標籤: reportedly

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson revealed on Monday that the “majorly driven talent” in WWE was asked and accepted to take a significant pay cut. The news came a day before Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were moved to WWE’s alumni section following their reported mutual departure from the company following a contract restructuring request.

“[We were] Reportedly a highly pushed talent was asked to take a 50% pay cut, and allegedly did so,” Johnson wrote. ”I’m not naming the genius because I have no way of yet confirming that this was the case, but the timing of that claim and what happened the next day was very interesting to say the least.”

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp said on X that several talents were asked to take pay cuts by WWE, although he did not specify which names were included.

Keeping all this in mind, let’s guess which famous star has accepted the pay cut rumor recently.

la night

LA Knight is the most obvious, seeing his decline over the last few years and not being used as often as he used to. Knight can stick with WWE for a few more years, be used as they see fit, and that will pay off his bank account. WWE might also know that Knight does not want to leave from there and go anywhere else.

logan paul

While this may be a reach, Logan Paul fits the bill as he has gone from being a guy in the mix in top tier storylines to now being involved in a tag team with Austin Theory. Money is not an issue for him, and he would probably do WWE for free at this point because of his love for the sport.

belle

Bayley likes wrestling and WWE. If the company comes to her asking for a pay cut, we can see her being happy to do so because she absolutely loves her job and coworkers. He is seen in regular roles on TV, although he is no longer the main announcer. Maybe Bailey is also thinking of big plans and is aiming to establish a job in the company after leaving the job.

The Miz

The Miz has been in WWE for two decades and has earned his keep, as well as being secure in whatever role WWE has asked him to play. He has fame and legacy. Now he wants to help young talents learn. He’s a good fit for the company, but he probably has a bigger contract than he’s used to. After the wrestling is over, he’s probably also thinking about the bigger picture and the work backstage.

WWE has signed with former IWGP Heavyweight Champion EVIL, PWInsider.com has confirmed with multiple sources in Japan. While rumors regarding his destination have been circulating for months, the signing has now been confirmed. According to the same sources, the expectation in Japan is that he will not wear the EVIL ring name upon his WWE debut.

EVIL, whose real name is Takaaki Watanabe, made a name for himself in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2020 after one of the most talked-about heel turns of that era. Originally a member of the Los Ingobernables de Japon faction, he shocked fans by betraying the group and allying himself with Bullet Club, adopting a darker, intervention-heavy character in the process.

The result was soon rewarded. He defeated Tetsuya Naito to become a double champion, as well as hold the IWGP Heavyweight and IWGP Intercontinental Championships, a moment that marked a significant shift in NJPW’s storytelling during that period.

Barring a trade, the Tennessee Titans are less than 48 hours away from deciding which prospect they will select with the fourth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Most expect the Titans to go with either a running back, pass-rusher or linebacker.

When Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi initially spoke on Tennessee’s plans with the fourth overall selection, he said they would go with the best player available. Many came away from this with the belief that the Titans would be targeting Notre Dame star Jeremiah Love (if he is available), as he is the top-ranked prospect on many evaluators’ draft boards.

Yet, this may not be the case at all.

Recently, NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports revealed his information that Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey is the “game-changer new head coach Robert Saleh is coveting.”

This is fine, but there may be a problem. What if Bailey is the pass-rusher the Jets want at No. 2, too? There is talk that New York is down to either Arvel Reese or Bailey, and that could put a wrench in the Titans’ plans. Heck, the Cardinals at No. 3 could even decide they want one of this year’s elite pass-rushing prospects and take whoever the Jets don’t.

In other words, based on Pauline’s reporting, it doesn’t look like Jeremiah Love is Tennessee’s top prospect, but this is also smokescreen season, so you never really know.

RELATED: Tennessee Titans could lean toward Jeremiah Love at 4

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Heading into the offseason, rumors of the Arizona Cardinals were rampant that they were planning to move on from Kyler Murray. While the Cardinals were certainly hoping a trade would come to fruition, the situation was already over. No one was going to make a deal for a player who was expected to be released.

Of course, the Cardinals eventually bit the bullet and turned their franchise quarterback loose. But with new head coach Mike LaFleur taking over, there was a significant vacancy at the game’s most important position. Now, the question is, who will the Cardinals make their next starting QB?

Jacoby Brissett is having a career year, but LaFleur is not. Did the 33-year-old Brissett uncover something special in his 10th season playing? It’s possible, but the Cardinals still went just 1-11 under his leadership.

As a result of Murray’s release, the Cardinals also signed another QB, Gardner Minshew, who is a one-time Pro Bowler, but is also 29 years old and only attempted 13 passes last season. Still, Minshew clearly wasn’t the Cardinals’ first choice this offseason.

The Cardinals were reportedly interested in signing two-time Super Bowl winner (as a backup) Jimmy Garoppolo. Still, Florio reports that negotiations between the Cardinals and Garoppolo “have hit a wall.” This led them to sign Minshew to an affordable one-year contract worth up to $5.75 million.

Still, despite the Cardinals moving forward, Florio says that “it’s still possible that Garoppolo could replace Brissett in Arizona”. Of course, with Garoppolo still unsigned in free agency, that option remains open, especially if he prefers the opportunity to start.

Otherwise, the best option for Jimmy G may be to return to the Rams, where he has spent the last two seasons as the primary backup to Matthew Stafford. However, Garoppolo is familiar with the Cardinals’ new head coach, having been their offensive coordinator for the past two seasons in Los Angeles.

Perhaps their relationship could help restart contract negotiations, but the Cardinals may be eyeing a young option to add to their depth chart rather than a trio of veterans with limited upside.

RELATED: Predicting landing spots for the 5 best NFL quarterbacks available

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The Major League Baseball Players Association made headlines earlier this week when it was announced that the union has net assets of approximately $519 million. Now it’s worth comparing this to the situation MLB owners are in before a potential lockout in 2026.

According to USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale, MLB owners have $2 billion in war reserves stashed away ahead of a possible lockout in December. This comes as the league and the MLBPA have reportedly not participated in preliminary discussions on a new collective bargaining agreement after this season.

The Athletic’s Evan Dreilich previously reported that the MLBPA came into the year with $519.3 million in net worth, which represents a 47 percent increase from its net worth at the end of the 2024 season. While the players union is preparing its members for the league to be all out when the CBA expires Dec. 1, Dreilich said MLB owners have set aside $75 million per club in case regular season games are missed.

Not all MLB owners will have that much if necessary. According to Dreilich, the league has an investment fund (Baseball Endowment LP) that it can use to provide even more money to owners and clubs if the lockout lasts longer.

During the previous lockout, which delayed the start of the 2022 MLB season, all 162 regular season games were played. The last time regular season games were wiped out due to MLB’s work stoppage was during the 1994 strike, when the final third of the season and the World Series were canceled.

It has been widely reported that MLB owners are going to make an unprecedented effort for a salary cap in the next CBA, which the MLBPA has repeatedly strongly opposed. As we saw in 1994, players were willing to sit out games when owners pushed for the MLB salary cap.

Unfortunately, it is increasingly likely that there will be an MLB lockout in December 2026 that will immediately impact free agency and possibly wipe out a portion of the 2027 regular season. While both sides have taken a stand and prepared themselves financially for a work stoppage, the biggest loss could be fans and stadium workers, as well as the entirety of Minor League Baseball.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

According to a report from BodySlam published on Friday, WWE has reportedly signed Mary Malenko. The daughter of Dean Malenko and granddaughter of Boris Malenko are expected to report to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando in the near future.

Malenko took part in WWE trials in Florida last month and in the weeks that followed, he gained in-ring experience through a series of matches in Japan. She wrestled four times in February for the Japanese promotion, which maintains a working relationship with WWE, giving her early experience in professional competition before her expected arrival at the Performance Center.

Her in-ring debut came on the February 2 edition of Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Monday Magic show, where she teamed with Sofia Sivan in a three-way tag match, which was ultimately won by Great Sakuya and Alivia Rose. She returned on February 9 at the Monday Magic show, this time teaming with Miyuki Takase and Sivan to win in a tag match.

Malenko also competed twice for Rossi Ogawa’s Marigold promotion during the same period. On February 7, he faced Serei Yamaoka in a singles match, which ended in a draw as per the deadline. The following day, she defeated Rei Seto in singles competition. The four-match run in Japan gave Malenko a competitive edge at WWE tryouts and has now, reportedly, signed a contract with the company.

Dean Malenko is widely regarded as one of the best technical wrestlers of his generation, a multiple-time WCW Cruiserweight Champion, and a one-time member of the Four Horsemen. His father, Boris Malenko, was a respected artist and instructor throughout his career. If Mary’s signing is confirmed, it would be the latest chapter in a family legacy that spans decades in the professional wrestling business.

Not only is this a notable signing right now, but it could mark the beginning of WWE’s next big star, if everything works out. She has a great base to start from before even reaching the Performance Center, where the company will help her hone her skills.

The NHL trade deadline has been fairly quiet for the Montreal Canadiens, however, a recent report suggests that activity may be picking up in the near future.

David Pagnotta reports that the Canadiens and the Calgary Flames are discussing a potential trade that would involve center Nazem Kadri. He also suggested Habs forward Patrik Laine could be part of the deal.

Pagnotta says Calgary and Montreal are talking about a Nazem Kadri trade.
“I’m told Patrick Laine may also be involved.”
#flames #GoHabsGo #nhl

– NHL Trade Alert (@NHLTradeAlert) 6 March 2026

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Although there is no pressure on the Habs to make a trade before the deadline, there is no doubt that they could stand to improve their situation in the middle of the ice.

Montreal has destroyed several centers, including forward Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues as well as forward Vincent Trocheck of the New York Rangers.

By all accounts, it seems like the acquisition cost for a player like Thomas or Trocheck may be unreasonably expensive, even if they are a good fit for the Canadiens’ lineup.

As far as Kadri is concerned, the Habs have circled around the 35-year-old all season, with reports in November suggesting that Kent Hughes and Co. had identified him as a potential trade target.

The main sticking point when discussing acquiring a player like Nazem Kadri is his age, which certainly doesn’t fit into Montreal’s ideal age group. That being said, the Habs are the youngest team in the league, and adding a little experience to the mix is ​​hardly a bad idea.

On the other side of the trade discussion is Patrik Laine, a player with one of the best shots in the league. His 5v5 numbers are incredibly tough, but it must be said that there is still some value to be found in his usage, especially on the powerplay.

And finally, it should also be noted that the Flames have shown interest in Canadiens defenseman Arbor Zekaj, a player who could be included in a potential trade to grease the wheels a bit.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

For several seasons now, Trey Hendrickson trade rumors have been a major talking point of the NFL offseason. Now the All-Pro pass-rusher finally gets a chance to test free agency, where he’ll be one of the best players available regardless of position.

The Cincinnati Bengals had plenty of time to avoid this scenario. Heck, they could even put the franchise tag on the four-time Pro Bowler earlier this week.

Alas, the now 31-year-old finally got what he wanted, a chance to test free agency, where he would certainly be compensated as one of the highest-paid players at his position after recording 61 sacks in five seasons in Cincinnati.

Still, according to ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, Hendrickson, a Florida native, would “love” to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I think he’d love to stay in Tampa,” Schefter said. “I think he’d love to live in Tampa. He lives in Ponte Verde. I don’t think the Jaguars have the cap room they need for him. Tampa would be a great fit. I think in an ideal world, Trey would love to live in Florida. No state income tax. But, he’s also willing to go to the best possible situation. If Trey has a choice, I think he’d want to end up (with the Bucks), but we’ll see if that works out.” Does. way.”

Hendrickson will have several teams pursuing him in free agency. Chances are, at least one of those teams will have a Florida zip code like Hendrickson.

RELATED: Max Crosby trade could happen very soon; NFL Insider Link 7 Teams

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As the March 6th NHL trade deadline approaches, more names are being added to the Montreal Canadiens rumor list, including defenseman Arbor Zekaj.

According to Herb Zarkowski of the Montreal Gazette, the Calgary Flames are interested in potentially acquiring Szekaj.

I’m hearing Calgary is interested #hubs‘Defenseman Arbor Zekaj

– Herb Zurkowsky (@HerbZurkowsky1) 3 March 2026

As always, we should take every rumor seriously, but this isn’t the first time a team has shown interest in Montreal’s rough and tumble defenseman.

The 25-year-old Zekaj has performed well on several occasions throughout his career, including Saturday’s matchup against the Washington Capitals, as well as Tuesday’s matchup against the San Jose Sharks.

They currently lead the Canadiens in hits, and that too by a wide margin. Arbor Zekaj has 137 hits in 51 games, while the second-highest hitter, Joe Veleno, is credited with 115 hits.

Given that the Habs traded Emil Heinemann, and allowed Michael Pezzetta to sign with another team, moving a player like Szekaj would result in a significant drop in physicality. For the record, Heineman and Pezzetta led the team in hits per 60 last season.

On the other side of the coin, Zekaj’s underlying numbers have been underwhelming at 5v5, though it should be noted that there is no lack of consistency in his usage. If Czekaj is inserted into the lineup, he is often given only a few shifts, reducing his chances of making upward progress in his fourth season in the NHL.

Interestingly, the Canadiens have expressed interest in forward Nazem Kadri, a Flames player this year. The problem is that Kadri is 35 years old, and his contract, which has an annual average value (AAV) of $7 million, expires in 2028-29.

Click this link for an in-depth look at what Kadri could potentially bring to the Habs.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Dallas Cowboys are in for another expensive offseason. They are already locked in contract negotiations with a star who wants the highest salary at his position. There may also be a deadlock over the contract of another superstar coming after a year of his career.

The Cowboys have already placed the franchise tag on second-team All-Pro wide receiver George Pickens. The tag for receivers pays Pickens $27 million, well below the market rate of $40 million for superstar receivers. Pickens ranks third in the NFL with 1,429 receiving yards this season, and he will still be only 25 when the 2026 season starts.

Players generally want to avoid the franchise tag, and the same may be the case with Pickens. After all, a long-term contract at a higher rate will provide greater long-term financial security than a one-year deal below market value.

However, placing the franchise tag may not be the last we hear from the Cowboys regarding Pickens’ status this offseason.

According to NFL insider Tony Pauline of Essential Sports, the Cowboys could also trade Pickens now that they have franchise-tagged him.

The Packers used this mentality to tag and trade Davante Adams to the Raiders in 2022. However, the Cowboys have shown no signs of Pickens being available this offseason. Sure, it’s a great way to create leverage, but Pickens appears destined to remain in Dallas until at least 2026.

Perhaps the Cowboys can dispel these silly rumors by getting their new superstar receiver under contract for just over the 2026 season, where he and CeeDee Lamb will form one of the NFL’s best receiver tandems for years to come.

RELATED: Max Crosby trade could happen very soon; NFL Insider Link 7 Teams

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Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant made headlines again after fans claimed he was behind a burner account that vandalized his former and current teammates in a group chat.

Although this is probably untrue – and difficult to prove – Durant has a history of using a separate account to defend himself from critics on social media.

Some believe that the two-time Finals MVP is too sensitive, especially when it comes to his legacy, even if he is already a contender for the Hall of Fame in the future.

Raheem Palmer of The Ringer revealed that Durant sent him a private message two years ago to discuss his impact on the NBA and various other topics.

“KD slid into my DMs over Memorial Day weekend two years ago and argued with me for hours about his legacy, how Bill Simmons, Stephen A. Smith and Zach Lowe hated him, the media lying, who was better than Steph Curry, my view of him, the (Golden State) Warriors, and many other things,” Palmer wrote on X.

“I would never leak our conversations because it’s weird for me, but I respect how much he cares about all of this.”

The 37-year-old Durant’s legacy is already secure, even if he doesn’t win another title. He has often said that he just wants to make hoops.

Although he’s notorious for clapping back at critics, the 16-time All-Star explained that he’s just responding to their energy, adding that he enjoys interacting with fans.

“He’s human, and he’s no more capable than the rest of us of being influenced by the buzz around him, despite being rich and famous,” Palmer said.

Durant averaged 25.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his first season with the Rockets.