Browsing: superstar

Of all the storylines lingering over the 2025-26 season, perhaps none carries more intrigue than what lies in front of the Milwaukee Bucks: Do they trade Giannis Antetokounmpo or not?

By almost all accounts, Antetokounmpo represents one of the three-best players in the NBA. He ranks third best in the Estimated Plus-Minus prediction metric, behind only reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.

Advertisement

SGA plays for the defending champion and title favorite Thunder. Jokićâ€s Nuggets are close behind them. Antetokounmpoâ€s team, on the other hand, is … closer to the bottom. His supporting cast is among the worst in the sport. According to BetMGM, the Bucks†win total sits at 42.5 for the 2025-26 season, a pitiful mark for an Eastern Conference team with an MVP candidate in his prime. Itâ€s the least-confident betting forecast for a Giannis-manned squad since 2016-17, when the Bucks, coached by Jason Kidd, were expected to win just 36.5 games.

[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]

The Bucks are understandably reluctant to part with the all-time great whom they drafted in 2013. According to ESPN reports on Tuesday, the Knicks werenâ€t able to get traction in Giannis talks this summer. But itâ€s time for Milwaukee to pull the plug and seek a trade package in which a team throws the kitchen sink at it: multiple first-round picks and players who can step in right away.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, kitchen-sink deals work out more often for the seller than the buyer. The past three NBA champions (OKC, Boston and Denver) were built in large part due to unloading superstars at the right time.

Advertisement

In order to get back to title contention, itâ€s time for the Bucks to trade Giannis to the highest bidder.

(Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports Illustration)

OKC is the model

In the summer of 2019, Thunder president of basketball operations Sam Presti faced a similar situation as the one in front of Bucks general manager Jon Horst. Then, when the Los Angeles Clippers came calling about Paul George, Presti took a pragmatic look at the franchise. Like Antetokounmpo, George finished third in the MVP race that season. But Presti saw an opportunity to build through the draft and traded him for a kingâ€s ransom, the package including a boatload of picks and Gilgeous-Alexander, the future MVP and Finals MVP.

Advertisement

And Presti didnâ€t stop there. Less than a week later, he traded the teamâ€s other version of Antetokounmpo, OKCâ€s face of the franchise, Russell Westbrook, whom it also drafted and developed into an MVP. It would be easy to think the Thunder could have tried to convince Westbrook they could still contend for a title, but the franchise did right by Westbrook, emotional ties and all. The Thunder moved him to Houston for Chris Paul, two first-round picks and two first-round swaps.

“We recently had conversations with Russell about the team, his career, and how he sees the future,†Presti said in a statement after the trade. “Through those conversations we came to the understanding that looking at some alternative situations would be something that made sense for him. As a result, and due to his history with the Thunder, we worked together to accommodate this.â€

Six years later, itâ€s the Thunder who are the reigning champs — not Georgeâ€s Clippers or Westbrookâ€s Rockets. In fact, neither George nor Westbrook — the stars in the OKC trades — is still with his respective team. Meanwhile, OKC is the envy of the league, landing at No. 1 in ESPNâ€s Future Power Rankings and the heavy favorite to win the 2025-26 championship.

[Get more Bucks news: Milwaukee team feed]

The team currently with the next-rosiest future, the Rockets, finds itself there because it followed Prestiâ€s playbook and also decided to pivot and sell its superstars to the highest bidders. Westbrook lasted just one season in Houston before he was traded to Washington for John Wall and a protected first-round pick. A few months later, the Rockets unloaded their franchise cornerstone, James Harden, and sent him to Brooklyn for another kitchen-sink deal. Now, with a young core of Amen Thompson, Alperen Åžengün and Jabari Smith Jr., theyâ€ve built a growing powerhouse in the Western Conference.

Advertisement

Not every superstar seller can climb to title contention so quickly. Utah and Brooklyn are still pulling themselves out of the league cellar after each hit the reset button in 2022 and 2023, respectively. But the team with the darkest timeline of them all, the Suns, is the cautionary tale of being on the other side of a kitchen-sink deal.

The Gut Tax

It was a little over two years ago when then-new Suns owner Mat Ishbia traded for Kevin Durant in February 2023. The KD trade wasnâ€t a cannonball leap into a pool; this was a meteor hitting an ocean.

Ishbia and his front office decided to go all-in for Durant, giving up not one but four unprotected first-round picks, Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and a 2028 first-round pick swap in order to add the 34-year-old who was sidelined with a knee injury at the time.

Advertisement

How risky was the deal? In the wake of the trade, Ishbia told Sports Illustrated, “I think there is no risk. I donâ€t look at it as a risk at all.â€

Gulp. In ESPNâ€s annual Future Power Rankings, the Suns now rank dead-last among all 30 teams. After paying a league-high $152 million in luxury tax payments and missing the playoffs in Durantâ€s third season with the club, the Suns pulled the plug and traded Durant to Houston in July. The Suns now have a middling, mishmash roster and still almost no draft assets. They have the worst of both worlds, with little hope now or down the line.

Thereâ€s no such thing as a risk-free trade no matter what your exuberant new owner might claim. Kitchen-sink deals have the potential to doom the star-chasing franchise for a cocktail of reasons, but primarily because of a very obvious, yet overlooked reason:

Advertisement

You have to give up a lot to get said star. Call it the Gut Tax.

The nice thing about free agency is that teams donâ€t have to pay the Gut Tax to get their star. The Warriors didnâ€t have to trade Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in order to land Durant in the summer of 2016. They took advantage of a cap spike that summer and added him to an existing championship core.

What would the Knicks have looked like if they had waited for Carmelo Anthony in free agency instead of trading the farm for him? In 2011, the Knicks gutted their team by sending Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Timofey Mozgov to Denver along with two first-round picks. As luck would have it, Denver posted a better record than the Knicks during their Melo era. Making matters worse, in 2016, Denver used one of those Knicks first-round picks to select Jamal Murray, the teamâ€s second-best player on the 2023 title team. With Anthony, the Knicks never got past the second round.

Looking at recent champions is a study in how teams benefited by selling their stars at the right time. OKC moved off Westbrook and George in 2019 and won a title in six years. The Boston Celtics drafted their championship-winning duo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, thanks to the infamous 2013 Nets trade that netted the Celtics four future first-round picks for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

Advertisement

Another big reason why the blockbuster deal doesnâ€t always pan out for the higher-profile star: star veterans are injury-riddled more than ever. In win-now situations, Durantâ€s recent superteams struggled to stay healthy. It was the same for the Antetokounmpo/Damian Lillard/Khris Middleton Bucks.

Khris Middleton, Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t win a playoff series together. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)

(Cole Burston via Getty Images)

This is not to say that teams havenâ€t won it all after trading for a big fish. The Los Angeles Lakers won the 2020 championship in the first season following the Anthony Davis trade with New Orleans. Other teams seemed to follow their lead, with mixed results.

In a span beginning with the summer of 2019, when Davis and George were traded from their small-market clubs, to 2023, weâ€ve seen 11 kitchen-sink deals, which Iâ€m defining as trades involving multiple first-round picks and at least one player.

Advertisement

The 11 Superstar “Kitchen Sink†Trades, 2019-23

• 2023 POR trades Damian Lillard to MIL

• 2023 BRK trades Kevin Durant to PHX

• 2022 BRK trades James Harden to PHI

• 2022 UTA trades Donovan Mitchell to CLE

• 2022 UTA trades Rudy Gobert to MIN

• 2022 SAS trades Dejounte Murray to ATL

• 2021 HOU trades James Harden to BRK

• 2020 NOP trades Jrue Holiday to MIL

• 2019 OKC trades Russell Westbrook to HOU

• 2019 OKC trades Paul George to LAC

• 2019 NOP trades Anthony Davis to LAL

While the superstar-acquiring teams have had dynastic dreams, none of those 11 blockbuster deals has resulted in more than one championship. Only two — Milwaukee trading for Jrue Holiday and the Lakers getting Davis — resulted in even one title banner. The nine other deals havenâ€t even resulted in a Finals appearance at any point for the teams that acquired new superstars. Cleveland with Donovan Mitchell and Minnesota with Rudy Gobert would like to change that.

Perhaps even more troubling is that many of these star acquisitions have ended up being little more than a rental. The Durant era in Phoenix didnâ€t even last three full seasons. Was there even a Harden era in Brooklyn? Or Philly? Youâ€d be forgiven if you didnâ€t remember Dejounte Murray making the playoffs in Atlanta during any of his two seasons. All in all, six of the 11 star tenures lasted fewer than three seasons with the acquiring team. The majority of them had little staying power.

On the other side of the ledger, the rebuilding teams may have to wait longer to win their titles, but itâ€s hard to say theyâ€re definitively worse off. Both of Prestiâ€s kitchen-sink deals in moving off of Westbrook and George helped them build the 2025 Finals team; Gilgeous-Alexander, 2025 All-NBA member Jalen Williams and Aaron Wiggins were directly or indirectly acquired in those trades.

Advertisement

Houston learned the hard way that superteams arenâ€t all theyâ€re cracked up to be, and its homegrown talent was essential to demonstrate leverage in this summerâ€s Durant trade talks with Phoenix. The Rockets gave up just one first-round pick, locked at No. 10 in a down draft, to get KD. Sure, Houston may end up trading for Giannis this season, but thereâ€s no indication the Rockets have chased him at all up to this point. As is, they project to be title contenders for years to come.

What will Milwaukee do? First, it has to look in the mirror.

Where Milwaukee goes from here

The Bucks should heed the lesson of the Suns and how doubling down can doom their franchise. But one thing Phoenix did manage to do was trade Durant while he was still healthy. Antetokounmpo, who is turning 31 in December, has missed 14 games on average over the last five seasons and battled injuries in postseasons†past. Moving a healthy Antetokounmpo sooner than later could help them extract maximum value.

Advertisement

Injuries are a variable that Milwaukee has struggled to control. Part of the overall cynicism around the Bucks is a result of the blockbuster trade for Lillard that went awry. In the summer of 2023, the Bucks traded Holiday, a 2029 unprotected first-round pick and two swaps (2028 and 2030) to the Trail Blazers only to waive him less than two years later following a devastating Achilles tear.

The irony of the Blazers-Bucks deal is that a player of Lillardâ€s offensively tilted skill set would be perfectly paired with a defensive-minded guard like Holiday. As it happens, Holiday and Lillard are now on Portlandâ€s roster, not Milwaukeeâ€s, this upcoming season.

Not only did the Bucks give up a key player from their 2021 championship squad, they also gave up their opportunity to pivot. By giving up tons of draft capital, the Bucks pushed themselves into a corner with almost nowhere to go.

Like Durant and the Suns, the Bucks never reached the heights they envisioned when they gave up the farm for the superstar. Lillard was supposed to be the missing piece, but the Bucks failed to get out of the first round in each of Lillardâ€s two seasons due to injuries to both Lillard and Antetokounmpo (and Middleton).

Advertisement

Unlike Durant and the Suns, the Bucks had little recourse but to waive-and-stretch Lillardâ€s deal once he suffered a career-altering injury and eat the dead money left on his contract for the next five seasons. If Lillard were healthy, they could have pivoted more easily if Antetokounmpo asked out. Instructively, the Suns traded Durant for much less than they got him for, but they did net Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the No. 10 pick (Khaman Maluach) in this yearâ€s draft.

The Bucks donâ€t have a proper co-pilot for Antetokounmpo. The team wants Myles Turner to be that guy after he played in the NBA Finals, but the former Pacers center averaged a measly 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in the teamâ€s Cinderella run to the Finals. Without Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakamâ€s heroics in late-game situations, would we think of Turner the same way?

Advertisement

Because of the weak supporting cast, Antetokounmpo may have been wise to wait for any sort of trade demand. If the Bucks do sputter out of the gate, heâ€ll have more justification for asking out. In addition, as ESPN reported Tuesday, his monster $200-million-plus extension can be signed up until October 1, 2026, only if his team has employed him for at least six months. Teams will be motivated to acquire him ahead of the trade deadline rather than wait for this summer.

Though the Knicks undoubtedly would love to have a player like Antetokounmpo, they donâ€t have an unprotected first-round pick to offer until this summer when their 2033 pick is unlocked. Like the Anthony deal in 2011, the Knicks would have to cannibalize their own team in order to meet Milwaukeeâ€s asking price. Barring the Knicks trading Karl-Anthony Towns or OG Anunoby for longer-term assets, itâ€s hard to see how the Knicks and Bucks check off each otherâ€s boxes.

The Warriors could get in the mix with three unprotected first-round picks (2026, 2028 and 2032) at their disposal, but a third team would likely have to be involved in order to make the money work. After Phoenix chased Jimmy Butler last season, could a three-way deal involving Giannis to Golden State and Butler finally going to Phoenix work? In this scenario, Phoenix would reroute the bulk of the KD haul — Green and Brooks — to Milwaukee along with Golden Stateâ€s picks.

The Cavaliers may be another team to watch. After another disappointing finish to the season, would Cleveland put Evan Mobley in a deal for Antetokounmpo if it got off to a slow start? The Bucks undoubtedly would covet the 24-year-old Defensive Player of the Year as the future of their franchise. The Cavs would also have two unprotected first-round picks in 2030 and 2032 at the ready if the Bucks were at all uneasy about Mobleyâ€s five-year, $224 million contract.

Advertisement

If suitors are willing to commit multiple unprotected first-round picks and a young player, the Bucks have to listen. Milwaukee might think itâ€s unthinkable for a small-market team to trade the face of its franchise in his prime. But the other side can bring a much brighter horizon. Just ask Sam Presti.

Source link

A former WWE Superstar answered Mercedes Monéâ€s open challenge for the TBS Championship on AEW Dynamite.

Mercedes Moné put her TBS Championship on the line in an open challenge during this weekâ€s special Title Tuesday edition of Dynamite. Answering the challenge was none other than Lacey Lane, formerly known as Kayden Carter in WWE.

The commentary team noted that Lane made her AEW Dynamite debut by stepping up to the challenge. She had previously competed for Ring of Honor during a taping held in September.

Lacey Lane is best known for her time in WWE as one-half of the tag team Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. The duo previously held the NXT Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship, as well as the WWE Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship.

Carter and Chance were released as part of WWE roster cuts in May. Reacting to her exit, Lane thanked WWE management, her colleagues, and fans, noting that it wasnâ€t the end for her career. Her no-compete clause expired on August 1, 2025.

Catch up on everything happening on AEW Dynamite here.

READ MORE: Tony Khan Hilariously Casts AEW Stars As DC Heroes And Villains

What did you make of Mercedes Monéâ€s open challenge tonight? Who did you think the opponent was going to be? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comment section below.

Source link

Wrestling fans love using Cameo to get a personalized message from their favorite professional wrestler. Although one current WWE Superstar might be asking for a little too much.

SmackDown Superstar and MFT member Tama Tonga is currently asking $10,000 for a personalized video on Cameo.

The former New Japan Pro-Wrestling star hasnâ€t competed for WWE since the April 11 episode of SmackDown, when he and Solo Sikoa lost a tag team match to LA Knight and Randy Orton.

Tonga was written off WWE programming a week later when Knight slammed a car door on his hand. It was reported after the segment that the MFT member was dealing with an undisclosed injury that may require surgery.

Itâ€s unknown when Tama will return to WWE from this injury. Stay tuned to WrestleZone for more information as it becomes available.

Who are the most expensive wrestlers on Cameo?

With Tama Tongaâ€s asking price on Cameo being insanely high, we couldnâ€t help but wonder how much other wrestlers throughout the industry are charging for a personalized video.

Below are the top ten most expensive wrestlers on Cameo at the moment:

1. Tama Tonga – $10,000
2. MJF – $600
3. Ric Flair – $500
4. Vickie Guerrero – $500
5. Greg “The Hammer†Valentine – $400
6. Blue Demon Jr. – $300
7. Matt Cardona – $250
8. Bobby Lashley – $250
9. Scarlett Bordeaux – $250
10. Mercedes Moné – $222

Not every wrestler will charge you a large amount for a personalized Cameo, as you can secure one from the likes of Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, and Danhausen for $100 or less.

READ MORE: Kurt Angle Calls This WWE Hall Of Famer The Best Of All Time

What do you make of Tama Tongaâ€s pricing on Cameo? Whatâ€s the most you would ever pay for a personalized message from a professional wrestler? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

Source link

Hurricane Helms recently shared a surprising take, naming a shocking WWE star as one of the most underrated people in the business.

In a recent post on social media, Helms quoted a photo of Akira Tozawa, who had posted on X a photo of himself in a match. In the post, Tozawa questioned how many more matches his body can handle. In the quote, Helms said Tozawa could be one of the most underrated talents on TV.

“Maybe the most underrated Talent on TV currently. Or at least in the convo,†said Helms in his post.

Fans were quick to react to the post. Many joked that Helms — a match and talent producer at WWE — should do something about it. Many also agreed, noting that Tozawa doesnâ€t seem to get the credit he deserves for his career.

Tozawaâ€s career has spanned over 20 years in wrestling. The star originally came up in Japanâ€s Dragongate promotion, where he has won several titles throughout his career. In 2016, the star signed with WWE, and is also a decorated champion there. Tozawa is a one-time WWE Cruiserweight Championship, and has also held WWEâ€s 24/7 Championship 16 times.

Recently, Tozawaâ€s role in WWE has been more or less a side role. Heâ€s been involved with Alpha Academy since 2023, and has mostly appeared in comedic opportunities. Despite this, Tozawa sitll has a dedicated fanbase.

READ MORE: WWE SmackDown Results: Review, Grades, Card For Sept 26

What do you think? Is Akira Tozawa really one of the most underrated stars on TV? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source link

OTTAWA — When does a hockey player become a superstar?

Thereâ€s no magic star beside a playerâ€s name on NHL.com to indicate a player has reached that level, nor is there a generally accepted statistical threshold, such as 50 goals or 100 points.Â

Itâ€s unquantifiable, yet we all know one when we see one.

“He is a superstar,†Senators goalie Linus Ullmark said recently of Tim Stutzle.

Probably not yet, in most observers†eyes. But can he be?

“I would say (I) consider myself so young in this league,†the 23-year-old Stutzle said, in an interview with Sportsnet.ca. “I can still work a lot on my body to get stronger and faster. So, I think I have a big upside.â€

• 
• 32 Thoughts: The Podcast

  Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

  Latest episode

Senators fans already believe in their top centre, affectionately calling him “Timmy Superstar.” He got that nickname in large part thanks to scoring 39 goals and 90 points as a 21-year-old. After a down 2023-24, the young German rebounded, clawing back his offensive game with 24 goals and 79 assists while transforming his defensive play from porous to elite. In 2024-25, Stutzle had an expected goals allowed at five-on-five of 2.25, which ranked him 122 out of 704.Â

“Well, any championship team that wins, their star players don’t just play offence; they donâ€t cheat,†said Senators coach Travis Green, in reference to Stutzleâ€s defensive growth.

“They play at both ends of the rink. They’re able to create offence and have good defence.â€

But to join the upper echelon, 79 points wonâ€t do. Stutzleâ€s challenge is to showcase his offensive capabilities like he did in 2022-23, while maintaining his defensive repertoire.

“I want to win more games, and it doesn’t do the job if you score 50 but you lose every game,†Stutzle said.

“It helps when I produce. We’re winning the games.

“But in the end, I think that if I played better defensively and shut down other guys, we have the same chance to win games too.â€

Meticulous hard work matched with a stringent diet and competitive fire would do the trick.Â

In the off-season, Stutzle gained muscle and continued working with his personal chef. Although he shies away from asking the chef to make traditional German delicacies, new teammate Fabian Zetterlund felt right at home when he moved in after last season’s trade deadline and requested Swedish meatballs.

Despite a great 2024-25 campaign, the star German centre didnâ€t feel he got off the right start last season.

“I like playing at the same weight that I played at last year,†said Stutzle. “I was a little bit heavier (last season). I didn’t feel as good. I trained (this off-season) and got more muscle, more strength, and while still feeling that quickness.â€

Stutzle says heâ€s never felt better.

But he also needs to shoot more. In 2024-25, Stutzle had the lowest shots per game of his career, at 1.97, matched by his second-highest shooting percentage of his career, at 14.8 per cent. Senators fans have roared “Shoooot!†when Stutzle gets into the slot but decides to pass it off.

A self-proclaimed playmaker, Stutzle knows his mindset needs to change.

“I’m always getting chances,†he said.

“Trying to get that groove again and where you’re playing games and knowing what decision to make, and if you have a shoot-first mentality, you find the right play.â€Â

Itâ€s easier for anyone to score more with more ice time. Simple math. Stutzleâ€s ice time took a dip in 2024-25 to just over 19 minutes a night. However, in this pre-season, his coach has thrust him onto the penalty kill. The trend around the league is for superstar players to display their talent to defend but also able to hurt opponents short-handed: look at Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

If youâ€re a superstar, you kill penalties.

“(Killing penalties) came from the coaching staff, (they) tried me out and I love that,†said Stutzle. “They believe in me, and I think they saw that I took big steps defensively last year. And, obviously, as a PK guy, you got to bear down defensively, but there’s also chances for rush opportunities, and you have your skill guys on the ice, I think you can get chances.â€

All is set for the ultra-skilled Senators centre to leap from star to superstar.Â

“Tim’s a real committed player,†Green said. “He doesn’t go home at the end of the season thinking that this is his best version. He knows that he’s young, but he also wants to be as good as he can.â€

• Ottawa announced a slew of cuts on Thursday. One notable name not included was Carter Yakemchuk, still aboard with the roster sitting at 32. Another strong pre-season start has been rewarded but the competition will intensify as the season inches closer.  More seasoning in the AHL still looks like the likeliest outcome and the right one for Ottawaâ€s elite prospect to develop.Â

• Drake Batherson will be out for at least two weeks with an upper-body injury after pulling a muscle in practice. The regular season is two weeks away, so itâ€s unclear whether Batherson will return by opening night, on Oct. 9. For now, his absence simplifies the choices on the wing. Both Zetterlund and David Perron will likely be inserted onto the second line. That reunites the incredibly effective third-line trio from last season: Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig and Michael Amadio.

Before Bathersonâ€s injury, Ottawa had 10 forwards fighting for the top-nine spots and was poised to have one man standing when the music stopped. For now, itâ€s Batherson in the stands looking on.Â

• Lars Eller has recovered from his abdominal and sports hernia procedures to be a full participant in practice on Thursday. Heâ€s close to game action.

“Is it going to be a week from now?  I don’t know. We haven’t put a timetable on that, but it’s probably not too far away,†Eller said, about his return to playing date.

• Tyler Kleven and Nick Jensen will travel with the team to Quebec City for the Senators’ two pre-season games; itâ€s still unclear whether either will feature but itâ€s a promising sign.Â

Source link

Randy Orton may be one of the biggest names in WWE history, but the former World Champion was absent from the recent Wrestlepalooza event. WWE’s debut show under its new deal with ESPN came and went without the Viper, continuing a trend of his absence from several high-profile occasions.

On Instagram, a frustrated fan pointed out how WWE has left Orton out of major milestones and events, including RAWâ€s 25th Anniversary, SmackDownâ€s 25th Anniversary, and RAW’s Netflix debut in January 2025. The fan described these omissions as “DISRESPECT AFTER DISRESPECT” toward the 14-time WWE World Champion.

This sentiment drew a response from Kim Orton, Randy’s wife, who shared similar frustrations about her husband being overlooked. Replying to the fan, Kim wrote, “You ain’t wrong.”

The subject of Ortonâ€s limited presence was also discussed by his Evolution ally Ric Flair. Speaking with eScapist Magazine in September 2025, Flair said Orton was “really underutilized these days.” While unsure of the reason, Flair speculated that “maybe he’s made somebody mad along the way.”

Despite holding the record for the most WWE PLE matches, Ortonâ€s appearances at major events have become increasingly rare. For now, the Viper remains on standby, waiting for WWE to give him another opportunity.

Source link

The Miz knows what it feels like not to be accepted by the WWE Universe.

WWE Superstar The Miz was a recent guest on No-Contest Wrestling. While discussing Logan Paul, Miz made it clear he believes, despite his talent, Paul still needs to prove himself to the WWE Universe that he wants to be there.

“Look what Logan Paulâ€s doing right now,†The Miz began. “Heâ€s an outsider, right? Who was the first outsider? Who was the first person that came into this industry and literally nobody wanted? Because letâ€s face it, weâ€re a pact here, weâ€re a family here in wrestling, and nobody comes into our family just to be a 15 minutes of fame, we wanna see if you wanna earn it.

“We wanna see if youâ€re a mainstay, that you wanna be here, that you have a love for this business. So I had to prove myself to everyone and continue having to prove myself just like Logan Paul is going to have to continue having to prove himself every time he goes out to that ring.†[H/T: WrestleTalk]

READ MORE: Two New Champions Likely At WWE NXT No Mercy

What do you make of The Mizâ€s comments? What do you think Logan Paul needs to do to prove himself to the WWE Universe? Let us know your overall thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

Source link

CM Punk has recently revealed that heâ€s secretly mentoring one of WWE‘s rising talents.

WWE Superstar CM Punk was a recent guest on Kevin Hartâ€s Cold as Balls on the LOL Network. When asked what young WWE Superstars he saw as being future top champions, Punk immediately went to Bron Breakker despite his current dislike for him.

“We have a few on the roster. The problem is, I think, personally, I donâ€t like any of them,†CM Punk said. “I think Bron Breakker is an obvious bona fide WrestleMania main event superstar.â€

Punk would go on to reveal that someone on the roster he does like is WWE Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio, and reveals that heâ€s been secretly mentoring him even though Dom tells everyone that they hate each other.

“And actually somebody thatâ€s on the roster that I really do like. Iâ€m kind of his mentor, is Dominik Mysterio,†CM Punk revealed. “Dominik likes to tell everybody that he hates me and we donâ€t like each other. But every morning, Dominik starts his day with a phone call to Uncle Phil. Thatâ€s me. And, you know, we talk, we talk about life.â€

It will be interesting to see how Mysterio responds to Punk blowing up one of his favorite interview responses.

READ MORE: Roman Reigns Absent From This Yearâ€s PWI 500

What do you make of CM Punkâ€s comments? Are you surprised that heâ€s been secretly mentoring Dominik Mysterio? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

If you use any of these quotes, please credit Cold as Balls with a link to this article for the transcription.

Source link

The majority of wrestling fans will agree with the fact that WWE Hall of Famer, the late Hulk Hogan, was the star who put professional wrestling on the map in the United States of America. Recently, a former WWE Superstar claimed that he was let go from the company because he looked a lot like the Real American.

Dan Spivey is probably best known for his run as “Waylon Mercy†or as “Dangerous†Dan Spivey. However, earlier in his wrestling career, he had long blonde hair and had attire that was similar to that of Hulk Hoganâ€s. During an interview on the Wrestling Epicenter podcast, Spivey claimed that Vince McMahon fired him at one time, as he looked too much like Hogan.

“Well, I didnâ€t hear people compare me to Hogan at the time and nobody seemed to have a problem with it so I kept doing it. That was really one of the stupidest things I did, though. I wish I had never did it, I donâ€t know why I did it.

“I should have gone away, come back with my hair dyed black or something. But, I went with the long blond hair, yellow trunks, and yellow boots. I guess it was OK. Nobody ever said anything. And, it eventually caught up to me because Vince McMahon called me one day after a lot of other things happened and he said, ‘I donâ€t need 2 Hulk Hoganâ€s.†And, he let me go.â€

During the same interview, Dan Spivey shared that it was the late great Dusty Rhodes who opened the door for him in the world of professional wrestling.

“Dusty, he opened the door for us. But, he didnâ€t help us. Not really. I got more help from Ricky Steamboat. I got to become good friends with him. He would get in there and work out with me and teach me things. I canâ€t say enough good things about Ricky. He is really a nice guy,†Dan Spivey said.

What are your thoughts on Spiveyâ€s release?

Source link

Kristen ShiltonCloseKristen ShiltonESPN NHL reporterKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.Greg WyshynskiCloseGreg WyshynskiSenior NHL writerGreg Wyshynski is ESPN’s…