A former World Heavyweight Champion returned to WWE tonight. He appeared on the latest episode of NXT.
Booker T was away from the NXT commentary desk for two weeks. He also missed the black-and-silver brand’s latest premium live event, The Great American Bash. RAW commentator Corey Graves and SmackDown’s Wade Barrett filled in for the Hall of Famer during his absence.
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Before this week’s episode of NXT, the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion appeared on his Hall of Fame podcast. During the conversation, Booker revealed that he was forced to take a break from the Triple H-led sports entertainment juggernaut due to family issues. The 61-year-old disclosed that he was healthy and would return to the Tuesday night show this week.
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“I’m the youngest of eight. When something happens in the family, family comes first. Everything stops. I always said, being the youngest in the family, it’s my responsibility to make sure I step up and be there at all time [sic]. For me, I’ve been dealing with family stuff, and I had to take a step back and deal with it. I can’t deal with things and work at the same time. That’s all it’s been. I feel good; I’m perfectly fine; my health is great. I’m getting back to work on Tuesday.” [H/T: Fightful]
The latest episode of the black-and-silver show kicked off with a segment featuring new NXT Women’s Champion Kendal Grey. During Grey’s entrance, the camera briefly focused on the commentary desk. Vic Joseph welcomed Booker T back to WWE during that moment. The Hall of Famer was in good spirits and seemed delighted about resuming his commentary duties.
Booker T has been part of the NXT commentary team for nearly four years as of this writing. He joined WWE’s third brand as a color commentator in October 2022. After a stellar in-ring career, Booker has gained popularity among modern-day fans with his hilarious commentary lines and catchphrases.
The WCW legend has helped many up-and-coming stars, such as Bron Breakker, Trick Williams, and Stephanie Vaquer, get over with the WWE Universe. Booker’s recent absence from NXT raised concern about his status among fans. However, he finally returned to the Tuesday night show this week.
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Aug 1, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Timbers midfielder David Da Costa (10) controls the ball during the first half against Seattle Sounders FC defender Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (85) at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Brandon Bye scored in the 82nd minute as the Portland Timbers rallied for a 2-1 victory against the visiting Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup clash Saturday night.
Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season for the Timbers (7-8-3, 24 points), who improved to 3-0-1 under interim coach Jack Cassidy. Goalkeeper James Pantemis made two saves.
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi scored for Seattle (7-7-3, 24 points), which suffered its franchise-record sixth straight defeat. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas was credited with three saves.
The go-ahead goal came after Portland’s Cole Bassett passed to David Da Costa at the top left corner of the 18-yard box. Da Costa spun and sent a pass across the top of the penalty area to Bye, whose right-footed shot from 20 yards eluded a pair of defenders and a diving Thomas on its way into the lower left corner of the net.
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The Sounders opened the scoring in the 27th minute. Paul Rothrock’s cross from the left wing for Osaze De Rosario was headed away from the top of the 6-yard box by Timbers defender Kamal Miller. The ball fell to Kossa-Rienzi and his left-footed shot from 18 yards out found the lower right corner of the net.
The Timbers tied it in the 41st minute after working the ball down the left wing. Kristoffer Velde’s cross from the edge of the penalty area was slightly deflected by Sounders defender Stuart Hawkins before glancing off Kelsy’s left thigh and into the net from close range. A video review determined Kelsy was just onside on the play.
Rusnak had a chance in the dying seconds of the half, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box sliced into the side netting.
Seattle’s Paul Arriola, getting the start at right back, had to come off in the seventh minute because of an apparent lower right leg injury and was replaced by Kossa-Rienzi.
The 2026 Rocket Classic continues on Sunday with the fourth round at Detroit Golf Club in Detroit. You can find full Rocket Classic tee times for Sunday’s fourth round at the bottom of this post.
Rocket Classic Round 4 tee times: What to know
Sunday, Michael Brennan will be in a final-round final pairing. Just like he was just about a year ago. And that happened close to where Brennan is now.
Last year’s tee time came at the BioSteel Championship on the PGA Tour Americas circuit, and the event was played at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ontario, which is about 15 miles south of Detroit Golf Club, site of this week’s Rocket Classic, where Brennan will start Sunday’s final round in second. Brennan went on to win the BioSteel, then he won twice more on the PGA Tour Americas tour before winning the PGA Tour’s Bank of Utah Championship, securing a PGA Tour card.
“Windsor was such a huge week for me last year on the Americas Tour because it was my first win. I felt like it had been coming,” Brennan said. “I had been close a few times prior and to get over the hump was cool. Hopefully the location, having it be so close, rubs off some good vibes for tomorrow.”
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Would he have thought at the BioSteel that a year later, he’d be in a position for his second PGA Tour win?
“I was playing good golf, but it’s tough to think that way,” he said. “You don’t want to get too far ahead of yourself because then if you think that and you’re playing on the Americas Tour, it can be frustrating. But I have just tried to be confident in my game. Very grateful that it’s gotten me to this point.”
Sunday, Brennan will start the final round one shot behind leader Davis Riley. Riley, Brennan and Rasmus Hojgaard will make up the final grouping, and they tee off at 12:45 p.m. ET. You can watch Sunday’s final round of the 2026 Rocket Classic from 1-3 p.m. ET on Golf Channel and then 3-6 p.m. ET on CBS. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will also provide exclusive early streaming coverage on Sunday, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.
Check out the complete Round 4 tee times and pairings for the Rocket Classic below.
Aug 1, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
In possibly his final start for Toronto, Kevin Gausman allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays defeated the visiting St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday to clinch the three-game series.
Gausman (5-10), a pending free agent who may be dealt by the trade deadline on Monday, scattered nine hits, walked one and struck out four.
George Springer had two hits and two RBIs for the Blue Jays, who have won three in a row. Alejandro Kirk added a two-run single.
Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Blaze Jordan each had two hits for the Cardinals, who lost their third straight despite outhitting Toronto 11-9. St. Louis was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.
Gausman survived three singles in the third with the help of a double play grounder.
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The Blue Jays scored once in third against Quinn Mathews (0-1), who was making his major league debut. Davis Schneider led off with a walk, took second on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s one-out single to right and scored on Springer’s two-out single past shortstop Masyn Winn.
Toronto took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Ernie Clement singled to lead off and took third on a double by Myles Straw on a drive that popped out of the glove of diving center fielder Nathan Church approaching the warning track. With one out, Luis Urias lofted a sacrifice fly to center.
The Cardinals scored their only run in the sixth. Ivan Herrera doubled to left-center and scored on Winn’s one-out double to right-center. After Church grounded out, Gausman left to a long standing ovation and Braydon Fisher took over.
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Mathews was replaced by Luis Gastelum after Daulton Varsho’s bunt single opened the sixth. Matthews allowed two runs, six hits and three walks with three strikeouts in five-plus innings.
Toronto stretched the lead to 5-1 in the seventh.
Gastelum plunked pinch hitter Andres Gimenez, Guerrero followed with an infield hit to shortstop and Springer sliced a double to the right field corner past a diving Walker. Peter Strzelecki came in and gave up Kirk’s two-run single to right.
As a result, ‘Boots’ has now set his sights on becoming the undisputed super-welterweight king, rather than focusing on a long-awaited showdown with Vergil Ortiz.
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But while collecting all four major belts would, indeed, be a phenomenal achievement, it must be said that Ortiz represents his most commercially viable option.
Even after having not fought since his second-round stoppage of Erickson Lubin in November, the 28-year-old is still repeatedly mentioned in the same breath as Ennis.
More importantly, though, Ortiz is now free to revisit the negotiating table after reaching a promotional settlement with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy.
Speaking with YSM Sports Media, the American even claimed that fans would rather see him collide with the 6ft 6in ‘Towering Inferno’ than Ortiz.
“It’s still on the table but, right now, we’re collecting belts. I feel like the two guys with the belts [would make for] bigger fights right now. I feel like Fundora is a bigger fight [than Ortiz].
“Everybody wants to see that fight. Vergil Ortiz is a good fight but no one really wants to see it, because I’m going to knock him out.
“I’d rather fight the tall guy [Fundora] that y’all think is this monster, get him out of there, and then I’ll run through the whole division.”
While preferring Fundora, Ennis could instead enter a three-belt unification match against Josh Kelly, who retained his IBF title with a hard-fought victory over Caoimhin Agyarko last Saturday.
A scary training camp collision briefly threatened Cyrus Allen’s strong start with the Kansas City Chiefs, but the rookie wide receiver appeared to avoid a serious injury.
Initial tests showed Allen sustained only a shin bruise, with no tear or broken bone, ESPN reported, citing sources.
Allen was not the only Chiefs receiver to have an injury scare Saturday. Xavier Worthy went down during an 11-on-11 period after hauling in a deep pass near the end zone and landing on his shoulder.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy receives a pass during practice at Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Aug. 1, 2026.(Roman Puno/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA)
Worthy has already dealt with shoulder-related concerns early in his NFL career. He injured his right shoulder on the third snap of last season after colliding with tight end Travis Kelce on a crossing route during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Worthy later underwent an offseason procedure to address the injury.
Allen went down Saturday during a special teams period as the Chiefs practiced pooch punts. He and defensive back Kaiir Elam, both lined up as gunners, ran into each other near the goal line while attempting to track down the ball. Elam got up and walked off, but Allen stayed on the grass before two staffers helped him onto a cart.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen runs drills during the team’s mandatory minicamp at the Chiefs practice facility in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 9, 2026.(Denny Medley/Imagn Images)
Allen appeared to shake his head before covering his face with his jersey.
Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Allen had been making a strong push for a role before the injury.
“I hate to see somebody get hurt, especially on a special teams drill,” Toub said. “We’ll see how he is. He’s really doing well on offense, and he’s doing well for me too. He’s at gunner and returner, and he’s doing a real good job, putting himself in a good position to be a guy that’s going to help us this year.”
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Cyrus Allen was helped up after an apparent injury during practice at Chiefs training camp in St. Joseph, Missouri, on Aug. 1, 2026.(Roman Puno/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect)
Toub added that Chiefs rookies are always asked to put in work during special team drills.
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“Anytime you have a rookie, everybody is on special teams until they aren’t, until they establish themselves, whether it’s a starter on offense or defense,” he said.
The Chiefs took Allen in the fifth round of April’s draft, and he quickly emerged as one of Patrick Mahomes’ go-to targets early in camp. Allen has led Kansas City’s wide receivers in catches during 11-on-11 periods.
The 2026 trade deadline is set for Monday, Aug. 3, and the deals look like they could go right down to the last minute
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Tarik Skubal is headed to the Dodgers and the first — and biggest — domino of the trade deadline has fallen.
The muddled standings in almost every division and both wild-card races have turned the 2026 deadline into a seller’s paradise. Where do teams like the Brewers, Rays and Phillies turn for starting pitching now? Do the Red Sox go all in after their 15-game winning streak turned them into buyers? Just how deep will the Mets tear it down?
The deadline is set for 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, and it looks like the deals will come down to the last minute as teams try to figure out if they’re really playoff contenders or simply the beneficiaries of mediocrity in the first half.
CBS Sports will be keeping track of every trade below.
The reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers are acquiring left-handed starter and back-to-back American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal in a blockbuster trade with the Detroit Tigers, ESPN reports. In return, the Tigers are receiving a package headlined by outfielder Zyhir Hope, along with right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith.
With the deadline trade, the Dodgers, already boasting a roster and rotation stuffed with stars, have acquired the top talent available in their mission to win the World Series for a third straight season.
The 29-year-old Skubal, who’s slated for free agency this coming offseason, missed time earlier this season after undergoing arthroscopic elbow surgery. While that injury likely removed him from contention for a third straight Cy Young award, he’s still pitched at an ace level when healthy:
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Armed with a blazing fastball and a repertoire filled with plus offerings, Skubal during his 2024 and 2025 Cy Young campaigns was simply dominant. Across 62 starts and 387 ⅓ combined innings in those seasons, Skubal put up an ERA of 2.30 while striking out 31.2% of opposing batters and amassing a WAR of 13.1. With the deal, Skubal becomes the first pitcher to be traded in the offseason or season following a Cy Young win since R.A. Dickey in 2012.
Skubal will be owed the remainder of a $32 million salary for this season, and because he was traded in-season, he’s now ineligible to receive a qualifying offer from the Dodgers.
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For the Tigers, the decision to trade Skubal was not an obvious one. While they’ve been among the most disappointing teams in baseball this season, they’ve played stronger than their record at an underlying level. As well, the bar for contention in the American League this season is quite low. Ultimately, though, lead decision-maker Scott Harris decided that getting something in return for Skubal before he hits free agency was in the organization’s best interests.
As for the Dodgers, they add Skubal to a high-end rotation that presently is quite compromised by injury. Shohei Ohtani is presently limited to DH duty because of knee and bicep issues, and it’s not certain when he’ll be able to return to the mound. Tyler Glasnow, meanwhile, has been sidelined since early May with back spasms. While he may be able to begin a minor-league rehab assignment soon, a pitcher with Glasnow’s injury history carries no guarantees. Elsewhere, Blake Snell has made only one start this season. He underwent surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow back in May. He’s on rehab assignment presently, but, like Glasnow, Snell has a substantial injury history that can’t be ignored. The Dodgers also have no idea when Gavin Stone will be able to pitch again as he continues an uncertain recovery from a spring shoulder injury.
The goal in acquiring Skubal to join the front of the rotation alongside Yoshinobu Yamamoto is, in true Dodger fashion, to win the World Series. On that front, Skubal for his career has made six playoff starts, and in those starts he’s put up an ERA of 2.04 with 56 strikeouts and just five unintentional walks in 39 ⅔ innings. A secondary and related motivation on the part of the Dodgers and lead exec Andrew Friedman was to keep Skubal away from teams that figure to challenge the Dodgers for the pennant; the Braves and Phillies have been tied to Skubal in recent days and weeks, and the Brewers — with perhaps the strongest farm system in the game — have been strongly linked. Instead, it’s another needle-moving, headline-grabbing addition by Friedman and MLB‘s contemporary dynasty.
The Tigers’ return
On the return front, the package going back to the Tigers is fronted by Hope, a 21-year-old former 11th-rounder out of a Virginia high school. Coming into the season, CBS Sports ranked Hope as the No. 36 prospect in all of baseball. Here’s part of that write-up:
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“Hope, the best part of the return on Michael Busch, batted .266/.376/.428 with 13 home runs and 27 stolen bases while spending most of the year in High-A. He’s a physical left-handed hitter with clear loft to his swing. He knows how to lift and pull the ball, which is a good thing given his innate strength. Hope also possesses a patient approach that, when married to his swing-and-miss tendencies (he connected on fewer than 70% of his swings in High-A), could result in an uncomfortably high strikeout rate. A larger sample of him in Double-A should reveal just how high.”
He’s improved that already impressive standing with a strong season to date. In 94 games for Double-A Tulsa, Hope has a slash line of .293/.369/.530 with 23 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Overall, he has an .862 OPS across parts of four minor league seasons. Hope in 2026 has split time between the outfield corners.
Ryan, who soon turns 28, made four highly effective starts for the Dodgers in 2024, and this season he’s made eight starts in Triple-A in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in August of 2024. The 21-year-old Smith, who was recently promoted to High-A, has a 4.36 ERA in 21 starts this season with 113 strikeouts and 30 walks in 74 ⅓ innings.
Manchester United remain active in the transfer window and could make several dream signings before deadline day on September 1
Manchester United have brought in several new signings but Michael Carrick’s side remain busy in the transfer market. As August begins, the club have one month left to reshape their squad.
Midfield remains a priority, despite the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. United have been linked with several options but the manager may look to make a statement signing in the middle of the pitch, which would reaffirm the club’s ambitions to compete on multiple fronts next season.
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Up front, Benjamin Sesko needs senior competition, with forward Joshua Zirkzee among several players who could leave Old Trafford this summer. Meanwhile, United could choose to invest in their long-term future by testing Newcastle’s resolve over left-back Lewis Hall. Here, MEN Sport looks at what a dream end to the transfer window could look like for the Reds.
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£85m midfielder signs
Aurelien Tchouameni joining from Real Madrid would represent United making a marquee signing towards the end of the window. The Reds resisted paying eye-watering fees for the likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes earlier in the window, but stumping up a big-money free for Tchouameni would underline the club’s ambitions.
However, the Spanish giants are interested in Manchester City’s Rodri, which could tempt Tchouameni to consider his future elsewhere. It would give Carrick an enviable array of midfield options, with Tielemans, Santos and Kobbie Mainoo all jostling for places in the United side.
Lewis Hall deal
United are interested in Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall and would sign Luke Shaw’s long-term successor this summer, in a dream scenario. The 21-year-old has impressed during his time with the Magpies, who have already shown a willingness to part with key players through the sales of Anthony Gordon and Tonali.
The England international is reportedly open to joining the Reds. However, Newcastle are claimed to be reluctant to sell another star player, meaning United may have to pay a sizeable amount for the defender, who left Chelsea for £35m in 2023.
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United relied on Shaw throughout last season but will have concerns about the experienced full-back remaining fit during the upcoming campaign, while Patrick Dorgu looked improved when moved to a more attacking role on the left flank. Signing Hall would allow United to start their left-back succession plan early, even if the young defender did cost a premium fee.
New striker joins
Benjamin Sesko’s absence from United’s early pre-season games has highlighted the club’s need to sign a striker before the end of the summer window. Joshua Zirkzee has led the line for Carrick’s side but has struggled to make his mark since arriving from Bologna in 2024, prompting links with a potential £30m move back to Serie A.
While Sesko thrived after Carrick took the reins at United, it took time for the Slovenian striker to earn his place in the starting XI. The 23-year-old is still learning his trade and should not be the club’s only senior striker as United prepare to return to the Champions League and look to build on their third-place finish in the Premier League.
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Dusan Vlahovic is one of several strikers to be linked with the Reds but could provide an ideal solution to United’s problem. The 26-year-old is available as a free agent after leaving Juventus this summer, where he scored 68 goals in 168 appearances.
An expensive signing would possibly derail Sesko’s progress under Carrick and prevent him from reaching his potential. However, the former RB Leipzig could improve from competing alongside Vlahovic, who would also be given opportunities to stake his claim as a rotational option for United.
Countdown to Kickoff: The Ultimate 26/27 Sky Sports Bundle
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Sky’s Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season with more than 1,400 live games across the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.
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Have you ever had a day when you just didn’t feel like going to work?
It can happen to anyone. Even someone whose job is playing golf.
Forgive Davis Riley, but 2026 has been that kind of season.
Wayward driving. Sloppy scoring. Missed cuts in half the tournaments he’s entered. Just one top-10 finish, and that came eight months ago. Not since a T6 at the Sony Open in January, where he played in the final group on Sunday, has the 29-year-old even caught a whiff of contention.
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It’s been a grind.
So cut him some slack if there were mornings when getting to the golf course felt more like a burden than an opportunity.
Sunday at the Rocket Classic should feel different.
After firing a seven-under 63 on Saturday at Detroit Golf Club, Riley will begin the final round with a one-shot lead over Michael Brennan, and he’s suddenly in position to chase his third PGA Tour victory.
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“There have been times where I wanted to just stay at home and not play golf, honestly,” Riley said. “That’s been tough. To see something that I love hit home really hard has been tough this year.”
He’s flashing signs of his old form. A two-time Tour winner — at the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge and the 2023 Zurich Classic alongside Nick Hardy — Riley said his driver has been his “Achilles heel” this season. This week, he’s found more fairways and paired that improvement with a putter he said has been reliable all year.
“My game’s been trending and getting in the right direction,” Riley said.
But Riley reserved most of the credit for the people around him.
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“I’m just lucky, honestly, to have the people around me who picked me up when I’ve been down,” he said. “I couldn’t do that without the people around me, so I have them to thank just as much as anyone.”
He also has another reason to keep things in perspective. Riley and his wife, Alexandra, are expecting their first child later this month.
“She’s definitely at home working hard, just as hard as I am, if not harder than I am out here this week,” Riley said. “She’s growing a human and trying to get ready for all that.
“I owe her everything. I’m thankful for her to go through pregnancy and probably to deal with me on tough days on the golf course.”
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Sunday doesn’t promise to be easy, either. But he’s got no reason not to want to go to work.
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