Sticking to his strengths allows Cooper Connolly to flourish at Punjab Kings In Punjab Kings’ thrill-a-minute batting line-up, which posted this Indian Premier League (IPL) season’s highest total on Sunday here, Cooper Connolly’s approach strikes a discordant note.The 22-year-old Australian doesn’t attempt to manufacture those cheeky shots that have become synonymous with T20 cricket but rather relies on his gift of timing and placement.Neither does he try to force the pace of the game. During his 182-run stand with the belligerent Priyansh Arya, he bided his time in the PowerPlay before finishing with a 46-ball 87 that helped the Kings to a match-winning 254 for seven against Lucknow Super Giants.READ | Priyansh, Connolly put on a show to help Punjab Kings extend unbeaten run“Everyone has their own understanding of their ability and how they go about it, and what works for them. It is about individually understanding what works for you in those moments and what makes you successful for a long period of time. We have discussions about what works for each other, and we take little things from each other’s books,” Connolly said, while adding that he was enjoying watching Priyansh ‘go about it in his own way’ from the non-striker’s end.For Connolly, who tops the run charts for the Kings, with 223 runs in five innings, ‘there is a time and a place’ for innovative stroke-making.“I think it is about knowing their strengths and sticking to their strengths. They know where they’re dominant. They know what some areas that they might get targeted in are,” Connolly said about the different approaches of the Kings batters.It was a similar case of backing his strengths and ability for Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav, who bowled a stingy spell (2/25 in four overs) in a match that saw more than 450 runs being plundered.“The plan was to bowl as many yorkers as I could; it is something I have been working on.”Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Sticking #strengths #Cooper #Connolly #flourish #Punjab #Kings

Sticking to his strengths allows Cooper Connolly to flourish at Punjab Kings
In Punjab Kings’ thrill-a-minute batting line-up, which posted this Indian Premier League (IPL) season’s highest total on Sunday here, Cooper Connolly’s approach strikes a discordant note.
The 22-year-old Australian doesn’t attempt to manufacture those cheeky shots that have become synonymous with T20 cricket but rather relies on his gift of timing and placement.
Neither does he try to force the pace of the game. During his 182-run stand with the belligerent Priyansh Arya, he bided his time in the PowerPlay before finishing with a 46-ball 87 that helped the Kings to a match-winning 254 for seven against Lucknow Super Giants.
READ | Priyansh, Connolly put on a show to help Punjab Kings extend unbeaten run
“Everyone has their own understanding of their ability and how they go about it, and what works for them. It is about individually understanding what works for you in those moments and what makes you successful for a long period of time. We have discussions about what works for each other, and we take little things from each other’s books,” Connolly said, while adding that he was enjoying watching Priyansh ‘go about it in his own way’ from the non-striker’s end.
For Connolly, who tops the run charts for the Kings, with 223 runs in five innings, ‘there is a time and a place’ for innovative stroke-making.
“I think it is about knowing their strengths and sticking to their strengths. They know where they’re dominant. They know what some areas that they might get targeted in are,” Connolly said about the different approaches of the Kings batters.
It was a similar case of backing his strengths and ability for Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav, who bowled a stingy spell (2/25 in four overs) in a match that saw more than 450 runs being plundered.
“The plan was to bowl as many yorkers as I could; it is something I have been working on.”
Published on Apr 20, 2026
#Sticking #strengths #Cooper #Connolly #flourish #Punjab #Kings

In Punjab Kings’ thrill-a-minute batting line-up, which posted this Indian Premier League (IPL) season’s highest total on Sunday here, Cooper Connolly’s approach strikes a discordant note.

The 22-year-old Australian doesn’t attempt to manufacture those cheeky shots that have become synonymous with T20 cricket but rather relies on his gift of timing and placement.

Neither does he try to force the pace of the game. During his 182-run stand with the belligerent Priyansh Arya, he bided his time in the PowerPlay before finishing with a 46-ball 87 that helped the Kings to a match-winning 254 for seven against Lucknow Super Giants.

READ | Priyansh, Connolly put on a show to help Punjab Kings extend unbeaten run

“Everyone has their own understanding of their ability and how they go about it, and what works for them. It is about individually understanding what works for you in those moments and what makes you successful for a long period of time. We have discussions about what works for each other, and we take little things from each other’s books,” Connolly said, while adding that he was enjoying watching Priyansh ‘go about it in his own way’ from the non-striker’s end.

For Connolly, who tops the run charts for the Kings, with 223 runs in five innings, ‘there is a time and a place’ for innovative stroke-making.

“I think it is about knowing their strengths and sticking to their strengths. They know where they’re dominant. They know what some areas that they might get targeted in are,” Connolly said about the different approaches of the Kings batters.

It was a similar case of backing his strengths and ability for Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav, who bowled a stingy spell (2/25 in four overs) in a match that saw more than 450 runs being plundered.

“The plan was to bowl as many yorkers as I could; it is something I have been working on.”

Published on Apr 20, 2026

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#Sticking #strengths #Cooper #Connolly #flourish #Punjab #Kings

Tag cooper connolly cooper connolly batting cooper connolly pbks cooper connolly punjab kings indian premier league news IPL news pbks vs lsg punjab kings news punjab kings vs lucknow super giants

Shower Thoughts Are a Real Mindf**k!

Deadspin | Jack Draper (knee) withdraws from Madrid and Rome <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28549770.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28549770.jpg" alt="Tennis: Miami Open" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Mar 20, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jack Draper (GBR) serves against Reilly Opelka (USA) (not pictured) on day four of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images  </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Britain’s Jack Draper withdrew Monday from this week’s tournament in Madrid and next month’s event in Rome due to a knee injury.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Draper, 24, did not play in Monte Carlo earlier this month and was forced to retire in the third set of his first-round match at Barcelona last week.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>“An aggravated tendon in my knee means I am not able to play in Madrid and Rome,” Draper said. “It’s frustrating for sure, but I am thankful it isn’t anything more serious.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-4"> <p>“Recovery is going well and I feel good about my chances of being fit for Roland Garros. I am looking forward to building momentum from there.”</p> </section> <section id="section-5"> <p>The three-time ATP Tour title winner has a 5-4 singles record in 2026 but has not won a match since beating Novak Djokovic in the Round of 16 at Indian Wells on March 11.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Ranked as high as No. 4 in the world last June, Draper has dropped to No. 28 and will fall farther with these withdrawals. His best finish in a grand slam was his semifinal appearance at the 2024 U.S. Open.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Jack #Draper #knee #withdraws #Madrid #Rome

#Deadspin #Reports #Odell #Beckham #works #Giants">

Deadspin | Reports: Odell Beckham Jr. works out for Giants Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) runs on the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images A reunion between the New York Giants and former first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. could be on the horizon after he reportedly worked out for the team and had a physical in the team facilityon Monday, according to reports from NFL Network and the New York Post. Beckham, who played for new Giants coach John Harbaugh with Baltimore in 2023, met with Harbaugh at the NFL’s league meetings last month in Phoenix. At the time, Harbaugh called Beckham one of his “favorite people in the world,” adding that the team will “look at every option” when it comes to potentially bringing him back to New York. Beckham, a 33-year-old free agent who did not play in the NFL last season, is best known for his tenure as a Giant, amassing 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns over five seasons in New York after he was selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He last played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, recording nine catches for 55 yards in nine games. His post-Giants career has also included stops with the Cleveland Browns (2019-21), Los Angeles Rams (2021) and Baltimore. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has five career 1,000-yard seasons, but none since 2019. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams at the end of the 2021 season, tearing his ACL during the 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The NFL suspended Beckham for six games last October for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. However, he’s eligible for the start of the 2026 season should a team sign him. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reports #Odell #Beckham #works #Giants

mwasimuddin125 0

Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) runs on the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

A reunion between the New York Giants and former first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. could be on the horizon after he reportedly worked out for the team and had a physical in the team facilityon Monday, according to reports from NFL Network and the New York Post.

Beckham, who played for new Giants coach John Harbaugh with Baltimore in 2023, met with Harbaugh at the NFL’s league meetings last month in Phoenix. At the time, Harbaugh called Beckham one of his “favorite people in the world,” adding that the team will “look at every option” when it comes to potentially bringing him back to New York.

Beckham, a 33-year-old free agent who did not play in the NFL last season, is best known for his tenure as a Giant, amassing 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns over five seasons in New York after he was selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

He last played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, recording nine catches for 55 yards in nine games. His post-Giants career has also included stops with the Cleveland Browns (2019-21), Los Angeles Rams (2021) and Baltimore.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection has five career 1,000-yard seasons, but none since 2019. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams at the end of the 2021 season, tearing his ACL during the 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The NFL suspended Beckham for six games last October for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. However, he’s eligible for the start of the 2026 season should a team sign him.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reports #Odell #Beckham #works #Giants">Deadspin | Reports: Odell Beckham Jr. works out for Giants

Nov 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) runs on the field before the game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

A reunion between the New York Giants and former first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. could be on the horizon after he reportedly worked out for the team and had a physical in the team facilityon Monday, according to reports from NFL Network and the New York Post.

Beckham, who played for new Giants coach John Harbaugh with Baltimore in 2023, met with Harbaugh at the NFL’s league meetings last month in Phoenix. At the time, Harbaugh called Beckham one of his “favorite people in the world,” adding that the team will “look at every option” when it comes to potentially bringing him back to New York.

Beckham, a 33-year-old free agent who did not play in the NFL last season, is best known for his tenure as a Giant, amassing 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns over five seasons in New York after he was selected as the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

He last played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, recording nine catches for 55 yards in nine games. His post-Giants career has also included stops with the Cleveland Browns (2019-21), Los Angeles Rams (2021) and Baltimore.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection has five career 1,000-yard seasons, but none since 2019. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams at the end of the 2021 season, tearing his ACL during the 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The NFL suspended Beckham for six games last October for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. However, he’s eligible for the start of the 2026 season should a team sign him.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reports #Odell #Beckham #works #Giants

When the dust settled and all the results came through, WrestleMania 42 felt like two sides of a coin. Media outlets rated Night 1 as among the worst Manias of all-time, while Night 2 definitely stepped up to the plate and delivered. Over 100,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, emptied their bank accounts to witness the biggest show of the year. What they got in return was a roller coaster of emotions. John Cena may go down as one of the worst WM hosts in WWE history. Not through the fault of his own, but all he did was kick off the show and announce the attendance. Sure, Bianca Belair shared a ring with him, and he interacted with Danhausen. However, Cena added very little to the spectacle, dressed up in a suit and tie.
The first hour of Night 1 was on ESPN 2, while the first hour of Night 2 was on ESPN. Rather than give you a recap of the whole event, I’m going to give you the results of both nights with the winners in bold. Then highlight the best and worst of each night, going through the match order.

Night 1

Worst Men’s match
The Vision (Austin Theory/Logan Paul) and iShowSpeed vs The Usos and LA Knight
This was a really bad match. Like REALLY BAD. The entrances for both teams were better than the match itself. It certainly looked like WWE/Triple H wanted the spotlight on iShowSpeed, as his fellow wrestlers were selling out like crazy for him. After the heels lost their match, Logan Paul attacked Speed, but Speed got the comeuppance when he jumped off the ringpost onto the announcer’s table. I guess when you’re on ESPN 2, you need to cater to the casual fans and deliver a viral moment.

Best finish: Unsanctioned Match Jacob Fatu vs Drew McIntyre
I wasn’t able to watch the entire match due to the ESPN app buffering, but Fatu needed this win. The Samoan Werewolf can now be catapulted into the main event picture. With a moonsault off the top rope, Fatu put his opponent through the table to get the win. The Unsanctioned Match as a whole was pretty tepid, but the result was exactly what it needed to be.

Fatal-Four Way Match for the Tag Titles: Bayley/Lyra Valkyria vs Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs Brie Bella and Paige

Worst Women’s Highlight: No Kaire Sane, Asuka, Tiffany Stratton, or Guilia
The fans erupted when Paige made her return to the WWE after an eight-year absence to take Nikki’s place in the tag title match and win the titles. It was a great moment, but it is criminal that WWE left all the talent mentioned above off the card. Some fans did the math and calculated that Hulk Hogan’s Netflix documentary preview got more airtime than all three women’s matches combined. With only one women’s match on Night 2, I fear for the worst.

Worst Finish: Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee vs Becky Lynch
The match was fine, but we’ve seen these two in action several times already. The finish makes it seem the story will continue, and it shouldn’t. It also involved the same ref whom Lynch claims keeps screwing her over. The exposed turnbuckle was already played out in their previous matches, so it felt like a dud when Becky regained the title. The right person won, but the wrong finish. AJ Lee said after the match that this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later.

Best Men’s Match: Gunther vs Seth Rollins
Had this been built since the Elimination Chamber, it would have had the potential to be a five-star match. Instead, with a two-week build, fans were wondering why this showdown felt so thrown together. Before the bell rang, these two were at each other’s throats. The Ring General and Visionary burned the house down before Bron Breakker made his return. Rollins passed out to Gunther’s sleeper, but the highlight of the night was Breakker sprinting down the ramp and spearing the daylights out of Seth Rollins. Really excited for what’s in store between these two, and having Gunther win was the right call.

Best Entrance of the Night: Seth Rollins
Rollins walked down the WM ramp for the fifteenth time in his career. Shawn Michaels might have some competition with the “Mr. WrestleMania” name. Rollins wore black contacts and marvelous gear while smoke emerged from the surface. Many are comparing his gear and presentation to a character from Game of Thrones.

Best Women’s Match: WWE Raw Women’s Championship Stephanie Vaquer vs Liv Morgan
With only three women’s matches on Night 1, there wasn’t much to choose from. This title bout had interference from the Judgment Day, but overall, it was the best women’s match. When Liv Morgan’s entrance is choreographed to her new theme song “Trouble,” how can she lose? Vaquer’s future does look cloudy, but she is one of the best all-around performers on the roster.
WWE Championship: Randy Orton (w/Pat McAfee) vs Cody Rhodes

Worst Entrance of the Night: Pat McAfee
The TKO/Ari Emanuel’s golden boy got his own entrance, and all he did was flick off the audience and harp at them.

Match that Exceeded Expectations: Randy Orton vs Cody Rhodes
This one got a lot of flak online, but I thought the match itself was okay. When Pat McAfee got involved in this feud, fans rioted online and had their voices heard at every arena around the nation. However, he was taken out by Jelly Roll (you read that right), who elbowed him through the announce table and stretchered him out. Pat returned to eat an RKO, which led to the finish. These two didn’t hit a home run, but they told a great story, bell to bell, where both men bled. Rhodes suffered a swollen eye after getting a punt kick. The only questionable booking was having Orton close the show with the title despite losing.
Biggest Loser of the Night: CelebMania
For a five-hour broadcast, WWE didn’t have any backstage segments to get more superstars on the ‘Mania screen. Instead, they panned to the audience multiple times to show celebrities ranging from professional sports players to comedians. We didn’t need to see TE George Kittle chug down three beers, or the General Guy and Drumstick. WWE’s obsession with celebrities is getting out of hand as they prioritize these A-Listers over their own roster.

Biggest Winner of the Night: Bianca Belair
She made her triumphant return to WWE to probably the biggest pop of the night. The EST was welcomed by fans at Allegiant Stadium and revealed she was pregnant. How can you not call her a winner? The only thing that would’ve made this better is if the Street Profits returned.

Night 2

Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar

Best Moment of the Night: Oba Femi winning
Fans were worried that Brock Lesnar was going to win, but Femi got the rub. He may as well be the MVP of the night, as the match was the opener and seen by millions of viewers.

OMG Moment of the Night: Brock Lesnar retiring?
Oba Femi slayed the beast Sunday at WrestleMania 42, but very few could have anticipated what happened next. Brock took off his gloves and shoes before hugging Heyman and leaving the stadium. People might have been expecting Gunther to come out and attack the Beast to kickstart their rivalry, but that didn’t happen. Instead, the biggest headline coming out of WM is whether Brock Lesnar is indeed hanging up the boots.

Best Match of the Night: Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match Rusev v Rey Mysterio vs Je’Von Evans vs Penta vs Dragon Lee vs JD
The main event gave this a run for its money, but I thought the use of stairs by Reigns should’ve resulted in a DQ. The ladder match was a banger and showcased everyone involved. The sad part is that Dragon Lee, JD, and Rusev didn’t get televised entrances. Plenty of spots, and Penta winning is the right call.

Holy **** Moment: Penta’s Mexican Destroyer onto another ladder
JD needs to get a prize for the amount of damage he took during that ladder match. Penta hit a Mexican Destroyer on JD in the highlight of the night. Je’Von’s move on Rusev would’ve been the spot, but Rusev jumped off the ladder to help make that look amazing.

Worst Match: United States Championship Trick Williams (w/Lil Yachty) vs Sami Zayn
Someone’s got to take the hit. Trick Williams won the US title and celebrated with Lil Yachty afterwards. The match was average, and the rumored double turn didn’t happen. Instead, Sami Zayn looked on from the ground without exploding or having a post-match attack. For that reason alone, this one gets the least praise.

Best Gear of the Night: Trick Williams
Lil Yachty probably had too much involvement in Williams’ entrance, but Williams’ jacket was a sight to behold. It was at least twenty yards long, and the guy even won the title.

Street Fight: Dominik Mysterio vs The Demon Finn Balor

Worst Booking of the Night: The Demon Finn Balor having a competitive match
Give me a second. The Demon should’ve squashed Dominik Mysterio. Instead, WWE made this a Street Fight to add variety to the night. Finn won, but he didn’t look as dominant as he should’ve been.

Match that Exceeded Expectations: SmackDown’s Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill vs Rhea Ripley
For a WrestleMania build that was one of the worst ever, this was pretty good. Jade Cargill walked down the ramp without her sidekicks, foreshadowing their involvement later on. Iyo Sky made an appearance to take out B-Fab and Michin. Rhea winning was the right move, and this one was worth watching.

Best Segment: Danhausen and John Cena, along with the Miz and Kit Wilson
We finally got it, and it was interesting. Danhausen hit a five-knuckle shuffle on The Miz after Kit Wilson called Hausen’s midgets toxic. Of course, it was corny, but even Cena couldn’t help but smile.

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs Roman Reigns

Entrance of the Night: Roman Reigns
There wasn’t much competition for this, but when I saw this, I knew it was special. The live performance of drums, a vocalist, and piano with graphics showing the Samoan family was a nice touch. The two fought one heck of a match, and Reigns is back on top.

Worst Moment of the Night: The ESPN App Crashing
I couldn’t watch most of the show without exiting out and re-entering. The app buffered every two minutes and even froze three times. I missed two pinfalls, a lot of entrances, and several in-ring performances.

On the post-show, Oba Femi called out Roman Reigns, and it looks like the WWE Universe is going to get a match between them before the year is over. Fans are calling for the return of a one-night WrestleMania, as it was plagued by hours of ads. With the event being held in Saudi Arabia next year, it’ll be interesting to see whether WWE can pull off a two-night spectacle. It’s clear Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Royal Rumble winners Liv Morgan, along with Roman Reigns, are the faces of the company going forward. Only three returns happened across both nights, and it looks like CM Punk could take some time off after one of the best matches of his career. Lastly, this could be the last we see of Brock Lesnar. What could be in store for this week’s WWE programming? Hopefully, plenty of surprises and new stories. Don’t be surprised if Pat McAfee goes back on his word and returns despite saying we’ll never see him again if Randy loses. With all that being said, this WrestleMania will fall into the middle of the pack (sigh). With the top stars nearing their swan songs, it’s time for WWE to make new stars. Tune into Monday Night Raw to see the aftermath.

#WrestleMania #Grades #Night #Disaster #Night #Delivers #Deadspin.com">

WrestleMania 42 Grades: Night 1 Disaster, Night 2 Delivers | Deadspin.com When the dust settled and all the results came through, WrestleMania 42 felt like two sides of a coin. Media outlets rated Night 1 as among the worst Manias of all-time, while Night 2 definitely stepped up to the plate and delivered. Over 100,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, emptied their bank accounts to witness the biggest show of the year. What they got in return was a roller coaster of emotions. John Cena may go down as one of the worst WM hosts in WWE history. Not through the fault of his own, but all he did was kick off the show and announce the attendance. Sure, Bianca Belair shared a ring with him, and he interacted with Danhausen. However, Cena added very little to the spectacle, dressed up in a suit and tie.The first hour of Night 1 was on ESPN 2, while the first hour of Night 2 was on ESPN. Rather than give you a recap of the whole event, I’m going to give you the results of both nights with the winners in bold. Then highlight the best and worst of each night, going through the match order.Night 1Worst Men’s matchThe Vision (Austin Theory/Logan Paul) and iShowSpeed vs The Usos and LA KnightThis was a really bad match. Like REALLY BAD. The entrances for both teams were better than the match itself. It certainly looked like WWE/Triple H wanted the spotlight on iShowSpeed, as his fellow wrestlers were selling out like crazy for him. After the heels lost their match, Logan Paul attacked Speed, but Speed got the comeuppance when he jumped off the ringpost onto the announcer’s table. I guess when you’re on ESPN 2, you need to cater to the casual fans and deliver a viral moment.Best finish: Unsanctioned Match Jacob Fatu vs Drew McIntyreI wasn’t able to watch the entire match due to the ESPN app buffering, but Fatu needed this win. The Samoan Werewolf can now be catapulted into the main event picture. With a moonsault off the top rope, Fatu put his opponent through the table to get the win. The Unsanctioned Match as a whole was pretty tepid, but the result was exactly what it needed to be.Fatal-Four Way Match for the Tag Titles: Bayley/Lyra Valkyria vs Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs Brie Bella and PaigeWorst Women’s Highlight: No Kaire Sane, Asuka, Tiffany Stratton, or GuiliaThe fans erupted when Paige made her return to the WWE after an eight-year absence to take Nikki’s place in the tag title match and win the titles. It was a great moment, but it is criminal that WWE left all the talent mentioned above off the card. Some fans did the math and calculated that Hulk Hogan’s Netflix documentary preview got more airtime than all three women’s matches combined. With only one women’s match on Night 2, I fear for the worst.Worst Finish: Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee vs Becky LynchThe match was fine, but we’ve seen these two in action several times already. The finish makes it seem the story will continue, and it shouldn’t. It also involved the same ref whom Lynch claims keeps screwing her over. The exposed turnbuckle was already played out in their previous matches, so it felt like a dud when Becky regained the title. The right person won, but the wrong finish. AJ Lee said after the match that this isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later.Best Men’s Match: Gunther vs Seth RollinsHad this been built since the Elimination Chamber, it would have had the potential to be a five-star match. Instead, with a two-week build, fans were wondering why this showdown felt so thrown together. Before the bell rang, these two were at each other’s throats. The Ring General and Visionary burned the house down before Bron Breakker made his return. Rollins passed out to Gunther’s sleeper, but the highlight of the night was Breakker sprinting down the ramp and spearing the daylights out of Seth Rollins. Really excited for what’s in store between these two, and having Gunther win was the right call.Best Entrance of the Night: Seth RollinsRollins walked down the WM ramp for the fifteenth time in his career. Shawn Michaels might have some competition with the “Mr. WrestleMania” name. Rollins wore black contacts and marvelous gear while smoke emerged from the surface. Many are comparing his gear and presentation to a character from Game of Thrones.Best Women’s Match: WWE Raw Women’s Championship Stephanie Vaquer vs Liv MorganWith only three women’s matches on Night 1, there wasn’t much to choose from. This title bout had interference from the Judgment Day, but overall, it was the best women’s match. When Liv Morgan’s entrance is choreographed to her new theme song “Trouble,” how can she lose? Vaquer’s future does look cloudy, but she is one of the best all-around performers on the roster.WWE Championship: Randy Orton (w/Pat McAfee) vs Cody RhodesWorst Entrance of the Night: Pat McAfeeThe TKO/Ari Emanuel’s golden boy got his own entrance, and all he did was flick off the audience and harp at them.Match that Exceeded Expectations: Randy Orton vs Cody RhodesThis one got a lot of flak online, but I thought the match itself was okay. When Pat McAfee got involved in this feud, fans rioted online and had their voices heard at every arena around the nation. However, he was taken out by Jelly Roll (you read that right), who elbowed him through the announce table and stretchered him out. Pat returned to eat an RKO, which led to the finish. These two didn’t hit a home run, but they told a great story, bell to bell, where both men bled. Rhodes suffered a swollen eye after getting a punt kick. The only questionable booking was having Orton close the show with the title despite losing.Biggest Loser of the Night: CelebManiaFor a five-hour broadcast, WWE didn’t have any backstage segments to get more superstars on the ‘Mania screen. Instead, they panned to the audience multiple times to show celebrities ranging from professional sports players to comedians. We didn’t need to see TE George Kittle chug down three beers, or the General Guy and Drumstick. WWE’s obsession with celebrities is getting out of hand as they prioritize these A-Listers over their own roster.Biggest Winner of the Night: Bianca BelairShe made her triumphant return to WWE to probably the biggest pop of the night. The EST was welcomed by fans at Allegiant Stadium and revealed she was pregnant. How can you not call her a winner? The only thing that would’ve made this better is if the Street Profits returned.Night 2Oba Femi vs Brock LesnarBest Moment of the Night: Oba Femi winningFans were worried that Brock Lesnar was going to win, but Femi got the rub. He may as well be the MVP of the night, as the match was the opener and seen by millions of viewers.OMG Moment of the Night: Brock Lesnar retiring?Oba Femi slayed the beast Sunday at WrestleMania 42, but very few could have anticipated what happened next. Brock took off his gloves and shoes before hugging Heyman and leaving the stadium. People might have been expecting Gunther to come out and attack the Beast to kickstart their rivalry, but that didn’t happen. Instead, the biggest headline coming out of WM is whether Brock Lesnar is indeed hanging up the boots.Best Match of the Night: Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match Rusev v Rey Mysterio vs Je’Von Evans vs Penta vs Dragon Lee vs JDThe main event gave this a run for its money, but I thought the use of stairs by Reigns should’ve resulted in a DQ. The ladder match was a banger and showcased everyone involved. The sad part is that Dragon Lee, JD, and Rusev didn’t get televised entrances. Plenty of spots, and Penta winning is the right call.Holy **** Moment: Penta’s Mexican Destroyer onto another ladderJD needs to get a prize for the amount of damage he took during that ladder match. Penta hit a Mexican Destroyer on JD in the highlight of the night. Je’Von’s move on Rusev would’ve been the spot, but Rusev jumped off the ladder to help make that look amazing.Worst Match: United States Championship Trick Williams (w/Lil Yachty) vs Sami ZaynSomeone’s got to take the hit. Trick Williams won the US title and celebrated with Lil Yachty afterwards. The match was average, and the rumored double turn didn’t happen. Instead, Sami Zayn looked on from the ground without exploding or having a post-match attack. For that reason alone, this one gets the least praise.Best Gear of the Night: Trick WilliamsLil Yachty probably had too much involvement in Williams’ entrance, but Williams’ jacket was a sight to behold. It was at least twenty yards long, and the guy even won the title.Street Fight: Dominik Mysterio vs The Demon Finn BalorWorst Booking of the Night: The Demon Finn Balor having a competitive matchGive me a second. The Demon should’ve squashed Dominik Mysterio. Instead, WWE made this a Street Fight to add variety to the night. Finn won, but he didn’t look as dominant as he should’ve been.Match that Exceeded Expectations: SmackDown’s Women’s Championship: Jade Cargill vs Rhea RipleyFor a WrestleMania build that was one of the worst ever, this was pretty good. Jade Cargill walked down the ramp without her sidekicks, foreshadowing their involvement later on. Iyo Sky made an appearance to take out B-Fab and Michin. Rhea winning was the right move, and this one was worth watching.Best Segment: Danhausen and John Cena, along with the Miz and Kit WilsonWe finally got it, and it was interesting. Danhausen hit a five-knuckle shuffle on The Miz after Kit Wilson called Hausen’s midgets toxic. Of course, it was corny, but even Cena couldn’t help but smile.World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs Roman ReignsEntrance of the Night: Roman ReignsThere wasn’t much competition for this, but when I saw this, I knew it was special. The live performance of drums, a vocalist, and piano with graphics showing the Samoan family was a nice touch. The two fought one heck of a match, and Reigns is back on top.Worst Moment of the Night: The ESPN App CrashingI couldn’t watch most of the show without exiting out and re-entering. The app buffered every two minutes and even froze three times. I missed two pinfalls, a lot of entrances, and several in-ring performances.On the post-show, Oba Femi called out Roman Reigns, and it looks like the WWE Universe is going to get a match between them before the year is over. Fans are calling for the return of a one-night WrestleMania, as it was plagued by hours of ads. With the event being held in Saudi Arabia next year, it’ll be interesting to see whether WWE can pull off a two-night spectacle. It’s clear Oba Femi, Trick Williams, and Royal Rumble winners Liv Morgan, along with Roman Reigns, are the faces of the company going forward. Only three returns happened across both nights, and it looks like CM Punk could take some time off after one of the best matches of his career. Lastly, this could be the last we see of Brock Lesnar. What could be in store for this week’s WWE programming? Hopefully, plenty of surprises and new stories. Don’t be surprised if Pat McAfee goes back on his word and returns despite saying we’ll never see him again if Randy loses. With all that being said, this WrestleMania will fall into the middle of the pack (sigh). With the top stars nearing their swan songs, it’s time for WWE to make new stars. Tune into Monday Night Raw to see the aftermath. #WrestleMania #Grades #Night #Disaster #Night #Delivers #Deadspin.com

mwasimuddin125 0

When the dust settled and all the results came through, WrestleMania 42 felt like two sides of a coin. Media outlets rated Night 1 as among the worst Manias of all-time, while Night 2 definitely stepped up to the plate and delivered. Over 100,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, emptied their bank accounts to witness the biggest show of the year. What they got in return was a roller coaster of emotions. John Cena may go down as one of the worst WM hosts in WWE history. Not through the fault of his own, but all he did was kick off the show and announce the attendance. Sure, Bianca Belair shared a ring with him, and he interacted with Danhausen. However, Cena added very little to the spectacle, dressed up in a suit and tie.
The first hour of Night 1 was on ESPN 2, while the first hour of Night 2 was on ESPN. Rather than give you a recap of the whole event, I’m going to give you the results of both nights with the winners in bold. Then highlight the best and worst of each night, going through the match order.

Night 1

Fatal-Four Way Match for the Tag Titles: Bayley/Lyra Valkyria vs Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs Brie Bella and Paige

Worst Entrance of the Night: Pat McAfee
The TKO/Ari Emanuel’s golden boy got his own entrance, and all he did was flick off the audience and harp at them.

Night 2

Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar

Street Fight: Dominik Mysterio vs The Demon Finn Balor

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs Roman Reigns

#WrestleMania #Grades #Night #Disaster #Night #Delivers #Deadspin.com">WrestleMania 42 Grades: Night 1 Disaster, Night 2 Delivers | Deadspin.com

Night 1

Fatal-Four Way Match for the Tag Titles: Bayley/Lyra Valkyria vs Charlotte/Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax and Lash Legend vs Brie Bella and Paige

Worst Entrance of the Night: Pat McAfee
The TKO/Ari Emanuel’s golden boy got his own entrance, and all he did was flick off the audience and harp at them.

Night 2

Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar

Street Fight: Dominik Mysterio vs The Demon Finn Balor

World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs Roman Reigns

#WrestleMania #Grades #Night #Disaster #Night #Delivers #Deadspin.com

Overtimes. Heroes. Thrilling goals. Scintillating saves. Intensity.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs never fails to provide all of those and more every year.

Add surprises to that list, also.

The opening weekend of this year’s quest for the Cup in the books, we have received a taste of what makes it so special.

Here are some predictions to anticipate until Lord Stanley’s Mug is hoisted.

We have three first-round upsets in mind, and not just because all three won their series opener.

The Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild all have great cases to knock out their opponents.

The Canadiens may not be true underdogs since they finished tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning in points with 106 and placed third in the Atlantic Division by tiebreaker.

But what we saw in Montreal’s 4-3 overtime win featuring Juraj Slafkovsky’s hat trick is exactly why the Montreal should not be taken lightly.

Also considered should be the recent history of the Lightning and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay has been bounced in the opening round three consecutive years, and Vasilevskiy has looked pedestrian in those series.

By the way, Slafkovsky collected four goals and seven points in four regular-season meetings.

The Flyers are another team that finished with the same number of points as their opponents, yet are underdogs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Battle of Pennsylvania.

With the Penguins were in cruise mode heading into the playoffs, the Flyers used a late-season surge as a springboard to the series-opening 3-2 win.

Along the way, Philadelphia became a better five-on-five and defensive club, aided by a breakthrough campaign from goaltender Dan Vladar.

The Penguins have plenty of veteran experience, but the way the Flyers are built — better forward depth and a more-rounded defense corps — along with the late-season addition of Porter Martone adding size and skill, will make the difference.

Lastly, the Minnesota Wild, who finished third in the Central Division, eight points behind the Dallas Stars. While that may seem like a big difference, keep in mind the Stars finished with a five-game winning streak.

The Wild snapped that with a vengeance in 6-1 beating to open what may be a thrilling seven-game series.

That Minnesota won should come as no surprise, considering that Dallas has lost Game 1 in nine of its last 11 series.

As excellent as the Stars are at rebounding, this is not going to be an easy feat against a Wild team that matches up extremely well, and does not have the same injury woes looming over their heads.

Both clubs boast offensive game-breakers at forward and defense, have proven to be stout at defending and good special teams, especially on the power play, which was on display in the opener.

The further this series goes, the more likely Minnesota FINALLY wins a playoff round.

Here are some other surprises to watch for: The Canadiens could very well go the furthest of any Canadian team. Sure, the Edmonton Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two seasons, but Edmonton has a tough gauntlet to run, while the East is more balanced … While it is hard to imagine a wild-card team knocking out a division champ, it is very real that the Flyers will go to the Eastern Conference finals … In the west, the Vegas Golden Knights have been rolling since that coaching change. It looks like the winners of the Pillow Fight Division laced their weapon with plaster just in time … Lastly, it should come as no surprise that the Presidents’ Trophy winners as regular season champs wins the crown, but the Colorado Avalanche are on the quest to make it happen for the first time since the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. Betting cash on it happening would be a wise idea.

#NHL #Playoff #Sleepers #Shouldnt #Counted #Deadspin.com">

These NHL Playoff Sleepers Shouldn’t Be Counted Out | Deadspin.com Overtimes. Heroes. Thrilling goals. Scintillating saves. Intensity.The Stanley Cup Playoffs never fails to provide all of those and more every year.Add surprises to that list, also.The opening weekend of this year’s quest for the Cup in the books, we have received a taste of what makes it so special.Here are some predictions to anticipate until Lord Stanley’s Mug is hoisted.We have three first-round upsets in mind, and not just because all three won their series opener.The Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild all have great cases to knock out their opponents.The Canadiens may not be true underdogs since they finished tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning in points with 106 and placed third in the Atlantic Division by tiebreaker.But what we saw in Montreal’s 4-3 overtime win featuring Juraj Slafkovsky’s hat trick is exactly why the Montreal should not be taken lightly.Also considered should be the recent history of the Lightning and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay has been bounced in the opening round three consecutive years, and Vasilevskiy has looked pedestrian in those series.By the way, Slafkovsky collected four goals and seven points in four regular-season meetings.The Flyers are another team that finished with the same number of points as their opponents, yet are underdogs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Battle of Pennsylvania.With the Penguins were in cruise mode heading into the playoffs, the Flyers used a late-season surge as a springboard to the series-opening 3-2 win.Along the way, Philadelphia became a better five-on-five and defensive club, aided by a breakthrough campaign from goaltender Dan Vladar.The Penguins have plenty of veteran experience, but the way the Flyers are built — better forward depth and a more-rounded defense corps — along with the late-season addition of Porter Martone adding size and skill, will make the difference.Lastly, the Minnesota Wild, who finished third in the Central Division, eight points behind the Dallas Stars. While that may seem like a big difference, keep in mind the Stars finished with a five-game winning streak.The Wild snapped that with a vengeance in 6-1 beating to open what may be a thrilling seven-game series.That Minnesota won should come as no surprise, considering that Dallas has lost Game 1 in nine of its last 11 series.As excellent as the Stars are at rebounding, this is not going to be an easy feat against a Wild team that matches up extremely well, and does not have the same injury woes looming over their heads.Both clubs boast offensive game-breakers at forward and defense, have proven to be stout at defending and good special teams, especially on the power play, which was on display in the opener.The further this series goes, the more likely Minnesota FINALLY wins a playoff round.Here are some other surprises to watch for: The Canadiens could very well go the furthest of any Canadian team. Sure, the Edmonton Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two seasons, but Edmonton has a tough gauntlet to run, while the East is more balanced … While it is hard to imagine a wild-card team knocking out a division champ, it is very real that the Flyers will go to the Eastern Conference finals … In the west, the Vegas Golden Knights have been rolling since that coaching change. It looks like the winners of the Pillow Fight Division laced their weapon with plaster just in time … Lastly, it should come as no surprise that the Presidents’ Trophy winners as regular season champs wins the crown, but the Colorado Avalanche are on the quest to make it happen for the first time since the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. Betting cash on it happening would be a wise idea. #NHL #Playoff #Sleepers #Shouldnt #Counted #Deadspin.com

mwasimuddin125 0

Overtimes. Heroes. Thrilling goals. Scintillating saves. Intensity.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs never fails to provide all of those and more every year.
Add surprises to that list, also.
The opening weekend of this year’s quest for the Cup in the books, we have received a taste of what makes it so special.
Here are some predictions to anticipate until Lord Stanley’s Mug is hoisted.
We have three first-round upsets in mind, and not just because all three won their series opener.
The Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota Wild all have great cases to knock out their opponents.
The Canadiens may not be true underdogs since they finished tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning in points with 106 and placed third in the Atlantic Division by tiebreaker.
But what we saw in Montreal’s 4-3 overtime win featuring Juraj Slafkovsky’s hat trick is exactly why the Montreal should not be taken lightly.
Also considered should be the recent history of the Lightning and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. Tampa Bay has been bounced in the opening round three consecutive years, and Vasilevskiy has looked pedestrian in those series.
By the way, Slafkovsky collected four goals and seven points in four regular-season meetings.
The Flyers are another team that finished with the same number of points as their opponents, yet are underdogs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Battle of Pennsylvania.
With the Penguins were in cruise mode heading into the playoffs, the Flyers used a late-season surge as a springboard to the series-opening 3-2 win.
Along the way, Philadelphia became a better five-on-five and defensive club, aided by a breakthrough campaign from goaltender Dan Vladar.
The Penguins have plenty of veteran experience, but the way the Flyers are built — better forward depth and a more-rounded defense corps — along with the late-season addition of Porter Martone adding size and skill, will make the difference.
Lastly, the Minnesota Wild, who finished third in the Central Division, eight points behind the Dallas Stars. While that may seem like a big difference, keep in mind the Stars finished with a five-game winning streak.
The Wild snapped that with a vengeance in 6-1 beating to open what may be a thrilling seven-game series.
That Minnesota won should come as no surprise, considering that Dallas has lost Game 1 in nine of its last 11 series.
As excellent as the Stars are at rebounding, this is not going to be an easy feat against a Wild team that matches up extremely well, and does not have the same injury woes looming over their heads.
Both clubs boast offensive game-breakers at forward and defense, have proven to be stout at defending and good special teams, especially on the power play, which was on display in the opener.
The further this series goes, the more likely Minnesota FINALLY wins a playoff round.
Here are some other surprises to watch for: The Canadiens could very well go the furthest of any Canadian team. Sure, the Edmonton Oilers have reached the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two seasons, but Edmonton has a tough gauntlet to run, while the East is more balanced … While it is hard to imagine a wild-card team knocking out a division champ, it is very real that the Flyers will go to the Eastern Conference finals … In the west, the Vegas Golden Knights have been rolling since that coaching change. It looks like the winners of the Pillow Fight Division laced their weapon with plaster just in time … Lastly, it should come as no surprise that the Presidents’ Trophy winners as regular season champs wins the crown, but the Colorado Avalanche are on the quest to make it happen for the first time since the Chicago Blackhawks in 2013. Betting cash on it happening would be a wise idea.

#NHL #Playoff #Sleepers #Shouldnt #Counted #Deadspin.com">These NHL Playoff Sleepers Shouldn’t Be Counted Out | Deadspin.com