Burbank’s wrestling team honored several members on Senior Night and later the team won the Rio Hondo League title for the second time. (Photo by Rick Assad)
By Rick Assad
For the second straight season and in spectacular fashion, the Burbank High wrestling team captured the Rio Hondo League championship on Wednesday night.
For the record and on Senior Night, the host Bulldogs zipped past the Wildcats 77-4 in the boys division while the girls lost 40-20.
Some of the seniors included Tyler Huo, who wrestles at 132 pounds, Ronel Hakoupian, who weighs 165 pounds and Thomas Adzhemyan, who hits the mat at 175 pounds.
Jonathon O’Brien is Burbank’s first and only head coach and was ecstatic in the victory.
“The league title belongs to the whole program, not just the boys (technically just the boys but the girls earned it too),” he said. “By winning it means we’re getting ready for the CIF Southern Section dual companionship on Saturday [January 31] at Simi Valley High School. We’ll be ready.”
Romney De La Rosa is Burbank’s assistant coach and was also pleased with the outcome.
“Burbank High School’s wrestling program made a statement last night, in just its fourth year. The program has captured the Ro Hondo League championship for the second consecutive season,” he said. “The night was made even more special as the seniors competed in their final home dual in front of friends and family. It’s a fitting send-off for the group that helped build the program from the ground up.”
Leading the parade for Bulldogs was senior Jayden De La Rosa, who won at 157 pounds after a second period technical fall with forty-one second left. De La Rosa dominated the action first period.
Before the season began, De La Rosa was ranked 13th in the state at 150 pounds and is now ranked ninth at that weight.
De La Rosa, who has been on the team for four years, was also hoping to become the school’s state qualifier.
“It was a more emotional night than usual, as it marked the final home dual match that I was able to coach my son, Jayden De La Rosa. He is preparing to make his run to the state tournament even more meaningful,” the elder De La Rosa explained. “Now, the Bulldogs prepare to compete next week at the individual Rio Hondo League Championship in Monrovia.”
At 113 pounds, sophomore Kaiden Takeuthi won on a pin with 1:38 left in the third period.
Senior Tyler Huo (left) and senior Jayden De La Rosa were given keepsakes for their time on the wrestling team. (Photo by Rick Assad)
Meanwhile, at 120 pounds, sophomore Erwin Bedrcian pulled off a pin with 1:46 remaining in the first period.
Sophomore Alex Pereira fell at 126 pounds over three periods. Pereira was the aggressor in the first period but tailed off a little bit in the second period and the third period.
At 132 pounds, sophomore Arayik Vardanyan proved too good as he grabbed an opening period stoppage via a pin with three seconds left.
Sophomore Gevork Kabalchuzyan won via forfeit at 144 pounds.
Junior Sevak Arakelyan was a winner at 150 pounds via first-period pin with forty-seven seconds left in the frame.
At 175 pounds, junior David Antanseyan won by forfeit while junior Andre Takhmasian emerged victorious via forfeit at 190 pounds.
Senior Albert Airapetian, at 215 pounds, claimed an opening-period stoppage via a pin with 1:22 remaining.
At 285 pounds, sophomore Evan Der Galstanian won via first-period pin and 1:10 left on the clock.
At 106 pounds, freshman Nicholas Rostomyan grabbed a win on a forfeit.
The girls were paced by junior Austin Desai, who won at 115 pounds via third-period technical fall.
Sophomore Erika Sarkisian won by decision at 105 pounds and sophomore Bettina Shamiryan claimed a victory via forfeit at 120 pounds.
At 145 pounds, freshman Natalie Avadian lost by a first-period pin at 1:22.
Freshman Zoe Gomez won by forfeit at 110 pounds and freshman Katerina Onofriichuk, at 100 pounds, lost after an opening-period pin and forty-three seconds remaining.
At 125 pounds, freshman Sinned Arguelles lost via decision after three periods.
Whether he’s taking an elbow to the face in the ring or telling stories about his professional wrestling career on stage at a local comedy club, Mick Foley always wants to give his fans what they want.
There are thousands of anecdotes Foley could share about playing pro wrestlers like Cactus Jack, Mankind and Dude Love during his 40-year career, but he wants to make sure he mentions at least one core memory that fans are eager to hear. If he didn’t, it would be like going to a Rolling Stones concert and not hearing “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
For Foley fans, that memory is his brutal 1998 World Wrestling Entertainment Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. During the match, Foley, who was portraying the tortured antihero Mankind at the time, was tossed off and choke-slammed through a 16-foot-high steel cage.
“I’ll sometimes tell people up front that, yes, I will talk about the Hell in a Cell match,” Foley, 60, told the Orlando Weekly during a recent interview. “I don’t want to be the man who refuses to play his biggest hit. I don’t want to deprive them of that.”
On Tuesday, Jan. 6, Foley — who moved to the Orlando area about a year ago to be closer to his family (three of his four kids also live in Orlando) — will bring his 40 Years of Foley show to the Funny Bone Comedy Club. The performance is a one-man storytelling show featuring Foley sharing humorous and insightful behind-the-scenes moments from his wrestling career.
Foley has been touring across the world as a storyteller since 2009. Over time, he’s grown more comfortable on stage and refined how he connects with audiences.
“I think with anything, you get better with practice,” Foley said. “The more reps you get in, the more natural it feels. And the more natural it feels, the better the show is. The stories are always evolving and changing. I can honestly say I never get bored of doing these shows. I really enjoy them, and I enjoy seeing the smiles and hearing the laughs.”
Many of the connections Foley has made since his days in the WWE and other wrestling organizations center on nostalgia. Along with shows like 40 Years of Foley, the former world champion keeps up with supporters on social media while also making personalized videos for fans on Cameo.
“I think nostalgia is a huge factor for fans,” Foley said. “Somewhere around 2010, I went from being washed up to being part of people’s childhoods. I’m the same guy. I’ve only gotten older, but I’m no longer old and irrelevant. I’m part of people’s collective memories.”
Adults who grew up watching Foley wrestle, however, aren’t the only fans who find him online. He’s been amazed at how many youngsters enjoy his content too. Some of the recent videos Foley has posted on Instagram include footage of him playing basketball dressed as Santa Claus and riding a tricycle across the floor of a comic convention.
“One of the things that’s surprised me most is that so many of my fans are children — kids who weren’t even born until 15 years after the Hell in a Cell match,” he said. “When I [officially] retired from wrestling [in 2000], the internet was kind of in its infancy. I just assumed that my fan base was going to continue to get older.”
Besides keeping his fans entertained on social media, Foley uses his platform to share his progressive-leaning political viewpoints and to criticize the current presidential administration.
In October, Foley posted a pragmatic video message on YouTube addressed to Donald Trump urging him to “stop the madness that is going on in our country.” Foley went on to give Trump credit for helping to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and to criticize him for “inciting tension [and] terror” with his ICE raids across the U.S.
Last month on Instagram, Foley wrote a message explaining why he had chosen to part ways with the WWE because of its ongoing support of Trump through his “administration’s ongoing cruel and inhumane treatment of immigrants.” He also said reading Trump’s “incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death” was the final straw.
“I no longer wish to represent a company that coddles a man so seemingly void of compassion as he marches our country towards autocracy,” Foley wrote.
While Foley chose not to answer questions about the reasons behind his recent breakup with the WWE, he did acknowledge that the nation is “at a divided time” and that speaking out against Trump has lost him some fans.
“People know that I’m not on board with a lot of things the current administration is doing,” he said. “I have fans who feel different, and still like and support me. And I have [fans] who dropped out of the fandom, which is obviously their right.”
He also said that 40 Years of Foley is not a political show. His goal onstage isn’t to divide audiences, but to bring them together.
“People know I’m outspoken,” he said. “But the closest I get to making a political statement in the show is saying that kindness is cool.”
7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 9101 International Drive, orlando.funnybone.com, $50-$160.
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D.C. hosted WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event show at Capital One Arena featuring John Cena’s final match.
Pro wrestling star Gunther (upper left) applies a chocking move on John Cena (bottom center) during Cena’s retirement match at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Rich Freeda/WWE)
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A wide shot of over 19,000 spectators at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Mike Marques/WWE)
Photo by Mike Marques/WWE
John Cena aims to hit Gunther during his retirement match on WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Rich Freeda/WWE)
Photo by Rich Freeda/WWE
John Cena prepares to do his signature move on Gunther during his final professional wrestling match at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE
Professional wrestler John Cena plays to the crowd as Gunther watches before his retirement match WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
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John Cena looks at the audience after losing his retirement match WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE
Professional wrestler John Cena makes his entrance before his retirement match at WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by WWE)
Photo by WWE
John Cena bows to the crowd in D.C.’s Capital One Arena after WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event show on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE
WWE wrestler Gunther applies a sleeper move on John Cena during WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event in D.C.’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE)
Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE
Professional wrestler John Cena salutes the crowd in D.C.’s Capital One Arena after WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event show on Dec. 13, 2025.
(Photo by WWE)
Cena took on Austrian pro wrestling star “The Ring General” Gunther and lost after a brutal 24-minute match.
WTOP’s José Umaña talked to fans about the results, with many traveling long distances to get to D.C. for the event.
“It really sucked that John Cena lost,” said Winston, who traveled from California for the match. “We lost a great legend today. It won’t be the same and there won’t be another John Cena.”
Antonio also came from California to see Cena one last time.
“I did not think I would ever see Cena tap out,” Antonio said.
After a career spanning over 20 years, he said it was hard to see it end like that.
“John Cena’s model was always ‘never give up,’” Antonio said.
But, he said, it was worth the trip across the U.S. for the event.
“I had to see the ‘GOAT,’ the greatest of all time, retire. It’s 100% worth it. Win or lose, it didn’t matter. He’s still the best,” he said.
Patrick said it was his first WWE match and he traveled from Florida for it.
“It was a great match,” Patrick said. “I kind of figured it was going to come to an end like that, but the rest of the other matches were pretty good.”
Earl B. Bryant told WTOP that the match showed those watching what the future holds.
“Tonight it didn’t go the way that the people wanted, but the ‘The Ring General’ did what was necessary by taking the energy out of this place and paving the way for the new,” Bryant said. “Gunther is the future of wrestling.”
Blake came from Nova Scotia in Canada said the matches the whole night were entertaining for fans.
“I really enjoyed the card, but just the ending could have been a lot better,” Blake said. “It was probably his idea to tap out, honestly. But, I mean, wonderful career. He’s the ‘GOAT’ for a reason,” he said.
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Burbank defeated Hoover 69-9 in a Rio Hondo League match. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)
By Rick Assad
It was super quick as the Rio Hondo League match took an hour for the Burbank High wrestling team to defeat host Hoover 69-9 on Wednesday night and raise its record to a stellar 3-0.
Of the eight contested matches the Bulldogs captured six and also picked up six forfeited matches.
Burbank head coach Jonathon O’Brien liked what he saw from the entire team.
“I was really proud of our entire lineup, including our girls, who made the commitment to make their weight class even though they knew the possibility of wrestling was slim,” he said of the dozen ladies on the squad.
O’Brien, who has been the coach for four years, was impressed by what he saw from a couple on the team.
“Roni Manas [at 106 pounds] and Artem Akimov [150 pounds] both earned their first varsity wins of their careers tonight,” he said. “They’ve been working hard for months so it was rewarding to see them get their victory.”
O’Brien added: “We also were pleased with the [exhibition] performance of [sophomore] Logan Rodriguez [215 pounds], who wrestled at an urgent tempo we felt matched the energy we try to bring to every match,” he said.
The Bulldogs claimed six of the eight matches versus the Tornadoes and also gained six victories by forfeit. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)
Freshman Manas won via a pin late in the first period and at 120 pounds, junior Kevin Krikor was also victorious by a pin in the opening period.
Junior Akimov won after three tough periods and sowed his grit and toughness.
At 165, senior Ronel Hakoupian emerged with a triumph via a pin and 1:37 left in the first period.
At 190 pounds, junior Andre Takhmasian won via pin with just twenty-seven seconds left in the first period.
At 285 pounds, sophomore Evan Der Galestanian prevailed with a victory by way of a pin as fifty seconds remained in the first period.
At 113 pounds, sophomore Kaiden Takeuthi won by forfeit, as did sophomore Alex Periera at 126 pounds. At 138 pounds, sophomore Arayik Vardnayan also claimed a win by forfeit.
At 157 pounds, sophomore Hovhannes Mkoyan won by forfeit and at 215 pounds, senior Albert Airapetian also won by way forfeit. Freshman Martin Aghabaday was a winner by forfeit.
At 132 pounds, senior Tyler Huo lost across three rugged periods while at 144 pounds, senior Narek Danielian lost via a three-period decision.
Assistant coach Romney De La Rosa is in agreement with O’Brien.
“Our entire team performed great tonight. I’m excited to have such a strong group of freshmen who are enthusiastic about wrestling for Burbank,” he said. “What we’re seeing is consistency across the lineup, which is exactly what our coaching staff expects.”
De La Rosa also shined a light on a couple of wrestlers.
“Two standout performers came from Artem, who earned his first win in his first varsity start, and Andre, who secured a pin. Andre continues to improve each week,” he said. “We’re very pleased with the progress he’s making, highlighted by his third-place finish at the Newbury Park Invitational last weekend.”
Burbank High’s boys’ and girls’ wrestling team are decorated. (Photo courtesy Jonathon O’Brien)
By Rick Assad
It’s the fourth season of Burbank High wrestling and during the first three seasons the program has accumulated a considerable amount of hardware and recognition.
Senior Jayden De La Rosa is currently ranked 13th in the state at 150 pounds and is hoping to be the program’s first-ever state qualifier.
Junior Sevak Arakeleyan is another Masters/state hopeful at 157 pounds and senior Albert Airapetian is likewise gunning for those accolades at 215 pounds.
Arakeleyan and Airapetian had several wins and they numbered 28 for Arakeleyan and 26 for Airepetian.
Jonathon O’Brien is the Burbank head coach and is ably assisted by Romney De La Rosa and Josue Aguilar.
O’Brien talked about what the goals are this season.
“The team goal is to repeat as Rio Hondo League champion and CIF Southern Section Division V dual team champs,” he said. “Last season we lost to Pacifica in the quarterfinals by two matches out of 14 and they went on to win the whole thing. Of the 14 wrestlers we had in that lineup last year, 12 have returned.”
Senior Jayden De La Rosa is ranked 13th in the state at 150 pounds and looks to be the program’s first-ever state qualifier. (Photo courtesy Jonathon O’Brien)
O’Brien is also pleased that the number of girls in the program have more than doubled since 2024.
“The most exciting development is that the girls’ team has exploded in size, jumping from five to 12,” he said. “Their fearless leader will be junior Austin Desai, a captain who lost in the blood round of the CIF Southern Section [round that determines if you go to Masters] last year but is poised for a triumphant return this year at the 110-pound weight class.”
O’Brien then added: “The other returners hoping for Masters glory are sophomore Erika Sarkisian [110 pounds] and sophomore Natali Sarkuhanyan [155 pounds],” he said.
The rest of the boys’ squad includes freshman Nicholas Rostomyan at 106 pounds and freshman Roni Manas at 106 pounds.
At 113 pounds, there are sophomore Kaiden Takeuthi and freshman Artur Babayan.
Junior Kevin Krikor will compete at 120 pounds as will sophomore Erwin Bedrcian and freshman Simon Kirakosian.
Sophomore Alex Pereira and freshman Christiano Zambrano will wrestle at 126 pounds.
At 132 pounds, senior Tyler Huo and sophomore Emmanuel Yegaran will see action.
Sophomore Arayik Vardanyan and sophomore David Ayvazyan will wrestle at 138 pounds while freshmen Daniel Vartanian and freshman Martin Zakianyan will likewise tangle at 138 pounds.
Junior Arman Martisoyan and sophomore Gevork Kabakchuzyan will wrestle at 144 pounds.
Junior Artem Akimov, sophomore David Terjnanian and freshman Matthew Chirinian will wrestle at 150 pounds.
At 157 pounds, sophomore Hovhannes Mkoyan, freshman Enrique Shajanian and freshman Michael Hayrapetyan will compete.
Junior Austin Desai wrestles at 110 pounds and is the girls’ captain. (Photo courtesy Jonathon O’Brien)
Senior Ronel Hakoupian and freshman Davit Sargsyan and freshman Armen Simonian will wrestle at 165 pounds.
At 175 pounds, senior Thomas Adzhemyan, junior David Antanseyan and freshman Martin Aghabadyan will tussle.
Junior Andre Takhmasian and freshman Calvin Aghanian will wrestle at 190 pounds and at 215 pounds sophomore Logan Rodriguez will be on the front line.
Sophomore Evan Der Galstanian will see action at 285 pounds.
These are the girls on the team and include freshman Katerina Onofriichuk at 100 pounds and freshman Nikki Trujillo at 100 pounds.
Freshman Zoe Gomez will compete at 110 pounds, sophomore Bettina Shamiryan at 115 pounds, freshman Madison Ries at 115 pounds and freshman Sophia Sirakanian at 115 pounds.
Freshman Sinned Arguelles will wrestle at 125 pounds and sophomore Lili Movesyan will compete at 130 pounds. Freshman Natalie Avadian will wrestle at 145 pounds.
TOKYO — Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki has become the first from his country to win an elite-level sumo championship.
Even more impressive: he defeated Hoshoryu on Sunday in the deciding match in the Kyushu tournament in western Japan.
Hoshoryu was born in Mongolia and is one of the top-ranked wrestlers in Japan’s national sport. The other is Japan-born Onosato.
Born Danilo Yavhushyshyn, he left Ukraine more than 3 1/2 years ago just after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of his country. He is only 21, has risen very quickly and wrestles under the ring name of Aonishiki Arata.
Non-Japanese sumo wrestlers have excelled in different periods in Japan. They have included Mongolians, Hawaiians and now a Ukrainian.
Aonishiki said he came to Japan after striking up a friendship with a Japanese wrestler at a tournament in 2019.
Ukraine has a very strong tradition in Olympic wrestling. Its last gold-medal winner was Zhan Beleniuk in the Greco-Roman category at the Tokyo Games, which were delayed until 2021 by the pandemic.
NEW YORK (AP) — While Cam Skattebo has not played football for the New York Giants since undergoing season-ending surgery in late October, the rookie running back still has plenty of people around sports talking about him.
Skattebo attended WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” at Madison Square Garden, along with teammates Abdul Carter and Roy Robertson-Harris. After some back-and-forth banter during a skit, Skattebo shoved wrestler JD McDonagh from behind a barrier and got pushed back, with the clip going viral.
“Cam’s crazy,” Giants starting left tackle Andrew Thomas said Tuesday with a chuckle.
A handful of local radio hosts blasted Skattebo for risking his health by taking part in the show. Skattebo took to social media to defend himself.
“Honestly if you don’t like that I’m having a good time while dealing with a tough time, then just go ahead and unfollow and casually move on,” Skattebo posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m not able to play football and have the fun I’ve been having my whole life so I am doing things outside the box trying to find stuff to keep me happy. Enjoy the rest of y’all’s week and just don’t talk about me if you ain’t got nothing nice to say.”
Skattebo, who wore a jersey of Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe at the event, is recovering from a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle after getting hurt in gruesome fashion Oct. 26 in a loss at Philadelphia. In a video interview with Complex Sports over the weekend, Skattebo showed how well the injury was healing, and he was wearing a protective boot at the Garden.
The 23-year-old also was on the sideline Sunday at the Meadowlands on a scooter and sporting the boot.
ESPN New York’s Chris Carlin said he “could not have been angrier at the just remarkable stupidity shown by Skattebo. He was one of the lone bright spots of this team, and he thinks it’s a good idea to get involved like that.”
Co-host Bart Scott, who played 11 NFL seasons as a linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, was less vocally critical but still described Skattebo’s participation as “carelessness.”
“Whether you’re play wrestling or wrestling, it’s still a physical act,” Scott said.
“I’m not here to be the buzz kill or holier than thou or the headmaster or the dean of discipline, but, dude, use common sense,” Tierney said. “What happens if there’s a little beer or a little water or a little seltzer on the Garden floor and he slips and he loses control?”
Skattebo responded to that clip on social media by saying his foot was off the ground, adding, “Trust me wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize anything.”
Skattebo, along with quarterback Jaxson Dart, had brought an infusion of energy into the organization before going down. The fourth-round pick out of Arizona State had run for five touchdowns and had two more receiving in his first eight professional games.
Asked Tuesday on a video call with reporters about Skattebo at the Garden, second-year back Tyrone Tracy flashed a smile.
“I wasn’t there last night, but you best believe I was fighting,” Tracy said. “I was fighting at home, though, telling him to duck and sit down. Cam’s a wild man. Everybody knows that. He’s going to go out there and do what he do.”
NEW YORK — While Cam Skattebo has not played football for the New York Giants since undergoing season-ending surgery in late October, the rookie running back still has plenty of people around sports talking about him.
Skattebo attended WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” at Madison Square Garden, along with teammates Abdul Carter and Roy Robertson-Harris. After some back-and-forth banter during a skit, Skattebo shoved wrestler JD McDonagh from behind a barrier and got pushed back, with the clip going viral.
“Cam’s crazy,” Giants starting left tackle Andrew Thomas said Tuesday with a chuckle.
A handful of local radio hosts blasted Skattebo for risking his health by taking part in the show. Skattebo took to social media to defend himself.
“Honestly if you don’t like that I’m having a good time while dealing with a tough time, then just go ahead and unfollow and casually move on,” Skattebo posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I’m not able to play football and have the fun I’ve been having my whole life so I am doing things outside the box trying to find stuff to keep me happy. Enjoy the rest of y’all’s week and just don’t talk about me if you ain’t got nothing nice to say.”
Skattebo, who wore a jersey of Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe at the event, is recovering from a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle after getting hurt in gruesome fashion Oct. 26 in a loss at Philadelphia. In a video interview with Complex Sports over the weekend, Skattebo showed how well the injury was healing, and he was wearing a protective boot at the Garden.
The 23-year-old also was on the sideline Sunday at the Meadowlands on a scooter and sporting the boot.
ESPN New York’s Chris Carlin said he “could not have been angrier at the just remarkable stupidity shown by Skattebo. He was one of the lone bright spots of this team, and he thinks it’s a good idea to get involved like that.”
Co-host Bart Scott, who played 11 NFL seasons as a linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets, was less vocally critical but still described Skattebo’s participation as “carelessness.”
“Whether you’re play wrestling or wrestling, it’s still a physical act,” Scott said.
“I’m not here to be the buzz kill or holier than thou or the headmaster or the dean of discipline, but, dude, use common sense,” Tierney said. “What happens if there’s a little beer or a little water or a little seltzer on the Garden floor and he slips and he loses control?”
Skattebo responded to that clip on social media by saying his foot was off the ground, adding, “Trust me wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize anything.”
Skattebo, along with quarterback Jaxson Dart, had brought an infusion of energy into the organization before going down. The fourth-round pick out of Arizona State had run for five touchdowns and had two more receiving in his first eight professional games.
Asked Tuesday on a video call with reporters about Skattebo at the Garden, second-year back Tyrone Tracy flashed a smile.
“I wasn’t there last night, but you best believe I was fighting,” Tracy said. “I was fighting at home, though, telling him to duck and sit down. Cam’s a wild man. Everybody knows that. He’s going to go out there and do what he do.”
A stretch of a waterfront trail in the Florida Gulf Coast community of Clearwater is being renamed to honor the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing wrestling giant Hulk Hogan, who called the city home and died earlier this year.
Florida residents and tourists alike will be able to memorialize “the Hulkster” by soaking up the sun along the causeway that connects Clearwater to Clearwater Beach. They’ll also be able to get some reps in at workout stations decked out in Hogan’s signature red and yellow colors, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday.
DeSantis made the announcement at Hulk’s Hangout, a bar and restaurant in Clearwater opened by the pop culture icon.
“It shows that, you know, his memory is going to live a long time. I mean, it was always said, ‘Hulkamania is gonna live forever,’” said DeSantis, an avowed wrestling fan.
Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died at age 71 in July after suffering a heart attack at his Clearwater home. As of late August, police were still investigating the death.
Hogan stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act of his life.
For many of his admirers, Hogan remains the flag-waving American icon with a horseshoe mustache and bulging biceps who urged fans: “say your prayers, eat your vitamins.”
The Hulk Hogan Trail will be a 2-mile (3-kilometer) stretch of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway Trail. On Friday morning, a red and yellow sign had already been erected along the trail to honor the wrestler.
Nick Hogan, the wrestler’s son, said his father would be “so, so proud” to see the trail renamed in his honor.
“Clearwater was always home for him. No matter how far he traveled around the world or where his career took him, he always was grounded here,” said Nick Hogan, whose real name is Nick Bollea.
“He loved to inspire people to be the best version of themselves. So this trail isn’t just a dedication. This is a living legacy,” he added.
___
Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
For a decent portion of this week, half of the Internet was convinced that we were all going to get swept up in the Rapture. While the Left Behind book series did not become more significant in our real lives, in opposition to its weird omnipresence on social media over the last week, that didn’t stop people from thinking about what would happen if suddenly the world’s population was a whole lot smaller in a short amount of time.
When we open up a piece of joking around about the 90’s weird revelation themed Bible based book series, you know we’re in for a strange one. Jesus had to come up at some point with that kind of material making the rounds. One social media video does a great job of illustrating just how far down a rabbit hole multiple viewers can go extremely quickly.
After doing some light digging. I mean, We discovered that this indie wrestling Jesus made an appearance during a holiday themed show last year. Aptly, jesus was out there to save Santa Claus during a match. On TikTok, a user named Kenny Nicholson chronicled this electric entrance and some of the development of the offense on display this viral moment.
So, I’ll bite, why are we talking about The Rapture seriously?
TikTok teemed with people prophesying the end of the world last week. Sadly for the folks who sold their homes and Earthly possessions, we’re all still here, for better and worse! In so many cases, a lot of the people viewing these bizarre videos aren’t even wrapped up in the individual subcultures a lot of these content creators come from. So, there’s bound to be some confusion for a casual audience.
My only issue with this rapture thing and the world apparently ending is that it’s just before payday. We worked this whole month for nothing basically? Tell Jesus to reschedule.
When one South African pastor can set the agenda for the other 5 big websites, we have a problem! Just a guess too. It’s not the Negro Solstice orthis current social media hysteria that Joshua Mhlakela promoted, the real story is a scattered information environment where despite some very real problems unfolding, (Soybean farmers can you hear me???), we’re making memes about getting raptured. At least the wrestling is decent I suppose?
Antonio Losada has built his career around covering combat sports with precision and depth. With more than a decade of experience, he has written extensively about mixed martial arts, focusing early on fantasy MMA and UFC before expanding into broader fight coverage, including boxing events. His expertise now spans the UFC, boxing, and WWE, blending technical analysis with timely reporting that resonates with fight fans.
Currently working as a senior editor with several SB Nation communities, Losada has also led team coverage across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL at other outlets. But his consistent thread has been combat sports—where his years of reporting and analysis have established him as a trusted voice in the MMA, boxing, and wrestling media space.
His bylines have appeared in major outlets such as Yahoo, SLAM, and multiple VOX Media platforms, where he also holds senior editorial positions. Losada has earned a reputation for staying ahead of breaking news and developments in the fight game, while continuing to provide sharp insights across the combat sports world.
Antonio Losada
Contributing Sports Writer
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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WWE has confirmed a champion vs. champion clash for Crown Jewel 2025. The announcement came directly from WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque following the conclusion of Wrestlepalooza on Saturday.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes successfully defended his title against Drew McIntyre in the main event of Wrestlepalooza, while WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins suffered a loss in a mixed tag bout earlier in the night.
The two men clashed during the post-show, where Rollins confronted Rhodes and both raised their respective titles in a tense staredown. Triple H ended the speculation about a match between the two shortly after.
“Seth’s got something to prove now. His Vision has changed a little bit, right? That vision has to become clear to him again,” Triple H said. “The thing is, on October 11, it will go one-on-one with Cody Rhodes. champion versus champion to determine the Crown Jewel champion at Perth.”
The upcoming bout between champions continues a rivalry that stretches back years.
Rollins was Rhodes’ first opponent after his WWE return at WrestleMania 38 and later played a role in ending Roman Reigns’ historic title reign at WrestleMania 40. Rhodes, meanwhile, became the inaugural Men’s Crown Jewel Champion in 2024 by defeating Gunther in Riyadh.
Now, with the title back on the line, Rhodes and Rollins are set to headline WWE’s return to Australia in less than two months.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las… LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 11: WWE Executive Vice President of Talent, Live Events and Creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque speaks at a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE’s Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
For Rhodes, it is a chance to cement his reign with another victory over a bitter rival in what would be his second title-winning match in the Crown Jewel event. For Rollins, it is an opportunity to add a unique accolade to his long resume and even the score in a long-running feud that, if it ends in a draw next October, would set up a third meeting between both men one year from now.
This year, contrary to the first six times, Crown Jewel will take place at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, marking the first year the event won’t take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
One night in 1997, after an Extreme Championship Wrestling show in South Philly at what’s now known as the 2300 Arena, a young Rob Van Dam was sitting at the bar of the old Holiday Inn at the Sports Complex, and he felt a rumble in his stomach.
Van Dam, an acrobatic rising star known as the “Whole F’n Show,” got an offer from an ECW fan sitting next to him to ride over to Geno’s for a cheesesteak. None of the other wrestlers wanted to leave the hotel. Van Dam took the invitation and buckled up for a quintessential Philly experience he’s never forgotten.
“I got in the car with this guy I didn’t know, and that motherf***er ran every single stop sign,” Van Dam said. “I don’t mean like he slowed down and looked. He kept the gas pedal on and treated the entire thing as if he had the right of way. He said, ‘You know what the good thing about four-way stops is? The other guys always gotta’ stop.’”
Van Dam reminisced about Philly and ECW while discussing the new documentary he produced with director Joe Clarke on the life of Terry “Sabu” Brunk, who died in May just three weeks after winning his final match in Las Vegas. Brunk was 60 years old. The documentary, which had been in the making for well over a year, presents a raw and personal look at the life of a retiring wrestler who seemed to be emotionally preparing for his death.
“He was one of the closest people to me, and I don’t have very many people close to me,” said Van Dam, 54. “There’s a whole lifetime of memories and inside jokes – s*** that’s just gone. I didn’t know there was that much foreshadowing in the documentary until after the fact. When I got the call, I can’t say I was that surprised because I had been expecting it for 30 years. It’s really eerie.”
Months after Brunk’s death, loved ones are still awaiting a toxicology report to pinpoint an exact cause. In the documentary, Brunk alludes to heart problems and difficulties carrying on with his life after his partner and longtime manager, Melissa Coates, died of complications from COVID-19 in 2021.
“Everyone has their own theory,” Van Dam said. “Most of it has to do with his lifestyle – that he lived himself to death Sabu-style.”
Fittingly, a memorial service for Sabu was held in June at the renovated 2300 Arena – still used as a venue for professional fights – where Van Dam spoke to a tight-knit family of mourners who had been touched by Brunk inside and outside the ring.
“He was a big part of the man that I became,” said Van Dam, who occasionally still wrestles for AEW and makes sporadic appearances at WWE events.
Van Dam joined ECW in the mid-1990’s with help from Sabu, a fellow Michigan native. They were both trained by Sabu’s uncle, a wrestling industry veteran who fought as the Sheikh, using makeshift rings set up in garages and backyards.
ECW’s arena in South Philly, near the corner of Ritner and Swanson streets, became the epicenter of hardcore wrestling in the United States in the early 1990s. While promotions like WWE and WCW were duking it out for mainstream market share in an eventual multibillion dollar industry, ECW existed as a reckless talent incubator with an underground edge.
“It was a pivotal platform for the wrestling business to go in a whole different direction, where instead of worrying about (being) politically correct and entertaining kids, it was adult entertainment,” Van Dam said. “It was unapologetic. The storylines were crazy. It was a full circus with completely different styles of wrestling, but altogether we were this family that was so grateful for what we had.”
Sabu, who donned a turban as part of his extremist persona, became an innovator of brutality in ECW. He was among the first U.S. wrestlers to popularize plowing through tables, rolling around in barbed wire and wielding various weapons in his offensive repertoire.
Van Dam remembers nights at Philly hotels filming promos for upcoming matches. ECW owner Paul Heyman would keep his wrestlers waiting all night to get paid, leaving hours for them to get drunk and high before hopping on flights to the next venue.
It was an exhilarating lifestyle for muscled young people full of ambition, Van Dam said, but Sabu was a hardcore wrestling purist and a deep believer in karma being a reward system. He struggled with the entertainment side of the business as he got older and his WWE career plateaued, landing him back on the independent circuit.
“He should have been a much bigger star,” Van Dam said.
ECW shut down in 2001 after a failed national TV deal and financial struggles led to its bankruptcy. Looking back, Van Dam thinks the writing was on the wall in 1995 when a flaming object used during a match ended up in the stands and – legend has it – burned a fan.
“The very nature of the product limited its success and its exposure because you can’t light fans on fire and not have consequences for it,” Van Dam said.
“Sabu” can be streamed on the film distribution platform Kinema, where it’s available to be rented for $5.99.
CHICAGO — “The Sriracha Muchacha is me, turned up to eleven!”
Paloma Vargas is a Lucha Libre wrestler who goes by the stage name “The Sriracha Muchacha”! Wrestling professionally for more than 15 years now, Vargas tried to become a ring girl as a young adult but instead was offered a chance to get into the ring herself.
As a young girl, Vargas reminisced how her mother and grandmother would load the car with family and take everyone to see local Lucha Libre matches. This instilled her love for the sport, and she would often fantasize about becoming a pro wrestler.
Today, she wows audiences from local street festivals all the way to the stages of the Goodman Theater with her trusty bottle of sriracha sauce! For Vargas, Lucha Libre wrestling not only allows her to feel like her full self, but also lets her be a positive influence to other women looking for belonging within the world of professional wrestling.
You can follow The Sriracha Muchacha on Instagram.
AEW stars Britt Baker and Adam Cole, who have been dating for the past few years, recently decided to end their relationship. Cole has been sidelined with an ankle injury since last year. He made his comeback at AEW WrestleDream 2024 confronting MJF upon his return.
After spending over a year out of action, Adam Cole finally made his return to professional wrestling. However, he recently announced a significant setback in his personal life. He and Britt Baker are no longer a couple, as he revealed in an interview with Sports Illustrated.
ADAM COLE confirms to @SI_wrestling that him and Britt Baker have split up “We are no longer a couple. But when I say that we both still love each other and are still friends and still so supportive of each other, that could not be more true.” pic.twitter.com/qQLZG7M1JA
Cole stated, “We are no longer a couple. But when I say that we both still love each other and are still friends and still so supportive of each other, that could not be more true. I think the world of Britt. I want her to be as happy and successful as humanly possible, and I know she feels the exact same way about me.”
He continued, “I don’t want anyone to ever think that me and Britt dislike each other. I think it is possible, in situations, for people who are in relationships to kind of go their separate ways, but still care about one another. The last thing I would want is fans to pick sides or anything like that.”
While Adam Cole provided a mature response about his break-up with Britt Baker. The former AEW World Champion seems to have reacted to her ex-boyfriend’s comments.
Former AEW Women’s World Champion Britt Baker seems to have responded to Adam Cole’s public announcement of their breakup. Baker took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and responded to Cole’s statement with a heart emoji in response.
Cole and Baker shared the ring in All Elite Wrestling last year during their feud with Chris Jericho and Saraya. Both stars have been top performers in Tony Khan’s promotion. Despite their split, they appear to have no ill feelings toward each other.
AEW currently runs three major shows: Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision. Launched in 2019, Dynamite serves as the promotion’s flagship weekly show. Building on its success, AEW introduced Rampage in 2021, nearly two years after Dynamite’s debut. Rampage started strongly, highlighted by CM Punk’s return to professional wrestling and marking a significant moment in the promotion.
In 2023, AEW expanded further with Collision, which debuted on June 17. This show marked CM Punk’s return following the controversial “Brawl Out” incident with The Elite. Thus, the addition of Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision has helped AEW establish itself as a major force in professional wrestling.
Despite Rampage’s initial success, it has since diminished in importance, especially with the launch of Collision in 2023. Rampage has become the least significant of AEW’s weekly shows. Recent reports indicate that the show might face cancellation amid rumors of a new deal with FOX.
In an update on the reported negotiations between AEW and FOX, it is said that it’s “not done” yet but is “pretty darn close.” “The Fox deal is not done…I think it’s something they’re working on. As far as the Shockwave thing, they did trademark the name of ‘Shockwave’ so they… pic.twitter.com/2IiIdga7dy
WWE, AEW’s competitor, has partnered with FOX since 2019 to broadcast SmackDown. Recently, FOX concluded its relationship with the promotion, and SmackDown now airs on the USA Network. NXT is preparing to debut on The CW network starting in October, while RAW is gearing up for its highly anticipated Netflix debut in 2025. Until then, RAW and NXT will continue to air on the USA Network.
With FOX ending its deal with WWE, the network is exploring the possibility of featuring more wrestling content. Reports suggest that FOX is currently in discussions with AEW. Earlier this month, AEW filed a trademark for “AEW Shockwave,” sparking excitement among fans about a potential new weekly show. Following the trademark reports, speculation began that Shockwave could land on FOX as part of a new deal.
Amid these developments, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer recently indicated that AEW Rampage might be discontinued. Instead, the promotion’s new third show, likely called Shockwave, could be pitched to FOX and potentially other networks.
WON: One source indicated this past week that AEW Rampage would not be continued. And that AEW’s new 3rd show, likely called Shockwave would be the show being shopped around to FOX and likely others. John Ourand noted that AEW is pitching another package “primarily” to… pic.twitter.com/86rW5ifX1I
John Ourand at Puck also reported that the new TV rights deal with WBD is a four-year contract, with three years guaranteed and the fourth optional. The promotion will likely receive around $170 million per year. The programming will continue on TNT and TBS, with TruTV also hosting content as WBD shifts the network towards sports.
Ourand also reported that the promotion is pitching a new package primarily to major broadcast channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, Telemundo, Univision, CW, and ION. Although the rumored deal with FOX isn’t official yet, the potential cancellation of Rampage is disappointing news for fans of the show.
French Olympic sprinter Sounkamba Sylla took to social media days before the 2024 Olympic Games began, saying she would not be allowed to participate in the opening ceremony because of her hijab.
“You are selected for the Olympics, organized in your country, but you can’t participate in the opening ceremony because you wear a headscarf,” Sylla wrote on her private Instagram, according to The Associated Press.
The criticism was the latest in an ongoing controversy over France’s rule prohibiting female Muslim athletes from wearing the hijab, or headscarves, during the Olympics. The athletes, while competing for France, are considering civil servants and must adhere to principles of secularism, according to the country’s rules.
French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra later said she’d be allowed to participate in the opening ceremony and the Games by covering her hair in a way that did not appear religious.
An overview of the Trocadero venue with the Eiffel Tower in the background, in Paris, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024.
Francois-Xavier Marit/Pool Photo via AP
Bans on hijab in French sports
Bans on wearing hijab in French sports have applied at all levels, including amateur and youth levels, even outside the Olympics, according to Amnesty International.
There isn’t a national law or policy banning hijabs in sports, but individual sports federations have their own regulations prohibiting the headscarf. Football (soccer), basketball and volleyball are some of the team sports banning them, Anna Blus, a women’s rights and gender justice researcher at Amnesty International, told ABC News.
A ban against wearing the hijab in football was instituted in 2006. In basketball, it began in 2022 and in volleyball in 2023.
“We have documented over the years — (for) around 20 years — measures are being introduced constantly to limit Muslim women’s rights,” Blus said of France.
“There’s definitely been an increase in these types of measures in different areas of life over the past 20 years,” Blus said.
Ibtihaj Muhammad, from United States, waits for match against Olena Kravatska from Ukraine, in the women’s saber individual fencing event at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File
In 2023, France’s highest administrative court sided with the French Football Federation allowing its hijab ban in the sport.
“The reasoning it gave was very, very problematic, because it said that these types of bans like the one in the Football Federation, were legitimate — the justification could be to avoid clashes or confrontation,” Blus said.
“It’s suggesting that clashes or confrontations might occur if someone wears a hijab, and that in order to protect that athlete, she can be banned, and she should be banned from wearing it. It’s extremely problematic,” Blus said.
Basket Pour Toutes, a collective that says it is fighting against discrimination in basketball, said the argument the ban seeks to maintain public order “tends to stigmatize a part of the population which is already the subject of numerous prejudices,” the group said on its website.
Basket Pour Toutes, which translate to “Basketball for all” in English, also said “secularism is not above fundamental freedoms.”
“The (French Federation of Basketball) maintains that the ban on equipment with religious connotations is based on the principle of neutrality which itself derives from the principle of secularism. But this duty of neutrality only applies to public service agents and not to its users,” Basket Pour Toutes wrote.
Since the court decision came out, the Hijabeuses — a collective of female athletes who wear the hijab and had brought the complaint against the Football Federation — have made an application to the European Court of Human rights, which has jurisdiction over France.
Egypt’s Dina Meshref in action at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
AP Photo/Kyusung Gong
Their application is still pending and could likely take a couple of years, Blus said.
“Litigation is only one kind of tool that can be used and it takes many years sometimes,” Blus said. “I think there is much more that we can do as human rights organizations and as campaigners to stand against these types of discriminatory measures.”
Human rights groups criticize bans
Human rights groups have called on the International Olympic Committee to publicly ask sporting authorities in France to overturn bans on wearing the hijab in the Olympic Games and at all levels of sport, saying prohibitions are in place across at least six sports.
“The country’s discrimination against women and girls wearing the hijab is particularly concerning given the IOC’s celebration of Paris 2024 as the first ‘Gender Equal Olympics,’” the groups — including Human Rights Watch, Basket Pour Toutes and the World Players Association — wrote in a joint letter to the IOC.
“Women and girls in France who wear the hijab have been and are being prevented from playing multiple sports including football, basketball, judo, boxing, volleyball and badminton — even at youth and amateur levels. The hijab bans in sports have resulted in many Muslim athletes being discriminated against, invisibilised, excluded and humiliated, causing trauma and social isolation — some have left or are considering leaving the country to seek playing opportunities elsewhere,” the letter said.
Gold medalist Feryal Abdelaziz of Egypt poses during the medal ceremony for women’s kumite +61kg karate at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
AP Photo/Vincent Thian
Other athletes, including Diaba Konate, a French basketball player who played for Idaho State and University of California, Irvine up until this past April, have also criticized the ban. Konate said she was kept from being able to play for the French National Team again. She’s not on the French team playing in the Olympics.
“I love basketball, my family, and my faith,” Konate said in an open letter. “It would break my heart to give up any one of those, and yet that is what the current French Federation of Basketball guidelines are forcing me to do.”
Blus said activism among Muslim athletes and activists in France is growing in a very difficult environment.
“It’s really important that big international organizations, such as ours, express their solidarity with Muslim women, because they have very often — really particularly in France, but also in other countries — (been) subject to negative stereotypes, demonization, homogenization of what it might mean to them to wear hijab,” Blus said.
“It’s really a matter of feminist solidarity and of women’s rights and human rights,” Blus said.
John Cena announced that he will be retiring from professional wrestling in 2025.
Cena shared his plans for the next chapter of his career during a surprise appearance at WWE’s Money in the Bank wrestling event in Toronto on Saturday, July 6.
At the event, he shared with fans that he was there to “officially announce” his retirement from the WWE.
“This farewell does not end tonight,” the 16-time WWE champion shared during his speech. “It is filled with opportunity. Everybody, RAW makes history next year when it moves to Netflix. I’ve never been a part of RAW on Netflix. That is history. That is a first, and I will be there.”
Cena, who made his WWE debut in 2002, also shared his plans to participate in his final Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, and WrestleMania in 2025.
“Everybody, I want to say thank you,” he said to the fans at the end of his speech. “Thank you so much for letting me play in the house that you built for so many years. Thank you so much always for your voice because it’s really loud, and your honesty, because it’s beautifully brutal.”
In a press conference after Money in the Bank, Cena shared details about his retirement and “farewell tour.”
“It’s not going to end at WrestleMania,” he clarified, referring to the event that will be held in April 2025. “WrestleMania will be my last WrestleMania, but hopefully, if everything goes to plan, we’re going straight through from January to December.”
His 2025 plans include a “long list of dates” that will “tentatively” span into the 30s and 40s to mark the end of his “in ring competition.”
Cena also gave fans insight into his involvement in the WWE after he ended his competition days, sharing, “Part of this business plan that I proposed and they accepted was me remaining in the WWE family in some capacity for an extended time to come.”
“I’ve always said to the audience that the WWE is my home and I love it,” he explained. “Just because I physically feel I’m at my end doesn’t mean I need to distance myself from something I love.”
Cena previously discussed some potential plans for retirement during an appearance on TODAY in January when he was asked by Sheinelle Jones if he would make the decision to retire when he turned 50.
“That sounds pretty accurate, right? 50 is half of 100,” he said at the time. “I love being in the ring, that’s the one thing I wish I could do forever, but the crop of these superstars in there now, the sport is fast, it’s young, and it’s exciting. I got the exciting and enthusiasm part, I don’t have the fast or the young.”
The 47-year-old said his wrestling career has been a “big chapter” and a “meaningful one” in his life, but noted that he is “not totally defined” by his work.
“I’m ready to do the best I can for the business and I want to create lasting moments for the WWE, but I believe that energy is neither created nor destroyed, so I want to be able to pass that onto the new generation and let them run with it,” he added.
In a January interview with TODAY.com in January, he clarified his retirement plans, explaining, “I’m giving myself, like, hey, if you don’t figure it out until (the age of 50), you’re just done.”
“If we don’t come up with something that we can present to our WWE universe as a wave goodbye, if it doesn’t happen by then, I’ll just silently announce it on X or whatever the platform is,” he added.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
You won’t be seeing John Cena in the ring for much longer. The pro wrestling icon announced his impending retirement from WWE Saturday, making a surprise appearance at the promotion’s “Money in the Bank” event in Toronto.
“The 2025 Royal Rumble will be my last. The 2025 elimination chamber will be my last. And I’m here tonight to announce that in Las Vegas, Wrestlemania 2025 will be the last Wrestlemania I compete in,” Cena said to the live audience in a video the WWE posted to social media. “I want to say thank you.”
John Cena announces his retirement during Money in the Bank at Scotiabank Arena on July 6, 2024.
WWE / Getty Images
“Thank you Cena!” The crowd chanted in response.
The Massachusetts native also expressed his excitement over Netflix’s multi-billion dollar deal acquiring the rights to WWE Raw in January.
“Raw makes history next year when it moves to Netflix. I’ve never been a part of Raw on Netflix. That is history, that is a first, and I will be there,” Cena said.
Cena shed more light on his retirement in a post-show press conference, assuring that he would remain a part of the WWE even though his career as a performer was coming to an end — and promising “a long list of dates” between January and September.
“People say they’re walking away, and two years later they come back. I want to set the record straight right now, I’m done. This is it,” Cena said in the press conference. “If you ever wanted to be a part of this one last time, we’re going to do it as big as we can and we’re fighting everybody and we hope you come enjoy the fun.”
When asked about his feelings regarding Vince McMahon, the former WWE CEO and founder who stepped down in January amid allegations of sexual assault, Cena declined to give his opinion, saying instead the WWE was “in good hands” with parent company TKO Group Holdings.
In an interview with Howard Stern in February, Cena said that he was a big advocate of accountability, but would remain a support system for McMahon for now.
“I’ve openly said, I love the guy, I have a great relationship with the guy, and that’s that,” Cena said to Stern.
The 47-year-old won 16 world championships over his nearly 20 years in the WWE, going toe-to-toe with the likes of Kurt Angle, Triple H and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson.
Outside of the ring, Cena released a studio rap album in 2005 and has appeared in several movies and television shows. As his acting career began to flourish with starring roles in projects such as “Bumblebee,” “F9: The Fast Saga,” and “The Suicide Squad,” his appearances in the ring diminished.
“There were many before me, there will be many after. I guess what I have left to do is say my thank yous before that chapter closes,” Cena said.
TNA Wrestling star Ash By Elegance with her personal concierge George Iceman.
When one door closes, you look for another one.
That’s what Cleveland native Ashley Sebera did, and she found one, storming through it. Formerly Dana Brooke in WWE, she is now Ash By Elegance, starring for TNA Wrestling, which is broadcast 8 p.m. Thursdays on AXS TV.
With a new persona, something she formulated, she looks forward to this new opportunity, new challenge — a chance to raise her game, become a bigger star, a world champion — in the scripted yet physical sports discipline known as professional wrestling.
“It’s really been super amazing to dive in and really find out what can I do that’s different, that nobody else is doing,” said Sebera, who was born and raised in Seven Hills. “You’ve seen me outside of the ring; you’ve seen me on the streets of Miami. You know I try to be as elegant as I can be, when it comes to fashion, jewelry, shoes, purses. I love fashion. I love being elegant.
“With that being said, we are in 2024, and branding is a big thing now on social media, commercials, wherever it may be. So elegance is like my brand. I feel we can branch off and do a champagne line, a make-up line, a perfume line. It’s Ash By Elegance, brought to you by Elegance. So it definitely is a different side of me [in pro wrestling], and it’s a lot, a lot of fun, but it’s been hard to dig deep, deep inside of me to find this very arrogant, I don’t care, self-centered type character, but it’s been so much fun.
“I love feeding into the crowd, feeding into the negativity and people booing me. It’s been a transition because I was a ‘good girl’ [in WWE] for so long, but it’s been so much fun to tap into this new character.”
Key people behind the scenes in TNA Wrestling believe in her. Tommy Dreamer and Gail Kim are two of them. Kim leads the women’s division, called TNA Knockouts, and Dreamer is one of the central figures in the company’s creative process.
As a pro wrestler in the 2000s, Kim helped pioneer the Knockouts Division, and she is one of the key figures in the evolution of the revolution of women’s wrestling. The talent — those part of the Knockouts Division — reads like a Who’s Who of women’s wrestlers.
“That definitely was a selling point for me, including the creative freedom that we have,” Sebera said. “I’ve loved working with Gail Kim and also Tommy Dreamer. When I talked with Tommy, he’s like we’ve seen your potential for years. It’s just never been capitalized on, and we want to make you a star. We really want you to stand out and really make something of you.”
She noted: “When you’re coming from somewhere else, and they’re always telling you, ‘Ok, yea, maybe the next time, or you’ll have another opportunity,’ it makes you kind of feel small in a sense. And then when I made that transition [from WWE to TNA Wrestling] even within that first week of vignettes, and watching myself back on those vignettes, I’m like, ‘Oh my God. They made me a star.’ They made me feel like a star. I’m like, ‘What is this?’ It felt so amazing. To watch it back and see them invest time and creativity and things into me, to make me feel super special and a star and then to be able to go out there and have matches and be like, ‘Hey, let me bring my champagne out…’ It’s really fun.”
She even has her own personal concierge — George Iceman.
Sebera added: “Then on the flipside of things. I’ve worked with the best women [wrestlers] in the world, I thought, and then I see this TNA Knockouts Division, and I’m like, ‘Wow,’ they really go to the extreme, and I love that. They lay everything out there. They have something to prove. They have something to show.”
Jordynne Grace, an outstanding talent, is the TNA Knockouts Division champion.
“I’ve been Blessed to be able to be ringside to watch a lot of Jordynne’s matches, and she’s the real deal,” Sebera said. “When I was coming into TNA, she had debuted [on the WWE] Royal Rumble [which is unheard of, someone from another company on a WWE show], and she was dominating that match. I’m like, ‘All right. I need to step in the ring with her because she’s gonna bring out this different side of me, which is going to be incredible…so that was also a huge selling point [to join TNA Wrestling].”
As Dana Brooke, this multi-talented sports entertainer spent 10 years with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the biggest and most lucrative pro wrestling organization in the world.
She achieved moderate success in the ring. She was never the No.1 sports entertainer in the women’s division. She did win the 24-7 title but did not win the women’s championship.
Still, Brooke competed with and against all the best WWE had to offer, including Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bayley, Natayla, Asuka, Sasha Banks, Mandy Rose. She’s competed on the grandest stage – WrestleMania – as well as at the Royal Rumble and Survivor Series.
Brooke grew her star power in WWE, which has three weekly TV shows – WWE Monday Night Raw (USA Network), NXT Tuesday (USA Network), WWE Friday Night SmackDown (Fox). The publicly-traded company, under the TKO Group Holdings banner (a collaboration between combat sports giant UFC and WWE), travels the world with a tremendous social media following.
Brooke’s presence was felt even more through WWE’s philanthropy. She enjoyed taking time to be a part of the company’s Be a STAR program, Make-a-Wish, Tribute to the Troops, and Special Olympics.
Something important to her, she wants to continue giving back while in TNA Wrestling.
She said: “I had a conversation at WrestleCon with a co-worker of mine, AJ, and he did a Special Olympics event, tied in with TNA Wrestling, and I saw that video, and I asked him, ‘How did you do this?’ He goes. ‘I do a lot of things with Special Olympics all the time.’
“Trust me, when I tell you. I will fly anywhere around the world, if you do another event like this, because I want to be a part of it. That’s something that I hold so deep to my heart, being able to do community work…In the heart of Covid, I was on the streets [in South Florida], passing out food — also teaming up with local businesses to help support smaller businesses — being able to hand food out to the homeless. That’s something that I really want to start up. I know different ownership came into TNA Wrestling, and I want to sit down with them and tell them, ‘Look. We’re missing the ball on something. Community work and service is huge,’ and I want to get a team of us together…”
Sebera is a former bodybuilder, gymnast, fitness competitor, and model. She was a district champion diver for Holy Name High School and as a bodybuilder/fitness competitor competed three times in the Arnold Classic, where she met Arnold Schwarzenegger. Gymnastics, though, was her No.1, growing up, but injuries forced her to stop, ending her Olympic dreams.
Now, as a pro wrestler, she also is actively pursuing entrepreneurship in the champagne category, seeking advice from her famous brother-in-law. Champagne fits her current TNA Wrestling character portrayal — elegant, snobbish, self-centered, arrogant, classy. She even has her own personal concierge on the weekly TV show.
In my video interview with her, the Holy Name High School and Kent State University alum discusses the transition to TNA Wrestling, her new character portrayal, giving back and entrepreneurship via her brother-in-law “Mr. Worldwide” music artist and entrepreneur Pitbull.
Integral to her journey, in 2011, she earned a degree from Kent State University in fashion, merchandising and design, with a minor in business administration. She used her fashion education, mind and qualifications to open her own boutique.
Living in South Florida, Sebera met boxer, bare knuckle fighter, MMA combatant Uly “Monster” Diaz, a proud Cuban American. They started dating and are now husband and wife. Diaz is noted for recording a Guinness world record fastest KO in combat sports history. He did it in three seconds against Donelei Benedetto on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 at BKFC 14 in Uly’s hometown Miami.
“Ash By Elegance is amazing; she’s about to be a world champ herself by the end of the year,” Diaz said. “She’s doing great. She’s with TNA Wrestling. She’s kicking butt. She just kicked butt on pay-per-view. She’s my motivation, inspiration; she’s in my corner, and it’s amazing to have her by my side.”
With all the male and female talent and fans and broadcasters and exces and crew and staff, does Ash By Elegance also need a bodyguard type by her side in TNA Wrestling? I think so.
“I think so, too,” Diaz said with a smile. “I’ll be reaching out to them soon to see what we can make happen.”
TNA Wrestling is 8 p.m. Thursdays on AXS TV.
TNA Wrestling celebrates its 20th anniversary with Slammiversary on Saturday, July 20 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada at Verdun Auditorium. Web: https://tnawrestling.com/
Jim Varsallone ([email protected]) works part-time for the Sports Department of the Miami Herald and is also a freelance feature writer/interviewer. He has covered pro wrestling, preps and MMA.
The U.S. Olympic team is coming into shape.Penn State University hosted the Olympic Trials this weekend, with dozens of athletes vying for just 18 spots available on Team USA.The state of Maryland will be well represented at the highest level.Hagerstown native Aaron Brooks put together a major upset, beating the reigning gold medalist and fellow Nittany Lion David Taylor.Brooks defeated Taylor 4-1, marking Taylor’s first loss to an American wrestler in seven years. The Penn State wrestlers shared a moment of respect after the match.Video above: Olympic athletes share stories of perseverance, strengthHelen Mouralis, of Rockville, is also a reigning gold medalist. She will return to the Olympic Games after beating Jacarra Winchester 6-0. She notched a takedown just seconds into the match, and the points piled up from there.Kyle Snyder, of Woodbine, will also make the trip to Paris this summer. He didn’t give up a single point in his championship series against Isaac Trumble. Snyder won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This will be his third time qualifying for Team U.S.A.”It’s different. The first time you do it, you’re real happy, and now it’s almost an expectation of myself. And then, the real fun starts when you make the team, and you’re competing for world Olympic medals, so I’m looking forward to training this summer and getting into that,” Snyder said.A total of 18 wrestlers made the U.S. wrestling squad, but only 13 of those wrestlers qualified directly for Paris. The other five will head to Istanbul for a world qualification tournament in May in order to make the final roster.There are just over three months remaining until the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The opening ceremony takes place on July 26.
The U.S. Olympic team is coming into shape.
Penn State University hosted the Olympic Trials this weekend, with dozens of athletes vying for just 18 spots available on Team USA.
The state of Maryland will be well represented at the highest level.
Hagerstown native Aaron Brooks put together a major upset, beating the reigning gold medalist and fellow Nittany Lion David Taylor.
Brooks defeated Taylor 4-1, marking Taylor’s first loss to an American wrestler in seven years. The Penn State wrestlers shared a moment of respect after the match.
Video above: Olympic athletes share stories of perseverance, strength
Helen Mouralis, of Rockville, is also a reigning gold medalist. She will return to the Olympic Games after beating Jacarra Winchester 6-0. She notched a takedown just seconds into the match, and the points piled up from there.
Kyle Snyder, of Woodbine, will also make the trip to Paris this summer. He didn’t give up a single point in his championship series against Isaac Trumble. Snyder won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This will be his third time qualifying for Team U.S.A.
“It’s different. The first time you do it, you’re real happy, and now it’s almost an expectation of myself. And then, the real fun starts when you make the team, and you’re competing for world Olympic medals, so I’m looking forward to training this summer and getting into that,” Snyder said.
A total of 18 wrestlers made the U.S. wrestling squad, but only 13 of those wrestlers qualified directly for Paris. The other five will head to Istanbul for a world qualification tournament in May in order to make the final roster.
There are just over three months remaining until the start of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The opening ceremony takes place on July 26.
