Browsing: Legend

Stuart Pearce was famously something of late starter when it came to his football career.

While he would go on to win 78 caps for England and be a key player in the World Cup 90 and Euro 96 sides that reached the last-four in both tournaments, he began his career training and then working as an electrician during a five-year stint at non-league side Wealdstone.

Pearce’s big break would come in 1983, when Coventry City boss Bobby Gould spotted something in the non-league left-back and snapped him up in a £30,000 deal.

Pearce’s determination and combative nature – two traits that served him well during his career – had impressed Gould, but it could all have been different if Pearce had followed his initial dream and followed in the footsteps of his early hero Gordon Banks.

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Celtic’s European Cup win in 1967 remains one of the most iconic nights in the club’s storied history, almost 60 years on.

The Scottish side’s 2-1 victory over Inter Milan at the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon saw them become the first British club to win the European Cup and it was all done with a homegrown squad, the majoirty of whom were born within a ten-mile radius of Celtic Park.

Jim Craig was playing at right-back that evening, as he added European football’s biggest prize to his list of 14 domestic trophies won during his eight-year spell with the club.

“He had more run-ins with Jimmy Johnstone. Jock was once giving a team talk and, when he finished, he asked if there were any questions. Jimmy’s hand shot up, which was a surprise because Jinky had sat through the whole talk looking at his nails. Jimmy said, ‘How long’s the flight?’ He was terrified of flying and that was all he was interested in, not the team talk or any of the tactical stuff.”

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Manchester United have now gone 12 years since winning the title after the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson – and they’re a long way from returning to those lofty heights.

The Red Devils won the Premier League 13 times during the first 21 years of the division’s existence, but have gone through six different permanent managers since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.

This season, Manchester United currently sit 14th in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim, after finishing 15th last term.

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New AEW signee Andrade is set to compete in an indie dream match later this month.

Mucha Lucha Atlanta has announced that Andrade will face off against lucha legend LA Park at the promotion’s show in Norcross, Georgia on Sunday, October 26. It marks the first time the two have ever faced each other one-on-one.

“A fight never seen before, a true dream match, something that seemed impossible,” Mucha Lucha Atlanta wrote. “Andrade ‘El Idolo’ El ingobernable goes head to head against the living legend LA Park ‘La Autentica Parka’ The ring assassin, a one-on-one clash that will shake MLA!

“A clash of generations, styles, and egos. Two wrestling giants who will hold nothing back.’

Espacio Discotheque ATL will be the venue for the show.

On the sixth anniversary edition of AEW Dynamite last night, Andrade made his return to the company by joining the Don Callis Family and targeting Kenny Omega. Andrade then posted a tweet today teasing that Omega was only the first name on his AEW hit list.

Kenny ( first) pic.twitter.com/zbdPadP4d4

— “EL IDOLO†ANDRADE (@AndradeElIdolo) October 2, 2025

Andrade is back in AEW after his first run ended at the end of 2023. He returned to WWE at that time but was released from his WWE contract last month.

In addition to this show and his AEW return, Andrade has also booked appearances for The Crash and House of Glory.

LA Park — the original La Parka — is a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. Along with his work in Mexico, he’s spent time in the United States with WCW and MLW during his career.

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A former England international winger has been declared bankrupt after amassing more than £1.5 million in debt through his now-liquidated media company.

Liverpool legend John Barnes has fought off four bankruptcy petitions in the last 15 years but was hit with a bankruptcy order in the High Court of Justice last week.

“Liquidators’ reports show he owed HMRC £776,878 in unpaid VAT, National Insurance, and PAYE, alongside £461,849 to unsecured creditors and a £226,000 directors loan,” reports The Independent.

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Why has John Barnes been declared bankrupt?

John Barnes (R) with Paul Gascoigne at World Cup Italia 90. (Image credit: Getty Images)

Barnes reportedly paid a personal tax bill of £238,000 to see off a bankruptcy petition in 2023 but the debts owed by his business have caused a series of problems, culminating in the finalised bankruptcy order.

According to an insolvency specialist and partner at law firm DMH Stallard, Barnes has been involved in legal proceedings for some time.

Barnes has been involved in media work since retiring from football (Image credit: Getty Images)

“John Barnes’s bankruptcy comes just over a year after he signed a disqualification undertaking, disqualifying him from acting as a director for three and a half years,” says Oliver Jackson.

“The difficulties faced by Barnes all stem from his company, John Barnes Media Limited, which went into liquidation in March 2023 owing over £1.5 million. That, in turn, followed HMRC’s rejection of a ‘time to pay’ proposal from Barnes.”

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Bankruptcy is not uncommon among former professional footballers, with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, David James, George Best, Wes Brown and Lee Hendrie on a very long list.

Barnes told a business podcast that he was ‘burned’ because he trusted people he shouldn’t have trusted and has been in conversation with HRMC, the United Kingdom’s tax, payments and customs authority, since 2017.

John Barnes playing for Watford in 1982 (Image credit: Alamy)

“The disqualification, now coupled with his bankruptcy, underlines how HMRC are clamping down on directors and individuals who seek to avoid paying tax,” Jackson adds.

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“Over the last five years HMRC has collected £384 million in unpaid taxes from footballers, their clubs and agents, including £67.5 million in 2023.”

Barnes, who is ranked at No.14 in FourFourTwo‘s list of the best Premier League wingers of all time, represented England with distinction between 1983 and 1995, racking up 79 senior international caps.

He played 314 top-flight matches for Liverpool over the course of a decade after soaring to stardom as a Watford player in the 1980s. He played briefly for Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic at the end of his playing career.

Now 61, Barnes has had two abortive stints in management with Celtic in 1999 and then Jamaica and Tranmere Rovers many years later, but has primarily focused on work in the football broadcast media since retiring as a player.

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

NXT TV RESULTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
ORLANDO, FLA. AT CAPITOL WRESTLING CENTER
LIVE ON CW NETWORK
REPORT BY KELLY WELLS, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

NXT Commentators: Vic Joseph, Booker T

Ring Announcer: Mike Rome

Backstage Correspondent(s): Sarah Schreiber

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST

-The recaps started with the beginning of the TNA invasion angle from last week, followed by highlights from No Mercy. They were pretty exhaustive with the replays as the segment went five minutes long.

-New NXT Champion Ricky Starks opened the show, looking nearly as stylish as the last champion as he wore a flashy, half-open dress shirt and slacks. As always, there was a “You deserve it” chant. He said that every giant needs to rest, and that happened when he put Oba down. He said back in February, he made some big claims, and they’re starting to be reality. He said it hasn’t been an easy journey, and there were a lot of doubtful nights. He fired up the crowd, asking if he did it, and then if we did it. He said the belt is absolute proof that the only person you have to bet on is yourself.

Of all people, Jacy Jayne’s music played to interrupt him. She said as happy as she is for him, there are bigger things to worry about. She said “Pipe down, you idiots” to the crowd. She said the bigger thing is that TNA is trying to take over their show, but if TNA had theirÂtitles, she’d be upset as well.

Ava entered next and said for once, Jacy was right. She said both Starks and Jayne are the team captains for WWE, and they need to put pride and differences aside because she needs the best people on the NXT side.

Santino Marella’s music played him out to a big reaction, which is inconvenient for an invasion storyline, but nobody’s going to boo that guy. He said it’s a great idea, and he’s going to have his captains choose. He said he wasn’t picking Tricky Williams because “you can’t trust a person named Tricky.” He introduced the captain Mike Santana, incorrectly pronouncing the name as he does with everyone, and I think it was something like “Mike SanCanada.” He said there was one person he trusted, though, and it’s the Knockouts Champion Kelani Jordan, putting a wrinkle in the storyline I wouldn’t have guessed we’d see. They showed replays of Jordan winning the championship, and special referee Indi Hartwell looking defeated as she lifted Jordan’s arm.

Santino said he was looking forward to the showdown and the summit later. Jayne wanted to know why Jordan was with them, since she’s been TNA Knockouts champion for “all of ten seconds.” The groups jawed at each other and production transitioned to the announcers. Vic said we’re going to “kick off the show” with Lash Legend vs. Jaida Parker. Kick off? We’re 17 minutes in! The show went to its first commercial. [c]

-Je’Von Evans ran into Leon Slater, X-Division Champion, and they gassed each other up backstage. The Culling walked up and said of course Evans would be talking with the enemy. They’re basically driving home the silliness of an invasion angle right here. Spears said maybe Evans and Slater should face them tonight. The babyfaces both agreed to it. After Evans and Slater left the scene, Lyra Valkyria showed up and had a gift for Tatum Paxley: a Barbie doll that looks like Valkyria. Paxley excitedly tossed away her Izzi Dame Barbie (which Izzi caught) and took the new one. The rest of the Culling were annoyed.

(1) LASH LEGEND vs. JAIDA PARKER

They went to a big start with blocks and impact offense. Action went to the apron, where Parker hit a pump kick. Back inside, Legend hit a headbutt and Parker went outside. Parker charged Legend into the apron, then hit a Samoan Drop on Legend out on the ramp side, and the show went to a pretty quick second commercial after a much longer than usual opening segment. No split-screen this time. [c]

Parker rolled up Legend for two. Legend fought for, and got, a half-crab. Parker fought to the rope fairly quickly. Legend ran the ropes and missed a splash. Parker hit a blockbuster off of a rope run, and both women sold for a moment. They ran the ropes again and Parker manageda block. Parker hit a swinging neckbreaker for two. Legend grabbed a waistlock and Parker elbowed her way out of it. There was a “this is awesome” chant. It’s been good, but a waistlock is a really bizarre time for that chant. Parker and Legend each managed big kicks, and they spilled to the outside, where Legend threw Parker into the stairs and then the barricade. Back inside, Legend tried her finisher but Parker reversed, then hit Hipnotic for the win. Parker really needed that win, as she’s been on the wrong side of things for a while now, and took a bonus loss at No Mercy when she stepped in for Lainey Reid.

WINNER: Jaida Parker at 9:07.

(Wells’s Analysis: Good hoss fight between these two, unsurprisingly. Parker seems in permanent limbo, trading wins and losses as she inexplicably continues to wait for a spot on the main roster, even with SmackDown’s women’s division in pretty big need of a boost.)

-Ricky Starks and Je’Von Evans were talking in the locker room, and Trick Williams introduced himself as the team co-captain. Starks agreed to it, but needed one more guy. Starks wanted Myles Borne on the team, and Williams said we need size and power. Jasper Troy walked into frame, but Williams actually meant Josh Briggs. Evans wasn’t into that and let Starks know. Starks said he doesn’t like Briggs either, but he’s a good choice for the team. They settled on Borne and Briggs facing off for the final spot later tonight. [c]

-Ethan Page was introduced, and he was in formal wear. He said he seems to have done it again. He said he turned away another serious threat; this time, an Olympic-level threat. He said there’s a talent gap between Olympic athletes and the greatest athlete ever to step in a WWE ring. He said while everyone else is worried about the invasion, he has a medical professional – Dr. Wagner Jr. – trying to take his title. He said he’s only got a Doctorate in pissing him off.

Someone walked out of a limo outside and we saw his lower legs. He told him to face him. Instead, it was Mustafa Ali. Vic said the hits just keep on coming. Ali addressed the “citizens of NXT.” He said he had no issue with anything Page said, but he has an issue with what he’s holding. Page said he has no problem with him and he doesn’t owe him anything. Ali said Page doesn’t owe him anything, but NXT does. He said it wasn’t long ago that he earned a shot at the NXT North American Championship, but it never came (he was booked for a challenge for the championship at No Mercy and was fired right before the show). He said here we are, 749 days later, and he’s still waiting for the championship match that “I! EARNED!” The crowd got rowdy and chanted “Mustafa.”

Page said “Let me get it straight: this is the part where you cry, right?” He told him to tell someone else his sob story. He said he wasn’t going to cry for a championship, he’s going to politic for it. He said he already talked to Ava, an not only will it be TNA vs. NXT and Hardyz vs. DarkState, it’s also going to be Ethan Page defending the North American Championship against Mustafa Ali. Page yelled that he shouldn’t be surprised at all, because wrestlers are coming at him from every company. He said it’s a great story, Ali trying to reclaim what he never could, but he’s going to disappoint him. He said he isn’t going to call him to fire him, but he’s going to wish him the best in his future endeavors. Ali threw hands and Page ran out to the ramp.

(Wells’s Analysis: This was a very convenient dangling storyline to get us into a match next week. Ali was doing great things two years ago when he was unceremoniously dumped, with the prevailing story being that WWE was gunshy about the idea of Ali as a politician. I was really hoping he’d win the match that never happened, and I’m still hoping he can pull it off now, although Page has been doing great heel work throughout his entire title run)

-Wren Sinclair talked to Kendal Grey, but they were really doing a commercial for Maybelline. Thankfully, we quickly transitioned to Jayne taking Sol Ruca on the team. Lola Vice put her name in the hat, but Fallon Henley did as well. Jayne, apparently with booking power for the purposes of choosing a team, said they’d face each other tonight for the spot. After some of the women in the scene left, Zaria asked Sol Ruca if she could talk to her privately, and the two took off. [c]

-Hype segment for The Hardy Boyz. In a previously recorded segment, Jeff said the last time they were around, they beat Fraxiom, but no titles were on the line. They’ll be facing DarkState in a Winner Takes All match next week, and the other members of DarkState are banned from ringside. They said they’ll finally win the only titles they’ve never won: the NXT Tag Team Championships.

(2) MYLES BORNE vs. JOSH BRIGGS – Winner joins the NXT team for next week’s match against TNA

Briggs shoved Borne to the mat a couple of times. The fans chanted “Anybody but Briggs.” Borne hit an impressive side suplex, then a basement lariat for two. Briggs bailed, and Borne hit a picture-perfect rolling senton from the ring. Back inside, high cross-body by Borne got two. Backstage, Trick Williams and Ricky Starks were watching on a monitor.

[HOUR TWO]

Briggs slowed it down, leaning on Borne and throwing the occasional elbow. “Briggs go away” chant. He jawed with the fans. Back elbows by Briggs in the corner. Back in a meeting room, we could see Mike Santana, Matt Cardona and Leon Slater in a room together, visually signaling that they’re all on the team for next week. Briggs hit a chokeslam for two and the match went to split-screen. [c]

The two exchanged momentum several times upon return and traded impact spots. After a big boot by Briggs, both men sold on the mat. Briggs ripped the chain off of his neck, and was ready to use it, but Matt Cardona showed up and held him back from using it. Referee Darryl Sharma noticed and ripped the chain away. Borne nailed Briggs with the Borne Again neckbreaker and got the win.

WINNER: Myles Borne at 10:14.

(Wells’s Analysis: Both men looked like pros throughout. Briggs is seemingly in his final form and just needs a space for a callup, while Borne might still be finding his way to his own.)

A photo promoted the 4 vs. 4 match next week with Ricky Starks, Trick Williams, Myles Borne and Je’Von Evans facing Mike Santana and three question marks. With Oba Femi not on the team and not even mentioned yet, I wonder if the callup is imminent.

-Kelani Jordan and Jordynne Grace talked about next week’s match and the nebulous NXT/TNA stuff. Joe Hendry was mentioned, and he appeared. Mike Santana showed up and said both Grace and Hendry had a foot in each company, and couldn’t be trusted for the match. Santana said he has someone he wants Jordan to meet. Jordan asked who, and he said “everybody.” They left. Hendry and Grace talked about having to figure out a way to be on the show next week. [c]

(3) LOLA VICE vs. FALLON HENLEY (w/Jacy Jayne) – Winner joins the NXT team against TNA next week

Vic asked Booker if he was surprised Henley wasn’t outright picked for the team, and Booker talked some word salad to make excuses for Jayne. The match got going with a lot of grapples and near-falls. They got pretty mean early on and Henley hit a back elbow for two. Vice threw a kick to the back of Henley’s knee that sent her to the mat. Vice threw knees and palm strikes until Henley caught Vice in the ropes and hit a German suplex while sliding from the ring. She grinned at the fans for boos.

Henley went back inside and kept up, hitting a neckbreaker for two. Vice reversed a spot and hit a snap suplex. She shimmied for the fans and then kicked Henley from the ring. Back inside, Vice hit a backfist to dispatch Henley pretty quickly.

WINNER: Lola Vice at 3:47.

(Wells’s Analysis: Decent stuff here, though I think near the end Henley was doing a spot where she was trapping Vice in the apron, but Vice instead took a bump on her back on the apron. Or maybe the pull of the apron was a coincidence. At any rate, Vice remains well in the thick of things, quickly defeating someone who at one point had a real push going on this brand)

-Vic promoted the Evans & Slater vs. Culling match, up soon. [c]

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Suryakumar Yadav (AP Photo) Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav found himself in the spotlight for reasons beyond his batting in the Asia Cup 2025 final, as Pakistan legend Wasim Akram questioned his decision to call for an ‘obstruction on the field†check during Pakistanâ€s innings in Dubai on Sunday.The flashpoint came in the 16th over when Salman Agha pushed Axar Patel towards extra cover and scampered back for two. Suryakumar, patrolling the infield, dived, fumbled, and hurled the ball back. His throw struck Agha as the batter completed the second run. SKY immediately asked the umpires to check for obstruction, telling them, “You check it.†The replays, however, showed that Agha had run straight, with no change in direction. The third umpire quickly dismissed any chance of foul play, ruling in favour of the batter.Commentating on the incident, Wasim Akram did not hold back. “It was completely unnecessary,†he said, suggesting that SKYâ€s appeal was not needed at the moment.His words sparked instant debate among fans and pundits alike — was it gamesmanship, overzealousness, or simply a captain wanting to explore every option?Beyond the controversy, the final tilted heavily Indiaâ€s way. After a promising start at 84 without loss, Pakistan collapsed spectacularly, losing nine wickets for just 33 runs. Sahibzada Farhan (57) and Fakhar Zaman (46) were the only two to make notable contributions as Pakistan folded for 146 in 19.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav once again starred with the ball, claiming 4/30, while Bumrah, Chakravarthy and Axar picked two wickets apiece.The collapse underlined Indiaâ€s grip on the contest, but SKYâ€s appeal remained a talking point.

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A WWE legend has returned to a top promotion after being away for nine years.

WWE and TNA have forged an epic relationship that has seen both companies put on some exceptional television over the last few years. Many within the industry have hailed it as one of the best, especially leading into the Invasion angle at No Mercy. Stars from both companies have made it onto the different rosters, with WWE star Trick Williams becoming the TNA Champion and AJ Styles returning to the promotion after 11 years.

Another legend, Ken Anderson, aka Mr Kennedy, also returned to TNA after nine years.

Former WWE Star Ken Anderson Returned To TNA After 9 Years

The latest episode of TNA Impact saw Ken Anderson return to the ring after nine years. The star teamed up with TNA International Champion Steve Maclin to take on Frankie Kazarian and Jake Something.

.@mrkenanderson & @SteveMaclin have taken control!

WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/sg1roEgcLSpic.twitter.com/ArJI4pdh2F

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) September 26, 2025

Anderson, who is a former WWE United States Champion, last performed for TNA on the Jan 7 edition of Impact, where he battled Eric Young for the King of the Mountain Championship.

Mr Anderson returned during last week’s episode of Impact to ally with Maclin in his battle against Kazarian

It is not yet clear whether the star has re-signed with TNA.

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In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Finn Balor expressed huge gratitude toward his former NJPW colleague Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Tanahashi — one of the greatest wrestlers in NJPW history — will retire from the ring at the Tokyo Dome in January 2026. Balor told Tokyo Sports that he would love to face Tanahashi one more time, though he does not expect to be Tanahashi’s final opponent.

“That would be awesome, but I’m not that lucky,” Balor said about potentially facing Tanahashi in his retirement match.

“But I want to take this opportunity to say something to Mr. Tanahashi. You’ve had an incredible career. Thank you for being so good to the foreign wrestlers in New Japan. Mr. [Takashi] Iizuka, Mr. [Jushin Thunder] Liger, Mr. [Yuji] Nagata — everyone was so warm. Having teammates like family supporting me helped me adapt quickly to the ring’s harshness. Living in a distant country where you don’t speak the language is scary. But New Japan welcomed me with open arms. I’ll always be grateful.”

Balor rose to international prominence while competing for NJPW as Prince Devitt in the 2000s and 2010s. He is looking forward to heading back to Japan next month for two WWE house shows.

“Performing in Japan is always a joy and an honor. Japanese pro wrestling fans are the best in the world. They show respect, are well-studied, and passionate,” Balor said. “Plus, you can’t fool Japanese fans. They spot a bad wrestler immediately. I feel my age now, and my style is different from my NJPW days. But I want to show the high level of skill I had during my time in Japan. I want to deliver the same passion and energy.”

The WWE live events are being held at Sumo Hall in Tokyo on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18.

As president of NJPW, Tanahashi will remain a key figure behind the scenes after his in-ring retirement. He was first appointed to that role in December 2023.

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Kenny Omega fired back at a wrestling legend with an insult that was pretty easy to decipher.

Omega wrote the following on Twitter/X on Wednesday, taking a shot at a wrestling “legend†for what he implied was them kissing up to WWE.

“Another day and another “legend†doing the splits on it for the yearly TKO gift basket… ?,†Omega wrote.

Omega didnâ€t directly name his target, but many fans speculated that he was taking aim at Gail Kim, who recently criticized Rihoâ€s believability as a wrestler.

Kim recently came under fire after she criticized a clip of director Michael Philippou competing in an Exploding Barbed Wire Match. The TNA Hall of Famer called the spot, which featured panes of glass and barbed wire, “pure trash†that showed the lack of storytelling ability. Her response was widely criticized by many, including GCW owner Brett Lauderdale. Kim and Lauderdale later agreed that they just had a difference of opinion, but one of Kimâ€s other remarks about believability in wrestling got her into more hot water.

During one related exchange, Gail Kim said that Japanese female wrestler Riho looked like a little girl in one of her past matches, and it made her uncomfortable. Specifically, Kim said that Rihoâ€s presentation and camera shots that showed up her skirt felt improper. In addition, Kim also said that sheâ€s into believable wrestling, and couldnâ€t believe “a little girl†could compete with the other women in the division.

I said she looked like a little girl
On that one episode I saw when the camera man shot straight up her ass. Looked creepy and Itâ€s funny Iâ€m getting a lot of texts from my peers& friends who are saying what idiots these trolls are and Iâ€m gonna have to agree today! Example here https://t.co/tbqae7tA2Q

— Gail Kim-Irvine (@gailkimITSME) September 24, 2025

Gail Kim explains what made her uncomfortable about Riho

She attempted to clarify that her criticism was about one specific match years ago, and was not an overall assessment. However, many fans still criticized her, calling her a hypocrite and sharing clips of her own matches against opponents like Awesome Kong.

Now, Omegaâ€s comment seems to imply heâ€s not happy with her comments either. Omega has had a close relationship with Riho for many years. Many pointed out that Kimâ€s remarks must have really been upsetting, considering Omega does not normally speak out in this fashion.

Read More: Masha Slamovich Under Investigation By TNA For Domestic Violence Allegations

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