Raymond Berry, a Hall of Fame wide receiver who helped transform the position in the NFL, died last week, according to his family. He was 93.

The Baltimore Colts legend’s family said he died on May 25 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. A cause of death was not announced.

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Baltimore Colts receiver Raymond Berry runs with the football against the Los Angeles Rams at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, in a file photo. (David Boss/USA TODAY Sports)

“People said Raymond Berry was not blessed with the size or speed of other receivers in the National Football League, but no one worked harder to refine his skills and master his craft,” Pro Football Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said in a statement. “The chemistry he developed with quarterback Johnny Unitas through hours of route-running thousands of repetitions in practice created a dynamic tandem that thought with one mind on game days.

“Together they helped the Colts win consecutive titles in the late 1950s, including the classic 1958 NFL Championship Game that served as a springboard for professional football becoming this country’s most popular sport.”

The Colts selected Berry in the 20th round of the 1954 NFL Draft. He played for Schreiner College and SMU before turning pro.

David Driscoll, 9, of Baltimore, wearing a Baltimore Colts uniform, receives an autograph on his helmet from end Raymond Berry at the Colts’ training camp on Aug. 2, 1965. (William A. Smith/AP)

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He spent his entire 13-year NFL career in Baltimore. He recorded 631 catches for 9,725 yards and 70 touchdowns. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro and helped the Colts to two NFL Championships before the league’s eventual merger with the American Football League.

“It is with very heavy hearts that we extend our condolences to the family of Colts legend Raymond Berry, who passed away last week,” Colts owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon said in a statement. “In NFL history, there are only a handful of players who we can say truly changed the sport. Raymond Berry is one of the few names on that list.

Baltimore Colts end Raymond Berry catches a pass from quarterback John Unitas for a 5-yard gain against the Detroit Lions in Baltimore on Sept. 30, 1962. Lions’ Dick LeBeau makes the tackle. (AP Photo)

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“As a player during a historic era of Colts football, Raymond redefined the standard for what a wide receiver could and should be. He set records, was selected to multiple All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams, and retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions. One of his most memorable moments came during the 1958 NFL Championship, when he had a career day on the field in the ‘Greatest Game Ever Played.’”

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has called on UFC president Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his contract and says the heavyweight champion is not being paid his worth.

Manchester-based Aspinall, 33, signed a “commercial and advisory” deal with Hearn’s new talent agency in March.

Aspinall has been the standout performer in the UFC’s heavyweight division in recent years, with seven of his eight wins ending in the first round.

Hearn is prepared to offer Aspinall higher earnings if the UFC allowed him to leave, as tensions continue to grow between himself and White, though it is unclear whether that would be in boxing or MMA.

Matchroom chairman Hearn is also willing to drop planned legal action over Conor Benn’s decision to leave his stable for White’s Zuffa Boxing promotional company if they release Aspinall.

Hearn, 46, previously described 29-year-old Benn’s departure as a “dagger in the heart”.

“I’ll walk away from all their problems they’ve got on the Conor Benn legal situation if they release Tom Aspinall,” Hearn said.

“And I will, in writing, it will be five or six times more money he’ll be making, but I will put in writing that Tom Aspinall will make a minimum of three times more than he will under his current contract.”

Aspinall remains under contract with the UFC and is one of its biggest stars.

Hearn has previously criticised the UFC’s pay structure and suggested leading fighters could earn considerably more elsewhere.

There is no indication the UFC would consider releasing Aspinall, but Hearn’s remarks have increased debate around fighter pay in mixed martial arts (MMA).

“I would like to propose that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall, who is extremely unhappy, and he should release him of his obligations with the UFC,” Hearn added.

“And he should allow him to go out and make considerably more for himself and his family because that’s what Dana White’s all about, isn’t it? He’d be happy for Tom. So that’s what I would like.”

Aspinall has been dealing with eye problems since his title fight with Ciryl Gane last October had to be stopped because of repeated eye pokes.

He had double eye surgery in February and it is not yet certain when he will be able to return to action.

Hearn has been publicly feuding with UFC president White since the launch of Zuffa Boxing.

Aspinall became part of that war of words when Hearn suggested White “humiliated” him by not backing the fighter after the eye controversy.

It’s often difficult to live up to the high expectations that pro wrestling fans have.

The diehards want every match to be five stars, the storylines to make complete sense and the fans in the arena to yell and scream as if they’ve never been to a show before.

Sometimes, they have to remember just how good they have it in this era. Not everything is going to be “Monday Night Wars” level of entertainment. Pro wrestlers are dealing with injuries, fatigue and the added pressure that comes with trying to execute at every turn. Sometimes, it’s worth remembering just how much wrestling there is nowadays and just how good every fan has it.

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Cody Rhodes enters the ring during Clash in Italy at Inalpi Arena in Torino di Sangro, Italy, on May 31, 2026. (Rich Freeda/WWE)

It brings us to June 1. The last 31 days of pro wrestling was a real treat for anyone who watches the sport.

Clash in Italy, Backlash, Saturday Night’s Main Event, Double or Nothing, Fairway to Hell, Wrestling Dontaku and Noche de Los Grandes were just some of the major pro wrestling events that occurred in May.

Is it safe to say that May was one of the best months of pro wrestling ever?

WWE hosted solid premium live events that saw Roman Reigns defeat Jacob Fatu twice and Sol Ruca win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage captured championships at All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) Double or Nothing while Will Ospreay’s storylines with United Empire and the Death Riders grew at Wrestling Dontaku.

AEW also hosted Fairway to Hell at the SoFi Center in Florida – a venue in which The Golf League matches are hosted. The event received praise and will host Brawl at the Ballpark in July at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide finished off one of the best feuds over the last year in El Grande Americano and Original El Grande Americano. El Grande Americano won the match and Chad Gable was revealed to be the Original El Grande Americano. It was widely praised as a match of the year contender and we’re only five months into the year.

MJF holds the AEW World Championship at AEW Double or Nothing in Queens, N.Y., on May 25, 2026. (Lee South/AEW)

Not to mention, Fox News Digital was in New York for Awesome Championship Wrestling that delivered on four-plus hours of wrestling fun.

May afforded pro wrestling fans some of the best action of the year as the major companies build toward the summer in what should be a wild one.

So, here’s to May. There may not be another run like it this year.

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The Bloodline boils

Roman Reigns celebrates his win during Clash in Italy at Inalpi Arena in Torino di Sangro, Italy, on May 31, 2026. (Andrew Timms/WWE)

Roman Reigns held strong as he defeated Jacob Fatu in a Tribal Combat match at Clash in Italy on Sunday, retaining the World Heavyweight Championship in the process. It was the second time the two had squared off in a calendar month with Reigns winning both times.

WWE seemed to have signaled that a new inning of The Bloodline storyline was about to unfold. As Reigns walked to the back with Fatu and Jey and Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa looked on with his MFT stablemates Talla Tonga and Tama Tonga. The group had split from Reigns after WrestleMania 40 where Sikoa declared himself the head of his own table.

Sikoa declared on Instagram that Fatu should have stuck with his faction instead of the “Samoan Werewolf” being so-called neutered by Reigns.

The “Tribal Chief” has remained untouchable going into the first “Monday Night Raw” of June. As the King of the Ring Tournament gets going, Reigns called out LA Knight and Royce Keys specifically as they’re looked at as favorites to win and get a shot at his title come SummerSlam.

Will Ospreay’s angel and devil

Will Ospreay defeated Samoa Joe in a wrestling match at AEW Double or Nothing in Queens, N.Y., on May 24, 2026. (Lee South/AEW)

The latest “Dynamite” began with a backstage segment from Double or Nothing in which Will Ospreay went to the medical room to get checked out. He met with Kenny Omega, who was also getting checked out.

“My worry is that you can’t trust those guys,” Omega told Ospreay bluntly. “What they do is what they say they will do. They wanted to hurt me. They hurt me. … I will do anything for you, Will. For you to realize your dream of being champion, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. It would’ve been so easy for me to help you.”

Ospreay, who has worked with the Death Riders to get back to full strength, agreed with Omega to a point but said Omega didn’t show up. He questioned Omega failing to be at AEW week in and week out.

“I get the appeal to the Death Riders. They’re serious. They mean business,” Omega continued. “They get the job done. So, I’m not saying don’t trust them. All I’m saying is, be careful, as a friend.”

Jon Moxley appeared and told Ospreay that was “good advice.”

Ospreay is into the semifinals of the Owen Hart Men’s Tournament after beating Samoa Joe at Double or Nothing. Should he win the tournament, he will get a shot at the AEW World Championship in his home country at Double or Nothing.

As he inches closer to that dream, the Death Riders will either be there to help him see it through or try to demolish it at the last moment.

Blake Monroe eyes Rhea Ripley:

Kevin Owens misses wrestling:

‘MLW Fusion’ premieres

Major League Wrestling launched a new season of “Fusion” on Saturday evening. It was a jammed double episode that was newsworthy.

MLW world heavyweight champion Killer Kross signed an open contract for his next challenger to his title. Matt Riddle took the opportunity before an enraged Alex Hammerstone could make his mark.

Elsewhere, an undefeated Shotzi challenged Shoko Nakajima for her MLW World Featherweight Championship. Shotzi defeated Priscilla Kelly and set her eyes on gold.

Meanwhile, Austin Aries and Trevor Lee put on a show while Zamaya made quick work of her opponent in her debut match. Aries also called out MLW openweight champion Blue Panther after he defeated Lee.

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Notes from the week in pro wrestling:

• AAA revealed during Noche de Los Grandes that the first night of two-night TripleMania 34 will take place in Las Vegas on Sept. 11.
• AEW announced that Redemption will take place on July 26 in Montreal. It will be a major tuneup before All In takes place the following month at Wembley Stadium in London.
• Pro wrestlers Nikki Gross and Big Damo announced their purchases of Progress Wrestling and Defy Wrestling.
• Bushiroad announced it had transferred all of its shares in New Japan Pro-Wrestling to TV Asahi and CyberAgent. The company said the move will help achieve sustainable growth for NJPW.
• Former WWE star Joe Gacy booked one of his first appearances since departing the company. He will compete at Atomic Legacy Wrestling’s Star Spangled Slammer 10 on July 25 in Melbourne, Florida.

In 2025, former Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah entered the draft with a comically low number of picks. Due to various trades, he had only four picks remaining. His draft haul included first-rounder Donovan Jackson, and four other rookies, as well as short-term QB2 Sam Howell.

Unsurprisingly, the contributions of the rookie class were fairly limited in 2025. The size of the draft class was even further enhanced when the Vikings surprisingly waived linebacker Kobe King during his rookie campaign. About 13 months after the club selected the Penn State defender in the sixth round, the Vikings could re-hire him, as the New York Jets showed him the door.

Brian Costello, Jets beat writer, posted on social media, “The Jets are waiving kicker Lenny Krieg and waiving/injured LB Kobe King, per source.”

King, now 23, arrived in the Twin Cities with pick 201, a sixth-rounder. A classic downhill linebacker, King was viewed as another Ivan Pace, a productive college linebacker who could provide help on special teams and, down the road, as a playmaker near the line of scrimmage. Despite the lack of depth at the position, King was axed in October and the Jets claimed him off waivers.

With the Vikings, he appeared in five contests, seeing the field on 77 snaps on special teams and another three on defense. After his departure, the Jets relied on him 142 times on special teams, but head coach Aaron Glenn didn’t give him a shot on defense. He made a total of ten tackles in his first season at the pro level.

Adofo-Mensah vouched for the defender right after the draft. His initial praise created some buzz for obvious reasons.

“Kobe King, linebacker from Penn State: Really excited to add him. A lot of times in football, we make it harder than it is, but it’s a meat-and-potatoes game in some positions, and linebacker is one of them. You need somebody to tackle the person trying to advance the ball up the field against your team, whether that be special teams with the ball in his hands or defending the pass and he’s somebody that plays with range, tackles, is a really physical knockback-impact tackler.”

A year later, the defender is looking for a new job and the executive is back in San Francisco. The difference is the Adofo-Mensah decision is final, while King could, in theory, get another chance with the Vikings.

The Vikings made room for him on the initial 53-man roster last year and even gave him some playing time in the first five weeks of the season. During a long NFL year, a team can run out of roster spots and release end-of-roster players to sneak them onto the practice squad. In this case, the Jets’ waiver claim ruined that process, if it was, indeed, the intention.

Last year’s linebacker trio of Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, and Ivan Pace is still around for 2026. In the draft, the Vikings also added Jake Golday. The Cincinnati linebacker offers some more versatility and might get some run on the edge, but he’ll take his first steps at inside linebacker. That already makes it a crowded room with four players pretty much confirmed to be on the 53-man roster.

Yet, special teams have been a focus for the Vikings last offseason and this year and that’s where King could come in and earn a spot. The franchise also employs linebackers Jacob Roberts and Josh Ross, as well as undrafted rookies Keli Lawson and Bangally Kamara, who likely have a similar plan.

The Vikings saw something in King, which is why he was drafted in 2025 and why he made the 53-man roster. If they want him back, they now have the chance to grab him.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

Royal Challengers Bengaluru claimed a historic second consecutive IPL title on Sunday at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The defending champions defeated Gujarat Titans in their home ground by five wickets with their icon Virat Kohli at the heart of it. Former Indian selector Saba Karim highlighted captain Rajat Patidar’s influence and drew comparison with MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, the two greatest captains the league has seen over the years.

Patidar became only the third captain after Dhoni and Rohit to win back-to-back titles and etched his name in IPL record books. Speaking on Star Sports’ Amul Cricket Live, Karim pointed to Patidar’s remarkable rise as the leader of RCB’s back-to-back championship win. “One of the biggest reasons behind RCB winning a second consecutive title has been the clarity around individual roles within the team, and Rajat Patidar deserves a lot of credit for that,” he said.

Drawing comparison with Dhoni and Rohit, the former Indian wicketkeeper said, “When we talk about captains who have led teams to consecutive titles, names like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma come up, and I can see similarities in the way Rajat Patidar leads this team.” Patidar took over the captaincy from Du Plessis in the 2025 season and the rest is history. He has a 70% winning record as a captain of RCB where he won 19 out of 27 matches and delivered the two titles during this period.

What makes the achievement all the more striking is the path Patidar walked to reach this point. He arrived as a replacement player in the 2024 season, and eventually inherited the captaincy of a dressing room that included Virat Kohli among its many world-class names. Earning authority in that environment without international experience is remarkable and pointing this out, Karim noted, “ For someone without international experience, earning respect in a dressing room filled with world-class players, including Virat Kohli, is not easy. Rajat earned that respect through consistent performances.”

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Another influential figure and the leader of RCB’s bowling, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, reflected on the team’s development during the interaction in the post-match show. Kumar praised the younger bowlers for their hunger to grow. “Their willingness to learn, their dedication, and the effort they put into improving are what ultimately make the difference,” he said, “They’ve not only learned from experienced players in the group but also from someone like Josh Hazlewood and the coaching staff.”

The Vikings’ ill-fated WR swap involved welcoming Adam Thielen back to Minnesota. Before the 2025 season ended, Mr. Thielen had been cut.

So, not a great outcome.

Part of what’s fascinating, though, is that the results of the Carolina trade are now being revealed. Minnesota brought Thielen back alongside a 7th in 2026 and a 5th in 2027. The Panthers got a 5th in 2026 alongside a 4th in 2027. The 7th was used by the Vikings, being sunk into young fella Gavin Gerhardt to compete at center.

The Vikings’ Ill-Fated WR Swap
Bringing in Adam Thielen Connected to Gavin Gerhardt

At this stage, much remains undetermined within that Adam Thielen trade.

Carolina had the 5th in 2026 but moved it out in a separate trade. Minnesota kept the Panthers pick, using it on Gerhardt (as mentioned). But then there’s Minnesota’s upcoming 5th for 2027 alongside Carolina’s 4th in 2027. Each represents the best draft pick that each side acquired; each remains a mystery since the 2027 NFL Draft hasn’t yet arrived.

What is known is the center addition.

Mr. Gerhardt received praise leading into the 2026 NFL Draft but wasn’t considered a top option at center. Consider what Lance Zierlein had to say: “Gerhardt is a 49-game starter with outstanding leadership qualities to go with adequate size and length. He’s going to be more of a positional blocker than a people-mover, with the ability to find landmarks and fight for positioning. He’s aware of protection and makes the most of his length to keep rushers out of his frame. He’s a center-only prospect, which hurts his roster chances, but the tape is good enough to give him a chance.”

Being a hard worker with plenty of starting experience is a good tidbit. Playing center means needing to boast leadership abilities. Before the snap, the center needs to adjust protection to account for the threat being presented by the defense. As a result, the snapper needs to have some formidable mental bandwidth, especially within a complex Kevin O’Connell scheme.

Getting snagged in the 7th means he now has the chance that Zierlein mentions, meaning the onus has shifted to the young lad to prove Minnesota smart for picking him.

Per PFF, Gerhardt was just solid last year. He earned a 67.2 grade, getting a better assessment for his pass blocking (74.3) than his run blocking (64.9). Previous years involved Gerhardt demanding a better grade overall while demonstrating a better balance between his pass and run blocking.

Best guess as of early June is that Blake Brandel is the Week 1 starter at center. Rounding out the competition are Michael Jurgens, Delby Lemieux, and Gavin Gerhardt. In all likelihood, there will be a maximum of one true backup center alongside a third option who contains the flexibility to be a guard.

On a basic level, Gerhardt looks like Ryan Kelly since both stand at 6’4″ while weighing roughly 310 pounds. Kelly, of course, was a high-level athlete who shined throughout his career, so that’s an unfair comparison in a lot of ways. The expectations for Gerhardt involve being solid depth, not a Pro Bowl starter.

The new lineman is 24.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

First 17 seasons, no title. The next two resulted in triumphs. That’s the story of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The side commands one of the strongest fan followings in the IPL, yet every year they would return empty-handed. Not anymore. RCB are now the only team after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to win two back-to-back IPL titles. Needless to say, the mood in the camp was upbeat after the IPL 2026 final win against Gujarat Titans on Sunday.

RCB were awarded Rs 20 crore prize money for the champions’ tag. Bhuvneshwar was hilariously asked by Mr Nags about how the money would be divided. Here’s the reply: “That’s something, we will be very interested to know.” 

Mr Nags is suffering from success

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Post match presentation party gatecrashed! Mr. Nags was our toughest challenge of the season, even on the night of the final. Find out what happened, when he spoke to some special guests. pic.twitter.com/ebnwXvWt0G

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) June 1, 2026

Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar said that “the season went well for me” after finishing second in the Purple Cap race of the IPL 2026 tournament. Speaking during the post-match interview after RCB defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2026 final, Bhuvneshwar said, “Yes, of course. I mean, the trophy is the most important thing for us. I would trade that any day. But yes, individually, the season went well for me. There were plans, there were a lot of things before the season, and it went well.”

The veteran seamer also credited teamwork for RCB’s success in the final against the Titans. “I think if you get wickets, your confidence is always up. Coming into a big game like that, if you have performed well in the past, it always helps. But credit goes to each and every one. If he (Hazlewood) didn’t do well, I was there. If I didn’t do well, Rasikh was there. So I think we all had each other’s backs, and that’s what you need in a big game like that,” he added.

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Brock Lesnar tied the score with Oba Femi at Clash in Italy.

The Ruler had defeated The Beast at WrestleMania 42, which pushed Lesnar to retire on the spot. However, he could not stay on the sidelines for long and returned to WWE ahead of Clash in Italy to set up a second match against Femi.

Brock Lesnar was determined to win the match. However, he is a top-tier entertainer and made sure the focus was on him when Oba Femi was entering the arena. He broke character and started doing The Ruler’s strut in the ring, which captured the fans’ attention.

A video shows Lesnar doing the strut, which is completely out-of-character for him.

Gunther spoke highly of Oba Femi after his loss against Brock Lesnar

The Ring General was in Clash in Italy against Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. However, The American Nightmare dominated and retained the title.

Gunther spoke to the Huge Pop podcast about Oba Femi’s current WWE run.

He claimed that The Ruler is an exciting talent, and he is interested in seeing what Femi does next. He believes Oba Femi has the potential to become a huge name in the company and one of the pillars of the global juggernaut down the line.

“He came in guns blazing. Really good for him. Hasn’t been in the ring with me 20 minutes yet, so let’s see. I feel like down the line, that’s gonna be something that’s very interesting. I think he’s a super exciting talent, and very much looking forward to seeing what he’s gonna do in the next year. I think he’s got the potential to be a big superstar in this company. Be one of the pillars down the line,” said Gunther.

It is likely WWE will set up a rubber match between Brock Lesnar and Gunther at SummerSlam 2026.