Chicago Bears vs. Cleveland Browns in preseason action
by Todd Welter
The Chicago Bears were a long shot to make the playoffs even before Darnell Mooney dropped Justin Fields’ Hail Mary pass in the endzone.
Now they are dead and buried after losing by a field goal to the Cleveland Browns.
The Bears are not officially eliminated from the playoff picture. They still have a 3% chance of getting in. It would take a lot of help and trying to overcome offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s terrible playcalling.
Drops, the inability to properly execute help blocking for Braxton Jones against Myles Garret, and another bad game plan by Getsy led to a bad day offensively.
The Chicago Bears needed Justin Fields to play well enough to get victory in a do-or-die game. He did not reach that level.
Fields was 19 of 40 for 166 yards with a touchdown pass and two interceptions. That type of performance was not good enough to rise to the level of a quarterback capable of elevating his team to an improbable playoff run.
Fields wasn’t to blame for that game man so many drops by WRs. That was tough and my bad on that
However I think elite QBs get the job done and that game likely didn’t persuade leadership to keep him
Fields was not the reason the Bears lost. The receivers dropped some potential big plays. Those two picks came on Hail Mary passes, and the first one should not have even counted as it hit the ground. It came on the last play of the first half, so it was not like the refs were in a hurry to change the call.
The defense played well enough to secure a victory. The Chicago Bears even had a 17-7 lead in the third quarter.
Like we saw against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field, the game plan went too conservative in the fourth quarter and the defense could not slam the door shut on the Browns.
Joe Flacco, who was picked off three times, ended up slinging the ball all over the field in the fourth quarter as the Browns scored 13 unanswered points.
What makes this one hard to take is the defense did not badly collapse like they did at Detroit. It was just Amari Cooper making an amazing 51-yard touchdown catch to tie the game up. Flacco did just enough with his arm in the final quarter to get the Browns into field-goal range for the winning score.
This one hurts even more as Fields still had one last chance to win the game in the closing seconds. He launched a Hail Mary pass that Mooney almost caught. Instead, it bounced out of his hands and into a Browns’ defender’s arms to seal the Bears’ fate.
This loss proved that this team was not capable of making a miracle run to the playoffs. They still lack the talent to make winning plays in big games.
You cannot run the table when your team does not know how to win and has a coaching staff that is incapable of getting it there. The overall talent is still not there to overcome a thin margin for error. That was evident as the Browns had enough talent to overcome Flacco’s three interceptions, with one that turned out to be a pick-six.
There are still three games left, but for all intents and purposes, there is nothing left to play for in those games.
North versus South tie headlines TotalEnergies CAF Champions League resumption
Africa’s biggest club competition officially resumes this week, with Match Day 4 of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League marking the resumption of the competition.
After three rounds of exciting encounters across the continent, the race towards a place in the quarter finals is gradually taking shape in the four groups of 16 strong African clubs.
While Match Day 4 promises a number of exciting duels across the continent, a special focus will be on the unpredictable Group A of the competition which has proven to be one of the toughest groups so far.
Mamelodi Sundowns top the group by virtue of goal difference as they are equally tied on points with TP Mazembe, Nouadhibou as well as Pyramids FC who are all on four points after three rounds of fixtures.
Pyramids play host to Sundowns on Tuesday, following a highly tactical goalless stalemate in Pretoria last weekend which was a positive result for the Egyptians away from home. The two sides meet in what promises to be one of the matches of the week in Match Day 4.
Pyramid are competing in their first-ever TotalEnergies CAF Champions League, while Sundowns have established themselves in the competition following their 2016 feat and recent performances ever since.
Looking at Group B, Wydad AC are looking to build from their confidence boosting win over Simba AC last weekend which was their first following two losses in the group. The former champions recently parted ways with former coach, Adel Ramzi and reunited with astute Tunisian tactician, Faouzi Benzarti who’s first task will be against the East African giants on Tuesday.
Another Tanzanian side in action will be Young Africans, who travel across the continent to meet Medeama in Ghana in a must-win match for the Tanzanian champions on Wednesday.
In Angola, Petro de Luanda look to extend their lead at the top of Group C when playing host to Tunisia’s ES Tunis in Luanda. The North Africans are three points behind the hosts and will be looking at causing an upset away from home.
TotalEnergies CAF Champions League Match Day 4 Fixtures:
Derided star now a significant performer in high-flying Glasgow Rangers ambition
Real Betis vs. Rangers: Extended Highlights | UEL Group Stage MD 6 | CBS Sports Golazo
By Ed Emeanua
Cyriel Kolawole Dessers has gone from Ibrox whipping boy to a near cult hero, having assumed significant role in Glasgow Rangers frontline under mercurial boss Phillippe Clement this term in the Scottish Premiership.
Dessers has scored a total of 8 goals in all appearances this term which includes 5 goals in 13 games in the Scottish Premier League alone. The Super Eagles forward has also scored 1 each in the 2023-2024 UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and the Scottish League Cup.
Nigeria manager José Paseiro’s Super Eagles strikers cup brims full with top options, with the Rangers forward now adding his name to his selection headaches just as January’s Africa Cup of Nations draws well-nigh.
Rangers were surprise 3-2 win at Real Betis in their Europa League Group stage game on Friday in which Dessers played a star role in Gers’ recording their first ever away defeat of a La Liga opponent at the 14th asking.
Rangers gambled at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, choosing to duel against a side that remained unbeaten at home since May, rather than scurry into their shells.
Their rolled dice came tops with goals from Abdallah Sima, Cyriel Dessers, and substitute Kemar Roofe edging out Betis – who plummeted into the Conference League – to shoot atop of Group C.
The feat also translates to the possibility of a Rangers participation in this year’s showpiece in Dublin following their last 16 progress on Friday, 19 months after their heartache in the event’s final.
Yet, at the tail end of October, Dessers, who had scored just once in the league since his £4.5million summer move from Italian side Cremonese, was the source for the derision of Ibrox fans.
The Gers faithful wanted the Nigerian forward discarded from the team and even made the world to know just how bad they felt about Dessers’ misfiring stint in Glasgow. But, new boss Clement was adamant he had the blue print to save the sinking Nigeria international’s Gers career.
Having worked with Dessers during his managerial stint in Belgium, the Belgian believed it was just too early to write-off the 28-year-old forward.
He had this to say in October: “I’ll give him all the tools for that, and then it is about him doing it. That’s the same for every player. We will give them the tools to get the best out of them. Then it’s for the player to take it.
“I have seen this process before, and you always have surprises. I had it in Genk. I had two strikers there, Nikolaos Karelis, who was scoring all the time, and Ally Samatta, who didn’t play. Everyone said, ‘The guy never scores’.
“But we worked really hard with Ally, he became better, and after a few weeks I put him in the team more and more, and he started to score. The next season he was top scorer in Belgium and the season after, he made a good transfer to Aston Villa. So we will invest in all the players to get the best out of them. Then it’s up to them.”
In life, time and time again, history has demonstrated constancy for repeating events. Just as it did few years back in Genk for Clement, the future has done it again for the Belgian, this time underneath the Glasgow skies. Though the circumstances and locations may differ, the themes are always the same.
Clement is happy to see Dessers silence his Ibrox critics with a sensational solo exertion that restored Gers lead amidst goals from Juan Miranda and Ayoze Perez.
He said: “Cyriel was one of the guys on the plane who I talked to with the video to improve things, and you see he is really working hard to do the things how we want the striker to play.
“The frustrating thing for me is that I had to make a change at half-time when Jose Cifuentes picked up a muscle injury, so I’m not happy about that.
“But then you saw Dujon Sterling came in and played a really good game in midfield. That’s the mentality we need, everybody fighting for the team but with quality on the ball.”
Storybook comeback with the New York Jets against Miami Dolphins falls flat
By Jordan Sigler
Dec 17, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on from the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Aaron Rodgers’ chances of returning to the New York Jets this season to lead them on a playoff run are, in fact, over following the team’s loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Rodgers has been rehabbing for the possibility he could heal from the Achilles injury he suffered in Week 1 in time to keep the Jets’ hopes afloat. The idea was always improbable.
Oct 1, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets injured quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) pre game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
However, Rodgers fought his way back to the practice field in recent weeks. The team will face a Week 16 deadline to activate Rodgers off injured reserve. Rodgers said earlier this season his return would depend on the Jets playoff hopes.
Aaron Rodgers and the Jets have been eliminated
Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) on the field after the game against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Following the Jets’ 30-0 loss to the Dolphins, the Jets have been officially eliminated from the playoffs.
Rodgers’ body language during the Jets loss indicated he might not want to return this season.
For good reason: the Jets offensive line sent backup quarterback Zach Wilson into the locker room with a head injury. Why should Rodgers take the risk of adding injuries to his body in a year the Jets can’t win anything?
Nov 12, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers reacts following the loss against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Rodgers and the Jets set Christmas Eve against the Washington Commanders as the date for his possible return this season. That could still happen, but it’s thought to be even more unlikely now than it was following Week 1.
Because the storybook ending of Rodgers returning for the playoffs ended in Week 15.
As Napoli Star is replaced over likely groin injury in Cagliari win
By Ed Emeanua
Injury could force meteorically rising sensation, Victor Osimhen to missout on January’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
Napoli and Nigeria will now sweat over the possible availability of star-man Victor Osimhen over a suspected groin problem ahead of Serie A fixtures and January’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) Nations cup championships respectively.
Osimhen was replaced at the 82nd mark of the pulsating encounter by midfielder Gianluca Gaetano after apparently signaling to his team’s bench that he was in bad ways.
The newly crowned African player of the year while again outlining his massive relevance to Napoli’s championship drive in Italian football on Saturday was removed from the game against Cagliari at the Stadio Armando Maradona Stadium after signaling a likely groin injury to the Napoli bench.
Having scored the opener with a mountainous header while sandwiched by two defenders, Osimhen proceeded with providing a captivating assist for teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ‘s winning goal in the 75th-minute to hand Napoli a 2-1 in Serie A win over Cagliari.
Osimhen’s contribution in the assist apparently left him with a groin injury as the Nigerian came off a few minutes later.
Osimhen has already been slowed down by injury this season, and has just six goals to his name all season and stand to miss a big chunk of the season and Nigeria’s squad prosecution for the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
For Nigeria in particular, Nations Cup success next year looks even bleaker having already lost Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi to a lengthy term on injury sideline.
The Super Eagles have also recently demonstrated glaring lethargy in the team’s frontline whenever their Napoli star-man was unavailable in their lineup. Same scenario applies to Napoli whose scudetto defence.
Nigeria manager José Paseiro’s Super Eagles have struggled their CAF 2026 World Cup qualifying play posting two shocking drawn games against minnows Lesotho at home and another against Zimbabwe on the road, without Osimhen.
The team has shown obvious penchant for difficulty to finding the net whenever their Napoli superstar is not available. Osimhen also missed the Africa Nations cup two years ago in Cameroon due to injury.
Fans have reacted massively to Victor Osimhen’s post regarding his team’s heroics against visiting Cagliari at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on the weekend.
Osimhen then wrote ‘Elite Mentality From The Boys! We Keep Going,’ on his ‘X’ handle moments after Napoli’s victor. His comment immediately drew the attention of teeming fans across the globe.
And still counting, the Napoli star’s post on ‘X’ formerly known as Twitter has recorded 1.3 million views, 2.3 thousand replies and 90 thousand loves.
An adoring fan even wrote: ‘You’re better than (Erling) Haaland’ rating the Nigerian forward higher than the outstanding Manchester City forward.
Iconic 🐐 African best player for a reason🫡 Man utd don print your jersey already pic.twitter.com/Lu6JWeIgxK
Victor Osimhen scored with a massive leap and towering header amidst two defenders, and then upped the ante by providing a sensational assist for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to score a 75th-minute winner as Napoli beat Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari 2-1 in Serie A, Saturday.
The Super Eagles forward helped Serie A champions end a four-match winless record at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Serie A, which propelled Napoli to fourth place on the table, with 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan.
Osimhen’s performance in Saturday’s victory against Cagliari was outstanding and particularly signaled to Serie A championships contenders that the Napoli number 9 has now fully recovered from injury and is ready to lead the charge for his team’s defence of the scudetto.
A wonderful and flamboyant football from the Napoli foremost star which saw the 24-year-old Nigerian masterfully control a pass with his right foot, before flipping the ball onto his chest, then bob it thrice off his right thigh and onto his head, all this, amidst a sea of Cagliari players.
At a point, seeming to have lost control of the ball, the Nigeria international rather powered his way through three defenders before crossing to the unmanned Kvaratskhelia to plant the ball in off the near post.
The encounter’s three goals came inside six pulsatile second-half minutes that saw Cagliari’s Leonardo Pavoletti equalize for Cagliari soon after Napoli’s top drawer Osimhen’s 69th-minute curtain raiser.
Ranieri, the Cagliari boss acknowledge that his side were already the yeomen of Saturday’s fixture against Osimhen and his teammates even before the first kick of the match.
“We did everything we could but when you go up against champions like Osimhen and Kvara they can decide the match in an instant,” Ranieri said.
Osimhen was key to Napoli’s title run penultimate season, notching a league-leading 26 strikes in his team’s sensational reclaim of the scudetto after decades of futile challenges for the coveted title.
After the encounter, the Nigeria forward then took to ‘X’ to salute team effort, drawing accolades from teeming followers around the world.
One respondent replied: “Iconic assist from you brother,” and yet another fan wrote: “Come and marry my younger sister.
Encomiums also poured in for the Napoli hero outside his fan base. Italian news outlets and publications recognized the star power of Napoli’s mainstay.
La Gazzetta dello Sport praised the 24-year-old Napoli striker to the high heavens, highlighting his involvements in the event as well as tangible enthusiasm on the field, and wrote: “How nice to see how much he cares. Active already in the first half, the break into the opener was splendid, the stubbornness with which he won the ball when he passed to Kvaratskhelia for the 2-1.”
Corriere dello Sport evocated such beliefs, alluding to the consequential showing from the Nigerian, remarking: “First he smashed his header in NBA style, overtaking Dossena and Obert: 1-0. Then he serves the assist for 2-1 to Kvara.
“Yes, but as a champion, seven dribbles in the area with foot, thigh and head (the last) between four men – like the old Nappi – and finishing with strength between Goldaniga and Obert with those infinite legs. Unmarkable. A force of nature.”
If consistent, steady booking and quality wrestling are the backbone and lifeblood of a successful promotion, then fresh faces and surprise returns are the adrenaline shots that gets fans’ hearts racing at intermittent points.
It’s no secret that the debut or return of a superstar often provides a jolt to the audience – an entrance theme either completely unknown or one not heard for a long time suddenly rings out, and fans get to their feet in unison. Viewers rush to social media and suddenly that surprise superstar is trending and WWE is the conversation.
But a debuting or returning wrestler is so much more than just that initial pop. Once the newness wears off, it’s what WWE does afterward that dictates whether that person’s (re)introduction is a success, a failure, or just one big “meh.”
This year saw the return of several superstars who were victims of Vince McMahon’s hatchet to the roster in 2020-22, while several NXT wrestlers finally found their way to the main roster. Along the way, WWE welcomed back a handful of legends and Hall-of-Famers who had been away from the company for quite some time.
And then of course, WWE dropped a thermonuclear return at Survivor Series, proving the point of this list.
Some of these were fantastic, while others have been complete flops. Several callups have received an incomplete grade at this stage. But where do your favorites rank?
A quick caveat: Returning from injury doesn’t count. Otherwise, this list would get out-of-hand.
Let’s get to it…
24. Odyssey Jones
WWE.com
It’s unfortunate, but someone has to occupy the lowest spot on the list, and Odyssey Jones is the runaway “winner” for this slot.
Jones was part of the rather large NXT class drafted to the main roster in May, joining the Raw brand… and then he promptly was never heard from again.
That isn’t hyperbole. Odyssey never so much as wrestled a Main Event taping or dark match for Raw. He had a handful of dark matches over the summer – on SmackDown shows. His last match – period – came in September at India’s Superstar Spectacle house show, where he lost to Bron Breakker.
Barring a major change these last couple of weeks, it’s safe to call Jones’ 2023 a complete waste.
23. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn
WWE.com
If it wasn’t for the fact that Odyssey Jones hasn’t had any TV exposure since being called up, Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn would have been a likely candidate for the bottom spot on this list.
The duo was drafted to SmackDown as the reigning NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, defended the titles once, and then lost them to the then-WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler, unifying the titles and nixing the NXT straps.
And that was the last televised match Fyre and Dawn have had… and that was in June.
The creepy duo showed up on NXT Halloween Havoc, and they’ve created a running gag that they are responsible for the women’s tag titles being “cursed,” but other than that, they’ve been non-factors on SmackDown. A handful of dark matches throughout the fall helped keep them out of the basement slot.
22. Indi Hartwell
WWE.com
In NXT, Indi Hartwell was a central character in the women’s division and very likely was the masked attacker who took out several wrestlers, before her April callup forced them to change direction and make Blair Davenport the culprit.
Hartwell was drafted to Raw as the reigning NXT Women’s Champion, relinquishing the title before being carried off the developmental brand by her storyline husband, Dexter Lumis. She would appear in a few backstage segments, but she didn’t wrestle on Raw until July (though she was recovering from injury).
Since then, Indi has wrestled several times on Main Event and grabbed an NXT Women’s Championship match against Becky Lynch in October. The match wasn’t great, and Hartwell has yet to win a bout on Raw, making her little more than cannon fodder at this point.
By virtue of her pairing with Candice LeRae, Indi should always have a chance to be a challenger of the week for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, but this still was a very disappointing callup for someone who was an NXT champion at the time of her promotion.
21. Cameron Grimes
WWE.com
Cameron Grimes felt like a can’t-miss wrestler when he was drafted to SmackDown this spring. He fits the mold of a modern-day WWE superstar perfectly: huge character, good promo work, solid in-ring work.
So why is it late 2023 and he’s only wrestled eight matches on TV, losing his last six bouts and winless since May? Grimes went from a superstar headed “to the moon” to a roster-filler, losing to Grayson Waller and Austin Theory in three minutes in separate matches this fall.
Cameron still has a big upside, so he could make a surge at any time, but it’s also conceivable that he ends up “lost in the shuffle” for the foreseeable future.
20. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
WWE.com
NXT’s resident party girls have become the resident punching bags on Raw since being drafted to the red brand in May.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance are a talented tag team, but they’ve never been little more than enhancement talent – proverbial space-fillers – since their callup. They lost to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler in their debut match in June, then defeated Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville two weeks later.
Since then, KC-Squared has lost five tag matches, including three multi-team bouts to determine number one contenders. They’ve showed up in a few backstage segments as well along the way, but they have yet to make anything even remotely approaching an impact.
Carter and Chance are flashy enough that they should have a spot on the roster for a while and always continue to get looks, but their smaller stature might prove to be a hindrance. Hopefully, their talent will lead to them getting a better shot in 2024, but this was not a great debut year for the duo.
19. Indus Sher
WWE.com
Rating a trio that has been up and down in WWE during the past year is difficult. Whether it’s Veer vacillating between Raw and NXT, Jinder Mahal going down to developmental to re-form Indus Sher, or Sanga getting called up to the main roster for the first time, there has been a lot of moving parts here.
The result is an imposing duo that has only had fleeting moments on television – three Raw tag matches this spring and nothing since – but also hasn’t been buried or booked to look incompetent.
In fact, Indus Sher made their return to Raw this fall in backstage segments and looked just as imposing as ever. Of course, there’s always the “…and then the bell rang” problem facing this group, but they’re at least positioned to make an impact should Triple H need heel monsters to serve up to the likes of the Creed Brothers.
18. Lita
WWE.com
How do you rate a WWE Hall-of-Famer who won a title more than 15 years after she retired?
Unfortunately for Lita, her two-match run on Raw this year was little more than added fuel for WrestleMania season. She joined former nemesis Becky Lynch to topple Damage CTRL for the women’s tag titles, then added Trish Stratus to the mix to pick up a six-woman tag victory at Mania.
And then that was basically it for Lita. She appeared on Raw a bit more, but she got taken out by Trish and hasn’t been seen since. Her entire run existed to juice the WrestleMania card and to set up Stratus’ ill-fated heel turn.
This was a completely forgettable run, if not for the tag title victory providing a nice moment.
17. Trish Stratus
WWE.com
Similar to her bestie Lita, had it not been for one moment – that steel cage match – Trish Stratus’ 2023 run would have been a case study in damaging legacies.
Stratus inexplicably turned heel on Becky Lynch, costing her the tag titles and kicking off a never-ending feud that disappointed at nearly every turn. Maybe it could have been considered a noble failure, but the writing and booking was abysmal. Trish cut horrendous promos, and her segments were among the most skippable on Raw each week.
It wasn’t until they got to her steel cage match against Lynch at Payback that fans saw an upside to this entire run. To be fair, everyone’s expectations were at an all-time low headed into that match, but Becky and Trish far exceeded even the most optimistic fan’s projections, leaving the promotion on a high note.
In the aftermath, Zoey Stark parlayed her increased TV time into an actual push, to the point where she’s become an integral part of the women’s roster on Raw. Trish deserves some credit for that, further bolstering this otherwise disappointing run.
16. The One-Offs
WWE
Perhaps the most difficult thing to measure is the impact (if any) that wrestlers who make brief cameos have on the product.
Their appearances pop live crowds, and if announced ahead of time, they could juice ratings somewhat. But overall, these one-offs typically have no real lasting impact on the product other than making year-end lists and maybe a cool video clip.
No moment better encapsulates this entry than Raw is XXX. The 30-year anniversary special in January was a lot like previous anniversary programs, in that it featured a ton of Hall-of-Famers and WWE legends. Unlike previous specials (such as the 25th anniversary show), they actually booked this one well. Superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, X-Pac, Teddy Long, Hulk Hogan, Ted DiBiase, IRS, Lita, Alundra Blayze, The Godfather and Diamond Dallas Page appeared.
D-Generation X put over Imperium as a serious threat during their in-ring segment. Undertaker had a passing the torch moment with Bray Wyatt that sadly was never realized. And of course, Ron Simmons said “Damn.”
Other one-offs, such as Pat McAfee’s sporadic appearances, can also be lumped in this entry as inoffensive moments that can’t be ranked as disappointments, but also didn’t have lasting impacts on the product.
15. The Rock
WWE.com
Although it was the definition of a one-off, The Rock’s surprise appearance on SmackDown in September, cutting Austin Theory to pieces, was a magical moment in WWE programming.
Rock’s first showing in WWE since before the pandemic was a tremendously fun moment for fans in attendance and generated huge numbers on social media. Ultimately, this one-off was all about the shock, the pop and the buzz, but all of that was truly seismic for that one night and in the days after.
Rock’s appearance also got fans talking about whether the Great One would have that long-rumored WrestleMania match against cousin Roman Reigns, so that in itself was an accomplishment.
14. Beth Phoenix
WWE.com
Beth Phoenix’s blink-and-you-missed-it return this year consisted of one match and lasted less than a month, but it was so short and inoffensive that it merits decent placement on this list.
Phoenix returned at the Royal Rumble to back up her husband Edge in his feud with the Judgment Day, spearing Rhea Ripley to level the playing field. She and Edge challenged Finn Balor and Ripley to a mixed-tag match at Elimination Chamber, where the married couple emerged victorious.
Edge would go on to defeat Finn in a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania 39, while Phoenix would step out of the limelight. If anything though, her brief return reinforced the notion that she would be an ideal Hall-of-Fame opponent for Ripley if WWE decided to pull the trigger.
13. Ivy Nile
WWE.com
Had she been called up a couple of months earlier, it would be easier to give Ivy Nile a more complete ranking for the year.
But based on sheer potential alone, Nile should excel on the main roster. Despite having less than four years of in-ring experience, Ivy has showed her capability of holding her own in matches and flashing a unique personality in her offense. That’s something that can take years to develop, so she’s already ahead of the game there.
As part of Diamond Mine, Nile has a built-in way to get increased screen time seconding the Creed Brothers, even if she isn’t booked that night.
Consider this ranking a splitting of the difference between potential and a lack of empirical evidence.
12. Carlito
WWE.com
At this stage, ranking returns and debuts gets a bit bunched, with several wrestlers being considered modest successes to slightly varying degrees.
When Carlito made a surprise run-in during Backlash this spring, it was a legitimate freak-out, feel-good moment for longtime fans. He ostensibly joined the LWO in helping Bad Bunny overcome Damian Priest and the rest of the Judgment Day in a San Juan street fight, then disappeared for several months.
Carlito returned in October at Fastlane to once again assist the LWO, but shortly after, tensions formed with Santos Escobar, leading to a fracturing of the group. With Rey Mysterio on the shelf with an injury, it will be interesting to see what kind of role Carlito will play.
The real test here will be whether fans will accept him as a regular character again, or whether it will be proven that he should be relegated to a guest spot, showing up periodically to get a pop, and then disappearing for a while. For now though, Carlito deserves a ranking smack in the middle.
11. Kairi Sane
WWE.com
The re-signing of Kairi Sane has the potential to be a tremendous move for WWE, particularly if it leads to a real, impactful women’s stable that the earlier iteration of Damage CTRL wishes it could have been.
Sane left WWE more than three years ago during the pandemic to return home. She made her shock return to the company at Crown Jewel, immediately paying dividends by helping Iyo Sky retain her WWE Women’s Championship and joining Damage CTRL.
Her appearance and everything that has followed has put stable leader Bayley on her heels, generating actual interest in the group after it felt like it was languishing for quite a while.
None of this touches on what Kairi brings to WWE in the ring, providing another high-quality wrestler to a women’s division that can always benefit from another strong performer. This ranking could prove to be low in the coming weeks, but as of this writing (just after Survivor Series), Sane rates right in the middle for what could be coming soon.
10. Pretty Deadly
WWE.com
What a debut year 2023 could have been for Pretty Deadly had it not been for an unfortunate injury.
Elton Prince and Kit Wilson were tailor-made for the WWE main roster, as any NXT fan would know, so their callup this spring felt like it couldn’t fail. And in many ways, it didn’t. It was Prince’s shoulder that failed during a July match against the Brawling Brutes, sidelining Pretty Deadly for three months and sidetracking their momentum.
Despite that, Prince and Wilson proved that they belong and that they will be successful on the main roster. One has to look no further than the absolutely hysterical video depicting Elton’s rehabilitation.
The injury might have delayed Pretty Deadly’s ascent, but all the pieces are there, and it’s only a matter of time before they realize their full potential on the main roster.
9. Grayson Waller
WWE.com
One would think a wrestler who has lost more than half their matches since being called up to the main roster and regularly showing ass on SmackDown would be deemed a disappointment, but then that would ignore Grayson Waller’s entire purpose.
Waller has been referred to as the next generation’s version of Miz, an Australian upgrade from the Awesome One, albeit a better wrestler with a more entertaining shtick. Since being drafted to the blue brand this spring, Waller has been a regular fixture on SmackDown, and the Grayson Waller Effect has been a reliable segment that has garnered time during PLEs as well as television.
More recently, Grayson has teamed with another young project pegged for big things, Austin Theory (though this pairing has exposed the former United States Champion’s shortcomings alongside Waller).
Although the won-loss record doesn’t seem to indicate it, it’s pretty clear that WWE is betting on Waller to be a perfect midcard heel for them, and he remains well-positioned to fill that role. Call this a solid debut for Grayson, with good things on the horizon.
8. Creed Brothers
WWE.com
Based on their late October Raw debut alone, the Creed Brothers should be on the fast track to becoming one of the biggest tag teams in WWE.
But even with Vince McMahon out of the creative picture, this still is WWE, so that rocket Julius and Brutus seemingly were strapped to when they defeated Alpha Academy veered into the comedy zone rather than heading straight to the top. The Creeds have won their first televised bouts in impressive fashion, but they’re already participating in backstage “comedy” segments.
Still, that shouldn’t derail this duo. Many great acts in WWE have had to go through their humor paces while establishing themselves. Maybe it’s a new kind of hazing ritual. Regardless, the Creeds have all the potential in the world, evidenced by how quickly they outgrew NXT and all but demanded a call-up without saying a word.
Given the showcase debut, the fact Triple H doesn’t hate tag teams like Vince did, and the sheer talent they possess, the Creed Brothers are extremely well-positioned for success.
7. John Cena
WWE.com
Technically, John Cena shouldn’t qualify for this list since he’s always been under WWE contract, but given how long it’s been since he had a run involving multiple matches (nearly five years), his return to the company this fall deserves consideration.
Cena wrestled a poorly received match against Austin Theory at WrestleMania 39, losing to him in a United States Championship match that did him no favors. When Cena returned to WWE this fall during the actor’s strike, it wasn’t just a vanity project to keep him on television, but an opportunity to wash that bad taste out of everyone’s mouth.
Although Cena only wrestled two matches during this two-month run, he spent a considerable amount of his airtime doing something he never really did with Theory: putting someone else over. He gave LA Knight his due and endorsed him as a guy to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.
Cena also put over Solo Sikoa as a killer, allowing the Samoan to repeatedly spike him into a pool of quivering jelly on his way out of the company at Crown Jewel. That’s a feather in Solo’s cap in a way that it never was for Theory.
For the future Hall-of-Famer to come back and give two main roster stars a pretty good rub, that’s a really successful return.
6. Nia Jax
WWE.com
There was every reason to believe that Nia Jax’s return to WWE this year was going to bomb horrifically. She was never booked well during her initial run and was little more than women’s division poison by the time she was released in 2021.
But after a decent run in the 2023 Royal Rumble, Jax returned full-time in September and immediately upended the Raw women’s division. She attacked several wrestlers in short order – Raquel Rodriguez, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler and Rhea Ripley – setting up several offshoot feuds for down the line and connecting everyone for future matches, uniting the division in a way that it never has been before.
And honestly, the women’s division has changed a lot since Nia was last in WWE. Ripley, Rodriguez and Piper Niven are all credible challengers who can match Jax’s size and strength, while wrestlers like Baszler, Stark, Becky Lynch and Natalya all could conceivably hang with her and beat her with a lucky shot.
Against all odds, Jax is a revelation to the women’s division this time around… so far. All it takes is some bad booking, an injured opponent or poorly received matches to tank this return.
5. JD McDonagh
WWE.com
What can you say about the Judgment Day’s favorite punching bag?
McDonagh’s run in NXT was marked by good-to-great matches coupled with weird promos and uninteresting angles. When he was called up to the main roster, it felt like he’d be lost in the shuffle, a “good hand” who lost a lot and became a faceless opponent.
Several months later, and JD still loses as lot, but it’s as part of the biggest, most important stable in WWE at the moment, the Judgment Day (sorry, but the Bloodline is only truly relevant when Roman Reigns is around). McDonagh went from strange errand boy trying to catch on to full-fledged member during the course of several months, earning his stripes and becoming the perfect cannon fodder troop for the group – capable of having excellent matches, credibly battling top stars while still taking the pinfall when needed.
Whenever Judgment Day folds up tent, McDonagh could find himself lost in the shuffle, but he’s made the most of his rookie year on the main roster.
4. Zoey Stark
WWE.com
Another NXT callup who felt like they were bound to get lost in the shuffle, Zoey Stark’s fortunes changed dramatically when she hooked up with Trish Stratus as a disciple of the Hall-of-Famer.
That sounds odd when you consider that Trish’s run was so abysmal, but that was because it was a downgrade for her. For Zoey, the ongoing angle with Becky Lynch meant exposure, purpose and focus to a run that to that point was at best meandering (Stark was tormenting Nikki Cross in backstage segments prior to this run).
Stark got to compete against Lynch multiple times, beating her once, and she completed a needed face turn by putting Stratus down at the end of her run with the company at Payback.
Since becoming a fan favorite, Zoey has held her own and become a fixture on Raw. Her talent alone should make her a main roster mainstay for years, and a title win is most likely in the cards for her.
3. Chelsea Green
WWE.com
When Chelsea Green returned to WWE at the Royal Rumble – and was promptly eliminated – it produced an eyeroll moment. Did WWE really bring Green back to be little more than a jobber who can’t get it done in the ring?
In a manner of speaking, yes. And it’s actually worked really well. Green’s “Karen” character felt very forced and fake initially, but she’s refined it throughout the year and played off Adam Pearce, her various tag partners, and her opponents extremely well, portraying an entitled, delusional champion who repeatedly talks herself into trouble and is forced to either have her partner bail her out or take her medicine.
Chelsea gets high marks because of the camera time she steals every week and the fact that she’s one of only two wrestlers on this list to win a title during their return or debut this year. Regardless of what one thinks of the Women’s Tag Team Championship, that still merits some consideration.
2. Dragon Lee
WWE.com
Dragon Lee’s callup to SmackDown this fall is a great example of how to showcase a truly significant talent in a way that doesn’t overexpose him too quickly, nor does it diminish his aura or potential.
Lee arrived on the main roster two months ago and has wowed audiences with his effortless style. He’s received an endorsement from Rey Mysterio as the future of lucha libre. His matches are treated as special occasions by the announcers, rather than just run-of-the-mill contests.
While Lee has won most of his matches so far, they’re mostly competitive bouts that show off his talents – see his two SmackDown matches against Cedric Alexander – rather than quick squashes to just give him meaningless wins. In other words, WWE is letting Dragon’s actions in the ring do the talking.
His loss to Santos Escobar at Survivor Series could be viewed as a setback, but when you consider that this was a high-profile PLE match in front of 17,000 rabid fans – who were chanting his name – that in itself was a victory. And you have to have faith that WWE is not going to screw this one up.
1. CM Punk
WWE.com
Realistically, the moment “Cult of Personality” rang out at the end of Survivor Series, the top spot on this list was locked up.
For better or worse, CM Punk is a game-changer, a needle-mover, the conversation piece in professional wrestling. His return to WWE nearly 10 years after walking out on the company is nothing short of miraculous.
Of course, things could go south in record time – look no further than Punk’s AEW run and his comments about WWE as recently as two years ago – but up until that possible point, the Second City Saint will be a major player in the company and a focal point, both for storylines and for fans.
His return set the wrestling world on fire, so that alone merits top placement on this list… until the wheels fall off.
L. A. Knight gets a taste of The Phenomenal One’s legendry wrath
https://youtu.be/JFJxyJQOPKo
By Ed Emeanua
Months after Solo Sikoa took out the Phenomenal one, AJ Styles returned to the grappling squared circle and sent tongues wagging.
Friday Night SmackDown of December 15, was rolled on with The Bloodline on Center stage, but Randy Orton had something to say about that as he promptly interrupted The Tribal Chief and his Tribesmen came.
Randy’s mission was soon apparent-he wanted a match with The Bloodline’s Tribal Chief Roman Reigns for his Undisputed Universal Title at the Royal Rumble.
Roman brushed aside Randy’s challenge, telling The Legend Killer to go to the back of the line, adding that though Randy may have had him on his mind for the past 18 months, The Tribal Chief hasn’t bothered about the Apex Predator for even a minute during the period.
Moments later in the show segment, Roman and his Bloodline accosted Randy Orton in the ring again. Then came LA Knight to rescue Randy and a fight ensued with the bloodline. As the Bloodline was having the upper hand, AJ Styles’ music entrance engulfed the arena as The Phenomenal One made his return to the ring.
The segment closed out with AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and LA Knight in the ring as the Bloodline retreated. We will have to see what happens next, but we haven’t seen AJ Styles since Solo Sikoa took him out several months ago.
In yet another twist to the saga, AJ Styles whacked out LA Knight before exiting the ring. The audience protested AJ’s misplaced aggression with a profuse rendition of boos as AJ left, and walked past the Bloodline as if they were not even there.
Knowing the WWE, this tiff is a Russ for upheaval to come in showings ahead featuring AJ Styles and L.A. Knight, with Randy either aligning with one, all, or none of the gladiators.
Champions Man City drop 3 consecutive points in as many games, as manager Pepe Guardiola side capitulates to pressure
By Ed Emeanua
An hair puller at the Etihad
Champions Manchester City continues to struggle in their Premier League defence as the Citizens are forced to a third stalemate in as many matches.
City even squandered a 2-0 advantage at home on Saturday, allowing Crystal Palace to claw back from imminent defeat to a 2-2 draw right there at the Lion’s den.
In an action and drama packed weekend at various Premier League venues, the pair of Manchester City and Luton Town led at half-time in a low-scoring 45 minutes of Saturday’s Premier League plays.
Jack Grealish powered City ahead at the Etihad against Crystal Palace just as Elijah Adebayo’s swift headed goal gave visiting Luton the lead at Bournemouth.
Elsewhere, Chelsea are held at bay in a scoreless action packed encounter at Stamford Bridge by stubborn Sheffield United while the event at Newcastle has produced no goal against visiting Fulham.
However, Raul Jimenez has seen red having been ejected from the visitors’ lineup at St. James’s Park, while Newcastle will now add both Fabian Schar and Joelinton to their growing injury list as both were taken off injured in the opening period.
Half-time scores:
Bournemouth 0-1 Luton
Chelsea 0-0 Sheffield United
Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 0-0 Fulham
Chelsea finally broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when Raheem Sterling places the ball low across the six-yard line for Cole Palmer to score.
Elsewhere, Julian Alvarez believed he’s netted but the flag raised. His free-kick from the right scuttles straight in but Rodri was already offside and VAR showed he made a move for the ball.
A total Ping-Pong in the Luton area finally sees the ball ultimately fall for in-form Dominic Solanke who buries it in the net. It is now Bournemouth 1-1 Luton Town on 54th minute at Vitality Stadium.
Santa has come to town for an early Christmas
Jack Grealish locates Phil Foden on the edge of the area in the 55th minute, who in turn, lifts it in for Rico Lewis to blaze it home. Man City goes two up at the Etihad.
Bruno Guimaraes scores a sublime goal for Newcastle having taken superb touches on the edge of the box before the ball bounces through to Lewis Miley, who plants it in the bottom corner. Newcastle 1-0 Fulham on 57th minute.
The players at Vitality Stadium have been ordered down the tunnel as in a 55th minute stoppage as the match has been suspended. as a result of a player medical incident involving Tom Lockyer.
Chelsea is now 2-0 up at Stamford Bridge and the Blues are now in full control.
So too have Newcastle. A Lovely ball sends Anthony Gordo through from which he evades the touch of Callum Wilson but allows Miguel Almiron a simple tap in to score. Newcastle 2-0 Fulham on 76 minutes.
Some drama at the Etihad. Jeffrey Schlupp pounces on to a shredded ball forward, produces some crisp touches, before allowing Jean-Philippe Mateta to stroke it into an empty net. Man City 2-1 Crystal Palace on 75th minute.
Bruno Guimaraes’ brilliance produces the ball from the right, which is headed to Bernd Leno by Dan Burn, and the save falls back to him to scramble it into the net on the 82nd minute. Newcastle 3-0 Fulham.
More drama at the Etihad. On 90+3 minutes, Phil Foden attempts to clear the ball as Jean-Philippe Mateta threatens, but brings him down, leaving referee Paul Tierney no choice than to award a penalty!
It is now fulltime at Stamford Bridge. Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson’s goals have buoyed Chelsea back to winning ways.
Ederson dives to his left to clutch at thin air, just as Michael Olise slots his penalty kick into the right corner. It is now two all at the Etihad. Who could have thought this could be a possibility?
Referee Sam Barrott This season G7 Y24 R0 3.43 cards/game
Newcastle 15:00 Fulham
Newcastle are going for a fourth back-to-back win over Fulham, but risk losing three consecutive league matches for the second time this season as they battle a free scoring Fulham side on Saturday.
Newcastle v Fulham: probable starters, contenders in italics
Newcastle
Subs from Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Krafth, Hall, Ritchie, Longstaff, Isak, A Murphy, Diallo, Parkinson
Everton’s defensive stats are excellent this term, but the mainstay for the Toffees is having Dominic Calvert-Lewin healthy as a rampart the Toffeemen look to extend thier blistering form against an unpredictable Newcastle side.
Swiss international Zeki Amdouni, has the skills and wherewithal to sink the visitors on Saturday
Burnley v Everton: probable starters, contenders in italics
An hair puller at the Etihad
Santa has come to town for an early Christmas
Eberechi Eze could be the difference maker for Palace tonight
![100+] Newcastle United Fc Pictures | Wallpapers.com](https://i0.wp.com/wallpapers.com/images/hd/newcastle-united-fc-players-running-c9aovdgazx1nypic.jpg?w=696&ssl=1)
Swiss international Zeki Amdouni, has the skills and wherewithal to sink the visitors on Saturday