Dec 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman (33) is introduced prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense was the backbone of the team, keeping the 2025 Vikings competitive while the offense struggled all season. There have been some changes to the unit this offseason, and there could be room for one more move. Here are three Vikings trade candidates to boost the defense ahead of the 2026 season.
Defensive Depth Could Become Minnesota’s Trade Focus
I recently wrote about Pro Football Focus’s selection of Blake Cashman as a potential trade candidate. The three players named here appear in the same article and are players the Vikings should be interested in if they want to improve their team.
Minnesota isn’t blessed with a ton of salary cap space, but that can be worked around if you want it to. If the Vikings really want to be competitive in a tough division, here are three defensive players who can make a difference.
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Ronnie Hickman (S), Cleveland Browns
Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) celebrates after intercepting a pass during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Safety was one of the big areas of concern in Minnesota coming into the offseason, and there hasn’t been much done to alleviate those concerns other than drafting Jakobe Thomas in the third round of this year’s draft. Adding a player like Cleveland’s Ronnie Hickman would give the team a solid starter who thrives on coverage, and at a good age to be a long-term solution. Here is what PFF says about Hickman and his trade potential.
Although the Browns were widely lauded for assembling one of the league’s best draft classes, their rookie crop might have ripple effects on someone like Hickman.
The 24-year-old has been sneakily good since being an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, producing at least a 70.6 overall PFF grade in every year. In 2025 specifically, Hickman thrived in coverage with a 75.3 PFF coverage mark — the 10th-best among qualified safeties — while averaging a sound 29.0 snaps per reception.
After Cleveland drafted Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round, it suggests that either Hickman or Grant Delpit isn’t in the team’s long-term future. Both are on expiring contracts, although Hickman seems like the better trade piece given his superior production and younger age.
Jeremy Chinn (S), Las Vegas Raiders
Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn (21) reacts after a sack in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Chinn is the more veteran option at safety with six seasons accrued in the league. He would be a solid option and would improve the Vikings’ safety unit, but he’s not the coverage guy I believe the team needs. Here is what PFF says about his availability.
Chinn enjoyed a resurgent season with the Raiders, but his future with the team might be in doubt.
The former second-round pick played to a 67.7 overall PFF grade in his first campaign in Las Vegas, his best since 2021. Chinn’s 69.5 PFF run-defense grade placed in the 67th percentile at the position, and he missed a modest 9.9% of his tackle attempts.
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The Raiders made a splash when they selected versatile Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes with the 38th overall pick. While Stukes may play all over the secondary, he figures to be more of a traditional safety considering the team also acquired slot corner Taron Johnson. As a result, organizations could call about Chinn with just one year left on his contract.
Jer’Zhan Newton (DT), Washington Commanders
Dec 22, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (95) jumps into the stands to celebrates with fans after the Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Minnesota bolstered its interior defensive line in this year’s draft, selecting both Caleb Banks (first round) and Domonique Orange (third round). So did Washington, and that could leave former second-round pick Jer’Zhan Newton available. Newton has struggled in run defense, but he has proven he can be an effective pass rusher, and at the right price, Brian Flores could make good use of him as a pass rush specialist. Here is PFF’s lowdown on Newton.
The Commanders relentlessly fortified their ailing defense this offseason, including along the defensive line. However, that negatively affects someone like Newton.
The 36th overall pick in 2024 hasn’t blossomed as Washington would’ve hoped, notching a career 50.0 overall PFF grade with a 38.6 PFF run-defense grade. Yet what has been encouraging is Newton’s pass-rushing, as his 9.3% pass-rush win rate placed in the 63rd percentile last year.
The Commanders inked former Texans interior defender Tim Settle to a three-year, $25.5 million contract during free agency, which only pushes Newton down the depth chart. The 23-year-old former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year could garner attention for teams looking to bet on his upside.
Of these three options, Hickman would be the top prize and the player I’d most like to see the Vikings pursue. However, Newton would also be an intriguing option. It remains to be seen if Minnesota has any desire to be in the trade market.
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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
India A vs Sri Lanka A LIVE Score | Tri-Nation A Series 2026 IND A vs SL A 4th Match LIVE Updates: Match Down To Final Over; India A Need To Defend 4 vs SL A
India A vs Sri Lanka A LIVE Score, Tri-Nation A Series 2026 4th Match: The Tri-Nation A series match between India A and Sri Lanka A has gone down to the wire. Chasing a target of 266, Sri Lanka A have reached 261/7 after 49 overs. Experienced batter Sadeera Samarawickrama is anchoring the run chase, having slammed a half-century, but he is suffering from cramp. For India, Ayush Badoni has taken two wickets, while Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Suryansh Shedge and Anukul Roy have picked up a wicket each. Earlier, Suryansh Shedge played a brilliant knock as India A posted 265. Asked to bat first, India A suffered early setbacks, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again failing to convert his start and departing for 21. The team continued to lose wickets at regular intervals before Shedge and Vipraj Nigam turned the momentum in India A’s favour with a crucial partnership. Shedge scored 72, while Vipraj contributed 51. Apart from them, Ruturaj Gaikwad added 37 to the total. For Sri Lanka A, Mohamed Shiraz and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth picked up three wickets each. (LIVE SCORE)
India A vs Sri Lanka A Live score and updates from Dambulla:
On Sunday, Japan sealed a 2-2 draw against the higher-ranked Netherlands in their 2026 World Cup opener. Since qualifying for its first World Cup in 1998, Japan has reached every edition of the tournament and now sits 18th in the FIFA rankings. FRANCE 24’s Adam Hancock, Alexis Bregere and Ayana Nishikawa travelled across Japan to uncover the secrets behind the remarkable rise of Japanese football.
‘Big George’ would go on to compete for another 20 years after that encounter, becoming the oldest world heavyweight champion in history during the 1990s, and it is another fighter from that era that he deemed to be the best of all time.
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While Ali may have been a three-time world heavyweight champion, Foreman claimed that fellow three-time world champion Lennox Lewis is the greatest heavyweight ever.
“There was a time when we used to talk about Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali. and very seldom another name would come in there.
“There’s nobody in the world that can take that from Lennox Lewis now. There’s no doubt that he’s the best heavyweight of all time. What he’s done clearly puts him on top of the heap.
“He’s in there with the all-time heavyweight champions of the world. Recovered the title, did it in a devastating manner. He’s beat everybody, even Evander Holyfield. He became a three-time world champion and he beat a three-time champion along the way.”
Lewis defeated every man he ever came up against, beating the likes of Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko, whilst also avenging losses to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman.
Monday brings about four more 2026 World Cup openers as Groups G and H take to the pitch. Spain, one of the top favorites to win the entire event, faces off with Cabo Verde while Uruguay and Saudi Arabia square off in the other Group H match of the day. Group G’s two matchups are Belgium against and Egypt and Iran taking on New Zealand. The action starts at 12 p.m. ET and the final match of the day kicks off at 9 p.m. Those interested in soccer betting have no shortage of betting opportunities on Monday, including anytime goalscorers. We’ve identified four anytime goalscorer prop picks at FanDuel for Monday’s matches.
For more World Cup picks, including outright winners, spread picks and totals, be sure to check out the picks from SportsLine experts like Jon Eimer, Martin Green and Brad Thomas. Anyone following their World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
Best World Cup goalscorer picks for Monday
Lamine Yamal, Spain (-140, FanDuel)
Romelu Lukaku, Belgium (+135, FanDuel)
Federico Vinas, Uruguay (+145, FanDuel)
Mehdi Taremi, Iran (+200, FanDuel)
Lamine Yamal, Spain (-140, FanDuel)
Spain are the betting favorite in World Cup futures odds to win the 2026 event, and they begin that quest with a matchup against Cabo Verde. Spain are heavy favorites here, and goals shouldn’t be too hard to come by for a team loaded with dangerous attackers. As such, Yamal is worth a look here as he’s one of the team’s top players. He’s just 18 years old, but Yamal is plenty dangerous and should use this tournament — and Monday’s match — to really introduce himself on the worldwide stage. He had 16 goals in 28 matches for Barcelona in 2025-26.
Romelu Lukaku, Belgium (+135, FanDuel)
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Don’t overthink this one. Lukaku is one of the greatest European scorers of all time in international competition with 90 goals in 126 caps for Belgium, good for second all-time. This is his fourth World Cup appearance, and Belgium have a great team that’s ranked ninth in the World Cup rankings. Egypt have the second-shortest Group G odds behind Belgium, so this could be a chance for Belgium to really make a statement. Lukaku is dangerous and experienced and has five World Cup goals under his ledger. Monday is a great chance for him to make it six, which would put him first all-time in Belgium World Cup history.
Federico Vinas, Uruguay (+145, FanDuel)
Vinas is a top striker for Uruguay who was a bright spot for Real Oviedo in La Liga play this past season with nine goals. No. 17 Uruguay is a massive favorite against Saudi Arabia on Monday, making this an ideal spot for the 27-year-old Vinas. Saudi Arabia are just 60th in the rankings and shouldn’t pose too much of a threat towards and Uruguay side that’s very much expected to make it to the knockout round. Vinas is one of a handful of good options for Uruguay against a Saudi side that’s likely not going to be up to task on Monday.
Mehdi Taremi, Iran (+200, FanDuel)
While Belgium are heavily favored to win Group G and advance to the knockout round, it’s a bit of a tossup between Iran and Egypt as for who will clinch the No. 2 spot in the group. Egypt have the unenviable of opening the World Cup versus Belgium, while Iran gets New Zealand, who are just 85th in world rankings, on Monday. This is another match with a big favorite on one side, and Iran have a dangerous group of attackers in Mehdi Ghayedi, Mohammad Mohebi, Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh, and Dennis Eckert, but we’ll select Taremi as our pick to find the net on Monday against New Zealand. He’s a proven veteran with 44 career goals for the Iran National Team in 86 caps, and he scored a whopping 10 goals in qualifiers and twice in Iran’s three World Cup matches in 2022. Back the proven veteran here.
Ciryl Gane prevented Alex Pereira from making UFC history in the co-main event of UFC Freedom 250.
Gane knocked out Pereira in the second round to win the interim heavyweight title matchup and stop Pereira from becoming the first fighter to win UFC titles in three different weight classes.
Pereira was making his heavyweight debut on Sunday night and, if victorious, would’ve added that interim title to his collection that includes the UFC middleweight and light-heavyweight belts.
The soon-to-be 39-year-old from Brazil also had a legendary career as a two-weight kickboxing world champion before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
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“Poatan” began his UFC tenure 4.5 years ago as a 185-pounder and won the middleweight belt when he beat Israel Adesanya in 2022. He later moved up to the 205-pound division, where he became a two-time light-heavyweight champ with six knockout wins over an eight-fight stretch.
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Pereira decided to move up in weight yet again following an 80-second win over Magomed Ankalaev in October.
At Saturday’s UFC Freedom 250 weigh-in, Pereira weighed a career-high 251 pounds with Gane tipping the scale at 248 pounds.
Gane was competing in his fifth UFC heavyweight title fight in his past eight appearances. He is now 2-2 with one no-contest so far when UFC gold is on the line and is a two-time interim champion.
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The 36-year-old from France previously won an interim belt five years ago when he defeated Derrick Lewis before eventually losing a unification bout to Francis Ngannou. He also lost a separate title bout to Jon Jones.
Gane is coming off a fight against reigning heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall in October, during which Gane poked Aspinall in both eyes, resulting in a no-contest.
Aspinall has still not been cleared for contact as he recovers from the multiple eye surgeries required due to Gane’s fouls.
Gane knows an undisputed title matchup with Aspinall is next, and after beating Pereira, called for the rematch to take place in September when the UFC figures to hold its annual event in Paris.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday Sunday night with a celebration on the South Lawn, where 14 fighters from around the world battered one another inside a wire-mesh cage during the UFC Freedom 250 spectacle.
Trump walked out of the Oval Office at around 8:30 p.m. ET alongside UFC CEO and president Dana White in what was best described as a fighter’s walkout.
President Donald Trump and Dana White, UFC president and CEO, arrive for UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 14, 2026.(Alex Brandon/AP)
The estimated 4,300 in attendance, which included about 1,200 active-duty service members, greeted the president with loud cheers as the occasional “Happy Birthday” was shouted from the crowd.
The event kicked off with the Marine Band’s performance of the national anthem, sung by Zac Brown, and was capped off with a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels and Air Force Thunderbirds.
“It was beyond anything that anybody’s ever seen in sports,” the president briefly remarked to reporters as he departed the White House ahead of Monday’s G7 summit in France.
President Donald Trump watches at the conclusion of UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 15, 2026.(Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
As expected, the crowd often broke out into “U-S-A!” chants multiple times throughout the evening. It was most often heard during American Justin Gaethje’s thrilling main-card win over the previously undefeated Ilia Topuria.
Many of the fighters thanked Trump for having the “courage” to put on the spectacle, while the majority of victors jogged ringside to shake his hand or have a word after their respective bouts. The patriotic atmosphere set the tone for the remaining America 250 celebrations to come in Washington, D.C., later this summer.
The $60 million event was just the latest spectacle in Trump’s relationship with White.
President Donald Trump congratulates Ciryl Gane after his win in a heavyweight interim title bout against Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 15, 2026.(Mark Schiefelbein/AP)
White has a long-standing relationship with the president, dating back to the first UFC event under his control which was held in 2001 at Trump’s Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He has stumped on the campaign trail for Trump on two occasions while Trump has attended four UFC fights as a sitting president.
Sunday’s fight wrapped just after 1 a.m. and featured two championship bouts – Ciryl Gane of France earned the interim UFC heavyweight title after a win over Brazil’s Alex Pereira, and lightweight champion Ilia Topuria fell to interim champ Justin Gaethje in four rounds.
President Donald Trump stands on the ring with Justin Gaethje after he won the lightweight championship bout over Ilia Toupruia at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on June 15, 2026.(Alex Brandon/AP Photo)
Fit-again Indian javelin throw superstar Neeraj Chopra will return to competitive action at the Doha Diamond League on June 19. The 28-year-old has been recuperating from a back injury which has prevented him from competing so far in the season. “First throw of 2026 lands in Doha! Neeraj Chopra returns to competitive action on June 19,” his management firm Vel Sports announced on Instagram. Chopra is a late addition to the event as his name was not in the list announced by the organisers on June 12. In May last year, the two-time Olympic medallist India had breached the coveted 90m mark at the same venue. He had recorded 90.23m to finish second behind Julian Weber (91.06m) of Germany.
Chopra was on Sunday named in India’s athletics squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, subject to achieving the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) qualifying standard of 82.61m.
The Doha Diamond League was to be originally held on May 8 as the season-opening event but was postponed due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
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Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash
A popular AEW star’s recent contract situation led fans to believe CM Punk might be rejoining the promotion, and a mix of excitement and other reactions surfaced online.
The aforementioned star, who is a former TNT Champion, is Jack Perry. The Jungle Boy has been a part of All Elite Wrestling since its inception and has been a regular fixture. Moreover, he has achieved significant accolades, such as becoming the TNT, National, and World Tag Team Champion, and has been part of memorable moments in AEW.
However, recent reports stated that Jack Perry’s contract is set to expire, and he is currently negotiating a deal with the Jacksonville-based promotion. On the other hand, a rumor mill ran regarding CM Punk’s return to All Elite Wrestling amid an extended absence from WWE since the RAW after WrestleMania 42. Interestingly, both men have a heated history, getting into a real-life backstage fight at All In 2023, which led to Punk’s firing from the company and eventual return to WWE.
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Upon Perry’s rumored contract situation becoming public, fans exploded with reactions on social media. One fan openly said that AEW was trading him with The Best in the World.
“We’re trading him for cm punk.”
@WrestlePurists @WONF4W We’re trading him for cm punk😭❤️
A major section of the fans either took shots at their heated past or speculated regarding a potential match between them down the line.
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@WrestlePurists @WONF4W Could he actually work with Punk ever again?
@WrestlePurists @WONF4W CM Punk vs Jack Perry Summerslam
@WrestlePurists @WONF4W CRY ME A RIVER JACK AND TAKE YOUR PAY CUT 🤣🤣
On the other hand, some fans acknowledged his place and contributions in AEW and believed he would remain with the company.
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@TheDrainmaker He’s not going anywhere He’s an integral part of the product & both his performance as well as his booking post his return from injury have been great imo
@TheDrainmaker New contract might mean a push up the card for JP I’m interested to see what happens
CM Punk’s take on AEW President Tony Khan
In an interview on The MMA Hour in 2024, CM Punk gave his take on AEW President and CEO Tony Khan. The Second Saint City said that while Khan was a good person, but lacked leadership skills.
“I don’t like the drama, but the truth is the truth. He’s not a boss, he’s a nice guy, and I think ultimately that is a detriment to the company but it’s not my company. I’m an outsider. I thought I was brought in to sell merchandise and tickets and draw numbers for pay-per-views and stuff, and I clearly did that, but that’s not what the place was about, and some people didn’t like that,” he said.
As the rumors continue to swirl, it remains to be seen where Punk and his former arch-rival, Jack Perry, will eventually end up.
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Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith lines up in the secondary during an NFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. The longtime defensive leader took the field on Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale, Arizona, bringing veteran experience and stability as Minnesota opened its postseason run against an NFC contender. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Will he or won’t he? That’s the question regarding longtime Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith that fans have asked since January: whether the veteran defender will return for Year No. 15. And according to Ben Leber, a former Vikings linebacker, Smith could slow-roll the decision and possibly return after the bye week in October.
It’s the latest in Smith’s return-or-retire saga that remains one of Minnesota’s top summer storylines.
Vikings’ Safety Room Has Enough Flexibility to Wait
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith prepares on the sideline before a home matchup against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The veteran defender went through warm-ups on Sep. 22, 2024, in Minneapolis as teammates stretched nearby and fans settled into their seats ahead of another regular-season test for Brian Flores’ defense. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Leber on Smith
Leber is quite connected to the Vikings, working as a media member for the club and crossing over into KFAN’s layer of Vikings coverage.
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He said on his YouTube channel this week about Smith, “I could see him coming back and saying, ‘Okay, I’ll use the bye week to sort of make sure that I’m in football shape. Maybe be on a snap count for the first game or two after that.’”
“And then after that, he’s playing full-time. But I get the sense that he’s not done. He’ll play for part of the season, but I think that’s a major factor because we saw what happens when he’s not in the lineup.”
If Leber is correct, it would be a first-of-its-kind arrangement for Smith, who has never waited this long to announce his decision.
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The Safety Situation
Depending on rookie Jakobe Thomas’s game-readiness — he’s a 3rd-Round rookie from Miami and fruit of the Jonathan Greenard trade to the Philadelphia Eagles in April — the safety room is well-stocked, though Smith would obviously provide a familiar veteran boost.
These are the safeties six weeks before training camp without Smith:
Josh Metellus
Jay Ward
Theo Jackson
Jakobe Thomas
Tavierre Thomas
Kahlef Hailassie
Metellus played through a torn labrum last year, leading some fans to question his effectiveness. Fully healed, Metellus should be in line for a bounceback year. Ward finished the 2025 campaign strong, even swiping Jackson’s starting job in December.
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith participates in pregame drills before a matchup with the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The longtime defensive leader warmed up on Sep. 15, 2024, in Minneapolis as fans filled the venue and Minnesota prepared for an early-season showdown against one of the NFC’s top contenders. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
The Thomases will make the active roster, and Jakobe could be an x-factor if Smith remains retired.
Our Brevan Bane wrote this week, “While some Vikings fans may want Smith to stay off the roster to focus on younger players like Jay Ward and Jakobe Thomas, it feels like there would be a bit of a gaping hole in the Vikings’ secondary without Harrison Smith. Sure, names like Theo Jackson and Josh Metellus have proven they can provide solid play when called upon. The issue is that Metellus is more of a liability if he plays deep safety.”
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“If Harrison Smith, who can do everything, doesn’t come back, then we will have to hope that Jay Ward or Jakobe Thomas are ready to step into those shoes. We can take comfort in the fact that Brian Flores is the defensive coordinator. He will surely maximize all of the talent in the room, but he would also love to have Harrison Smith back.”
A Diplomatic Approach to Year No. 15
Minnesota’s bye week occurs after the October 11th game in New Orleans, when the Vikings will either have a 5-0, 4-1, 3-2, 2-3, 1-4, or 0-5 record.
If Smith follows the Leber theory, he can basically gauge whether a return to the only NFL employer he’s ever known is worth it. That is — if the Vikings have a 1-4 or 0-5 record, clearly trending in the wrong direction, would it be worth it to come back for one final ride?
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On the other hand, if Minnesota hangs tough and posts a winning record in September and October, Smith may not want to miss out on the fun. Leber’s idea enables Smith to “wait and see.”
The Quote from January 2024
Near the end of the 2023 campaign — the “Joshua Dobbs season,” when the Vikings lost Kirk Cousins to an Achilles tear — Smith told reporters, “Whenever I retire, I’m not going to tell you. You’ll figure it out. … I’ll say this, it’s hard to have the ability to play and not have the desire to play. I’m not trying to be ominous or anything. Right now, my shoulder hurts.”
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith lines up on defense during a road contest against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The veteran playmaker took the field on Sep. 14, 2023, in Philadelphia as Minnesota battled the defending NFC champions in a nationally televised matchup early in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Some have wondered recently if that quote is playing out in real time. Smith boldly told the world that when he retires, the event will transpire without fanfare. Perhaps that’s ongoing, and folks have misinterpreted his current status.
Of course, Leber’s theory this week disagrees. Still, at some point, Smith will fulfill his own prophecy. For 2026’s sake, it’s a matter of now or the 2027 offseason.
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Smith turned 37 in February.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Monday begins a week of celebration for those in the Tri-State area in the U.S. For New York Knicks fans, it’s reveling in the team snapping a 53-year title drought with a Game 5 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. For those who are Knicks fans and pro wrestling fans, it’s praise for Danhausen, whose “uncursing” of the franchise may have led to that very championship.
Danhausen was everywhere during the week. He was on “SportsCenter” and crashing Pat McAfee’s simulcast of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. His face was printed on T-shirts in the WWE Shop. And now, his face could be on a float or a blimp in middle of the Canyon of Heroes when the Knicks celebrate their championship later this week.
Danhausen talks to the media before Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, N.Y., on June 8, 2026.(Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE)
Whether you believe it or not, Danhausen’s seance for the Knicks and taking Matt Cardona’s watch as part of the sacrifice to keep the Knicks “uncursed” on “Friday Night SmackDown” proved to work. Jalen Brunson, a mega WWE fan in his own right, scored 45 points in the clincher on his way to becoming the NBA Finals MVP.
The Danhausen praise was palpable on social media.
Remember, he tried to “uncurse” the New York Mets too. However, he explained to Fox News Digital in April that it was more of a “layaway situation.”
The jubilation that Knicks fans experienced, Mets fans, New York Jets fans and maybe even Brooklyn Nets fans might have to pony up some “human monies” to lift the sports curse that is cast on other franchises in the New York metropolitan area.
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Danhausen enters the ring during a WWE live event at MEO Arena in Lisbon, Portugal, on June 3, 2026.(Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)
For now, Danhausen might be the most over pro wrestler on the WWE roster or any roster across the world. Respect the curse and let’s hope it doesn’t come for you.
Thekla’s war on Stardom
Thekla with the championship at the AEW Double or Nothing event in Queens, N.Y., on May 25, 2026.(Lee South/AEW)
AEW women’s world champion Thekla has set her eyes on Stardom and re-opened the wound that formed following her departure from New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
Thekla has admitted that she did get fired from New Japan for attacking director Taro Okada, who is also the president of Stardom. She attacked him again during Slam Fest when Stardom held its showcase in Las Vegas in April. Last week on “Dynamite,” she spit on the Stardom logo ahead of Forbidden Door and called on Stardom to send its best.
Ask and you shall receive, Thekla.
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In what’s set to be a wild Forbidden Door pay-per-view, Thekla will put the AEW Women’s World Championship against Starlight Kid – the leader of the Neo Genesis stable and former wonder of Stardom champion.
It might be Thekla’s biggest opponent of her title reign and if she’s not careful, she could easily lose that belt. The Triangle of Madness, which includes Julia Hart and Skye Blue, will have to be on their toes as AZM, Mei Seira, Miyu Amasaki and Ema Maishima could also be lurking in the background to support Starlight Kid.
Slammiversary card builds out
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)’s Slammiversary is inching closer. The event is one of the biggest pay-per-views on the promotion’s calendar and, after last week’s “Impact,” the card got a bit clearer.
Each championship will be defended at the event. Fans in Denver nearly got to see Nic Nemeth call his shot and take an opportunity to defeat Mike Santana for his TNA World Championship, following his match with Eric Young. Instead, Nemeth took his cheap shot at the end of the night but already agreed to the match for Slammiversary.
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Pro wrestling fans are still waiting for bated breath to see who will be in the Ultimate X match for the X Division Championship. But here’s what we’ll get so far.
Heather by Elegance and M by Elegance (c) vs. Rosemary and Allie for the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship.
Eric Young vs. Ricky Sosa
Eddie Edwards vs. Moose
Lei Ying Lee (c) vs. Xia Brookside for the TNA Knockouts World Championship.
Brian Myers vs. Bear Bronson (c) vs. Matt and Jeff Hardy vs. Vincent and Dutch for the TNA World Tag Team Championship.
Mike Santana (c) vs. Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship.
Slammiversary will take place on June 28 at the Agganis Arena in Boston.
TNA dropped a teaser vignette last week and pro wrestling fans have speculated that it could be the return of Amazing Red.
Amazing Red was a TNA original when the company was founded as a territory under the National Wrestling Alliance. He’s a three-time X Division champion and was a tag team champion with Jerry Lynn. He’s performed in several other promotions since then, while also founding House of Glory.
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Amazing Red back in TNA and being include in one of the most innovative matches of this generation would certainly draw eyeballs and add to the intrigue of the match, which already includes X Division champion Cedric Alexander and Leon Slater.
Zaria wins singles gold in NXT
Zaria celebrates her win during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on June 9, 2026.(Connor Kvatek/WWE)
A new era began at NXT. Zaria defeated Tatum Paxley to become the new NXT women’s North American champion.
It was a long time coming for Zaria who ended her feud with Sol Ruca just a few weeks prior. Zaria has proved to be a dominant force at NXT and there’s no one, right now, who can step to her.
Paxley’s reign ends after 94 days. She is on the poster for NXT Great American Bash, which is set to take place on June 28.
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Who will stand up to Zaria now? Will Paxley get her rematch? Fans will have to tune in on Tuesday to find out.
Miz speaks with Danhausen during SmackDown at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 1, 2026.(Meg Oliphant/WWE)
The Miz reappeared on “SmackDown” after he was electrocuted by Danhausen’s mystery device. He was only speaking in catchphrases. Kit Wilson tried to make Danhausen fix The Miz, but he got electrocuted as well.
WWE women’s U.S. champion Tiffany Stratton appeared on a livestream with Blake Monroe. “The Glamour” smashed Stratton’s head into a cake. It may soon be time for Monroe to have a match and her sights appear to be set on Stratton.
A massive match was set for AEW Forbidden Door. Kenny Omega accepted Zack Sabre Jr.’s challenge and the two global phenoms will do batter in San Jose, California, on June 28.
Killer Kross defended the Major League Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship against Matt Riddle.
Matt Justice went to crazy lengths to try to beat Josh Bishop in a street fight. But Justice’s wild spot from the balcony went awry and Bishop came out the winner.
Lio Rush won the Ring of Honor TV Championship in a three-way match against AR Fox and Action Andretti.
Deonna Purrazzo retain the Ring of Honor Pure Women’s Championship with a victory over Olympia.
Athena retained the Ring of Honor Women’s Championship with a win over Syuri.
Mark Davis retained the AEW National Championship over Ace Austin.
Konosuke Takeshita retained the AEW International Championship with a win over Lee Johnson.
Gabe Kidd made his return to the ring after an injury. He returned at New Japan’s Dominion and declared himself for the G1 Climax.
Gabe Kidd enters the ring during New Japan Pro-Wrestling at Edion Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan, on Feb. 11, 2026.(Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Shota Umino defeated Andrade and Drilla Moloney to become the new IWGP global heavyweight champion.
Yota Tsuji defeated Callum Newman to become the new IWGP heavyweight champion.
Great-O-Khan and Henare defeated Yuto-Ice and Oskar (The Knockout Brothers) to win the IGWP tag team champions.
Aaron Wolf defeated Ren Narita to win the IWGP Never Openweight Championship.
Yoh defeated Douki to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
MyAEW has been adding new promotions to its streaming service and C4 Wrestling became the latest company to get added to the mix.
The National Wrestling Alliance crowned new women’s tag team champions on “Powerrr.” Kenzie Paige and Kylie Paige (Pretty Empowered) def. Marti Belle and Allysin Kay (The Hex) and Clara Carter and Hollyhood Haley J.
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