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How can India qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup after North Korea withdrew from Asian Cup?  India was handed a major boost for its FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2026 qualification hopes after the Democratic Republic of Korea withdrew from the U-17 AFC Asian Cup last week.Korea DPR, also known as North Korea, was drawn with India, Australia and Uzbekistan in the U-17 Asian Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia between May 5 and 22. Nine teams from the Asian Cup will play in the World Cup, including host Qatar.However, a late withdrawal from Korea meant only three teams will compete from the group.How is that a boost for India’s World Cup hopes?The top two teams from each group will qualify for the U-17 World Cup. As a result, India will now need to finish in the top two from a pool of three teams to qualify for the World Cup.India has two matches in the group stages:
                                                        India vs Australia                    
                                                        India vs Uzbekistan                    How can India qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup?Scenario 1: India wins one match and draws/wins the other        (4 points or more) — With at least four points, India will qualify.Scenario 2: India wins one match and loses another        (3 points) — If the team India beat also loses its other match, India will qualify.But if every team wins one match each, the teams will end up with three points each. Then the following criteria will be considered.
                                                        Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;                    
                                                        Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.                    
                                                        Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;                    
                                                        If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;                    
                                                        Goal difference in all group matches;                    
                                                        Goals scored in all group matches;                    
                                                        Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.                    
                                                        Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);                    
                                                        Drawing of lots.                    Scenario 3: India draws both matches        (2 points) — India will qualify if the third group–stage match ends with anything but a draw.If Uzbekistan vs Australia ends in a draw, then all three teams end up with the same points. Then the following criteria will be considered.
                                                        Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;                    
                                                        Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.                    
                                                        Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;                    
                                                        If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;                    
                                                        Goal difference in all group matches;                    
                                                        Goals scored in all group matches;                    
                                                        Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.                    
                                                        Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);                    
                                                        Drawing of lots.                    Scenario 4: India draws one match and loses the other        (1 point) — The other match will have to be a draw, India will need to lose by a narrow margin and must score in its draw. Only then will India stand a chance to qualify.Has India played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup before?India has played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup only once in 2017, when it qualified by default as the host. It is yet to qualify for the World Cup on merit.Published on Apr 28, 2026  #India #qualify #FIFA #U17 #World #Cup #North #Korea #withdrew #Asian #Cup

How can India qualify for FIFA U-17 World Cup after North Korea withdrew from Asian Cup?

India was handed a major boost for its FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2026 qualification hopes after the Democratic Republic of Korea withdrew from the U-17 AFC Asian Cup last week.

Korea DPR, also known as North Korea, was drawn with India, Australia and Uzbekistan in the U-17 Asian Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia between May 5 and 22. Nine teams from the Asian Cup will play in the World Cup, including host Qatar.

However, a late withdrawal from Korea meant only three teams will compete from the group.

How is that a boost for India’s World Cup hopes?

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the U-17 World Cup. As a result, India will now need to finish in the top two from a pool of three teams to qualify for the World Cup.

India has two matches in the group stages:

  • India vs Australia
  • India vs Uzbekistan

How can India qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup?

Scenario 1: India wins one match and draws/wins the other (4 points or more) — With at least four points, India will qualify.

Scenario 2: India wins one match and loses another (3 points) — If the team India beat also loses its other match, India will qualify.

But if every team wins one match each, the teams will end up with three points each. Then the following criteria will be considered.

  • Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.
  • Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  • Goal difference in all group matches;
  • Goals scored in all group matches;
  • Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.
  • Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  • Drawing of lots.

Scenario 3: India draws both matches (2 points) — India will qualify if the third group–stage match ends with anything but a draw.

If Uzbekistan vs Australia ends in a draw, then all three teams end up with the same points. Then the following criteria will be considered.

  • Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.
  • Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  • Goal difference in all group matches;
  • Goals scored in all group matches;
  • Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.
  • Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  • Drawing of lots.

Scenario 4: India draws one match and loses the other (1 point) — The other match will have to be a draw, India will need to lose by a narrow margin and must score in its draw. Only then will India stand a chance to qualify.

Has India played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup before?

India has played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup only once in 2017, when it qualified by default as the host. It is yet to qualify for the World Cup on merit.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

#India #qualify #FIFA #U17 #World #Cup #North #Korea #withdrew #Asian #Cup

India was handed a major boost for its FIFA Under-17 World Cup 2026 qualification hopes after the Democratic Republic of Korea withdrew from the U-17 AFC Asian Cup last week.

Korea DPR, also known as North Korea, was drawn with India, Australia and Uzbekistan in the U-17 Asian Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia between May 5 and 22. Nine teams from the Asian Cup will play in the World Cup, including host Qatar.

However, a late withdrawal from Korea meant only three teams will compete from the group.

How is that a boost for India’s World Cup hopes?

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the U-17 World Cup. As a result, India will now need to finish in the top two from a pool of three teams to qualify for the World Cup.

India has two matches in the group stages:

  • India vs Australia
  • India vs Uzbekistan

How can India qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup?

Scenario 1: India wins one match and draws/wins the other (4 points or more) — With at least four points, India will qualify.

Scenario 2: India wins one match and loses another (3 points) — If the team India beat also loses its other match, India will qualify.

But if every team wins one match each, the teams will end up with three points each. Then the following criteria will be considered.

  • Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.
  • Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  • Goal difference in all group matches;
  • Goals scored in all group matches;
  • Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.
  • Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  • Drawing of lots.

Scenario 3: India draws both matches (2 points) — India will qualify if the third group–stage match ends with anything but a draw.

If Uzbekistan vs Australia ends in a draw, then all three teams end up with the same points. Then the following criteria will be considered.

  • Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams.
  • Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
  • Goal difference in all group matches;
  • Goals scored in all group matches;
  • Penalty shoot-out if only two teams were tied and they met in the last round of the group.
  • Disciplinary points (yellow card = 1 point, red card as a result of two yellow cards = 3 points, direct red card = 3 points, yellow card followed by direct red card = 4 points);
  • Drawing of lots.

Scenario 4: India draws one match and loses the other (1 point) — The other match will have to be a draw, India will need to lose by a narrow margin and must score in its draw. Only then will India stand a chance to qualify.

Has India played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup before?

India has played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup only once in 2017, when it qualified by default as the host. It is yet to qualify for the World Cup on merit.

Published on Apr 28, 2026

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Deadspin | Report: Changing course, NWSL not expected to vote on schedule flip <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-900/26279261.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/26279261.jpg" alt="NWSL: Kansas City Current at Chicago Stars FC" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">May 24, 2025; Bridgeview, Illinois, USA; The logo of the National Women’s Soccer League at SeatGeek Stadium before the game between the Chicago Stars and the Kansas City Current. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>A highly-anticipated vote this week by the NWSL Board of Governors on a calendar flip is now not expected to take place, according to a Monday report by CBS Sports.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>On April 17, reports indicated that the board of governors would vote on the issue, but those went unconfirmed by the league.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Currently, the NWSL season runs from March to November. Top circuits in Europe start in late summer or early fall and end in late spring. MLS is making the transition to that format next season.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The NWSL board previously voted against a calendar shift in 2024, according to ESPN.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>In a response to media inquiries, a league spokesman seemed to indicate the status quo regarding the schedule.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>“The NWSL has been actively evaluating its competition calendar, including the potential to align more closely with the international soccer landscape,” a league spokesperson said in a statement to CBS Sports. “No decision has been made at this time. Any change of this magnitude will be thoughtfully considered and we are taking input from all key stakeholders.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>One of those stakeholder are the players, who responded through the NWSL Players Union a day after the April 17 ESPN report.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>“We recognize the pros and cons of each and acknowledge that factors outside our control — including the Women’s International Match Calendar and limited control over facilities — are driving this conversation,” began the statement given to The Athletic.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>“We remain concerned, however, that the issue is being framed around the wrong question. The right question is not whether the league should flip the calendar, but whether the right conditions exist to do so responsibly. Right now, they do not. The ability to navigate weather-related disruptions depends on consistent control over facilities and operational flexibility across clubs, and that standard has not been met league-wide.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>“Our top priorities in any scenario are protecting and promoting Player health, safety, and performance. As a general matter, a majority of Players polled on this question currently oppose flipping the calendar.”</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Although the NWSL has complete authority to alter the schedule to fall-to-spring, the league’s CBA with the union specifies that the league is required to provide the union at least one year’s notice.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Moreover, since many franchise are in the northeast and the schedule would include playing in winter months, the CBA would require the league to implement an “extreme cold policy.”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Report #Changing #NWSL #expected #vote #schedule #flip

Sunderland became only the fifth ​side in Premier League history to qualify for Europe ⁠in its first season following promotion after beating Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.

A 25th-minute volley from Trai Hume and a second-half own goal from ‌Malo Gusto lifted Sunderland into seventh place in the table. Cole Palmer pulled one back for a Chelsea side that had Wesley Fofana sent off.

Sunderland will join Bournemouth, which drew 1-1 ‌at ⁠Nottingham Forest, in the Europa League next season with ⁠Chelsea missing out on Europe entirely.

The Conference League spot went to Brighton & Hove Albion in eighth despite a 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United.

United, whose talisman Bruno Fernandes scored ​a goal and supplied a record-breaking ‌21st assist of the season, had Champions League qualification wrapped up, as did champion Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Liverpool picked up the point it needed to make mathematically certain with a 1-1 ‌draw at home to Brentford.

Crystal Palace can also qualify for ​next season’s Europa League if it beats Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final in Leipzig on Wednesday.

Sunderland last ⁠played in Europe in the 1973-74 Cup Winners’ Cup, but after a superb return season in the top flight under coach Regis Le Bris, it ‌has a lot to look forward to next season.

Bournemouth, which played in the third tier of English football 13 years ago, will play in Europe for the first time in its history after Marcus Tavernier’s second-half equaliser earned a point at Forest in coach Andoni Iraola’s final game in charge.

Before kickoff, there was an outside chance of Champions League ‌football for Bournemouth if other results opened up a sixth qualification position for English ​clubs, but that evaporated with Aston Villa’s 2-1 win at Manchester City.

Published on May 25, 2026

#Sunderland #secures #Europa #League #spot #win #Chelsea">Sunderland secures Europa League spot with 2-1 win over Chelsea  Sunderland became only the fifth ​side in Premier League history to qualify for Europe ⁠in its first season following promotion after beating Chelsea 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday.A 25th-minute volley from Trai Hume and a second-half own goal from ‌Malo Gusto lifted Sunderland into seventh place in the table. Cole Palmer pulled one back for a Chelsea side that had Wesley Fofana sent off.Sunderland will join Bournemouth, which drew 1-1 ‌at ⁠Nottingham Forest, in the Europa League next season with ⁠Chelsea missing out on Europe entirely.The Conference League spot went to Brighton & Hove Albion in eighth despite a 3-0 home defeat by Manchester United.United, whose talisman Bruno Fernandes scored ​a goal and supplied a record-breaking ‌21st assist of the season, had Champions League qualification wrapped up, as did champion Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa. Liverpool picked up the point it needed to make mathematically certain with a 1-1 ‌draw at home to Brentford.Crystal Palace can also qualify for ​next season’s Europa League if it beats Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final in Leipzig on Wednesday.Sunderland last ⁠played in Europe in the 1973-74 Cup Winners’ Cup, but after a superb return season in the top flight under coach Regis Le Bris, it ‌has a lot to look forward to next season.Bournemouth, which played in the third tier of English football 13 years ago, will play in Europe for the first time in its history after Marcus Tavernier’s second-half equaliser earned a point at Forest in coach Andoni Iraola’s final game in charge.Before kickoff, there was an outside chance of Champions League ‌football for Bournemouth if other results opened up a sixth qualification position for English ​clubs, but that evaporated with Aston Villa’s 2-1 win at Manchester City.Published on May 25, 2026  #Sunderland #secures #Europa #League #spot #win #Chelsea

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">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 ChampRhea 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 ArenaFans 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 MIEDOThat 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 UntouchableWhen 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 VisionThe 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 EraSaturday 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 ItalyLooking 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

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">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

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