Sports
Ex-WWE star Donovan Dijak makes electric Major League Wrestling debut: 'Execution was flawless'
EXCLUSIVE: Donovan Dijak made his Major League Wrestling (MLW) debut Thursday night at the promotion’s Summer of the Beasts show in New York City.
The countdown to doomsday clock MLW had been promoting expired and out came the former WWE star.
The 6-foot-7 giant, flanked by manager Saint Laurent, entered the ring and began to take out anyone who dared to challenge him. He then proceeded to mock the bodies left in the ring.
Still buzzing from making his debut hours before, Dijak told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview he thought everything went great.
Donovan Dijak makes his mark in Major League Wrestling. (MLW)
“I was first sort of introduced to the concept a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “But, yeah, the execution was flawless. I was very happy with the presentation and everything that was kind of laid out for me beforehand.”
Dijak said he was impressed with the presentation he saw of himself on the video screen behind him as he walked to the stage, down the ramp and into the ring. He said parts of the video that were included in his presentation were filmed shortly beforehand.
“I was totally blown away with that turnaround,” he said. “The video looked amazing too for such a short turnaround. I thought that was incredibly impressive for it to be sort of TV ready within minutes. I was just super blown away. And then, of course, the execution of this match, with all the talent and then afterward, was just tremendous.”
It’s only been a few months since Dijak and WWE went their separate ways. Dijak had a tremendous run at NXT and was selected to “Raw” during the WWE Draft.
Since then, Dijak has been back on the independent wrestling circuit. Where Dijak landed Thursday isn’t just some rinky-dink operation. MLW has been in the pro wrestling landscape since 2017, headed by Court Bauer a former WWE writer.
Talented pro wrestlers have moved through the company, including Alex Shelley, Austin Aries, Lexis King (then known as Brian Pillman Jr.), Francine, Gangrel, Jacob Fatu, Karrion Kross (then known as Killer Kross), Konnan, Matt Cardona, MJF, Tajiri and several others.
WWE LEGEND ‘STONE COLD’ STEVE AUSTIN TEASES INTEREST IN WRESTLEMANIA 41 APPEARANCE: ‘I’D BE HAPPY TO’
The roster now includes established talents like KENTA, Matt Riddle, Satoshi Kojima, Mistico, Minoru Suzuki, Bobby Fish and The Andersons, among others.
It’s that type of prestige, along with the trust that was instilled in him, that appealed to Dijak. He told Fox News Digital he’s never been presented with a laid-out plan before – until now.
Donovan Dijak embraces the crowd at Summer of the Beasts. (MLW)
“This is the first time where I got really sort of a set in stone answer even before we began,” he said. “I’m 37 years old. I don’t have a ton of time left in my career to be kind of hoping and praying that my hard work goes rewarded.
“So, to know right from the get-go that this is going to be the presentation, this is how it’s going to look, and ‘We need you to fill your end of the bargain.’ Well, that’s something that I could really dive headfirst into because I know what I can bring to the table. The question mark in my mind has always been, ‘OK, is that going to be reciprocated in a fashion that helps me, elevates me.’ And sometimes the answer is yes, and sometimes the answer is no.
“But to this level that is committing to me is further than I’ve ever seen that aspect of it. So, I’m very excited in that regard.”
Dijak wouldn’t divulge how many shows he’s committed to for MLW. Fightland takes place in Atlanta Sept. 14, followed by Slaughterhouse on Oct. 4 in St. Petersburg, Florida; Lucha Apocalypto in Chicago Nov. 9; and One Show in New York City Dec. 5. In between, MLW: Fusion can be seen on YouTube, beIN Sports and Fite TV+.
Dijak said he is looking to make a run at the MLW world heavyweight championship, which is held by Kojima.
“I’m going to continue what I always do and that’s have the best matches in the world and have the best match on any given night on any given platform,” Dijak told Fox News Digital. “That’s what I’ve done on every show that I’ve ever been on for the past decade of my career. That’s not going to change anytime soon.
“MLW is going to get that from me, and I think they know that they’re going to get that from me. And I respect that they recognize that right off the bat, and we’re going to go to work right away.”
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Folarin Balogun’s teammates came to his defense after the USA World Cup star was given a red card during the team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night.
Balogun received the red card after he stepped on defender Tarik Muharemovic’s right ankle. Brazilian referee Raphael Claus only gave Balogun the card after a VAR review. The red card meant Balogun will not be able to play in the team’s Round of 16 match against Belgium.
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United States’ Folarin Balogun, right, stands by after being issued a red card by Referee Raphael Claus, of Brazil, as United States’ Weston McKennie (8) looks on during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
A FIFA official told The Athletic a team cannot appeal against the red card or the suspension. The official pointed the outlet to a portion of the organization’s rules and regulations, which states, “A sending-off automatically incurs suspension from the subsequent match. The FIFA judicial bodies may impose additional match suspensions and other disciplinary measures.”
Balogun’s teammate, Weston McKennie, called the lack of an appeal process “bogus” and disagreed with the referee’s decision to issue the red card.
Bosnia’s Sead Kolasinac (5) talks to United States’ Folarin Balogun after Balogun was sent off, as Christian Pulisic (10) watches during the World Cup round of 32 match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (Julio Cortez / AP)
“Obviously the ref made a decision that he made, but I think it’s questionable,” McKennie said. “I think there’s been many other plays like that throughout the tournament on other players that a card wasn’t given at all. It’s disappointing.”
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said Balogun’s act “was never intentional.”
“It’s never a red card. Never. … If the intention is to damage the opponent, OK, I understand. But that never was. It was a normal action in football that you are fighting for the ball and your feet land,” he said.
Balogun is the third player to score in a World Cup knockout match and be sent off. He follows Brazil’s Ronaldinho in 2002’s quarterfinal match against England and France’s Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final against Italy.
Referee Raphael Claus of Brazil shows a red card to United States’ Folarin Balogun, right, during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif., near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
It’s the fifth red card handed to an American in the squad’s World Cup history.
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Eric Wynalda received one against Czechoslovakia in 1990, Fernando Clavijo got one against Brazil in 1994 and Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope each received one against Italy in 2006.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
While veterans jockey for new contracts during free agency, young players are getting their tryout opportunities with NBA summer league games beginning this week.
First-round draft pick Cameron Carr and second-year forward Adou Thiero highlight the Lakers summer league roster that was announced Wednesday. The 16-man team will be coached by Lakers assistant coach Ty Abbott and begin summer league play Friday against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.
The Lakers also face the Miami Heat (July 5, 1:30 p.m.) and San Antonio Spurs (July 6, 4:30 p.m.) in the California Classic before playing in the Las Vegas summer league from July 9-19. The Lakers play Oklahoma City (July 10), Dallas (July 11), the Clippers (July 14) and Chicago (July 16) in Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center.
The Lakers traded up in the draft to get Carr, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Baylor, with the 24th overall pick. He will make his unofficial NBA debut, along with former Indiana State and Saint Louis star Robbie Avila. The 6-10 center became a bespectacled college basketball cult hero known affectionately as “Cream Abdul Jabbar” while leading Indiana State to the NIT championship game in 2024. He transferred to Saint Louis, where he was named Atlantic-10 player of the year as a senior when the Billikens won a school-record 29 wins.
Although he is entering his second season with the Lakers, Thiero will be playing his first summer league games. Persistent knee injuries hampered his rookie season. The athletic 6-7 forward averaged 1.9 points and 1.1 rebounds in 25 appearances last season. He said after the Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs that he wanted to improve on his three-point shooting during his second year. He attempted only five three-pointers during his rookie season, regular season and playoffs, making one.
Lakers summer league roster
Robbie Avila, C, 6-10, 240
Cameron Carr, G, 6-5, 190
Jon Elmore, G, 6-3, 190
Luke Goode, F, 6-7, 210
William Hickey, G, 6-4, 203
Arthur Kaluma, F, 6-7, 225
William Kyle III, C, 6-9, 230
Chris Mañon, G, 6-4, 212
Robert McCray V, G, 6-4, 188
AK Okereke, F, 6-7, 245
Chase Ross, G, 6-5, 210
Zhaire Smith, G, 6-4, 205
Peter Suder, G, 6-5, 215
Adou Thiero, F, 6-7, 234
Anton Watson, F, 6-8, 225
Jacari White, G, 6-3, 180
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U.S. men’s national team star Folarin Balogun received a red card in the second half of their Round of 32 World Cup matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night.
Balogun was making a challenge on a ball when he stepped on an opposing player’s leg.
The U.S. men’s national team is down to 10 players for the rest of the match. If the U.S. holds their 1-0 lead, Balogun will have to miss the Round of 16 game.
Balogun scored for the U.S. in the first half.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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