TCU Horned Frogs running back Kevorian Barnes is wrapped up by multiple Iowa State defenders during first-half action on Nov. 8, 2025, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. Barnes fought for extra yardage as Iowa State’s defense swarmed to the football, highlighting the physical nature of a key late-season Big 12 matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings turned the page on the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah era this offseason, and with that, many hope the team can start drafting well and inserting rookies into the lineup sooner rather than later. That’s the goal anyway.
The club welcomed about 35 new players altogether this offseason; now it’s time to glance at the rookies who could start as early as Week 1.
Listed alphabetically, these are those rookies who have a reasonable or semi-reasonable path to the starting lineup right away.
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Training Camp Will Reveal Which Newcomers Can Push Veterans Early
Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks speaks with reporters following his workout at the program’s Pro Day event in Gainesville. Banks used the showcase to highlight his athletic traits, size, and versatility while meeting with NFL scouts and discussing his development ahead of the upcoming draft. March 26, 2026. Mandatory Credit: Alan Youngblood-Gainesville Sun.
1. Caleb Banks | DT
Probably a no-brainer on this list — the Vikings drafted Banks as their most impactful possible DT solution since Sharrif Floyd in 2013, a DT from Florida who also had foot issues, ironically enough.
Whether Banks is ready to start will remain a summer suspense novel. Head coach Kevin O’Connell recently stated that the goal is to have him ready by training camp, but the Vikings also have a history of slow-rolling injury recoveries.
If Banks’s foot is good to go, he’ll formally take Jonathan Allen’s spot in the 2026 lineup.
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2. Gavin Gerhardt | C
This is the most far-fetched on the list.
The Vikings appeared to scout Gerhardt as their youth solution at center from the start of the pre-draft process. Gerhardt said in April about his pre-draft visit, “The coaches were just genuine, good human beings. Obviously, I think highly of them coaching-wise, but they were all very good people. People that cared about me as a human being — and that’s what I care most about, other human beings.”
“Obviously, I think I’m a good football player, but me as a human being, I think that’s my greatest quality. I really strive to be just like my father and be that man everyone can lean on. That’s the vibe I got when I was there in Minnesota from the coaching staff.
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Vikings.com’s Craig Peters also noted after the draft on Gerhardt, “The Vikings have 2024 seventh-round pick Michael Jurgens and 2020 sixth-rounder Blake Brandel returning after both played pivot in place of Kelly last season.”
“The Vikings evaluated multiple interior linemen. Gerhardt’s inclusion in the Top 30 process enabled the team to see how he would handle an install and his voice in a simulated huddle.”
There’s a world, albeit far off in a distant galaxy, where Gerhardt takes the summer by storm and ousts Brandel from his frontrunner status. It could happen, especially if Minnesota extensively scouted Gerhardt as “their guy.”
3. Dominique Orange | DT
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Orange is the most likely to start out of the gate on this list.
He has no lingering injury issues — like Banks. He’s not a 7th-Rounder. And he’s not battling a savvy veteran like Johnny Hekker, like the next guy on the list.
Nose tackles often acclimate to the NFL faster than other defensive players, and because Minnesota employs no surefire nose tackle in the starting lineup — Levi Drake Rodriguez would be the closest alternative — Orange has a glowing opportunity to seize the moment.
Iowa State defensive lineman Domonique Orange celebrates after a defensive stop during a home game against BYU at Jack Trice Stadium. Orange emerged as a disruptive presence for the Cyclones, using his size and power to anchor the defensive front while drawing attention from NFL evaluators. Oct. 25, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Nirmalendu Majumdar-Imagn Images.
He’s huge. He stuffs the run. The Vikings don’t have a starting nose tackle. And Minnesota picked him in Round 3, a reasonable spot to suggest Week 1 playing time. Orange will likely be the Week 1 starter at NT.
4. Brett Thorson | P
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Thorson stands 61″ and weighs 240 pounds. His primary concern is the weather; he didn’t grow up facing the Midwest’s wind, snow, and cold, and Georgia doesn’t provide the same conditions he would encounter in Minnesota.
Additionally, the Vikings have already signed a new punter: Johnny Hekker. Once regarded as the best punter in football, he earned six All-Pro selections, four Pro Bowl invitations, and a Super Bowl ring. However, that version of him is now a few years in the past. In 2025, he performed closer to league average, so for him to rebound in Minnesota, he would need to regain his previous form.
Georgia punter Brett Thorson kicks the ball during the SEC Championship Game against Texas at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Thorson built a reputation as one of college football’s top specialists, showcasing a powerful leg and consistent production while helping the Bulldogs compete for conference and national titles. Dec. 7, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images.
His contract complicates matters further. It indicates he will be the Vikings’ punter through 2026. If they keep Thorson and release Hekker, they would incur dead money, and teams typically do not carry two punters.
While Thorson could be a viable option, he faces a practical challenge beyond his kicking abilities. He must show that he can handle holding for extra points and field goals, a responsibility he did not fulfill at Georgia. For specialists, the skill can be the difference between and active roster spot and the practice squad.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
At the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational, Henley was playing Titleist’s GT3 driver and 4-wood, then the current in-line driver and fairway wood for the company, but still played the original T100 irons from 2019.
This year, those OG T100s are still in the bag, joined by an updated T250 4-iron, but he’s gone backward with his wood setup.
Henley won in Fort Worth with the now-6-year-old TSi3 driver and 4-wood. But instead of the TSi2 hybrid from the same line he played last year, Henley has upgraded to a new GTS3 7-wood that was released earlier this month.
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That club was added to his bag just two weeks ago at the PGA Championship.
Meanwhile, Henley has also changed his wedge setup to the new SM11 but remains in the same grind setup, including a 60.04T lob wedge. The T-Grind is one of the most popular wedge grinds on Tour, but Henley is the first to notch a win with it this season.
“The most important thing for Russell with his 60 is knowing he has the most versatility when greenside,” Vokey Wedge rep Aaron Dill said. “It was this time last year when he first tested the 60.04T and added it to the bag. Right away Russell mentioned confidence when he opened the face, and he loved the way the wedge felt gliding through sand.”
Henley also hasn’t changed his Scotty Cameron Phantom 5 Tour Prototype putter, which he used to make over 100 feet of putts on Sunday, including his four birdies in a row to end the tournament.
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“I got fitted with my coach Phil Kenyon and he was all about this putter for me. Just based on the feel and the forgiveness, combining those two, that was kind of a no-brainer where we landed,” Henley told Titleist about his putter. “Because, the greens, if they get really fast or if they’re a little on the slower side, because they can’t cut them because of wind or whatever it is, you want to have a putter that can perform in all those aspects. So I feel like that’s kind of the big thing is, can I bring this putter to any situation?”
For more on Henley’s detailed setup, keep reading below.
Russell Henley’s winning clubs at the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge
Driver: Titleist TSi3 10.0˚ Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70TX
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Irons: Titleist T250 (4), 2019 Titleist T100 (5-9) Shafts: True Temper AMT White X100 (4-6), True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100 (7-9)
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All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team.
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Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – May 31, 2026 Spain’s Rafael Jodar in action during his fourth round match against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
With Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic eliminated in earlier rounds, there’s room for a youth movement at the French Open.
No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany is the new favorite and advanced to the quarterfinals handily Sunday, but he was flanked by Jakub Mensik, Rafael Jodar and Joao Fonseca as all three youngsters extended their Grand Slam dreams with impressive victories in Paris.
Mensik, Jodar and Fonseca — the 26th, 27th and 28th seeds — are aged 20, 19 and 19, respectively.
Two days after stunning Djokovic, Brazilian phenom Fonseca felled Norwegian 15th seed Casper Ruud 7-5, 7-6 (8), 5-7, 6-2 in the fourth round. Ruud is a clay-court specialist and two-time finalist at Roland Garros.
“It was tough. Casper plays good here,” Fonseca said in his on-court interview. “He’s a very experienced guy and he knows how to play here in this amazing court. He has two finals, so it was tough in the beginning, but I played really good in the important moments in the first and second set. I was very happy because of that.”
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Fonseca and Ruud had matching totals of 51 winners and 52 unforced errors, but Fonseca saved 7 of 9 break points while managing to break Ruud four times.
Neither Fonseca nor Mensik had reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal before Sunday, and now one of them is guaranteed to make their semifinal debut as they’re set to square off in the next round. Mensik, from the Czech Republic, also won in upset fashion as he outlasted Russian 11th seed Andrey Rublev 6-3, 7-6 (6), 4-6, 2-6, 6-3.
Mensik finished with a 69-45 edge in winners and survived committing 65 unforced errors to Rublev’s 36 in the three-hour, 45-minute affair.
Earlier in the day, Spanish rising star Jodar rallied from two sets down to oust veteran countryman Pablo Carreno Busta 4-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
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Carreno Busta lost the first three games of the match, but steadied and won the final five of the first set to stun the youngster. He carried that momentum in the second set, sprinted to a 4-0 lead and hung on to take a two-set edge.
But Jodar would not face a break point in the final three sets. He won 38 of 47 (80.9%) of his first serves in that span. In the deciding set, the No. 27 seed broke the veteran at love in the fourth game and eventually won on his fifth match point of the eighth game.
“It’s difficult because he has a great backhand,” Jodar said after the match. “When we’re playing cross with the backhand, it’s difficult to change because he’s playing deep in the court. I tried not to rush the shots and not make a lot of unforced errors. I think that was the key in the first two sets, so I tried to change that.”
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Jodar won his ATP-leading 19th match on clay this season.
He and Zverev will meet for the first time on Tuesday for a spot in the semifinals, after Zverev cruised past Dutchman Jesper de Jong 7-6 (3), 6-4, 6-1.
Zverev has become the heavy favorite to win his first Grand Slam title. He lost two years ago to Carlos Alcaraz in the finals in Paris.
He fell behind de Jong 3-0 in the first set, but broke in the fifth game and held steady to send it to a tiebreaker. Zverev again fell behind 3-0 in the tiebreaker, but reeled off seven consecutive points to take all of the momentum into the rest of the match.
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“In the beginning, it was a bit difficult,” Zverev said. “I didn’t start off strong and he started off really fast and really well. But once I found my rhythm, I felt very comfortable on the court and that’s the most important thing for me. I feel like my game is there, now it’s about showing it on the match court.”
Zverev struck 43 winners and committed only 26 errors.
For years, fans have criticised Canelo Alvarez for not facing former super-middleweight rival David Benavidez, and now Alvarez has revealed why the fight never took place.
After an unsuccessful challenge for Dmitry Bivol’s light-heavyweight crown, Alvarez returned to 168lbs and defended the belt against Gennadiy Golovkin, John Ryder and Jermell Charlo – ignoring a fight with the physically imposing Benavidez, who was his WBC mandatory challenger.
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Speaking to Inside The Ring Show, Canelo said that his only targets at that stage were fellow world champions.
“When we were both at 168, I fought every champion in that division. Why [did] he never fight those champions? If he was a champion at that point, I’d fight him. My goal was being undisputed.
“Right now it’s just impossible. He can [go] fight with heavyweights, do you know what I mean.”
Earlier this month, Benavidez moved up in the pound-for-pound rankings by knocking out Gilberto Ramirez to become a three-division champion and a new top dog on the cruiserweight scene. He may drop back down to light-heavyweight next, but has also touted a heavyweight run in the future. The 29-year-old’s days at super-middleweight are well and truly over, meaning the Canelo fight is as unlikely as ever.
Will Edmonton Oilers fans regret the trade of Sam O’Reilly one day?
The junior-aged forward certainly is doing his part to make Oilers supporters wonder if their team made the right move in dealing O’Reilly to the Tampa Bay Lightning for fellow top prospect Isaac Howard last summer.
O’Reilly had one goal and three assists in the Memorial Cup final on Sunday, leading the Kitchener Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Everett Silvertips in Kelowna, B.C.
The Toronto native was named Memorial Cup MVP after notching three goals and five assists in four games.
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By doing so, O’Reilly joined an exclusive club, becoming just the fourth player in history to win a league most outstanding player award, along with league playoff MVP and Memorial Cup MVP honours.
You might have heard of the others: Brad Richards (Rimouski Oceanic, 2000), Corey Perry (London Knights, 2005) and Mitch Marner (London, 2016).
O’Reilly, 20, and defenceman Jared Woolley were dealt to Kitchener from London in January after helping the Knights win the 2025 Memorial Cup and the 2024 and ’25 OHL championships.
O’Reilly, who has signed an entry-level contract, will try to make the Lightning at training camp next season. He also is eligible to play in the AHL.
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Howard, 22, played his first 29 games with Edmonton this season after winning the Hobey Baker Award as top player in NCAA hockey in 2024-25 with Michigan State.
Howard was picked 31st overall by the Lightning in 2022, while O’Reilly went 32nd overall to the Oilers in 2024.
The Kansas Baseball program swept through the regional round of the NCAA Tournament to claim its first-ever appearance in an NCAA Super Regional. The Jayhawks are now just two wins away from the College World Series in Omaha.
This was the first baseball regional where Kansas held a national seed and earned the opportunity to host. KU does have one previous CWS appearance back in 1993, but that was prior to the current Super Regional Format, which began in the 1999 season.
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Over half of KU’s wins this year came in come-from-behind fashion, and this regional final against Arkansas was no different. I’ll mostly let you read about it from your favorite KU beat writers, but in short: After falling behind 5-0 through the first three innings, the Jayhawk offense ignited, scoring 11 unanswered runs. The two teams exchanged scoring opportunities throughout the 8th and 9th innings, but KU scored enough to send the Hogs packing.
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KU has now swept through the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Regionals, winning their last 6 in a row and 8 of 9. As has been the case most of the season, KU rode a red-hot offense along with pitching that was just good enough.
Over the course of the season, KU went a combined 9-0 against Nebraska, Missouri, K-State, and Wichita State, but this is obviously way cooler than that stat. I just felt like it needed mentioning.
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Kansas will have to wait to find out who their Super Regional opponent will be. The Jayhawks await the winner of Oklahoma-Georgia Tech, who will play a winner-take-all matchup on Monday, June 1 (as of this publication, the time is still TBD).
If Georgia Tech beats Oklahoma tomorrow, KU will travel to Atlanta to take on the Yellow Jackets in a best 2-of-3 series that will begin on either June 5 or 6. However, according to my source (ChatGTP), if Oklahoma wins, the Sooners would travel to Lawrence next weekend.
I dunno about you guys, but I kinda feel like hosting a Super Regional now, so for the first time in my life, I guess I will begrudgingly root for Oklahoma. (That, and Georgia Tech is, like, scary good.)
The Honkai Star Rail 4.3 codes can be redeemed to obtain free Stellar Jades, Credits, and other lucrative resources. HoYoverse drops quite a few of them each patch, allowing players to accumulate enough materials to summon and build the new characters. To obtain the freebies, Trailblazer must complete the redemption method via any official method.
This article further lists all the active codes from Honkai Star Rail 4.3.
All active Honkai Star Rail 4.3 redeem codes
Here are all the active codes from the Honkai Star Rail 4.3 update, along with their rewards:
The list will be updated with more codes once we discover them. Make sure to redeem them all at the earliest to avoid missing out. The codes usually remain active for a limited time.
How to redeem codes in Honkai Star Rail
You can redeem any active Honkai Star Rail code using either the in-game feature or the official webpage. Pick whichever method is more feasible:
How to redeem on the official webpage
Redeem on the official webpage (Image via HoYoverse)
Sol Ruca rode a wave of massive success to become the new women’s intercontinental champion on Sunday at Clash in Italy as she defeated Becky Lynch.
It was a rematch from their brief bout at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Lynch had pushed referee Jessica Carr in front of her as Ruca nailed a Sol Snatcher. Carr called for a disqualification on Lynch, giving Ruca the win. But it didn’t do what either of them had hoped. Ruca didn’t prove herself enough in “The Man’s” eyes while Lynch was hoping to move on from the rising star.
Sol Ruca celebrates her win during Clash in Italy at Inalpi Arena in Torino di Sangro, Italy, on May 31, 2026.(Andrew Timms/WWE)
SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis booked a rematch with the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line. Ruca stepped up and delivered in a big way.
Lynch tried to get inside Ruca’s head as much as she could. The trash talking, pushing Carr into the ropes to knock Ruca down and even attempting a Sol Snatcher herself were not enough to slow down Ruca.
Sol Ruca performs a Sol Snatcher on Becky Lynch during Clash in Italy at Inalpi Arena in Torino di Sangro, Italy, on May 31, 2026.(Rich Freeda/WWE)
As the match came to an end, Ruca hit a Sol Snatcher out of nowhere to crush Lynch and end her reign as the women’s intercontinental champion.
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It was the first major win for Ruca since she joined the main roster. She defeated Bayley on Saturday Night’s Main Event back in December when John Cena specifically chose her to be on the card. She’s been one of the top prospects on NXT and has now made a major impact on the WWE roster.
Becky Lynch wrestles Sol Ruca during Clash in Italy at Inalpi Arena in Torino di Sangro, Italy, on May 31, 2026.(Andrew Timms/WWE)
Lynch’s reign ends after 43 days. She won the title back at WrestleMania 42, which made her the first three-time women’s intercontinental champion since the belt was introduced.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
England came out as 3-2 winners over World XI in the 20th anniversary of the charity match.
20:53, 31 May 2026Updated 21:08, 31 May 2026
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England came out as 3-2 winners over World XI in Soccer Aid 2026, with Wayne Rooney, Angry Ginge, Jermain Defoe and Nabhaan Rizwan among the standout performers.
Defoe was on the scoresheet twice, as he became the leading scorer in the event’s history.
Both teams had the chance to take the lead in the first half, forcing saves from former professional goalkeepers Joe Hart and Edwin Van der Sar. But it was actor Damson Idris who gave England the lead before half-time.
Replays showed that he may have been in an offside position when the ball was played, but he made no mistake by lifting the ball above the goalkeeper and into the side netting. With no VAR in place, the goal stood.
Things usually get more interesting going into the second half, with celebrities replacing professionals in goal. For England, it was Joe Marler in the sticks, with Chris O’Dowd for World XI.
It was O’Dowd who was beaten first, when Jermain Defoe lifted the ball over him and into the back of the net to make it 2-0 to England. It was the same outcome just a minute or so later, with Defoe making it 3-0.
Michael Essien reduced the deficit with what was his final touch of the ball with a great goal into the bottom corner. Tim Cahill made it a nervy end for England, making it 3-2 with a good header.
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But, England were able to see it out to take their second title in three years.
Here’s how we scored the players…
England
Joe Hart – Produced a good couple of saves from Rizwan early in the first half. 7
Owen Cooper – Didn’t look out of place, despite being the youngest ever player in Soccer Aid history. Did brilliantly to tackle Berbatov in the penalty area – although could have conceded a penalty. 7.5
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Angry Ginge – Looked pretty solid at the back alongside Lescott., saved Joe Marler’s blushes in the second half. 8
Joleon Lescott – Did have some problems in the early stages against Rizwan, good defending to deny Nitro at the back post. 6.5
Sam Thompson – Lasted 20 minutes, but wasn’t really noticeable – if that’s a good or bad thing is anyone’s guess. 6
Jack Wilshere – Helped to contol the midfield for England – even if he didn’t get a lot of help. 7
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Tom Grennan – Not as good as last year, where he impressed, but still tried to get involved – almost got a touch on Defoe’s first goal. 6.5
Damson Idris – Looked quick, took his goal well, although there was more than a slight hint of offside. 7
Wayne Rooney – Showed his vision and quality with his throughballs to get teammates in on goal, hit the post when through on goal. 8
Toni Duggan – Got in behind once or twice, was replaced just over the half an hour mark. 7
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Jermain Defoe – Two brilliant finishes within a few minutes to make it 2 and 3 for England. 8
Tom Hiddlestone – Didn’t really get involved in the 20 or so minutes he was on the pitch.6
Jade Moore – Played a brilliant ball for Jermain Defoe’s first goal. 7
GK Barry – Her first involvement saw her distracted by the adulation of the crowd and let the ball go out of play for a throw-in. 5
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Joe Marler – Was saved from embarrassment by a goal-line clearance by Angry Ginge. Brought a smile to his defender’s face with his antics, get an extra .5 for entertainment. 7.5
Danny Dyer – Not involved too much – 6
Theo Walcott – Was denied a couple of times by Chris O’Dowd – 6.5
Sean Wright-Phillips – Set up Theo Walcott for a good chance. 6.5
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Jill Scott – Helped to control the midfield when England came under pressure. 7
Olly Murs – Amazing to see him on the pitch after the Into the Unknown Challenge. 6
Jack Whitehall – Did well to get on the pitch, considering he was in Budapest supporting Arsenal last night. 6
Chloe Burrows – Played a great ball through for Walcott in a penalty shout for England. only on for around 10 minutes. 6.5
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Alex Brooker – Wasn’t on for long, coming onto the pitch with 5 minutes to play. N/A
Paddy McGuinness – Came on for the final couple of minutes for his 10th cap. N/A
World XI
Edwin Van Der Sar – Great save to tip Wayne Rooney’s shot onto the post when one-on-one. 7
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Nikolaj Coster-Waldau – Was substituted after 22 minutes. 6
Nemanja Matic – Tried to get forward in the second half ad World XI looked for a way back in the game. 6
Richard Gadd – 6
Jordi Alba – . 7
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Jen Beattie – Was replaced after 30 minutes. 6
Dermot Kennedy – 6
Behzinga – 6
Michael Essien – Looked to control the game early, and scored a great goal before being substituted. 7
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Nabhaan Rizwan – Looked very dangerous in front of goal, was denied by a great Joe Hart save in the first half. 8
Dimitar Berbatov – Heavily involved in World XI’s attacks, but became pretty frustrated with some challenges. 7
Nitro – Got in a good position at the back post, but was denied by Joleon Lescott. 6
Ali Krieger – 6
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Chris O’Dowd – Theo Walcott will be happy to see the back of him, after a couple of good saves. 7.5
Nicky Byrne – 6
Tim Cahill – Made it 3-2 with a smart header. 7
Maisie Adam– Was denied a goal by the clearance from Angry Ginge after a mistake from Marler. 6.5
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Lukas Podolski – Had the chance to reduce the deficit, but hit the post. 7
Molly McCann – Unsusprisingly wasn’t afraid to be physical, but did manage to keep Tom Grennan pretty quiet. 6.5
Simon Neil – 6
Leonardo Bonucci – 6
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TBJZL – N/A
Frankie Dettori – Was only on for a few minutes. N/A
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Javier Aguirre announced today Mexico’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, in which they will be one of the host nations.
There are no surprises in El Vasco’s 26-man squad, but Guillermo Ochoa’s inclusion in goal stands out as he prepares to play in his sixth World Cup.
Mexico begins its World Cup campaign on June 11 against South Africa. Later, in the group stage, it must face South Korea (June 19) and the Czech Republic (June 25)
WWE Clash in Italy 2026 witnessed a gigantic rematch between Brock Lesnar & Oba Femi. The Beast Incarnate defeated the Ruler in this showdown and proved his domination in the squared circle.
However, it took seven F5s for the Mayor of Suplex City to put down the former NXT Champion. At WrestleMania 42, Oba Femi defeated the Beast in a squash match. Post this, Lesnar announced his retirement and left the company.
Thanks for the submission!
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On the May 18 episode of Monday Night RAW, Lesnar returned and destroyed Femi. The attack set the stage for a rematch between them at Clash in Italy.
The fans of Beast Incarnate are happy with his victory, particularly after Lesnar came out of retirement to teach Femi a lesson.
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In this article are four reasons why Oba Femi lost to the Beast at the Clash in Italy Premium Live event.
#4. To set up a rubber match
Clash in Italy 2026 was the second match between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi. After defeating the Ruler, the Mayor of Suplex City trash-talked with Femi from ringside, affirming that his victory had equalized the scores between them.
With this, Lesnar signifies that Femi once defeated him at WrestleMania, and now the Beast has defeated him at the international Premium Live event. This means that both stars have one victory over each other.
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The Beast’s words subtly confirm that WWE is planning for a third match between them, potentially at SummerSlam 2026. So, to set up the trilogy match, Lesnar’s victory was necessary at the international show.
Setting the stage for a third match could be a possible reason for Oba Femi’s defeat at the recent show.
#3. Brock Lesnar needed this victory
Brock Lesnar came out of retirement to contest in a rematch with Oba Femi. This rematch was more than a World title match for the Beast as he was seeking revenge for the Ruler after he retired at the Showcase of Immortals.
This proves that Lesnar was in a must-win situation in this rematch at Clash in Italy 2026. As the Mayor of Suplex City needed the win, WWE preferred to book Lesnar as the winner, resulting in Oba Femi losing at the Italy PLE.
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#2. To move Oba Femi in a new direction
🚨 The brackets for the 2026 King and Queen of the Ring Tournaments have officially been unveiled.
Brock Lesnar defeating the Ruler at Clash in Italy 2026 has re-established the Beast’s domination in the Stamford-based promotion. This proves that Lesnar still has some gas left in the tank.
As the Mayor of Suplex City finally gets his redemption on the Ruler, he is likely to move in a new direction. Moving the former NXT Champion in a new direction could be another reason for his loss at Clash in Italy.
If Femi had defeated Lesnar twice, it might have repeated the same revenge storyline for Lesnar. With Brock’s victory, WWE can finally book the Nigerian star in a fresh direction. The Sports Entertainment juggernaut has already revealed the King of the Ring tournament bracket this year.
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WWE has included Femi in a qualifying match with Intercontinental Champion Penta. This signals that the company has already started booking Oba in the new direction.
#1. WWE wants Lesnar post-Clash in Italy, too
When Brock Lesnar attacked Oba Femi on Monday Night RAW, the Ruler asserted to retire the Beast again at Clash in Italy 2026. According to reports, Lesnar is expected to appear in WWE after the international Premium Live event.
This shows that WWE wants to book the Beast after his rematch with the Nigerian star. So, this could be another possible reason for Oba Femi’s loss at the latest show.
If Lesnar had lost to the former NXT Champion in this rematch, he could be forced to retire for the second time. However, the Stamford-based promotion has different plans, which lead to Brock’s victory and Femi’s loss in this high-profile bout.
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Rest, it will be interesting to see how things unfold after the Clash in Italy 2026. It remains to be seen when Brock Lesnar will appear next in WWE and whether Oba will defeat Penta to advance in the King of the Ring tournament on the red brand.
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