Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) mishandles a punt during first-half action on Oct 9, 2022, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, as the Buffalo Bills close in on the loose ball during a special teams sequence that shifts field position in a tightly contested matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports.
All things considered, the Minnesota Vikings have operated in the shadows during free agency, making the Kyler Murray signing the only true splash. The franchise is evidently resetting its salary cap troubles, with hopes of having a clean slate in the 2027 offseason. Along the way, though, Minnesota has added a handful of newcomers; these are those men.
Minnesota’s new-look roster is coming into focus after free agency.
From the draft and undrafted free agency, the Vikings will add about 30 new rookies. Here’s a peek at the veterans, listed in alphabetical order.
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Several Fresh Vikings Faces Will Compete for Roles This Summer
The new faces you will see in Eagan when the summer rolls around.
Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker (6) celebrates with visible emotion after a successful sequence against the Arizona Cardinals, Dec 23, 2018, at State Farm Stadium, reacting to a strong special teams performance as Los Angeles controlled field position in a late-season divisional matchup. Hekker and the Rams would win a Super Bowl a few years later. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Johnny Hekker (P)
Hekker earned Pro Bowl selections and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and he received Second-Team All-Pro recognition in 2014 and 2018.
Last year, however, his production dipped, placing him near the middle of the pack. He ranked 24th in net yards per punt and 17th in punts inside the 20, with seven touchbacks, a performance that hovered around average, if not slightly below. Minnesota will be counting on him to rebound.
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Although some expected the Vikings to draft a rookie punter next month, Hekker appears to be the plan for 2026, at least for now.
When Ryan Wright signed with New Orleans on a four-year, $14 million deal, most fans weren’t overly concerned about replacing him, as the punter position is often considered replaceable. However, Wright had developed a strong rapport with Will Reichard, who was coming off an elite season and All-Pro honors.
If Minnesota relies on Hekker, the holding duties should be secure. He handled those responsibilities during the Rams’ Super Bowl run and brings significant experience to the role, which should provide Matt Daniels’s special teams group with some stability.
With the regular season still about five and a half months away, Reichard and Hekker have ample time to develop timing and consistency.
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Kyler Murray (QB)
Murray is 28, and with the Vikings’ relationship, he has a chance to latch on to Minnesota’s quarterback for the next 5-10 years. In a utopia, he’d become the Vikings’ version of Drew Brees when Brees left the San Diego Chargers for the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
Across a 17-game sample — Murray usually misses about a quarter of all games to injury — he posted Pro Bowl numbers, including approximately 4,000 passing yards, 30 all-purpose touchdowns, and around 600 rushing yards. He’s basically Lamar Jackson when healthy by the volume stats.
Now, the question becomes whether he meshes with Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Some fans have concerns about that. Stay tuned.
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No matter what, Murray becoming a Viking for $1.3 million is a legendary economic deal.
James Pierre (CB)
Fans instantly approved of Pierre because of his unholy good 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade from last year. He played about 40% of the time in Mike Tomlin’s seasons, connected to Tomlin’s roster since the start of 2020. In that vein, think of him as the Steelers’ version of Josh Metellus.
He’s a temporary solution, however, at age 29. The Vikings can still draft a cornerback in April.
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Pierre took over as a starter for Darius Slay in 2025, which is quite the feat. Still Curtain‘s Thomas Jaggi wrote about the veteran corner before the start of free agency, “While Pierre will soon be free to sign with another team when free agency kicks off, the Steelers should focus on getting him back. Just as impressive was Pierre’s lack of production allowed to opposing receivers in coverage.”
“PFF credited Pierre for allowing just 16 receptions for 163 yards on the season, while allowing one touchdown to go with one interception. Quarterbacks had a 57.2 passer rating when throwing in his direction. Pierre will turn 30 years old at the start of the 2026 season, and top-end speed has never been on his side.”
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) exchange jerseys following an AFC wild card matchup, Jan 11, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium, sharing a moment of sportsmanship after a hard-fought playoff game between division rivals. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Pierre will hold the job that Jeff Okudah and Fabian Moreau filled in Minnesota last season.
Jaggi added, “Though his career got off to a late start, it’s possible that he only has another year or two of his prime before his performance starts to decline. Regardless, James Pierre is coming off an excellent season, and the price is right to keep him around — perhaps on a two-year contract.”
“As long as another team doesn’t come along and drive up the pricetag in free agency, this should be an easy call for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
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Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Van Demark is the new Justin Skule or David Quessenberry, an OT3 in case Christian Darrisaw or Brian O’Neill get hurt. He logged a remarkable season by his standards last year and is just what the doctor ordered for Minnesota.
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) lines up during postseason action against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jan 21, 2024, at Highmark Stadium, battling in the trenches as Buffalo worked through offensive possessions in a tightly contested AFC divisional round game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
A peek at his brief PFF scorecard:
2025: 74.4 (312 snaps)
2024: 53.3 (199 snaps)
2023: 60.2 (47 snaps)
Like the Skule signing at this time last year, Van Demark, 27, profiles as a player who can start in a pinch, perhaps as a diamond in the rough.
The prized filly closed out the premium section, but Chayan delivered big by rewriting history at Inglis’s Chairman’s Sale in Sydney on Thursday night.
Daughter of I Am Invincible and two-year-old standout, having triumphed in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes this year and favoured in the Golden Slipper, she realised $5.6 million to Coolmore’s Tom Magnier.
[champbred]
This sale established the highest figure for a two-year-old filly at public auction Down Under, overtaking the $4.2m Chairman’s Sale record from The Everest winner Bella Nipotina last year.
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In the Southern Hemisphere, Chayan stands as the second most costly filly or mare at public auction, after Imperatriz’s $6.6m from the 2024 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
A $250,000 buy at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Chayan was resold by owner Eric Koh, who expressed a range of emotions post-sale.
“Unbelievable, I came here thinking maybe $3.6 million would be tops, at best, but to go beyond four (million), beyond 5 (to) 5.6 is unbelievable,” Koh said.
“This is obviously the biggest result and achievement for myself, so I’m very happy, very satisfied but heavy-hearted to lose her.
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“I’m happy for Coolmore, for Tom (Magnier) and I think she’s got huge potential ahead.”
Chayan’s ongoing racing talent was central to her allure, with Annabel and Rob Archibald handling her career up to now.
Debuting with second to Streisand in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m), she underperformed in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), then excelled in the Sydney-based Reisling Stakes.
Her Reisling win brought a Timeform rating of 111, topping all two-year-old fillies in Australia this season.
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As $5.50 favourite in the Golden Slipper, Chayan finished fifth, beaten by slightly more than four lengths courtesy of Guest House.
Magnier verified that Rob and Annabel Archibald would retain training duties for Chayan, a filly he had to battle for.
“When you have a filly as highly-rated and thought of as she is you expect to have all the top people on her,” he said.
“We’re delighted to get her, we’ll need a bit of luck but it’s over to Rob and Annabel now.”
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The sale saw nine lots hit $1m-plus, with Benedetta, daughter of Hellbent and Group 1 winner, the top mare at $1.9m.
Yulong acquired her and snapped up Provence (three-time Kiwi Group 1 winner) for $1.8m, Snow In May and Hazlebrook at $1,050,000, Moldova $1m.
Japan’s Katsumi Yoshida invested $1.4m in Philia, Stefan Pardi $1.2m on Kiki Express, Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage $1m for Arabian Summer.
Totalling just over $39m from 115 lots, mares averaged $494,747 with $300,000 median.
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Visit our guide to betting sites for competitive racing betting markets.
Indian opener KL Rahul made history, becoming the first-ever player to score 1,000 runs or more for three different Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. KL achieved this feat during his side’s IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), scoring 23 in 14 balls, with four boundaries at a strike rate of over 164. KL is the 11th batter to score 1,000 runs for DC, having made 1,007 runs in 24 innings at an average of 50.35 and a strike rate of 162.41, including two centuries and six fifties, with best score of 152*. 24 innings by Rahul is the quickest to the 1000-run milestone for Delhi Capitals bettering 35 innings each by JP Duminy & Rishabh Pant.
This season, KL is DC’s top run-getter and overall third with 468 runs in 11 innings at an average of 46.80 and a strike rate of 180, including a century and three fifties, with best score of 152*.
Before this, KL had scored 1,000 or more runs for Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He is PBKS’s leading run-getter, with 2,548 runs in 55 matches and innings at an average of 56.62 and a strike rate of 139.76, with two centuries and 23 fifties.
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For LSG, he is the second-highest run-getter, with 1,410 runs in 38 matches and innings at an average of 41.47 and a strike rate of 130.67, with two centuries and 10 fifties.
KL has also represented Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), but did not cross the four-digit mark for them, scoring 308 runs in 20 matches for SRH, with best score of 46, while he made 417 runs in 19 matches for RCB, with four fifties in 14 innings.
Finn Allen smashed a 47-ball 100 not out as Kolkata Knight Riders thrashed Delhi Capitals by eight wickets to register their fourth win on the trot in the IPL, here on Friday.
Finn Allen’s 47-ball 100* helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) drub Delhi Capitals (DC) by eight wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match on Friday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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Chasing a modest target of 143, KKR’s Finn Allen’s brilliant unbeaten century, hitting 10 sixes and five boundaries, along with help from Cameron Green (33* off 27 balls), guided the team home with eight wickets and 34 balls remaining.
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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
The World Seniors Snooker Championship is supposed to be the most prestigious event on the tour for those players over 40, and this year’s edition was set to be particularly special with Ronnie O’Sullivan making his debut appearance after a rule change allowed the game’s elite to take part.
But the tournament descended into farce this week amid player criticism, mysterious jumping balls and a “heartbroken” reigning champion.
It began with a war of words over whether or not the event should be held at the Crucible Theatre, as it has been since 2019. The world No 39, Dave Gilbert, made clear he was unhappy the seniors continue to play at snooker’s spiritual home.
“I hate that they play the Seniors there,” he said this week. “I think that’s shocking. The only people that should play at the Crucible are people that go through this qualifying school or a top 16 professional. It’s not for hacking around in exhibitions. It’s the Mecca of snooker.”
Jimmy White responded by telling Gilbert to “get a life”, in comments to Metro.
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There was also scepticism over a decision by organisers to scrap deciding frames – shown to be full of drama and excitement during the World Championship final days earlier – and replace them with a black-ball finish.
But it was the snooker tables themselves which started the real furore. First it was their appearance, framed with an almost blinding white edge, at least on TV, which brought criticism from viewers. And then came strange interactions between the balls and the cloth during Matthew Stevens’ first-round match with Dominic Dale.
Balls were bouncing into the air as they neared the black spot, and in one extraordinary moment the white almost leapt off the table. Stevens was baffled, and after discussions between the players, the referee and tournament officials, play was suspended. Closer inspection revealed the slate beneath the cloth was cracked, causing the uneven roll.
“The slate’s completely gone underneath, it’s raised,” said John Parrott in the Channel 5 studio. “It’s a bit like playing over a sleeping policeman at the minute. The ball’s coming along and then just jumping in the air. There’s a big problem, you can’t play on it, simple as.”
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The World Seniors Snooker Tour made an announcement: “Due to a fault with Table Two, there will be no further play on it this evening. Matthew Stevens and Dominic Dale will conclude their match on Table One following Ali Carter v Roger Farebrother.”
But then came fresh controversy. “Alfie Burden and Igor Figueiredo will play at 9pm BST in a private area of the practice room,” the tour added. “Table Two will be replaced overnight.”
Burden, it should be noted, was the reigning champion after winning the world seniors title last year, one of the highlights of the 49-year-old’s relatively modest snooker career. But instead of beginning his title defence in front of a packed Crucible crowd, he was sent to play on a practice table backstage.
Figueiredo won the match 4-0, meaning last year’s champion was not able to play a single frame inside the arena.
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“To say I’m disappointed would be a huge understatement, don’t remember feeling this low after a snooker event,” Burden posted on X. “I wasn’t in the mental state of mind to play that match in a practice room to be honest I was in a state of shock at what was unfolding. Literally heartbroken.”
O’Sullivan may distract from the negativity after beginning his tournament on Friday against 1997 world champion Ken Doherty. He confirmed his participation after exiting the main World Championship at the hands of John Higgins, saying: “It’s work, mate, got to go to work. Got bills to pay. Got a lot of people on the payroll.”
But while O’Sullivan will bring eyeballs and boost ticket sales, the presence of the greatest player of all time is likely to render any sense of competition almost obsolete, if he brings his A game.
“I’d rather not play him, if I’m honest,” Doherty told Metro. “I’d rather be playing somebody else, but it is what it is, and listen, I’m just going to go and enjoy it. I’m not expecting too much, and we’ll just see what happens … I don’t know how much he wants to win. That’s up to himself.”
Caleb Jewell emerged from a poor run of form to help Derbyshire enjoy a day of prosperity in their County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire.
The Tasmanian opener responded to moving down the order after scoring only 58 runs in six innings with an unbeaten 91 as the home side’s batsmen dominated day one at Derby.
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Harry Came made 73, Matt Montgomery 54 and skipper Wayne Madsen 57 not out to take Derbyshire to 342-3.
After losing their previous three games, the home side needed to restore some confidence and on a sunny morning, Came and Luis Reece batted through the opening session with few alarms.
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On a pitch which offered little in terms of movement, it looked a good toss to win with the visitors using seven bowlers to try and break the stand.
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Sanderson and skipper Luke Procter, making his 100th first-class appearance for Northants, kept it tight but Harry Conway struggled to maintain a consistent line, conceding 33 from his first five overs.
Came completed his third 50 of the season before Derbyshire reached their first century opening stand of the campaign shortly before lunch.
It was the sixth time the pair have shared an opening stand of a hundred or more in first-class cricket but they were parted in the second over after the interval as Reece (39) played a loose clip off his legs against Conway and was caught at mid-wicket.
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Came and Montgomery forged another partnership until Ben Sanderson was rewarded for a testing spell from the Racecourse End as he moved one away to have the former held at slip.
Jewell had scored only one half-century this season and he struggled initially, particularly against Sanderson who beat him several times.
But the left-hander fought his way through and with the other seamers unable to match Sanderson’s discipline, started to impose himself on the bowling.
With Montgomery reaching 50 before tea, Derbyshire were well placed but for the second time they lost a wicket early in a session.
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The leg-spin of Calvin Harrison made the breakthrough with Montgomery pinned in front when he missed a defensive push.
But once again, the visitors were unable to build on that as Madsen, captaining Derbyshire for the 150th time in all competitions, joined Jewell to swing the momentum back towards his team.
Although the floodlights were now on, the pair negotiated the second new ball and by the close had added 107 when bad light ended played four overs early.
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Report by ECB Reporters’ Network, supported by Rothesay.
Sep 21, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell warms up with the team before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Rookie minicamp would be difficult to pull off without somebody to toss the pigskin. The Vikings snagged a pair of arms to address the deficit.
Consider what Ben Goessling of The Star Tribunehad to say: “The two QBs for the #Vikings’ rookie minicamp this weekend are Aidan Bouman — son of former Vikings QB Todd Bouman — and veteran invite Cooper Rush, who made his first NFL start at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2021, when he led the Cowboys to a Sunday night win over Mike Zimmer’s final team.”
Vikings Snagged Two Passers for Minicamp
Lately, the news has been focused on WR Jauan Jennings. Bringing him to town greatly enhances the danger of the offensive attack. No longer is there concern about the (potential) drop off at WR3.
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Lingering in the background of those receiver quibbles — concerns that are largely satisfied by Mr. Jennings — are the young fellas who have been tossed into the mix. UDFA signing Dillon Bell has generated optimism. Likewise, there have been other young receivers tossed into the equation, such as Luke Wysong, Marcus Sanders Jr., and Shaleak Knotts (among others).
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
Who is going to pass the ball to these guys?
Last year, the Vikings had Max Brosmer as a rookie. He could shoulder a lot of the burden as he got acclimated to life as a pro. Such is not the case for the current iteration of the Minnesota Vikings due to no quarterbacks being added via the draft or undrafted free agency. A pivot toward a pair of arms therefore makes sense.
Aidan Bouman makes sense as a regional guy, having played college ball at South Dakota (which is to say nothing of the family connection Goessling highlights). The likelihood of him proving so impressive that he gets invited back to compete for a roster spot as a member of the 90-man offseason roster is low, but all a ball player can ask for is a chance. The focus shifts to him making the most of his opportunity.
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For Cooper Rush, the intrigue is a bit higher since he has proven to be a capable NFL passer, if only in a depth capacity.
The 32-year-old boasts a pretty nice build for the position at 6’3″ and 225 pounds. The great majority of his experience came down in Dallas but he snagged some work in Baltimore, as well. Since 2017, Rush has played in 42 games while starting 16. His career stats show a 61.1% completion rate alongside a 20/14 TD-to-INT ratio.
Oct 31, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush (10) and guard Connor Williams (52) in action against the Minnesota Vikings during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Now, that’s not to say the Vikings are looking to acquire Cooper Rush.
What he offers, though, is a veteran presence who now has a touch more familiarity with the team’s coaching staff. A future where the position gets walloped by injury yet again could involve giving him a call to see about coming in as a QB3 or practice squad passer.
Craig Peters offers a broader list of everyone who is involved with the festivities at rookie minicamp. Lots of the participants are the drafted players alongside the UDFA haul, but there’s a ton of tryout players, too. Sometimes, those guys impress, earning a contract to come back for other portions of the offseason.
The Genshin Impact Luna VII livestream premiered on May 8, 2026, showcasing the content for the upcoming update. Besides three new characters, there will be a brand new Archon Quest available, which will bridge the gap between the next story chapter of Snezhnaya and that of Nod-Krai. The upcoming patch is set to release on May 20, 2026.
This article will cover everything you need to know about the Genshin Impact Luna VII livestream.
Genshin Impact Luna VII livestream overview
1) New characters
Nicole (Image via HoYoverse)
Nicole, Prune, and Lohen will be the three new characters in the Luna VII update to become playable. Nicole and Lohen are 5-star characters, while Prune will be a 4-star.
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2) New weapons
Two new weapons will be available during the Luna VII update:
Angelos’ Heptades: Signature weapon of Nicole (5-star Catalyst)
Disaster and Remorse: Signature weapon of Lohen (5-star Polearm)
3) New Story Quests and Boss
Two new quests will be available, one of which will be a main story mission (Archon Quest), titled the Truth Amongst the Pages of Puranas. The second one is a main story quest related to Lohen, and is called Lepus Miles Chapter: Act 1.
After you complete the Archon Quest, a new weekly boss, Exiled Master of the Heretical Path, will be available.
4) New Artifacts
Two new artifact sets will be available, as was announced during the Genshin Impact Luna VII livestream:
Swiatek recounted that there was a 100 euro ($120) bet on the line for a volleying game and Swiatek had match point when the injury happened.
“He did a split step and tore his Achilles. It happened on Saturday. On Tuesday he had surgery already in Warsaw. We kind of took care of him,” Swiatek said after a three-set victory over American opponent Caty McNally in her opening match Friday.
Roig, who formerly coached Rafael Nadal, was hired by Swiatek after she parted ways with Wim Fissette.
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“He basically just missed one practice,” Swiatek said. “It’s not easy right now in the practices because he can’t be next to me. But we’ll make it work.”
The practice session was held in the downtown Piazza del Popolo.
“I don’t think people noticed how serious it was because he was so brave in the moment,” Swiatek said. “I would burst out crying. I would make such a drama. His face was like normal. I thought he was joking at the beginning. My hitting partner thought he was joking as well.”
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Swiatek is a three-time champion in Rome and is preparing for the French Open, which she has won four times.
So has the injury helped her bond with her new coach?
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“We had a good relationship from the beginning,” Swiatek said. “Didn’t need any health issues for that.”
WWE released more than 25 superstars shortly after WrestleMania 42 in a move that generated a lot of backlash from fans online. Over the last few years, post-WrestleMania budget cuts have become a regular thing for the company, with several notable names getting released annually.
That said, some of the recently released stars could still find their way back to WWE television sooner rather than later. WWE has brought back released stars in the past whenever there was a strong storyline reason, especially during major premium live events.
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Backlash is set to take place this weekend, and the show already features multiple rivalries where surprise returns could happen. Several ongoing feuds have become highly personal over the last few weeks, making outside interference a real possibility.
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Given the buzz surrounding the releases, WWE could use Backlash as the perfect stage to bring back a few familiar faces. In this listicle, we will look at four recently released WWE Superstars who could return at Backlash 2026.
#4. Aleister Black
Aleister Black and his wife, Zelina Vega, were part of WWE’s mass releases following WrestleMania 42. Earlier this year, Black was involved in a rivalry with Sami Zayn and even defeated him in a high-profile match in March.
The feud also played a major role in Sami’s recent character change, as the former Intercontinental Champion slowly became more aggressive following his interactions with the Dutch star. Black repeatedly targeted Zayn mentally and physically during their feud.
Despite the change in persona, Zayn lost the United States Championship to Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42. The Canadian star now has a rematch against Williams for the title at Backlash. Given Black’s history with Sami and his tendency to target stars chasing success, he could return during or after the match.
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Aleister Black confronting the winner of the bout could instantly set up a new direction for the United States Championship picture. If Sami wins the title, Black could continue their unfinished rivalry. On the other hand, Trick Williams would also be an interesting target for The Dark Father.
#3. & #2. JC Mateo and Tonga Loa
JC Mateo and Tonga Loa were recently released by WWE, and their final appearance saw them getting brutally attacked by Jacob Fatu. The Samoan Werewolf single-handedly took out Mateo, Loa, and Tama Tonga.
Now, there is a chance that the two stars could return at Backlash during the World Heavyweight Championship match. Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu’s rivalry has already turned into a full-blown family war, with multiple Bloodline members getting involved.
At the same time, Fatu’s recent actions against his own family members could give Mateo and Tonga Loa extra motivation to get involved in the match. The two stars may want revenge after being taken out by The Samoan Werewolf before their release.
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That said, Mateo and Tonga Loa interfering in the match and costing Fatu the title would make a lot of sense. Both men were associated with Solo Sikoa’s side of the Bloodline, which keeps them connected to the ongoing storyline. Their return could add even more chaos to the feud between Reigns and Fatu.
#1. Kairi Sane could return at WWE Backlash
Kairi Sane was heavily involved in the rivalry between IYO SKY and Asuka before her departure from WWE earlier this year. Fans were most surprised by Sane’s release since she was a part of an ongoing storyline. A ‘We Want Kairi’ movement even sparked online following her release, as fans were frustrated with her sudden release.
That said, there is still unfinished business in the storyline. IYO SKY and Asuka are set to collide at Backlash, and Sane could return during the match to play a major role in the outcome.
The Pirate Princess often found herself caught in the middle of the tension between the two stars and even helped Asuka target SKY on multiple occasions. At the same time, Sane also shares a close history with IYO SKY, which makes her role in the feud even more interesting. Throughout the storyline, there were several moments where it felt like Kairi was conflicted about choosing sides.
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Since Kairi shares history with both women, her involvement could immediately add another layer to the rivalry. The Pirate Princess was tormented by The Empress of Tomorrow for a long time. Sane could finally stand up for herself and cost Asuka the match against SKY.
Kairi Sane was an important piece of the puzzle in this feud, and she could return, even if it’s for one night, to complete her role in the rivalry. Given how fans have been vocal about seeing the Japanese star back in WWE, the company could even bring her back full-time.
That being said, all of these scenarios are only based on speculation, and nothing has been confirmed. It remains to be seen what the Triple H-led creative team has in store for Backlash.
The usual suspects are back at it again in the Hart Memorial Trophy race.
After missing out of the top three in Hart voting last year for the first time since the 2019-20 season, McDavid is back on the podium after finishing with a league-leading 138 points (48 goals, 90 assists), earning him his sixth career Art Ross Trophy.
The 29-year-old already has three Hart trophies to his name, and would become the fourth player in NHL history to have four should he win another, joining Wayne Gretzky (nine), Gordie Howe (six) and Eddie Shore (four).
MacKinnon, meanwhile, is in line for his second Hart after finally breaking through in the 2023-24 season. The 30-year-old had a dominant year with the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche, leading the team with 127 points (53 goals, 74 assists). He claimed the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy this season with his league-leading 53 goals.
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Along with his stellar point tally, the Halifax native led the league in plus/minus at plus-57, and his 42 even-strength goals paced the category.
Kucherov is gunning for his second Hart after taking home the hardware for the 2018-19 season. The Russian Rifle would tie Sidney Crosby for the longest gap between two Hart wins after the Penguins superstar did so in the 2006-07 and 2013-14 season (six-year gap). This is his third consecutive season as a finalist.
The 32-year-old Kucherov remained productive for the Bolts, picking up 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) en route to his fourth straight 100-plus-point season. He finished with a plus-43, making him the only non-Avalanche in the top five this year.
Members of the PHWA voted on the award at the end of the regular season.
Parma and Roma go head-to-head at Stadio Ennio Tardini this Sunday in the Serie A. The match will be broadcast live at 17:00 on DAZN.
Parma have picked up 42 points and currently lie in 12th position. Last time out, Carlos Cuesta‘s team slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Internazionale (Serie A 2025/26).
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Roma have won 64 points to date and are placed in 5th position. Last time out, Gian Piero Gasperini‘s team triumphed 4-0 against Fiorentina (Serie A 2025/26).
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The last meeting between the two teams ended with Roma winning 2-1.
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