Browsing: Absence

Oct 20, 2025, 04:38 PM ET

CHICAGO — Captain Nick Foligno has rejoined the Chicago Blackhawks after taking a leave of absence because of his daughter’s follow-up surgery related to her congenital heart disease.

Foligno said Milana, who turned 12 last week, is home now and doing well. He described the past week as “very stressful.”

“I think we found a lot of comfort in the support of the hockey community and the fans, old teammates and my second family here,” Foligno said after practicing with the Blackhawks on Monday. “It’s amazing when you go through a hard time how everyone bands together to send you a ton of support and love and prayers, and it was felt by our family.”

Foligno also said he was thankful for the doctors and staff at Boston Children’s Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

“We were able to get her seen quickly and ahead of what could have been probably a lot worse,” he said.

Foligno, who turns 38 on Oct. 31, is in his third season with Chicago. He missed three games while he was away — an 8-3 victory at St. Louis, a 3-2 shootout loss to Vancouver and a 2-1 overtime win against Anaheim.

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The forward has no goals and two assists in four games this season.

“He’s our leader, so you want that presence in your locker room,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “I think he brings good energy, so I think it was great to have him back. Great that, considering the situation, everything went really good.”

Foligno became the 35th captain of the Blackhawks in September 2024. His father, Mike, played in the NHL for 15 years, and his brother, Marcus, plays for Minnesota.

Nick Foligno broke into the league with the Ottawa Senators in 2007. He has 247 goals and 352 assists in 1,237 regular-season games, also playing for Columbus, Boston and Toronto.

Foligno also has two sons — Landon and Hudson — with his wife, Janelle.

Milana is “probably the one that gives us the most strength, with the way she’s handled this adversity,” Foligno said. “It’s impressive for a 12-year-old girl to handle it face on.”

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Adam Coleâ€s in-ring future with AEW is more uncertain than ever, and a new update makes it clear—heâ€s still not close to coming back.

During a Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp responded to a fan asking about Coleâ€s status. While many hoped the former TNT Champion was on the mend, Sapp painted a much more serious picture.

“Nowhere near returning last time I checked. I donâ€t want to get into too much private stuff, but he knew he was going to face issues dealing with this concussion and he has.â€

Cole isnâ€t doing any coaching, producing, or behind-the-scenes work either—and for good reason.

“Iâ€ve not heard of him doing coaching or anything like that and I donâ€t think traveling would help him recover.â€

This backs up what many sources have been hearing privately for months: Cole is dealing with a tough recovery, and AEW is giving him all the time he needs. But what happens next is unclear, especially with his absence already affecting the companyâ€s direction.

Back in July, Dave Meltzer revealed on Wrestling Observer Radio that Coleâ€s abrupt exit from AEW All In: Texas wasnâ€t part of any storyline. It was a legitimate scare that played out in real time. According to Meltzer, Cole was cleared to compete as late as Friday night. Then everything changed overnight.

“So what happened is, again, itâ€s like—I donâ€t know that itâ€s a concussion, but what happened to him would lead one to believe it was a concussion, OK? But I donâ€t know that. Like, look, Friday night he was still doing the match. And it wasnâ€t like it was touch and go. You know, maybe yes, maybe no. I mean, if he was diagnosed with a concussion Friday night, heâ€s not doing the match. Thatâ€s just reality. Theyâ€re not going to let anyone—especially with his history—go out there. Absolutely not.â€

Meltzer said Cole woke up Saturday feeling symptoms that made it impossible to wrestle, and there was no internal debate about whether heâ€d perform.

“Saturday morning, he woke up and something had happened. And it was just like—he canâ€t do the match. And he needs to take time off. And it wasnâ€t a debate. It wasnâ€t his call. It wasnâ€t Tony saying, ‘Can you just go through and drop the title?†It was like, no. It was a no.â€

Both Cole and Tony Khan were visibly shaken during the post-show media appearance. Meltzer added:

“Tonyâ€s reaction, as best I could tell, was—he was really shaken up. And Adam was shaken up. You could tell from the interview. I think what he said was that he doesnâ€t want to make a rash decision or anything, but it was a scary situation.â€

With no firm timeline and no backstage involvement, Adam Coleâ€s role in AEW is effectively frozen. While Khanâ€s loyalty may keep him employed, itâ€s unclear what the future holds—especially if his recovery continues at this pace.

What do you think AEW should do with Adam Coleâ€s role while he recovers? Should they bring him on camera in a non-wrestling capacity or give him complete space to heal? Sound off in the comments below.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

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AEW WrestleDream 2025 went down in St. Louis with plenty of chaos and surprises, but fans were left asking why Bryan Danielson wasnâ€t at the commentary desk.

During the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan finally revealed the real reason behind Danielsonâ€s absence. Khan admitted it came down to both storyline decisions and real-life commitments. He explained that with Jon Moxleyâ€s brutal plans for the main event against Darby Allin, it would have been nearly impossible for Bryan to stay calm behind the desk.

“No, heâ€ll be back. There were a couple of things. I think it made sense given what was happening with the main event. It would have been hard for Bryan to hold himself back knowing what Jon Moxley had planned. I think it wouldâ€ve been tough for him to sit at the desk while Darby Allin was in that situation.â€

On top of that, Bryan had a family commitment the same night. Khan encouraged him to step away from the show entirely rather than risk breaking character or walking out mid-match.

“Since he had a family commitment, I told him, ‘Hey, if you have a family thing tonight, itâ€s best to go for that commitment because I donâ€t want to put you in a position where you might risk your job if you get up from your desk.†It worked out well because Bryan was able to spend time with his family as planned, and he didnâ€t have to be in that no-win situation at the commentary desk.â€

Khan stressed that Danielson will be back, and the decision allowed him to avoid being caught in a storyline trap while also putting family first. With the Death Riders still circling Danielson in AEW, itâ€s clear his presence at the desk—or in the ring—is far from finished.

Do you think Tony Khan made the right call letting Bryan Danielson skip WrestleDream commentary, or should he have been part of the broadcast no matter what? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

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The Kansas City Chiefs bolstered their offensive line during the 2025 NFL draft when they selected left tackle Josh Simmons in the first round, and the Ohio State product immediately made an impact while starting the opening five games.

However, he missed the most recent win over the Detroit Lions and remains away from the team leading into Sunday’s AFC West showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Here is a look at a timeline of how the left tackle’s absence reached this point.

Oct. 6: Late Addition to Injury Report Before Jaguars Game

The Chiefs added Simmons to their injury report just hours before their Monday Night Footballkickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 and listed him as questionable because of an illness.

He ended up playing the game, which Kansas City lost 31-28.

Oct. 12: Added to Injury Report Before Lions Game

The Chiefs announced the day of their Week 6 game against the Lions that Simmons was added to the injury report and questionable, noting it was “Not Injury Related—Personal.”

Oct. 12: Simmons Reportedly Out for Family Issue

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafoloreported Simmons was added to the injury report because he was “dealing with a family matter back home in California.”

They added it was “doubtful he’s back for the game.”

Oct. 12: Misses Lions Game

Simmons did not play in the game against Detroit, which Kansas City won 30-17. Jaylon Moore played in his place.

Oct. 15: Simmons Misses Practice

Simmons missed practice Wednesday for what was officially listed as personal reasons on the injury report.

Oct. 15: Andy Reid Deflects Questions

Head coach Andy Reid told reporters he was deferring questions about Simmons’ status and letting general manager Brett Veach handle the situation.Â

Oct. 15: Patrick Mahomes Comments

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters, “I’ll keep conversations kind of between us. But I’m always praying for him. I’m praying for all my teammates, so I’m always praying for him. I’ll just keep everything else kind of private to us.”

Oct. 17: Simmons Ruled Out vs. Raiders

The Chiefs announced Friday that Simmons will not play in Sunday’s AFC West rivalry game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

On the Chiefs’ injury report, Simmons was listed as a non-participant in practice throughout the week due to “not injury related – personal.”

Moore is in line to make his second straight start for the Chiefs at left tackle.

The Chiefs are scheduled to face the Raiders on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET in their second of three straight home games before a Week 9 road matchup against the Buffalo Bills and a Week 10 bye.

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AEW star Andrade’s absence from television has got several people in the pro wrestling industry talking, but the Mexican wrestler is apparently in a positive frame of mind through it all.

Veteran journalist Dave Meltzer had recently noted that he has no clue about Andrade’s whereabouts, who hasn’t made an appearance on AEW television since his return. Now, “Fightful Select” has reported that Andrade is in “good spirits,” even though they don’t have any insight into the reason for his absence, and that there has been silence regarding his status in AEW. One AEW insider the outlet spoke to said that his time away isn’t because of either Andrade or AEW. The report also noted that Andrade has, in fact, signed a contract with AEW.

Following his return, reports emerged that the reason Andrade could debut so quickly following his WWE exit was that he did not have a non-compete clause. Andrade, the report claimed, has been signed to a full-time contract with AEW after being fired by WWE.Â

Andrade returned to AEW on the October 1 edition of “AEW Dynamite,” and he has yet to wrestle in the promotion since coming back. He did, however, wrestle at The Crash promotion in Mexico, two days after his AEW return, winning The Crash Heavyweight title. That match in Tijuana, Mexico, was the last time he stepped into a pro wrestling ring. He was scheduled to appear at a show in Atlanta on October 26, but was removed from the show, and no reason was given for the match getting canceled.Â

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Chris Jerichoâ€s latest career twist might be setting sail straight back to WWE.

The seventh edition of Jerichoâ€s Rock ‘N†Wrestling Rager at Sea is officially locked in for November 7–11, 2026. The cruise, dubbed “The Seventh Cruise of a Seventh Cruise,†will depart from Miami aboard the Norwegian Jewel and head to Bimahi, Bahamas. As always, fans can expect live wrestling, music from FOZZY, comedy sets, podcasts, and legendary wrestling guests. But this time, thereâ€s one big difference—no AEW.

None of the promotional material for the 2026 cruise mentions All Elite Wrestling. There are no AEW wrestlers announced, no branding, nothing. And thatâ€s got people talking, including Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. Alvarez didnâ€t waste time calling it out.

“Jericho Cruise has been announced for 2026. Nobody from AEW on the boat. No references to AEW.â€

Meltzer then jumped in with some layered context, pointing to previous years where AEW talent was added later, but he admitted the signs are starting to add up.

“Somebody told me that last cruise he did, there were no AEW people announced until months ahead. But I will say this: people in WWE believe that heâ€s coming to WWE, for what thatâ€s worth.â€

The longtime journalist pointed out Jerichoâ€s recent shift in content—like no longer reviewing AEW matches on his podcast—and said it might be intentional.

“He doesnâ€t review AEW matches anymore, heâ€s reviewing other matches and things like that… I think that if [a WWE return] happens, heâ€s not going to be saying it. Heâ€ll want it to be a surprise.â€

Meltzer even floated the idea of a WWE Royal Rumble appearance leading to a WrestleMania match and Hall of Fame induction, which has reportedly been rumored for a while. Then came the part that really got fans speculating. Meltzer revealed that Jericho hasnâ€t been on AEW TV since April and suggested that Tony Khan might already be aware of Jerichoâ€s possible departure.

“If heâ€s not back on AEW television by January, I think people are going to kind of figure that part out… Heâ€s been ready for a couple months… And then nothing happened. After about a month after the tour ended and he didnâ€t come back, I started thinking: Tonyâ€s probably not bringing him back and probably figures heâ€s going to WWE.â€

Jerichoâ€s AEW contract is set to expire in December 2025, but the stripped-down cruise and lack of AEW connections seem to be telling their own story. Still, Jericho hasnâ€t confirmed anything. In fact, he might be playing things close to the vest on purpose.

During a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Jericho looked back on some of his careerâ€s biggest moments—his WWE debut, “A little bit of the bubbly,†the Festival of Friendship, and the Dinner Debonair—but intentionally left the fifth spot on his list open.

“Thatâ€s the way I always think of it. ‘Whatâ€s your favorite moment of your career?†Current, now. If I didnâ€t think it was the best, then why am I doing it?… We leave the space blank, and weâ€ll see what happens.â€

And when asked point blank whatâ€s coming next for him, Jericho gave his classic cryptic response:

“We donâ€t know, right? Weâ€ll just have to see.â€

With WWE insiders allegedly expecting his return, a Royal Rumble comeback in January would mark a dramatic full-circle moment for the 35-year wrestling veteran.

For now, fans are left watching the horizon. Whether he stays with AEW, shows up in WWE, or shocks everyone with a totally different path, Jerichoâ€s next chapter is already getting people talking—and thatâ€s exactly how he likes it.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

Should he finish Chris Jericho finish his career in WWE or stay loyal to AEW? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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Following Andrade El Idolo’s return to AEW earlier this month, his sudden disappearance from television has been a topic of speculation. A new report suggests his absence may be due to a non-compete clause with WWE. On the October 16 edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that the belief is WWE intervened.

“What Iâ€ve been hearing was WWE sent a letter. AEW obviously believed that there was no non-compete,” Meltzer said. “There were people who talked to people in WWE who also believed there was no non-compete. But WWE apparently… thatâ€s the story. They said that he canâ€t do (anything in AEW) for 90 days.”

This information aligns with a previous report from Fightful Select, which noted that sources close to Andrade said he was in “good spirits” but did not explain his absence. The report also mentioned that the situation was not seen as “AEW or Andradeâ€s specific fault.”

The assumption was that Andrade was free of any restrictions due to the circumstances of his WWE release. However, this new development indicates WWE believes he is still within the standard 90-day non-compete window for main roster talent. Andrade’s future in AEW appears to be on a temporary hold, not because of creative decisions or injury, but due to a potential legal complication with his former employer. AEW has not commented on the matter publicly.

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We now have a bit more information regarding Andrade and why he hasn’t been back on AEW TV since his return.

On the October 1 edition of Dynamite, Andrade made his return to AEW less than a month after being released from his WWE contract. He joined the Don Callis Family on the episode and started a feud with Kenny Omega. Since then, though, there has been little follow-up with fans wondering where Andrade has been.

“Regarding Andrade, all I know is that he’s not injured, and something is holding him up regarding his non-compete with WWE,” our Bryan Alvarez reports.

What specifically is holding Andrade up is not known at this time.

WWE main roster wrestlers traditionally have 90-day non-compete clauses after being released. A report from PWInsider said that Andrade’s WWE departure was due to multiple wellness policy failures, and WWE made the decision to cut him outright rather than continuing to pay him during a non-compete period.

Andrade did wrestle for The Crash in Mexico on October 3, winning the promotion’s Heavyweight Championship. He is scheduled to compete for WWC in Puerto Rico this weekend on the same day as AEW WrestleDream.

An Andrade vs. LA Park indie match was supposed to take place for Mucha Lucha Atlanta in Norcross, Georgia on October 26 but is no longer being advertised.

Andrade’s first AEW stint lasted from 2021-2023. His return has made him the first wrestler to go from WWE to AEW to WWE to AEW again.

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AJ Leeâ€s return has the potential to shake up WWEâ€s womenâ€s division by targeting established champions, forging nostalgic alliances, and igniting fresh rivalries. Whether aiming for Becky Lynchâ€s well-established Intercontinental title reign, challenging the reigning Womenâ€s World Champion, or reuniting with old allies, Lee can craft compelling storylines grounded in current facts and official records.

Let’s take a look at 5 things that Lee can do once she returns.

#5. Spark a Feud with ‘Daughter’ Roxanne Perez

On September 9, 2025, Roxanne Perez recreated a childhood photo with AJ Lee on social media, signaling mutual respect and nostalgia. Lee can confront Perez on RAW, acknowledging their history before questioning whether the former NXT Womenâ€s Champion truly matches up. This dynamic, Lee’s seasoned expertise against Perezâ€s emerging talent, can drive a technical showcase leading to a marquee pay-per-view match.

oh Iâ€m so good https://t.co/tRT4gW9yrwpic.twitter.com/BsOKLJweH2

— roxanne (@roxanne_wwe) September 9, 2025

Such an angle spotlights Perezâ€s rapid ascent while reaffirming Lee’s legacy as a dominant force.

#4. A Reunion with Bayley

Lee and Bayley have been close friends since their early years, and the Role Model made appearances in AJ Lee’s merch following her return, even donning CM Punk’s ‘AJ’s Husband’ jacket. A backstage segment in which Lee surprises Bayley, reminding her of their friendship since NXT, can launch a short-term alliance. Whether they target dominant heel teams or engage in six-woman tag matches along with Lyra Valkyria, their proven chemistry offers both nostalgia and fresh narrative opportunities. This direction legitimizes Lee’s involvement and bolsters the tag division.

MORE: AJ Leeâ€s Next WWE Match Revealed

#3. Joins Forces with Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky

Rhea Ripley and IYO Sky both held the WWE Womenâ€s World Championship earlier in 2025, Ripley from January to March, and Sky from March to July 2025. More recently, they became partners against Sky’s family – the Kabuki Warriors, facing them at Crown Jewel Perth. Lee can interrupt their backstage strategy session, proposing an alliance under her leadership. By playing both confidante and challenger, she creates tension within the duo, setting up six-woman tag matches, or it could even lead to the next big premium live event, Survivor Series: WarGames.

#2. Challenges Becky Lynch for the Intercontinental Championship

Lee returned to WWE after a decade to teach Lynch a lesson, who has been riding high ever since becoming the Intercontinental Champion and aligning with her husband, Seth Rollins. She already beat the Man at Wrestlepalooza by tapping her out using the Black Widow submission move. If she can do it once, she can definitely do it again and win the Intercontinental Championship.

CM PUNK AND AJ LEE WIN AFTER LEE TAPPED OUT BECKY LYNCH 😱

STREAM #WRESTLEPALOOZA LIVE ON THE ESPN APP. pic.twitter.com/qHo7IP3wDO

— ESPN (@espn) September 21, 2025

As of now, Lynch is not in any proper feud; she is currently having singles matches against Maxxine Dupri, and a proper challenger such as Lee could shake up her overconfidence, bringing her back to reality.

MORE: CM Punk Jumps Into The Arms Of Female WWE Star Amid AJ Leeâ€s Absence

#1. AJ Lee vs WWE Women’s Champion

If Lee decides that it is time for her to capture one of the two women’s championships, she could challenge the newly crowned Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer, or she could take on a more experienced wrestler in the form of Tiffany Stratton. It would depend on which brand she is drafted to, but as of now, nothing is confirmed. Vaquer was recently challenged by the Eradicator Ripley, and Stratton just put the Nia Jax-Jade Cargill feud behind her, so going after the WWE Women’s Championship could cement Lee as one of the most dominant champions of all time.

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  Dave McMenaminOct 11, 2025, 05:33 PM ET

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  • Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
  • Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — While LeBron James is expected to be sidelined to begin the season as he recovers from sciatica on the right side of his body, the Los Angeles Lakers’ other superstar, Luka Doncic, said he doesn’t feel compelled to do more in James’ absence.

“I don’t view it that way,” Doncic said after practice Saturday. “I just want to play basketball. If I do less, if I do more, whatever it takes for me to get a win.”

So far without James and Doncic, the Lakers are winless in the preseason, going 0-2 against Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors.

L.A. hosts Golden State in a preseason rematch Sunday, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said it is still being determined if Doncic will play.

Sunday starts a stretch of three preseason games in four days for the Lakers, continuing with a road game against Phoenix on Tuesday and the second night of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Redick said Doncic would play in two of L.A.’s remaining four preseason games.

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Doncic was a full participant on Saturday after having his workload modified all week to save the 26-year-old guard some wear and tear after he played for Slovenia in EuroBasket this summer.

“I had [the] national team,” Doncic explained. “Playing one month or something of basketball [for Slovenia]. Obviously it’s a long season ahead, so just because of that.”

Now Redick has his work cut out for him trying to fill in for James while he is sidelined for the next three to four weeks before his sciatica is scheduled to be reevaluated.

“You hope that he’s back soon,” Redick said. “Those things can be tricky. … It is unclear what the starting lineup is going to be, that’s the reality, until he is back. We’ll have to figure that out.”

Doncic, guard Austin Reaves and center Deandre Ayton will occupy three of the five spots.

It’s the other two starting spots that Redick will examine, with Rui Hachimura starting 57 of the 59 games he played for L.A. last season under obvious consideration. Jarred Vanderbilt, who has started both preseason games so far and is the healthiest he has been since the Lakers’ 2023 trip to the Western Conference finals and free agent signees Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart give the team different options offensively and defensively.

Smart, who has also been sidelined to start the preseason because of Achilles tendinopathy, will play against the Warriors, according to Redick.

Redick said he has thought about having one lineup and rotation that fits best together when James plays and a separate one for when he doesn’t.

Doncic said he and James have “talked a lot” while observing the Lakers practice from the sidelines during training camp, which has helped with chemistry.

For the time being, all Doncic and the Lakers will be getting out of James during games is what the 40-year-old can provide with his voice from the bench.

“It’s a big change,” Doncic said of having to play without James. “He’s a great player. He can help us a lot. But at the end of the day, our mentality needs to be ‘next man up.’ We got a group of guys that have been practicing and hopefully LeBron can join us as soon as possible. We are going to obviously need him. But our mentality has got to be ‘next man up.’ That’s it.”

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