Browsing: stars

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Multiple top stars from “WWE NXT” are backstage at “WWE SmackDown” on Friday night as the show is set to go live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. According to PWInsider Elite, those stars include Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Sol Ruca.

The outlet didn’t confirm just why the former NXT Champions and the former Women’s North American Champion are at the show ahead of “NXT’s” Deadline premium live event on Saturday, which will emanate from the Boeing Center in San Antonio, Texas. However, John Cena announced that Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13, which will feature his final match, will also be a showcase of “NXT” talent against main roster stars. There was no initial report that Femi, Williams, and Ruca were brought in to set up angles or matches for the show in Washington, DC, however.

Cena previously announced the competitors for both the men’s and women’s Iron Survivor matches at Deadline, which include Ruca on the women’s side. Williams was defeated by Myles Borne and lost the opportunity to enter the match. Femi will compete against NXT Champion Ricky Saints for the chance to become a two-time holder of the developmental brand’s gold.Â

“The Never Seen 17” has been adamant that “NXT” talent should be featured along the way to his final match. “NXT” star Je’Von Evans also had the opportunity to compete to become Cena’s final opponent, but lost in the “Last Time is Now” tournament in the first round to GUNTHER.

Source link

As Friday Night SmackDown goes live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, a surprising development is unfolding behind the scenes—multiple top NXT stars are backstage.

According to PWInsider Elite, NXT stars Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Sol Ruca have all been spotted backstage ahead of the December 5 show. While their exact role tonight hasnâ€t been confirmed, the timing is hard to ignore.

Cena recently announced that Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event on December 13—his retirement match—would also feature NXT talent vs. main roster stars, hinting that his final chapter might double as a platform for the next generation. Tonightâ€s SmackDown may lay the groundwork for that.

Lineup for WWE SmackDown on December 5, 2025:

• Last Time Is Now Tournament Final: GUNTHER vs. LA Knight
• United States Title Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov (c) vs. ???
• Non-Title Match: Jade Cargill vs. Alba Fyre
• Alexa Bliss vs. Kairi Sane
• Cody Rhodes appears
• Solo Sikoa addresses the Wyatt Sicks attack

Are you hoping to see NXT stars face off against Cena and other main roster legends on December 13? Drop your dream match ideas or predictions in the comments below—weâ€d love to hear who you think should step up next.

Source link

Human highlights reel Min Woo Lee has lit up Royal Melbourne to move within a shot of the lead as his superstar playing partner Rory McIlroy briefly threatened to miss the halfway cut on a dramatic day two of the Australian Open.

The stand-out moment of Lee’s second round came when he holed out with a long-range approach shot for eagle on the par-4 10th, raising both arms in triumph.

Editor’s Picks

Four holes later, McIlroy endured his lowest point when he had a rare air swing after his tee shot finished up under a ti-tree.

The Northern Irishman escaped with a one-putt bogey on the second easiest hole on the course and briefly slipped below the cut line.

“Honestly I can’t remember the last time I had a fresh-air shot,” McIlroy said.

“Not one of my finest moments.”

But McIlroy showed his class to birdie three of the last four holes, signing for a three-under 68 to make the cut by three shots at two under.

Lee had four birdies to go with his hole-out eagle in a flawless six-under 65, which had him in outright third spot at eight under, a single shot behind Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (66) and Portugal’s Daniel Rodrigues, who carded the day’s low round of 64.

Most of Australia’s big guns are in the thick of the action going into the weekend action, headed by Lee.

Former Masters champion Adam Scott (66) rolled in a clutch par putt on the 18th to join countryman Cameron Smith (65) and Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz in a tie for fourth at seven under.

Min Woo Lee plays his second shot on the sixth hole on day two. Photo by Josh Chadwick/Getty Images

After a string of missed cuts in 2025 — including at all four majors — Smith enjoyed one of his best days of a difficult year.

The 2022 British Open champion roared into contention for a first Australian Open title, capping off a great day with a curling birdie putt on the 18th.

Rising Danish star Neergaard-Petersen locked into the sandbelt mindset as he took a share of the lead.

Fresh off a successful first full year on the DP World Tour, Neergaard-Petersen picked up four shots in three holes early in his second round on Friday and added two further birdies coming home to sign for a 66.

“It makes a difference, certainly knowing what to expect,” said the Dane, who has played several recent rounds at nearby Peninsula-Kingswood with his close friend and DP World Tour colleague David Micheluzzi.

“The eagle I made today, it’s one of those shots you’re never normally thinking about.

“I had a six iron and you’re landing it five steps short of the green. But that’s some of the shots you’ve got to hit here.

“It’s kind of getting into that sandbelt mindset, which I think definitely helped.”

Holiday shopping season is in full swing… just maybe not in the NHL quite yet, where wish lists are growing long, but actual deals have yet to come to fruition.Â

With so little separation between the contenders and the sellers, the messy middle extending to much of the league while injuries hamper plans, itâ€s hard to figure out which teams are in position to buy and whoâ€s going to start selling.

Weâ€ll start there.

Stars, Islanders among teams to watch as big injuries hit

The Florida Panthers have been an obvious target of trade chatter as theyâ€ve been decimated by injuries to major stars early on, but theyâ€re far from alone when it comes to questions about how health setbacks might fuel a big move on the trade market.

The Dallas Stars join that conversation following Tuesdayâ€s ACL injury to Tyler Seguin. Itâ€s clear heâ€ll be out for a while, but it remains to be seen whether his recovery timeline will extend beyond the regular season. That has a big impact not only on the obvious loss of his talents in the Stars†lineup, but also when it comes to what kind of LTIR cap relief Dallas might see. If he is in fact ruled out for the rest of 2025-26, which means the remainder of the regular season and playoffs, he can be placed on season-ending LTIR and the Stars will have a sudden influx of cap flexibility (Seguinâ€s full cap hit, which is $9.85 million). If thereâ€s any possibility he could return at any point, though, the cap relief would be less than half of that.

While the Islanders arenâ€t as obvious a contender at this point in the season, they are in a similar position with Kyle Palmieri, who suffered an ACL tear last weekend and has been placed on injured reserve with a recovery timeline of six to eight months. With so many teams in the messy middle of the standings, itâ€ll be interesting to see how they proceed with any cap space they have.

Adam Foxâ€s injury has Rangers looking for help

While the New York Rangers donâ€t face the same long-term questions when it comes to defenceman Adam Fox, whoâ€s dealing with a shoulder injury, his absence does leave New York in a tough spot. Sportsnetâ€s Elliotte Friedman believes theyâ€re looking for a little help, particularly when it comes to trying to fill the void left on the power play.Â

“I do think they are looking for somebody out there, and one of the names Iâ€ve kind of heard thrown around was Erik Gustafsson, which would make some sense,†Friedman said on Fridayâ€s Edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. Thereâ€s some familiarity there. Gustafsson, who is currently with the Detroit Red Wings†AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, played for the Rangers in 2023-24 and registered 25 assists with the club.Â

“I donâ€t think thereâ€s anything done there by any stretch of the imagination, but I know theyâ€re looking around to see if thereâ€s someone they can find while Fox is out,†Friedman said.

Flyers trying to calm the chatter around Tippett

Thereâ€s been chatter around the status of Philadelphia Flyers forward Owen Tippett and whether or not he might be available via trade. As Friedman explained on Fridayâ€s podcast, there may be too much chatter.

“I think the Flyers are trying to do everything they can to calm the noise around him,†Friedman said. “I think itâ€s bothered him a little bit. I think heâ€s definitely heard it. I think the Flyers are trying to say, ‘Look, this is not our doing.â€â€

Friedman said he believes the Vancouver Canucks have been among the teams inquiring, but said, “I donâ€t think thatâ€s gonna be happening.â€

Said Friedman: “I think (the Flyers are) trying to calm down the noise, simply because this is not created by them. Sometimes names are out there because teams are looking to move guys — this is not the case with Tippett. So, weâ€ll see where that goes.â€

Are the Sabres shopping Luukkonen?

All eyes will be on the goalie market as the season goes on, considering how many teams currently have questions at the position due to both health and performance. That could make the Buffalo Sabres an interesting team to watch when it comes to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period believes “there’s an appetite to seriously look at moving him.” Whether that means an in-season trade or if it’s something that heats up closer to the draft in June, is unclear.

Luukkonen is 4-3-1 on the season so far and has a 2.51 goals-against average and .899 save percentage. The 26-year-oldâ€s contract is interesting — his $4.75-millin cap hit, with three more years of team control beyond this season, would appeal to plenty of clubs, and the fact that he has a modified no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1 puts a bit of a timeline on any potential deals, too.

Source link

Chris Paul may have suggested weeks ago that he planned to retire after this season, but being sent away from the team and parting ways with the Clippers is not how he wants his career to end.

Paul “absolutely” does not want to retire mid-season, reports Marc Spears of ESPN.

Paul, who signed a veteran minimum contract with the Clippers this summer, cannot be traded until after Dec. 15 and the Clippers reportedly will look to find a new home for the future Hall of Famer. However, any teams that have any interest in him would rather wait to pick him up on the buyout market after the trade deadline — or, after the Clippers just release him — than give up anything in a trade.

Advertisement

Paul is known for being a very vocal leader, unafraid to call out anyone — teammates, coaches, management — in meetings and in private, and over the course of his career, that has worn thin at places. With the Clippers stumbling out of the gate, the relationship between Paul and coach Tyronn Lue reportedly grew strained, to the point that they were no longer speaking. That’s when the decision to send Paul home and keep him away from the team was made.

Whatever one thinks of the reasoning, the Clippers’ handling of Paul’s exit — with the news leaking at nearly 3 AM Eastern while the team was in Atlanta — was not smooth. It caught Clippers players off guard, as they told Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.

“I’m just as confused and shocked as you guys, the world,” (James) Harden said … “Definitely surprised me. But not just Chris, it’s a lot that we were dealing with. But that is out of my hands. I got to focus on what I got to focus on and what I can control. I guess the front office felt that was the best decision for the organization.”

“It was shocking to me,” (Kawhi) Leonard said. “I guess they had a conversation, and front office made a decision.”

Advertisement

The Clippers did go out after all this drama and picked up a quality win in Atlanta, 115-92. LA is still 6-16 on the season and sitting 13th in the West.

Source link

Elvis Smylie felt the golfing gods were on his side as the young Australian upstaged global superstar Rory McIlroy to set the early pace at the Open at Royal Melbourne.

Editor’s Picks

1 Related

Smylie was the clubhouse leader at six-under 65 as the opening round got underway on Thursday, three strokes clear of the field.

Grand slam winner McIlroy had a rollercoaster round in tricky conditions on the windswept sandbelt course with the world No.2 finishing at one-over with five birdies against six bogeys.

Of the other tournament drawcards who were met by thousands out on course for the early tee times, Australian guns Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee were both at two-under while Cameron Smith sat at one-under.

Smylie’s performance continued his stunning trajectory over the past 12 months after winning the 2024 Australian PGA Championship.

Elvis Smylie Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Playing alongside former British Open champion Smith and former Masters champion, Englishman Danny Willett, on the composite course, Smylie opened with a bogey on the 10th but never looked back.

He had three birdies in succession between the 13th and 15th and then added a further four on his back nine.

Playing on the par-four first, which was his 10th, Smylie’s wayward shot over the green hit a spectator before rolling back into position for him to make birdie.

“The wind was whipping off the left and I just kind of didn’t cut it up enough and I think it hit his foot,” said Smylie, who plays on the DP World Tour.

“I don’t think it hit him hard fortunately, and then it ricocheted to about five foot and I was able to roll that in.

“So I think when things like that happen, you just know that the golf gods are on your side for the day.”

It was a case of McIlroy-mania with the crowds following his group 10-deep with the Northern Irishman delivering for the masses with a first-up birdie.

Australia’s Adam Scott tees off on the 11th hole on Day 1. Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images

But McIlroy, who won the tournament in 2013, found the gusting northerly wind challenging.

Fellow Masters title-winner Scott’s hole of the day came on the par-five 14th when he nailed a superb approach and then drained a 12-foot putt for eagle.

“It was a great day — I mean, playing with Rory and Min and fighting to get to the 10th tee this morning with the crowds was good fun,” Scott said.

“The course held up well even in some of the most challenging wind I’ve probably ever played out here.

“I’m happy with the end results, I mean, it’s easy to be critical, but maybe I shouldn’t be … it’s very hard to keep it under control out there.”

Leading Australian women’s player Steph Kyriacou ensured she had a front-row view with the world No.40 volunteering to carry the scoreboard for the star trio.

Entering the tournament on the back of seven missed cuts and without an individual tournament win for over two years, Smith found some much-needed form.

The 2022 British Open champion had three birdies in four holes between 14 and 17, but was let down by three bogies on his back nine.

Other golfers among the early front-runners included Englishman Eddie Pepperell and NSW golfer Corey Lamb, who were both at three under.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Jason Robertson scored his 17th goal of the season, Jake Oettingerstopped all 31 shots he faced and the Dallas Stars shut out the New Jersey Devils3-0 on Wednesday night.

While Robertson kept building his case to make the U.S. Olympic team scoring on a give-and-go with Esa Lindell,a trio of other Finns were responsible for the Stars†other offensive production. Roope Hintz fed Miro Heiskanen for the Stars†first goal, while Mikko Rantanen scored on a rebound to get their third.

Advertisement

Oettinger, also likely Milan-bound as one of three American goaltenders, was at his best at the other end of the ice to pick up his first career victory against the Devils — the last of the NHLâ€s other 31 teams he hadnâ€t beaten. Oettinger made back-to-back pad saves on Luke Glendeningand Juho Lammikkolate in the first period and denied Dawson Mercer (twice) and Connor Brown on some high-quality chances in the second.

Lindell and captain Jamie Benn each had two assists. The Stars have killed off 19 consecutive penalties over the past six games and improved to 12-0-0 when leading at the second intermission.

Dallas was playing its first game without its second-longest-tenured player, Tyler Seguin, who tore the ACL in his right knee Tuesday night at the New York Rangers. Coach Glen Gulutzan said Seguin will probably miss the rest of the season.

Jacob Markstrom allowed three goals on 27 shots for New Jersey, which lost a third game in a row and for the sixth time in its past nine. Top player Jack Hugheshas been out this entire stretch and is expected to miss at least another month after undergoing surgery to repair a non-hockey finger injury.

Up next

Stars: Return home to face San Jose on Friday night.

Devils: Host Vegas on Friday night.

Source link

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Tyler Seguin and the Dallas Stars found out Wednesday that one of their longest-tenured players has a torn ACL and could miss the rest of the NHL season.

It’s another major blow to a team already ravaged with injuries. Coach Glen Gulutzan said Seguin would miss a significant amount of time after the 33-year-old forward got hurt Tuesday night at the New York Rangers.

Advertisement

“Heâ€s an irreplaceable player for our team,” goaltender Jake Oettinger said Wednesday night after shutting out the New Jersey Devils. “Just obviously feel horrible for him, and he deserved a lot better than that. Itâ€s kind of hard to put into words when you lose a guy like that, and itâ€s going to take the whole team: forwards, D and goalies. Everyoneâ€s got to be 1% better to try to make up for that loss.â€

Seguin got tangled up with Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavirkov in the first period Tuesday night. Seguin went down in pain, could not skate and needed help from multiple teammates and an athletic trainer to get off the ice and more assistance to get down the tunnel to the visiting locker room area at Madison Square Garden.

Gulutzan said the team did not get positive news about Seguinâ€s knee after it was looked at more closely.

“Thereâ€s lots of injuries piling up and lots of games, so we just got to keep moving forward,†Gulutzan said. “Thereâ€s lots of guys that their opportunity is born from some of this misfortune. We just have to take that away: Itâ€s next guy up, next guyâ€s opportunity and run with it. Thatâ€s what good teams do is they just keep pushing forward with the players that they have.â€

Advertisement

Seguin missed the vast majority of last season after undergoing hip surgery. He returned for the finale and the Stars’ playoff run to the Western Conference final. He has been with Dallas since joining in a trade from Boston in 2013.

“After seeing the grind he went through last year – all the hard work he put in to getting back into the lineup – and then for that to happen again obviously sucks,†captain Jamie Benn said. “Itâ€s not great, and thereâ€s not much you can say to the guy. Just some tough news.â€

Nathan Bastian took Seguin’s spot in the lineup at New Jersey, while Benn moved to his longtime teammate’s place on right wing alongside Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz. That line was responsible for two of the Stars’ three goals in their first game since losing Seguin.

“He’s so important for this team on the ice and off the ice,” Hintz said. “But now we just have to adjust and next man up and be ready to play without him for a while.â€

Advertisement

Long term, the team hopes center Matt Duchene is able to help fill the void once he returns from his injury. That could come “sooner than later†if Duchene’s current progress continues, according to Gulutzan.

“Youâ€re going to have to have other guys step up,†Gulutzan said. “If Duchy comes back, heâ€s going to have to take some of that. (Mavrik Bourque is) going to get more opportunity. Thereâ€s going to be more opportunity for more guys, and then youâ€re going to see who takes it. So, youâ€re not really pigeonholing anybody. Youâ€re just seeing who grabs it.â€

—

AP NHL:

Source link

Tyler Seguin is expected to miss the rest of the NHL season with a torn ACL in his right knee, another major injury blow to the already-short-handed Dallas Stars.

Coach Glen Gulutzan said Wednesday that Seguin would be out a significant amount of time. The 33-year-old forward was injured Tuesday night at the New York Rangers.

Dallas Stars forward Tyler Seguin, 33, will likely miss the rest of the season after a tangle-up with Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov led to a torn ACL for Seguin. Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“It’s not just us, it’s the league, and it’s very unfortunate,” Gulutzan said. “It’s a tough day for us today with the news. Other guys now have to step in and play.”

Seguin got tangled up with Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov in the first period. Seguin went down in pain, could not skate, and needed help from multiple teammates and an athletic trainer to get off the ice and more assistance to get down the tunnel to the visiting locker room area at Madison Square Garden.

Gulutzan said the team did not get positive news about Seguin’s knee after it was looked at more closely.

“There’s lots of injuries piling up and lots of games, so we just got to keep moving forward,” Gulutzan said. “There’s lots of guys that their opportunity is born from some of this misfortune. We just have to take that away: It’s next guy up, next guy’s opportunity and run with it. That’s what good teams do is they just keep pushing forward with the players that they have.”

Seguin missed the vast majority of last season after undergoing hip surgery. He returned for the finale and the Stars’ playoff run to the Western Conference finals. He has been with Dallas since joining in a trade from Boston in 2013.

Editor’s Picks

1 Related

“I didn’t live it with him last year, but I did talk to our leadership group here and what I did know is just how hard he [worked] and the effort that he put in to come back last year and how diligent he was,” Gulutzan said. “He’s a great leader for us, and he’s a great pro and he’s been a guy, quite frankly, that I’ve been maybe the most impressed with — just his leadership ability when I’ve come in here.”

Nathan Bastian was expected to take Seguin’s spot in the lineup Tuesday night at the New Jersey Devils. Long term, the team hopes center Matt Duchene is able to help fill the void once he returns from his injury.

That could come “sooner than later” if Duchene’s current progress continues, according to Gulutzan.

“You’re going to have to have other guys step up,” Gulutzan said. “If Duchy comes back, he’s going to have to take some of that. [Mavrik Bourque is] going to get more opportunity. There’s going to be more opportunity for more guys, and then you’re going to see who takes it. So, you’re not really pigeonholing anybody. You’re just seeing who grabs it.”

Source link

It appears WWE is teasing the return of Tony Dâ€Angelo.

The December 2, 2025, episode of WWE NXT featured General Manager Ava presiding over a backstage NXT Championship contract signing segment between Ricky Saints and Oba Femi. During the segment, a bridge popped up on the screen behind Ava for a few seconds before turning back to the NXT Deadline logo.

The bridge shown on the screen is related to former NXT North American Champion Tony Dâ€Angelo, who has been absent since July 2025, when he dropped his Don gimmick. It was the same bridge that Tony Dâ€Angelo and his faction members threatened Ilja Dragunov after abducting him on the March 12, 2024, episode of WWE NXT.

General Manager Ava also received a mysterious package during the latest episode of NXT, which seemingly contained cut-up pieces of Tony Dâ€Angeloâ€s Don hat. With NXT Deadline set to take place this Saturday, fans are speculating whether WWE is teasing Dâ€Angeloâ€s return at the event.

Signed. Sealed. Delivered.

For the first time in NXT PLE History, the NXT Championship Match will KICK OFF the show when Ricky Saints defends against Oba Femi THIS SATURDAY in San Antonio!!! pic.twitter.com/Vh3BWtq1dP

— WWE (@WWE) December 3, 2025

WWE NXT Deadline Full Card

WWE NXT Deadline will emanate live from the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, this Saturday. Five matches have been announced for the event, including two Iron Survivor Challenges for the menâ€s and womenâ€s divisions. John Cena picked the participants for both matches.

As revealed during the contract signing segment, the NXT Championship match between Ricky Saints and Oba Femi will kick off the show.

The full card for the event is as follows:

• Ricky Saints (c) vs. Oba Femi – NXT Championship
• Jeâ€Von Evans vs. Leon Slater vs. Joe Hendry vs. Dion Lennox vs. Myles Borne – Menâ€s Iron Survivor Challenge
• Sol Ruca vs. Lola Vice vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Kendal Grey – Womenâ€s Iron Survivor Challenge
• Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame
• Ethan Page (c) vs. Mr. Iguana – NXT North American Championship

Read More: WWE ID Star Makes Ring Of Honor Debut

Source link