Browsing: future

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AEW WrestleDream saw the return of “The Icon,” Sting, who helped his once-protege during his brutal I-Quit match against Jon Moxley, after the Death Riders took one too many liberties to turn the tide in Moxley’s favor. Naturally, since Sting was back in action for a segment, Tony Khan was asked about “The Icon’s” status with AEW during the WrestleDream presser.

“Sting’s still a huge part of AEW and he’s still part of the family,” Khan said, noting how the legend has been away for some time off screen but has still been around backstage. “We did get to see him in Philadelphia, and he was at the show, and we did a tribute to one of his mentors: the late-great ‘Hotstuff’ Eddie Gilbert.”Â

Khan added how he’s spoke to Sting in the past about a special one-off return when needed and claimed that “The Icon” was on board with coming back, especially if it had anything to do with Darby Alllin. The AEW President went on to note how deep the bond is between Sting and Allin, and recalled how they reacted to each other the day he introduced them.Â

“Who would’ve ever thought what the partnership could ever yield? That they would have gone on this run, that they would have the greatest tag team run in all of AEW,” Khan recalled. The AEW President further emphasized that there’s no “showbusiness” between the two, and teased that if Allin ever gets into a situation he can’t handle on his own, Sting will always be there to help him.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit the AEW WrestleDream Presser and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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After another abysmal performance by quarterback Justin Fields in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, the New York Jets benched Fields for veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor to start the second half after falling behind 13-3 in front of their home fans at MetLife Stadium.

The change wasn’t enough for the Jets to earn their first win of the season, as they fell to 0-7 with a 13-6 loss. Head coach Aaron Glenn said after the game it was a “tough decision” to bench Fields. On Monday, Glenn announced he was undecided about who will start against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in Week 8.

In addition to the Jets benching Fields, the Panthers also made a quarterback change after Bryce Young suffered an ankle injury after taking a sack. Veteran backup Andy Dalton replaced him in the third quarter, and Carolina announced during the Fox broadcast that he’s out for the remainder of the game.

Fields completed six of his 12 passes for 46 yards and ran the ball four times for 22 yards in the first half of Sunday’s game. He was sacked three times, including a crushing sack at the end of the first half that knocked New York out of field goal range.

The disappointing performance continued a run of recent struggles for Fields. In last week’s 13-11 loss to the Denver Broncos in London, he threw for just 45 yards while sustaining nine sacks for 55 yards for a franchise-worst -10 net passing yards.

Fields showed promise with a three-touchdown performance in a Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it’s been all downhill from there. He suffered a concussion in a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and he’s been relatively ineffective since returning to the field.

As the NFL’s only remaining winless team, the Jets need to do whatever it takes to end their skid. Glenn will have to evaluate whether Fields or Taylor is the best quarterback to lead the team next week against the Bengals.

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Stephen Curry hasn’t just changed the way basketball is played — he has changed how itâ€s valued.

Spotrac released its updated list of the NBAâ€s highest career earners, and Curry currently sits third, behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James. Durant passed James for the top spot on Sunday after signing a two-year, $90 million extension with the Phoenix Suns, which includes a player option for the 2027–28 season.

Other members of the top 10 include Devin Booker, Paul George, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum — a mix of established stars and younger faces quickly climbing the list.

That younger wave could soon reshape the standings entirely. With Booker, Gilgeous-Alexander and Tatum all still in their late-20s and already on max extensions, theyâ€re on pace to shatter the totals set by Curry, James and Durant as new TV deals and cap increases drive salaries even higher.

Curry, though, has been at the forefront of the leagueâ€s salary evolution. In 2017, he became the first player in NBA history to sign a $200 million contract, a five-year deal worth $201 million. Two years later, he became the first to make more than $40 million in a single season.

He topped that milestone again in 2021, signing a four-year, $215 million extension that made him the first player ever to sign multiple $200 million contracts. That deal helped him become the first to earn over $50 million in 2023–24, and by 2026–27, he is set to be the first player to surpass $60 million in a single season.

Over the past few years, Curry has climbed steadily up Spotracâ€s career earnings rankings. He first appeared in the top 10 at No. 7 through 2022–23, rose to No. 4 through 2023–24, and reached No. 3 this year, where he is expected to remain for the foreseeable future as his current deal runs through 2026–27.

Curryâ€s journey into the NBAâ€s top three career earners reflects more than a decade of sustained excellence — and positions him to stay there as new deals reshape the leagueâ€s financial landscape.

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  Brian WindhorstOct 16, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

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  • ESPN.com NBA writer since 2010
  • Covered Cleveland Cavs for seven years
  • Author of two books

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — It’s a few minutes before tipoff in the first NBA game of any sort in the 2025-26 season and the basketball court inside Etihad Arena is overflowing with training camp-sized rosters of Knicks and 76ers players and officials.

On the sideline, Patrick Ewing is shaking hands with a man from Beirut who is wearing a vintage No. 33 Knicks jersey. Derrick Rose, who was flown in for the event, is posing for photos with a group of Filipino fans.

Steve Harvey and Patrick Schwarzenegger, among other invited celebrities, are being escorted to courtside seats.

Throughout the crowd, many Emirati men are wearing kanduras, traditional ankle-length white robes, but they are vastly outnumbered by ex-pats from dozens of other countries, including a teenager from Riyadh a few rows behind the 76ers bench, wearing an Anthony Edwards Team USA jersey and a pair of the newest version of Edwards’ Adidas signature shoes, which technically hadn’t even been released yet.

But perhaps the most interesting interaction taking place is between two Americans.

Next to the team benches are two of the most powerful men in the NBA, Knicks owner James Dolan and commissioner Adam Silver, laughing and chatting, warmly embracing the evening together despite years of frosty relations.

Standing between Dolan and Silver is the man who brought them together: His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, who has spent the past decade developing relationships and directing growing investment dollars to bring top stakeholders in the sport to Abu Dhabi.

That Silver and Dolan are aligned on their partnerships with Al Mubarak is one of the signs that the future of global basketball is being brokered now amid the giant cranes and rising cities in the Middle East.

Despite their differences at home, Dolan and Silver are united in knowing this is a vitally important relationship to nurture.

International basketball is on the cusp of a new, richer and expansive era that is aiming to deliver more of the sport to underserved fans and — perhaps more importantly — capture vast sovereign wealth fund capital that is seeking a place to invest in the sport.

Some legacy leagues are in danger of being left behind. Some new leagues are trying to rise up. The NBA is focused on defending and strengthening its position as the biggest dog.

And, despite the scrutiny it might create, that means deepening relations with Abu Dhabi and its wealthy neighbors.

“WHEN I CLOSE my eyes, I can see an NBA game being played in front of 22,500 people at the Sphere,” Al Mubarak says as he leans back in a chair in a glittering building on the expansive NYU Abu Dhabi campus.

He’s not talking about Las Vegas.

“We will have the world’s greatest technology where we can immerse the fans in the experience and they can feel the game on a new level.”

Al Mubarak, or “the chairman” as he is often referred to by colleagues in his various cultural and leadership positions in Abu Dhabi, has engineered partnerships with the likes of Pope Francis, renowned architect Frank Gehry and UFC CEO Dana White. But he loves American sports and is an active NBA fan.

“I have some mixed feelings on the [Luka] Doncic trade,” Al Mubarak says, referencing his favorite team, the Lakers. “I am a believer in the importance of the traditional big man and Anthony Davis was such a part of the [2020] championship. But I know that Luka is motivated and he is one of the most talented players in the game.”

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Over the summer, the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) Abu Dhabi, of which Al Mubarak is the chairman, finalized a massive deal with Dolan’s Sphere Entertainment to construct and operate a new venue in the UAE, with rights to build more in the Middle East and North Africa over the next 10 years.

The original Sphere, which opened in Las Vegas in 2023, cost Dolan’s company $2.3 billion to construct and has since lost more than $1 billion, according to its public financial disclosures. Dolan declined to comment for this story.

Dolan turned to Abu Dhabi, where he found willing partners, both in the Sphere and in the Knicks, after a six-year effort to build a second Sphere in London failed in 2024 amid a tangle of red tape and political pushback.

Last season Abu Dhabi’s tourism arm, Experience Abu Dhabi, became the Knicks jersey-patch sponsor in a multiyear lucrative deal, but that was an appetizer to the Sphere partnership that came later.

More NBA-linked deals are in the works in Abu Dhabi.

This fall, the NBA is expected to finalize a long-term extension of its relationship with the DCT that will guarantee annual preseason games in Abu Dhabi and establish a new NBA Global Academy at NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus, where top prospects from around the world will be sent to live, get an education and develop their games. The deal is expected to last well into the next decade, sources told ESPN.

It is also a precursor to another large and potentially pivotal deal.

The NBA is in discussions with Al Mubarak and other leaders about investing in NBA Europe, which has emerged as a league priority over the past year.

In what could prove to be a signature move of Silver’s tenure, the NBA is investigating launching a new NBA-branded European league as early as 2027, with a mix of existing teams recruited away from other leagues and expansion.

Abu Dhabi is considering the possible launch of a team in Manchester, where they have owned and turned Manchester City Football Club into a global leader in soccer with world-class infrastructure.

“It is a possibility,” Al Mubarak said of investing in an expansion team in NBA Europe. “The NBA is the world’s best basketball league and we have a deep commitment and track record of success in the [Manchester] community.”

The NBA is seeding the ground ahead of the potential investment in Manchester. Last summer, the league conducted its first-ever Basketball Without Borders event in the United Kingdom by bringing top teen boys and girls to Manchester. In the 2026-27 season, the league is exploring bringing NBA teams to play at least one game in Manchester, sources told ESPN.

Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum traveled to London and Paris over the summer for meetings about placing teams in both cities. They also met with leadership from Real Madrid about recruiting the legacy team to the NBA Europe league.

In August, NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker, who owns ASVEL, a team based near Lyon, France, indicated his interest in jumping to the new league by telling reporters: “NBA Europe league for me is just a matter of time. They are coming, and it’s going to happen.”

In recent weeks, leadership in legacy European teams Alba Berlin in Germany and Galatasaray, a large multisport conglomerate in Istanbul, have confirmed publicly their interest in NBA Europe.

But having Abu Dhabi invest, be it in Manchester or elsewhere, is a huge boost for the concept. And with a potential expansion fee in the hundreds of millions to join the league, it could set an important standard for other investors as the new league establishes its footing.

“They are the lead investors in Manchester City. And they’ve had tremendous success there. They’ve demonstrated they are innovators in sport. They’ve demonstrated that they’re in it for the long term, that they’re not just financial investors, that they’re active participants,” Silver said as he stood with Tatum and George Aivazoglou, the NBA’s head of Europe and the Middle East, all of whom came to Abu Dhabi to continue discussions about the future.

“So they are dream investors.”

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Such foreign investment — across many industries — has sometimes drawn criticism. The NBA is far from alone among high-profile American companies with ties to Abu Dhabi, including Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Warner Bros., the Cleveland Clinic and ESPN parent company Disney, which earlier this year announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi for a theme park not far from where the new Sphere will be constructed. The NBA, for its part, has previously faced concern about partnerships with countries and leaders whose values don’t necessarily align with those publicly supported by the league itself.

In launching its Basketball Africa League in 2021, the NBA came under congressional scrutiny for partnering with Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame. Earlier this year, the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo called for the NBA and other international sports leagues and teams to sever ties with Rwanda and questioned whether the NBA’s “commitment to social justice and respect for human rights” aligns with its business ties to Rwanda.

Last year, as the NBA’s ties with Abu Dhabi deepened, Human Rights Watch issued a warning, saying, in part: “The NBA should be aware that the U.A.E. hosts high profile sporting, entertainment, and cultural events to promote a public image of openness and tolerance at odds with the government’s rampant systemic human rights violations.” These include what HRW calls unequal rights for women.

The NBA has responded to these claims in the past by saying the league follows “the lead of the U.S. government as to where it’s appropriate to engage in business around the world,” as deputy commissioner Tatum said in a letter to U.S. senators last year. Through the building of courts and investments in new programs, the NBA has fostered growth in basketball in Rwanda, including for many women.

The NBA also has championed the Middle East partnerships’ effect on basketball participation in the region, citing studies that show a 400% increase in participation in the UAE and 50% in the Middle East over the past five years among boys and girls. Formula 1, the European Tour and WTA Tour also have long-standing relationships with and hold major events in Abu Dhabi.

“I think that what we share with the leaders [in Abu Dhabi] is this belief in the power of sport, and that as we look around the world, very few things that create commonality, empathy, understanding in the way sport does,” Silver told ESPN.

“For example, I think many people outside the region might be surprised to see that there are an equal number of girls and boys in the youth programs here. And that there are universal values that are being taught in terms of respect, discipline, hard work, teamwork, understanding — all fundamental values that we share. And at a time when so much divides us, it’s nice to be focused on things that bring us together.”

Basketball is on the cusp of a new, richer, expansive era. And, despite the scrutiny it might create, that means deepening relations with Abu Dhabi and its wealthy neighbors. EPA/ALI HAIDER

TWO NIGHTS BEFORE the NBA opened its season in Abu Dhabi, a seminal event took place 75 miles down the E11 highway, in the sprawling metropolis of Dubai.

There, two-year-old Dubai Basketball hosted its first-ever EuroLeague game against Serbian basketball power KK Partizan at the modern Coca-Cola Arena.

The EuroLeague, the most competitive league in the world outside the NBA, is facing an uncertain future with NBA Europe looming and threatening its markets.

In response, the EuroLeague took the extraordinary step of giving the brand-new Dubai team a five-year wild-card berth into the league. The deal, according to reports in Europe, includes covering the traveling expenses of European teams that will fly up to seven hours for the away games.

Bringing major Western sporting events to the UAE is a goal of all this investment.

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After 15 years as title sponsor of the EuroLeague, Turkish Airlines was replaced this season by Abu Dhabi-owned Etihad Airlines on a four-year deal that will assist in the travel. Emirates Airline, the Dubai-owed rival of Etihad, signed a long-term deal with the NBA in 2024 to become the title sponsor of the NBA Cup.

Still, the league doesn’t currently have plans to base an NBA Europe team in the Middle East and playing the NBA Cup final in Dubai isn’t under consideration, Silver told ESPN.

Recently, the league announced changes to the NBA Cup schedule, including moving the semifinals to home team markets from Las Vegas starting in 2026, with the final at a neutral site.

Last spring, the EuroLeague held its final four in Abu Dhabi, another deal put together by Al Mubarak, to sold out crowds, the first time the event had ever been held outside Europe.

The future of European basketball, it is increasingly clear, runs through the UAE.

As he stood in Abu Dhabi in early October, NBA commissioner Adam Silver outlined how Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak and his group have built the Manchester City club and have been innovators and active participants. “They’re dream investors,” Silver said. David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

LAST APRIL, IN a news release that made some noise in the private equity world, TWG Global announced a $10 billion investment from Mubadala Capital with the proceeds “to be used by TWG to capitalize on its attractive set of proprietary investment opportunities.”

TWG Global is the holding company for the investments of Los Angeles businessman Mark Walter and his partners. Mubadala Capital is the asset management wing of Abu Dhabi’s largest sovereign wealth fund.

Two months later, this development contributed to enormous noise in the sports world when Walter, via TWG Global, agreed to buy the controlling share of the Los Angeles Lakers for a $10 billion valuation.

The future of the NBA’s most prized franchise, it seems, is also linked to the UAE.

The Middle East interest in new basketball ventures goes deeper.

Two years ago, the Qatar Investment Authority, a subsidy of the wealthy Gulf nation’s sovereign wealth fund, bought 5% of the Washington Wizards’ parent company. That same year, Qatar won a bid to host the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

Qatar, via its Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) fund, is also the controlling owner of European soccer power Paris Saint-Germain, which in March 2025 confirmed it had been in talks regarding NBA Europe.

Like Abu Dhabi with its Manchester City property, PSG could launch an expansion team under the same brand and act as an anchor tenant. Over the summer, in a move that could ultimately dovetail with such an eventual basketball investment, PSG made a landmark agreement to expand a partnership with NBA superstar Kevin Durant in which Durant got a small ownership stake in PSG.

“This club has big plans ahead and I can’t wait to be a part of the next phase of growth,” Durant said at the time. “And to explore new investment opportunities with [Qatar].”

There are other ventures also seeking investment from Middle East sources.

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In February, the Financial Times reported the sovereign wealth funds of both Singapore and Saudi Arabia were among the potential backers behind a new global circuit basketball league.

In the months since, the extent of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) proposed involvement in the new basketball league has not been formally made public. Sela, a Saudi events company owned by the PIF, did confirm its involvement with the startup league.

Multiple player agents, current and former league executives and support staffers told ESPN they’d been recruited to join the league ahead of a possible 2026 launch and, in some cases, were required to sign NDAs.

At times, this recruitment involved superstar LeBron James’ longtime business partner Maverick Carter, who worked as an adviser to the league for months.

Last week, Carter confirmed to ESPN he had left the venture, which calls itself Project B and its representatives said in media interviews it is now focusing on starting a women’s basketball league to rival the WNBA.

The PIF and Sela did not respond to requests for comment on their level of involvement. A spokesperson for Swiss banking giant UBS, which announced it was advising the startup league earlier this year, declined to comment on its current relationship with the project but confirmed the fledgling league was still a client.

James’ representatives, including agent Rich Paul, told ESPN that James himself was not connected to the venture.

James has developed a relationship with Saudi Arabian leaders and the PIF over the past few years, though. James held a clinic at Al-Azem Academy in Riyadh in 2023 as a guest of Saudi Minister of Culture Bader bin Farhan Al Saud. Last January, James became a team owner in E1, a global electric boat racing circuit that was launched by the PIF. Tom Brady and Rafael Nadal are also affiliated with teams in E1.

At a recent conference hosted by Front Office Sports, Silver said he was not following those developments, but added: “Competition is good. It keeps everyone on their toes.”

Silver, however, is focused on his Middle East partners in Abu Dhabi. How and where all the money might flow and the impact it could have remains to be seen.

But what is known is that the connection between the NBA and the Middle East is real, and an expansion of the relationship is coming, and the league is shoring up support with rivals, both seen and unseen, across the region.

“We are thinking about the long term, not just the next couple of years,” Al Mubarak said. “I believe that this partnership with the NBA will outlive me.”

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne contributed to this story.

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India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma) Australian batter Travis Head has praised Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma ahead of the first ODI in Perth on Sunday. He acknowledged them as two of the best white-ball players, with Kohli being considered the greatest and Rohit following closely behind.The upcoming cricket series between India and Australia includes three ODIs and five T20Is. The ODI matches are scheduled for Sunday, October 23, and October 25, followed by T20Is from October 29 to November 8. The 2027 World Cup will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Massive crowd for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma at Delhi airport as Team India leave for Australia

“They have been awesome for India, probably Axar can speak more highly about them than myself. But two quality players, two of the best white-ball players. Virat is probably the greatest white-ball player. Rohit is not that far behind,” Travis Head told the reporters.”Someone who opens the batting. I have huge regard for what Rohit has been able to do. I am sure they will be missed at some stage, but I think they both are going until 2027. They both are trying to get to the World Cup. It is great for the game that they are still playing,” he added.Head expressed admiration for Sharma’s batting approach and considers him one of the best players. He values the opportunity to learn from Rohit’s game, particularly since they both share the opener’s position.”It’s nice just watching from a far from someone who plays the game in a similar way, I think, and having played a lot against him in IPL and a lot of international cricket against him, I feel like he goes the right way about things. Having someone to open the batting in a similar position, why not watch the best and learn from the best?”Indian all-rounder Axar Patel showed confidence in both Kohli and Rohit’s abilities for the upcoming series.”They are world-class players. They know what to do, and they are ready to go. They are professionals and they know what to do. They are ready to go. If you speak about their form, they have been preparing well, hence I think they are ready. Everyone has given their fitness Test, they are raring to go now,” he said.Both players will return to wearing the Indian jersey for the first time since the ICC Champions Trophy Final this year.Rohit and Kohli have shown exceptional performance since India’s last bilateral series against Australia before the 2023 ODI World Cup.Rohit has scored 1,137 runs in 23 ODIs at an average of 49.43 and a strike rate of 123.45. His record includes two centuries and seven fifties, with a highest score of 131.During the 2023 World Cup at home, Rohit finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 597 runs in 11 innings. He maintained an average of 54.27 with one century and three fifties, striking at over 125.In the undefeated ICC Champions Trophy campaign, Rohit contributed 180 runs in five innings, including a crucial 76 in the final against New Zealand.Virat Kohli has accumulated 1,154 runs in 22 matches during this period. He maintains an average of 64.11 with a strike rate of 88.56, including four centuries and nine fifties, with his highest score being 117.

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

SHOW SUMMARY:In this weekâ€s The Fix Mailbag with PWTorch VIP analyst Todd Martin and host PWTorch editor Wade Keller, they answer emails from VIP members on the following topics:

• Who was the best in the underdog role among a list of names including Mikey Whipwreck, Sean Waltman, Jeff Hardy, and more
• Which recent wrestler “hot take” was the worst: Bully Ray wanting The Miz added to A.J. Styles vs. John Cena, Gail Kim’s thoughts on Riho’s presentation, Dutch Mantel on Mercedes Mone being overrated, or Stevie Richards on Kyle Fletcher being “almost good enough for NXT.”
• Could The Rock return to WWE with an MMA gimmick based on his “Smashing Machine” performance?
• What now for Oba Femi? Main roster? Royal Rumble? First feud? Heel or face? What title first?
• Latest legal update on Raja Jackson
• John Cena vs. A.J. Styles: Did it feel more like an exhibition than an actual match?
• What would be the best change to Collision? A brand split? A different format? Other?
• If you could only keep one, would you rather have Kyle Fletcher or Logan Paul if the goal was a long-term bankable main event career?
• Is AEW announcing really undercutting the product?
• Is it okay to abandon your home sports team? What if it’s the New York Jets?
• Could Chris Jericho be a good addition to the new Seth Rollins-free Paul Heyman group?
• Is today’s pro wrestling style really something that needs to be made safer, as Wade has been advocating?
• If Jericho returns to WWE, is it one more wrestler eating up TV time who is older coming at the expense of the next Cody or Sami Zayn push that could actually spark business?
• Should Jon Moxley take time off from AEW after WrestleDream?
• Why does Heyman have chemistry with some wrestlers, but not others, including Seth?
• Should Don Owens put the title on the Portland Frog?

View the list of books Todd Martin has reviewed with their placements from Tier 1 to Tier 5. CLICK HERE

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You can never say never in pro wrestling, and Maria Kanellis understands that all too well. Now, the soon-to-be mother of three is inserting her name into the conversation once again.

Mike and Maria Kanellis are expecting their third child. At the same time, Maria is still a free agent, but she doesnâ€t plan on watching from the sidelines for long. Even though sheâ€s concentrating on delivering her next bundle of joy, Kanellis has her eyes filmly set on the future.

Maria Kanellis posted on X to make it clear that sheâ€s not done in the pro wrestling world. In fact, once baby #3 comes for her, she canâ€t wait to find another company to sign with.

“Looking forward to finding a new wrestling home after baby number 3.â€

Maria Kanellis has seen success in several companies throughout her career. In TNA, she captured the TNA Knockouts Championship once. During her time in WWE, she won the WWE 24/7 Championship and earned a Slammy Award for Diva of the Year.

AEW had Maria and Mike Kanellis on their roster for a while. The two also had a stint in Tony Khanâ€s version of ROH.

Other than her in-ring accomplishments, she has also managed her husband, Mike Kanellis, across multiple wrestling organizations. Only time will tell what she does next, but she canâ€t wait to find a new home in the pro wrestling world once that day comes around.

Whatâ€s your take on Maria Kanellis†future in pro wrestling? Which company should pick her up next? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

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Of Raducanu’s 22 defeats, only seven came against lower-ranked opponents, with three in the past month alone.

But beating the very best, who often possess greater power, has proved beyond her so far.

She lost 10 of her 11 matches against top-10 players in 2025, the exception being a victory over Emma Navarro in Miami in March.

She was very competitive against world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Wimbledon’s Centre Court – and took her to a third set tie-break in Cincinnati – but there was little room for encouragement elsewhere.

After a 6-1 6-2 loss to ninth seed Elena Rybakina at the US Open, Raducanu reflected on where she needs to improve to change the narrative.

“My serve – it’s been better, but I think it can get better [still],” she told BBC Sport.

“The ball after the serve as well, so I’m ready for a fast return. I think that’s where I still have some big work to do.

“I think starting the point is extremely important when you are playing at that kind of level.”

Raducanu developed an unfortunate habit in Asia of failing to convert match points.

Last year’s Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova saved three against her in Seoul, and then world number five Jessica Pegula did exactly the same in Beijing a week later.

More concerning, though, was the way Raducanu faded in the deciding set of those matches. Against Pegula, Raducanu went for broke and subsided quickly.

This was not something you could have accused her of over the summer, and was perhaps a sign of a body and mind wearied by nine months on the road.

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

SHOW SUMMARY:In this Dailycast episode of Wrestling Coast to Coast, Chris Maitland and Justin McClelland review Beyond Wrestling’s Bound for the Floor, featuring a really awesome eight-man (mostly) technical tournament with the likes of Drew Gulak, Timothy Thatcher, Fancy Ryan Clancy, Hot Sauce Tracy Williams, and other scientific wrestling masters, plus in the first ever defense of the WWEID title, Cappuccino Jones goes one-on-one with TJ Crawford. We also look at a very news-worthy week in the WWEID program and speculate what this means for the program going forward. For VIP listeners, it’s a pair of matches featuring some Wrestling Coast to Coast favorites – Kevin Ku vs. Tre Lamar and Tony Deppen vs. Kevin Blackwood.

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

My vacation has come to an end, and so has the weekend in Perth. There has been a lot of wrestling in Australia, and it’s my job to highlight what worked and what didn’t on WWE Smackdown. Ultimately, I found the show to be fun and engaging, with some returns that excited me but also left me feeling trepidatious. Did Smackdown succeed in entertaining us? I believe so, and thatâ€s what itâ€s all about! As always, Iâ€m Chris Adams, and you can reach me at cadamsowj@gmail.com if you think Iâ€ve Missed!

CODYâ€S OPENING PROMO: HIT

While there were elements of self-congratulation in this promo, it was wonderful to see Cody giving so many people their flowers. It was an act of scripted generosity that polished his baby face even more. He is a company man through and through, and that is not a bad thing. I would have liked to see him give flowers to more than just one woman, but that’s a small critique.

Cody is effortless at speaking, and as a public speaker myself, I am consistently in awe of how he effectively undulates his voice. He set the stage for a conflict of depth and emotionality, building on the history between Cody and Seth Rollins. He taunted Seth not with insulting words, but simply with the truth – the truth that Cody has been superior since his return to WWE. Now, we know how their contest ended. Rethinking this promo in light of his loss at Crown Jewel makes the generosity seem even more profound. Another great opener if a Cody promo is the direction you want to go.

SAMI ZAYN AND SHINSUKE NAKAMURA: HIT

I don’t think anybody expected Shinsuke Nakamura to be the one answering Sami Zaynâ€s Open Challenge, but thank God he did. And itâ€s found within another moment of creative strangeness – abandoning a heel run that isn’t working. Nakamura has returned with the music and the body language that made him so beloved. This is the artist, the one who paints with violence, the one who vibrates his body with the energy of combat and conquest. This is the Nakamura we both want and need!

Notice that the tron from his villainous run remained, but nearly everything else stayed the same. The exception is his gear. This is my favorite gear he has worn in years, with the koi fish and blossoms adding an elegant beauty to his violence. And what violence we were able to witness! Nakamura and Sami Zayn running back the grappling from their NXT days – there were moments of brilliance and snugness that seemed like both Zayn and Nakamura were coming to life right in the middle of the ring.

I sincerely hope WWE has figured out what to do with Nakamura, but the DQ finish of the match with the run-ins from the MFTs does not bode well for a focused story arc for Nakamura. But my God, did I love this match and love seeing the artist that is Shinsuke Nakamura create beautiful carnage for us once again.

THE WARPAINT OF THE MFTS: HIT:

brief note on the war paint of the MFTs. The face paint instantly adds the potential for terror and chaos from the them, but it must be followed up on with creative trust behind them. They must remain a threat, and there has to be an ascendancy to power for them if they are to be more than mid-card heavies thrown in for a brief burst of energetic chaos.

KIANA JAMES & GIULIA VS. TIFFANY STRATTON & STEPHANIE VAQUER: HIT

Undeniably ,the clunkiest match on the card, it was nonetheless a fun way to spend time on a Friday night. That’s not meant to be an insult. It recognizes that not every segment needs to be Oscar-worthy, nor does every match need to elevate the art form to new heights. It served its purpose, and then some.

First, let’s talk about the wrestling. Since it was mostly a match between Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer, we were treated to excellent grappling and surgical striking. Tiffany Stratton added very little to the match, in my opinion. What made this segment even more successful was finally seeing Kiana James show some real personality in the ring.

I would like to see her toughen up her style, be a bit stiffer, and rely more on an arsenal of suplexes and slams than on striking. But there was something about her presentation tonight that did more to advance her character than anything she’s done in the past two months.

Giulia has suffered the most, as she doesn’t seem to quite fit into the current trajectory of WWE. I’m not sure what to attribute this to, other than recognizing that something isn’t working for her, in contrast to how everything is working for Stephanie Vaquer.

STREET PROFITS VS. THE WYATT SICKS: MISS

This match was way too short, never giving either team a real chance to shine. They have faced each other before in much more exciting and violent matches, but they weren’t given what they needed tonight to create magic. Sadly, the Wyatt Sicks seem to have lost their edge. They don’t feel like threats anymore, and Dexter Loomis is so painfully wooden in his line deliveries that it comes off like bad community theater. Even worse, we’re now headed toward a feud between the Sicks and the MFTs, which looks like mediocrity at its finest. This is a dull direction for the tag titles.

ALEISTER BLACK VS. DAMIEN PRIEST: HIT

This delivered on every level! Nuanced storytelling with the long-awaited on-screen pairing of Zelina Vega with Aleister Black, creating the opportunity for the fireball, that black magic sprayed into Damian Priestâ€s face that ultimately led to a Black Mass that brought Damian Priest down for longer than the 10 count. This match did not dishonor the feud that was growing between the two of them in the ring and backstage for weeks.

If they continue to build on this, we now have a main eventer and Aleister Black, who can be a spectral force of violence across the entire scene of Smackdown. Part of what made the match so effective was Black and Priest’s willingness to trust each other with their bodies, a hallmark of good wrestling. By trusting each other, they became very physical, very snug, and very visceral in their combat. It created a beautiful chaos that betrays a feud just getting started.

POST CROWN JEWEL REFLECTION ON CODY RHODES

I’m increasingly worried about Cody Rhodes, especially after his loss at Crown Jewel. Yes, it was a dirty loss, but still a loss. Having lost at both WrestleMania and Crown Jewel, and with his championship win at Summerslam barely being celebrated, I sense a lack of clarity about his future, and I don’t like it.

I believe it was the right decision for Seth to win, but just because it’s the right call doesn’t mean it can’t lead to negative consequences if not handled properly. My gut tells me they won’t manage it well, and that’s disappointing.

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