WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Bloodline vs. The Street Profits
After overcoming #DIY in a hard-fought No. 1 Contenders Match, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins are set to challenge Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga for the WWE Tag Team Championship. They will challenge a Bloodline, however, that is operating on a whole new level after ruthlessly brutalizing Roman Reigns.
Can The Street Profits overcome the power of The Bloodline to claim the gold?
Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi take on The Unholy Union and Blair Davenport
After successfully defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title in a Triple Threat Match against Damage CTRL as well as Pure Fusion Collective on Raw, The Unholy Union will join forces with Blair Davenport against the awesome combination of Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi.
A Storm is coming, and the destruction of this Six-Woman Tag Team Match promises to be off the charts.
LA Knight defends the United States Championship against Santos Escobar
Fresh off his United States Championship victory over Logan Paul at SummerSlam, LA Knight makes the first defense of his title against a laser-focused Santos Escobar.
Who will emerge with the red, white, and blue title?
The Grayson Waller Effect with special guest Cody Rhodes
Grayson Waller hosts The Grayson Waller Effect with special guest Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Bundesliga champions squander two-goal lead against hard-fighting Borussia Monchengladbach
Granit Xhaka after scoring his first goal of the current Bundesliga season-a stunner Image credit: ESPN
By Ed Emeanua
Bayer Leverkusen can’t be beaten despite squandering a well-deserved two-goal lead against hard-fighting Borussia Monchengladbach. And they can’t stop winning either.
The Reigning Bundesliga kings began the defense of their crown with a convincing 3-2 win over die Borussen (thePrussians) on Friday in their opening game of the new Bundesliga campaign.
Die Werkself (The Factory Eleven), put on a shooting practice clinical in the first twenty-two minutes of the scintillating encounter at Borussia Monchengladbach’s famous Borussia Park that saw them take the lead.
Within that small window in the game, Granit Xhaka blasted home the opener in the 12th minute, a left-footed shot from well outside the box off a fast break that sailed unstoppably to the top left corner.
In the 18th minute, Victor Boniface took his turn to waltz and Zazzle inside the home side’s eighteen-yard box before letting fly a cannon that crashed into the bar with a right-footed shot from the left side of the box following another fast break.
It was Edmond Tapsoba‘s turn in the 22nd minute to take to the mark, as his shot also collided with the bar with a right-footed shot from outside the box off an Xhaka assist.
In between Xhaka’s goal and the Boniface, Tapsoba near misses, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Rocco Reitz’s attempt off a right footed shot from the right side of the six yards box was nabbed in the center of the goal in the 15th minute.
So too was Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah header from the centre of the box thwarted from sailing into the bottom left corner off an Álex Grimaldo cross in the 20th minute of the fast-paced thriller.
A minute later, Borussia Mönchengladbach’sTim Kleindienst’s right-footed shot from the right side of the box is foiled from going into the top right corner from a Franck Honorat assist.
Following Xhaka’s opener, both sides settled into a see-saw assault and counter-attacking forays of the opposing ends of the field that failed to bear fruits.
However, after Álex Grimaldo’s effort for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a right-footed shot from the center of the box was saved in the middle of the goalposts, seconds later, Florian Wirtz followed through for Bayer 04 Leverkusen left footing his shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner to hand the visitors a well deserved two goals cushion.
Tim Kleindienst’s effort to halve the lead for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 42nd minute is ruled out following a VAR review.
Two minutes into the first half stoppage time, Boniface’s right-footed shot from the left side of the box misses going into the left.
In the 59th minute of the game, Borussia Mönchengladbach finally gets their breakthrough through Nico Elvedi after his left-footed shot from close range sailed into the center of the goal off a set-piece play.
In the 66th minute, Boniface’s right-footed shot from Robert Andrich’s assist from outside the box is blocked.
Boniface‘s teed pass to Xhaka in the 71st minute is met with a left-footed shot from the Albanian outside the box that sails too high into the sky.
Seven minutes later, it was Xhaka who was the provider for the Nigerian who saw Boniface’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box blocked.
Tim Kleindienst then stepped up for Borussia Mönchengladbach, right footing his shot from the center of the box to the middle of the goalline to draw level with the champions.
Florian Wirtz saw his penalty kick for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, (a right-footed shot) saved from nestling into his intended bottom-left corner of the net.
Undaunted, Wirtz fought to seal the win for the champions following up on his penalty kick miss with a right-footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal in the 11th minute of injury time.
This followed the VAR decision for a penalty rule for Bayer 04 Leverkusen conceded by Ko Itakura of Borussia Mönchengladbach after a foul in the penalty area.
Desire for UEFA Champions League Football driving Napoli star’s summer move decision
Victor Osimhen’s Napoli future could remain unresolved until the final week of the transfer window (Image: Football.London/Franco Romano/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
By Ed Emeanua
Victor Osimhen wants a move away from Naples because Partenopei will miss out on UEFA Champions League and European club football action altogether this season.
The Nigerian’s decision has forced Napoli to consider other striking options and rule out the forward’s participation in their 2024-2025 football plans. Napoli manager Antonio Conte has decided against Osimhen’s inclusion in his Napoli goals.
The Napoli boss has said he prefers Chelsea reject and Belgium international Romelu Lukaku to lead his attack line.
The slow progress in Osimhen’s ambition to transcend to Pasture New this summer is also because of the player’s oversized prioritization of playing UEFA Champions League football.
Before the opening of the Summer transfer season, Chelsea was primed to sign the Nigerian superstar but found the Napoli striker’s rebuff of their initial approaches rather perplexing.
The Blues under new boss Enzo Maresca were ultimately forced to cool off their interest in the Nigerian forward after Team Osimhen telegraphed the impetus of UEFA Champions League football in the player’s relocation ambition.
Erik ten-Hag’s Manchester United was also forced to scratch out the Nigerian’s name from their shopping list for the same reason.
The player’s interest was initially a move to either Parc Des Princes with Paris Saint Germain (PSG) or Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium with who both sides already assured of UEFA Champions League football slots.
However, in’ desperation to keep Osimhen at the Diego Armando Stadium at the end of the 2022-2023 season, Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis had extended the Nigerian’s stay in Naples till 2026.
Image credit: Football Italia
To keep the paws of prospective buyers at bay, De Laurentiis also penned a hefty $143 million release clause into the player’s refurbished deal.
However, though ‘Les Parisiens’ and ‘The Gunners’ were receptive to the Nigerian’s interest in joining their ranks, Arsenal and PSG felt that De Laurentiis’ valuation of his star striker was too steep.
The high interest in featuring in the glamorous UEFA Champions League is applicable to all players in World-wide.
The UEFA Champions League is arguably the ultimate grand-slam of club football and guarantees its participants the huge venue to showcase their talents. It is also the easiest forum for exceptional players to convince selectors of their Ballon d’Or pedigree.
Osimhen is a world class striker in every right and at age twenty-five, it is pertinent for the Napoli striker to break the mold.
According to Football Italia, Napoli boss Antonio Conte has admitted a ‘difficulty’ in bringing in new talents to Napoli this Summer because of the club’s lack of European football opportunity for the upcoming season.
“I knew the situation when I came, and in the market you have limits on the cost of the player’s salary,” Conte told SportMediaset, via Gianluca Di Marzio.
“Most of the time, players don’t come here because we don’t play in the (European) cups.
“I want the best for Napoli and to try and strengthen the squad, because we need it. I don’t know what will happen down the line. Today (referring to Napoli’s a 0-0 draw against Serie B side Modena in the Coppa Italia on Saturday evening, but progressed after a 4-3 victory in the penalty shootout) was a dose of reality.”
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has confirmed that star striker Victor Osimhen has asked to leave the club amid interest from Chelsea Ben Knapton reports for SportsMole.
The Nigeria international rose to global prominence after scoring a league-high 26 goals during Napoli’s Serie A-winning campaign of 2022-23, before which he had been posting respectable numbers in the Partenopei shirt.
Osimhen’s 2023-24 season was a largely forgettable one, though, as even though he managed a respectable 17 efforts across all tournaments, his season was marred by club controversy.
As well as being seen arguing with former boss Rudi Garcia during his ill-fated stint in charge, Osimhen was also mocked by his club in a couple of posts on TikTok, sparking fury from his agent.
The 25-year-old nevertheless agreed a new contract with Napoli until the summer of 2026, although that extension was more about protecting his value rather than being indicative of a long-term association.
Osimhen has “asked to leave” Napoli amid Chelsea reports
Osimhen’s terms are said to include a release clause of around £113m, but as president Aurelio de Laurentiis is resigned to losing the striker this summer, he would be willing to do business at around the £85.6m mark.
Amid the speculation surrounding his next career move, Osimhen was not involved in Napoli’s Coppa Italia first-round win over Modena on Saturday evening, where Antonio Conte‘s men won on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
Speaking to the media before the game, Manna confirmed that the 25-year-old was absent from the squad due to his desire to leave, while also offering a cryptic update about what the next “few days” might bring.
“He asked to leave. We are calm because we have players in the squad who can replace him in the best way. However, we do not want to harm the integrity of the group and want to preserve it. We will see what will happen in the next few days,” football.londonquotes Manna as saying.
As a result, Osimhen will seemingly not be involved in any more Napoli squads while he remains set on leaving, meaning that he could depart the club with a record of 76 goals and 18 assists from 133 matches.
What is the latest on Chelsea’s Osimhen pursuit?
With Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe and Arsenal abandoning their search for a center-forward for the time being, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are considered the top contenders for Osimhen’s signature.
However, the French champions’ interest has supposedly also cooled, as Luis Enrique is happy with Randal Kolo Muani and Goncalo Ramos as his central options, leaving Chelsea in prime position to bring the wantaway Nigerian to the Premier League.
The Blues are currently in no position to bow to Napoli’s £85.6m price demands, though, and a move also hinges on Napoli’s ability to agree a deal with Romelu Lukaku, who has a £37.8m buyout clause in his Chelsea deal.
As things stand, an agreement still seems a fair way away, meaning that Chelsea’s pursuit of Osimhen could come down to the final knockings of the summer window, which slams shut on August 30.
Emma Hayes was emotional after the victory ( Image: Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Emma Hayes left her role as head coach of Chelsea Women to take over the United States women’s national team and restore the former world champions to their perch, Megan Feringa reports for Mirror.
The USWNT are champions again and according to Emma Hayes, it’s all down to love.
One year after the program’s humiliating round of 16 exits at the Women’s World Cup and fears that the days of dominance were beyond American exceptionalism, the USWNT was back in familiar territory on Saturday in the French capital. Victory secured. Trophy in hand. Jubilant cheers mixing with the American anthem poured in from all directions. This is the USWNT’s theatre; finally, they are center stage again.
The temptation is to draw a direct line from the hiring of the former Chelsea boss to the moment Mallory Swanson broke a fierce deadlock against Brazil at the Parc des Princes, clinching the USWNT’s record-extending fifth Olympic gold medal, and their first since 2012.
It’s difficult not to indulge in this straightforward arithmetic.
Hayes was hired with precisely this type of restoration remit in mind: restore the USWNT to the top, at whatever cost. And while the pressure to achieve this in her first attempt ratcheted up to a fever pitch as the cameras zoomed in and the anticipation swirled, few would have truly criticized the 46-year-old for failing here, so soon and so early into this relationship.
USWNT win gold in the final against Brazil ( Image: Photo by Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
Instead, instant impact. A squad that once looked labored and stale now fizzes with youthful vim and vigor in a rejuvenated front line of Swanson, Trinity Rodman, and Sophia Smith – the front line known as Triple Espresso –, while the precocious defensive nous of 24-year-old Naomi Girma has become a point from which Hayes can mold her team.
But while credit was being thrust in Hayes’ direction for the swift turnaround in USWNT fortunes, Hayes instead credited something more intangible for the restoration project’s initial success.
“Just love,” a visibly emotional Hayes said through tears. “I come from a place of wanting players to enjoy themselves. I’ve been at a club for 12 years and had huge success but I was desperate to do it for this country. It’s not every day you win a gold medal.”
She added: “I love America. It made me. I always say that.”
Hayes’ coaching career is rooted within the United States’ borders, with a coaching stint at Iona College in New York for the English manager, and working with NWSL side Chicago Red Stars before taking over Chelsea.
Gold Medalists of Team United States pose for a photo on the podium with Emma Hayes’ son ( Image: Getty Images)
Speaking about taking on the USWNT head coach role before the Olympics, Hayes spoke passionately about fulfilling her dream of managing one of the world’s most dominant forces in women’s football.
And after clinching the gold medal in Paris, Hayes could hardly contain her emotions.
“I’m very emotional. It’s been a dream of mine to be in this position,” Hayes said. “I have to thank my dad because he’s the one who pushed me to this point to come and coach an unbelievable group of players that have received me so well and taken on board everything I have asked. They are tremendous people players and role models. Yeah, I love them.”
Saturday’s triumph wasn’t always easy. Twice goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher pulled out sensational saves to deny Brazil. Manager Arthur Elias will surely feel this was an opportunity wasted rather than one lost, his side having spurned too many good opportunities against one of football’s greatest-ever results-driven managers.
Roman Reigns made his triumphant return to SmackDown, tearing apart The Bloodline but was unsuccessful in taking back his Ula Fala. Plus, Cody Rhodes granted Kevin Owens an undisputed WWE Title Match at the WWE Bash in Berlin, Santos Escobar became the No. 1 Contender to LA Knight’s U.S. title and so much more!
The Street Profits def. A-Town Down Under to advance in the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s Tournament
In the first match of the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s Tournament, Angelo Dawkins launched Grayson Waller into the time keeper’s area, effectively taking him out of the match.
Montez Ford and Dawkins then isolated Austin Theory to hit a Super Blockbuster to win the match and advance in the tournament.
Jade Cargill def. Alba Fyre
Alba Fyre did her best against the awesome Jade Cargill, but Cargill hit Jaded to win the match.
After the bell, Blair Davenport hit the scene to attack Cargill and Bianca Belair with The Unholy Union. Their attempt at a beatdown backfired, however, as Naomi arrived to help Belair and Cargill brawl with their rivals and eject them from the ring.
Santos Escobar interrupted LA Knight’s U.S. Title Celebration
Santos Escobar def. Andrade in a U.S. Title No. 1 Contender’s Match
As Andrade battled Santos Escobar for the right to become the first challenger to LA Knight’s U.S. Title, Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews took care of Angel and Berto, who were looking to help Escobar defeat Andrade by nefarious means.
Escobar hit a splendid poison rana that left Andrade reeling, but Andrade struck back by hitting a moonsault where he changed his momentum mid-move as Escobar moved out of the way.
Just when Andrade looked set to defeat Escobar, Carmelo Hayes hit the scene to antagonize Andrade.
The distraction allowed Escobar to roll up Andrade with a fistful of tights and become the No. 1 Contender to the United States Title.
Carmelo Hayes costs Andrade a victory against Santos Escobar: SmackDown highlights, Aug. 9, 2024
Andrade’s chances of becoming No. 1 Contender to United States Champion LA Knight are thwarted by Carmelo Hayes, who costs him a chance to defeat Santos Escobar. Catch WWE action on Peacock, WWE Network, FOX, USA Network, Sony India and more. #SmackDown
#DIY def. Pretty Deadly to progress in the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s Tournament
#DIY took their first steps to regaining the WWE Tag Team Title they lost last week to The Bloodline as they defeated Pretty Deadly in the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s Tournament.
Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa connected with the Shatter Machine before hitting Meeting in the Middle to earn a match against The Street Profits in the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contender’s Tournament Final.
Prospective teams play cagey as the Nigerian’s Napoli future remains uncertain
(Getty Images)
By Ed Emeanua
Mikel Arteta is cooling off his prospection of having Napoli forward Victor Osimhen spearheading his offensive arsenal for next season’s football forays.
Calcio Napoli24 claims that the Gunners have scratched out yet another name from their shopping list-Victor Osimhen.
According to Just Arsenal, Arteta’s Premier League outfit is heavily favoring commencing the coming season with the same offensive makeup that they currently have on their books.
Despite lengthy summer transfer news about bringing in a new striker to the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal is saturated with a plethora of players they feel can strengthen their offensive half.
Arteta has been spurning the wheels on these stars for quite some time, getting them well-oiled and ready for big-time football.
Getty Images
Just Arsenal reports that a lot of names have been bandied around in Holloway, North London, England, but Arteta’s side has cooled off on acquiring Benjamin Sesko and Ivan Toney.
Osimhen’s transfer saga has taken on a new dimension with the arrival of Antonio Conte at Napoli.
Several teams are interested in the Napoli forward who is truly a world-class striker. The dilemma for Osimhen and Napoli is that teams that see him as a prospect are now cagey having sensed that the Napoli man has a highly unrealistic future at Napoli.
Aurelio De Laurentiis in his determination not to lose the Nigerian for a reduced fee, placed a stupendous €120m release clause on the forward after the striker had spearheaded Napoli to the scudetto following over thirty years of waiting.
That season, Osimhen scored twenty-six goals in thirty-two Serie A appearances and provided four assists. There were plenty of suitors for the Napoli striker at the end of the 2022-2023 season and that was the right time for the Nigerian to move.
Surprisingly, the Napoli striker dug himself into a ditch by deciding to stay. Then, at the end of the 2023-2024 term, Osimhen scored fifteen goals in twenty-five Serie A outings with three assists, making prospectors wary of his consistency.
Credit: The Hardtackle
The scenery became even more complicated for the Nigeria international with the coming of a manager to Napoli who is aiming for a different striker.
Osimhen was done in the moment Conte left him out of his plans for the about-to-commence season thereby telegraphing to suitors that the Nigerian’s future in Napoli is uncertain.
Smart teams needing the striker will only sit this one out to the closing minutes of the current transfer season when desperation usually drives teams needing instant cash to sell on the cheap.
Whatever happens with Osimhen at the close of the summer transfer season, Napoli will not rake in the entire €120m in the player’s release clause.
Chelsea is the most likely destination for Osimhen simply because De Laurentiis has no other option but to grant Conte’s wish to bring in Romelu Lukaku to Stadio Armando Maradona and Chelsea will achieve their determination to offload the Belgium international finally.
The two teams will reach this milestone probably at the last few moments before the close of the summer transfer window. However, the deal isn’t going to be worth €120m. It won’t even be close.
NFF has Solanke, Ilenikhena, and Omorodion on their radar
The brasshats of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are still mightily vexed by the unendearing attitude of Victor Osimhen and eye a future without him in the Super Eagles.
The NFF is now mapping out a plan to convince the trio of Bournemouth’s Dominic Ayodele Solanke, Monaco’s George Osrzehmen Ilenikhena, and Atletico Madrid’s Samuel (Samu) Omorodion Aghehowa to pledge their allegiance to represent the Super Eagles.
According to a reliable source in the Federation, officials of the Nigerian FA blame the Napoli striker for the Super Eagles’ recent poor performance in the ongoing African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria occupies fifth place in Group C of the CAF qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The group also contains South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho.
Super Eagles are only superior to sixth-placed Zimbabwe in their group. Recently, the Nigeria national team has developed a dangerous habit of relying heavily on Osimhen’s participation to fly.
Unfortunately, the Napoli talismanic striker has not featured in any of the Super Eagles’ four outings in the ongoing CAF qualifying group games for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In Nigeria’s November 16, 2023 matchday 1 Group C fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Super Eagles played an uninspiring 1-1 draw against visiting Lesotho.
On Matchday 2 three days later in Butare, Rwanda, the Nigerians huffed and puffed to another lackluster 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe at the Stade Huye. In both encounters, Osimhen was not listed due to injury.
The Napoli man was then showcased by Nigeria two months later and inspired the same team to a final match finish at the recently concluded CAF African Nations Cup losing 2-1 to the host nation Cote d’Ivoire.
On the eve of Nigeria’s matchday 3 against South Africa, Osimhen featured in Napoli’s scoreless encounter in their last Serie A game in the 2023-2024 season against Lecce as a second-half substitute for Jens Cajuste on Sunday, May 26.
He was again unavailable for Nigeria on June 7, 2024, having been listed as injured when the uninspiring Super Eagles ended their matchday 3 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier game against South Africa on a 1-1 scoreline.
A few days later, Nigeria were beaten 2-1 by Benin in their last Group C World Cup qualifier game for 2024.
The defeat led to an internet tantrum storm by Osimhen following an unconfirmed tabloid report that Super Eagles’ erstwhile manager George Finidi blamed the defeat by Benin on the Napoli striker’s unpatriotic habit of representing the national team.
Osimhen’s outburst against Finidi was considered tasteless by NFF juggernauts especially after Finidi denied ever calling the Napoli superstar unpatriotic.
Our source said: “Unknown to Nigerians, Victor Osimhen is very difficult to manage. He is always the last player to report to national camps and wants everyone to see him as a special species from the rest.
468 minuten over alle competities heen. 7 doelpunten. Een goal om de 66 minuten. George Ilenikhena! ⚽🔥 pic.twitter.com/8HQVvpmztb
“His rants against Finidi are the last straw. We are determined to call his bluff. The Super Eagles must not rely on just one player. The senior national football team of Nigeria is too big for any player.
“It is our resolve to make the national team very competitive in every department. We are determined to scout for more and better talents from all over the world for the national teams”.
The NFF official who spoke to us under the cloud of anonymity said that to this effect, the Federation’s scouts have been tasked to approach emerging and confirmed talents worldwide to wear the national colors.
“Let me say this clearly, Osimhen’s outburst against Finidi is tasteless. He cannot do so to even our last White coach (José Peseiro) or any of the officials of Napoli,” our source added.
“Our first consideration after his behavior was to axe Osimhen from the Super Eagles but the Sports Minister was against this option.
“Our plan B is to convey to the team that no player or official is indispensable. We have tasked our scouts to approach emerging talents like George Ilenikhena, and Samuel Omorodion to represent Nigeria.
“We want to talk to a player like Dominic Solanke too.”
Man Utd 
West Ham 
Leicester 
Ipswich 
Nott’m Forest 
Everton 
Arsenal
Newcastle 
Chelsea 
Brentford 
Granit Xhaka after scoring his first goal of the current Bundesliga season-a stunner Image credit: ESPN
Image credit: Football Italia
