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Deadspin | Report: North Carolina search focuses on Billy Donovan  Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan directs his team against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images   North Carolina’s coaching search is focused “solely” on Billy Donovan, The Field of 68 reported.  Donovan, who currently coaches the Chicago Bulls, led Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006-07.  Sunday’s report said the Tar Heels are “going to go hard after him” and “expect to know more in the next 24 hours.”  Donovan, 60, has been coaching in the NBA since compiling a 467-186 record with the Gators from 1996-2015.   He is 224-253 with the Bulls (29-48 this season) after going 243-157 with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-20.  North Carolina parted ways with Hubert Davis after last month’s first-round loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament.   Michigan coach Dusty May and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd are among the potential candidates who have decided to remain at their current posts.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Report #North #Carolina #search #focuses #Billy #Donovan

Deadspin | Report: North Carolina search focuses on Billy Donovan
Deadspin | Report: North Carolina search focuses on Billy Donovan  Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan directs his team against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images   North Carolina’s coaching search is focused “solely” on Billy Donovan, The Field of 68 reported.  Donovan, who currently coaches the Chicago Bulls, led Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006-07.  Sunday’s report said the Tar Heels are “going to go hard after him” and “expect to know more in the next 24 hours.”  Donovan, 60, has been coaching in the NBA since compiling a 467-186 record with the Gators from 1996-2015.   He is 224-253 with the Bulls (29-48 this season) after going 243-157 with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-20.  North Carolina parted ways with Hubert Davis after last month’s first-round loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament.   Michigan coach Dusty May and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd are among the potential candidates who have decided to remain at their current posts.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Report #North #Carolina #search #focuses #Billy #DonovanApr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan directs his team against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

North Carolina’s coaching search is focused “solely” on Billy Donovan, The Field of 68 reported.

Donovan, who currently coaches the Chicago Bulls, led Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006-07.

Sunday’s report said the Tar Heels are “going to go hard after him” and “expect to know more in the next 24 hours.”


Donovan, 60, has been coaching in the NBA since compiling a 467-186 record with the Gators from 1996-2015.

He is 224-253 with the Bulls (29-48 this season) after going 243-157 with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-20.

North Carolina parted ways with Hubert Davis after last month’s first-round loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan coach Dusty May and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd are among the potential candidates who have decided to remain at their current posts.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Report #North #Carolina #search #focuses #Billy #Donovan

Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan directs his team against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

North Carolina’s coaching search is focused “solely” on Billy Donovan, The Field of 68 reported.

Donovan, who currently coaches the Chicago Bulls, led Florida to back-to-back national championships in 2006-07.

Sunday’s report said the Tar Heels are “going to go hard after him” and “expect to know more in the next 24 hours.”

Donovan, 60, has been coaching in the NBA since compiling a 467-186 record with the Gators from 1996-2015.

He is 224-253 with the Bulls (29-48 this season) after going 243-157 with the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015-20.

North Carolina parted ways with Hubert Davis after last month’s first-round loss to VCU in the NCAA Tournament.

Michigan coach Dusty May and Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd are among the potential candidates who have decided to remain at their current posts.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Report #North #Carolina #search #focuses #Billy #Donovan

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KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders secures first point after persistent rain forces washout <div id="content-body-70831445" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The build-up was perfect. Shah Rukh Khan attended his first match of the season, while fans turned up in decent numbers to cheer for Kolkata Knight Riders despite the team’s recent struggles.</p><p>But in the end, strong winds and torrential rain had the final say as the Indian Premier League 2026 fixture between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings was washed out on Monday.</p><p>Despite predictions of rain, KKR opted to bat and was reeling at 25 for two in 3.4 overs when the showers arrived, halting play barely 17 minutes into the game at Eden Gardens.</p><p>Coming off two consecutive defeats, KKR took the field without the injured Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. In a bid to strengthen the batting, Rovman Powell and Navdeep Saini were drafted into the XI.</p><p>However, it was another disappointing start for KKR as neither Finn Allen nor Cameron Green managed to settle, both caught behind off a probing spell from Xavier Bartlett. With Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempting to rebuild, rain forced the players off the field.</p><p>There was initial hope of a restart as the groundstaff swiftly covered the square and outfield. But as the evening wore on, the rain intensified and powerful gusts of wind swept across the ground.</p><p><b>ALSO READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/rr-vs-mi-ipl-2026-guwahati-parag-captaincy-suryavanshi-hardik-rajasthan-royals-mumbai-indians/article70830524.ece" target="_self">RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might</a></b></p><p>Sheets of rain lashed the square, the stands gradually emptied as spectators sought shelter, and puddles began forming despite the covers remaining firmly in place.</p><p>With no improvement in conditions, match referee Javagal Srinath eventually called off the contest, with both teams sharing a point.</p><p>Coincidentally, when the two sides met at the same venue last year, that match too had been washed out, earning both teams a point each.</p><p>A year later, it was a similar story, with the unpredictable April weather once again having the final word.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 06, 2026</p></div> #KKR #PBKS #IPL #Kolkata #Knight #Riders #secures #point #persistent #rain #forces #washout

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Harry Kane took part in training with his Bayern Munich teammates on Monday ahead of the German club’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match at Real Madrid as he continues his recovery from an ankle niggle.

The striker picked up an injury while on international duty with England in late March, which caused him to pull out of last Tuesday’s friendly defeat to Japan at Wembley, with coach Thomas Tuchel saying the 32-year-old was suffering just a “minor” complaint.

Kane was then not included in the Bayern squad for Saturday’s 3-2 Bundesliga win at Freiburg.

On Monday, however, he appeared in good spirits on Bayern’s training ground during the 15-minute session, which was open to the press.

Bayern boss Vincent Kompany will delay his decision on whether to start Kane in Tuesday’s tie with Real Madrid until the evening of the match.

Kane has scored 48 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions this season, including 10 in nine Champions League outings.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Kane #trains #Bayern #ahead #Real #Madrid #UCL #tie">UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Kane trains with Bayern ahead of Real Madrid UCL tie  Harry Kane took part in training with his Bayern Munich teammates on Monday ahead of the German club’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg match at Real Madrid as he continues his recovery from an ankle niggle.The striker picked up an injury while on international duty with England in late March, which caused him to pull out of last Tuesday’s friendly defeat to Japan at Wembley, with coach Thomas Tuchel saying the 32-year-old was suffering just a “minor” complaint.Kane was then not included in the Bayern squad for Saturday’s 3-2 Bundesliga win at Freiburg.On Monday, however, he appeared in good spirits on Bayern’s training ground during the 15-minute session, which was open to the press.Bayern boss Vincent Kompany will delay his decision on whether to start Kane in Tuesday’s tie with Real Madrid until the evening of the match.Kane has scored 48 goals in 40 appearances across all competitions this season, including 10 in nine Champions League outings.Published on Apr 06, 2026  #UEFA #Champions #League #Kane #trains #Bayern #ahead #Real #Madrid #UCL #tie

We are officially two weeks away from WrestleMania. 

Just when fans thought creative could not get worse, Triple H and TKO proved them wrong. Despite the bad booking, several superstars have flourished on the Road to WrestleMania. Here, we are going to look at five superstars who are dominating the ‘Mania scene, and one who will not be appearing on the grandest stage of them all.

Honorable Mention: You Are Cursed!

Talk about a bounce back. Danhausen debuted at the Elimination Chamber through a big box, and fans were not having it. The moment he cursed Dominik Mysterio (who later lost the Intercontinental title to Penta), everything changed. He has been appearing in backstage segments on both Raw and SmackDown, saying, “You are Cursed”. Fans in attendance and at home are invested in it. It will be very interesting to see how WWE incorporates him at WrestleMania, but so far, he has done an excellent job.

The Ring General Gunther

Gunther was absent for three weeks following his match against Dragon Lee, where he unmasked his opponent. Fans were scratching their heads, wondering where he could be. After all, he retired John Cena months ago. 

On Raw, the WWE Universe found out exactly who the Ring General’s opponent is. With Paul Heyman in the ring, GM Adam Pearce announced that Seth Rollins was medically cleared to compete. Rollins appeared and beat down the Wiseman. Many fans anticipated Bron Breakker to return and seal the deal for a date in Vegas. Instead, Gunther dragged Rollins out of the ring and choked him out before pointing at the WrestleMania sign. Gunther was originally supposed to face Rey Mysterio, but Mysterio got hurt. Look for the Career Killer to cut a promo on Raw tomorrow and amp up the match.

The Genius of the Sky Iyo Sky

For a wrestler regarded as the best female professional wrestler on the planet, Iyo Sky sure has not been booked well recently. After her tag partner, Rhea Ripley, won the Elimination Chamber and moved to SmackDown, Sky has been left in purgatory. She is feuding with Raquel Rodriguez, but there must be something else for her to do. The plan was Iyo Sky vs Asuka, but on SmackDown, it looks like Sky will be in Rhea’s corner for her match. It would be a shame if she is not on the card, but any appearance is better than none.

Whoop that Trick

The aura-forming is real. Trick Williams arrived on the main roster in 2026, and fans fell in love with him. This guy has the entrance, charisma, promo skills, and in-ring ability to compete with the best WWE has to offer. He is scheduled to face Sami Zayn for the US Championship, and WWE is planning on a double turn that would make Williams a huge star in the company.

Celebrities

Alright. Order in the court! I know they are not wrestlers, but they have been featured heavily in the past few weeks. First, iShowSpeed inadvertently helped the Vision (Austin Theory and Logan Paul) win the Tag titles. He hit LA Knight with the brass knuckles at ringside, and then Paul hit Jey with the knucks to pick up the victory. Afterwards, he insisted he did not want anything to do with the Vision, but it looks like he will be involved at Mania in a six-man tag against the Usos and LA Knight. 

Then there’s Jelly Roll. Two weeks ago, he had more segments on Friday Night SmackDown than any other WWE superstar on the roster. He was not at this past Friday’s show because he was selling the RKO. Onto Lil Yatchy. You read that right. The rapper is likely going to be featured in Trick’s corner at WrestleMania and cut a cringeworthy promo on SmackDown. Finally, the WWE Universe was SHOCKED when Randy Orton’s mystery caller was revealed. He posted on X that he was done with WWE, but now lives as one of the worst reveals in WWE history. Pat McAfee hit a low blow on Cody Rhodes and cut a nonsensical promo about how WWE needs Randy Orton. Multiple reports state that TKO made this decision, specifically Ari Emanuel. When will they learn that celebrities are not the solution to ticket sales?

To put the cherry on top, John Cena is hosting WrestleMania this year, and it looks like WWE is pulling out all the stops to get butts in seats.

The Ruler is Here

Oba Femi strutted down to the ring a few weeks ago on Raw to answer Lesnar’s open challenge and give him a powerbomb. Then, Lesnar instructed Femi to put his foot on his chest as he pointed to the sign. This rivalry probably has the most steam heading into WrestleMania, and look for WWE to make Oba look like a million bucks. With just two more episodes of Raw left, it will be intriguing to see where these two go. Lots of fans and media personalities are praying that Oba Femi wins this match, but anything can happen.

AJ Lee

The Women’s Intercontinental Champion missed last week’s Raw, but all signs point to her appearing at least once more before taking on Becky Lynch. This will be Lee’s first WrestleMania match in over 10 years, so the pressure will be on. Her husband, CM Punk, is headlining Night 2 against Roman Reigns, so fans’ expectations of this match will be high. There has not been a stipulation added yet, but given the champ has tapped out the Lass Kicker three straight times, WWE should consider it.

Finally, one person who will not be at WrestleMania is Chris Jericho. His last appearance in pro wrestling was on April 6th, 2025, and pro wrestling fans were wondering where he would go. WWE fans hoped to see him at the Royal Rumble or come out of the big crate at Elimination Chamber. Maybe even face Gunther at WM.

Hit the brakes, because Y2J returned to AEW Dynamite last Wednesday in his hometown of Winnipeg. The fans sang his “Fozzy” song and chanted “Welcome Back”. The Internet Wrestling Community (IWC) was pointing out how flat the crowd was during the segment. Case in point, where Jericho was trying to hype the live crowd. AEW fans do not know what’s in store for him, but WWE fans must accept that they will not be hearing “Break the Walls Down” anytime soon.

We are one week away from WrestleMania, and it is beginning to sizzle. All hands will be on deck to ensure the build to this year’s WM will be like no other. One last thing, on Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon was alluded to twice in the show. First by Cody Rhodes, and then by Paul Heyman later on in the show. Could Vince be making a comeback or appearance at WrestleMania? We will have to wait and see.

#WWE #Superstars #Spotlight #Ahead #Wrestlemania #Deadspin.com">Five WWE Superstars in the Spotlight Ahead of Wrestlemania | Deadspin.com   We are officially two weeks away from WrestleMania. Just when fans thought creative could not get worse, Triple H and TKO proved them wrong. Despite the bad booking, several superstars have flourished on the Road to WrestleMania. Here, we are going to look at five superstars who are dominating the ‘Mania scene, and one who will not be appearing on the grandest stage of them all.Honorable Mention: You Are Cursed!Talk about a bounce back. Danhausen debuted at the Elimination Chamber through a big box, and fans were not having it. The moment he cursed Dominik Mysterio (who later lost the Intercontinental title to Penta), everything changed. He has been appearing in backstage segments on both Raw and SmackDown, saying, “You are Cursed”. Fans in attendance and at home are invested in it. It will be very interesting to see how WWE incorporates him at WrestleMania, but so far, he has done an excellent job.The Ring General GuntherGunther was absent for three weeks following his match against Dragon Lee, where he unmasked his opponent. Fans were scratching their heads, wondering where he could be. After all, he retired John Cena months ago. On Raw, the WWE Universe found out exactly who the Ring General’s opponent is. With Paul Heyman in the ring, GM Adam Pearce announced that Seth Rollins was medically cleared to compete. Rollins appeared and beat down the Wiseman. Many fans anticipated Bron Breakker to return and seal the deal for a date in Vegas. Instead, Gunther dragged Rollins out of the ring and choked him out before pointing at the WrestleMania sign. Gunther was originally supposed to face Rey Mysterio, but Mysterio got hurt. Look for the Career Killer to cut a promo on Raw tomorrow and amp up the match.The Genius of the Sky Iyo SkyFor a wrestler regarded as the best female professional wrestler on the planet, Iyo Sky sure has not been booked well recently. After her tag partner, Rhea Ripley, won the Elimination Chamber and moved to SmackDown, Sky has been left in purgatory. She is feuding with Raquel Rodriguez, but there must be something else for her to do. The plan was Iyo Sky vs Asuka, but on SmackDown, it looks like Sky will be in Rhea’s corner for her match. It would be a shame if she is not on the card, but any appearance is better than none.Whoop that TrickThe aura-forming is real. Trick Williams arrived on the main roster in 2026, and fans fell in love with him. This guy has the entrance, charisma, promo skills, and in-ring ability to compete with the best WWE has to offer. He is scheduled to face Sami Zayn for the US Championship, and WWE is planning on a double turn that would make Williams a huge star in the company.CelebritiesAlright. Order in the court! I know they are not wrestlers, but they have been featured heavily in the past few weeks. First, iShowSpeed inadvertently helped the Vision (Austin Theory and Logan Paul) win the Tag titles. He hit LA Knight with the brass knuckles at ringside, and then Paul hit Jey with the knucks to pick up the victory. Afterwards, he insisted he did not want anything to do with the Vision, but it looks like he will be involved at Mania in a six-man tag against the Usos and LA Knight. Then there’s Jelly Roll. Two weeks ago, he had more segments on Friday Night SmackDown than any other WWE superstar on the roster. He was not at this past Friday’s show because he was selling the RKO. Onto Lil Yatchy. You read that right. The rapper is likely going to be featured in Trick’s corner at WrestleMania and cut a cringeworthy promo on SmackDown. Finally, the WWE Universe was SHOCKED when Randy Orton’s mystery caller was revealed. He posted on X that he was done with WWE, but now lives as one of the worst reveals in WWE history. Pat McAfee hit a low blow on Cody Rhodes and cut a nonsensical promo about how WWE needs Randy Orton. Multiple reports state that TKO made this decision, specifically Ari Emanuel. When will they learn that celebrities are not the solution to ticket sales?To put the cherry on top, John Cena is hosting WrestleMania this year, and it looks like WWE is pulling out all the stops to get butts in seats.The Ruler is HereOba Femi strutted down to the ring a few weeks ago on Raw to answer Lesnar’s open challenge and give him a powerbomb. Then, Lesnar instructed Femi to put his foot on his chest as he pointed to the sign. This rivalry probably has the most steam heading into WrestleMania, and look for WWE to make Oba look like a million bucks. With just two more episodes of Raw left, it will be intriguing to see where these two go. Lots of fans and media personalities are praying that Oba Femi wins this match, but anything can happen.AJ LeeThe Women’s Intercontinental Champion missed last week’s Raw, but all signs point to her appearing at least once more before taking on Becky Lynch. This will be Lee’s first WrestleMania match in over 10 years, so the pressure will be on. Her husband, CM Punk, is headlining Night 2 against Roman Reigns, so fans’ expectations of this match will be high. There has not been a stipulation added yet, but given the champ has tapped out the Lass Kicker three straight times, WWE should consider it.Finally, one person who will not be at WrestleMania is Chris Jericho. His last appearance in pro wrestling was on April 6th, 2025, and pro wrestling fans were wondering where he would go. WWE fans hoped to see him at the Royal Rumble or come out of the big crate at Elimination Chamber. Maybe even face Gunther at WM.Hit the brakes, because Y2J returned to AEW Dynamite last Wednesday in his hometown of Winnipeg. The fans sang his “Fozzy” song and chanted “Welcome Back”. The Internet Wrestling Community (IWC) was pointing out how flat the crowd was during the segment. Case in point, where Jericho was trying to hype the live crowd. AEW fans do not know what’s in store for him, but WWE fans must accept that they will not be hearing “Break the Walls Down” anytime soon.We are one week away from WrestleMania, and it is beginning to sizzle. All hands will be on deck to ensure the build to this year’s WM will be like no other. One last thing, on Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon was alluded to twice in the show. First by Cody Rhodes, and then by Paul Heyman later on in the show. Could Vince be making a comeback or appearance at WrestleMania? We will have to wait and see.   #WWE #Superstars #Spotlight #Ahead #Wrestlemania #Deadspin.com

thought creative could not get worse, Triple H and TKO proved them wrong. Despite the bad booking, several superstars have flourished on the Road to WrestleMania. Here, we are going to look at five superstars who are dominating the ‘Mania scene, and one who will not be appearing on the grandest stage of them all.

Honorable Mention: You Are Cursed!

Talk about a bounce back. Danhausen debuted at the Elimination Chamber through a big box, and fans were not having it. The moment he cursed Dominik Mysterio (who later lost the Intercontinental title to Penta), everything changed. He has been appearing in backstage segments on both Raw and SmackDown, saying, “You are Cursed”. Fans in attendance and at home are invested in it. It will be very interesting to see how WWE incorporates him at WrestleMania, but so far, he has done an excellent job.

The Ring General Gunther

Gunther was absent for three weeks following his match against Dragon Lee, where he unmasked his opponent. Fans were scratching their heads, wondering where he could be. After all, he retired John Cena months ago. 

On Raw, the WWE Universe found out exactly who the Ring General’s opponent is. With Paul Heyman in the ring, GM Adam Pearce announced that Seth Rollins was medically cleared to compete. Rollins appeared and beat down the Wiseman. Many fans anticipated Bron Breakker to return and seal the deal for a date in Vegas. Instead, Gunther dragged Rollins out of the ring and choked him out before pointing at the WrestleMania sign. Gunther was originally supposed to face Rey Mysterio, but Mysterio got hurt. Look for the Career Killer to cut a promo on Raw tomorrow and amp up the match.

The Genius of the Sky Iyo Sky

For a wrestler regarded as the best female professional wrestler on the planet, Iyo Sky sure has not been booked well recently. After her tag partner, Rhea Ripley, won the Elimination Chamber and moved to SmackDown, Sky has been left in purgatory. She is feuding with Raquel Rodriguez, but there must be something else for her to do. The plan was Iyo Sky vs Asuka, but on SmackDown, it looks like Sky will be in Rhea’s corner for her match. It would be a shame if she is not on the card, but any appearance is better than none.

Whoop that Trick

The aura-forming is real. Trick Williams arrived on the main roster in 2026, and fans fell in love with him. This guy has the entrance, charisma, promo skills, and in-ring ability to compete with the best WWE has to offer. He is scheduled to face Sami Zayn for the US Championship, and WWE is planning on a double turn that would make Williams a huge star in the company.

Celebrities

Alright. Order in the court! I know they are not wrestlers, but they have been featured heavily in the past few weeks. First, iShowSpeed inadvertently helped the Vision (Austin Theory and Logan Paul) win the Tag titles. He hit LA Knight with the brass knuckles at ringside, and then Paul hit Jey with the knucks to pick up the victory. Afterwards, he insisted he did not want anything to do with the Vision, but it looks like he will be involved at Mania in a six-man tag against the Usos and LA Knight. 

Then there’s Jelly Roll. Two weeks ago, he had more segments on Friday Night SmackDown than any other WWE superstar on the roster. He was not at this past Friday’s show because he was selling the RKO. Onto Lil Yatchy. You read that right. The rapper is likely going to be featured in Trick’s corner at WrestleMania and cut a cringeworthy promo on SmackDown. Finally, the WWE Universe was SHOCKED when Randy Orton’s mystery caller was revealed. He posted on X that he was done with WWE, but now lives as one of the worst reveals in WWE history. Pat McAfee hit a low blow on Cody Rhodes and cut a nonsensical promo about how WWE needs Randy Orton. Multiple reports state that TKO made this decision, specifically Ari Emanuel. When will they learn that celebrities are not the solution to ticket sales?

To put the cherry on top, John Cena is hosting WrestleMania this year, and it looks like WWE is pulling out all the stops to get butts in seats.

The Ruler is Here

Oba Femi strutted down to the ring a few weeks ago on Raw to answer Lesnar’s open challenge and give him a powerbomb. Then, Lesnar instructed Femi to put his foot on his chest as he pointed to the sign. This rivalry probably has the most steam heading into WrestleMania, and look for WWE to make Oba look like a million bucks. With just two more episodes of Raw left, it will be intriguing to see where these two go. Lots of fans and media personalities are praying that Oba Femi wins this match, but anything can happen.

AJ Lee

The Women’s Intercontinental Champion missed last week’s Raw, but all signs point to her appearing at least once more before taking on Becky Lynch. This will be Lee’s first WrestleMania match in over 10 years, so the pressure will be on. Her husband, CM Punk, is headlining Night 2 against Roman Reigns, so fans’ expectations of this match will be high. There has not been a stipulation added yet, but given the champ has tapped out the Lass Kicker three straight times, WWE should consider it.

Finally, one person who will not be at WrestleMania is Chris Jericho. His last appearance in pro wrestling was on April 6th, 2025, and pro wrestling fans were wondering where he would go. WWE fans hoped to see him at the Royal Rumble or come out of the big crate at Elimination Chamber. Maybe even face Gunther at WM.

Hit the brakes, because Y2J returned to AEW Dynamite last Wednesday in his hometown of Winnipeg. The fans sang his “Fozzy” song and chanted “Welcome Back”. The Internet Wrestling Community (IWC) was pointing out how flat the crowd was during the segment. Case in point, where Jericho was trying to hype the live crowd. AEW fans do not know what’s in store for him, but WWE fans must accept that they will not be hearing “Break the Walls Down” anytime soon.

We are one week away from WrestleMania, and it is beginning to sizzle. All hands will be on deck to ensure the build to this year’s WM will be like no other. One last thing, on Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon was alluded to twice in the show. First by Cody Rhodes, and then by Paul Heyman later on in the show. Could Vince be making a comeback or appearance at WrestleMania? We will have to wait and see.

#WWE #Superstars #Spotlight #Ahead #Wrestlemania #Deadspin.com">Five WWE Superstars in the Spotlight Ahead of Wrestlemania | Deadspin.com

We are officially two weeks away from WrestleMania. 

Just when fans thought creative could not get worse, Triple H and TKO proved them wrong. Despite the bad booking, several superstars have flourished on the Road to WrestleMania. Here, we are going to look at five superstars who are dominating the ‘Mania scene, and one who will not be appearing on the grandest stage of them all.

Honorable Mention: You Are Cursed!

Talk about a bounce back. Danhausen debuted at the Elimination Chamber through a big box, and fans were not having it. The moment he cursed Dominik Mysterio (who later lost the Intercontinental title to Penta), everything changed. He has been appearing in backstage segments on both Raw and SmackDown, saying, “You are Cursed”. Fans in attendance and at home are invested in it. It will be very interesting to see how WWE incorporates him at WrestleMania, but so far, he has done an excellent job.

The Ring General Gunther

Gunther was absent for three weeks following his match against Dragon Lee, where he unmasked his opponent. Fans were scratching their heads, wondering where he could be. After all, he retired John Cena months ago. 

On Raw, the WWE Universe found out exactly who the Ring General’s opponent is. With Paul Heyman in the ring, GM Adam Pearce announced that Seth Rollins was medically cleared to compete. Rollins appeared and beat down the Wiseman. Many fans anticipated Bron Breakker to return and seal the deal for a date in Vegas. Instead, Gunther dragged Rollins out of the ring and choked him out before pointing at the WrestleMania sign. Gunther was originally supposed to face Rey Mysterio, but Mysterio got hurt. Look for the Career Killer to cut a promo on Raw tomorrow and amp up the match.

The Genius of the Sky Iyo Sky

For a wrestler regarded as the best female professional wrestler on the planet, Iyo Sky sure has not been booked well recently. After her tag partner, Rhea Ripley, won the Elimination Chamber and moved to SmackDown, Sky has been left in purgatory. She is feuding with Raquel Rodriguez, but there must be something else for her to do. The plan was Iyo Sky vs Asuka, but on SmackDown, it looks like Sky will be in Rhea’s corner for her match. It would be a shame if she is not on the card, but any appearance is better than none.

Whoop that Trick

The aura-forming is real. Trick Williams arrived on the main roster in 2026, and fans fell in love with him. This guy has the entrance, charisma, promo skills, and in-ring ability to compete with the best WWE has to offer. He is scheduled to face Sami Zayn for the US Championship, and WWE is planning on a double turn that would make Williams a huge star in the company.

Celebrities

Alright. Order in the court! I know they are not wrestlers, but they have been featured heavily in the past few weeks. First, iShowSpeed inadvertently helped the Vision (Austin Theory and Logan Paul) win the Tag titles. He hit LA Knight with the brass knuckles at ringside, and then Paul hit Jey with the knucks to pick up the victory. Afterwards, he insisted he did not want anything to do with the Vision, but it looks like he will be involved at Mania in a six-man tag against the Usos and LA Knight. 

Then there’s Jelly Roll. Two weeks ago, he had more segments on Friday Night SmackDown than any other WWE superstar on the roster. He was not at this past Friday’s show because he was selling the RKO. Onto Lil Yatchy. You read that right. The rapper is likely going to be featured in Trick’s corner at WrestleMania and cut a cringeworthy promo on SmackDown. Finally, the WWE Universe was SHOCKED when Randy Orton’s mystery caller was revealed. He posted on X that he was done with WWE, but now lives as one of the worst reveals in WWE history. Pat McAfee hit a low blow on Cody Rhodes and cut a nonsensical promo about how WWE needs Randy Orton. Multiple reports state that TKO made this decision, specifically Ari Emanuel. When will they learn that celebrities are not the solution to ticket sales?

To put the cherry on top, John Cena is hosting WrestleMania this year, and it looks like WWE is pulling out all the stops to get butts in seats.

The Ruler is Here

Oba Femi strutted down to the ring a few weeks ago on Raw to answer Lesnar’s open challenge and give him a powerbomb. Then, Lesnar instructed Femi to put his foot on his chest as he pointed to the sign. This rivalry probably has the most steam heading into WrestleMania, and look for WWE to make Oba look like a million bucks. With just two more episodes of Raw left, it will be intriguing to see where these two go. Lots of fans and media personalities are praying that Oba Femi wins this match, but anything can happen.

AJ Lee

The Women’s Intercontinental Champion missed last week’s Raw, but all signs point to her appearing at least once more before taking on Becky Lynch. This will be Lee’s first WrestleMania match in over 10 years, so the pressure will be on. Her husband, CM Punk, is headlining Night 2 against Roman Reigns, so fans’ expectations of this match will be high. There has not been a stipulation added yet, but given the champ has tapped out the Lass Kicker three straight times, WWE should consider it.

Finally, one person who will not be at WrestleMania is Chris Jericho. His last appearance in pro wrestling was on April 6th, 2025, and pro wrestling fans were wondering where he would go. WWE fans hoped to see him at the Royal Rumble or come out of the big crate at Elimination Chamber. Maybe even face Gunther at WM.

Hit the brakes, because Y2J returned to AEW Dynamite last Wednesday in his hometown of Winnipeg. The fans sang his “Fozzy” song and chanted “Welcome Back”. The Internet Wrestling Community (IWC) was pointing out how flat the crowd was during the segment. Case in point, where Jericho was trying to hype the live crowd. AEW fans do not know what’s in store for him, but WWE fans must accept that they will not be hearing “Break the Walls Down” anytime soon.

We are one week away from WrestleMania, and it is beginning to sizzle. All hands will be on deck to ensure the build to this year’s WM will be like no other. One last thing, on Monday Night Raw, Vince McMahon was alluded to twice in the show. First by Cody Rhodes, and then by Paul Heyman later on in the show. Could Vince be making a comeback or appearance at WrestleMania? We will have to wait and see.

#WWE #Superstars #Spotlight #Ahead #Wrestlemania #Deadspin.com

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