Browsing: Rock

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Chris Curry (11) head coach Little Rock Trojans vs LSU Tigers in game 1 of the Baton Rouge Regional at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Friday, May 30, 2025 (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)

Little Rock has agreed to a contract extension with head coach Chris Curry that will keep him in charge of the Trojans through the 2030 season.

The new deal caps a landmark year for Curry and the Trojans, who reached the NCAA Tournament in 2025 for the first time since 2011 and won a postseason game for the first time in program history. Little Rockâ€s run ended in Baton Rouge, where it pushed eventual national champion LSU to an elimination game in one of the most-watched regionals of the year.

It was the kind of breakthrough that redefined the programâ€s national perception. The Trojans entered the conference tournament below .500 but caught fire at the right time, riding a complete-game performance from righthander Jack Cline, the teamâ€s projected 2026 ace, to capture the league title and automatic bid.

For a team that had never won on the NCAA stage, the moment validated a decade of incremental growth under Curry, who is intent on ensuring 2025 was a beginning rather than a blip.

“Weâ€re serious about the future of Little Rock baseball,†he told Baseball America. “Weâ€re here to stay and really want to win.â€

Curry said this yearâ€s roster is the most physical and talent-rich the program has assembled during his tenure. The Trojans return a core of veterans from last spring and have supplemented it with an older transfer class drawn to the momentum of the postseason run.

“It means to me that they are serious about winning here for a long time,†Curry said of his extension. “We talked through a lot of details that took three or four months to see investment in baseball from the chancellor down to the AD. I wanted to see the tangible investment in our program and our staff. I wanted to make sure all of that was right before talking about me personally.â€

That investment, Curry said, extends beyond his contract. Facility improvements, enhanced recruiting resources and staff support were all part of the discussions that preceded the deal. The goal, he emphasized, is to make Little Rock a consistent postseason contender rather than a once-a-decade story.

Curry, 47, has led the Trojans since 2015, becoming the longest-tenured head coach in program history. By the start of the 2027 season, he will have guided the team through two conference realignments—first from the Sun Belt to the Ohio Valley in 2023, and again to the newly formed United Athletic Conference. Each move has required recalibration in recruiting and scheduling, challenges Curry has met with a steady hand.

The 2025 season showcased what patience and persistence can yield. Little Rockâ€s postseason appearance marked the culmination of years spent developing players overlooked by larger programs and establishing a gritty, player-first culture. Clineâ€s title-game masterpiece became emblematic of that ethos—an unheralded righty delivering on one of the biggest stages in school history.

As the Trojans continue fall practices, the energy around the program is unmistakably different.

“Thereâ€s a lot of excitement about baseball in Little Rock right now,†Curry said. “This has historically been more of a basketball school. Thereâ€s no football here. But we have some momentum in baseball now and weâ€re really looking forward to the future.â€

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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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The Rock has heaped praises on the actor who helped him kickstart his career in Hollywood.

Dwayne “The Rock†Johnsonâ€s first Hollywood venture was The Mummy Returns in 2001, in which he played the role of The Scorpion King. He has come a long way since then and has established himself as one of the highest-paid actors in the industry. 24 years later, The Peopleâ€s Champion showed his gratitude to co-star Brendan Fraser for helping him kickstart his acting career.

During a recent interview on the New Heights podcast, The Rock expressed his gratitude towards Brendan Fraser for “embracing†him when he got cast in The Mummy Returns.

“The very first movie I ever did was a movie called The Mummy Returns. Brendan Fraser was one of the biggest stars in the world, as he is today. Brendan Fraser, by the way, I always want to make mention of this. He was one of the biggest stars in the world. That was his franchise. I am coming in, I have never acted before, Iâ€m excited. He could have easily said, ‘I donâ€t know if I want this wrestler. But instead, Fraser embraced me. I love that man for that, and he helped kick off my career.†[H/T Entertainment Weekly]

The Rock Says He Has A Slight Influence in Choosing John Cenaâ€s Final Opponent

The Rock stated that he has a slight influence in choosing John Cenaâ€s final opponent.

Speaking on the same episode of New Heights, The Rock stated that he has a “tiny bit of influence†in booking John Cenaâ€s retirement match, but said that it was ultimately Cenaâ€s call to make.

“I have a tiny bit of influence in the booking of it, but really, itâ€s whoever John wants. Thatâ€s what it comes down to. Whoever he wants. That should be who it is. Itâ€s not me, Nick Khan, or Triple H. Itâ€s whoever John wants. That guy has earned it. The best part about John is that he comes as advertised. Who you think he is, thatâ€s who he is. Heâ€s a good dude, and I love that guy.†[H/T Fightful]

Read More: WWE Enforcing Andradeâ€s Non-Compete Clause Without Pay — Report

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Dwayne “The Rock†Johnson is proving once again that he doesnâ€t take shortcuts — especially when it comes to transforming for a role.

In a new Instagram post, the wrestling icon-turned-actor shared a behind-the-scenes time-lapse video of his intense transformation into MMA legend Mark Kerr for the film The Smashing Machine. The clip shows Johnson sitting through a grueling four-hour process each morning, applying extensive prosthetics and makeup to become Kerr. He explained the daily ritual in the caption:

“Transformation into The Smashing Machine. 4 hours in the make up chair, every morning. 22 prosthetics (eyes, face, forehead, scars, cauliflower ears, wig).â€

But for The Rock, the transformation wasnâ€t just skin deep. He made it clear this physical change helped him mentally step into Kerrâ€s complicated life.

“By the time I got to set, I felt I was already in Mark Kerrâ€s skin. How he walked, talked, and how he violently, yet tenderly navigated life and dealt with his demons.â€

He also took a moment to express his gratitude for the real-life man behind the story:

“Iâ€m forever grateful to Mark for living a life, so we could all feel it.â€

Johnson didnâ€t do it alone. He credited his team of special effects experts, including Kazuhiro Tsuji, Brooklyn Allen, Glen Griffin, Spring Kun, and Nikki Solow — all responsible for the jaw-dropping transformation thatâ€s already earning Oscar buzz.

The Smashing Machine tells the story of Mark Kerrâ€s rise in the MMA world, along with his personal battles with addiction and relationships. Though the film faced a rocky opening at the box office, critics have praised Johnsonâ€s performance as one of the most powerful of his career.

Would you sit through 4 hours of prosthetics to pull off a role like this? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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The Rock (verbally) cooks the Travis Kelce.

When heâ€s not laying the physical smackdown on his opponents, Dwayne “The Rock†Johnson has also been known for taking them down with his words. During a recent interview with New Heights, Rock assessed his vast library of insults and revealed the one he considers to be the greatest of all time.

To set it up, Johnson asked Travis Kelce for his thoughts on who will likely win the next NFL Super Bowl. Naturally, Travis shouted out his home team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Speaking as The Rock would, Johnson then delivered one of his famous zingers.

“Got to be the Kansas City Chiefs…Well, the Rock says, you take your opinion that itâ€s got to be the Kansas City Chiefs, you take your opinion, you roll it up, you roll up that son-of-a-b*tch, you turn it sideways and stick it straight up your candy ass!â€

“That was a crazy insult,†Johnson added. “I remember those guys at WWE at that time was like, ‘Your candy ass?†They were like, ‘Where did this come from?†And I remember saying, ‘Well, you know, telling somebody to stick something up their ass is, thatâ€s an insult. But when you turn it sideways, when you turn your opinion sideways, itâ€s a whole different thing.’â€

The Rock Addresses The Jabronis

Another popular insult centers on The Rock calling people “jabronis,†including his wrestling colleagues and fans. As Johnson attests, however, he didnâ€t make the remark famous; that distinction belongs to WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik.

“Let me give him props, The Iron Sheik, he made that word. He made that word famous,†Johnson said. “So he used to, especially in the locker room, ‘Oh this jabroni is this, this jabroni is that.†He would call people jabronis so thatâ€s where I got it from. I always got to give him flowers but itâ€s really cool. Itâ€s actually in the Websterâ€s dictionary. I get the credit for it, but itâ€s really The Iron Sheik.â€

According to Merriam-Websterâ€s dictionary, a “jabroni†is defined as “a knucklehead, meathead, jerk, etc.â€

RELATED: The Rock Says He Has A Slight Influence in Choosing John Cenaâ€s Final Opponent

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Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

WWE legend The Rock has discussed John Cena’s final opponent in WWE and who should make the decision to choose his opponent.

During his recent appearance on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce, The Rock initially joked that it should be him to face Cena in his final match. He, though, put the ball in Cena’s court, arguing how Cena has earned the right to decide whom he wants to face in his final match.

“I have a tiny bit of influence in the booking of it. But it really is just whoever John wants,” The Rock said. “Really, that’s what it comes down to. Whoever he wants, that should be [it]. It’s not me or Nick Khan, or Triple H [to decide]. It’s just whoever John wants. That guy has earned it.”Â

The Rock praised his former on-screen ally and rival, lauding the 17-time world champion’s authenticity.

“The best part about John is, he comes as advertised. So who you think he is, that’s who he is. And he’s a good dude. And I love that guy,” he added.

While The Rock and Triple H have claimed that it’s down to whom Cena wants to face in his retirement run, Cena himself has said that he doesn’t choose whom he faces, leaving that decision to WWE management.Â

Cena’s last match will take place at Saturday Night’s Main Event in the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on December 13. One person who will not be a part of Cena’s retirement tour — or his final match — is AEW’s Adam Copeland, aka Edge in WWE, who was one of Cena’s greatest rivals. The name that’s been doing the rounds is former WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER, who has been on the sidelines since his match at SummerSlam.

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The Rock has discussed his first outing in WWE and why it was a baptism by fire for him.Â

The Rock debuted in WWE in 1996 at Survivor Series, which was held at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York. In his interview with Mark Kerr for “Sports Illustrated,” he shared feeling nervous ahead of his first match, facing the pressure of performing in front of a passionate audience.

“But I’ll never forget, man, just like you backstage, nervous in front of 22,000, especially — just like in Brazil — just like for me in New York City, Madison Square Garden. If it doesn’t go well, that’s your debut. If you don’t win that tournament, okay, well, maybe you’re going to make something of yourself, maybe you won’t. If I don’t perform for that New York City crowd, it’s hardcore, they get a sense that you’re done,” said The Rock.

He also recalled the words Vince McMahon told him before the match, after learning he was going to win. The Rock thanked the other wrestlers — some of them legends of pro wrestling — for helping him succeed in his first steps in the business.

“So luckily that night, I give a lot of credit to my fellow wrestlers who were like, ‘Hey kid, this is a big opportunity for you,’ because — by the way — Vince told me, came to me earlier that afternoon, and he goes, ‘Do you know what the finish of the match is?’ I go, ‘No.’ He goes, ‘You’re going over.’ ‘The whole thing?’ He goes, ‘The whole thing. You’re either going to sink or swim, and this is going to be baptism by fire.'”

In the Survivor Series match, The Rock — known as Rocky Maivia — teamed with Jake Roberts, Marc Mero, and Barry Windham against the team of Triple H, Goldust, Jerry Lawler, and Crush. The Rock got off to a strong start in his career, emerging as the sole survivor.

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Du 12 au 19 octobre 2025, Rock Hill, en Caroline du Sud, deviendra le cœur du tennis de table des Amériques en accueillant les Championnats Panaméricains ITTF 2025.

Cet événement continental majeur réunira les meilleurs joueurs dâ€Amérique du Nord, dâ€Amérique centrale et dâ€Amérique du Sud, qui sâ€affronteront pour lâ€honneur national, des points précieux au classement mondial et des places de qualification pour de futures compétitions internationales.

Les amateurs de tennis de table peuvent sâ€attendre à une semaine de compétition de haut niveau, incluant les épreuves par équipes, en simple, en double et en double mixte — un véritable spectacle de talents établis et émergents qui façonneront lâ€avenir du sport.

Suivez lâ€Action en Direct

Consultez les résultats, les horaires quotidiens et le suivi en direct sur la plateforme officielle de lâ€ITTF :
Résultats ITTF – Championnats Panaméricains 2025

Regardez certains matchs en direct sur YouTube :
Regarder sur ITTF Americas YouTube

Pour les rapports de matchs, les listes de joueurs et les informations sur les têtes de série, visitez la page officielle de lâ€Ã©vénement :
🌠Page Officielle – ITTF Americas

Rock Hill est prête — et les meilleurs des Amériques aussi.

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Chris Jericho is bringing back his Rock ‘N†Wrestling Rager at Sea for its seventh voyage, and this time itâ€s being called “The Seventh Cruise of a Seventh Cruise.

The wrestling-themed getaway will sail November 7–11, 2026, aboard the Norwegian Jewel, departing from Miami and heading straight to Bimahi, Bahamas. The five-day trip will mix live pro wrestling action with a full-on vacation experience. Fans can look forward to wrestling matches, live music performances from Jerichoâ€s band FOZZY and other acts, comedy shows, podcasts, and meet-and-greets with wrestling legends.

“This isnâ€t just a getaway, itâ€s a non-stop, high-octane, body-slam of an experience where paradise meets piledrivers,†the official announcement read.

Presale bookings come with serious exclusives. Every cabin booked during presale will get a photo op with Jericho, while the first 600 cabins secure exclusive Chris Jericho trading cards. The first 800 cabins will also snag a custom slap bracelet designed by Pro Wrestling Tees.

“Once the bell rings and these spots are gone… theyâ€re GONE! No rematches, no do-overs,†organizers warned, driving home just how limited the perks are.

Fans can register now for presale access or reach out to guest services for booking help. With wrestling, music, comedy, and a Bahamas backdrop, Jerichoâ€s latest cruise is already shaping up to be one of the most unique wrestling events of 2026.

Would you jump onboard Chris Jerichoâ€s Rock ‘N†Wrestling Rager at Sea for the seventh voyage, or is this type of wrestling vacation not your style? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Veteran journalist Dave Meltzer has assessed The Rock’s portrayal of Mark Kerr in “The Smashing Machine,” and discussed whether the movie got things right about the MMA legend’s career.

A majority of movies based on sports personalities usually have some add-ons for cinematic effect, but Meltzer believes that the movie about Kerr was historically accurate. He drew parallels between “The Smashing Machine” and the pro wrestling movie based on the life of the Von Erichs, “The Iron Claw.”

“It reminded me a lot of the movie on the Von Erichs that I saw a couple of years ago. You know, I guess because they’re both A24 movies, they’re both sort of based on reality,” said Meltzer on the “Cinema Sidetrack” podcast. “This one was more historically accurate than the Von Erich movie, though. That’s the one thing I’ll say is that this is a very — as far as sports movies that try to recreate something, this was way more historically accurate than most, because most of the ones that I watch, I’ll look and I’ll go like, well, this didn’t happen here and this didn’t happen here. And this is like made up. And this is for dramatic reasons, but this movie was pretty much, you know, how it went down.”

Meltzer, while noting that he didn’t know Kerr personally, said that what was showcased in the movie actually happened in Kerr’s real life. He added that the film got everything right about his career, including events from the earliest parts of his life and career

“You know, they didn’t make up matches. They didn’t make up finishes. Right? They didn’t make up opponents. I mean, this was his, you know, his more famous early career fights. The tournament went exactly how it was,” he said.

The movie was a challenging one for The Rock, who recently claimed that he was scared to take on the role of Kerr and had doubts about whether he could pull it off.

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