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Hulk Hogan reinstated into WWE Hall of Fame following 2015 suspension
Hulk Hogan, pictured on tour in 2009, has been out of WWE since 2015. (Getty)
The World Wresting Entertainment Hall of Fame announced the reinstatement of Hulk Hogan Sunday as rumors swirled of Hogan’s return to the sport.
WWE severed all ties with the wrestling legend after his comments about his daughter’s sex life were caught on tape and uncovered in 2015. Hogan used the N-word multiple times in the rant.
WWE released the following statement Sunday:
“After a three-year suspension, Hulk Hogan has been reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame. This second chance follows Hogan’s numerous public apologies and volunteering to work with young people, where he is helping them learn from his mistake. These efforts led to a recent induction into the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame.
Check out Hogan’s speech from the May Boys & Girls Club event mentioned:
@HulkHogan wow. Your words. Your candor. Your humility. Thats #character thats #reallife thats #Leadership pic.twitter.com/ze5ed1IIWg
— Boys Girls Club GA (@BoysGirlsClubGA) May 3, 2018
At the time of his suspension, Hogan called the move a “resignation,” adding, “It was unacceptable for me to have used that offensive language; there is no excuse for it; and I apologize for having done it.”
Hogan tweeted that he has been “praying for this day.”
Just met with the @WWE Superstars and on all levels the volume of love and support was overwhelming. I’ve been praying for this day and I finally feel like I made it back home. Only Love 4 the #WWEUNIVERSE brother HH
— Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) July 15, 2018
Hogan, now 64, was originally inducted into the Hall in 2005. His tribute on the WWE website is back up as of Sunday.
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2018 Tour de France: Stage 9 cobblestones claim unwitting victims
Team Sky rider Chris Froome of Britain crashes as BMC Racing Team rider Greg Van Avermaet of Belgium in the overall leader’s yellow jersey escapes the crash. (Reuters).
Imagine this: you train your entire life to ride the most grueling race available in cycling, and then a trap consisting of small flat rocks derails your run.
This is the reality of Stage 9 of the 2018 Tour de France, which featured 15 sections of cobblestones. The road feature is a polarizing part of the Tour, with some fans happy for the excitement they bring, and others questioning the organization’s seeming ploy to create chaos.
COBBLESTONES pic.twitter.com/7B4HLpml1t
— Michael Baumann (@MJ_Baumann) July 15, 2018
I'll be that guy. Cobblestones have no business being in the Tour de France. It's a cheap way to create drama.
— Lars Pollmann (@LarsPollmann) July 15, 2018
While the carnage wasn’t too heavy this year, a couple riders took spills. One of those was British four-time winner and 2018 Tour favorite Chris Froome.
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Froome’s crash was relatively harmless; he appears to just have veered off-road slightly, leading to the crash.
Colombian Egan Bernal’s, however, looked more painful. The mere sight of the stones appears to have derailed him, and he spun out:
Relive the crash of @Eganbernal in the peloton!
Revivez la chute de @Eganbernal dans le peloton ! #TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/5f1P7Y5IN7
— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 15, 2018
American Tejay van Garderen also had a rough day, dropping from third place to thirtieth overall. His look in the aftermath tells you everything you need to know:
Tejay van Garderen, from third place to 30th today, with a crash and three flat tires on the cobblestones at the Tour de France. pic.twitter.com/Ta0byon45D
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) July 15, 2018
German John Degenkolb made it through the trials unscathed, winning the stage in 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 26 seconds.
“It was a really hard day. We had a plan to stay out of trouble, and that worked out really well. I have been through a lot of things in the past, and had such a hard time,” said Degenkolb. “I’d like to dedicate this victory to one of my best friends, who passed away last winter. This was for him. Everyone said I was finished after what happened [the training accident in 2016]. I’m so thrilled to get a big race victory.”
Belgian Team BMC rider Greg van Avermaet also made it through the day intact, and remains in the yellow jersey.
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Incredible three-way all-in determines World Series of Poker final table
Astounding three-way all-in at World Series of Poker. (Getty)
At the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, Thursday morning brought a case of going big and going home, as three players went all-in for a chance to play at the final table. Near-certainty evaporated to desperation and loss in just a matter of moments. Here’s how it all went down.
Playing for high stakes
This year’s World Series of Poker Main Event featured 7,875 entrants who paid a $10,000 entry fee to vie for an $8.8 million first prize. After seven days of play, the Main Event whittled down to just 10 players vying for one of nine seats at the final table, and thus the chance to win that sweet prize and the coveted WSOP bracelet.
Nicolas Manion opened the decisive hand by betting 1.5 million in chips, and it was easy to see why: he’d been dealt pocket aces. Antoine Labat called, and showed a pair of Kings. But then came Rich Zhu, also with a pair of Kings, and he pushed all-in, risking his entire stack and his tournament fate.
Aces or Kings show up in pairs once every 110 hands, so the odds of all three showing up in one hand are astronomical. But Manion decided he had the goods to take out Zhu, so he too went all-in. And then came the crucial moment: Labat deciding whether to risk most of his stack on a pair of Kings.
In a decision that’s up for heavy debate, Labat too went all-in, setting up a three-way showdown for the final seat with more than 76 million chips on the table. Going into the flop, Manion held a 96 percent chance of winning the pot … not certain, but pretty close.
Here’s video of what happened next:
The final table bubble you need to see to believe.
A three-way all-in brings the 2018 @WSOP Main Event field down to the final nine!
▶️ https://t.co/KNvPQ1muzl pic.twitter.com/eo1I3WiTRl
— Poker Central (@PokerCentral) July 12, 2018
The final hand
The flop came 7-Jack-4, and that was enough to bounce Zhu, who couldn’t get the cards he needed for a flush or a straight. Labat had an outside chance at a flush, but that vanished with the turn card, a three of spades. (Labat couldn’t get a third King to beat Manion’s pair, of course, because the other two Kings were in Zhu’s hand.)
So Zhu gets the unwanted notoriety of being the last player eliminated before the final table. He’ll go home with a nice little $850,025 payout. But the ninth-place finisher is guaranteed a million dollars, as well as a shot at that $8.8 million first prize.
Labat, meanwhile, goes into the final table with by far the lowest chip total, and Manion is the chip leader. The final table starts Thursday evening, and the effects of this incredible, gut-wrenching table will loom large.
____
Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
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US government seeking at least $1.2 million from Lance Armstrong's former manager
The U.S. government is seeking additional funds from Lance Armstrong’s former manager to close its ongoing pursuit of multiple parties in Armstrong’s camp who profited from the Postal Service’s sponsorship. (AP Photo)
The United States government is seeking additional funds through a civil default judgement from Lance Armstrong’s longtime manager, Johan Bruyneel, as part of the final steps of a lawsuit that alleges Armstrong defrauded his sponsor, the U.S. Postal Service, according to a USA Today report.
Bruyneel was with Armstrong for all of his seven Tour de France wins, and the government claims he is personally liable for at least $1.2 million.
“Bruyneel was unjustly enriched by his fraud and is liable to the United States for the payments it made to him,” the government stated in the court filings Monday.
In 2013, the U.S. government sued Armstrong, Bruyneel, and team owner Tailwind Sports for $100 million, and that case settled in April with Armstrong paying just $7 million.
Of that $7 million, $1.65 million went to paying former teammate and accuser Floyd Landis’ legal expenses, and $5 million went to the federal government – but of that $5 million, $1.1 million also went back to Landis for blowing the whistle on Armstrong.
Judgment in feds’ favor likely to be symbolic
The Postal Service paid $32.3 million to Armstrong’s teams from 2000-2004, and the settlement payout likely does not even cover the expenses used to pursue Armstrong in court.
“Because Bruyneel and Tailwind defaulted, the well-pleaded allegations in the complaint are deemed admitted by them,” the government said.
Bruyneel is said to have received $2 million in salary and bonuses from Tailwind, and by extension the Postal Service, between 1999 and 2004. However, even if the government wins the case, there might be an additional obstacle to actually obtaining the money: Bruyneel is a Belgian citizen and has resided overseas for years, and a default judgement such as this is unlikely to be enforceable.
The government, along with Landis’ lawyer Paul Scott, is also seeking $451,000 from Tailwind and Bruyneel. Should they win that judgment, it likely would only be symbolic, as Tailwind is now defunct.
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WWE star Bray Wyatt injured in car accident
John Cena, left, and Bray Wyatt, right, compete during Wrestlemania XXX at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans on Sunday, April 6, 2014. (Jonathan Bachman/AP Images for WWE)
For the second time in a week, a WWE superstar is missing time due to a non-wrestling-related injury
Bray Wyatt, whose real name is Windham Rotunda, suffered injuries in a head-on collision when his vehicle struck another in Tampa, Fla. last Friday.
Wyatt, who is one half of the WWE Raw tag team champions alongside Matt Hardy, was traveling to the airport prior to scheduled appearances at the weekend’s live shows and “Monday Night Raw.” Due to the injuries he sustained in the accident, Wyatt was forced to miss those events.
“Due to the injuries sustained, Wyatt did not compete at this weekend’s WWE Live Events and will not be present at [Monday’s] Raw,” WWE wrote on its website.
Due to injuries sustained in a car accident Friday, Bray Wyatt did not compete at this weekend’s WWE Live Events and will not be present at tonight’s Raw. https://t.co/VOCcsH6aY0
— WWE (@WWE) July 2, 2018
According to TMZ, Wyatt’s car was totaled and he was treated at Tampa General Hospital.
Despite the incident and being forced to miss shows, Wyatt seemed to be in good spirits.
“I’m moving around,” Wyatt told TMZ. “I’m going to live through it because I can’t die.”
On WWE programming, Wyatt and Hardy have been involved in an ongoing feud with the “B-Team” – which includes Wyatt’s real-life brother Taylor Rotunda – and are scheduled to defend their championship at the next pay-per-view event, “Extreme Rules,” on July 15.
During Hardy’s match against Curtis Axel on “Monday Night Raw,” WWE announcer Michael Cole referenced Wyatt’s absence and injuries, but left out exactly how he sustained them.
Wyatt’s injuries come just days after fellow WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura was reportedly bitten by a police dog in Bakersfield, Calif. and pulled from his United States title match on “Smackdown Live” last week.
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Q&A: WWE's Charlotte Flair on ESPN's Body Issue, Ronda Rousey, Special Olympics
Former WWE women’s champion Charlotte Flair is participating in the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. (Photo courtesy WWE)
This weekend for WWE superstar Charlotte Flair is a little different than the rest.
Instead of competing in the ring, Charlotte, WWE chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon, Big Show, and others will travel to Seattle for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. It marks the 50th anniversary for the sports organization that spotlights and supports children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and it’s the second time the former women’s champion has participated in the origination’s marquee U.S. event.
And oh yeah, she recently posed naked in ESPN’s The Body Issue, which hit newsstands Friday.
“Well, doing a moonsault naked is totally different,” Charlotte joked earlier this week when talking to Yahoo Sports.
Jokes aside, this was a bucket list item for the personal trainer turned wrestler who was a fan of the yearly magazine issue and the narrative that being strong didn’t mean you couldn’t be sexy.
Nine issues had come and gone and zero featured anyone from the world of professional wrestling.
Until now.
“I think just the message that being who you are in any shape, any size, no makeup, completely raw, is just so important and that’s what I just kept thinking about,” Charlotte said. “It was almost like a weight lifted off my shoulders. This is who I am. I’m so proud of my body. I’m so proud to be an athlete. I wouldn’t change anything.”
Charlotte spoke to Yahoo Sports about her involvement at the Special Olympics, the story of why she’s sporting a black eye in her photos, watching “Raw” with her father and Ronda Rousey’s progress in the WWE.
How did you get involved with the Special Olympics?
This is actually my second opportunity to go to the Special Olympics games. WWE has a special relationship with them and I’m honored to be one of the WWE superstars to be part of the games this year.
What does the Special Olympics mean to you?
I know as a talent and someone who performed, it means a lot to have people who support us and cheer us on and for me to take time out of my schedule to go give back, and I have so much respect for the athletes who compete at a very high level at the Special Olympics games, and support them and let them know that they have encouragement and they also have fans from the WWE.
Charlotte Flair is the first WWE superstar to be featured in ESPN’s The Body Issue. (Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
I saw you’re walking in Team Florida, not Team North Carolina. How did that decision come about?
You know what’s crazy? I just moved back to North Carolina recently and I just flew back to Orlando a couple of weeks ago for work and I was like ‘Gosh, I was here for almost six years, it feels like home.’ So I guess I feel like a Floridian as well. Don’t tell Team North Carolina that. But yes, I am walking Team Florida and I’m very much looking forward to it.
You’re also speaking at the coaches rally. Who’s the one person in the locker room that is most likely to rally the WWE superstars?
I think we all cheer each other on to be honest, especially in big matches before we go out. I think everyone is a cheerleader, it just depends on the match. I know that Natalya is very much a staple for both locker rooms and you can go to her for anything, so I guess you can say she is.
ESPN’s The Body Issue comes out on Friday …
I keep looking at my Instagram and I’m like, ‘Is this appropriate?’
#Body10 hits newsstands June 29th!#BodyIssue Woooo! I’ve had bad dreams before where I went out to perform and forgot my gear!!
A post shared by Charlotte Flair (@charlottewwe) on Jun 25, 2018 at 9:04am PDT
So, we can start there. What has that been like sharing those photos and what does it mean to be the first WWE performer to be featured?
I’ve always been a huge fan of the issue and growing up as an athlete, it was very encouraging to see that strong was being shown as sexy. So, the athletes very much inspired me and I guess almost helped me full comfortable in my own skin. I’m an athlete, I am sexy. It was obviously a bucket list but a WWE superstar had never been in the issue, so when I found out that they were going to have me in the 10th anniversary issue, I was like is this real? I kept annoying our talent relations department like, ‘I really am picked, they aren’t going to change it? For sure?’ Up until the shoot, I kept checking in. I was just so excited and the fact that the women have worked so hard for WWE for so many years to be more than just eye candy, more than just the women are divas. Just to show the world that we are athletes and have so much to offer.
The Body Issue reaches a whole different demographic in that they can see wow, women’s wrestling has come this far and she’s an athlete. I hope this opens doors for more women to be represented in years to come in the issue to a whole new demographic. I was very honored and very excited and it also made me feel proud to be an athlete because I know when I first started, I had such a hard time. How do you do your makeup? How do you look like a star? How do you dress like a diva? And here I am almost six years later and I am so proud I grew up playing sports and that I have an athletic body and I just hope it sends that message all over.
How nervous were you to be at your most vulnerable on set?
Well, doing a moonsault naked is totally different. But no, I completely committed to the project and told them I wanted to do it without makeup. I actually had a black eye from Asuka from “WrestleMania” that I do not regret. I wanted it to be shown because we shot the week after “WrestleMania.” I was kind of excited about it. I get to show off my battle wound. I think just the message that being who you are in any shape, any size, no makeup, completely raw, is just so important and that’s what I just kept thinking about. It was almost like a weight lifted off my shoulders. This is who I am. I’m so proud of my body. I’m so proud to be an athlete. I wouldn’t change anything.
You are not on the road. What was it like to watch “Raw” with your father Ric [Flair] and your sister at home?
Watching #Raw with my Dad and sister for the first time in years! #RawFlairParty @RicFlairNatrBoy
— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) June 26, 2018
I haven’t been able to do that in a long time and I just love hearing my dad’s … not his critiques but just his opinion on things. Obviously when you’re on the road, night after night, you don’t take the time to really watch the show and sit back and relax … you do but I knew I wasn’t going to be on at 10 o’clock or I didn’t have a segment. Just having that bonding time … I don’t think there’s anything else in the world that my dad loves talking about more than wrestling. And knowing who his favorites are. He was totally pumped for the Dolph Ziggler-Seth Rollins match. All the girls’ segments. He’s known Sasha [Banks] and Bayley since I started. He always loves talking about where that might go or seeing Bayley beat up Sasha and the evolution of what’s been going on in their story since starting in NXT together. And how well Alexa Bliss is doing on the mic as a heel and all of the previews from the Ronda segment. It’s just fun to talk to him about it instead of texting or over the phone. And then my sister is probably getting annoyed because she’s like, ‘Well I have nothing to talk about.’ It’s fighting over dad’s attention while we’re sitting there eating and watching wrestling.
How would you grade Ronda Rousey’s run in the WWE so far?
I’m blown away. How fast she has picked everything up, especially with her match against Nia Jax at “Money in the Bank.” I know my dad texted her and said the same thing, just Roddy Pipper would be so proud of her. She gets better every time she’s out there and it doesn’t look like she’s going to slow down at any point. I know she will become the Raw women’s champion at some point and it’s an honor to have her part of our division. She’s blown my mind with how fast she’s picked this up.
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Report: WWE star Shinsuke Nakamura injured by California police dog
Shinsuke Nakamura. (Photo courtesy of WWE)
WWE was forced to pull Shinsuke Nakamura from one of its featured matches on “Smackdown Live” on Tuesday night after the Japanese star was allegedly bitten by a police dog in Bakersfield, Calif.
According to Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, Nakamura sustained the injury on Monday night during a house show and was subsequently pulled from his scheduled United States Championship match against Jeff Hardy.
From @davemeltzerWON: Shinsuke Nakamura was bit in the leg by a police dog at the arena in Bakersfield yesterday. https://t.co/94msXrM9Sf
— Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) June 26, 2018
Few other details were immediately available about the severity of the injury or the alleged incident itself.
WWE announced the change on social media Tuesday afternoon, but was deliberately vague with regard to how Nakamura was hurt. During “Smackdown Live,” announcer Tom Phillips addressed the incident as well.
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Yahoo Sports reached out to both WWE and the Bakersfield Police Department and is awaiting comment.
The injury wasn’t only a significant blow to Tuesday’s television program, but also planned events this weekend in Asia, including one in Nakamura’s native Japan.
WWE has two live shows this weekend, one in Kyoto and the other in Taipei. Meltzer reported it was “uncertain” if the injury would impact Nakamura’s ability to perform at either or both of the shows.
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Former WWE star Vader dies at 63
WWE Legend Vader Dies at 63
Former NFL player and professional wrestler Leon White died at the age of 63, his son Jesse announced Wednesday morning on Twitter.
White, who wrestled under variations of the name “Big Van Vader” for promotions around the world for three decades, dealt with myriad health issues in recent years, including announcing on Twitter in 2016 that he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and that doctors informed him he had only two years to live.
Shortly after announcing his father’s death, White’s son revealed that the former world champion had been battling a severe case of pneumonia last month which ultimately led to his death.
Around a month ago my father was diagnosed with a severe case of Pneumonia. He fought extremely hard and clinically was making progress. Unfortunately, on Monday night his heart had enough and it was his time. pic.twitter.com/hJYjumvxjH
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) June 20, 2018
Prior to his wrestling career, White played college football at the University of Colorado and was drafted in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. During his brief NFL career, White played offensive line and was a member of the 1979 team that lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIV.
Shortly after retiring from the NFL, White picked up professional wrestling, joining the AWA before a successful run with New Japan Pro Wrestling. During his time with NJPW, White was given the name “Big Van Vader” and wrestled in a mask, which would become staples of his character for his entire career. White would hold the IWGP world heavyweight title three times and the IWGP tag titles once.
After his run in NJPW, White wrestled in WCW and was a three-time world heavyweight champion before ultimately joining Vince McMahon’s WWF. Despite White’s successful tenures in NJPW and WCW, he failed to achieve similar status and left the company after just two years.
White’s blend of size and athleticism made him one of the most unique wrestling stars in the 80s and 90s, leading to him feuding with the likes of Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Sting, Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker.
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In a 2011 interview with WWE.com, White detailed his health issues to that point which included 45 surgeries, 19 concussions and being in a coma for 33 days in Japan.
Despite battling a drinking problem and those health issues, White continued to wrestle and made appearances for several promotions, including sporadic returns to WWE, until 2017.
Earlier this year, White underwent successful open-heart surgery.
This is his son Jesse. I wanted to let everybody know that I just spoke to the Surgeon. The surgery was a success but it was worse than we had expected. Long road for recovery. Will keep you posted. Thank you for the prayers.
— Big Van Vader (@itsvadertime) March 26, 2018
Tributes from around the wrestling world poured in after news of White’s death broke.
WWE is saddened to learn that Leon White, better known to WWE audiences as Vader, passed away Monday night at the age of 63. https://t.co/UNIbdS680I
— WWE (@WWE) June 20, 2018
My prayers and thoughts go out to the family Of truly one of the greatest big men to step foot in the ring. Vader my friend May you R.I.P
— D-von Dudley (@TestifyDVon) June 20, 2018
I’m saddened to hear about the passing of Leon “Baby Bull” White aka “Big” Van Vader! My prayers of strength go out to his family at this time, I’m sorry for your loss. #RIPVADER
— Brian G. James (@WWERoadDogg) June 20, 2018
Vader in his college football days at Colorado, 1975.
He was a top-ranked prospect at center heading into the '78 NFL Draft but a knee injury suffered while jogging caused him to fall to the Rams in the 3rd round. pic.twitter.com/5uVqimlWNh
— Denny Burkholder (@DennyBurkholder) June 20, 2018
Vader’s last @WWE PPV was a match with me, he wanted me to kick out of his finish/he told me “today you get the old Vader, I want it to mean something when you win.” RIP big man, and thanks! #respect pic.twitter.com/t3FiP2jMmh
— John Layfield (@JCLayfield) June 20, 2018
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Inside Nia Jax's meteoric rise to the top of WWE's women's division
WWE superstar Nia Jax holds the Raw women’s championship on an episode of “Monday Night Raw.” (Photo courtesy of WWE)
On the April 7, 2014 episode of “Monday Night Raw,” Paige made her debut on the WWE’s main roster. The then 21-year-old wrestler captured the WWE Divas championship in her first contest and essentially set into motion what would become known in the company as the “Women’s Revolution.”
More than four years have passed since the “Anti-Diva’s” debut, and if Paige helped usher in a new era in women’s wrestling, Nia Jax in many ways is the complete realization of it.
Jax, whose real name is Lina Fanene, has arguably become the most important female wrestler in the WWE today. Billed as the “Irresistible Force,” Jax’s combination of in-ring ability and charisma has led to her rapid ascension to the top of the “Raw” women’s division and in position to have perhaps the most important match in WWE women’s history.
After spending more than a year toiling away in myriad mid-card storylines and matches, Jax seemingly put it all together at the start of 2018, feuding with then-unbeaten Asuka and eventually Alexa Bliss – an angle that culminated in Jax capturing the Raw women’s championship at “WrestleMania 34” this past April.
“It’s been pretty surreal because in this business everybody is constantly grinding and working hard,” Jax told Yahoo Sports. “Winning the championship at “WrestleMania” was a dream come true because not only had it more than a decade since there had been a women’s singles match at “WrestleMania,” but the fact that I got to win it against my best friend in a storyline that was so close to my heart, it was just all kinds of emotional.”
In a division that has grown exponentially over the past several years, there’s no other female star like Jax, and that adds to the attraction she brings each and every night. While it would be easy to simply book Jax as a “monster heel,” WWE has allowed the 34-year-old star to flourish as one of the most unique talents – male or female – on the roster.
“Nia Jax is bringing a whole different message to the ‘Women’s Evolution,” Jax said. “Yes, we are athletic. Yes, we can go just as hard as the men, but women come in all different shapes and sizes. We all have a different story and a different look and everything should be celebrated.”
That different look is something Jax embraces, in fact, it’s arguably the foundation of her character. While every male wrestler’s billed weight is announced prior to a match, the women’s weight has always remained a mystery. Jax, when approached with the idea of having her weight announced before her contests, took pride in breaking down that barrier.
“It’s something [WWE senior producer] Johnny Ace [Laurinaitis] mentioned to me and we went to Vince [McMahon] and we talked about it,” Jax said. “That’s something that’s tough for a woman, sharing their weight. Me sharing my weight and me being the person I am, Vince agreed with me on this, it’s embracing who you are.
“[Someone who is] 272 pounds is a very heavy person and it’s a lot of force that these women are taking. It incorporated not only the message that I’m sending about my body, but also a character thing. It was really cool because when we talked about it and I saw his vision behind it, I realized I would be the only one in this division where you’d be able to see this force.”
WWE superstar Nia Jax competes against Alexa Bliss for the Raw women’s championship at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, La. (Photo courtesy of WWE)
Since her victory at “WrestleMania 34,” Jax has become one of the most recognizable and marketable faces of the company. Her status as Raw women’s champion has helped to grow her status as a role model and allowed her to continue to be an advocate for her – and the WWE’s – anti-bullying and body positivity campaigns.
“There’s a huge respect that you get from being the women’s champion,” Jax said. “Everybody gives it, in the locker room and everywhere I go. It’s cool to be able whenever I’m doing media to be able to share that message which is near and dear to my heart. That respect that I’m given is very humbling and it allows me to continue to share my message.”
In addition to her appearances on WWE television and at live events, Jax made a public appearance on WWE’s behalf at the NBC Universal upfront presentation last month, setting the stage for perhaps the biggest moment of her career.
At the event, which was also attended by fellow WWE stars Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey, Jax took center stage when she challenged the former UFC bantamweight champion to a title match at the upcoming pay-per-view event “Money in the Bank.”
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The match, which takes place Sunday, marks Rousey’s first singles match since joining WWE earlier this year and is not just one of the most anticipated moments of the night, it arguably could be one of the most important moments in the history of women’s wrestling.
“I know it sounds so cheesy, but I am honored I get this opportunity to step into the ring with a woman who has pioneered so much for women in sports,” Jax said. “Ronda has gone out there and been unapologetically herself. She is who she is.”
In reality, this moment is huge for both Rousey, who is viewed as one of the cornerstones of the company due to her massive celebrity and athletic accomplishments, and Jax, who has been tasked with helping to create a true main-event feel during the weeks leading up to the match.
“I am so excited and nervous,” Jax admitted. “I’m using those nerves to fuel me as well. It’s going to be such an amazing match and I can’t wait for people to see what Ronda Rousey is capable of and what we’re capable of doing together. It’s such a powerhouse match.”
WWE superstar Nia Jax appears on an episode on “Monday Night Raw” prior to her match with Ronda Rousey at the “Money in the Bank” pay-per-view. (Photo courtesy of WWE)
The stakes are so high that every move the pair has made on “Raw” has been dissected by wrestling fans and media outlets alike. Since Rousey is still a newcomer, more of the burden of building up this match has fallen on Jax’s shoulders and many have taken notice of her quick transition from on-screen hero to villain in just a few short weeks.
“It’s funny because everyone is asking ‘Oh my God, is she heel or is she face?’” Jax said. “Nia Jax is Nia Jax. That’s something that I have been trying to get across. I am who I am in the moment. I’m not a heel, I’m not a babyface, I’m Nia Jax.
“In this setting with Ronda, the competition is high. She’s coming into our house and everybody is already so in love with her, she’s so established. I worked hard too. It comes off as being heel and cocky, but at the end of the day I’m pretty darn good myself.”
Jax’s ability to forego those traditional pro wrestling roles is simply another way in which she separates herself from the pack. While some WWE stars still operate in kayfabe – the idea of protecting the characters and storylines in professional wrestling – Jax manages to keep her on-screen persona separate from her social media and real life.
“That’s what we do in the WWE, we tell stories, we’re characters,” Jax said. “We go into the ring and my character is telling a story in the ring against another character. Nia Jax, who’s also Lina Fanene, is a very happy, positive person who loves to spread messages, but when she’s in the ring, at the end of the day she’s a bad ass competitive girl who is going to prove a point.”
While she is forced to balance a hectic travel schedule, performing, filming a reality TV show and making public appearances, Jax doesn’t forget the position she’s in and the opportunities she’s been afforded. It’s one lesson she says her cousin (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) taught her.
“Every single day I wake up with gratitude in my heart that we get to do what we do because there are so many people out there that wish they could,” Jax said. “I’m very appreciative.”
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Did Justify get help from another horse in its Triple Crown victory?
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Justify stormed into history on Saturday, becoming the thirteenth horse to win the Triple Crown. But before the horse had even finished its cooldown lap, the chatter began: did Justify get a bit of help from its stablemate?
Justify, the theory goes, got a bit of help from stablemate Restoring Hope. In the photo below, you can see Restoring Hope, in pink, coming up strong on the outside of Justify, in red. Restoring Hope, in effect, could have been running interference for Justify, blocking other horses from making a charge.
Mike Repole, co-owner of horses that finished fourth (Vino Rosso) and last (Noble Indy) in the Belmont Stakes, advanced that idea on Sunday. “It definitely seemed to me he was more of an offensive lineman than a racehorse trying to win the Belmont,” Repole said, “and Justify was a running back trying to run for a touchdown.”
But Bob Baffert, trainer of both Justify and Restoring Hope, dismissed that theory in an interview with Yahoo Sports’ Pat Forde:
I asked Baffert if Restoring Hope basically set a quarter-mile moving screen for Justify and he denied it. I very much think he did run interference. But Repole wanted Noble Indy to be a rabbit for Vino Rosso, so not much room to complain. https://t.co/GNaZGC9jc0
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) June 11, 2018
It’s pretty obvious that Restoring Hope did make matters a bit tougher, for a short time, for horses charging upward through the field. Plus, as Forde noted, Repole had sought to employ a little gamesmanship himself, having Noble Indy rabbit — i.e. set a fast pace to tire out other competitors — and set the stage for Vino Rosso. (It didn’t work.)
Regardless of how it happened, Justify is now a Triple Crown champion, and Restoring Hope has a future as an offensive lineman.
Did Justify get a little help in winning the Triple Crown? (Getty)
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Multiple women accuse late acclaimed US equestrian coach of sexual abuse
Late acclaimed United States equestrian coach Jimmy A. Williams is accused of committing sexual assault.
Multiple women have come forward alleging that late legendary equestrian coach Jimmy A. Williams sexually abused them while under his tutelage, in a story broken in part by the New York Times Tuesday.
Williams, who is estimated to have taught 37 professional riders and Olympic medalists, died in 1993 at the age of 76. In 1989, a lifetime achievement award was named in his honor.
An earlier report posted on the Chronicle of the Horse quoted five women who said that Williams abused in a number of ways, from discussing his sex life with them, to forcing them to kiss him, to attempting to force their faces onto his genitalia.
The Times corroborated that story with accounts from 38 “former students, trainers, grooms, equestrian officials and members of the Flintridge Riding Club,” where Williams worked.
Allegations mirror those of other Olympic sports
Both the Times and Chronicle stories reflect the sentiment of the abuse victims that have emerged in a number of sports, including USA Gymnastics and USA swimming. Those featured in the stories confirm that Williams’ power over them was a result of his success, and that they worried about retribution if they were to speak out. Some also noted that because Williams was so well-regarded as a coach, their parents may have ignored warnings signs of the abuse.
The Chronicle reports includes details from a number of Williams’ former students. One recalled that he would force her into horse stalls for “kissing sessions, and would say that “You’re going to need to learn this for the big world.” Another student said that he started kissing her when she was 11 years old, and told her not to tell. Others added memories of “inappropriate sexual advances,” and one recalled being forced to hear about his sex life:
“I’d be riding in the ring, and [Jimmy would] come up alongside of me and walk alongside—he’d always be on a horse in the ring—and he’d tell me horrible sexual stories about how to turn on a woman and his own sexual experiences,” she recalled. “For me, I had to get to the point where I would shut that part of my brain down when things were happening. I didn’t allow it to penetrate me. I’d already been molested by [my previous trainer], and I’d learned how to shut that part of my brain down. You knew things were going on, but you didn’t feel them. He kissed me, told me foul sexual stories, and touched me in places that he shouldn’t have.”
The Times report raises questions as to why it took so long for the allegations to arise; Some subjects interviewed dismissed the cases as “mores of a different era.”
However, then-United States Equestrian Federation VP Jane Forbes Clark did tell the Times that she had heard about the allegations before Williams was awarded the lifetime achievement award, called a friend to ask for an opinion on the situation, and then did not investigate further.
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'Fox & Friends' apologizes for error-laden report on ESPN's Jemele Hill
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“Fox & Friends” devoted an entire segment Tuesday morning to scorching former “SportsCenter” anchor Jemele Hill, the recipient of the National Association of Black Journalists’ “Journalist of the Year” award, mocking both Hill and NABJ. Error-laden and lacking in the most basic awareness of journalism, the segment prompted a later correction from the network.
After an introduction in which the hosts seemed in disbelief that a critic of a president could in fact win any kind of award, the fun began.
“I always thought journalists broke stories. She is commentary, and whether you agree with it or not, that’s a brand-new nuance to that category,” said co-host Brian Kilmeade, apparently unaware that, yes, journalism includes “commentary,” and believe it or not, they’ve given out Pulitzers for that kind of thing since the Watergate era.
Lawrence Jones, editor-in-chief of CampusReform.org, joined the panel and noted at least six times that Hill is “unemployed,” suggesting that a lack of presence on television rendered her an irrelevant figure and a poor role model. Only one problem with that: Hill remains very much employed by ESPN. Moreover — and this may come as a shock to “Fox & Friends,” which has a target audience of exactly one person — one becomes a journalist of note precisely by not pandering to exactly what the powerful or the masses want to hear.
Jones’ misstatements were so egregious that “Fox & Friends” put out a correction several hours later:
On the show this morning a guest stated Jemele Hill was unemployed. Correction: Hill is currently employed by ESPN.
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) May 22, 2018
On her personal Twitter, Hill put herself in hot water last year on several occasions, calling President Trump a “white supremacist” and suggesting that the best way to strike back at the NFL was through boycotts. That last tweet earned her a short suspension. She and ESPN later announced that she’d be moving from the 6 p.m. “SportsCenter” slot to work on The Undefeated, ESPN’s site focusing on the intersection of race and sports.
Jemele Hill. (via screen shot)
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
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Brandi Chastain plaque looks nothing like Brandi Chastain
Brandi Chastain in real life. (AP Photo)
Brandi Chastain is one of the finest soccer players in American history, and well deserving of any honor that comes her way. A two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup champion, she was inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame on Monday.
There was just one problem. You can see what Chastain looks like above. Her plaque looked like this:
Brandi Chastain (allegedly).
Look, we get that art is supposed to be subjective, but that … that ain’t great.
“It’s not the most flattering,” Chastain said at the reception honoring her. “But it’s nice.”
Ann Killion, the San Francisco Chronicle columnist whose words grace the plaque, wasn’t nearly so diplomatic:
Brandi Chastain is one of the most beautiful athletes I’ve ever covered. How this became her plaque is a freaking embarrassment for BASHOF. Makes Cristiano’s look perfect. pic.twitter.com/hta6c0cmSo
— Ann Killion (@annkillion) May 22, 2018
“Brandi Chastain is one of the most beautiful athletes I’ve ever covered,” Killion tweeted. “How this became her plaque is a freaking embarrassment for BASHOF.”
The plaque was reminiscent of last year’s Cristiano Ronaldo sculpture debacle:
This sculpture of Cristiano Ronaldo is a great representation of how you look when you accidentally open the selfie camera on your phone pic.twitter.com/H8jjPeGwN3
— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) March 29, 2017
And, yes, Twitter had its jokes:
I don't know about Brandi Chastain, but they nailed Mickey Rooney. pic.twitter.com/wfSb7irMbx
— Jason Davis, The ⚽ Maker (@davisjsn) May 22, 2018
Brandi Chastain’s plaque looks like someone tried to imagine Babe Ruth doing the @chrissyteigen face. pic.twitter.com/KujRc44KQH
— 10¢B (@TenCentBeers) May 22, 2018
Brandi Chastain's new HOF plaque. pic.twitter.com/FXqDXwyyD3
— Sam Adams (@SWXSamAdams) May 22, 2018
The Hall of Fame has reportedly agreed to re-do the plaque, which is, all things considered, probably for the best.
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Reports: Fox paying WWE $1 billion for 'Smackdown' TV rights
WWE’s “Smackdown” is reportedly moving to Fox starting in Fall 2019. (Photo courtesy of WWE)
WWE’s “Smackdown Live” television program will have a new home in 2019, according to new reports.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell was the first to report the agreement, which is scheduled to begin in October 2019.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the reported deal between WWE and Fox is for five years and worth approximately $205 million annually. The deal, which would total over $1 billion during its lifespan, is reportedly three times as much as the company was getting from NBC Universal for “Smackdown Live.”
It was reported last week that NBCU, whose networks have aired “Smackdown” since 2010, declined to renew its deal with WWE for the program, instead opting to focus on retaining the rights to the wrestling giant’s flagship show, “Monday Night Raw.”
Since that news broke, WWE’s stock has steadily risen amid speculation that a deal with Fox could be reached for “Smackdown Live.” Immediately following Rovell’s report, WWE stock again sharply rose, increasing by six percent.
Overall, WWE’s stock has risen more than 15 dollars per share since last Thursday.
As far as Fox is concerned, it is picking up a show that averaged 2.5 million viewers weekly in 2017, and now adds WWE to its portfolio of live programming – joining the NFL, MLB, and UFC.
While it remains to be seen where exactly “Smackdown Live” fits into the Fox programming picture, The Wrap reported that plans were being considered to move the show from its current Tuesday night slot to Friday.
Prior to its rebranding as “Smackdown Live” in 2016, the WWE show had been pre-taped and aired on both Thursdays and Fridays.
WWE declined to comment to Yahoo Sports for this story.
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Preakness 2018: Justify wins, sets up Triple Crown attempt
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Every year at the Preakness, all eyes are on the Kentucky Derby winner, with the hope and expectation that the champion there can win at Pimlico to take the necessary second step toward winning the Triple Crown. Two weeks ago, Justify romped to a decisive victory in Kentucky. Would it happen again in muddy, foggy Maryland?
The answer: absolutely. Justify won by half a length in 1:55.93, and now heads to the Belmont Stakes on June 9 with a chance to win the Triple Crown. Bravazo finished second; Tenfold took third.
“It was a hard race today on him, probably the hardest race he’s had, but he’s getting fit,” trainer Bob Baffer said after.
The 143rd Run for the Black-Eyed Susans (it’s a flower) took place on a sloppy, fog-enshrouded track not unlike the one Justify romped at in Kentucky. Justify ran the race at 2-5 odds, with only Good Magic coming anywhere close at 7-2. No other horse was under double-digit odds; Bravazo went off at 15-1, and Tenfold was 25-1. It was an unfamiliar field for Justify; only four horses from the Kentucky Derby field were in the mix at Pimlico.
Justify with Mike Smith atop wins the 143rd Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico race track. (AP)
Justify started from the seventh gate at Churchill Downs, and started from the same gate Saturday at Pimlico, albeit with one notable difference: where there were 20 horses in the field in Kentucky, there were only eight racing on Saturday. Justify was also the latest in a long line of Baffert-trained horses to run the Preakness; Baffert horses had won the race six times coming into Saturday, and more importantly for Justify’s odds, Baffert’s four Kentucky Derby-winning horses had also won the Preakness.
Justify left the gate cleanly and broke out in the lead before the first turn. Good Magic held the inside line heading into the backstretch, but Justify kept the lead by a nose. The two horses kept a solid, not spectacular, pace through the back stretch, running neck and neck as they hit the far turn. Good Magic nudged a head in front in the turn, but Justify broke out in the final stretch and managed to win by half a length. It wasn’t a dominating win, but it was a victory nonetheless.
“He got a little tired,” jockey Mike Smith said. “This was the hardest race he’s had. … But he was also waiting on competition.”
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The Preakness sets the stage for a Triple Crown bid. American Pharaoh won three years ago, but before that, it had been more than a generation, 37 years, since Affirmed had won the Triple Crown. Twenty-three horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness but failed to bring home the Triple Crown. And three weeks from now, Justify will have the chance to buck those odds and join the illustrious ranks of Triple Crown winners.
The mud was plentiful at the Preakness. (Getty)
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Preakness 2018: Justify wins, sets up Triple Crown attempt
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Every year at the Preakness, all eyes are on the Kentucky Derby winner, with the hope and expectation that the champion of two weeks ago can win at Pimlico to take the necessary second step toward winning the Triple Crown. Two weeks ago, Justify romped to a decisive victory in Kentucky. Would it happen again in muddy, foggy Maryland?
The answer: absolutely. Justify won by half a length in 1:55.93, and now heads to the Belmont Stakes on June 9 with a chance to win the Triple Crown. Bravazo finished second; Tenfold took third.
“It was a hard race today on him, probably the hardest race he’s had, but he’s getting fit,” trainer Bob Baffer said after.
The 143rd Run for the Black-Eyed Susans (it’s a flower) took place on a sloppy, fog-enshrouded track not unlike the one Justify romped at in Kentucky. Justify started the race at 1-5 odds, with only Good Magic coming anywhere close at 5-1. No other horse was under double-digit odds. It was an unfamiliar field for Justify; only four horses from the Kentucky Derby field were in the mix at Pimlico.
Justify with Mike Smith atop wins the 143rd Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico race track. (AP)
Justify started from the seventh gate at Churchill Downs, and started from the same gate Saturday at Pimlico, albeit with one notable difference: where there were 20 horses in the field in Kentucky, there were only eight racing on Saturday. Justify was also the latest in a long line of Baffert-trained horses to run the Preakness; Baffert horses had won the race six times coming into Saturday, and more importantly for Justify’s odds, Baffert’s four Kentucky Derby-winning horses had also won the Preakness.
Justify left the gate cleanly and broke out in the lead before the first turn. Good Magic held the inside line heading into the backstretch, but Justify kept the lead by a nose. The two horses kept a solid, not spectacular, pace through the back stretch, running neck and neck as they hit the far turn. Good Magic nudged a head in front in the turn, but Justify broke out in the final stretch and managed to win by half a length. It wasn’t a dominating win, but it was a victory nonetheless.
“He got a little tired,” jockey Mike Smith said. “This was the hardest race he’s had. … But he was also waiting on competition.”
The Preakness sets the stage for a Triple Crown bid. American Pharaoh won three years ago, but before that, it had been more than a generation, 37 years, since Affirmed had won the Triple Crown. Twenty-three horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness but failed to bring home the Triple Crown. And three weeks from now, Justify will have the chance to buck those odds and join the illustrious ranks of Triple Crown winners.
The mud was plentiful at the Preakness. (Getty)
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Ronda Rousey is getting her first championship match in WWE, but is she ready?
Ronda Rousey won in her WWE in-ring debut at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans, La. on April 8, 2018. (Photo courtesy of WWE)
Less than six months since making her debut as a professional wrestler, Ronda Rousey will be competing for her first championship, the WWE announced on Monday.
During the NBCUniversal Upfront presentation in New York City, which featured Rousey alongside fellow WWE Superstars Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax, the former UFC star was challenged by Jax, the current Raw women’s champion.
The match, scheduled to take place at the “Money in the Bank” pay-per-view event next month, will be Rousey’s first singles competition since her debut and her first official in-ring match since she teamed up with Kurt Angle to face Stephanie McMahon and Triple H at “WrestleMania” this past April.
While Rousey’s star power is undeniable, putting her in a championship match just months into her WWE career is an interesting decision and one that has a high-risk, high-reward outcome for the WWE.
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Why Rousey getting this opportunity makes sense
As mentioned, Rousey’s celebrity and crossover appeal are unparalleled in the current WWE women’s division and arguably the entire company. Since she debuted in January at the “Royal Rumble,” Rousey has been booked as a powerful figure, gotten an overwhelmingly positive reaction from fans and has lived up to her “Baddest Woman on the Planet” moniker.
If the WWE is going to continue to push Rousey as this unbeatable figure – much like she was for a period of time in UFC – having her go over on Jax, a powerful champion, makes complete sense. Rousey brings an intimidating aura to the ring and using her patented armbar to submit Jax in a championship setting would be convincing. WWE works best when the product in the ring is believable and, in Rousey’s case, a victory over Jax is not out of the question.
From those perspectives, having Rousey not just face Jax, but win as well, would be a smart move and could set up a possible main event-caliber match at WWE’s “SummerSlam” event in August.
What could go wrong with Rousey getting this shot so early?
Here’s where things get tricky: To this point in her WWE career, Rousey has been marketed as a “face,” or good guy. Jax, who won the Raw women’s championship at “WrestleMania,” recently wrapped up a feud with Alexa Bliss and since her title reign began has also been a face – meaning this angle currently lacks the traditional “heel” role that generally divides fans during a match.
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While both women being faces isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, it’s hard to imagine WWE would book Rousey to lose her first singles match. Rousey losing at “Money in the Bank” would diminish much of the credibility the WWE has built up around her and seemingly remove her from the main-event picture for the time being.
Although Jax doesn’t necessarily need the title to succeed in WWE, having her successfully defend against Bliss only to drop the belt to Rousey would also diminish her status as one of the more popular wrestlers and take away from the anti-bullying platform both she and the WWE have been working hard to promote over the past several weeks.
There’s also the question of how ready Rousey is both in and out of the ring. Rousey was surprisingly impressive in her first bout, but a singles match is very different than what she was a part of at “WrestleMania.” It’s worth asking if Rousey has the skills to perform across from Jax, whose style features powerful moves and throws, and – should she win – be comfortable in more speaking roles on television.
The final component here is the issue WWE currently has with Raw’s top title, the universal championship. That belt’s owner, former (and perhaps future) UFC star Brock Lesnar, is on a part-time contract and the title isn’t defended on every pay-per-view nor is it present on most episodes of “Raw.” While it’s likely a Rousey win would result in her being present on nearly every show, the similarities between Rousey and Lesnar may be too much for WWE fans to ignore.
What probably will happen in Rousey’s match
There’s a decent chance this match doesn’t have a clean finish. Rousey has been teaming with fellow WWE superstar Natalya in recent weeks and the two have been very vocal about their friendship and how they train together. Outside of the Riott Squad and Alexa Bliss, the Raw women’s division is devoid of true heels and Natalya played that role at the end of her run on Smackdown Live.
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Should Natalya turn on Rousey and cost her the match, it would protect Rousey’s aura, set up another feud for her, and preserve her status as a top contender for Jax’s belt.
If not Natalya, another possible outcome would be interference from McMahon, who has been absent from WWE television since Rousey put her in an armbar on “Monday Night Raw” immediately following “WrestleMania.” McMahon is perhaps the WWE’s biggest heel and would keep both Rousey and Jax in fans’ good graces.
Regardless of how it plays out, WWE putting Rousey in this position shows the faith they have in her at this point in her career. The only thing that remains to be seen is if she can deliver.
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