Browsing: Family

Oct 12, 2025, 06:25 AM ET

YOKOHAMA, Japan — This may not have been Xander Schauffele’s most prestigious tournament victory, but it should be the American’s most memorable.

Schauffele shot a 7-under 64 on Sunday to win the Baycurrent Classic in Japan — a country where his mother grew up and where he has many connections.

Schauffele, who shot 19-under 265 over four rounds at the Yokohama Country Club, finished one shot ahead of American Max Greyserman, who was also the runner-up at this event a year ago as he chases his first PGA Tour title.

Schauffele has maternal grandparents living in Japan, and his mother has roots in Taiwan and grew up in Japan. His mother-in-law is also Japanese, and his wife is half Japanese and grew up in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa.

Xander Schauffele’s mother was born in Taiwan but grew up in Japan. AP Photo/Hiro Komae

“I’ve been coming here since I was about 9 years old to visit my grandparents,” Schauffele said. “I sort of fell in love with this country a long time ago. I can’t wait to bring my son here when he’s old enough to sort of understand and appreciate the culture here in Japan.”

“Yeah, the ties run deep for the Schauffele family here in Japan,” he added.

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Schauffele and his wife Maya became parents just over a month ago with the birth of a son.

“It’s still kind of fresh, but it’s definitely a cool thing being a dad and I’m so excited to go home to him and Maya after this,” Schauffele said.

Schauffele was cheered during the tournament by family members who attended, including his 81-year-old grandmother who walked the course with him. He said there would probably be a “get-together” with family members later to celebrate.

“I don’t get to see them very often, and they’ve always been gracious with their time to come out wherever the event was,” he said. “They’ve been awesome to me, and this is pretty cool. I’ve really wanted to share a win with them, so can’t wait to get together with them.”

Xander Schauffele poses with his family members after winning the Baycurrent Classic. His maternal grandparents live in Japan, his mother-in-law is Japanese, and his wife is half Japanese and grew up in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa. Yoshimasa Nakano/Getty Images

Greyserman closed with a 65 after holding or sharing the lead through the first three rounds. American Michael Thorbjornsen finished with a 64 and was three strokes behind the winner.

Schauffele has won two major championships — including the Open Championship in 2024 for his last victory — and took gold in the Tokyo Olympics, which were delayed until 2021 by the pandemic. He has compiled a considerable list of other PGA Tour titles, but this one title is different.

Soft conditions and still winds led to low scoring. American Matt McCarty shot an 11-under 60; he still finished nine strokes back. Japanese Takumi Kanaya finished with a 9-under 62 and was five behind the winner.

McCarty had a chance at a 58 but hit into the trees on his final hole and settled for a bogey and a 60. Jim Furyk holds the PGA Tour record with a 58 in the final round of the Travelers Championship in 2016.

Solo Sikoa stepped into the ring on the October 10 edition of WWE SmackDown to face an unexpected challenger.

After The Wyatt Sicks retained their WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits, Nikki Cross marched down the ramp alone. She confronted Solo Sikoa in Perth, standing toe-to-toe with the Samoan powerhouse as MFT members looked on from ringside. The silence was thick until Sikoa slipped away, leaving fans buzzing over what this cryptic stare-down could mean for Crown Jewel 2025.

Throughout 2025, Sikoa has rebuilt the Bloodlineâ€s reputation on SmackDown. He added JC Mateo, Talla Tonga, and Tonga Loa to create his own formidable faction. The sudden appearance of Cross, acting on behalf of the absent Uncle Howdy, signaled a new chapter in Sikoa’s ongoing war with Wyatt Sicks.

Nikki Cross was ready to take on Solo Sikoa by herself if she needed to 😭#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/Snd0qkrjMQ

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 10, 2025

The most intriguing twist comes from whispers that Sikoa may turn to a familiar face for reinforcements. Tamina Snuka, daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka, has not wrestled on television since January 2023 but remains under contract with WWE despite her long absence. Fans recall her powerful runs with Natalya as Womenâ€s Tag Team Champion and her early days leading The Usos. Bringing back Tamina would not only shore up Sikoa’s forces but also reunite two generations of wrestling heritage inside the squared circle.

MORE: MFT Member Sends Determined Message Following WWE SmackDown

Solo Sikoa Might Recruit Tamina Snuka in MFT

Tamina Snukaâ€s name carries weight. She debuted in 2010 alongside The Usos and has held the Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship once. Though she hasnâ€t been on an active roster since mid-2024, reports confirm she is still signed to WWE and simply hasnâ€t been booked on recent shows.

A surprise Tamina return at SmackDown would deepen the Bloodline narrative, offering Sikoa a veteran ally against The Wyatt Sicks. Her explosive style and family legacy could tilt the balance in MFTâ€s favor as they look to finally topple their eerie rivals.​

Fans will be watching the upcoming SmackDown episodes closely. If Sikoa does reach out to Tamina, it could mark one of the most memorable reunions in recent WWE memory and set the stage for a blockbuster tag match at Crown Jewel.

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More WWE names have announced departures.

The latest round of WWE cuts started earlier this week when indie star Zayda Steel announced that she will not be renewing her WWE ID contract. Shortly after, Kylie Rae also confirmed that her time with the ID program was coming to an end.

This was followed by news of several more cuts on Friday. The most surprising of these names was Lance Anoaâ€i, member of the famous Anoaâ€i family and cousin to names such as Roman Reigns and The Rock.

Lance was signed to a development deal back in November 2024. He had wrestled in several matches for the company as an enhancement talent before his signing, but Anoaâ€i surprisingly did not compete in any sanctioned matches during his development run.

The 33-year-old took to Twitter to announce the news, noting that he hasn’t had the best of luck since arriving in the company. Though he confirmed that he won’t be leaving wrestling and he will be back in the indie circuit when his non compete clause expires in 30 days.

Other names who confirmed their exit from the company as well include WWE LFG and Evolve competitors Jamar Hampton and Drako Knox, as well as Evolve General Manager Stevie Turner.

While not confirmed officially, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting that former NXT North American and Tag Team Champion Wes Lee is also among the names released from the company.

Many of these names have taken to social media to comment on their departure, expressing their gratitude for the opportunity as well as addressing their future. You can check out their posts below:

My time with @WWE has come to an end. Iâ€ve had a brilliant time and Iâ€m so excited for the future ? see you soon!

— STEVIE TURNER (@StevieTurnerWWE) October 10, 2025

Effective immediately, I have been released from my contract with WWE.

I am thankful for every person and every day I spent in that PC. I give everything I have every single day for this business!

I will be available for bookings in 30 days.
Email: [email protected]

— Drako Knox (@drakowwe) October 10, 2025

I would officially announce my departure from WWE! I didnâ€t have the best of luck since I arrived! I will not let this stop me from achieving to be great! Iâ€ve worked hard on the indies for 15 years! Now letâ€s get back to work! 30days
Accepting bookings [email protected]

— Lance Anoaâ€i (@lanceanoai) October 10, 2025

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Lance Anoaâ€i, part of the legendary Anoaâ€i family that includes Roman Reigns and The Usos, has officially parted ways with WWE — and heâ€s ready to return to the indie scene after never getting the chance to appear on WWE television.

Lance signed with WWE in 2023 and joined the Performance Center as part of the NXT roster. The signing was seen as a continuation of the Bloodline dynastyâ€s influence across all WWE brands. Unfortunately, his WWE career was cut short before it ever really got started. An injury sidelined Lance shortly after signing, and he never made it to TV, leaving many fans wondering when or if heâ€d debut.

Now, heâ€s confirmed that his time with WWE is officially over. Taking to social media, Lance addressed his departure with a message that pointed toward unfinished business.

“I would officially announce my departure from WWE! I didnâ€t have the best of luck since I arrived! I will not let this stop me from achieving to be great! Iâ€ve worked hard on the indies for 15 years! Now letâ€s get back to work! 30days Accepting bookings booklanceanoai@gmail.comâ€

The mention of a “30 day†clause aligns with WWE NXTâ€s standard non-compete window, suggesting he was officially released from his contract.

Before this stint, Lance had previously worked WWE tryout matches and made brief television appearances, including a 2019 episode of SmackDown Live in a match against Shane McMahon. While his latest run in WWE didnâ€t pan out, Lance has been a constant presence on the independent scene for over a decade, and heâ€s determined to pick up where he left off.

Lance Anoaâ€iâ€s exit from WWE is a reminder that even with wrestling royalty in your bloodline, nothing is guaranteed in this business. But if his history on the indies is anything to go by, heâ€s far from done.

What do you think Lance Anoaâ€iâ€s next move should be now that heâ€s back on the indie circuit? Sound off and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

SHOW SUMMARY:PWTorch editor Wade Keller presents the Tuesday Flagship edition of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast with guest co-host PWTorch columnist and PWTorch podcast host Greg Parks. They discuss these topics:

• Did Samoa Joe or A.J. Styles build a more impressive body of work in their careers?
• Thoughts on “Hangman” Page vs Samoa Joe, the build so far and the match
• Thoughts on John Cena vs. A.J. Styles, the build and what to expect in the match
• A preview of TNA Bound for Glory
• Analysis of the Don Callis Family
• Reaction to the NXT vs. TNA Showdown special on Tuesday
• What is WWE getting out of this TNA alliance? Is there a master plan or end game?
• And more

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Cristiano Ronaldo believes he still has gas left in the tank and the passion to compete with the younger players.

The Al Nassr forward, who is the highest scorer in men’s international football with 141 goals in 223 appearances for Portugal, said he is hungry for more despite his family’s insistence that he slows down.

Ronaldo, 40, has scored five goals in six appearances in all competitions for Al Nassr this season and recently became the joint-top goalscorer in World Cup qualifying history when he netted his 39th goal in a triumph against Hungary.

“People, especially my family, say: ‘It’s time for you to stop. You’ve done everything. Why do you want to score a thousand goals?” Ronaldo told Canal 11. “But I don’t think so. I think I’m still producing good things, I’m helping my club and the national team, and why not keep going?

Cristiano Ronaldo admitted he does not have many years left of his playing career, but now is not the time to retire. Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images

“I’m sure that when I finish, I’ll be fulfilled, because I gave it my all. I know I don’t have many more years, but the few I have, I try to enjoy to the fullest.”

A five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo, 40, added another individual accolade to his distinguished career when he received on Tuesday the Prestige award at the Portugal Football Globes.

“It’s not an end-of-career award,” he said. “I see it as recognition of years of effort, dedication, and ambition. I like winning, helping the younger generations-and they also help me maintain my level and continue competing. That’s what excites me: competing with the younger ones. I still have a passion for this.” Ronaldo has not given an indication when he will retire from football.

– Cristiano Ronaldo’s career at 40
– Rooney on Man United years: I don’t ‘hate’ Ronaldo

He signed a new contract with Al Nassr that will see him remain in the Saudi Pro League until June 2027 while he led Portugal to victory at the UEFA Nations League in June.

The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star has scored more than 940 goals in his career.

“I often say to you that if I could, I would only play football for the national team, I wouldn’t play for any other club because it is the culmination and the peak of a football player,” he said. “It’s an honor for me to play for the national team.” The 2026 World Cup will be Ronaldo’s last opportunity to clinch the one major trophy that eludes him but he is just focusing on the task at hand.

Ronaldo and Portugal host Republic of Ireland in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier before taking on Hungary on Oct. 14. “I’m sure the next games will go well and that we will qualify for the World Cup,” Ronaldo said. “Obviously, our goal is to go to the World Cup and win, but we have to take everything step by step.”

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Ellyse Perry is an Australian cricketer who plays international cricket. She was born on 3 November 1990 at the Sydney Adventist Hospital. She grew up in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai suburbs of Wahroonga and West Pymble. Perry studied at Beecroft Primary School and later attended Pymble Ladies’ College, where she served as Sports, Athletics, and Cricket Captain.

Ellyse Perry represented New South Wales in an under-19 interstate tournament in January 2007, scoring 74 runs and taking three wickets in three matches. The following month, she was selected for the Australian youth team’s tour of New Zealand, where she scored 43 runs at an average of 21.50 and took one wicket.

Perry became the first player to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in T20 Internationals. She holds the record for the highest score by an Australian woman in Test cricket (213 not out) and was the third player to reach 150 wickets in women’s ODIs.

Who are Ellyse Perry Parents: Who are They?

Ellyse Perry’s parents are Mark Perry and Kathy Perry. In an RCB Bold Diaries interview, Perry shared that her parents, Mark and Kathy Perry, didn’t even have active passports when she was a child, but once she began playing cricket internationally, they renewed them and started traveling to watch her matches around the world. While she has trained under many coaches, Perry has said her father has been a consistent guide throughout her career. She also mentioned that her brother still bowls to her in the nets to help with practice.

In her 2019 book Perspective, Ellyse Perry talked about her fears away from the cricket field. She admitted that while sport makes her feel confident, in everyday life she can be shy and struggle with self-confidence. Her greatest fear is public speaking. She said that before a speech, she cannot sleep, feels sick, cannot eat, struggles to breathe, and sometimes forgets what to say because of nerves. She described herself as “completely hopeless” in large crowds and often awkward in social situations when alone.

Ellyse Perry Father – Mark Perry

Ellyse Perry’s father, Mark Perry, is a former squash and cricket player. Perry spoke warmly about her father, Mark, saying he has always been supportive without being pushy. He never pressured her to chase success, instead encouraging her to enjoy the game.

Ellyse Perry Mother – Kathy Perry

Ellyse Perry’s mother, Kathy Perry, is a former swimmer.

Does Ellyse Perry have a brother?

Ellyse also has an elder brother, Damien Perry, who is three years older. She recalled watching her father teach her elder brother Damien, three years older, how to bowl inside their kitchen. Wanting to copy him, she said, “Oh, I wanna learn that too.” That moment sparked her interest in cricket.

FAQs

Q. Does Ellyse Perry have Indian ancestry?

A. Ellyse Perry is not from India. She was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on November 3, 1990.

Q. Who is the ex-husband of Ellyse Perry?

A. Australian rugby player Matt To’omua is the ex-husband of Ellyse Perry.

Q. Is there a brother for Ellyse Perry?

A. Damien Perry is Ellyse Perry’s older brother.

Q. What was Tata’s present to Ellyse Perry?

A. Tata gifted Ellyse Perry a framed piece of broken glass from the Punch EV that she struck with a six during a WPL match in 2024.

Q. Is Ellyse Perry the captain of the Australian Women’s team?

A. Ellyse Perry is not the current captain of the Australian Women’s team; Alyssa Healy is the captain of the Australian Women’s team in the 2025 ODI Women’s World Cup.

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

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Sophie Frances Monique Devine ONZM is a New Zealand sportswoman who has represented her country in both cricket and field hockey. She played cricket for the White Ferns and hockey for the Black Sticks Women before focusing solely on cricket.

Sophie Devin made her professional cricket debut in 2006 in a T20I match against the Australian Women’s team. In December 2017, Devine was named in the ICC Women’s T20I Team of the Year. In August 2018, New Zealand Cricket awarded her a central contract after her performances in the tours of Ireland and England. Later that year, she was included in New Zealand’s squad for the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in the West Indies, where she was highlighted as the star of the team.

In July 2020, Devine was appointed as the full-time captain of the New Zealand women’s cricket team, succeeding Amy Satterthwaite. In September 2021, during the second T20I against England, she reached the milestone of playing her 100th T20 International match.

Who are Sophie Devine Parents?

Sophie Devine’s parents are Sophie and Peter Devine. Sophie has said her parents never forced her to pick a single sport. Instead, they encouraged her to play cricket, hockey, basketball, soccer, and netball. She said that this freedom has helped her develop a wide skill set and a love for sport.

Sophie Devine Father – Peter Devine

Sophie Devine’s father is Peter Devine, often described as a “sports nut.” He coached Sophie during her younger years and focused on making training as fun as he possibly could. He still watches her matches closely and even gives her batting advice after games. Peter has been seen multiple times on live TV celebrating her six-hitting with pride and humor.

Sophie Devine Mother – Kathy Devine

Sophie Devine’s mother is Kathy Devine. Growing up, her mom was the one who managed Sophie’s busy schedule growing up, making sure she could balance school, cricket, hockey, and other sports. She has been credited by Sophie with keeping her organized and preventing burnout while balancing so many responsibilities. While her dad was heavily involved in the coaching side, Sophie’s mom provided the support at home, encouraging her to enjoy sports without pressure.

Does Sophie Devine have any siblings?

Sophie Devine grew up with three siblings. She has a brother named Sam Devine. Sophie has often mentioned following her dad and brother to cricket grounds when she was young, which sparked her own love for the game. Sophie also has two sisters, Jen Devine and Kate Devine.

FAQs

Q. What is the nationality of Sophie Devine?

A. Sophie Devine hails from New Zealand. She was born in Wellington on September 1, 1989.

Q. When did Sophie Devine make her debut?

A. Sophie Devin made her professional cricket debut in 2006 in a T20I match against the Australian Women’s team.

Q. What medical condition does Sophie Devine have?

A. Throughout her athletic career, Sophie Devine has dealt with her type 1 diabetes.

Q. Is Sophie Devine going to retire?

A. Following her fifth participation in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, Sophie Devine will indeed retire from ODIs.

Q. Who is the current captain of the New Zealand Women’s team?

A. Sophie Devine is the current captain of the New Zealand Women’s team in the 2025 ODI

Women’s World Cup.

Get All the ICC Womens World Cup Updates at IceCric.News and Follow for Live Updates – Facebook & Instagram.

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Like many California-raised Mexican Americans, Iâ€ve lost count of the times my family has gathered to watch a match between Mexico and the United States. Whether a friendly or World Cup qualifier, the “Dos A Cero†rivalry attracts the largest crowds to my tiaâ€s watch parties, about an hour south of San Francisco.

Each clash feels like the fractured embodiment of being Mexican American: the cheering and moaning of Mexican immigrant parents and their Americanized children alike, rife with intergenerational discord. The stakes are always high, especially since most of my relatives grew up with the sport – and arenâ€t shy about sharing their tactical opinions midgame. Many of them played pro, semi-pro, collegiately and, of course, at the neighborhood parks.

The biggest name at our gatherings? US menâ€s national team rising star Diego Luna.

Diego was one of the few members of our family who cheered for the US over Mexico. Thatâ€s perhaps understandable: he is an American Gen Z-er who, understandably, grew up further removed from the migratory realities of the elder generations.

Now, the little kid who used to run around my tiaâ€s house has transformed into a key member of the US team – a fan favorite, a fiery sparkplug and a regular amid a sometimes-agonizing rebuild under Mauricio Pochettino. Diego has appeared in a team-high 13 of the 14 US games in 2025, and heâ€s in the squad again for the teamâ€s upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Australia.

The 22-year-oldâ€s rapid ascendance (with a broken nose incurred in a match against Costa Rica, at that) may have caught soccer pundits off guard, butthere has never been any doubt which side Diego represents – blood-stained jersey and all.

Diego Luna featured prominently for the US U-20 national team. Photograph: ISI Photos/Getty Images

His journey in soccer began long before he could dribble a ball.

Beto Luna – Diegoâ€s dad, who married into our family – first had his own unlikely ascendance into professional soccer when he was scouted to play for the San Diego Sockers indoor team in 1985, despite having no pro experience as a student at Foothill college. Beto had only just arrived in the Bay Area and was unable to stay with the Sockers full time, but he stuck around long enough to finish off an assist from now-Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer, parlaying that brief stint into a run with the Milwaukee Wave and the San Jose Earthquakes (during their existence in one of the many predecessor leagues to MLS).

An intrepid opportunist, the elder Luna didnâ€t come to this country to become a futbolero. But by the grace of the soccer gods, he became one, and he is now a respected coach in the Bay Area.

“The passion that we all have for the sport comes from my dad,†says Armando Luna, Diegoâ€s eldest brother – a player himself, until a back injury forced him into coaching. “The way he threw himself into the sport, starting from a later age and working hard to develop his drive and love for soccer in a new country, inspired us.â€

Armando grew up especially close to his dad, but later became a role model and mentor for the much younger Diego.

The youngest Lunaâ€s trajectory has been anything but conventional, circumventing the NCAA and MLS systems in favor of the Barcelona residency academy in Arizona, followed by his successful stint in the second-tier USL with El Paso Locomotive FC. It all started within the family, though. With three older siblings and a father who all played and coached, Diego was perpetually bouncing from field to field as both a player and observer since infancy.

“He was coached by us all his whole life,†Armando says. “If he had a training session at 5.30pm, he would get dropped off at three in the afternoon because the rest of us had to set up for other practices and our own games. Since he was always early, he would just practice and hang around the older players and work on his skills. Then, heâ€d have to stay later until our other games finished in the night. So he was on the field 24/7. That was the reality every single day. You would think we were hard on him, but that wasnâ€t really the case. He loved being around the game.â€

This conception that you only develop the kind of skills he has as a Latino is by playing on the streets, thatâ€s bullshit. It was all by design.

Armando Luna, Diegoâ€s brother

Diego joined the Palo Alto Soccer Club at age five, a program where his father and older brother coached and directed for years to develop a regional powerhouse. At the time, Diego was playing with much older kids, nearly twice his age. Being physically overmatched forced Diego to develop a certain field awareness and technical mastery to compete.

“They talk about [Diego] like heâ€s a street baller. But he never played on the streets. This conception that you only develop the kind of skills he has as a Latino is by playing on the streets, thatâ€s bullshit,†says Armando. “It was all by design. From training. From encouraging his creativity on the field, from discipline. He had to learn the mental aspect of the game quickly. We never criticized him for trying new things. That translates to his game now.â€

Eventually, the family decided that Diego had outgrown the parochial circuit, so he joined the San Jose Earthquakes academy in 2015 at age 13. The inconvenience of constant rush hour travel and scheduling that didnâ€t coincide with Lunaâ€s schooling presented challenges for a working family that was already stretched thin with soccer commitments all over the Bay Area. In 2018, they looked elsewhere. Luna himself decided on moving to Arizona to play at the Barcelona academy, where he trained and lived for three years. That propelled him towards his first professional singing with El Paso in 2021.

El Paso couldnâ€t have been a more appropriate home for Diego – a Mexican-American borderland city that is culturally, and sociologically, caught between neighboring worlds in Mexico and the US.

In retelling his brotherâ€s soccer quest, Armando recites a quote to me from the 1997 film Selena: “Being a Mexican American is tough … we gotta prove to the Mexicans how Mexican we are, and we gotta prove to the Americans how American we are. We gotta be more Mexican than the Mexicans and more American than the Americans. Itâ€s exhausting.â€

In the biopic, Jennifer Lopez plays the famous Tejana pop star from a border town who notoriously learned how to sing in Spanish as a Mexican American to validate her dual identity. Itâ€s a familiar story for anyone who has known both sides of the border: a road which inevitably forks in separate directions the older one becomes. Go left for the US or go right for Mexico. And be damned regardless.

Luna has become a mainstay with the US under Mauricio Pochettino. Photograph: Ashley Landis/AP

Like many children of immigrants, Diego never had to confront the challenges of his parents†crossing and hasnâ€t known life on the other side of the border. He grew up with soccer in a relatively comfortable environment in California. Why would someone in his position give that up for something they have no connection to?

“We never heard anything from the Mexican federation. No communication. No interest. No real anything,†Armando says. “Even for US Soccer, it wasnâ€t like there was a ton of interest from their side, either.â€

But when that US offer arrived, accepting it was easy, even if the reaction wasnâ€t. Fans in Mexico grew increasingly vocal against Luna and his choice to represent the US, which invoked betrayal in their eyes. Other Mexican-American prospects like Julián Araujo (Bournemouth) and Daâ€Vian Kimbrough (Sacramento Republic) have gained praise for their decision to represent El Tri on the international stage, yet online trolls have lambasted Diego for his supposed inability to speak Spanish (he can but itâ€s his second language, and he prefers to answer most media questions in English).

Still, Armando tells me how fans from Costa Rica, Guatemala and especially Mexico have enthusiastically approached Diego after his international caps asking for photos and autographs. A US citizen, he remains grateful to represent his nation, and any antagonism that has come as a result of his choice has only helped to forge Diegoâ€s fortitude.

“When he was young, when the Mexican team would win, [Diego] would have a fit,†Armando recalls. “He always wanted the US team to win. He grew up here. He doesnâ€t know anything else.â€

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Throughout this year, it’s no secret that WWE’s ticket prices have continued to rise, with a standard seat to most of their weekly shows becoming much more expensive since TKO partnered with the promotion. However, fan outrage reached an all-time high last month when the ticket prices for WrestleMania 42 were revealed, with the cheapest seat being priced at $850, and lower bowl and floor seats costing well above $1,000. Following the announcement, many fans felt that WWE was beginning to out-price families from attending their events, and amongst the chaos, AEW President Tony Khan reassured that his company’s ticket prices will remain affordable.

“I think we have really always made it very family friendly from the very first AEW show. It’s always been important to have affordable tickets for he fans and we’ve always kept the entry price very affordable and that’s been consistent for AEW from the very beginning … it’s really been over the years for me something that we’ve always made a point of emphasis and we bring it up time after time throughout the year,” Khan explained speaking with “The Sportster.” “I do think in professional wrestling AEW is absolutely the best value you get for your tickets … we’ve been having a lot of people this past year, really positive feedback from them, saying that the ticket prices for AEW are a big positive point for the company.”

Khan continued to explain that setting tickets at a reasonable price has not negatively affected sales, stating that AEW has more gates over a million dollars than ever before this year. Khan stated that All In, All Out, and Forbidden Door all reached that threshold, with each event being some of the biggest gates that the company has ever done in its six-year history.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The Sportster” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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