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Bishop Dyer and Donovan Dijak are dominating MLWâ€s Tag Team division as The Skyscrapers. The name is well-known to longtime wrestling fans as a team in WCW. The team saw Sid Vicious and Dan Spivey together, and they later welcomed “Mean†Mark Callous, aka The Undertaker, into their ranks.

Dyer, formerly Baron Corbin in WWE, was initially worried that fans would hate the idea of bringing the name back. However, it was met with a warm reception, and he says winning gold in their first match together also helped get them off to a great start.

“It was funny because we were dubbed that name, and I was like, ‘Oh no! The internet is going to eat us alive.†And I think that people really took it well, and the nostalgia of the name and the [past wrestlers attached to] it. Now, if we were both 5â€5†or 5â€8†and they were like, ‘Oh, thereâ€s the new Skyscrapers.†Weâ€d get sh*t on. Or if we couldnâ€t move well.

“But those guys were so athletic. So, I think that having [us] in that position with that name, people are like, ‘Oh, I get it. These dudes are big, they are athletic, they are physical, theyâ€re dominant, theyâ€re angry.†Our first time as a tag team, we won the tag titles. And I think that cements what we can do, right out the gate, as a team. And so to continue to grow that and build on that name that we are bestowed.â€

Bishop Dyer says nostalgia can also educate fans about the history of the business

Bishop Dyer noted how MLW has a great mix of talent, not just nostalgia. However, he said itâ€s important to honor those names that laid the foundation for today.

“When Iâ€m talking about wrestling being so hot with everything, thereâ€s young fans that are coming up. And I think when young fans have never heard the Skyscrapers team before, they might look it up or type it in, thinking my name or Dijakâ€s name is going to come up. And then they get a picture of Old Taker. It allows them to go back and kind of relive some of that stuff that maybe they didnâ€t know.

“I see fans at the shows that are 16, 17. They have no clue about that history of stuff. Thatâ€s one of the things that I think is really cool. Theyâ€re bringing back that nostalgia. And maybe people are going to go back and look through and see where that came from. Like you said, when you see an old picture of Taker with the short hair and red beard, itâ€s going to throw you off like, ‘Wait, what? Time out. What is this?†It will allow them to dig in. So, I love that about what itâ€s doing and helping people who are new to this world, go back and learn a little bit of the history.â€Â

Read More: R-Truth Explains Why WWE Ended Ron Killings Gimmick

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Last time in action: Stacks defeated Yoshiki Inamura (NXT, August 5), Slater defeated Je’Von Evans (Bound for Glory)

TNA’s Leon Slater took a trip to NXT this week to defend the X-Division Championship against Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.

Slater came in hot with a flurry of fast-paced moves, but once Stacks caught him in the corner, he beat him down. Evans was at ringside to cheer on Slater while Arianna Grace was in the corner for Stacks.

Slater took control with a big dive out of the ring as the show went to a break. We returned to see him getting a two-count before Stacks regained control by dropping the champion across the top rope.

We haven’t seen much of Stacks in the ring since his feud with Tony D’Angelo ended, so it was nice to see him get a chance to work with someone new. As always, Slater impressed with his athleticism, though some moves still need polish to look perfect.

The first half of the match was decent, but the second half was a lot more exciting. Slater accidentally knocked Grace off the apron when she was trying to help Stacks cheat, but Evans caught her in his arms.

Slater scored the win with a 450 splash to retain his X-Division Championship. After the match, Evans and Slater said they wanted to team up for a tag match and put out an open challenge, which was immediately answered by Mr. Iguana and La Parka.

Result: Slater defeated Stacks

Notable Moments and Observations

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Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill enjoying popcorn during the rain break Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar lost his cool in the commentary box after seeing Rohit Sharma munching on popcorn with captain Shubman Gill during the rain break in the first ODI at Perth.”Arey bhai usse popcorn mat de (Don’t let him eat popcorn),” Nayar said in commentary.Before the start of the match, Nayar had opened up on Rohit Sharmaâ€s remarkable fitness transformation, revealing the thought process behind the India skipperâ€s 11-kilo weight loss and his vision for the 2027 World Cup.“I think thereâ€s been a lot of talk about the weight loss,†Nayar told JioHotstar before the match.“The initial parts were obviously about getting fitter, getting leaner. I spoke about this before. There was this spitting image of him walking out of the airport after his holiday in the UK. So that was something he wanted to change. He wanted to come back.“The outlook was obviously the 2027 World Cup — to be fitter, stronger, lighter, and more agile. And the skill has always been there. The fitness has only amplified the skill. Itâ€s helped him move faster. His agility is the best itâ€s ever been.“Heâ€s excited. Heâ€s keen. He knows thereâ€s a bit of pressure and talk around whether heâ€ll reach the 2027 World Cup. The first statement was his weight. Hopefully, the second statement will be the runs he scores with the bat.â€

Poll

Do you think Rohit Sharmaâ€s weight loss will positively impact his performance in the upcoming matches?

However, Rohitâ€s return didnâ€t go as planned. He scored only eight runs off 14 balls before Josh Hazlewood dismissed him.India were struggling at 52 for four in 16.4 overs when rain once again halted play.

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WrestlePalooza was supposed to be WWEâ€s grand debut on ESPN, but instead of kicking off a new era in triumph, it turned into a storm of streaming headaches, negative reviews, and fan frustration. Now, a new report sheds light on how WWE leadership has reacted to the criticism — and one line from Triple H is already sparking discussion.

According to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there is growing concern behind the scenes at TKO. Even though many believe WWE is running smoother without Vince McMahon, thereâ€s unease that the new leadership doesnâ€t understand the fundamentals of wrestling storytelling or its history. There are also fears about AI integration leading to jobs being cut, whispers of record-low ratings, and the perception that WrestlePalooza was a flop as WWEâ€s first ESPN show.

Amid all of that, Meltzer noted that Paul “Triple H†Levesque addressed the backlash during a production meeting. Rather than showing frustration, Levesque doubled down on WWEâ€s approach.

“We work them (the fans). They donâ€t work us.â€

That line came after WrestlePalooza was hammered with complaints. Fans who paid $29.99 to watch through the ESPN app were locked out by error messages, while others complained about confusing subscription tiers and being pushed into higher-priced bundles. On top of the tech fiasco, ESPNâ€s own review called the event “average,†giving it a lukewarm C grade and criticizing matches like Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena for falling flat.

Even so, WWEâ€s business remains financially strong. The company is still reporting packed houses and record revenue, even as some internally believe the boom period for wrestling may have already peaked. The fear among longtime insiders is that Silver Lake and TKO could respond to a slowdown with cutbacks and more reliance on AI.

Triple Hâ€s comment makes it clear that, at least from his perspective, WWE isnâ€t letting the negative reaction dictate their creative direction. But it also raises questions about how much the company is listening to its fans versus controlling the narrative.

Do you think Triple H is right that WWE controls the fans, or is this mindset going to hurt the company in the long run? Share your thoughts in the comments.

October 17, 2025 11:29 am

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Seth Rollins may be dealing with a shoulder injury, but not everyone in WWE is convinced of The Visionaryâ€s medical status.

At Crown Jewel, Rollins performed a coast-to-coast headbutt on Cody Rhodes. The World Heavyweight Champion landed awkwardly on his shoulder but still managed to pick up the win. Rollins hinted at a potential injury during his post-match comments.

This past Monday on WWE RAW, The Visionaryâ€s situation escalated when Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed turned against him. The angle fueled speculation that Rollins†injury concerns might be legitimate.

However, a new report from PWInsider (via PWInsider Elite) noted that some people within WWE remain skeptical, given the fake knee injury Rollins used as a ruse in the lead-up to SummerSlam 2025.

“Some people backstage are reportedly taking a ‘wait and see†approach to Seth Rollins†injury following his fake knee injury over summer which reportedly affected the morale backstage,†according to the report. “However, others have claimed that The Vision wouldnâ€t have broken up and turned on Rollins if the injury wasnâ€t legitimate.â€

Seth Rollins no longer advertised for WWE Japan tour

Seth Rollins versus CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship was originally set for October 17 in Japan. The following day Rollins was set to tag with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed against Punk, Jey Uso, and Shinsuke Nakamura on October 18.

However, WWE has removed The Visionary from the lineup following his reported injury. The updated card now features CM Punk facing Dominik Mysterio for the WWE Intercontinental Championship on October 18, followed by a tag team match against The Bronsons the next day.

WrestleZone will provide the latest updates on Seth Rollins as they become available.

Also read: Original Plans For Seth Rollins At WWE WrestleMania 42 — Report

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John Cena and AJ Styles had an all-time classic match at WWE Crown Jewel, which featured tons of tributes that fans never saw coming. Following the event, the internal reaction to the bout has been revealed.

According to Fightful Select, AJ Styles and John Cena received a standing ovation from everyone backstage after their match. It was also noted that AJ Styles didnâ€t know about the surprise introduction before it happened. There also donâ€t seem to be any problems with the use of the name “Bullet Club.â€

“AJ Styles vs. John Cena got a standing ovation upon returning to the back after their match. The claim internally was that AJ Styles did not know that the intro was coming. There are not expected to be any issues with the mentions of “Bullet Club.â€

The Leader of Cenation and the Phenomenal One put on a barnburner for fans in Perth, as they both used finishers from opponents who meant a lot to their careers. This included AJ Styles hitting an Angelâ€s Wings and Fade to Black on Cena, which were Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarianâ€s finishers.

As for John Cena, he used finishers from the Miz, two finishers from the Undertaker, Rusevâ€s Accolade and so many more moves that fans genuinely felt like they were children again.

In the end, John Cena would pick up the win over AJ Styles and the two shared a hug, showing just how much respect they had for each other. With only a few dates left for Cenaâ€s retirement tour, itâ€s clear Cena wants to make sure each of his appearances is memorable and so far, thatâ€s exactly what they have been.

What did you think of John Cena and AJ Styles†final match at Crown Jewel? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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Cody Rhodes let out his usual “Woah!†this week, but without the pyro.

On this weekâ€s episode of WWE Raw, Seth Rollins cited issues with the fans chanting for his Crown Jewel opponent, Cody Rhodes. Naturally, Rhodes then emerged on the stage of Raleighâ€s Lenovo Center, with the WWE Universe and “The American Nightmare†himself ready to exclaim the staple “Woah!†featured in his entrance theme song, “Kingdom†by Downstait. Rhodes and the crowd managed to do that, though not without a missing element — pyrotechnics.

Rhodes took notice of the absent fireworks and comically pointed it out. Then, he shook off the blunder with a laugh and hyped up the crowd with a raise of his Undisputed WWE Championship. The tune of “Kingdom†then continued with the live audience singing along as Rhodes made his way to meet Rollins in the ring.

As Raw commentator Wade Barrett said, “No pyro, no problem.â€

At WWE Crown Jewel, Rhodes and Rollins will face off in a champion vs. champion match, with Rhodes representing the Undisputed WWE Championship, while Rollins carries his WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Neither of their titles will be on the line, however. Instead, Rhodes and Rollins will vie for the Crown Jewel Championship, along with a commemorative ring. WWE Womenâ€s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer and WWE Womenâ€s Champion Tiffany Stratton will do the same in the womenâ€s division.

Rhodes claimed the inaugural Crown Jewel title last year by defeating “The Ring General†Gunther.

RELATED: WWE Hall of Famer Calls Cody Rhodes The Best Interview In The Business

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

This was a bizarre episode of Smackdown, full of unintended surprises, great wrestling, and a Crimson Mask! Smackdownâ€s inconsistency, though, shows again, and I wonder if each episode is written and structured by completely different teams. Compared to Raw, Smackdown feels formulaic and tired, with infrequent flashes of energy and excitement. Letâ€s get to it, friends! As always, Iâ€m Chris Adams, and you can reach me at cadamsowj@gmail.com if you think Iâ€ve Missed!

PAUL HEYMAN, CODY RHODES, AND THE BRONS: HIT

My initial reaction to this promo and the whole segment was one of admiration and praise. In particular, it was Cody Rhodes calling out Paul Heyman that made this segment a hit. Running down Heymanâ€s history of going into business for himself cast doubt in the minds of Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, both of whom came out looking less than menacing. Randy Ortonâ€s run-in created an opportunity for him to eye the prize that is the WWE Championship. All in all, a fine yet fun way to open the show.

STREET PROFITS VS. MELO DONâ€T MIZ: HIT

This match was decent, not outstanding. Nothing was outright bad, but nothing really stood out as a truly memorable sequence. What will be remembered is the face of Carmelo Hayes†face as he watched the Miz take a pinfall. Like a cold-hearted killer, he watched his partner get pinned and suffer defeat without a hint of emotion. I was initially critical of the pairing of Hayes and the Miz, but the tension they’ve been playing with has been surprisingly rich. Unfortunately, Iâ€ve come around to liking their pairing just as it seems they’re about to split. If they split before the Street Profits, then their partnership simply wonâ€t get the recognition it deserves. Regarding the Profits, Iâ€m excited to see singles runs from both, but hope it happens without an actual breakup. Let Angelo Dawkins be the corner man for Montez Ford, and vice versa. Teammates donâ€t have to hate each other to move beyond the tag division. A little positivity, please!

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

Check out the latest episode of “The Nicky’s Club” with Nick Barbati, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)

GIULIA, JAMES, B-FAB, AND MICHIN: HIT

All four of these performers deserved more crowd reaction. At least there was more than crickets by the end of the match. Itâ€s Michin I feel the worst for, as I really enjoy her work, but I must admit that she has yet to establish a strong connection with the crowd. She has it all though: skill, attitude, and natural charisma. There is much to develop in B-Fab, yet she is promising in every aspect. She needs to prove her mettle quickly though, as she could fall to the bottom of the card faster than Hit Row imploded. Giulia and Kiana James seem like odd bedfellows, and if the purpose of pairing them was to give Giulia a mouthpiece, theyâ€re failing. Neither of them has commanded the mic. Props to Kiana James for her selling, though, appearing as if she was unconscious like a true rag doll. This match was a hit, but just barely.

DREW MCINTYRE PROMO: HIT

Seeing Drew McIntyre in an orthopedic boot was worth the price of admission alone. His dour face walking down the aisle gave way to a sullen, self-pitying promo, his specialty of late. He is great in this role, as his own worst enemy. A new feud was thrown into focus with the arrival of Jacob Fatu in the ring, which bodes well for Friday nights. Their chemistry, especially the aggressive back-and-forth exchange of the microphone, was comedy gold. Babyface Fatu FTW!

SAMI ZAYN AND JEâ€VON EVANS: HIT

The match of the night. Sami Zaynâ€s Open Challenge for the United States Championship has delivered some incredible matches, but this one reigns supreme. Jeâ€Von Evans shined in the spotlight, and Sami was as generous as anyone could be. He sold Evans†moves, allowed him literally fly, and showed him respect in the end. In fact, this match felt like it could have gone the other way, with Evans taking the title. When you can inject that kind of tension into the conflict, making it feel natural and organic, youâ€ve succeeded in making professional wrestling more than just pantomimed fighting. They made it real. Amazing!

NIA JAX, JADE CARGILL, AND TIFFANY STRATTON: MISS

What an unfortunate series of events! The match had a fairly good flow, although it often felt like a typical one-on-one with alternating opponents. It fell apart badly after Jade Cargill was busted open and joined the club of the Crimson Mask. Reviewing the footage, it seems both Stratton and Jax were waiting for Cargill to break open the pin. She didn’t, and we got a botched finish that made the referee seem responsible when it was a trainwreck all around with no one person to blame.

Nia Jaxâ€s attitude, including flipping off the referee, was good heel behavior but strange for SmackDown. She likely knows her bloodline keeps her safer than others. Overall, something good turned into something bad, but thatâ€s okay. All three wrestlers made sacrifices for us, and I appreciate it. I just canâ€t call it a hit.

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Team Europe took a commanding 5.5-2.5 advantage over the United States on the first day of the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Europe benefited from stellar days from its top stars to claim the three-point edge at Bethpage Black.

The day could have gone worse for the Americans, as Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau each finished 0-2.

The Americans can still come from behind on Saturday and Sunday, but captain Keegan Bradley needs more help from his star golfers.

Jon Rahm/Tyrrell Hatton (EUR) def. Bryson DeChambeau/Justin Thomas (USA), 4&3

Ludvig Aberg/Matt Fitzpatrick (EUR) def. Scottie Scheffler/Russell Henley (USA), 5&3

Rory McIlroy/Tommy Fleetwood (EUR) def. Collin Morikawa/Harris Englisn (USA), 5&4

Xander Schauffele/Patrick Cantlay (USA) def. Robert MacIntyre/Viktor Hovland (EUR), 2 UP

Jon Rahm/Sepp Straka (EUR) def. Scottie Scheffler/JJ Spaun (USA), 3&2

Tommy Fleetwood/Justin Rose (EUR) def. Ben Griffin/Bryson DeChambeau (USA), 1 UP

Cameron Young/Justin Thomas (USA) def. Ludvig Aberg/Rasmus Hojgaard (EUR), 6&5

Sam Burns/Patrick Cantlay (USA) HALVED Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry (EUR)

Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood combined to win 5.5 points for Europe.

Rahm was fantastic alongside Tyrrell Hatton in the morning and Sepp Straka in the afternoon.

Fleetwood was equally as impressive alongside McIlroy in the foursomes session and with Justin Rose in the four-ball discilpline.

McIlroy was one putt away from joining Rahm and Fleetwood in the 2-0 column, but he halved his afternoon match alongside Shane Lowry with the American pair of Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay.

Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau had the exact opposite type of day as the European stars. Each of the top Americans went 0-2.

No matter how many times they play on Saturday, or who they are parterned with, Scheffler and DeChambeau must play better for the Americans to have a chance to win the Ryder Cup on home soil during the Sunday singles competition.

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We still haven’t seen our first real golf shot, but at least we have a real piece of news! Ryder Cup captainsKeegan Bradleyand Luke Donald have announced their respective teams for Friday’s first foursomes session.

On site at Bethpage Black, our writers give their instant reactions — from the biggest surprise to the most exciting match to whether one side has already gained an advantage.

Dylan Dethier: Okay gang, I’ll serve as host here. We’ve just watched the pairings come out — here’s what we’ve got:

FRIDAY FOURSOMES (all times ET)

7:10 a.m. Rahm / Hatton vs. DeChambeau / Thomas

7:26 a.m. Aberg / Fitzpatrick vs. Scheffler / Henley

7:42 a.m. McIlroy / Fleetwood vs. Morikawa / English

7:58 a.m. MacIntyre / Hovland vs. Schauffele / Cantlay

Sitting for Team USA: Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, J.J. Spaun, Cameron Young

Sitting for Team Europe: Rasmus Hojgaard, Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Sepp Straka

1. Which match are you most excited to follow?

Sean Zak: The first one, duh! There will be fireworks, perhaps from the first swing of the event if DeChambeau can drive the 1st green. But Vegas likes the duo of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton, and with good reason.

James Colgan:That first match has the chance to end Western Civilization before most of the Bethpage faithful have gotten their first cup of coffee. Holy hell, what a good time.

Bastable: If Bryson doesn’t have a go at the first green, I’m hopping on the media shuttle and heading back to New Jersey. Rory and Tommy also will be a joy to watch, and I’m eager to see if Xander and P-Ice still possess their match-play magic. Xander’s form is, pun very much intended, a big X-factor this week.

Dethier: Bryson’s rightfully the headliner. But that second match is such an interesting mix of styles — and includes the undisputed World No. 1. Time to stress-test that Scheffler-Henley duo that looked promising at the Presidents Cup. And if Team Europe steals a point in the second or fourth match, that could be a harbinger of an upset to come…

2. Any surprising omissions — or inclusions?!

Zak:Really thought New York’s very own Cam Young would be playing as many matches as possible. He’s playing the best golf of his life and he uses the same ball as DeChambeau. Would imagine he goes out early in the afternoon. The biggest surprise? Per DataGolf’s fascinating optimal pairings breakdown, Morikawa / English is among the worst possible fits. (Depending on who hits the first tee shot they’re either the 130th or 132nd best fit out of 132.)

Colgan:Not necessarily a talentomission, but I was surprised to see Luke Donald break up the Aberg/Hovland pairing. That duo was sofreaking good in Rome. I think a lot of golf fans are forgetting how important they were to the European success in ‘23. Maybe we’ll see them in the afternoon.

Bastable:I was still holding out hope that Keegan would rethink his decision to bench himself. Nah, honestly, no big surprises here. Given a third of the U.S. Open team are rookies, figured we’d see the vets leading the way in the opening sesh.

Dethier: I would have guessed we’d see either Young or Griffin instead of Harris English — but I guess that’ll be the case Friday afternoon instead. Morikawa / English should be the biggest underdogs of the first session, though. I’d also suspected we’d see Shane Lowry in foursomes. One other bit of note: Even though Justin Rose is 7-2-1 in his foursomes career, he didn’t play a foursomes session in Rome and it looks like he may not play one here, either.

3. Based on these matchups alone, which side has the first-session advantage?

Zak:Slight advantage to the Euros, who are playing their literal eight best players. If the Americans win this session, it’s a big statement.

Colgan:Agreed, Sean. Major pressure right off the bat on Morikawa and Harris English — long viewed as two of the more vulnerable Americans — not to get smoked by McIlroy/Fleetwood in that third group off. It really does feel like that first pairing of Bryson/JT vs. Rahm/Hatton has the chance to set the tone for the entire Cup.

Bastable: The U.S. cannotfall in an early hole, but, yeah, when I look at those names, it’s not to give the on-paper edge to the Euros. JT’s form is concerning. In that opening match, I definitely give the edge to Rahm and Hatton.

Dethier: I’d give a slight edge to the Euros and it appears Vegas would, too; the Americans’ odds went from -155 to -145 after the announcement. Recent history, though, would tell you not to count out the home team in any foursomes match. Real answer? Giant shrug.

4. Which players do you think will go all five sessions?

Zak: It’s a LOT, but I could totally see all of McIlroy, Rahm, Aberg, Fleetwood play five sessions. As for the Americans, it’s Scottie Scheffler, Russ Henley and maybe Bryson DeChambeau.

Colgan:McIlroy, Fleetwood, Rahm, Scheffler, DeChambeau, Cantlay.

Bastable: Scheffler, Scheffler and Scheffler.

Dethier: Scottie, Rory, Tommy, Rahm. I think we see a pretty balanced attack from the Americans.

5. You may have said this in other roundtables, but just to be clear: Which team wins and what’s the final score?

Zak: The Europeans lead early. The Europeans lead in the middle. But the Americans lead late. I’ll say Europe enters Sunday leading 9-7 and loses the depth battle on Sunday. U.S.A. wins 15-13.

Colgan: I’m changing my score prediction. 15.5-12.5 USA. The Euros are 100 percent the better team, but home-field advantage is so important.

Bastable: [checks last week’s Tour Confidential] Europe 14.5, USA 13.5, in a thriller for the ages.

Dethier: It scares me to line up with these other two jokesters but I’m staying strong at 15.5-12.5 USA.