Best friends broke apart on WWE SmackDown, as two all-time friends and rivals left their situation tense on the blue brand. It’s uncertain what’s next between the two stars, as things currently are very heated and tense.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn had a major confrontation on WWE SmackDown
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Kevin Owens arrived on the scene on WWE SmackDown just as Sami Zayn was confronting Nick Aldis backstage. Zayn was naturally unhappy with the addition of Kevin Owens and Gunther to what was supposed to be his singles match against Finn Balor. But with Owens’ arrival, things were thrown out of whack, and it was the returning star who got the win and the opportunity to face CM Punk.
The backstage face-off between the two was tense. Despite them being best friends, Zayn felt wronged and demanded that Owens apologize to him for what happened and acknowledge that it ruined things for him. While the No.1 Contender did exactly that, the fact that he then didn’t go on to say that he wanted Zayn’s help to face CM Punk didn’t sit right with the star, and he left offended.
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Owens was left frustrated, walking off alone and muttering that he had only been back for six days.
Owens and Zayn also subtly acknowledged that the star had been waiting to face Punk forever, referring to the real-life heat between the two stars.
Zayn is unlikely to be happy to let the title picture not involve him after Kevin Owens’ return. Now, though, the star’s best friend is in the way of him getting another title shot, so it’s likely that he will inadvertently, or on purpose, cost Owens the chance to win the title when he gets his title shot in two weeks’ time. Fans will have to wait and see what happens.
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(L/R) McLaren’s Australian driver Oscar Piastri shakes hands with teammate and British driver Lando Norris after Norris won the pole position during Sprint qualifying ahead of the 2026 F1 Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 1, 2026. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
McLaren boss Andrea Stella is proud of the way F1 world champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri have conducted themselves following last season’s battle for the drivers’ championship.
British driver Norris eventually overcame the Australian in a three-way fight, also involving Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, to clinch his maiden world title, even though Piastri had held a 34-point lead with nine races remaining.
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There were several occasions where McLaren’s wish to ensure both Norris and Piastri raced on even terms were put to the test but relations between the pair remained cordial.
McLaren has been off the pace so far under new regulations for the 2026 season, with Mercedes leading the way from Ferrari.
But Stella has been pleased by the professionalism of his drivers.
“It wasn’t a given that, after last year –- when they found themselves battling for the world title right up to the final race -– the harmony they’d built would remain intact: yet not only has this not changed, but the relationship between them and with the team has actually become even stronger,” team principal Stella said in a McLaren Q&A.
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“And whilst this might, in a sense, have been expected of Lando –- given that he was ultimately the one to become champion –- it was not quite so predictable for Oscar, who, instead, has relied even more heavily on the team to accelerate his development, both on and off the track.”
Mercedes teenage rising star Kimi Antonelli is 50 points clear of Ferrari’s seven-time former world champion Lewis Hamilton at the top of the 2026 drivers’ standings, with fifth-placed Norris a huge 91 points off the lead.
Norris, however, did win his first race of the season in Hungary before the current summer break and an optimistic Stella added: “If we can continue the season as we did in Budapest, I think we can still achieve a great deal.
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“To do so, we must keep pushing with the development and ensure we outpace our rivals –- who certainly aren’t standing still.
“There are still 12 races left on the calendar, so there are plenty of opportunities given that 546 points are up for grabs.”
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Women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka suffered a surprise defeat in the Canadian Open weeks before she begins her US Open title defence, while Britain’s Cameron Norrie also bowed out in the last 16.
Sabalenka lost 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-4 to Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in a match lasting almost two and a half hours in Toronto.
The Belarusian recovered from a set down to force a decider, but a double fault when serving to stay in the match handed the number 16 seed victory.
It is the latest defeat in what has been a difficult summer for Sabalenka, who was knocked out in the quarter-finals and last 16 of the French Open and Wimbledon respectively.
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“I just tried to play every single point as if it was the last one because with her, you don’t [get] a lot of chances during the match,” Alexandrova said.
“I’m super happy that I could win because after the second set, I thought [the chance] was already past me.”
The Russian will face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina for a place in the semi-finals, after she defeated American eighth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-2 6-4.
Third seed Jessica Pegula suffered a first career loss to Diana Shnaider, as the 22-year-old finished both sets strongly to win 6-3 6-3.
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The Russian will face Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals, after the seventh seed overcame opening set service troubles to defeat 10th seed Marta Kostyuk 3-6 6-1 6-2.
The six-time Grand Slam winner retired to the locker room after Kostyuk broke her serve four times during a shambolic a 39-minute opening set, but looked much improved when she returned.
In the men’s event in Montreal, British number two Cameron Norrie spurned two set-point opportunities as he was defeated 6-2 7-6 (10-8) by 18th seed Arthur Fils.
Norrie saved three match points in the second set to force a tie-break, but the Frenchman broke his serve to win in one hour and 43 minutes.
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Fils will meet Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals, after the 19-year-old upset eighth seed Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-3.
Brandon Nakashima and Luciano Darderi also progressed to the next round with gruelling three-set victories over Arthur Rinderknech and Nuno Borges respectively.
Italian Darderi used a mid-match changeover to enjoy an espresso as he battled to a 4-6 6-3 7-5 win.
Lining up over 100m and 200m, as well as in a pair of relays at the Alexander Stadium, Hunt will be in constant action at her second Europeans, having won a gold medal as part of the women’s 4x100m relay in Rome two years ago.
She may well be Britain’s busiest athlete, but, after a quadriceps rupture that threatened to derail her career altogether, it’s little wonder Hunt is desperate to take advantage of every medal opportunity that comes her way.
Hunt took home silver in the 100m from the recent Commonwealth Games (PA)
She shocked the world, and herself, when she won 200m silver at last year’s World Championship (Getty)
She said: “I don’t want to go on my Wikipedia page in 30 years’ time and just see one or two medals. I want to see lots of medals. That’s really important to me.
“We don’t get much representation in terms of media. We’re not NBA players who are on TV three times a week and everyone’s seeing our faces.”
Hunt competed in just the shorter of her two sprint events in Glasgow, with her priority being Birmingham, where she will be much busier.
That includes being part of the first ever mixed 4x100m relay at European level, a race that she believes can be “iconic”.
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Working out her schedule is not always easy, but when it came to the chance to compete in Birmingham, it was a straightforward decision.
Hunt is taking on a full programme at the Europeans (Getty)
She said: “One of the great things about being a versatile sprinter is that I can compete over both the 100m and 200m. The downside is there are lots of opportunities, so sometimes it’s difficult to say no.
“Our No 1 priority is the European Championships. It’s the first time they’ve been held in the UK, so we’re aiming to compete in the full programme there: the 100m, 200m, women’s 4x100m and the new mixed 4x100m, because that would be really iconic.
“I’ll be doing everything, so you’ll probably be seeing a lot of me every day.”
Living in Italy, where she trains under Marco Airale in Padua, Hunt spends her downtime visiting nearby Venice each weekend.
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That thirst for knowledge and culture is a throwback to her degree in English literature from the University of Cambridge, with Hunt keen to step outside of the athletics bubble when she can.
She added: “I’ve always said I’d like to do a master’s degree at some point. That hasn’t happened yet, partly because I now live in a country where I’m still not fluent in the language. But I’d definitely like to return to academia one day because I really enjoy it.
“I’m a human being before I’m an athlete. I want to experience the world, keep learning, grow intellectually, and be inspired by things outside my own little sporting bubble.
“I think it’s healthy to live as broad a life as possible. Athletes, particularly women, are increasingly showing that our lives can be much broader than just track. We can study, have careers alongside athletics and pursue different interests. Life is much bigger than the nine lanes out there.”
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Hunt is also keen to explore her hinterland beyond athletics (PA)
Finding that balance between athletics and the wider world is crucial for Hunt and will arguably be just as crucial in the long term as her balance while sprinting on the track at the Alexander Stadium over the next week.
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US businessman John Stewart experienced a high-profile bidding war two years ago for a daughter of Winx, but he was ultimately successful in acquiring another blueblood from that year’s Inglis Easter Sale. After finishing as the underbidder on the $10 million Winx filly to the champion’s owner, Debbie Kepitis, Stewart secured another six yearlings. Among these was an I Am Invincible filly out of Group 1 winner Booker, purchased for $3 million.
Named Ernaux, the filly took seven starts to break her maiden in midweek company. It took another ten races for her to achieve success in Saturday metropolitan grade, which she did in spectacular fashion at Randwick.
Settling back in the field under Tyler Schiller, Ernaux ($4.20 fav) had to weave between runners in the straight before powering through a late gap to score by 1-3/4 lengths over the fast-finishing Mareth ($4.60).
“It was hold-your-breath stuff at the top of the straight,” trainer Chris Waller said. “Tyler, he knew what he was doing. He knew what he had under him, and she really exploded late.”
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Waller further elaborated on the mare’s performance, stating, “Her form has been terrible on wet tracks. As soon as she had a better track last start, and again today, she’s a different horse. There is certainly something there. She’s very well bred, so we’ll see what’s around the corner.”
Despite Ernaux’s significant price tag, Waller confirmed there had been no pressure from her ownership group, which includes Stewart’s Resolute Racing and Coolmore. Her win in Saturday’s Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m) gives the four-year-old a valuable Saturday win and may also keep her in training for another season.
“They’re fantastic to train for, and it’s good to see she’s won a good Saturday race for them,” Waller commented. “It was getting borderline whether we breed from her. That will give us a bit of confidence.”
The Winx filly by Pierro, named Quinceanera, was retired to stud unraced.
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Explore the latest racing odds for the next big event at the Randwick track.
The helmet of Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith sits on the sideline prior to the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025.
Ohio State got a commitment Saturday from five-star prospect Christopher Vargas, ranked among the top quarterbacks in the Class of 2028.
Vargas, entering his junior season at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., selected the Buckeyes over Michigan, Oregon, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Boston College, Miami, Texas A&M, Southern California, Washington and other programs which have shown interest. He cannot sign with a school earlier than December 2027.
“Just the coaching staff and the place they’re at, the culture, they have everything that is great for me and the right fit for me,” Vargas, who announced his commitment on social media, told Rivals.com. “I think Ohio State is the place that can develop me the best.”
— Christopher Vargas 2028 QB (@chris_vargas2) August 8, 2026
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Vargas, listed at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 195 pounds, is a five-star prospect, the No. 6 player in the Class of 2028, the No. 1 quarterback and the top player in Massachusetts, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
He is the No. 4 player, No. 2 QB and a four-star prospect in 247Sports’ own rankings of the Class of 2028, while ESPN has Vargas at No. 14 overall and No. 1 pocket passer in the Class of 2028.
Vargas passed for 1,857 yards and 24 touchdowns despite missing three games due to injury in 2025, after throwing for 1,311 yards and 17 TDs as a freshman.
Ohio State received a commitment in July from the Class of 2028 from wide receiver Jett Harrison, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr. Jett’s older brother, also named Marvin, starred as a receiver at Ohio State and was a first-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2024.
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Jett Harrison is a rising junior at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. The 247Sports composite lists him as the No. 2 wide receiver and No. 4 player overall in the 2028 class.
The rules are simple. Each day there’s a new footballer and the challenge is to guess who they are in as few attempts as possible.
After each wrong guess you unlock a new clue. The fewer clues you need to get the right answer, the more points you score.
Three is a good score, four or five points is exceptional.
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So take part and return for more tomorrow.
Today’s player and clues set by BBC Sport’s Huzaifah Khan.
After more quizzes? Go to our dedicated Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes pages and sign up for notifications to get the latest quizzes sent straight to your device.
Sunderland put in an utterly dominant and convincing performance away in France against RC Lens, a side who have just won a major trophy, pushed PSG at the top of Ligue 1 last season, and will play in the Champions League in the coming campaign… so are we right to feel a little bit chuffed about how the Lads did? Join Gav, Kelvin, James and Andrew as they dissect all the action, including:
Sunderland breezed through that first half with Xhaka and Meunier in the starting eleven, in what appeared to be a considerably higher tempo display from our players…
Chris Rigg, olé olé olé – some great moments from the young lad!
What does this all say for the lead up to the first game in the Prem?
All this and more! Get subscribed to Haway The Podcast so you never miss another episode of our free daily show.
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Want to get in touch with us? You can drop us an email at HawayThePodcastSAFC@Gmail.com, or you can contact us via social media – we’re @RokerReport on almost every platform. For your daily SAFC fan-written content, head over toRokerReport.SBNation.com
Arsenal completed the signing of Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle on Saturday.
The Premier League champion paid a reported 75 million pounds ($101 million) for Guimaraes, who signed a long-term deal at the Emirates.
“I’m very excited,” Guimaraes said. “I’m at the point of my life where I need a challenge like this. I want to win trophies, I want to make history and I think I’m in the right place to do it.”
Newcastle did not want to sell its captain, but the 28-year-old Guimaraes had told the club he wanted to leave.
Newcastle signed Guimaraes from Ligue 1 club Lyon in January 2022 and he swiftly established himself as a talisman for the team, as well as one of the most influential midfielders in the Premier League.
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Guimaraes helped Newcastle win the English League Cup in 2025 – the club’s first major domestic trophy in 70 years – and also played a pivotal role in the team twice qualifying for the Champions League.
He joins an Arsenal midfield anchored by Declan Rice as the team bids for back-to-back Premier League titles.
Guimaraes has made 48 appearances for Brazil, including at the recent World Cup. He won a gold medal at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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“It’s massive what I have done so far, but I want more. I want to win for Arsenal. I want to win more trophies in my career, and I think I’m in the right place, at my peak at 28 years old,” Guimaraes said.
“I want to put my name in the club history. Someday, when I leave, I want players to come here and say I want to do exactly what Bruno did for the club.”
Guimaraes’ departure is a further blow to Newcastle after star players Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali also left during this transfer window. Eddie Howe stepped down as coach at the end of last month after nearly five years in charge.
Howe was replaced by Matthias Jaissle.
“This is one of the toughest decisions of my life,” Guimaraes said in a statement on Newcastle’s website. “When I arrived, the club was in a challenging position and I am incredibly proud of what we achieved together. I fell in love with this place. I really mean that.
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“This move is very tough because Newcastle means so much to me, but I wanted to experience something new in my life. I feel ready for a new challenge for myself and my family. I had a very positive conversation with Matthias Jaissle, and I leave knowing the club is in very good hands.”
Guimaraes will continue his tradition of wearing shirt number 39 – the dispatch number of his father’s taxi in Rio de Janeiro.
“It means everything to me. I have the tattoo of the 39 as well,” Guimaraes said. “My father was a taxi driver in Brazil for more than 20 years. The taxi, of course, gave me everything for my family, the place we live, the food, my clothes, everything.
“So when I got the chance to sign to a top club in Brazil, I asked my father which number I should take and he said 39. I was upset a little bit because I wanted to take the 97. He said: No, no, take the 39. The 39 gave you everything.
It has seen him put together an unbeaten record of 20-0, with 10 of those wins by knockout, and he will look to add to that tally when he collides with Oliha tonight.
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Oliha is also unbeaten, holding a record of 22-0 with 10 knockouts, but has never competed outside of Germany or Italy ahead of tonight’s battle at the 3Arena in Dublin.
The IBF belt became vacant after former champion Janibek Alimkhanuly was stripped of the title, with McKenna and Oliha bidding to join the other champions in the division, as Denzel Bentley holds the WBO crown, Carlos Adamas is the WBC titleholder, and Erislandy Lara is in possession of the WBA strap.
Stay with Boxing News for a live scorecard and final fight result.
Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha live scorecard
This is a Boxing News live scorecard and not the official score from the judges.
It wasn’t the most exciting of fights but it resulted in a one-sided winner. After a cagey opening few minutes, McKenna took over and dominated the action without having to go through all of his gears. Oliha found himself on the backfoot and struggled to impose himself on the contest, not throwing enough shots to warrant winning any rounds after the initial stages. As the fight entered the closing stages, McKenna went in search for a stoppage but in the end had to settle for the dominant points victory, as he claimed the vacant IBF middleweight title and became Ireland’s newest world champion.
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