Sports
Drew McIntyre ready for WWE title reign, explains why Clash at the Castle is bigger than WrestleMania for him
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Drew McIntyre will face off towards Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Common Championship at Conflict on the Fort in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday in what he hopes will convey an finish to the “Tribal Chief’s” two-year-plus stranglehold on the title.
For McIntyre, it’s a homecoming of types. He was born in Ayr, Scotland, which is positioned almost 400 miles north of the place the premium occasion will happen. He could have an opportunity to select up the WWE championship for the third time in his profession with the corporate.
When requested by Fox Information Digital what it’s like having the occasion basically in his yard, McIntyre responded, “It’s wild.”
McIntyre admitted that Reigns was on a formidable streak however didn’t essentially like how he did enterprise within the ring.
“It’s past unbelievable to carry the title for 2 years, and Roman’s anyone who has completed some unbelievable issues the previous 10-plus years, main-evented a number of WrestleManias. And he disappeared for some time in the course of the pandemic, the place I used to be main the cost as WWE champion and reappeared as this ‘Tribal Chief’ character, which took him to the subsequent stage,” McIntyre informed Fox Information Digital.
WWE TO LAUNCH NXT EUROPE IN 2023, NXT UK TO MAKE IMPACT AT UPCOMING EVENT
“I don’t essentially like the best way he will get issues completed today, and he’s a modified man. However, nonetheless, he’s very profitable. He’s an enormous star. He’s anyone I’ve appeared as much as and realized from over time. And this Saturday, at Conflict on the Fort, I’m going to should kick his head off his physique and take these titles as a result of I don’t really feel like he represents the titles the best way they need to be represented, fairly frankly.”
Getting the chance to beat Reigns could be an enormous accomplishment. McIntyre mentioned, including that it will be the primary time he would maintain the title in entrance of a dwell viewers. His two earlier title reigns had been within the thick of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It might be the largest second of my profession simply because I by no means envisioned a second like this arising and being within the title match within the U.Ok. and simply the journey that I’ve been on. And the attention-grabbing factor is, I’m a two-time WWE champion. I received my first title in entrance of no one proper on the peak of the pandemic, received my second title in entrance of digital followers. I’ve by no means held the title in entrance of dwell followers, and I’ve been champion for 300 days, which is fairly loopy.
“To win it for a 3rd time, in entrance of my followers, on a house present basically, could be a giant second that I’ve been looking for. And to beat Roman on the run he’s on would actually take Drew McIntyre to that subsequent stage.”
However would it not be an even bigger second than WrestleMania?
“For me personally, it’s,” McIntyre mentioned. “That is one thing, like I’ve mentioned a number of instances, I simply couldn’t even have dreamt up this situation. I did dream of a U.Ok. stadium present, and I’d’ve been glad to be on the present. However I might by no means have envisioned that I’d be in the principle occasion preventing for the title towards the one particular person I’ve not been capable of beat in a number of matches we’ve had collectively. And he’s on the run of his life.
“I’ve the momentum behind me proper now. Individuals are speaking about this match all internationally to such an insane diploma. I couldn’t think about this explicit scenario. So, yeah, that is past a dream come true for me.”
Conflict on the Fort takes place Saturday and may be seen on Peacock beginning at midday ET. It’s the primary stadium present in the UK since 1992 SummerSlam and first pay-per-view within the U.S. since 2003 Insurrextion.
Sports
Travis Kelce spotted dancing in star-studded group at Taylor Swift's Paris show
The “City of Love” was the latest sighting of Travis Kelce at a Taylor Swift concert, and he had some A-list celebrities dancing alongside him to his significant other’s chart-topping hits.
The Kansas City Chiefs superstar tight end was seen at Paris La Défense Arena in Paris where Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid were next to him to enjoy Swift’s 87th Eras Tour show.
Coincidence on the number, anyone?
Videos have circulated on social media of Kelce dancing to Swift songs, including “… Ready for It?” “Lover” and the classic “You Belong with Me.”
It’s significant that Kelce has been spotted at this show as he hasn’t been seen since she went back on tour. Swift has been in Paris for three nights prior to this fourth and final show, where Kelce was spotted.
TRAVIS KELCE HOSTING ‘SNL’ MADE CAST MEMBER FEEL ‘VERY PROTECTIVE’ OF HIM
Of course, this isn’t the first time Kelce has reciprocated the love and support Swift showed during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning season last year. During the Chiefs’ bye week, Kelce was seen in Buenos Aires for one of Swift’s Eras Tour dates.
They will clearly go the extra mile to support each other; Swift famously flew from Japan to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl after a tour date across the Pacific.
And fans, whether it was of Kelce first or Swift, have fallen in love with the couple throughout the process as they continue to be one of the world’s power couples.
While love isn’t something to rush, many are clamoring to know if Kelce has any thoughts of proposing to Swift to take their relationship to the next level.
Recently, Chiefs long snapper James Winchester said on the “Like a Farmer” podcast that he thinks his teammate will be engaged at some point because he sees “they’re very similar in a lot of ways.”
“Being around Trav for the last nine years, I mean, I think they’re more similar than you would think. I wish the best for them,” he added.
Other than supporting Swift, Kelce has had a great offseason thus far. The Chiefs made him the highest-paid tight end in the game with a new contract extension that’s worth $34.25 million over two years, with $17 million fully guaranteed for the upcoming 2024 campaign.
So, personally and professionally, Kelce had a lot of things to dance about in Paris with some of his friends while watching Swift kill it onstage.
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Sports
Column: Dave Roberts does his job: Protecting Shohei Ohtani from himself
Shohei Ohtani thought he could have played on Sunday. He was looking forward to facing Japanese compatriot Yu Darvish.
Dave Roberts didn’t let him.
Ohtani was never able to plead his case. On the morning of the Dodgers’ series finale against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Roberts told interpreter Will Ireton that Ohtani wouldn’t be in the lineup, and that was that.
A day after he was forced out of a game early by a stiff back, Ohtani didn’t play in the 4-0 loss to the Padres.
Ohtani is expected to return on Monday for the start of a three-game series in San Francisco, Roberts said.
The way Roberts managed Ohtani marked a promising start to one of the most important relationships in the organization — a relationship that figures to grow in importance when Ohtani resumes pitching next season.
The manager was the manager. The player was the player.
This simple division of labor can be complicated when a player of Ohtani’s caliber is involved, but the Dodgers were able to do what the Angels often failed to do last year: They protected Ohtani from himself.
“I think he understands that it’s for his benefit and the team’s benefit,” Roberts said.
When Ohtani played for the Angels last year, what was most beneficial to the team was for him to play almost every game.
So he did.
The Angels were in no position to stop him, or even persuade him to undergo a MRI examination after he was removed from a start after only four innings because of a finger cramp.
The result?
A torn ulnar collateral ligament and a second Tommy John surgery.
The Angels couldn’t ask Ohtani to look at the bigger picture because there was none. October wasn’t guaranteed for them, as it is for the Dodgers, who entered Sunday with a 6½-game lead in the National League West.
The Dodgers have a talented roster.
They have a track record.
They have realistic championship ambitions.
Asked if the promise of playing in October made it easier for him to accept Roberts’ decision, Ohtani wouldn’t say.
“Regardless” of the condition of his back, Ohtani said in Japanese, “there was thought of a day off.”
The Dodgers just started a 13-day stretch in which they will play 13 games. Ohtani described the injury as minor — he said he initially felt discomfort in his back working out before the game on Saturday — but Roberts wasn’t inclined to take any chances at this stage of the season, even for a game against a division rival.
“He obviously knows his body really well,” Robert said. “Right now, with the 13 in a row, I just wanted to make sure we were a little more cautious.”
Taking the decision out of Ohtani’s hands was a small but critical move by Roberts. As the Angels learned last year, once the terms of a relationship are established, they are difficult to undo.
How Dodgers management communicates with their star player will be more consequential later in the season and even more so next year when Ohtani makes his anticipated return to the mound. Ohtani will be coming back from a second elbow reconstruction.
Of course, the team entered its relationship with Ohtani with more leverage than the Angels ever had.
In retrospect, it looks as if Ohtani chose to break into the major leagues with the Angels because of how powerless they were. As a non-contending club, they didn’t have any competitive reasons to deny him the opportunity to be a two-way player.
That’s not to say the Dodgers aren’t being rewarded for having Ohtani on their team. Of course they are. As a one-way player this season, he’s still the best player in the game. He sells merchandise.
Yet Ohtani needs the Dodgers as much as they need him. They’re offering him something he desperately wants that few other organizations can: A legitimate chance to win.
Roberts said he will ask Ohtani for input in the future when figuring out his playing schedule. Roberts should. Ohtani deserves that much. However, the Dodgers can’t afford for their relationship with Ohtani to be as lopsided as that of the Angels. Sunday was a sign that it might not be.
Sports
Deontay Wilder scared for Mike Tyson's well-being in Jake Paul fight: 'He’s too old for this'
From one former heavyweight title winner to another, Deontay Wilder fears 57-year-old Mike Tyson might end up in a coma after fighting Jake Paul.
Tyson shocked everyone when he agreed to fight Paul, which was commissioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations as a professional fight, on July 20.
What was initially an exhibition match has turned into a highly anticipated bout, but Wilder doesn’t think anyone truly cares about Tyson’s well-being.
“I think it’s bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn’t been active in 20 years, so they should not just license him because of who he is, that’s how people get hurt – God forbid he gets hurt,” Wilder said to Sportsbook Review.
“People can get hit in the wrong place and at the wrong time, there’s lots of examples where guys have been hit into a coma. It’s easy to do. He’s too old for this.
“At the end of the day, no one gives a f— about Mike.”
MIKE TYSON VS. JAKE PAUL BOXING MATCH OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED, WILL COUNT FOR PROFESSIONAL RECORDS
Wilder continued by saying he doesn’t care that Tyson underwent tests to deem this a professional fight.
“As long as you’re willing to suffer the consequences if something bad goes wrong,” Wilder said.
After the fight was sanctioned, Paul recently said he is “super respectful” of Tyson, but “All is fair in love and war.”
“I love the guy, but as soon as it turned into a pro fight, one of us has to die,” the YouTube star-turned-boxer said.
Videos of Tyson working out for the fight have shocked many with how fast and powerful he still looks at his age. But Wilder, again, doesn’t care what videos show or what Tyson even says about his well-being.
“His power may not have left completely, but you still need to set it up, your stamina needs to be a certain way, or it’s going to look like a clown show. I don’t want to see it to be honest,” he explained.
“I don’t want the last thing I remember of him is him getting knocked out by a YouTuber. The last thing you do, that’s what people remember you by.”
While Paul and Tyson prepare for their fight, Wilder will be fighting Zhilei Zhang on June 1.
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