Browsing: Absence

After the Blue Jays clinched their first ALCS appearance since 2016 in the Bronx Wednesday night, two-time All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette told reporters that he’s “made a lot of progress recently” in his recovery from a left knee injury that’s kept him out since Sept. 6.

Bichette also said he’s “optimistic” about his chances to return for the championship series.

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The Blue Jays will host Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS against the winner of Friday’s ALDS Game 5 between the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners.

“I still have some hurdles to clear, but I’m optimistic,” Bichette said, via MLB.com.

He added: “I’m feeling better every day.”

The 27-year-old Bichette suffered a PCL sprain during a 3-1 loss to the Yankees last month. Zooming home as the potential game-tying run, he made a beeline for the plate from second base after Nathan Lukes roped a single into right field in the top of the sixth inning.

But Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger delivered a one-hop throw to catcher Austin Wells, who tagged Bichette out as he rammed into Wells’ shin protectors while sliding feet first.

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Bichette then hobbled off the field. Although he returned to the game after a subsequent, nearly two-hour rain delay — and his X-rays came back clean — Bichette experienced soreness in his knee the following days, per MLB.com. He eventually received an MRI, which identified the sprain.

Bichette was placed on the 10-day IL, but his return has taken much longer than that.

His recovery timeline was readjusted in the middle of September when Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Bichette would miss the rest of the regular season.

The hope was for Bichette to be back for the start of the playoffs, but he was left off the Blue Jays’ ALDS roster.

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“Good news the last couple of days,” Schneider said of Bichette Wednesday, per MLB.com.

“He was out there running today, and he actually hit off Max [Scherzer] and Chris [Bassitt] back home. He hit against [veloctiy] and hit in the game. He didnâ€t run, but he took 14 swings off of them. Heâ€s just trying to feel out his timing. These last three days have been pretty good for him.”

Schneider said last week that his staff doesn’t plan on using Bichette in a hero-spot role. In other words, he needs to be healthy enough to play regularly. His running progression will be key.

Bichette, whose .311 batting average this season was tied for second best in the majors, is notably in the final year of a three-year, $33.6 million deal and is set to hit free agency this offseason.

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At the moment, however, he’s trying to do everything he can to get back in the lineup and help the Blue Jays advance to the World Series.

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Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux are making their long-awaited return to Major League Wrestling after a three-year absence. The power couple will appear at the MLW x DON GATO LIVE SPECIAL on November 20, 2025, at the Charleston Music Hall in Charleston.

The announcement came via a cryptic video shown at MLW’s recent Slaughterhouse event, declaring “The Toll Has Come Due.” The ominous message signals that Kross and Bordeaux are bringing their signature intensity back to the promotion.

Kross, known for his ruthless and precise in-ring style, has established himself as one of wrestling’s most dangerous competitors. Scarlett Bordeaux complements his menacing presence with her own blend of seduction and danger, creating one of professional wrestling’s most captivating partnerships.

MLW has promoted their return with the tagline “Together, they bring chaos back to Major League Wrestling,” leaving fans to speculate about potential targets and storylines. The teaser question—”who will pay the toll this time?”—suggests the duo has unfinished business in the promotion.

Tickets for the Charleston event start at just $10 and are available through MLWGo.com and Ticketmaster. The event is presented by Don Gato Tequila.

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Even without making an appearance, Rhea Ripley made her presence felt on Mondayâ€s WWE RAW.

On the October 6 episode of WWE RAW, Asuka was seen backstage talking with GM Adam Pearce to arrange a singles match between IYO Sky and Kairi Sane. Pearce said he will look at the schedule and will discuss it with Sky. If she agrees to a singles match, then it will be made official. Asuka was furious with this lazy work by Pearce and wanted an official announcement instantaneously. As he left, Sane joined the Empress of Tomorrow backstage, asking what exactly she was discussing with Pearce. Asuka replied that they will teach Sky-Ripley a lesson at Crown Jewel, but before that, Sane must face Sky tonight. Sane was hesitant, stating she doesn’t wanna find a family member, but Asuka got offended with this. She slapped Sane and shouted at her, which left Sane frightened.

Rhea Ripley’s Comments After IYO Sky-Kairi Sane Match: “Saturday You Will Pay”

Sky attacked Asuka even before the match started, taking her out with a dive between the ropes. Sane brought Sky back into the ring, with Sky going all out on her, delivering high-power moves. Near the decisive moments of the match, Sane went for an insane elbow, but Sky had her feet up. Sky delivers a moonsault on Sane and was going for a finish, but Asuka created a massive distraction. With Asuka’s help, Sane rolled Sky and won the match.

After the match, the Kabuki Warriors teamed up to attack the outnumbered Sky brutally. Asuka set her up for an insane elbow, which Sane delivered from the top rope. Seeing this, Ripley wrote,

Saturday you will pay.”

Saturday you will pay. https://t.co/f0YnZxWPWn

— RheaRipley_WWE (@RheaRipley_WWE) October 7, 2025

This was in reference to the tag team match between Iyo Sky-Rhea Ripley and the Kabuki Warriors at Crown Jewel in Australia. Ripley and Sky were competitors not too long ago, challenging each other for the women’s world championship, but due to recent circumstances, she is set to team up with each other.

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Former North American Champion Tony Dâ€Angelo hasnâ€t been seen on WWE NXT programming in quite some time.

Tony Dâ€Angelo has been a staple of this generation of NXT television since his debut with the brand in 2021. Back in July, the final nail was put into the coffin of the Dâ€Angelo Family storyline when Tony picked up the win over Channing “Stacks†Lorenzo and Luca Crusifino in a triple threat match.

Dâ€Angelo would go on to compete two more times at NXT live events against Anthony Luke before appearing in a segment on the July 29 episode of NXT, where he was confronted by a shadowy figure before disappearing from WWE‘s radar completely. So what on earth happened to The Don of NXT?

According to Dave Meltzer in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Tony Dâ€Angelo requested time off from WWE, and his absence from the company isnâ€t injury-related.

Tony Dâ€Angelo hopes more people will appreciate his in-ring work

Dâ€Angelo spoke with WrestleZone last year and made it clear that while he appreciates that people love his character, he hopes his in-ring work will get some appreciation as well.

“When fans hear the name Tony Dâ€Angelo, they immediately attach it to the Italian mob, which is fine. I am proud of all the character work and I do work really hard on that stuff. So, I think it is great to be recognized for that,†he explained. “But, I think my in-ring work doesnâ€t get enough recognition for the things I can do, the athlete that I am.

“I was a Division 1 collegiate athlete. I can go if I need to. But, I do, I leave it all in the ring every time. So, I guess that. But, to be honest with you, Iâ€m not really concerned with everybody elseâ€s opinion,†Dâ€Angelo pointed out. “Iâ€m just concerned about getting better myself. I know what I can do. The boss man knows what I can do. And hopefully through my work, shows everybody that I am the full package.â€Â

You can check out our complete interview with Tony Dâ€Angelo in the embedded video below:

READ MORE: WWE, AEW, and TNA Talent ‘Baffled†By Booker Tâ€s Remarks About Jade Cargill

What do you make of this report? Are you happy to hear that Tony Dâ€Angelo has requested this time off from WWE, and heâ€s not out with an injury? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

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A new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletterhas provided an update on the status of WWE superstar Tony D’Angelo, revealing the reason for his ongoing absence from television. “The Don of NXT” has not been seen on programming since mid-July, leading to widespread speculation among fans that he was either injured or being prepared for an imminent call-up to the main roster. However, the new report indicates that his absence is for a much simpler, personal reason.

According to Dave Meltzer’s report, D’Angelo’s absence is not related to any injury. Instead, he is off television because he had “asked for time off.” There was no further indication as to when or on which brand the former NXT North American Champion is expected to make his return to the ring.

D’Angelo’s last televised appearance was on the July 15 episode of WWE NXT. On that night, he was victorious in a triple threat match against his own Family stablemates, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo and Luca Crusifino. He later appeared in a pre-taped vignette where he seemed to be retiring his “Don” character before being confronted by a mysterious figure shrouded in shadows, leaving his storyline on a major cliffhanger.

His disappearance from television is what fueled the main roster call-up rumors. During his time in NXT, D’Angelo has held the North American Championship, the Heritage Cup, and was a two-time NXT Tag Team Champion. It’s unclear when he will be back.

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AEW/Ricky Havlik

The Don Callis Family has been all over AEW programming, growing bigger and bigger by the week. Despite this, one Callis Family member has been absent from AEW until recently.

According to PWInsider Elite, former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion Trent Beretta has been recovering from an arm injury. The report said that Beretta is expected back in competition in the next couple of months, but Beretta essentially beat the report to the punch, as Beretta appeared alongside Rocky Romero in a backstage vignette, which saw the Roppongi Vice members taunt TikTok stars AJ Befumo and his son “Big Justice” into the Costco Guys challenging them to a tag match at AEW Full Gear in November. However, since Big Justice is still a child, he will be replaced by a yet-to-be-named AEW star. In the video, Beretta has a cast on his arm.

This will not be the first time that the Costco Guys have faced Roppongi Vice, as they teamed with The Conglomeration’s Kyle O’Reilly, Hologram, and Tomohiro Ishii to take on Roppongi Vice and other The Don Callis Family members at All In: Texas earlier this summer. The motley crew was victorious over Romero, Beretta, and company.  “Big Boom” AJ made his AEW debut at the 2024 edition of Full Gear, where he defeated QT Marshall, and was supported by his son, as well as fellow social media star “The Rizzler.” There is no word on whether The Rizzler will be on hand for the Full Gear match.

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Sep 28, 2025, 01:46 AM ET

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Houston Astros’ streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances ended Saturday night in the second inning of their 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

The Astros took the field at Angel Stadium with a glimmer of hope, as the Cleveland Guardians and Texas Rangers were tied going into the ninth inning at Progressive Field.

But with Christian Walker at the plate in the top of the second in Anaheim, Guardians outfielder C.J. Kayfus was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to give Cleveland a 3-2 win over the Rangers, clinching the final American League playoff berth for the Guardians and eliminating the Astros.

This will be the first time the Astros (86-75) miss the postseason since 2016. They made seven straight trips to the AL Championship Series from 2017-23, winning four pennants and a pair of World Series titles (2017 and 2022) during that stretch.

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In fact, Sunday’s season finale against the Angels will be only the fourth game since the start of the 2015 season in which the Astros will be out of playoff contention.

“I want to apologize to the fans in Houston for falling short. It’s not what they’re accustomed to,” Astros infielder Carlos Correa said. “They’re used to watching playoff baseball, and they look forward to that every single year.

“We were not able to accomplish that this year, but we promise our fans in Houston that this offseason is going to be one of a lot of hard work. We’re going to get better, and next year is going to be one to remember.”

Houston began the season without two of its best players from 2024, as third baseman Alex Bregman signed a free-agent deal with the Boston Red Sox and outfielder Kyle Tucker was traded to the Chicago Cubs.

The Astros lost their top slugger, Yordan Alvarez, to injuries for much of the season and several other key players — closer Josh Hader, shortstop Jeremy Peña and third baseman Isaac Paredes among them — to injuries down the stretch.

Houston was still in the hunt for a fifth straight AL West title, tied with Seattle entering a big three-game series against the Mariners on Sept. 19. But the Astros were swept at home by Seattle and lost two more games to the Athletics — they did not hold a lead in any of the five consecutive losses — to fall five games back in the division race.

They had a chance to pull into a three-way tie with the Guardians and Detroit Tigers on Friday night, but failed to hold an early 3-0 lead and lost 4-3 to the Angels to remain a game behind the two AL Central teams.

Cleveland and Detroit both hold tiebreakers over Houston, so the Astros needed to win their final two games and have either the Guardians or Tigers lose their last two to extend their playoff streak. But then Cleveland and Detroit both won on Saturday to punch their tickets to the postseason.

“That’s a meeting, that’s a conversation that you don’t want to have with your team,” Houston manager Joe Espada said of his postgame address to the club. “This is my eighth season, and this has never happened. But it happened today.

“I told this team I’m really proud of them, because we’ve gone through a lot. We have guys who have no business being on the field right now, who are banged-up, but they’re playing through pain, through injuries, because they want it for our city, they want it for their teammates, and that’s the heart of a champion, right?”

Walker, who hit two solo homers Saturday night, believes Houston’s absence from the postseason will be an aberration, not the start of a downward spiral for the franchise.

“This stinks. It hurts, for sure. We poured a lot of energy and emotion, and blood, sweat and tears into the season,” Walker said. “I felt like with this team, there’s a lot of special moments that could happen in this room, so it sucks not to be able to show that on the postseason stage.

“There were some unfortunate injuries and things that happened along the way, but that’s part of it. Good teams find a way, and we almost did. We were close but not good enough. But even with the lineup and the roster we have, I think this group can win a World Series, for sure.”

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Shinsuke Nakamura is stepping back into the ring for the first time in months, and heâ€s doing it on his home turf.

WWE has announced that Nakamura will compete at both nights of the upcoming Supershow events at Tokyoâ€s RyÅgoku Sumo Hall on October 17 and 18, 2025.

This marks Nakamuraâ€s first match since his early exit from the King of the Ring tournament in June, where he lost in the opening round. Since then, heâ€s been off WWE programming, but his return has now been confirmed as a centerpiece of the companyâ€s Japan tour.

On the first night, Nakamura will team with Jey Uso to take on the powerhouse duo of Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. The following night, heâ€ll link up with Uso again—this time alongside CM Punk—in a six-man tag match against Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed.

The two-night event is part of WWEâ€s continued push to feature more international stars in key roles, and Nakamuraâ€s return in Tokyo is a major moment for both the performer and the Japanese fanbase. After months on the sidelines, the King of Strong Style is finally back in action—and heâ€s doing it in front of a crowd that helped define his legacy.

Alongside Nakamuraâ€s matches, both shows feature championship clashes and high-profile bouts involving top stars like CM Punk, Giulia, Rhea Ripley, and Seth Rollins. But Nakamuraâ€s return stands out as one of the most meaningful parts of this tour, signaling a potential new chapter in his WWE run. Hereâ€s the current lineup for both nights of WWE Supershow Japan:

October 17, 2025 – RyÅgoku Sumo Hall, Tokyo

• Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship
• Giulia vs. IYO SKY vs. Rhea Ripley for the Womenâ€s U.S. Championship
• Shinsuke Nakamura & Jey Uso vs. Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed

October 18, 2025 – RyÅgoku Sumo Hall, Tokyo

• Giulia vs. Kairi Sane (with Asuka)
• Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY vs. Roxanne Perez & Raquel Rodriguez
• CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura & Jey Uso vs. Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed

With WWEâ€s return to Japan featuring a major homecoming for Nakamura, fans will be watching closely to see if this marks the beginning of a renewed push for one of the companyâ€s most iconic Japanese superstars.

Are you ready to see Nakamura back in the ring? What should WWE do with him next after this Tokyo run? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

September 27, 2025 5:50 pm

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Jacob Fatuâ€s quiet disappearance from WWE television left fans frustrated, especially after his strong start to 2025. But despite being off TV since August, a new update makes it clear: this wasnâ€t supposed to be a long-term thing.

According to Fightful Select, the time off was never intended to stretch out. “[He] was never supposed to miss much time,†the outlet wrote.

That adds context to a separate report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, where Dave Meltzer noted that: “Jacob Fatu will be back imminently.â€

Fatuâ€s last appearance came during the August 29 episode of SmackDown, where he helped Sami Zayn defeat Solo Sikoa to win the United States Championship. Fans thought that moment would catapult him into a bigger storyline. Instead, he vanished from TV and has only been seen in dark matches, which many saw as a step backward.

While it may have looked like WWE had dropped the ball on him, this update suggests the situation was never meant to derail his momentum. Now, all eyes are on what WWE does next with the “Samoan Werewolf.â€

Do you think WWE should push Jacob Fatu back into a top storyline immediately? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

September 26, 2025 2:17 pm

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Who Will Be India Vice-Captain in Rishabh Pantâ€s Absence?Indiaâ€s new Test captain Shubman Gill will be leading in a home Test match for the first time in his career when the Asian giants host the West Indies for a two-match Test series in October. However, he will not have his deputy Rishabh Pant by his side.

Gill led an inexperienced Indian side brilliantly in the five-Test series in England earlier this year. The team that was without the experienced trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and R Ashwin, and missed Jasprit Bumrah for two Tests, returned with a 2-2 draw, with Gill and Mohammed Siraj leading the way in their respective departments.

The IND vs WI Test series is part of the ICC WTC 2025-27 cycle.

India vs West Indies Test series: Date and venue?

India will host West Indies for two Test matches from October 2. The first Test will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi will host the second Test from October 10.

When will BCCI announce the squad for India vs West Indies Test series?

It is reported that the BCCI will convene its selection meeting on Wednesday, September 24, to pick the India squad for the West Indies Test series.

IND vs WI: Will Rishabh Pant play in the Test series against West Indies?

No, India wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant will miss the two-match Test series against the West Indies, as he is still not completely recovered from the toe fracture that he had sustained during the 4th Test against England in Manchester.

Pant is currently undergoing rehab at BCCIâ€s Centre of Excellence facility in Bengaluru. He is also unlikely to be rushed for the white-ball tour of Australia in October-November, as he is not part of the T20I setup and not the first-choice keeper-batsman in the ODI team.

This means that Pantâ€s potential return series could be the home Test series against South Africa, starting on November 14.

In Pantâ€s absence, Dhruv Jurel has played for India in Test matches in recent times. Jurel made his Test debut in February 2024 and has played five Tests so far, including the fifth Test against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy at The Oval.

With Rishabh Pant ruled out, Tamil Naduâ€s N. Jagadeesan will be picked as the backup keeper to Jurel for the West Indies Test series. Jagadeesan was flown in as a backup for the Oval Test and recently struck a century and two fifties in his last three first-class innings.

While Jurel and Jagadeesan are set to be Pantâ€s replacements, the selectors will have the dilemma of naming the vice-captain in Pantâ€s absence.

Pant was the deputy of Gill for the tour of England. But when he was ruled out of the 5th Test, the BCCI didnâ€t name an official vice-captain.

IND vs WI: Who Will Be India Vice-Captain After Rishabh Pant Got Ruled Out Of West Indies Test Series?

With Pant ruled out, India have three strong options for the temporary vice-captain for the West Indies Test series. They are KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah. Since this is a temporary situation for one series, the BCCI might go with Rahul, who has previously captained India in Test cricket, and so has Bumrah, but he might not play in both Tests against the West Indies.

If the selectors want to go with a younger vice-captain, then Yashasvi Jaiswal is an available option.

Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.

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