luis Torres found out on Monday.
Torres hit the canvas in the first and final round of eight as Tenshin completely dominated the proceedings at Ariake Arena in Koto-Ku.
Floyd Mayweather
Since being dropped three times and humiliated by Floyd Mayweather, Tenshin hasn’t looked back. He went on a KO spree in martial arts before embarking on a boxing run with Top Rank.
Now 2-0, plans will be in motion to move Tenshin quickly towards a title shot with his name forever linked with Mayweather.
The fight, which took place at RIZIN 14, was a public relations success for Tenshin despite the fact he was out of his depth. Mayweather took him to school, but Tenshin has reaped the rewards of a higher profile.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is astute enough to know that Tenshin will have plenty of eyeballs on him if he can land a shot at the super bantamweight title.
Tenshin Nasukawa vs Naoya Inoue
The man possessing two of those belts is, of course, pound-for-pound contender Naoya Inoue. A fight between the two combat superstars would be big business in Japan.
Given that Arum represents both, it’s undoubtedly on the agenda as a possible future crossover event.
So far, Tenshin has arguably not lost a single round since his pro boxing debut.
On top billing, Kenshiro Teraji defended his World Boxing Association light flyweight belt for the second time. He scored a technical knockout over South African Hekkie Budler.
The Japanese fighter went all out to defeat Budler in the ninth round. With the triumph, he remained the WBA champion and retained his WBC belt.
As expected, Budler came out all out to put pressure on Teraji. The fight’s pace was frantic, with fierce exchanges and good moments for both fighters.
The champion got into the challenger’s face and relied on his punching power to chip away at the visitor’s will despite being punished.
Teraji endured challenging moments but knew how to fight on the ropes and stay out of trouble. In the end, he managed to take Budler down and force the referee to stop the actions in the final part of the fight.
The champion enjoyed another brilliant performance, leaving his record at 22 wins, one loss, and 14 knockouts. Budler dropped his record to 35 wins, five losses, and 11 knockouts.
After it was announced that Errol Spence Jr decided to trigger a contractual rematch clause for another shot at Terence Crawford, most observers felt it was a mere formality that the second fight would be agreed, given Crawford’s apparent willingness to grant Spence a second fight at super-welterweight.
However, despite ‘Bud’ claiming in the post fight press conference that he would have no problem obliging Spence the extra 7lbs, it appears he and his team have had second thoughts.
A close friend and training partner of Crawford has weighed in on social media on the current state of play, and seemed to indicate the Nebraska man and his team aren’t too keen on running it back with Spence and will no be in no rush to make a fight at 154.
“Facts… and to all the people out here spreading false narratives, Bud is offering Errol a fight at 147. If he doesn’t take it, which we’re hoping he doesn’t because it’s a waste of time, Bud wants to do [something] that’s never been done and move up 3 weight classes to beat Canelo.”
Though Spence is of course entitled to go for a second shot at Crawford, ‘Bud’, due to his victory in the first encounter, has the say on weight it will be at. If the reports of Crawford insisting it be at 147 again are correct, it’s not known whether Spence would opt in for that, considering how clear he’s been about his struggles making the welterweight limit.
His performance at the T-Mobile Arena earlier this year saw Crawford ascend to the consensus pound for pound number one in the sport, and he has been linked to a generational fight with undisputed super middleweight world champion Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
A WWE star says Liv Morgan helped her adjust to the main roster.
In 2022, Maxxine Dupri, formerly known as Sofia Cromwell, was called up to the WWE main roster after a very short stint on the NXT brand to be part of the Maximum Male Models stable.
Dupri played the role of sister to Max Dupri, who would later leave the group to once again become LA Knight.
Speaking with Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp during WWE SummerSlam weekend, Dupri revealed that Liv Morgan helped her adjust to the main roster after being called up on short notice. She said:
“It was wild. I had like a four-hour notice. I was very nervous; I was not really on NXT. It was funny because I did kind of have a feeling.”
“I don’t know why; I had no reason to have that feeling, but I was just like, ‘I feel like it could be me.’”
“Then, I went to sleep Wednesday, and I didn’t get a text or anything, and then, Thursday morning, I found out I was doing it for TV. It was crazy. It was nerve-racking.
“My first day, Liv Morgan took me under her wing and showed me catering, where to get my makeup done, and how to prepare,”
“It was a crazy, crazy, high-stress day, but I’m so grateful for it.”
Maxxine Dupri went on to align herself with Chad Gable and Otis of Alpha Academy on WWE Raw.
Seth Rollins has done wonders with his 100+ day reign as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Though his reign has not touched the 1000-day mark, Rollins is one of the biggest stars in the wrestling industry currently.
While the Visionary has numerous accomplishments in his bag, he hasn’t main evented WrestleMania yet. He defeated Logan Paul in a spectacular match on the Showcase of Immortals this year. With numerous incredible performances in his career, the World Heavyweight Champion deserves to be in the main event spot next year. Though he may head into the Grandest Stage of them All as the World Heavyweight Champion, it isn’t necessary he would be able to headline the show.
However, regardless of the main event spot, there are numerous options for Rollins to have a mesmerizing match with, probably ending up being one of the best matches of the year. Let’s take a look at a few stars Rollins could face at WrestleMania XL.
Seth Rollins and Damian Priest tore the house down when both men collided on a Raw taping recently. After their match on the red brand, it seems clear that a collision like this would suit a bigger stage very well.
With the rivalry between Rollins and Judgment Day, a feud with Damian Priest would be a massive way to push the latter into the world championship picture. Though it seems Priest would lose possession over the Money in the Bank contract soon, a rivalry with the Visionary could be a fantastic addition for WrestleMania XL.
9. Jey Uso
Main Event Jey Uso marked the beginning of his singles run on Monday Night Raw. Though the star is a fan favourite currently, it won’t be surprising if the former Bloodline member turns heel soon. A feud with one of the top men in WWE would be a massive way for Jey to mark himself down as a great singles star.
Though it seems WWE would go with Jimmy vs Jey at WrestleMania XL, a rivalry with Seth Rollins could add a lot of excitement and attraction to the Grandest Stage of them All.
8. Edge
Image Credits: WWE
The Rated R superstar’s retirement is a mystery for now. Though Edge had a massive victory over Sheamus on SmackDown a few weeks ago, it is still unknown if it was his last match. If Edge is not done with the wrestling mat yet, he could have his final match at WrestleMania XL. However, the biggest question in everyone’s mind is, who should be the one to retire Edge?
While there are a lot of options out there, Seth Rollins is one of the biggest ones. The Visionary being one of Edge’s best rivalries since his return, running it back in a Title vs Career match could be a massive draw. This would also lead to the Rated R superstar getting the perfect retirement he deserves and add an amazing match to feature on the card.
Real Name
Adam Copeland
Age
49
Height
6ft 5″
Weight
241lbs
Debut
July 1992
7. Sheamus
The Celtic Warrior has not faced Seth Rollins in a singles match for years now. Though both men crossed paths in some star-studded matches, Sheamus vs Seth Rollins is something the WWE Universe has been waiting to witness.
While both men seem to be focused in different directions, a colossal match between them on stage like WrestleMania would be a treat to watch. With the history between both men as tag team competitors, having a singles feud with some gold on the line would be a great idea.
6. Grayson Waller
The Dynamite from Down Under stood out to be amazing in front of legends like John Cena and Edge earlier this year. Being one of the most dynamic stars in the industry currently, having a match with Seth Rollins could add in a lot of meat to the fans’ excitement for WrestleMania XL.
With men being on different brands, WWE isn’t ready to jump on the plan right now. However, if the match is added to the WrestleMania card, the young Aussie could walk out with a huge push waiting for him in WWE.
5. Carmelo Hayes
Seth Rollins and Carmelo Hayes shared TV time on Raw and NXT a few months ago. Both men being faces right now, a rivalry between them doesn’t seem to do wonders. However, with WWE having a few months before the Road to WrestleMania, planting seeds now could turn out to be amazing.
Undoubtedly, Rollins and Hayes have the same wrestling style and incredible mic skills. Being superstars who can be called a complete package for the industry, the Visionary could pass the torch to Hayes on a platform like WrestleMania XL. This could be a massive way for the current NXT Champion to take a top spot in the main roster as well.
4. Gunther
The new longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in history deserves a massive match at WrestleMania XL. Being one of the headliners in being called the modern Mr. WrestleMania, Seth Rollins facing Gunther could be one of the biggest matches of the year.
In addition to that, having the World Heavyweight Championship into the mix would add a lot of meat into their feud. This could eventually lead to Gunther facing the world title glory and cementing his position at the top of the WWE roster.
3. Cody Rhodes
Image Credits: WWE
Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes have a long enough history to run another feud. However, with both men being two of the biggest faces of Raw right now, a battle to be called the ‘Biggest Star’ on the red brand would be enough to raise the stakes.
Rhodes and Rollins are both considered to be the front-runners to defeat Roman Reigns on the top. Given WrestleMania XL is a two night event, WWE could add in a humongous storyline for Grandest Stage of them All. Both Rhodes and Rollins are considered to be the hardest workers in the ring currently.
However, their hard work could be out to test at WrestleMania XL. On Night 1 of the Showcase of the Immortals, Rhodes and Rollins could square off to determine Roman Reigns’ opponent for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on Night 2. This would eventually end up being one of the biggest rivalries of the year and add in two massive matches to the WrestleMania card.
Real Name
Cody Runnels
Age
38
Height
6ft 2″
Weight
220lbs
Debut
2006
2. Randy Orton
The Viper’s return to the ring is still uncertain. However, with no official word yet, it seems like Randy Orton is preparing for a massive return. With a trailblazing career in the past, Randy Orton winning the World Championship once again would be a treat to watch.
The 43-year-old could make a shocking return at Royal Rumble 2024. In addition to that, adding another Men’s Royal Rumble match win to his bag of accomplishments could be the best way to leave the world talking.
If Seth Rollins is able to keep the World Heavyweight Championship close to his chest until WrestleMania XL, Randy Orton could be one of the biggest matches of his reign. Bringing memories from WrestleMania 31, both men could tear each other apart in the main event of the Showcase of Immortals, eventually leading to the Viper ruling as the new World Heavyweight Champion.
1. Roman Reigns
While there seem to be no talks of a match between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins any time soon, WrestleMania XL would be the perfect platform to run it down. With both men being the current World Champions, it is safe to say that Reigns and Rollins are two of the biggest stars in the industry right now.
Survivor Series 2023 is on the horizon. If WWE goes back to their traditional Raw vs Smackdown idea for this year’s premium live event, WrestleMania would come late. However, a match with this caliber should be run on the Grandest Stage of them All.
Since the Tribal Chief held the Universal Championship high, Seth Rollins has been believed to be the one to dethrone him. However, with some massive character work from Cody Rhodes, the Visionary seems to be off the charts.
However, Rollins vs. Reigns could be the best match to run as the main event of WrestleMania XL, eventually leading to Rollins standing tall as the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
In what seemed to be a trailer to his comeback after a six month long hiatus, Tiger Woods was finally seen on the green at the Liberty National Golf Course in New Jersey. Fans and golf enthusiasts alike, could not contain their excitement on seeing the legend shooting golf balls, practicing ahead of the Nexus Cup alongside PGA Tour pros Rickie Fowler and Will Zalatoris in a video shared on Twitter (now X). Woods had been missing from the golf scene since his last appearance at the Masters in April, six months ago! Sadly, the 15 times major winner had to withdraw from the tournament after he made the cut, owing to plantar fasciitis in his foot.
Despite his never-ending list of injuries and surgeries, Tiger Woods has managed to keep his head in the game, forging through adversity with his sensational records and exceptional gameplay: Who can forget his epic win at the 2019 Masters; the greatest comeback in sports history.
So seeing him on the course months after he underwent a subtalar fusion surgery, even if it was just for a practice session, made his fans lose their minds. And the golf GOAT did not disappoint when fans asked him for advice at Liberty National.
“Go Hit Balls” : Tiger Woods Cracks up Fans with His Words of Wisdom
While having a go at the Liberty National golf course, fans present asked the golfer on the one piece of advice that he had for amateur golfers trying to ace their game. Woods, on a very candid note, surprised everyone by his answer: “Don’t watch f***king YouTube!” making the crowd roar with laughter.
The fan prompted him with a follow-up advice, to which he answered: “Go hit balls…just beating balls!”
Woods wasn’t making full swings while on the course, but witnessing him shoot a couple of one-handed chips and make jokes was enough to send every Tiger fan into a star struck frenzy! It is still unclear as to when the 82 times PGA Tour winner will be making an official return to the green, but seeing him in shorts with his right knee in a compression stocking due to his injury, has fans concerned about his health, leaving an uncertainty over his return in the near future.
The compression stocking is known to act as a support to the fascia ligament through its compression of the foot arch, thereby reducing pain and inflammation resulting from plantar fasciitis.
Woods might make a comeback at the 2024 Masters, but for now, his appearance sends a positive message to golf fans who just can’t seem to get enough of the star performer.
Amid his barrage of injuries, how has Woods managed to soar heights and create a career trajectory envied by all?
Resilience Beyond Measure: 20 Injuries and Counting
With a career laden with major injuries, Tiger Woods has seen it all – a ruptured ACL, a torn Achilles tendon and an almost fatal car crash. It all started with a scar and benign tumor removal from his left knee in 1994, and a cyst removal and fluid drain from the same knee in 2002. He went on to make an epic comeback with a win at the Buick Invitational in 2003, right after the surgery!
In arguably his best year career wise, with 8 PGA Tour and 2 major wins, Woods injured a muscle in his left shoulder blade in 2006, after winning five tournaments back to back. But in 2007, came a big one when he ruptured the ACL in his left knee, going on to win five of the next six events pushing through the injury.
In 2008, Woods had knee surgery two days after finishing second at the Masters. He returned two months after the surgery to win the US Open. But he had to miss the rest of the season after a reconstructive procedure on his previously damaged ACL. He had also fractured his left tibia in preparation for the US Open.
In 2008, Tiger Woods tore his Achilles tendon, an injury that kept pestering him way into 2009. He, however, managed to stay on top of the Official World Golf Rankings those years. But, fate had something else planned for the golf great when he ended up in a car accident in November 2009, when his SUV crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree, as he left his home.
Six months later, the golfer had to withdraw from the Players Championship in 2010, owing to a neck injury. By 2012, Woods couldn’t seem to escape his injuries as his Achilles tendon injury resurfaced, followed by intense back issues in 2014. As a result, the golf legend missed the 2014 Masters after undergoing back surgery to treat a pinched nerve, which was closely followed by a second back surgery in 2015.
Woods made a return to golf in 2017 in hopes of regaining his lost footing, but had to withdraw again due to intense back spasms. This ultimately led to a third back surgery with Woods saying, “When healed, I look forward to getting back to a normal life, playing with my kids, competing in professional golf and living without the pain I’ve been battling so long.”
In 2021, Woods miraculously survived a near fatal car crash, but ended up sustaining serious leg injuries that transformed into a plantar fasciitis in his right leg causing him to miss the entire 2023 season following the Masters.
In the face of immense despair, Woods’ resilience and fortitude in the face of adversity is an inspiration. Because every time he fell down, he got back up even stronger, carving a journey that remains unmatched to this date.
John Cena joined The Grayson Waller Effect Friday night on SmackDown, sharing the screen with the young, Aussie heel for the second time this year in the most hyped segment of the show.
It headlined a broadcast that also featured a hotly anticipated rematch between LA Knight and The Miz.
What went down in that promo segment, as well as the Payback rematch?
Find out with this recap of the latest Fox broadcast.
Announced in advance for the September 15 broadcast were:
The Grayson Waller Effect featuring John Cena
AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor
Asuka vs. Bayley
LA Knight vs. The Miz
Pat McAfee Returns, Austin Theory Interrupts and The Rock Returns!
Pat McAfee made a surprise to return to SmackDown, live from Denver, and popped both the fans and commentator Michael Cole. After a brief, energetic promo, Austin Theory hit the ring, interrupting his former rival.
After an insult-laden response, McAfee told Theory that SmackDown is the people’s show, bringing about the return of The Rock. The roof blew off the arena as The Great One made his way to the ring.
An extended chant that was bleeped out and went on far too long gave way to The Rock laying out the brash, young heel and delivering a big People’s Elbow to an electric response.
McAfee added his own for good measure, capping off a fantastic, surprising opening segment. Pro wrestling is great when it can deliver the unexpected and this was certainly unexpected.
Grade
A+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Surprises rule!
Theory called himself ‘the real Austin” and a “real ass-kicker,” mocking “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and his historic rivalry with Rock.
The Great One bucking broadcast rules and having the entire crowd chant “a-hole” was fun, especially as censors scurried to bleep it out of the broadcast.
AJ Styles vs. Finn Balor
Credit: WWE.com
AJ Styles and Finn Balor are so talented that even a so-so match between them, interrupted by a midmatch commercial break, is still pretty damn good.
Such was the case Friday as the former world champions did battle in a competitive match that saw Judgment Day’s Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio ejected from ringside after attempting to interfere, only for Jimmy Uso to interject himself in the bout and setup Balor’s victory.
The finish suggests the battles between Styles and Uso are not over and allows Judgment Day to continue building momentum, especially as they appear across all three of WWE’s brands.
A solid use of all involved, this was a great followup to the explosive show open.
Result
Balor defeated Styles
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
Styles and Balor are both former leaders of Bullet Club and among the most influential and important wrestlers of the last 20 years.
Priest attempted to interfere but the official booted him and Dominik Mysterio from ringside.
Jimmy Uso attempted to interfere but Styles caught him with a right hand. Balor took advantage of the distraction to score the tainted victory.
LWO vs. Street Profits
Credit: WWE.com
Backstage, Finn Balor attempted to lure Jimmy Uso into joining The Judgment Day based on the idea that there are no leaders, no one to be beholden to. Uso appeared somewhat interested.
Back in the arena, the LWO’s Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Zelina Vega, Cruz Del Toro, and Joaquin Wilde were in the ring for a special promo.
After Escobar respectfully challenged Mysterio for the United States Championship, the unnamed trio of Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits interrupted the festivities, leading to a tag team match.
Montez Ford and Angel Dawkins defeated Del Toro and Wilde in a quick match, putting the babyfaces away in a bout that was anything but competitive. A post-match attack further solidified the group as heels.
This was fine but Del Toro and Wilde are quickly losing credibility following a squash loss to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn two weeks ago and this quick defeat here. LWO is as strong as the sum of its parts and if two of the five are viewed as glorified enhancement stars, it will ultimately hurt the overall value of the group.
Mysterio vs. Escobar should be fun but after this, it would not be surprising if Lashley is ultimately the one to dethrone the Hall of Famer.
Result
The Street Profits defeated The LWO
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
“You know what that means? There’s no Roman,” Balor told Uso, attempting to convince him to join Judgment Day.
Escobar asked Mysterio for a championship opportunity, to which the United States Champion accepted.
The Street Profits need new theme music if they are supposed to be heels. Their current theme is too upbeat and energetic.
LA Knight vs. The Miz
Credit: WWE.com
LA Knight made it 2-0 against The Miz since Payback, defeating the former WWE champion with Blunt Force Trauma.
The crowd was red-hot for Knight and Miz was great as the antagonistic heel. The match was never more than it needed to be, which was an extended showcase for Knight as he builds momentum toward what appears to be a showdown with Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
At least, that is, based on the teases involving Paul Heyman over the last two weeks.
Result
Knight defeated The Miz
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
The pop for LA Knight remains strong, even on a night when the Denver faithful have already been electrified by Pat McAfee, The Rock, AJ Styles and Rey Mysterio.
“Who proclaims themselves ‘The Megastar?’ It sounds awfully egotistical,” Corey Graves said. “Who calls themselves ‘The Hollywood A-Lister,'” Cole responded. “The A-Listers!” Graves exclaimed, making a good point.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Rey Mysterio. It doesn’t matter if it’s Gunther. It doesn’t make a difference if it’s Seth Rollins. It damn sure doesn’t matter if it’s Roman Reigns,” Knight said, staking his claim to championship gold and his intent to compete for it.
Backstage, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman watched Knight exit the arena, teasing the potential for a showdown with Reigns for the second, consecutive week.
Asuka vs. Bayley
Credit: WWE.com
Like Balor and Styles earlier in the night, Asuka and Bayley are capable of great in-ring work every time they set foot inside the squared circle. Great may not be the word to describe their match on Friday, but it was still very good.
Also like Styles and Balor, it featured a screwy, interference-laden finish that saw Shotzi provide a distraction that allowed The Empress of Tomorrow to score the win.
It was a repetitive finish, especially since it kept the storyline alive for the loser while intending to build up the winner’s momentum. If there is a weakness of Triple H as head of creative, it is not always recognizing when he has booked the same finish more than once on the card.
Clean that up and the idea of intertwining feuds is hardly a bad one.
Result
Asuka defeated Bayley
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
The commentary team put over Iyo Sky’s absence by claiming she was home training for her WWE Women’s Championship defense against Asuka next week.
Did…did Cole just mention Triple Tails? From SMASH and Pro Wrestling Wave? Friggin SWEET! (Yes, it’s not the first time. No, it never stops being awesome that the commentary team acknowledges history in other promotions now.)
Shotzi appeared, startling Bayley and providing a distraction that Asuka capitalized on for the win. It would have been a more effective finish if we had not just see an identical one in the opener between Balor and Styles.
John Cena on The Grayson Waller Effect
Credit: WWE.com
The Grayson Waller Effect featuring John Cena could have used a little more…John Cena.
The Greatest of All Time did not utter a word as the heelish Aussie, then Jey Uso, interrupted and ran him down on the mic. A brawl erupted, Solo Sikoa jumped in, and AJ Styles hit the ring to make the save and end the night with babyfaces standing tall.
This was a messy segment that did not accomplish or further much of anything. It continued Styles and Cena’s respective beefs with Uso, added Sikoa to the mix, and failed to justify Waller’s involvement other than sharing the squared circle with Cena one more time.
Maybe we get a cool tag team match out of it, but this felt like a rather disappointing utilization of Cena on a night that started so electrically with The Rock.
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Waller played on Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell’s comments about Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, drawing heat from the Denver fans.
Waller claimed Cena doesn’t want to be a wrestler anymore.
Uso, Sikoa, and Styles all hit the ring before the babyfaces stood tall to close out the show.
Overall Grade
The show started with the returns of Pat McAfee and The Rock and there is not much a wrestling show can do to top that. WWE tried, presenting three matches with top-tier talent, the start of Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits’ heel run, and another primetime showcase for LA Knight.
The show felt a bit rushed at times but it focused on the Superstars and segments that were of the most significance, so it was a success.
That main event promo segment, though, felt off, for whatever reason. Hopefully, there is more to it than a predictable tag match because John Cena and the others involved have earned better.
A Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight has been talked about for years, and at one point both parties even put pen to paper for the heavyweight showdown.
Back in 2021 Joshua had the WBA, WBO and IBF titles, whilst Fury, fresh from his knockout victory over Deontay Wilder, had the WBC belt and the two agreed terms for a historic undisputed clash which would have undoubtedly been the biggest fight ever in British boxing.
Speaking about the potential fight to Frank Bruno – himself a former heavyweight world champion – ‘The Gypsy King’ said:
“I’m really looking forward to a challenge. This might sound strange but I’ve been a professional for 13 years and I’ve been travelling the world to find somebody who can beat me basically and I haven’t found him so far in 32 fights.”
Bruno himself went on to give his thoughts on the showdown, declaring Fury would give his fellow Brit a ‘boxing lesson’.
“I don’t think Joshua should go anywhere near you because you’ll teach him a lesson you know, a boxing lesson.”
Unfortunately fans never got to see if Bruno’s prediction was right, as Fury was instead forced to face Wilder for a third time after the American won an arbitration battle. The trilogy fight ended the same way as their second contest, with Fury knocking out ‘The Bronze Bomber’ after an action packed heavyweight classic.
Fury went on to defend his title twice more, first against mandatory challenger, Dillian White, then another trilogy fight against ‘old-pal’ Derek Chisora.
Joshua on the other hand has since lost all his belts, suffering back-to-back defeats to former cruiserweight undisputed champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury next faces MMA star, Francis Ngannou, in a crossover contest, whilst Joshua had looked set to take on Wilder in the new year, but talks have seemingly stalled with promoter Eddie Hearn admitting they might have to look for alternative opponents.
WWE has announced a new match for this Monday’s episode of Raw.
WWE has confirmed New Day vs. Viking Raiders in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match for the show. The company confirmed the match booking on its website Saturday morning.
This comes after the two teams feuding as of late with each of them holding a win over each other. Now, they will look to settle the score.
They first worked on the August 7th Raw, where New Day went over The Viking Raiders, who followed up a few weeks later on the August 28th episode of Raw with a win of their own.
Here is the updated card for the show that is being held from Salt Lake City:
Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre
New Day vs. Viking Raiders in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet
Cody Rhodes vs. WWE NXT North American Champion Dominik Mysterio in a non-title match
WWE SummerSlam is packed with some highly anticipated contests. As a matter of fact, the card has shaped up to rival some of the all-time best editions of The Biggest Party of the Summer. While these stars have not been booked for the show itself, WWE has decided to fly them to Detroit, Michigan.
Liv Morgan, Zoey Stark, Baron Corbin, Titus O’Neil, and Maxxine Dupri are all slated to be in Detroit for SummerSlam this week, as revealed by Fightful Select (subscription required). All of them are set to do media for WWE across Thursday and Friday, including Be A Star rallies and Jimmy V Foundation events.
It is also possible that Baron Corbin could be officially added to the battle royal this weekend. Whilst all the stars aside from Titus O’Neil are involved in some program or the other on television.
Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch booked for WWE RAW in two weeks
Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley’s feud is still in its budding stages. However, Trish and The Man have gone at it once already. With the Hall of Famer scoring a huge victory in Saudi Arabia, many expected WWE to have the duo face each other on August 5 at Ford Field. The company has other plans though.
Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch will face each other again on the August 14 edition of RAW. The show is scheduled to air live from Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg. Big Time Becks recently picked up a win over Zoey Stark, taking her a step closer to facing the Hall of Famer.
Stratus, meanwhile, was originally booked to face Becky Lynch on RAW this week but the match didn’t properly take place, thanks to Zoey Stark getting involved.
It was also reported by Fightful that the show is already full for this weekend. Several storylines happening on Monday Night RAW this week have retained interest among the viewers, but the newer shows under Triple H’s leadership have generally carried fewer matches on the card.
Which is your favorite storyline currently going on the red brand that isn’t part of The Biggest Party of the Summer show on August 5 in Detroit? Share your picks in the comments section below
It sure sounds like The Rock vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 could happen, considering certain comments by the former recently.
Just one request—please don’t.
A Rock-Reigns main event at ‘Mania sounds amazing, almost like the perfect end to the Tribal Chief’s Bloodline story that has captivated pro wrestling with near-unstoppable momentum.
Except it’s too late.
First, what The Rock told Pat McAfee during a recent interview before his surprise appearance on the September 15 edition of SmackDown
Long story short, Rock seemed to confirm that this was actually the main-event plan for WrestleMania 39 before plans changed. He also noted that he’s open to the match at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
But that’s just it—the big chance to get this right was at ‘Mania 39. Everything about the build to that event seemed to lay the groundwork for a Rock return, from the Royal Rumble to ‘Mania itself going down in Hollywood.
Instead, fans got this awkward-feeling Cody Rhodes rumble win and sudden insertion into a family-based storyline, only for him to lose. Granted, Rhodes messing around with Brock Lesnar and others before linking back up with Reigns to “finish the story” at 40 isn’t all that appealing either.
But it feels like things have organically moved on at this point. The time is now for Reigns to be defending and ultimately losing the unified titles, potentially to someone like Solo Sikoa after a betrayal. Or, even riding this surprising wave of momentum Jey Uso suddenly enjoys on Raw.
Rock coming in now would derail both of those chances in a major way and extend a Bloodline story that is already starting to wear thin with fans. Sure, it would get a pop when fans first realize what’s happening, but those supposed story idea differences that stopped this from happening at 39 will probably pop up when discussing it happening at 40, too. Because in this hypothetical, if Rock wins, then what? He drops it to someone else, but the winner never bested Roman? And what if Reigns wins, another year with the titles?
Truth is—and this will get an eye roll from some, but it is what it is—Rock vs. Reigns doesn’t need a title. WWE would be much better off having the current Tribal Chief go to ‘Mania and lose to either Sikoa or Jey. Or, if WWE so insists, Rhodes. Though we won’t waste hundreds of words on it here, Seth Rollins and that Shield connection would make more sense if they want to go outside of a family angle to end it.
Anyway, maybe the best move would be Reigns losing at WrestleMania 40, then a feud with Rock kicks in. The reasoning behind the matchup can be whatever it wants then because it suddenly isn’t tied to the titles and possibly ruining chances for other Superstars who will be in WWE longer (Rock is a part-timer at best and Reigns might be going Hollywood himself).
This way, fans could still be happy as it gets that Rock is back and totally unconcerned with the long-term ramifications. The idea this feud would need titles at all feels like a byproduct of the bygone Vince McMahon era of creative anyway.
The only title necessary between Rock and Reigns would be the title of Tribal Chief, anyway. It would be the biggest match in a long time, perhaps bigger than Stone Cold’s return, even if it does need to wait until WrestleMania 41 (and Stone Cold didn’t need a title, either).
All of this even presumes Rock would come back. He’s 51 years old already and had his last actual long program with a full match in 2013 with John Cena (the quick joke match against Erick Rowan at ‘Mania in 2016 doesn’t count). He even suffered an injury during the match against Cena at WrestleMania 29.
Right now, Bloodline as a whole and this Reigns run registers as one of the best sagas of pro wrestling ever. His holding the title an extra long time while waiting for Rock to come out of movie limbo for a match would diminish both the story and reign, spoiling it in hindsight.
So much of pro wrestling is timing. If Reigns had bested the Rock at the last ‘Mania and we were just getting knee deep into Reigns-Jey-Jimmy beef the entire story would be even more well regarded.
But the timing was botched. That creates a ripple effect. WrestleMania 40 is where Reigns should drop the belts, then opening the door for a legitimate feud with the Rock that doesn’t have messy long-term story ramifications. Maybe Rock even comes in during the aftermath motivated and angry at Roman for tearing the family apart.
Fun and lucrative as Rock-Reigns at WrestleMania 40 would be, it would serve as doubling down on the timing mistake and run the risk of spoiling the hard work already invested in an all-timer of a story and run.
