Browsing: Confirmed

If Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd has decided Cooper Flagg will begin the regular season as the starting point guard, he isn’t saying it publicly.

Following the Mavs’ 121-94 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in their preseason finale on Wednesday, Kidd was noncommittal when discussing Flagg’s position going forward while also praising the “incredible job” the rookie has done:

“He’s got to keep an index of who got shots, what was the last shot, and that’ll come with reps. But I think [Flagg] has done an incredible job of handling the situation of running the team. And the other thing that I think that is going unnoticed is that his teammates enjoy him running the team.”

Flagg started at the point in Dallas’ final two preseason games. He was used at forward in the first two games, with D’Angelo Russell running the point in matchups against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets.

Regardless of the role he was playing, Flagg looked comfortable on the court in all four preseason games. He averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists in just under 22 minutes per game in the preseason.

The Mavs have challenged Flagg by letting him run the offense going back to the Summer League.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon noted Kidd became intrigued with the idea of using the No. 1 pick at the point when studying his tape from Duke because he saw echoes of Grant Hill’s game in the film.

Hill, like Flagg, had a traditional forward body with the ball-handling skill to lead an offense. The Detroit Pistons legend averaged at least five assists per game in each of his first seven seasons.

The Mavericks signed Russell in free agency to be a stop-gap point guard while they wait for Kyrie Irving to return from a torn ACL. He is a capable starter and also has experience coming off the bench.

Flagg could be one of the smaller starters in this Mavs lineup when everyone is healthy. The other players on the court with him will be Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively II.

Given the size that Dallas can put on the court, if Flagg can run the offense right out of the gate, this team could be very difficult to stop.

We will find out what role Kidd has in mind for Flagg very soon. The Mavs will tipoff the regular season against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 22.

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Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya has all but confirmed his relationship with model Mahieka Sharma. (Image credit Agencies) Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya has all but confirmed his relationship with model Mahieka Sharma. A day before his 32nd birthday on October 11, the star all-rounder shared a series of Instagram stories featuring the 24-year-old, just hours after the two were spotted together at the Mumbai airport.In one of the pictures, Hardik and Mahieka are seen posing on a beach, seemingly from a private birthday getaway. Another monochrome photo from the same trip hinted at the beginning of a new and joyful chapter in Hardikâ€s life.The cricketer also posted heartwarming family moments featuring his son Agastya, his mother, and grandmother, alongside a glimpse of a cake-cutting ceremony — giving fans a peek into his intimate pre-birthday celebration.Recently, Shubman Gill has been appointed Indiaâ€s new ODI captain, taking over from Rohit Sharma for the upcoming three-match series against Australia beginning October 19. Rohit and Virat Kohli, who last featured in the format during Indiaâ€s victorious 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, return to the squad purely as batters.The appointment marks a new era for Indian cricket, with Gill, already the Test captain, now leading in another format while also serving as vice-captain in T20Is. His elevation follows Indiaâ€s emphatic win in his first Test as skipper — an innings-and-140-run triumph over the West Indies. Shreyas Iyer has been named Gillâ€s deputy in ODIs, while Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant remain sidelined due to injuries.

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WWEâ€s Crown Jewel 2025 is set to make history by venturing outside Saudi Arabia for the first time, with the action landing Down Under at Perthâ€s RAC Arena on October 11, 2025. The company has already confirmed several high‑profile matchups that promise to deliver drama, championship intrigue, and must-see showdowns. Hereâ€s a look at the card as it stands, with every confirmed match and whatâ€s riding on each bout.

Menâ€s Crown Jewel Championship

Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins

At the top of the card, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes will face World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins to determine the 2025 Menâ€s Crown Jewel Champion. This champion‑versus‑champion bout was officially confirmed following WrestlePalooza and immediately became WWEâ€s headliner for the Perth event. The stakes may be symbolic, but the rivalry between Rhodes and Rollins has deep history.

Womenâ€s Crown Jewel Championship

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Tiffany Stratton

WWE wasted little time confirming the womenâ€s side of the championship stakes. Stephanie Vaquer, the Womenâ€s World Champion, will take on WWE Womenâ€s Champion Tiffany Stratton for the Womenâ€s Crown Jewel Championship.

AJ Styles vs. John Cena

WWE has confirmed that AJ Styles will go head-to-head with John Cena in what is being billed as another marquee singles match. The matchup holds extra weight given Cenaâ€s pending retirement and the storied history between these two legends from their clashes in 2016-2017. Cena, only months away from his final in‑ring matches, is hoping to add another high-profile victory to his farewell tour.

Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley

WWE has officially added a tag team clash to the card: Asuka and Kairi Sane will take on IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley. This match emerges from ongoing tensions, betrayals, and shifting alliances within the womenâ€s roster, particularly as SKY and Ripley have been embroiled in conflict with the Kabuki Warriors.

Australian Street Fight: Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed

The biggest late surprise: Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed in an Australian Street Fight is now officially confirmed. Reigns will battle Reed in a “vicious Australian Street Fight.â€

Bronson Reed, being Australian, brings hometown momentum and local flavor to the match. Reports leading up to the event have revealed that this match will use “open rules†and may incorporate uniquely Australian weapons or props, from cricket bats to boomerangs.

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Title match to take place on Raw and not at WWE Crown Jewel.

In less than a week, WWE is set to head toward the ‘Country Down Under’ for Crown Jewel, 2025, in Perth, Australia. With five matches already scheduled for the show, the promotion recently had to scrap and put one title match on Raw instead.

Last week, after Dominik Mysterio successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship against Rusev, he found a new challenger in Penta. Following his six-man tag-team match against AJ Styles, Penta, and Dragon Lee, Mysterio’s next title match was announced.

Next week in Australia, after Crown Jewel, Dominik Mysterio will defend his Intercontinental title against Penta on Raw.

Here are the rest of the matches scheduled for Crown Jewel:

• Cody Rhodes vs Seth Rollins
• Tiffany Stratton vs Stephanie Vaquer
• Kabuki Warriors vs Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky
• John Cena vs AJ Styles
• Roman Reigns vs Bronson Reed – Australian Street Fight

WWE Hall Of Famer Rey Mysterio Recently Broke Character To Praise Dominik Mysterio

Last month, during his appearance on the Club 520 podcast, Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio broke character and heaped praise on Dominik Mysterio’s growth and career.

To see his growth over the past four years and how he just evolved into this character and embraced it and just now completely owns it is awesome, man. His confidence is… I wish I had some of that when I was his age, and I wish I knew what he knows now when I was his age. I had no clue. I was learning as I was going,†Rey revealed.

But I think the huge factor in this is he was… he was thrown in right away to swim with sharks and he figured that out. He learned how to swim with sharks. So, you know, I think personally thatâ€s why heâ€s in the spot that heâ€s in now.â€

In other news: Seth Rollins again ignores Becky Lynch on Raw.

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Even though rosters were trimmed to 23 on Saturday, there was no guarantee that the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to carry those exact 23 players into their season opener against former head coach Mike Sullivan and the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

But that does appear to be the case – which is good news for two top Penguins’ prospects.

On Monday, Penguins’ head coach Dan Muse confirmed that defenseman Harrison Brunicke and center Ben Kindel will both be making their NHL debuts when the Penguins take on the Rangers to kick off the 2025-26 season.

Brunicke, 19, and Kindel, 18, will be the first set of teenagers since Jordan Staal and Kris Letang on Oct. 5, 2006 to debut together for the Penguins, and they are just the third pair in team history – with the other being Mario Lemieux and Doug Bodger on Oct. 11, 1984.

“I’m excited for both of them. They earned this,” Muse said. “I said it the other day… this wasn’t something that we came in – that we started training camp or went through the summer – saying, ‘Okay, these guys are going to be in.’ Those two players were given an opportunity, and along the way, they earned new opportunities. And through those new opportunities, they’re now here today.

“It was multiple steps, though, that they had to go through to get to this point. I mean, there were points in exhibition where we’re purposely putting them in those hard situations to see how they handle them, and they handled them well. So, now we’re onto going into [Tuesday], and both guys have earned the right there to be in that opening night lineup.”

Brunicke – selected 44th overall by the Penguins in 2024 – nearly made the team out of training camp as an 18-year-old last season. He faced some adversity in his 2024-25 season with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL, as a broken wrist sidelined him for nearly two months. He still managed to put up five goals and 30 points in 41 games last season, and he came into this year’s camp looking even better than he did last time around.

“Confidence. He’s got tons of confidence with the puck,” veteran defenseman Kris Letang said. “He has a pretty good set of skills, whether it’s skating, puckhandling… and, obviously, his confidence makes him really dangerous. He can hold onto pucks and use his patience. So, it’s going to be exciting what he can do at this level.”

Kindel was selected 11th overall in 2025, and he was easily the best player in at least three of the Penguins’ pre-season games. He also played in more pre-season games than any other Penguins’ player, appearing in six of seven and registering a goal and three points.

Brunicke, Kindel & Cootes Projected To Start 2025-26 Season In The NHL
Three WHLers are projected to start the 2025-26 season with their NHL clubs. Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel are still with the Pittsburgh Penguins, while Braeden Cootes has yet to be reassigned by the Vancouver Canucks. With rosters needing to be set by Monday, it appears that all three will make their NHL debuts before being returned to the WHL.

The 5-foot-10, 181-pound centerman registered 35 goals and 99 points in 65 games with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL last season and has impressed the very best early on.

“He’s got a lot of poise with the puck, a lot of speed. Those two things probably stand out the most,” captain Sidney Crosby said. “I think he’s using his speed well, he’s finding guys, he distributes the puck really well, and he seems like he’s confident. It doesn’t seem like it’s been too fast for him or anything like that up to this point. He’s done a great job.

“Sometimes, it takes time to adjust to all of that. It seems like, with every game, he’s getting more and more comfortable.”

In practice Monday, Brunicke was working on the bottom pairing with left defenseman Caleb Jones, while Kindel was centering Tommy Novak and Philip Tomasino on the third line – a combination that has stuck for the last week or so. Both players were also working on the team’s second power play unit.

Crosby Set To Tie Prestigious NHL Record This Season
By now, Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby approaching NHL records is a relatively regular occurrence.

Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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Joe Hendry will be part of the WWE NXT Vs. TNA Wrestling ‘Showdown’ event, but the popular star won’t be competing. On X, TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella shared that Hendry will be the special guest referee of the Men’s eight-man tag-team elimination match.

Team NXT will feature WWE NXT Champion Ricky Saints, TNA World Champion Trick Williams, Jeâ€Von Evans, and Myles Borne. As for Team TNA, they will be represented by Moose, Leon Slater, Mike Santana and Frankie Kazarian.

It will be interesting to see where Hendry’s loyalties rest in this important tag-team elimination match. It has been reported that Hendry is expected to join WWE full-time when the time is right and he has made several appearances for the brand. TNA President Carlos Silva recently clarified that Hendry is still part of TNA Wrestling, despite his appearances for WWE.

Outside WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling, Hendry has appeared on WWEâ€s main roster. The TNA talent was part of the 2025 Menâ€s Royal Rumble match. He also appeared at WrestleMania 41 as the surprise opponent of Randy Orton.

Hendry’s situation at Showdown mirrors that of Jordynne Grace, who will officiate the Women’s Elimination Tag Team Match. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Showdown, including breaking news and live results.

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The highly anticipated NXT vs. TNA Showdown is shaping up to be a blockbuster crossover event, featuring inter-promotional clashes and high-stakes title bouts. Below is the confirmed card, match by match, and what each match brings to the table in this brand-warfare spectacle.

Match TypeCompetitorsNotesMenâ€s Survivor Series MatchNXT: Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Jeâ€Von Evans & Myles Borne vs. TNA: Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose & Leon Slater4-on-4 eliminationWomenâ€s Survivor Series MatchNXT: Jacy Jayne, Lola Vice, Sol Ruca & Jaida Parker vs. TNA: Kelani Jordan, The IInspiration & Mara Sade4-on-4 eliminationNXT & TNA Tag Team ChampionshipDarkState (NXT Champions) vs. The Hardys (TNA Champions)Winner takes allNXT North American ChampionshipEthan Page (c) vs. Mustafa AliTitle match

Menâ€s Survivor Series-Style Elimination

Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Jeâ€Von Evans & Myles Borne (NXT) vs. Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose & Leon Slater (TNA)

In a classic 4-on-4 Survivor Series-style elimination match, Team NXT will be captained by Ricky Saints, with Trick Williams (also a TNA champion), Jeâ€Von Evans, and Myles Borne rounding out the squad. The TNA side is led by Mike Santana and includes Frankie Kazarian, Moose, and Leon Slater.

Womenâ€s Survivor Series-Style Elimination

Jacy Jayne, Lola Vice, Sol Ruca & Jaida Parker (NXT) vs. Kelani Jordan, The IInspiration & Mara Sade (TNA)

Team NXT is captained by Womenâ€s Champion Jacy Jayne, joined by Lola Vice, Sol Ruca, and Jaida Parker. On the TNA side, Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan leads a squad that includes The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jessie McKay) and Mara Sade.

NXT & TNA Tag Team Championship (Winner Takes All)

DarkState (NXT Tag Team Champs: Dion Lennox & Osiris Griffin) vs. The Hardys (TNA Tag Team Champs: Jeff Hardy & Matt Hardy)

One of the most eagerly anticipated matches on the card is a winner-takes-all collision between the tag team champions of both promotions. The NXT champs, DarkState, risk everything against the legendary Hardy Boyz, who carry TNAâ€s tag team gold.

NXT North American Championship

Ethan Page (champion) vs. Mustafa Ali

Ethan Page defends the NXT North American Championship against Mustafa Ali. Ali was originally promised a title shot prior to his WWE departure and now seizes his opportunity under the NXT/TNA banner.

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Tessa Blanchard made her return to CMLL during the October 1, episode of CMLL Informa. During the show, it was stated that while Blanchard is under contract with TNA, her deal allows her the chance to compete in CMLL.

It was confirmed that Blanchard will be in action for CMLL on October 10, though it is unclear who she will be facing. Blanchard last competed for CMLL in November 2024, where she lost to Persephone.

In July of this year, following her return to TNA Wrestling, Blanchard claimed on Refin It Up that she had been told that she could not perform for both TNA and CMLL. At the time, Blanchard was told that ‘alliances’ were the reason why she couldn’t work for both companies, though that has clearly changed.

While fans can expect to see Blanchard in CMLL, she has been absent from the ongoing storyline between TNA and WWE NXT. Blanchard has yet to appear at any invasion of WWE NXT programming and, despite being a top star in the Knockouts division, was not selected to represent TNA at the upcoming Showdownevent.

Blanchard remains a source of controversy among many fans, but both CMLL and TNA Wrestling are ready to work with her. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Blanchard’s work in the ring.

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A new pairing between two WWE Superstars has just been made official.

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee are on different paths in WWE, but they suddenly got united due to their hatred of one man, El Grande Americano II (currently played by Ludwig Kaiser, allegedly), who’s been tormenting them for a couple of months now. They have been backing each other up since August, following SummerSlam by helping each other in matches.

Their first tag-team match was a loss against Americano and Dominik Mysterio on the August 11 episode of RAW. A month later, The Phenomenal One went off in a promo during a commercial break before his match with the masked star. Styles then beat Americano, with assistance from Lee, to exact revenge for his Intercontinental Championship loss at RAW in Paris against Dirty Dom. This was when the masked star interfered when the former WWE Champion was inches away from winning the title.

During this week’s episode, The Phenomenal One and El Nino Maravilla approached General Manager Adam Pearce and made it known that they’re tired of The Americanos (newly minted name of three El Grande Americanos).

Lee then proposed that he and Styles wrestle the two Americanos, which Pearce immediately approved and announced for RAW next week.

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee are set for a match with two of the El Grande Americanos next week on Raw pic.twitter.com/KNj2fcm6Bj

— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) September 23, 2025

It will be interesting to see who, between El Grande Americano II (Kaiser), El Grande Americano III (Pete Dunne), and El Grande Americano IV, will step up against the newly-formed tag-team.

Former WWE Champion CM Punk Shared A Photo With “AJ Lee”

In the height of AJ Lee’s return on RAW last September 8, CM Punk didn’t waste any time taking a picture with his wife. However, there’s a massive twist in it.

CM Punk with AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. pic.twitter.com/1bGM7evIeW

— CM Punk (@TeamCMPunk) September 9, 2025

With their tag-team officially confirmed, it will be interesting to see if The Phenomenal One and El Nino Maravilla will indeed use the name “AJ Lee.”

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Two big clashes have been confirmed for the Crown Jewel: Perth event. WWE presented the first PPV of their new…