A current WWE Champion would like to make Paul Heyman her lawyer in the future.

Heyman will go down as one of the greatest managers in professional wrestling. Which is saying something considering the legends who have stepped into the ring with stars throughout the history of the industry. However, before coming to WWE, he had already made his mark in WCW as Paul E. Dangerously, when he formed the Dangerous Alliance.

As the leader of ECW, he created a list of misfit toys and inspired many of them to become characters that wrestling fans still remember today. However, his time as an on-air personality in WWE elevated his status as a manager to iconic levels.

Either as the lawyer for “The Beast” Brock Lesnar. Then the wise man for Roman Reigns and the great run of bloodlines. And now as the oracle of The Vision. Additionally, it can’t be forgotten that he also managed CM Punk during his longest tenure as WWE Champion.

Jade Cargill wants to make Paul Heyman her manager

So it’s no surprise that current stars would love to be the next “Paul Heyman guy.” Or in this case, the next “Paul Heyman Gal.”

Current WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill told 8 News Now in Las Vegas about following her idol Chyna and eventually winning the Women’s Intercontinental title, “If I’m going that route I would love to have Paul Heyman as my manager.”

Cargill has already shown that she’s skilled on the mic and doesn’t really need help with that aspect of her game. However, having Heyman serve as his manager would add a certain gravitas and elevate his status to one where only he can bring talent due to his incomparable resume.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

On Friday night in Las Vegas, former WWE and AEW star Jake Hager made his successful debut in the strange world of professional slap fighting.

The man once known as Jack Swagger in World Wrestling Entertainment has proven over the past decade that he is much more than just a pro wrestler. Before joining WWE, he was an accomplished two-sport athlete in Oklahoma. Playing football and wrestling for powerhouse universities.

He had an 11-year run in the top promotion in pro wrestling, winning numerous titles, including a two-month reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Following his release in 2017, he did not take his talents to any other wrestling company. Instead, he began cage fighting and amassed a 3-0 record in MMA’s No. 2 promotion, Bellator.

Jake Hager Power Slap Record: 1-0

Two years later, he returned to the industry under his real name, Jake Hager, which made him a celebrity by signing with All Elite Wrestling. Served as a key member of The Inner Circle and Jericho Appreciation Society during his five-year tenure. However, as of 2017, he eventually left wrestling to try a new sport: slap fighting.

On Friday at Power Slap 19, Hager made his sporting and promotional debut when he faced fellow heavyweight Devin Jenkins. Recognizing that Hager could attract the brand’s attention due to his wrestling history, Power Slap gave him a winnable fight after Jenkins had lost his previous two bouts in the promotion.

Although it took three rounds, Hager showed that he is a slap fish out of water and was able to score a TKO victory in his power slap debut (highlights from the victory can be found above). Now, Hager is a successful athlete in not one, not two, not three, but four combat sports.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

On Wednesday night, AEW’s hottest underdog Darby Allin did the unthinkable and reached the pinnacle of professional wrestling.

After earning a championship opportunity with a victory over Andrade at AEW Dynasty this weekend, Allin immediately cashed in on that shot with a matchup against reigning champion MJF on this week’s Dynamite. After a violent battle, Allin shocked many by defeating the company’s top star to become AEW World Champion for the first time in his career.

It was one of the best moments in years. But given his history as an underdog, it is unlikely that Allyn’s reign will last until 2026. This will likely end in the next few months. But which AEW star can end Allin’s dream of becoming AEW Champion? We take a look at five possible options.

mjf

Don’t be surprised if Allin eventually hands the title back to the man he took it from, MJF, and it could come next month at AEW: Double or Nothing. Some fans will complain about such a short reign, but their wins – and losses – will benefit the brand as title changes can happen at any time, and reigns do not need to be long at all times.

It wouldn’t be surprising if AEW made the move at some point this spring to set MJF up for big matches at Forbidden Door in June, then AEW: All in London in August.

Kazuchika Okada

When AEW signed Kazuchika Okada, he left NJPW after a stellar performance and signed with AEW in 2024, so the expectation was that he would be in the main event like he was in Japan. That hasn’t been the case at all, and he’s been a near-top mid-carder for two years.

The company is paying him big money, and they really need to maximize that value. Pulling the trigger now in the main event and being the one to depose Allin would fit Okada’s character, as well as cleverly make him Public Enemy No. 1 among the fans.

bobby lashley

After being sidelined for months, Bobby Lashley finally returned to AEW TV this week to get the Hurt Syndicate back in the win column. Sooner or later, Lashley will find his way into the title picture. Now seems like the perfect time.

As one of the biggest and most powerful athletes on the roster, it makes perfect sense to target Allin and take his belt from him. Plus, it would be entertaining to see Lashley do this to his former faction mate MJF.

brody king

Speaking of the biggest and most powerful stars on the roster, now is the time to pull the trigger on Brodie King’s World Title run. He and Allin have a deep history and have had many great matches against each other. However, with King now being a popular baby face, he may be one of the few talents on the roster that can retain fan support even after Allin makes the title cut.

will osprey

Sooner or later, former IWGP Champion Will Ospreay will have AEW World Title gold. It’s a sure bet in 2026. Many AEW fans will expect Allin to hold on to the belt for several months. Keeping the leash until close to five and then dropping down to the Osprey in his home country All in London is probably the company’s plan for this summer.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

On Wednesday, the Atlanta Falcons suddenly felt a need when their starting right tackle Caleb McGary announced his retirement. He was the team’s first-round pick in 2019 and has started all six seasons of his career. Yet, after missing the entire 2025 season due to a serious foot injury, McGarry felt it was time to retire at the age of 31.

Even though he did not play last season, his sudden departure left the Falcons with a significant hole at right tackle. While the news of McGary’s retirement came as a surprise to outsiders, it is clearly something the Falcons have known about for some time.

On Wednesday, less than an hour after McGary’s retirement became public, the Falcons already lined up his replacement.

According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Falcons have signed right tackle Jawan Taylor to a one-year contract with a base price of $5 million. He could also earn an additional million through contract incentives.

While Taylor is projected to replace McGary in the Falcons’ starting lineup, he signed a fraction of his previous four-year, $80 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Still just 28 years old, the Falcons are adding a player who has started all 111 of his appearances in the NFL, including the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win in 2023. More importantly, Atlanta no longer has an urgent need to fill in the 2026 NFL Draft, where they only have five selections and none in the first round.

RELATED: Arizona Cardinals urge trade up, draft first-round QB

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AJ Lee would love to see WWE bring back one of her former colleagues, who was also a one-time titlist in AEW.

Lee knows the journey of leaving WWE and his unexpected return to the company after several years. More than a decade ago, the former Divas Champion decided to follow her last husband CM Punk on creative issues and never returned.

Nevertheless, after leaving WWE and wrestling behind in 2015, Lee made a triumphant return to the company in the autumn and quickly got back into things as she currently holds the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. That’s why it should come as no surprise that she would love to see a friend from her first stint at the company make an equally impressive comeback in 2026.

Lee told Sports Illustrated, “I love Paige. If I could bring anyone back, it’s her and Kaitlyn. Let’s bring them back.” “…It would be great. She’s so talented, and I knew it from day one. We always joke that I’m her fairy godmother, and I just took her under my wing and tried to protect her. And to see her right now, it will be heart-touching and healing, and she’ll be a great addition to this locker room.

“I think this place has really come a long way, and the women work together so beautifully, and they’re so supportive. I’d love for her to experience how much fun it is now.”

Paige officially left WWE in 2022. However, by that time, she had been out of the ring for a few years due to a neck injury. However, in September of the same year, she made her debut in AEW using her real name, Saraya.

She would win the AEW Women’s World Championship and remain on the roster until her separation from the company last year. There are rumblings of a possible return to WWE, where she helped start the women’s revolution. However, the comeback does not seem to be happening yet.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Boston Celtics have been up and down lately, losing at home to the Anthony Edwards-less Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday evening. It’s been some tough games for star Jayson Tatum, who recently suffered a brutal shooting night during a road win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and was ineffective once again in the loss to Minnesota.

However, one person who isn’t concerned with Tatum’s declining shooting numbers is former NBA wing Iman Shumpert, who took to ESPN to urge calm.

“I don’t think the Celtics should resort to feeling like this is a ‘make sure he fits in’ type of situation. … When May 1 comes, he’ll be ready,” Shumpert said, according to First Take on X, formerly of Twitter.

To reach May 1, the Celtics will have to get through the first round of the playoffs, which may not be an easy task considering the way some of the teams at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings are playing at the moment.

However, it is certainly unreasonable for fans to assume that Tatum will be able to regain his prime form immediately upon stepping onto the court following ten months of rehabilitation from his Achilles injury. Most importantly, Tatum has shown the ability to move relatively well laterally, and although he is still scratching the rust off his outside jumper, he seems to be fitting in well with his Celtics teammates so far.

Boston is currently the number two seed in the Eastern Conference, but they will have some work to do to stop the New York Knicks, who are playing their best basketball at the right time.

The Celtics take the field for a tough home game next Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The son of WWE Hall of Famer “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase has avoided life in prison after being found not guilty of welfare fraud in Mississippi.

Former WWE Tag Champion Ted DiBiase Jr. has been on trial for his life since January. The one-time member of Legacy along with Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes was facing six counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft. Two counts of theft, and four counts of money laundering related to programs receiving federal funds.

The charges were related to his alleged involvement in a massive welfare embezzlement scheme that embezzled $77 million in federal funds from Mississippi’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. If convicted on all charges, DiBiase, Jr. would have faced a sentence of 185 years. However, the former WWE player is officially a free man.

DiBiase, Jr. was found not guilty on all counts in Mississippi federal court on Friday. The Mississippi Free Press noted that the former wrestler “wept silently” as the final verdict was read.

The Free Press reports, “Finally, the defense argues that it was Mississippi Department of Human Services Director John Davis who was the villain in the trial.” “From 2017 to 2019, Davis misappropriated more than $77 million in Mississippi welfare dollars, including from numerous sports figures.

“Davis directed millions to NFL quarterback Brett Favre and actions he supported included the construction of a volleyball stadium at his alma mater and funding for Prevacus, a pharmaceutical company in which he invested heavily.”

The Green Bay Packers legend and DiBiase’s Hall of Fame father are two of the defendants in an ongoing civil lawsuit seeking to recover misappropriated funds. Davis was sentenced to 35 years in prison for his role in the scheme four years ago, while DiBiase’s brother Bret pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in 2023 and is still awaiting his sentencing.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

On Monday evening, the Boston Celtics continued their winning ways with a narrow home win over the Phoenix Suns. The Celtics were led by Jaylen Brown, who scored an impressive 41 points on the evening, while Jayson Tatum also remains in form amid his return from an Achilles tear.

Recently, ESPN NBA analyst and former Celtics great Kendrick Perkins expressed his thoughts in “First Take” on why Boston should be viewed as the favorite to come out of the Eastern Conference this year.

“The Boston Celtics are coming off the Eastern Conference. … The way Jayson Tatum has looked since returning from that Achilles injury … I see [them] And I’m saying that’s what this couple has proven right here,” Perkins said, according to X, formerly @lockedupjb on Twitter.

In fact, Tatum and Brown have a plethora of playoff experience, both positive and negative, on their resumes, capped by their championship run in the 2024 season, in which Brown won NBA Finals MVP honors.

Meanwhile, Tatum isn’t looking like the full version of himself right now, as should be expected as he recovers from Achilles surgery after nearly a year off, but Celtics fans should still be encouraged by how much progress he’s made from where he started a week ago against the Dallas Mavericks.

The Eastern Conference, despite its reputation, is loaded with talent this year, and Boston will have some challengers, including the Detroit Pistons and the team that beat them last year, the New York Knicks.

However, if Boston doesn’t suffer one of their infamous playoff meltdowns this year, the team clearly has the talent to compete with anyone, not just in the Eastern Conference, but in the entire NBA.

Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion and AEW alum Jake Hager is officially returning to the world of combat sports, but not in the way many fans were expecting.

During an appearance on TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast, the 43-year-old revealed that he has signed a six-appearance contract with Dana White’s Power Slap promotion. Hager is scheduled to make his heavyweight division debut on April 17, 2026 in Las Vegas – the Friday night of WrestleMania 42 weekend – in an event that will be broadcast live on YouTube. Hager’s transition into the controversial world of slap fighting was facilitated by a familiar face from his professional wrestling past.

Sin Bodhi, known to WWE fans as Kizarni, currently serves as the head of talent relations and recruiter for Power Slap. Bodhi, who has been vocal about his goal of bringing “monsters and villains” from the wrestling world into the promotion, targeted Hager as his top recruit for the 2026 season.

“I’m very excited to announce that I have signed with UFC Power Slap, and they are doing a show at Vegas Live on April 17th. It’s the Friday before Mania. I will be competing on that show in the heavyweight division,” Hager announced. “I’ve been told my face is pretty slappable, so I’m sure the line will be around the corner.”

Despite the ongoing medical investigation and high risk of injury surrounding slap fighting, Hager shared a lack of concern about potential injuries. The former “All-American” said he understands the inherent risks and trusts the organization to provide the necessary medical coverage. Hager also took the opportunity to officially rule out an MMA comeback, citing his age and desire to step away from the grueling training camps required by the cage.

“I mean, you know what you signed up for. You’re signing up to get slapped and try to slap somebody as hard as possible. So I expect injuries. I know the UFC does a pretty good job of covering all the expenses related to injuries. Honestly, I’m not worried about it.”

While his MMA career – in which he suffered a 3-0 no-contest loss in Bellator – is likely over, Hager hinted that a return to professional wrestling is a possibility. Since his AEW contract expires in June 2024, Hager has spent time away from the ring managing his Florida-based trucking company, “Howlin’ Oats”. However, he said that his body is feeling much better after the hiatus and he is ready to take bookings again.

New coaching staffs often want to pick their own quarterback. With the Arizona Cardinals hiring Mike LaFleur, there is likely to be a change in the QB room as well.

Kyler Murray is already rumored to be available via trade (though he would prefer to be released). Meanwhile, Jacoby Brissett is coming off a career year, meaning Arizona could take advantage of his superior trade value by making a high trade for either. Or they could see if he achieves an elevated level of performance in Arizona, and just roll with Brissett for another season at the low cost of $9.1 million.

Either way, if the Cardinals move on from Murray, they will need to add another quarterback to the roster, and it would be ideal to have an insurance policy in case Brissett doesn’t find continued success. Still, the new coaching staff may already have another QB in mind.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cardinals are interested in signing two-time Super Bowl champion Jimmy Garoppolo.

Garoppolo is now 34 years old, but he has gone 42-21 as a starter, making him a very capable fill-in starter if needed. Either way, it’s clear that LaFleur, who coached Garoppolo for four seasons in San Francisco and two seasons in Los Angeles, would be comfortable keeping him as his QB in Arizona.

RELATED: Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowler wants off team

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Kamaru Usman revealed this week that his quest to win another UFC title at welterweight has hit a wall named Hunter Campbell.

At 38, the former welterweight king knows he doesn’t have much time left at the highest level of the sport. That’s why he’s done everything he can over the past eight months to get himself a championship fight with new welterweight champion and friend Islam Makhachev.

After picking up his first win in nearly four years over Joaquin Buckley in June, he doesn’t have the strongest case for a title shot. However, he has tried to take advantage of his friendship with the Russian and his name as one of the greatest welterweights of all-time to work his way into the fight. However, this doesn’t seem to be working.

During a new edition of their pound 4 pound In a podcast with fellow veteran Henry Cejudo, Usman revealed that he has told the company why he thinks the fight with Makhachev makes the most sense. However, despite the discussions, the former champion claims that UFC CBO Hunter Campbell “feels differently” and has no interest in the matchup.

The comments seem to support recent rumors that Campbell has taken on a larger day-to-day role for the UFC, including fight contracts, than CEO Dana White.

Kamaru Usman offered fight against Dricus du Plessis

Along with the update on the lack of progress towards a fight for the welterweight strap, Usman also offered that Campbell and the UFC approached his pitch with the idea of ​​a different fight and in a different weight class. Usman revealed that he was offered a matchup with former middleweight champion Darius du Plessis.

Although Usman is not against a fight at 185 pounds, he claims he is only interested in “meaningful” fights followed by a title opportunity. The UFC may be unwilling to guarantee a championship match following a win over DDP.

Usman scheduled a short-notice fight at middleweight against defending champion Khamzat Makhachev in October 2023. He lost the match by majority decision.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos