Dirty Finishes at WWE Saturday Night Dominate Ahead of Clash in Italy | Deadspin.com Saturday Night’s Main Event left fans with more questions than answers. Taking place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the home state of Michael Jackson, SNME definitely wasn’t the thriller WWE thought it would be. The great news is that this was a well-paced show with minimal ads, unlike WWE’s counterpart on ESPN.
However, every match had a dirty finish, and some would argue the wrong person/team won at times. With only two weeks to build the PLE, Triple H and the creative team rushed to present us with five matches. With the bar set low, how did the superstars fare inside the squared circle?
Let’s hit the headlines.
Jade pins the Champ
Rhea kicked off the show to the biggest reception of the night to team up with Charlotte and Alexa Bliss. Jade Cargill, Michin, and B Fab, aka the ‘Takeover,’ entered the ring paying homage to Michael Jackson with their gear. The matchup started off awkwardly, but eventually everyone got their chance to shine. Michin got her fifteen minutes of fame, though, outshining all the other stars. The ending was a bit odd, with the babyfaces celebrating in the ring before Jade pushed them out of the way. Cargill hit Ripley with Jaded to score the victory and build momentum toward their next clash.
Jade and Rhea will collide this Sunday at ‘Clash in Italy’ for the WWE Women’s Championship. Since Jade got the win Saturday, by WWE’s booking, she will fall to the champ in Italy. We could’ve had Bliss or Flair take the pin, but Triple H wants Jade to look strong heading into her championship contest.
Sucking the So(u)l of the Arena
Fans in attendance were BOOING after Sol won by DQ against Becky Lynch in a non-title match. Sol Rucca lost her first two matches on the main roster and goaded the Women’s IC champ to a match at SNME. Lynch accepted, but said Rucca didn’t deserve a title shot, which was understandable. What doesn’t make sense is how this was booked. Rucca got her offense in early and dominated for a total of three minutes. She attempted her finisher called the ‘Sol Snatcher’, but hit the referee instead.
That same referee, Jessica Carr, had been in every PLE match of Lynch’s since WrestlePalooza. The champ has never liked her, and of course, some sort of shenanigans happens whenever Carr is around. This time, Carr called the match, and Rucca was given the win by DQ. In a backstage segment, GM Nick Aldis told Becky Lynch she is facing Sol for the title at Clash in Italy. They could’ve just had Rucca win in short fashion and then grant her a title match. Instead, this happened. Don’t be surprised if Rucca captures the title and soul of the crowd in her first win on the main roster. Stranger things have happened.
CERO MIEDO
That translates to ‘Zero Fear’ in English, and is the motto of Penta. Many fans (myself included) hoped we would see a title change hands in this match. Penta and ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page fought for the Intercontinental Championship. Page showed the world his arsenal and proved he could keep up with Penta. He gloated throughout the match, but Penta continued to use his aerial ability to his advantage. There was a moment where Page sent the champ over the announce table, and almost won by count-out. However, you cannot win the title unless it’s by pinfall or submission. The challenger got the champ back in the ring, but an exposed turnbuckle led to his demise. Despite kicking out of the Penta Driver, Page lost after being hit by a Mexican Destroyer off the top rope. Quite the PLE debut for the former NXT North American champ, and he’s impressing the higher-ups, so expect him to win the belt before the year is out.
Paige and Brie Bella are Still Untouchable
When Paige returned to WWE at WrestleMania 42 and won the tag titles with Brie Bella, the excitement couldn’t be contained. As weeks went on, it felt like this duo had a stranglehold on the women’s tag team division. A once-thriving division, including Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, and Nia Jax, turned into a revolt against Paige. She is a great performer, but Triple H and co. are biding their time for Nikki to come back and the Bella Twins to turn on Paige. That didn’t happen tonight. Instead, this was an average match that ended in Brie reinforcing her tag partner’s pin for the victory.
The babyfaces cheated to win, so does that mean they’re turning? Probably not if WWE’s storytelling has anything to say about it. Nia Jax and Lash Legend are likely to get a rematch, whether it’s just them or several other tag teams. All four competitors have their strengths, but the WWE Universe wants to see Paige in singles action soon.
20/20 Vision
The main event between the Vision (Logan Paul and Austin Theory) and the Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) was all sorts of fun. Between Paul and Ford’s athleticism, these two teams knocked it out of the park. That was until Bron Breakker showed up and got tossed over the announce table by Angelo Dawkins. Then, Paul Heyman put Theory’s foot on the rope after Ford flew off the top rope. Finally, Paul knocked out Ford with the brass knuckles which led to Theory going for a desperation pin and victory.
After the match, Bron Breakker speared the daylights out of the Street Profits as the Vision stood tall to end the show. WWE wants to rebuild the tag team division, but making the Profits look weak after being AWOL isn’t a great look. On top of that, they released the New Day and Motor City Machine Guns. On the bright side, the team of Enzo Amore and Big Cass is rumored to return this summer. Get ready to chant, “Bada bing, bada boom. Realest guys in the room. How you doin’?”
The End of an Era
Saturday Night’s Main Event began in 1985 at the Nassau Coliseum in New York. WWE brought back the PLE in 2024, eventually giving Peacock exclusive rights to the show. WWE has one more SNME this year at Madison Square Garden, which is the most prestigious arena in pro wrestling history.
Their deal with Peacock expires at the end of 2026, and might be the end of the road for SNME. Look, it’s great to see the retro themes or the ring announcers doing their schtick with microphones hanging from the balances. However, when there were no title changes, multiple dirty finishes, and mediocre wrestling, is there any reason to continue it? This will certainly be a talking point among the pro wrestling media outlets for the next week, but it may be overlooked because…
A Chef’s Kiss in Italy
Looking ahead, WWE is presenting the first-ever PLE in Italy. ‘Clash In Italy’ takes place this Sunday in Italy at 2pm/ET, but it might as well be called ‘Rematch in Italy’. Two matches already took place at WrestleMania, one at Backlash, and one at SNME. Roman Reigns will clash with Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Tribal Combat match: Falls Count Anywhere stipulation where the loser acknowledges the other as the Tribal Chief.
Meanwhile, Gunther will look to put Cody Rhodes to sleep and become the new WWE Undisputed Champion. Out of all the title matches on this card, this looks to have the highest odds of a title change. That is, unless Randy Orton returns and seeks revenge.
Jade Cargill faces Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s title, and after tonight, it sure looks like we’re headed toward Ripley continuing her dominance. Another women’s bout added to the card was Sol Rucca taking on Becky Lynch for the Women’s IC title.
Lastly, Brock Lesnar is back, looking for Oba Femi’s blood after swerving the WWE Universe at WrestleMania 42. After losing to Femi, Lesnar put his gloves and boots in the ring, signaling his retirement. Instead, he did a sneak attack on Raw to set up this battle between two titans. Neither man can afford to lose, and that’s how you want it to be.
There could be one or two matches added before this Sunday, so tune in to Monday Night Raw and see what WWE has to offer. Friday Night SmackDown has been a chore to sit through, but with a PLE on the horizon, it could have some developments in store.
#Dirty #Finishes #WWE #Saturday #Night #Dominate #Ahead #Clash #Italy #Deadspin.com
Saturday Night’s Main Event left fans with more questions than answers. Taking place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the home state of Michael Jackson, SNME definitely wasn’t the thriller WWE thought it would be. The great news is that this was a well-paced show with minimal ads, unlike WWE’s counterpart on ESPN.
However, every match had a dirty finish, and some would argue the wrong person/team won at times. With only two weeks to build the PLE, Triple H and the creative team rushed to present us with five matches. With the bar set low, how did the superstars fare inside the squared circle?
Let’s hit the headlines.
Jade pins the Champ
Rhea kicked off the show to the biggest reception of the night to team up with Charlotte and Alexa Bliss. Jade Cargill, Michin, and B Fab, aka the ‘Takeover,’ entered the ring paying homage to Michael Jackson with their gear. The matchup started off awkwardly, but eventually everyone got their chance to shine. Michin got her fifteen minutes of fame, though, outshining all the other stars. The ending was a bit odd, with the babyfaces celebrating in the ring before Jade pushed them out of the way. Cargill hit Ripley with Jaded to score the victory and build momentum toward their next clash.
Jade and Rhea will collide this Sunday at ‘Clash in Italy’ for the WWE Women’s Championship. Since Jade got the win Saturday, by WWE’s booking, she will fall to the champ in Italy. We could’ve had Bliss or Flair take the pin, but Triple H wants Jade to look strong heading into her championship contest.
Sucking the So(u)l of the Arena
Fans in attendance were BOOING after Sol won by DQ against Becky Lynch in a non-title match. Sol Rucca lost her first two matches on the main roster and goaded the Women’s IC champ to a match at SNME. Lynch accepted, but said Rucca didn’t deserve a title shot, which was understandable. What doesn’t make sense is how this was booked. Rucca got her offense in early and dominated for a total of three minutes. She attempted her finisher called the ‘Sol Snatcher’, but hit the referee instead.
That same referee, Jessica Carr, had been in every PLE match of Lynch’s since WrestlePalooza. The champ has never liked her, and of course, some sort of shenanigans happens whenever Carr is around. This time, Carr called the match, and Rucca was given the win by DQ. In a backstage segment, GM Nick Aldis told Becky Lynch she is facing Sol for the title at Clash in Italy. They could’ve just had Rucca win in short fashion and then grant her a title match. Instead, this happened. Don’t be surprised if Rucca captures the title and soul of the crowd in her first win on the main roster. Stranger things have happened.
CERO MIEDO
That translates to ‘Zero Fear’ in English, and is the motto of Penta. Many fans (myself included) hoped we would see a title change hands in this match. Penta and ‘All Ego’ Ethan Page fought for the Intercontinental Championship. Page showed the world his arsenal and proved he could keep up with Penta. He gloated throughout the match, but Penta continued to use his aerial ability to his advantage. There was a moment where Page sent the champ over the announce table, and almost won by count-out. However, you cannot win the title unless it’s by pinfall or submission. The challenger got the champ back in the ring, but an exposed turnbuckle led to his demise. Despite kicking out of the Penta Driver, Page lost after being hit by a Mexican Destroyer off the top rope. Quite the PLE debut for the former NXT North American champ, and he’s impressing the higher-ups, so expect him to win the belt before the year is out.
Paige and Brie Bella are Still Untouchable
When Paige returned to WWE at WrestleMania 42 and won the tag titles with Brie Bella, the excitement couldn’t be contained. As weeks went on, it felt like this duo had a stranglehold on the women’s tag team division. A once-thriving division, including Charlotte Flair, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, and Nia Jax, turned into a revolt against Paige. She is a great performer, but Triple H and co. are biding their time for Nikki to come back and the Bella Twins to turn on Paige. That didn’t happen tonight. Instead, this was an average match that ended in Brie reinforcing her tag partner’s pin for the victory.
The babyfaces cheated to win, so does that mean they’re turning? Probably not if WWE’s storytelling has anything to say about it. Nia Jax and Lash Legend are likely to get a rematch, whether it’s just them or several other tag teams. All four competitors have their strengths, but the WWE Universe wants to see Paige in singles action soon.
20/20 Vision
The main event between the Vision (Logan Paul and Austin Theory) and the Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) was all sorts of fun. Between Paul and Ford’s athleticism, these two teams knocked it out of the park. That was until Bron Breakker showed up and got tossed over the announce table by Angelo Dawkins. Then, Paul Heyman put Theory’s foot on the rope after Ford flew off the top rope. Finally, Paul knocked out Ford with the brass knuckles which led to Theory going for a desperation pin and victory.
After the match, Bron Breakker speared the daylights out of the Street Profits as the Vision stood tall to end the show. WWE wants to rebuild the tag team division, but making the Profits look weak after being AWOL isn’t a great look. On top of that, they released the New Day and Motor City Machine Guns. On the bright side, the team of Enzo Amore and Big Cass is rumored to return this summer. Get ready to chant, “Bada bing, bada boom. Realest guys in the room. How you doin’?”
The End of an Era
Saturday Night’s Main Event began in 1985 at the Nassau Coliseum in New York. WWE brought back the PLE in 2024, eventually giving Peacock exclusive rights to the show. WWE has one more SNME this year at Madison Square Garden, which is the most prestigious arena in pro wrestling history.
Their deal with Peacock expires at the end of 2026, and might be the end of the road for SNME. Look, it’s great to see the retro themes or the ring announcers doing their schtick with microphones hanging from the balances. However, when there were no title changes, multiple dirty finishes, and mediocre wrestling, is there any reason to continue it? This will certainly be a talking point among the pro wrestling media outlets for the next week, but it may be overlooked because…
A Chef’s Kiss in Italy
Looking ahead, WWE is presenting the first-ever PLE in Italy. ‘Clash In Italy’ takes place this Sunday in Italy at 2pm/ET, but it might as well be called ‘Rematch in Italy’. Two matches already took place at WrestleMania, one at Backlash, and one at SNME. Roman Reigns will clash with Jacob Fatu for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Tribal Combat match: Falls Count Anywhere stipulation where the loser acknowledges the other as the Tribal Chief.
Meanwhile, Gunther will look to put Cody Rhodes to sleep and become the new WWE Undisputed Champion. Out of all the title matches on this card, this looks to have the highest odds of a title change. That is, unless Randy Orton returns and seeks revenge.
Jade Cargill faces Rhea Ripley for the WWE Women’s title, and after tonight, it sure looks like we’re headed toward Ripley continuing her dominance. Another women’s bout added to the card was Sol Rucca taking on Becky Lynch for the Women’s IC title.
Lastly, Brock Lesnar is back, looking for Oba Femi’s blood after swerving the WWE Universe at WrestleMania 42. After losing to Femi, Lesnar put his gloves and boots in the ring, signaling his retirement. Instead, he did a sneak attack on Raw to set up this battle between two titans. Neither man can afford to lose, and that’s how you want it to be.
There could be one or two matches added before this Sunday, so tune in to Monday Night Raw and see what WWE has to offer. Friday Night SmackDown has been a chore to sit through, but with a PLE on the horizon, it could have some developments in store.
![US teenager Tate Taylor shocks Olympic champion, surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 list The 2026 Prefontaine Classic may not have produced any world records like in years past, but this year’s big track and field meet in Eugene, Oregon was a major milestone for a couple of American athletes, including a teenager who produced one of the shock races of the season.At just 18 years old, San Antonio’s Tate Taylor took down a 200-meter field headlined by reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Bryan Levell. Taylor’s winning time of 19.75 was run into a fairly considerable headwind, which makes his accomplishment even more impressive.Tate Taylor surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 listTaylor not only significantly lowered his own US high school national record (19.94 seconds, which he set last month in Texas), he moved up to third on the all-time U20 list above some fella named Usain Bolt, whose best time in this event as a youth was 19.93 seconds at age 17. Only Australian sensation Gout Gout (whose injury withdrawal opened up a spot for Taylor) and the currently suspended Erriyon Knighton have ever run that fast that young.It was a result so stunning that it even surprised Taylor himself.“I didn’t even know I passed Bolt’s [mark], so that’s pretty cool,” Taylor said to SB Nation after the race. “To beat the Olympic champ—I was literally telling my coach right before this, ‘They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.’ I said it just like that. I was like, ‘I’m not winning this race.’ But if somebody is going to win, they have to go crazy just to beat me, and sure enough God made a way, so I guess my doubted myself on that.“It means a lot, because I look up to Tebogo and I’m excited to see how the rest of his career plans out. Just knowing that I took that [Bolt time] down was a surreal feeling, I’m still kind of taking it all in.”Taylor, who committed to running for Texas Tech next year, will skip the USA Outdoor Championships in New York later this month, but intends to participate in August’s World U20 Championships in Eugene. Add him to the list of American sprinters to watch ahead of the LA Olympics in 2028, especially as his compatriot Noah Lyles seeks to finally win Olympic 200m gold.Nikki Hiltz breaks Faith Kipyegon’s 5-year win streak in 1500 meters/MileKenyan middle-distance legend Faith Kipyegon has been virtually unbeatable in the 1500 meters and mile, where she holds the world record in both disciplines. The winning doesn’t last forever, and Nikki Hiltz took advantage of an unusually bunched up, tactical race in the mile. Kipyegon, who had only competed twice this year (in the 5000 meters and a 10000-meter road race), did not have her signature breakaway from the pack in the closing stages.In a furious dash to the finish line, Hiltz edged ahead of Kipyegon and Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi to send over 12,000 fans at Hayward Field into wild celebrations. It’s the first time Kipyegon has lost in a 1500 or a mile in five years.“The last 100 meters, you’re so aware that it’s Faith,” Hiltz told SB Nation, “but you kind of just have to be like, ‘This is just a body next to me, I’m just trying to get to the finish line. I think she’s human, you know. But it doesn’t take away anything she’s done for our sport or our event—we all look to her.“I think I said it before, but yesterday in the press conference she was kind of giving vibes of like, ‘I’m not going to lead.‘ It was cool to see her do something different; she’s won it a bunch of different ways. I always wanted to see if I could outkick her and today was just an opportunity and I felt really good, so I went for it.”The 31-year-old Hiltz has medaled twice in the less heralded World Indoor Championships, including this year in Poland, but they will be pushing for a global outdoor medal in the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and 2028 Olympics. They wanted to improve their existing American record of 4:16.35, so they’ll only have to settle for beating the middle-distance GOAT as a consolation.Bowerman Mile drought continues for American menOn the 4th of July, it would’ve felt poetic for an American man to win the event-closing Bowerman Mile to end a 20-year drought, but it was not meant to be. Australia’s Cam Myers, who first made headlines in 2023 by becoming (at the time) the youngest sub-4-minute miler at just 16 years old, seized the lead in the penultimate lap and never ceded control. The now 20-year-old Myers set a new Australian record in the mile, surpassing Ollie Hoare, whom he told SB Nation on Friday was one of the athletes he looked up to.Myers, who’s now top-10 all-time in the mile, is a week removed from running 3:28.00 in the 1500 meters at the Diamond League in Paris, putting him 12th on the all-time list in that event.American Yared Nuguse finished second for the second year in a row, while Ethan Strand came in third to make it a 2-3 for the USA, but that elusive Bill Bowerman Mile win will have to wait until at least 2027.Photo finish separates Melissa Jefferson-Wooden from Sha’Carri Richardson in 100 metersYou know a race is competitive when the top three finishes are separated by 0.02 seconds. In the women’s 100-meter final, reigning 100- and 200-meter world champion and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden eked past 2023 world 100-meter champion Sha’Carri Richardson. British Virgin Islands’ Adaejah Hodge, who raced collegiately at Georgia and won the NCAA 100m and 200m titles last month in historically quick times last month, was third in 10.80.Jefferson-Wooden has still not lost a 100-meter race since her bronze medal in Paris. Richardson has had some high profile ups and downs throughout her career, both on and off the track, but the former LSU star and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist has been in good form in 2026.Meet organizers had South Carolina women’s basketball head coach and WNBA legend Dawn Staley and consensus greatest women’s sprinter of all-time, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, introduced as special guests of honor prior to the start of the women’s 100m final.In the men’s 100 meters, Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi ran a national record 9.84 seconds for his native Nigeria, blowing away the rest of the competition. Last year’s world champion, Oblique Seville, was the runner-up at 9.89, while 2019 world champion Christian Coleman rounded out the top three at 9.95.The Americans swept the sprint hurdles, with Paris Olympic champion Masai Russell tying the meet record of 12.24 seconds in the women’s 100, while Jamal Britt, who told reporters he was struggling financially and working for FedEx before signing a Nike contract this year, continues his outstanding 2026 by taking down world record holder and NCAA champion Ja’Kobe Tharp. Britt ran 12.86 seconds, a new personal best, whereas Tharp’s professional debut post-Auburn was a still quick 12.91.In the field, Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna defeated a men’s discus field that included former Green Bay Packers tryout and Olympic champion Roje Stona, Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri conquered the men’s shot put, while Americans Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump) and Chase Jackson (shot put) continued their winning ways in their respective events, capping off a thrilling weekend of global athletics in TrackTown, USA.The full results from two days of competition can be seen here. #teenager #Tate #Taylor #shocks #Olympic #champion #surpasses #Usain #Bolt #alltime #U20 #list](https://i0.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/imagn-29328758.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C10.737065679298%2C100%2C78.525868641405&w=1200&ssl=1 "US teenager Tate Taylor shocks Olympic champion, surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 list The 2026 Prefontaine Classic may not have produced any world records like in years past, but this year’s big track and field meet in Eugene, Oregon was a major milestone for a couple of American athletes, including a teenager who produced one of the shock races of the season.At just 18 years old, San Antonio’s Tate Taylor took down a 200-meter field headlined by reigning Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo and 2025 World Championship bronze medalist Bryan Levell. Taylor’s winning time of 19.75 was run into a fairly considerable headwind, which makes his accomplishment even more impressive.Tate Taylor surpasses Usain Bolt on all-time U20 listTaylor not only significantly lowered his own US high school national record (19.94 seconds, which he set last month in Texas), he moved up to third on the all-time U20 list above some fella named Usain Bolt, whose best time in this event as a youth was 19.93 seconds at age 17. Only Australian sensation Gout Gout (whose injury withdrawal opened up a spot for Taylor) and the currently suspended Erriyon Knighton have ever run that fast that young.It was a result so stunning that it even surprised Taylor himself.“I didn’t even know I passed Bolt’s [mark], so that’s pretty cool,” Taylor said to SB Nation after the race. “To beat the Olympic champ—I was literally telling my coach right before this, ‘They cannot possibly come out here and expect me to win.’ I said it just like that. I was like, ‘I’m not winning this race.’ But if somebody is going to win, they have to go crazy just to beat me, and sure enough God made a way, so I guess my doubted myself on that.“It means a lot, because I look up to Tebogo and I’m excited to see how the rest of his career plans out. Just knowing that I took that [Bolt time] down was a surreal feeling, I’m still kind of taking it all in.”Taylor, who committed to running for Texas Tech next year, will skip the USA Outdoor Championships in New York later this month, but intends to participate in August’s World U20 Championships in Eugene. Add him to the list of American sprinters to watch ahead of the LA Olympics in 2028, especially as his compatriot Noah Lyles seeks to finally win Olympic 200m gold.Nikki Hiltz breaks Faith Kipyegon’s 5-year win streak in 1500 meters/MileKenyan middle-distance legend Faith Kipyegon has been virtually unbeatable in the 1500 meters and mile, where she holds the world record in both disciplines. The winning doesn’t last forever, and Nikki Hiltz took advantage of an unusually bunched up, tactical race in the mile. Kipyegon, who had only competed twice this year (in the 5000 meters and a 10000-meter road race), did not have her signature breakaway from the pack in the closing stages.In a furious dash to the finish line, Hiltz edged ahead of Kipyegon and Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi to send over 12,000 fans at Hayward Field into wild celebrations. It’s the first time Kipyegon has lost in a 1500 or a mile in five years.“The last 100 meters, you’re so aware that it’s Faith,” Hiltz told SB Nation, “but you kind of just have to be like, ‘This is just a body next to me, I’m just trying to get to the finish line. I think she’s human, you know. But it doesn’t take away anything she’s done for our sport or our event—we all look to her.“I think I said it before, but yesterday in the press conference she was kind of giving vibes of like, ‘I’m not going to lead.‘ It was cool to see her do something different; she’s won it a bunch of different ways. I always wanted to see if I could outkick her and today was just an opportunity and I felt really good, so I went for it.”The 31-year-old Hiltz has medaled twice in the less heralded World Indoor Championships, including this year in Poland, but they will be pushing for a global outdoor medal in the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and 2028 Olympics. They wanted to improve their existing American record of 4:16.35, so they’ll only have to settle for beating the middle-distance GOAT as a consolation.Bowerman Mile drought continues for American menOn the 4th of July, it would’ve felt poetic for an American man to win the event-closing Bowerman Mile to end a 20-year drought, but it was not meant to be. Australia’s Cam Myers, who first made headlines in 2023 by becoming (at the time) the youngest sub-4-minute miler at just 16 years old, seized the lead in the penultimate lap and never ceded control. The now 20-year-old Myers set a new Australian record in the mile, surpassing Ollie Hoare, whom he told SB Nation on Friday was one of the athletes he looked up to.Myers, who’s now top-10 all-time in the mile, is a week removed from running 3:28.00 in the 1500 meters at the Diamond League in Paris, putting him 12th on the all-time list in that event.American Yared Nuguse finished second for the second year in a row, while Ethan Strand came in third to make it a 2-3 for the USA, but that elusive Bill Bowerman Mile win will have to wait until at least 2027.Photo finish separates Melissa Jefferson-Wooden from Sha’Carri Richardson in 100 metersYou know a race is competitive when the top three finishes are separated by 0.02 seconds. In the women’s 100-meter final, reigning 100- and 200-meter world champion and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist Melissa Jefferson-Wooden eked past 2023 world 100-meter champion Sha’Carri Richardson. British Virgin Islands’ Adaejah Hodge, who raced collegiately at Georgia and won the NCAA 100m and 200m titles last month in historically quick times last month, was third in 10.80.Jefferson-Wooden has still not lost a 100-meter race since her bronze medal in Paris. Richardson has had some high profile ups and downs throughout her career, both on and off the track, but the former LSU star and Olympic 100-meter silver medalist has been in good form in 2026.Meet organizers had South Carolina women’s basketball head coach and WNBA legend Dawn Staley and consensus greatest women’s sprinter of all-time, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, introduced as special guests of honor prior to the start of the women’s 100m final.In the men’s 100 meters, Auburn’s Kanyinsola Ajayi ran a national record 9.84 seconds for his native Nigeria, blowing away the rest of the competition. Last year’s world champion, Oblique Seville, was the runner-up at 9.89, while 2019 world champion Christian Coleman rounded out the top three at 9.95.The Americans swept the sprint hurdles, with Paris Olympic champion Masai Russell tying the meet record of 12.24 seconds in the women’s 100, while Jamal Britt, who told reporters he was struggling financially and working for FedEx before signing a Nike contract this year, continues his outstanding 2026 by taking down world record holder and NCAA champion Ja’Kobe Tharp. Britt ran 12.86 seconds, a new personal best, whereas Tharp’s professional debut post-Auburn was a still quick 12.91.In the field, Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna defeated a men’s discus field that included former Green Bay Packers tryout and Olympic champion Roje Stona, Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri conquered the men’s shot put, while Americans Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump) and Chase Jackson (shot put) continued their winning ways in their respective events, capping off a thrilling weekend of global athletics in TrackTown, USA.The full results from two days of competition can be seen here. #teenager #Tate #Taylor #shocks #Olympic #champion #surpasses #Usain #Bolt #alltime #U20 #list")
![Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked](https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/n4ca41/article71185393.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-07-04T232704Z_1774925327_UP1EM741SM66J_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PRY-FRA.JPG "Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked")
![Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/n4ca41/article71185393.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-07-04T232704Z_1774925327_UP1EM741SM66J_RTRMADP_3_SOCCER-WORLDCUP-PRY-FRA.JPG?ssl=1 "Playing disruptor: Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat to France without getting booked The Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, and the MH370 plane that disappeared without a trace. These are some of mankind’s greatest mysteries.On Saturday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 made a worthy contribution to this list — the mystery of how Paraguay ended its Round of 16 defeat to France without being shown a yellow card.The South American side tried everything it could to get booked. There were arms swung at French faces, elbows thrust into French throats and studs stamped on French shins and boots.Paraguay’s efforts weren’t limited to physical outbursts. There were also blatant play-acting seeking fouls and constant verbal efforts to rile up the French players. The icing on the cake came from defender Gustavo Velázquez, who attempted to not-so-discreetly scuff up the penalty spot to put off Kylian Mbappe right before the forward fired in the match-winning goal.Despite all this, the on-field referee Ilgiz Tantashev refused to caution the Paraguayans, holding onto his cards like prized possessions.Consumed by its intent to play the disruptor, Paraguay displayed no willingness to hold onto the ball. Sitting deep in its territory with a 5-4-1 low block, the side’s forays into the opposition half were largely limited to hopeful long balls and isolated dribbles from forward Julia Enciso.Paraguay’s possession was clocked at just 24.1%, while its pass completion rate was an abysmal 54.1% – the second-lowest by a team in a World Cup game since 1966. Not surprisingly, the side managed just five shots, with only one on target.What Paraguay succeeded in doing was dragging the game down to a scrapfest and frustrating France. With no space to operate in and around the attacking third, the two-time World Champion was forced to fire in speculative crosses and attempt shots from distance.It didn’t take too long for the French exasperation to spill out. Mbappe was seen engaging in multiple duels – verbal and non-verbal – with Paraguayan players. The usually unflappable Michael Olise was baited into a scuffle, which ended with the French attacker being shown a yellow card. It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
It was almost as if the Philadelphia heat – at kick-off, the mercury stood at 38.3 Celsius – had tampered with the player’s logic.But France – which had earlier taken the tournament by storm with its expansive, eye-catching football – showed its willingness to get its hands dirty.France responded to Paraguay’s challenge with its own tough tackles, with Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné getting booked for two of them. There were multiple multi-player tussles between the two sides which unsettled the game’s rhythm. In the end, France held onto a slender win, as it booked a quarterfinal clash against Morocco.“We know how to play ugly football,” said Mbappe in a post-match interview.“They [Paraguay] thought we’d show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them,” he added.Mbappe’s emotions were on ample display at the full-time whistle. The talismanic forward walked right past a handshake offer from Paraguayan keeper Orlando Gill to celebrate joyously, whipping up the fervour among the French supporters in the stadium.To his credit, Mbappe refused to belittle Paraguay’s approach.“That’s their style of football – there’s no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won,” said Mbappe.Paraguay stuck to its own method, the same one which had garnered it a shock win over Germany in the Round of 32. Ultimately, the Paraguayan way failed as France demonstrated its willingness to get its hands dirty.Published on Jul 05, 2026 #Playing #disruptor #Mystery #Paraguays #World #Cup #defeat #France #booked")
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