標籤: Surprises

On Saturday night, WWE returned with its latest premium live event, Backlash. The card in Tampa, FL features just five matches and will also include a special announcement from WWE icon John Cena. There’s always a chance for surprises when it comes to WWE PLE, and the last two editions of Backlash included the emergence of new members to the Solo Sequoia version of Bloodline.

With that in mind, we present five potential surprises to look out for on Saturday at Backlash.

Kairi Sane will make a surprise return at WWE Backlash

To the dismay of many WWE fans, women’s division stalwart Kairi Sane was one of nearly 30 roster releases over the past few weeks. This left many disappointed as she was unable to complete her ongoing storyline with longtime friend Asuka.

However, in recent times there have been rumors that Sane may make a special appearance at Backlash to finish what he started. Given how much TV time was devoted to the storyline over the past year, look for Sane to make a one-off return to help Iyo Sky defeat Asuka.

Braun Breaker defeated Seth Rollins at Backlash

Had it not been for an unfortunate injury, Seth Rollins would have faced Braun Breaker at WrestleMania 42. However, instead, we got this huge grudge match at Backlash. The couch booker in all of us would suggest that Rollins gets the W on Saturday as The Breaker played a role in his loss to Gunther at ‘Mania and has consistently gained the upper hand on his former mentor since then.

However, Rollins is a made man, and WWE is working hard to develop future WrestleMania main eventers. While fans would love a Rollins victory, don’t be surprised if Breaker’s run of success against the former leader of The Vision continues this weekend.

Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu ends in disqualification

The main event of Backlash will see Roman Reigns defend the World Heavyweight Title for the first time against his cousin, “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu. If there’s any guarantee on Saturday, it’s that Reigns isn’t losing his title. However, getting a decisive and clean win over Fatu may not benefit the company long term as he is someone they are trying to build into a main event talent.

That’s why we predict Backlash will end with a disqualification to ensure that Reigns hold on to the title and that they keep Fatu strong to set up another match in their next PLE.

John Cena will announce the return of WWE Draft

WWE legend John Cena has been bullish about his appearance at Backlash and on Thursday claimed his announcement would “shake the foundation of WWE.” There is speculation that this club will be related to the launch of WWE. However, it may ultimately lead to boos from the crowd in Tampa.

To avoid an unpleasant moment with the beloved legend, we predict the company will go in the other direction and announce the return of WWE Draft. They didn’t do that in 2024, and both Raw and SmackDown are in desperate need of a change in the status quo.

‘Cola Man Punk’ will be Danhausen’s mystery partner

One of the most anticipated elements of Backlash this year was the reveal of who Danhausen’s mystery opponent would be in the tag match against The Miz and Kit Wilson. There has been much speculation as to who he might be, including the sinister return of Jelly Roll. However, we expect WWE to deliver a fan-pleasing moment that will partner “Cola Man Punk”, aka CM Punk.

Danhausen and Punk are real-life friends, and the latter played a big role in bringing the former to WWE. Punk is not in a storyline at the moment, and this would be a fun way to put him in action in a great moment and create an unlikely team-up on television.

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

Thursday night in Pittsburgh, Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft finally put a definitive end to months of rumors and speculation. As the world expected, Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza finished first for the Las Vegas Raiders. After that, as many suggested, things got interesting in the next 31 selections.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest surprises from Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Carnell Tate went fourth to the Tennessee Titans

In early mock drafts, Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate was projected to go fifth or sixth. However, as we got closer to Thursday, it started looking more likely that he might fall out of the top 10 as Jordan Tyson moved ahead of him on the draft board.

However, with Arvel Reese still available, the Tennessee Titans decided to give Cam Ward a new weapon and selected Tate. Buckeye should be good at the next level, but it can’t be ignored that he wasn’t even the best receiver at OSU last year. The Titans may have moved up to No. 4 with Tate.

Los Angeles Rams use the 13th pick on Ty Simpson

There have been rumors for several weeks that the Los Angeles Rams were pursuing Alabama’s Ty Simpson. However, the idea of ​​using the 13th overall pick on a quarterback seemed ridiculous. Especially since most projections had him going late in Round 1 or early in Round 2. But instead of getting a player who could make an impact during the season with Super Bowl expectations, L.A. boldly decided to draft Matthew Stafford’s successor.

Some may see this decision as a major overreach that will have no impact on the team over the next year or two. They are right. But many football analysts believe Simpson could be a very good NFL QB if given time to learn more and develop. He will get it in LA and could end up being a huge addition to the team.

Arvel Reese lost to New York Giants at No. 5

Before Thursday night, many NFL Draft evaluators believed Reese was the second pick of the New York Jets. Especially after he canceled his meeting with David Bailey last week.

Although many believed the player could become a superstar in a matter of years, he was passed up by three franchises and fell to the New York Giants at No. 5 overall. On paper, John Harbaugh now has an absurd amount of talent and looks to be in his linebacker corps with Reese and fellow first-round picks Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

NY Giants trade Caleb Downs for Francis Mauigoa?

Speaking of veterans, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs going to New York with their second pick in Round 1 seemed like a match made in heaven. John Harbaugh has played smart, elite safeties leading his defense on successful teams in the past. He also suggested earlier in the offseason that Downs had Hall of Fame potential.

Yet, when they were on the board again at 10, instead of reuniting him with Reese, they decided to select Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa. Building from the line and out is not a bad team-building strategy. But the Giants tried that four years ago with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal. And it hasn’t worked out so well.

Instead, the top rival, the Dallas Cowboys, traded up a spot to get Downs, and will now have to face talented defenses twice a year for the next decade.

Kansas City Chiefs trade up to 6 to get Trent McDuffie’s replacement

There were rumors that the Kansas City Chiefs could advance to Round 1 of this year’s event, as they had two selections in the top 30. Many speculated that they could get a player like Jeremiah Love or potentially a top receiver. Instead, they gave up some extra options to get LSU’s Mansur Delaney.

After trading All-Pro Trent McDuffie, the Chiefs clearly felt they needed to find his replacement early in this year’s event and they liked Delaney. However, it seems like they could still get him at No. 9 and waste draft assets out of fear that he might go first.

Ruben Benn Jr. lands with an unexpected Florida team

Reuben Benn Jr.’s draft stock declined after the NFL Combine when draft evaluators discovered that his arms were shorter than productive players at his position. But statistics don’t lie, and he was still a top star for a Miami team that reached the national championship game.

So when the Miami Dolphins were at 12, it made a lot of sense to have the Hurricanes pass rusher in South Beach with the state’s most popular NFL team. But instead, they reached out a bit on Alabama’s Kayden Proctor. However, Ben Jr. would remain in Florida as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him three times later.

EDGE will stay in FL, but not with the team, some thought Thursday.

Dallas Cowboys help Philadelphia Eagles get AJ Brown’s replacement

After weeks of speculation, the Cowboys traded up in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. However, it did not reach the top five. They actually went down three notches. But what made the move a surprise was that they swapped positions with division rivals the Philadelphia Eagles.

It is expected that Philly will trade the star receiver after June 1. That became a guarantee when the Eagles used the 20th pick on USC receiver Makai Lemon. So essentially, the Cowboys helped an opponent get a replacement for the player they were planning to trade and got a nice new weapon for Jalen Hurts. Strange.

The New York Jets got a potential steal at the end of Round 1.

The New York Jets had two picks in Round 1 and played well by selecting David Bailey at No. 2, then landed stud tight end Kenyon Saadiq at No. 16. However, he surprised many when he came back in Round 1 and was the pick of the San Francisco 49ers at No. 30. With the pick, they took receiver Omar Cooper Jr. from Indiana.

There are a lot of draft evaluators who like Cooper Jr. a lot. He had a really good junior year for the Hoosiers, as he often made big plays. Who knows if Mendoza wins the Heisman or goes No. 1 without a receiver? Keeping his positive side in mind, New York could get a steal at pick 30.

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

After being on the road to WrestleMania 42 since January’s Royal Rumble, the wait is finally over. This weekend brings the 2026 edition of WWE’s annual celebration for wrestling fans, and this year’s event includes two explosive nights of action at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The WrestleMania 42 Night 1 card features a number of interesting matchups, including a highly anticipated clash between Seth Rollins and Gunther, as well as a controversial main event that will see Cody Rhodes defend the WWE Undisputed Title against his former close friend Randy Orton.

With that in mind, we’re offering some bold predictions for Saturday’s WrestleMania card.

Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and iShowspeed vs. The Usos and L.A. Knight

The first night of WrestleMania 42 will debut on ESPN 2 and will feature a cross-over match pitting The Vision’s Logan Paul and Austin Theory teaming up with mega-popular YouTuber iShowspeed against The Usos and LA Knight. When it comes to big shows like this, WWE often wants to start things off on a fun and positive note. This match is designed to be a whole lot of fun and possibly silly at some points.

Don’t be surprised if we get an appearance from Danhausen early in the show to continue the story with him after Speed ​​cursed him a few weeks ago. In the end, the babyface trio of The Usos and Knight would pick up the victory to get the fans excited early.

Women’s Intercontinental Championship: AJ Lee (Captain) vs. Becky Lynch

The months-long feud between Becky Lynch and AJ Lee should come to an end on Saturday night. The two future Hall of Famers have been at odds since the fall. However, Lee has the better of the Irish girl at every turn. Defeating him in a tag match at Wrestlepalooza, then winning Intercontinental gold at Elimination Chamber in February.

That hot streak is going to end this weekend. While Lynch doesn’t need to get the IC title back, there’s no way Lee has full ownership of the greatest female performer of all time. Given the way WWE does balanced booking, it’s too late to tip the scales back on Lynch.

Rejected Match: Drew McIntyre vs. Jacob Fatu

Another feud that will come to a decisive conclusion at WrestleMania 42 is the bitter rivalry between Jacob Fatu and Drew McIntyre. The monster duo have been feuding with each other for weeks and could steal the show with their rejected match on Night 1.

But one thing is certain. Fatu will get the biggest W of his career on Saturday. Especially since McIntyre was busy filming. hillHe is certain to suffer a loss and take some time off after this weekend.

Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal 4-Way: Irresistible Forces (c) vs. The Bella Twins vs. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria

On Saturday Night, the Women’s Tag Team titles are at stake when The Irresistible Forces (Nia Jax and Lash Legend) battle The Bella Twins (if Nikki Bella is cleared to compete), Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss, and Bayley and Lyra Valkyria.

This could go in a lot of different directions, and because WWE loves the Bellas so much, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they get the long-awaited tag team title shot. But in the best interest of the division and the legend, the champs must maintain and continue their dominance as titlists. Plus, the heels will win at WrestleMania and it seems like a perfect match to make that happen.

Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Wacker (captain) vs Liv Morgan

One of the best things about this year’s event is the rivalry between Women’s Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan and Women’s World Champion Stephanie Walker. Things got heated, personal, and very physical a few weeks ago as Wacker accidentally(?) hurt Morgan and Roxanne Perez.

Morgan doesn’t need a win here, and giving Wacker a big ‘Mania moment seems like a smart play as she could become a top star for years to come. However, Morgan’s win has led to some great storylines and feuds with her Judgment Day sisters Perez and Raquel Rodriguez. For that reason, we predict Morgan W.

seth rollins vs gunther

Although it was a late addition to WrestleMania 42, Rollins vs. Gunther has the potential to be the best match of any night and a match of the year contender. They are two of the best wrestlers on earth and should create magic in the ring.

The fact that Braun Breaker is reportedly looking away and is set to make his return soon makes it likely that Rollins gets the win and then his celebration after the match or on Monday’s Raw is ended by the man he brought in, The Vision.

Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Randy Orton

The feud between Orton and Rhodes has been awkward at times and has become even weirder with the random inclusion of former announcer and popular podcaster Pat McAfee. It has transformed the competition from a battle for gold between close friends to a battle over the future direction of the company.

McAfee’s involvement in the storyline has been condemned by fans and wrestlers. However, it is unlikely that he will disappear after Saturday night. Additionally, there are rumors that WWE is planning a tag match between Orton and McAfee against Rhodes and Jelly Roll at Backlash, which suggests that “The Viper” will get world title shot number 15 this weekend.

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

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Nnamdi Collins has admitted that reports linking him to Newcastle United, Liverpool and Manchester City have taken him by surprise.

BILD has the 22-year-old’s comments today. He discusses being surprised to read reports about the Premier League’s interest in him.

Collins has been earning fans from England this season thanks to his performances for Frankfurt so far. He has impressed under new coach Albert Riera, who has made him a regular starter again.

This has led to speculation of a major money transfer this summer. The report credits Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester City with interest.

Agent should be changed before summer

In fact, Sport Witness covered a report last week Which suggested that Nnamdi Collins’ recent change of agent could make his move to Anfield easier.

Collins, like everyone else, has been keeping up to date with the rumors. But it seems he is surprised by his sudden appearance.

“Everything I’ve read about it on the internet is new to me,” He said.

“That’s why I’m quite surprised by some of it. But it’s football, we all know its business. There are rumors here and there, but I’m very happy to be here at Eintracht.”

liverpool makes sense

Of those three contenders named, Liverpool is undoubtedly the one that makes the most sense given the crisis they have faced in central defense this season.

With Ibrahima Konate still on his way out this summer, the Reds will need to bring in a replacement.

Of course they have already signed Jeremy Jacquet, but his shoulder injury and subsequent surgery has already put their pre-season in doubt.Tea.

Joe Gomez cannot provide a reliable long-term option Same with Virgil van Dijk. As a result, Collins was rated €15m transfer market-Can be a smart choice.

The fact that Liverpool have recently scouted him may indicate that they feel the same way.

The 2026 NBA Draft class is expected to be one of the deepest in recent history, with most outlets unanimous in predicting Darin Peterson (Kansas), AJ DiBantsa (BYU) and Carlos Boozer (Duke) as top-3 picks. However, the Arkansas Razorbacks’ Darius Acuff Jr., who recently had a 28-point performance against the Texas Longhorns, is also part of a draft class widely viewed as a lottery pick.

Speaking after his match-winning performance, Texas head coach Sean Miller effectively claimed that Acuff Jr. was the best point-guard he had ever seen in college basketball.

Shawn Miller on Darius Acuff:

“In my 34 years, I’ve never seen a better point guard… He’s a generational player. This No. 1 pick thing, I don’t know why people aren’t talking about him more. I can’t imagine anyone better than him” 👀

(🎥: @pigtrailnation) pic.twitter.com/PdMhWXVyks

– The Field Of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) 5 March 2026

“Normally a guy like Acuff gets a lot of credit or a lot of respect as a young player in college basketball. It can happen sometimes when a guy is overhyped, he certainly has as bright a future beyond college as he does. But in my time, and I’ll go 34 years now, I’ve never seen a better point guard. When people talk about who’s going to be the number one pick in the NBA draft, or the best player in the conference Who. I mean just for perspective, and I think ours is great, he’s averaging 25 points per game,” Miller said, according to a post by The Field of 68.

Miller claimed that he could not imagine a better player, and he did not understand why Acuff Jr. was not talked about more.

“Guys like him, they don’t come around very often in college basketball. He’s a generational player. He’s really, really, really good. It’s the number one choice thing, I don’t know why people aren’t talking about him more. I can’t imagine anyone better than him.”

Acuff’s statistical production this season already places him in elite historical territory. The Arkansas star is averaging 22.2 points and 6.4 assists per game, which ranks ninth nationally in scoring, while maintaining 49.3% shooting from the field and nearly 40-43% shooting from three-point range. He also posts a nearly 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while averaging only two turnovers per game.

The performance against Texas also added a notable scoring streak. Acuff has scored 17 or more points in 24 consecutive games since a win over the Duke Blue Devils in November.
Despite this, Acuff is only viewed as a top-10 lottery pick, not even close to being viewed as the best player of the draft. In addition to the unanimous top-3 prediction, Caleb Wilson is also viewed as a close No. 4 pick.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic decided to prepare a surprise for his head coach JJ Redick.

Doncic and Redic are going through their second season together. The latter is his second year as a head coach in the NBA, while Doncic is in his second year with the franchise after being acquired by the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks last February.

The pair have gotten along well as Doncic has settled into life in Los Angeles. They’ve been creating comedic moments on and off the court, and after one of the Lakers’ games, Doncic decided to give Redick a surprise gift.

Doncic wore a jacket last week, which caught Redick’s attention on the sidelines. The coach took an interest in the jacket, ordered the star guard and gave him the jacket shortly after the game. It’s safe to say that Redick appreciated the kind gesture from his star player.

“I know you want to be like me,” Doncic told Redick in the video.

“I know you want to be like me.”

Luka Doncic surprises JJ Redick with the same jacket he wore last week

(via @lakers)pic.twitter.com/yJJjpsKHAa

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 21 February 2026

Luka Doncic, what’s next for the Lakers

It’s a great moment for Luka Doncic and JJ Redick to share with each other. It is important for the head coach and superstar player to get along well to lead the Lakers to major success.

Doncic is playing at an MVP level for the eighth full season of his career. He averaged 32.8 points, 8.6 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 47.3% from the field, including 34.5% from beyond the arc, and 78.1% from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles has a 33–21 record on the season, finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns, while trailing the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

Following their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lakers will prepare for their next contest. They will be at home when they host the Boston Celtics on February 22nd at 6:30 PM ET.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are here, and after a 12-long wait, NHL players are in attendance. The preliminary round came and went, setting the stage for four more elimination games on Tuesday and four more on Wednesday.

Eight players from the Vegas Golden Knights organization and head coach Bruce Cassidy are also representing their countries in Milan. Jonas Rondbjerg was also scheduled to represent Denmark, and was one of the first six players named to the roster. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury two games before the Olympic break and is on IR.

Due to the infuriating time zone difference – Milan is nine hours ahead of Vegas – there’s a good chance you missed some (or all) of the preliminary round.

I confess, I left every game at 3:10am. But because we live in a beautiful new age of technology, I was able to go back and watch replays on Peacock. Thanks, peacock!

So, if you haven’t had a chance to see the nine Golden Knights don their nations’ colors and take to the ice in Milan, don’t fret. I’ve got you covered.

team usa

Let’s start with the home team, shall we? The Golden Knights have two representatives playing for Team USA, and both are important in their own right.

Through three games of group play, Jack Eichel has easily become one of the best forwards for Team USA. For a two-way center like Eichel, offensive stats don’t tell the whole story — but they’re impressive. He has one goal and three assists and has registered 12 shots on net.

Team USA may have the best or at least the deepest defensive squad in the tournament. So, Noah Hanifin hasn’t been asked to do ‘too much’. He averages only 11:09 TOI, but has been excellent in his limited role. Hanifin has a goal and two points in three games and has been very physical.

Despite some weak performances, Team USA advanced out of the preliminary round with nine points and a perfect record of 3–0–0–0. Thus, they received a bye into the quarterfinals and will face either Sweden or Latvia on Wednesday at 12:10 pm PST.

team sweden

One Swedish player comes from the Golden Knights, and it is their newest player, Rasmus Andersson.

With all the talented offensive defensemen on Team Sweden – Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Dahlin and Victor Hedman – Andersson isn’t very high in the pecking order. This resulted in a less than ideal performance on the global stage.

In two games where he averaged 16:03 TOI, Anderson failed to register a point and was -2. This resulted in a good defeat against Slovakia on Saturday.

Despite their six points and 2-0-1-0 record, Sweden has yet to play up to expectations. There is still time to rally and try for a medal, but they will have to do it the hard way.

Sweden will play Latvia in an elimination game on Tuesday at 12:10 pm PST. The winner will face Team USA in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

team czechia

Because they are in a strong group, Czechia will have to work hard during the preliminary round to earn a bye into the quarterfinals. Unfortunately for Czechia this has not really happened.

Despite playing on the top line alongside David Pastrnak, Hertl has not been able to find his stride. He is yet to register a point in the tournament. However, this has not been for lack of effort – he has registered nine shots on goal. In all fairness, he is averaging 19:29 TOI, which is two minutes more than he played with the Golden Knights.

It’s not just Hertl who is struggling. Despite having a talented roster, Czechia has yet to find its place. After the preliminary round, they have four points and a record of 1-0-1-1.

Team Czechia will take on Denmark on Tuesday at 7:40 am PST; The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to play Team USA on Wednesday.

team switzerland

The Olympics are about unexpected success stories; This year this honor goes to Switzerland.

Schmid started only one game for Switzerland; Unfortunately, it was against the biggest power: Canada. He made 34 saves – including a real beauty against Sidney Crosby on a breakaway – but allowed five goals and finished with a .872 save percentage.

However, Switzerland did not let their loss to Canada affect their tournament. With five points and a record of 1-1-1-0, they have been the Olympics’ success story.

They play Italy on Tuesday at 3:10am PST; The winner will face Finland in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

team canada

Hey, Canada; Our home and native land. It is too early to say whether they are certain to win the gold medal, but it will take a spectacular performance to defeat them. They’re firing on all cylinders, and all three Golden Knights are attacking.

Mark Stone, Mitch Marner and Sidney Crosby joined forces to form the strongest third line in the tournament. All three players have at least four points, and this is by no means a case of Crosby drawing a low line in the battle.

In three games, Stone recorded two tallies—one, a shorthanded strike, standing as the game-winning goal—and four points. He was +4, played on both special teams units and averaged 15:36 TOI.

Stone’s familiar classmate Marner has been equally influential. After three games, he has yet to score a goal, but has claimed two assists and is +5. Marner also played on both special teams units and averaged 15:46 TOI.

Finally, there’s Shia Theodore. With such a star-studded team, Canada didn’t ask for any heroics from Theodore. He’s averaging just 15:46 TOI through three games, much less than his 23:42 in Vegas this season. However, he has been both effective and influential. Theodore recorded one assist and is +2. He also quarterbacks the second power play unit.

With nine points and a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, Canada receives a bye into the quarter-finals. They will face either Czechia or Denmark on Wednesday at 7:40 am PST.

Hannah Kirkel is a beat writer who covers the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNote. She studied more about Hannah Kirkel