CM Punk will wrestle his first WWE match since 2014 tonight when he takes on Dominik Mysterio at a house show from Madison Square Garden, Andrew Ravens reports for eWrestling News. Here are the other matches on the card:
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Drew McIntyre.
Cody Rhodes vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bullrope Match
Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & Damian Priest vs. Sami Zayn & Jey Uso.
Here is an updated list of Punk’s dates:
Tuesday, December 26: WWE Holiday Tour house show at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York
Saturday, December 30: WWE Holiday Tour house show at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California
Monday, January 8: WWE Raw at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon
Monday, January 22: WWE Raw at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana
Saturday, January 27: WWE Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida
You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on eWrestlingNews.com. Or, you can follow us over on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
As Luton Town stretch their winning streak to two on Boxing Day football
By Ed Emeanua
Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey failed to bounce back with the Whites after a defeat at home to Burnley last time out, after losing their away game at Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium by 3-0 on Saturday.
Justin Kluivert opened scoring on 44th minute for Bournemouth just before half-time, with Dominic Solanke and Luis Sinisterra adding two second half goals to secure victory for the Cherries.
João Palhinha upended Antoine Semenyo in Fulham box forcing the referee to award a penalty soon after second half kick-off. Solanke converted on 62nd minute from the penalty spot to put Bournemouth further ahead by 2-0 on the scoreboard.
Sinisterra then scored the thrid goal on 90+3 minute for Bournemouth off a sensational belter of a shot from outside the area, and well into stoppage time.
Elsewhere, the Hatters upped their winning streak to two in less than a week, beating Sheffield United 3-2 away in a five goal thriller at Bramall Lane.
Luton shot into the lead through Alfie Doughty only to draw a reaction from Oliver McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic, to send the home team ahead. Two own goals later– from Jack Robinson and Anis Ben Slimane – allow The Hatters not only to level up, but to win game.
The defeat condemned the Blades to yet another defeat. Although chance played provider for Luton on this tie a day after Christmas, Chris Wilder’s side were very well outplayed for most of the first half by the highly spirited away side.
Doughty’s weak attempt at goal at near post managed to slither between the legs of Wes Foderingham and into the net for The Hatter’s first goal in the 17th minute.
Defaulting to a back three, the Blades dominated in the second half and shot into the lead when a through run from James McAtee set up McBurnie to redirect it into the net on 61st minute and Ahmedhodzic netted after a goalmouth scramble on 69th minute.
Carlton Morris was then substituted in to help set up both of the Hatters’ second-half goals to turn the tide. His in-swinging cross down the right was redirected into his team’s net by Robinson in the 77th minute followed by Morris’ pull back inside the penalty area striking the withdrawing Slimane to send the ball flying into Foderingham’s top left corner of the net for an 81st minute own-goal.
The win lifted Luton Town to inside a point of fourth from bottom lying Everton on the Premiership table, while the Blades are stuck to the bottom, seven points from safety.
Nuno Espirito Santo has waved his magic wand again to change his side’s fast eroding Premier League status and Nottingham Forest to a 3-1 Boxing day take down of Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
Chris Woods notched a hattrick helping Forest come from behind after an early Isak penalty goal to hand the visiting team an away and setback Newcastle struggles for another top four finish in the Premier League this term.
Nuno made six changes to the Nottingham Forest side. Ola Aina, Moussa Niakhate, Gonzalo Montiel, Danilo, Ibrahim Sangare and Callum Hudson-Odoi all came in for Willy Boly (suspended after his awkward red card against Bournemouth), Harry Toffolo, Neco Williams, Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala and Divock Origi.
Sven Botman made his first start since September, replacing the injured Jamaal Lascelles in defence for Newcastle. Alexander Isak came in place of Callum Wilson in the only other change from Saturday’s defeat at Luton. Joelinton was made to return to the bench for this one.
Miley played a neat through pass towards Isak, who pulls away from Aina and goes down, allowing the referee with minimal ponder for a couple of seconds to award what looked like a soft penalty kick to the home team. Alexander Isak made the most of the opportunity and also stepped up to score from the spot.
Isak goes down under the challenge from Aina. Photograph: Richard Lee/REX/Shutterstock
Alexander Isak tucks away the kick. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters
Then on 45+1 minutes, Chris Wood scored against his former club to draw Forest level. His strike came on the break after Almiron, who had robbed Danilo of the ball on the edge of the Forest area, passed when he should have shot at goal.
The ball was cut out and Forest were off to a counter attacking foray at the other end. In the end, Gibbs-White slid an angled pass to Elanga, whose low cross on the stretch gave Wood an open goal run to score. Forest went in at the half-time 1-1 level thanks to Wood’s equalizer injury time against his former club.
On 53rd minute of the game, Wood edged Forest ahead with a majestic finish. Niakhate brought the ball out from the back line and fed it to Elanga, who looked like he was taken out as he ran forward and pinged it to Wood. Excellent work by the forward to power forward and finish.
Wood returned with another masterful finish on 60th minute. He sped through on a simple searing pass from Murillo, having been played onside by Kieran Trippier, dummied Martin Dubravka before side stepping the Newcastle goalkeeper to score his third goal of the game.
Forest then held on to hand Nuno his first win as manager of the side.
Superhuman Lamar Jackson destroys 49ers as Agholor struts his stuff
By Ed Emeanua
Baltimore Ravens are just too much after showing off their sterner stuff in a telling 33-19 blowout of the San Francisco 49ers in their NFL Christmas day hurly-burly.
It was a game where Lamar Jackson was simply, ‘da bomb’ and Nelson Agholor, a Nigerian-American football wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL), showcased his silky skills.
Overall, Jackson was the star of the story on the night, and helped his team to clearly send out a clear warning to other NFL sides on the danger the Ravens now pose to the serious contenders for the NFL title. Agholor, who played college football at USC and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, was the supporting cast in the vent.
Especially, Jackson’s Christmas present delivery to Agholor, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria 30 years ago, to make his touchdown in the game, helped to demonstrate the depth of the Ravens team and the tremendous understanding between these two Ravens.
Above is the highlight of the game. It is a must see game in which the player in number 15 kit remains a study in smoothness in gridiron football.
Everything you need to know about TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nation
https://youtu.be/iSWK2vXLExA
Presented by Ed Emeanua
As the countdown to Cote D’Ivoire 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) continues, it is important to examine Ivorian cities that would host the best footballing talents of the continent from Saturday, January 13, 2024 to Sunday, February 11, 2024.
The Africa Cup of Nations, occasionally identified as the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations because of sponsorship reasons, or just AFCON or CAN, is the continent’s chief football competition for national men’s teams. It is held under the auspices of the Confederation of African Football, and was first staged in Khartoum, Sudan in 1957.
Its last edition was held in Cameroon where ‘The Lions’ of Senegal emerged champions for the first time in their history of participating in the tournament. ‘The Pharaohs’ of Egypt is the most successful team in the competition having won it seven times.
The competition will involve a total of 24 national teams out of the 54 eligible nations that participated in the qualifiers. The nations taking part in Cote D’Ivoire will be broken into six groups of four teams each, that are spread over five Ivorian cities and six venues.
The cities hosting the teams are Abidjan, Bouaké, Korhogo, San Pedro, and Yamoussoukro. Below are the presentation of the host cities and what each of them offers and with excerpts from CAFONLINE.
Abidjan
The economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan, nicknamed “La Perle des Lagunes” (The Pearl of the Lagoons), is a cosmopolitan city of nearly six (6) million inhabitants.
Abidjan, the bustling economic capital and business hub of the country, boasts the headquarters and regional offices of several major international institutions, including the AfDB, AIFD, UNICEF, UNDP, IMF, World Bank, and FIBA-Africa (Basketball), among others.
In addition, Abidjan boasts an impressive array of luxury hotels, including three (3) classified as 5-star, with approximately forty high-end hotels in total. In addition, there are dozens of luxurious residential complexes, totaling over 4,000 rooms. This hotel network is well spread throughout the city. Beyond Abidjan’s borders, seaside locations offer kilometers of beaches, perfect for relaxation and escape.
Bouaké
The host city of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, Bouake is located in the centre of the country and is 350 km from the economic capital of Abidjan.
With a population of more than 600 000, it is the second largest city in the country and the third largest in economic terms.
Its hotel network includes several good quality establishments, which offer comfortable and warm stays for tourists.
Korhogo
Korhogo, the capital of the Savanes region, derives its name from a local tradition of the Sénoufo ethnic group, known as “Pôrô.”
The city is located approximately 207 km from Mali and 242 km from Burkina Faso and boasts a population of around 300 000.
There is an array of quality hotels that offer memorable stays for visitors.
In addition to its warm and hospitable people, the city has a vibrant cultural centre and art museum for visitors to learn more about the city and its rich history.
San Pedro
Located in the southwest of Côte d’Ivoire, 350 km from Abidjan, San Pedro is a seaside and tourist town of just over 265 000 inhabitants.
It has the second largest port in the country and the largest cocoa export port in the world.
With its cosmopolitan vibe, San Pedro lures a diverse array of foreign residents.
The city’s hotels, set against the eye-catching seashore, offer a charming and ambiance that leaves a lasting impression on visitors.
Visitors can also visit the close-by towns of Grand-Béréby and Sassandra to get a different feel of the city of San Pedro.
Yamoussoukro
Yamoussoukro, the birthplace of the first president of the Republic, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, is the political and administrative capital of Côte d’Ivoire. Located 240 km north of Abidjan, it has a population estimated at over 260000.
Renowned for its state-of-the-art Universities that are renowned for producing some of Africa’s greatest leaders and academics, Yamoussoukro is not only a tourist attracting city but is well known for its warm hospitality and beautiful infrastructure and educational centres such as the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for Peace Research, the Lake of the Caimans and world-class Golf facilities.
The city has some of the best hotels and accommodation options, including the famous Hotel des Parlementaires.
Lamar Jackson Issues Serious Warning To NFL’s Top Teams After Baltimore Ravens’ Big Win
Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during timeout against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Baltimore Ravens are the most dangerous team in the NFL this 2023. Lamar Jackson said as much after they took down the San Francisco 49ers in their Christmas showdown.
Brock Purdy and the 49ers entered the game as slight favorites, riding a six-game winning streak with two MVP candidates (Purdy and Christian McCaffrey) leading the way. However, Jackson and the Ravens proved they are the better team, dominating from start to finish for the 33-19 victory.
The Ravens made Purdy look like a mortal after being hailed as the sure-fire MVP amid their hot streak, forcing him to four interceptions while preventing him to score a passing touchdown.
With the 14-point win over the 49ers, the Ravens also solidified their position as the best team in the NFL. After all, they have now faced three division leaders in the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and 49ers, and outscored them 94-32.
Against the Lions in Week 7, Jackson and Co. destroyed them 38-6. Then just last week against the Jaguars, they took the 23-7 victory.
In his postgame presser, Lamar Jackson talked about their performance against top teams in the NFL. He emphasized that their secret to success is simple: “We play our best under pressure.”
“We keep our poise. We stay locked in no matter how the game may see, no matter what the crowd noise is, no matter how hard the defense is hitting us. We just stay locked in,” Jackson furthered.
Lamar Jackson on beating the best teams by double digits: “We play our best under pressure.” pic.twitter.com/eYOPZDZECT
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 26, 2023
That kind of confidence is certainly what you want to hear from your franchise quarterback. The Baltimore Ravens improved to 12-3 on the season for the best record in the NFL, and lot of it can be attributed to the team’s consistent performance against the best teams in the league.
Baltimore’s only losses on the season came against the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, and all those losses ended with just single-digit margins.
If the Ravens can maintain the way they are playing, it’s certainly not hard to see them competing for the Super Bowl.
Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) is interviewed by news media after the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Lamar Jackson Doesn’t Want Baltimore Ravens To Be Overconfident
Despite the Baltimore Ravens’ confidence-boosting victory over the San Francisco 49ers, Lamar Jackson doesn’t want his teammates to be complacent.
They will be facing the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, and Jackson understands the threat of the second-best team in the AFC behind them.
“That’s a great team in the Dolphins, so we got to come out prepared,” Jackson said in an interview with Lisa Salters following the Monday Night Football showdown, as transcribed by David Furones of South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
While the Ravens perform well against top teams like the Dolphins, Jackson wants them to stay grounded and focus on the game.
Black Stars looking to shine bright in Cote d’Ivoire
Ghana are in Group B with Cape Verde, Egypt and Mozambique
The Black Stars will be looking for a fifth continental trophy
Exciting talent raring to go for the Black Stars, including attacking sensation, Mohammed Kudus
Boasting an array of exciting talent, coupled with the invaluable experience of its more seasoned campaigners, next month’s TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 could possibly be the year the Black Stars shine bright on the continent.
The red-hot Mohammed Kudus and Ernest Nuamah certainly stand out when thinking of the exciting talent available for Ghana while the likes of Thomas Partey and the ever-green Andre Ayew will be immense in bringing stability to the squad.
Jostled throughout the qualifiers but eventually secured their ticket to Cote d’Ivoire after overcoming the Central African Republic 2-1 on the very last day of the qualifiers to finish top of Group E.
The Black Stars are heading to their 24th TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations appearance.
Player to watch: Mohammed Kudus
A product of the Right to Dream Academy, Mohammed Kudus is without a doubt one of the key players for Ghana. With 6 goals scored in 15 club matches, the Accra native is preparing to participate in his second TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
Dangerous coming in from the wing but can also play as a false 9, Kudus – if not well planned for, will be a problem for defenders in Cote d’Ivoire as he has over the last few years in club football.
The coach: Chris Hughton
Of Irish origin, Chris Hughton was named Ghana coach in February 2023, a few weeks after the Black Stars were eliminated in the first round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
After having managed English teams such as Tottenham, Newcastle and Nottingham, the tactician is preparing for his first TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations. With Hughton at the helm, Ghana offers a very solid game defensively. In fact, the Black Star concede very few goals. A fan of the 4-3-3, the tactician relies on fast wingers who are quick in attack.
Mavs Step Back: In Christmas Day Win vs. Suns; Dereck Lively Return
Luka Doncic put on a historic Christmas Day show as the Dallas Mavericks downed the Phoenix Suns on Monday night. Our Mavs Step Back Podcast has the full recap for you, Dalton Trigg reports for Fan Nation.
It’s the season of giving, and Luka Doncic exemplified that on Christmas Day by giving the Phoenix Suns many buckets during the Dallas Mavericks’ 128-114 win on Monday.
In the win, which moved the Mavs to 18-12 on the season and fifth in the Western Conference standings, Doncic finished with 50 points, six rebounds, 15 assists, four steals and three blocks while shooting 15-25 overall, 8-16 from deep and 12-12 from the free-throw line. He also became the fastest active player to reach 10,000 career points.
On this episode of the Mavs Step Back Podcast, we give a full recap of what transpired in Phoenix. Not only does Doncic get his much-deserved flowers, but 19-year-old rookie big man Dereck Lively II made his return from a four-game absence due to an ankle injury and put up a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double. Dallas is 4-1 this season with Lively records a double-double and 1-5 when he doesn’t play.
From there, we discuss the continued struggles of Grant Williams, why the Mavs will likely be active at this season’s trade deadline, the potential return of Kyrie Irving and much more. You can watch or listen to this episode below. Also, be sure to SUBSCRIBE on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you get your podcasts!
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Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during timeout against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
