While the WWE landscape witnessed the dominance of Roman Reigns, his sporadic appearances and part-time status created a void where Rollins stepped up admirably. Reigns’ undeniable prowess notwithstanding, his absence from consistent in-ring action meant Rollins became the beacon of reliability and excellence in the WWE.

Rollins’ commitment to being a constant presence, defending titles against a multitude of formidable opponents including Logan Paul, Nakamura, Drew McIntyre, AJ Styles, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn, Damian Priest, Finn Balor, The Miz, Dominick Mysterio, and Austin Theory, showcased not only his remarkable in-ring skill but also his commitment to the WWE Universe.

What truly sets Rollins apart is his ability to infuse significance into championships. As Reigns’ part-time schedule left certain titles on the sidelines, Rollins stepped into the spotlight, elevating each championship defense to a must-see event. His dedication to his craft, storytelling prowess, and match-stealing performances solidified his position as the cornerstone of WWE’s in-ring action.

While Reigns undoubtedly left an indelible mark, Rollins’ consistent presence and relentless pursuit of excellence in every aspect of his performances — from his magnetic charisma to his unparalleled ring skills — made him the undisputed hero of the year. As the WWE landscape witnessed various narratives and battles, Rollins stood tall as the embodiment of what it truly means to be a dedicated, full-time champion, shouldering the responsibilities and delivering spectacular moments that defined the essence of sports entertainment.

The post BSP Awards -WWE Wrestler Of The Year: Seth “Freakin” Rollins appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Fire Brandon Staley!!!!!

With how this season’s played out, things were trending towards the Chargers firing their HC after the season. However, with tonight’s more than embarrassing loss to Las Vegas, they have to do it now. In a previous article, I listed potential HC candidates to keep an eye on this season and going into the offseason. In that article, I listed current OC Kellen Moore. A coach who’s been on an upward trend the past few years, Moore will surely be a commodity this offseason for HC vacancies around the league. However, Moore could be too valuable to the team’s future success for LA to lose him this offseason. Firing Staley now and inaugurating Moore as the head coach could be the trial run the Los Angeles Chargers need to get things back on track. If a change isn’t made soon and LA remains on this trajectory, maybe we could even see a change with the club’s GM as well. 

Potential Head Coach Candidates

1. Kellen Moore, OC, LA Chargers
2. Ben Johnson, OC, Detroit Lions
3. Mike McDonald, DC, Baltimore Ravens
4. Brian Flores, DC, Minnesota Vikings
5. Jerod Mayo, LB Coach, NE Patriots
6. Raheem Morris, DC, LA Rams

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My overall feeling from the press conference is that the brothers care a lot about the club. They mentioned how they were fans of the club throughout this season and got to watch games while they were still in Mexico. Miguel also mentioned that it is “a dream come true” for the brothers. I think the club is in excellent hands moving forward. Moving stadiums sounds all but certain, they said they will start looking for other venues. I have to think the earliest they would move would be the start of the 2025 season. The brothers also mentioned that their main target for players is Young Canadian players but Mexican players as well as players across the world are all options.

Some notable quotes from the press conference

When asked about the early plan for developing the club and making a championship team, Ricardo mentioned investing in Canadian talent. He also mentioned being competitive in every tournament.

Eduardo on the club’s continuous stadium conversations: “We’re very thankful for York University, it’s a great first-class university and a great venue, but we need our own stadium”. He also says they are going to start looking at options immediately.

Eduardo on the club’s main target player-wise: “Young Canadians, but Mexico is an option for us”

Ricardo is very confident in the team he is inheriting: “I think the team has great players. I think it’s the best roster in the league” Eduardo also backed him up on the statement.

One of the major things that kept getting brought up was how this team is built with the community. They say that the community will be at the heart of every decision they make. They also mentioned that while today is about them being unveiled as the owners, York United is not just for them, it’s for the community.

I look forward to what is to come for the club, it was mentioned that we can expect roster news starting around next week. I am excited for this new era for York United, and fans should be too.

The post York United F.C Unveil New Owners appeared first on Back Sports Page.

England’s triumph and heartbreak all wrapped up into one

The biggest story even before the start of the most recent international break was England. All eyes were on them in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

This year, the Nations League doubled as a qualifying competition. England were nominated as the nation to qualify on behalf of Britain. In order to do so, England needed to top Group A1 to stand a chance. As if the pressure wasn’t enough, England also needed to top the group to qualify for the Nations League finals.

The Lionesses appeared to be winning Group A1 with a dominant 6-0 win over Scotland on Tuesday evening. However, it was the goal difference that would come to crush hearts. As England were playing Scotland, concurrently, the Netherlands were playing Belgium. They had a 3-0 lead during stoppage time. At that point, England had seemingly topped the group. There were only a few seconds left to seal their fate. However, the Netherlands were not done yet, England fell short after the the Orange Army defeated Belgium 4-0 during the final moments of stoppage time.

This meant that England had not done enough to reach the final four. To add a dagger to the wound, it also meant that Team GB would not be playing at the Olympics in Paris next summer.

This marks the first time that Team GB will not have a women’s football team at an Olympics they have entered. It is history in the making, but not the good kind.

Those still on the road to glory in Europe

Having topped their League A groups, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Spain are in the final four of the Nations League finals set to be held in February.

France reached the Nations League finals after they beat Austria and with the help of a last-minute win over Portugal to close their campaign.

Despite having a disappointing World Cup campaign, all Germany had to do was to match Denmark’s result on Tuesday when they travelled to Wales in order to advance to the finals. The Germans were unable to score against the Welsh with the game ending 0-0. However, Germany remained in Olympic contention after the Danes’ game ended as a shocking 1-0 home defeat by Iceland.

Despite losing to Italy, World Champions Spain qualified for the finals. Sweden were the only team in their group that could finish higher than Spain, but they unfortunately lost to Switzerland on the same evening Spain lost to Italy. The Spain v Sweden game was a thrilling one that ended 5-3. Both teams needed to win that game in order to advance to the finals.

USWNT already affected by Emma Hayes

Emma Hayes hasn’t officially begun coaching the USWNT as she is set to join after concluding the 2023/24 season with Chelsea FC. She was not on the sidelines of the pitch during the recent international break, however, her influence is already starting to show itself within the team though tons of work needs to be done.

For the team’s December fixtures, Hayes and interim manager Twila Kilgore picked the squad collaboratively as confirmed by Kilgore. Hayes’ physically closest interaction with the team so far was when she flew from London to Florida. The Chelsea coach had gone to meet USWNT players and staff ahead of their 3-0 win on Saturday.

The USWNT’s tactical approach in both friendlies against China led many to perceive that Hayes has already begun calling some of the shots from afar. In contrast to their disappointing run in the 2023 World Cup, the USWNT displayed fluidity and had a visible attacking structure. However, despite a 3-0 and 2-1 win over China, the stars and stripes struggles in both matches, especially after going down 1-0 during the second match for a good 62 minutes.

Christine Sinclair’s Canada dominate Australia

Canada and Australia met twice during the recent international break for friendlies. Following a successful display at the 2023 World Cup, Australia were expected to have the upper hand over Canada who have been struggling since their Olympic success.

Things couldn’t be any more different though.

The first blow for Australia was a Sam Kerr injury, ruling her out of both games. The second came in a 5-0 loss in the first game between the pair. Tony Gustavsson had made the odd selection of the starting lineup not consisting of any first-team players against Canada’s first team. One could argue that those inexperienced players would have learned in a better way while playing alongside experienced players.

The first change happened in the 46th minute when Australia were already down 2-0. Three more goals later, five substitutions with experience were brought onto the pitch to help the Matildas.

Mary Fowler produced Australia’s first shot of the game – the first of two in total by the final whistle – in the 74th minute. In contrast, Canada had 19 shots in total, with 8 on target. One could say they were probably unlucky not to have a few more goals.

The second fixture between the pair ended 1-0 in favour of the Canadians. This time around, regular starters were selected in the Matilda’s starting XI. It was another disappointing display from Australia, but fortunately, the Matildas kept Canada from scoring more than 1 goal.

What was the end of a disappointing international break was a celebratory one for Canada.

Christine Sinclair bid farewell to international football on Tuesday with one final match that brought an end to an illustrious career.

Sinclair is the world’s all-time leading scorer in international football. Her international career includes a record of 190 goals in 331 games, an Olympic gold medal in 2021 and six World Cup call-ups.

For her contributions to the women’s game, a win was the perfect send-off for the football legend.

The post Big Stories From The International Break appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Marking the two-year anniversary of its inception, WWE’s NIL program proudly welcomes 14 stellar athletes, including luminaries such as Lucas Davison, a two-time All-American wrestler hailing from the University of Michigan, and former Big 12 Champion Stephen Buchanan from the University of Oklahoma. Notably, this cohort boasts diversity, featuring the first acrobatics athlete in Bayley Humphrey from Baylor University, the program’s pioneer baseball player Adam Berghorst representing Indiana State, and the groundbreaking male cheerleader, Slane Glover from Ohio State.

Spanning 14 different universities across ten NCAA conferences, the fourth “Next In Line” class comprises a dynamic roster of talent representing various sports, from track & field and football to gymnastics and wrestling. These athletes, each bringing their unique skill sets, dimensions, and hometown pride, epitomize the rich tapestry of collegiate sports in the United States.

This latest signing marks a cumulative 60 college athletes joining WWE’s ranks since the program’s launch in December 2021. Impressively, seven of these athletes have ascended to full-time developmental contracts, dedicating themselves to year-round training at the esteemed WWE Performance Center in Orlando.

More than just a recruitment drive, the “Next In Line” program epitomizes WWE’s holistic approach to nurturing future Superstars. Collaborating with athletes from diverse athletic backgrounds, the program aims not only to recruit but to cultivate talent. Notably, the roster includes athletes from 15 different sports, encompassing 42 members of Power-Five conferences. Their collective achievements amount to 18 NCAA Championships, 34 Conference Championships, and a staggering 55 All-American honors, a testament to their exceptional caliber.

The program goes beyond the wrestling ring, offering athletes access to the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando and an array of resources within the organization. From brand building and media training to live event promotion, creative writing, and community relations, the program equips these future stars with a comprehensive toolkit to thrive in the entertainment industry.

An exclusive opportunity beckons upon completion of the NIL program: the chance to secure a coveted WWE contract, a testament to the program’s transformative potential in catapulting budding talents into the limelight of professional wrestling.

These athletes’ magnetic presence extends beyond the mat and track, commanding a substantial social media following with over 12 million combined followers on TikTok and nearly five million on Instagram. WWE itself boasts one of the largest fan bases on TikTok, tallying more than 25 million followers, coupled with an impressive 30 million on Instagram, setting the stage for an electrifying synergy between these emerging stars and the WWE universe.

As WWE continues to scout, nurture, and empower the next generation of entertainment icons, the “Next In Line” program stands as a testament to their commitment to innovation and excellence in talent development, promising an exhilarating future where sports and entertainment converge in a spectacle of athleticism and showmanship.

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2024 NFL Draft Spotlight: Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 212 lbs

Year: RS-Sophomore

As already stated, Jaden Hicks is a Swiss army knife for the Washington State Cougars. Against Colorado Friday night, Hicks was used in a myriad of ways playing all over the field. He’d line up shallow, or in the box, and bail deep, he’d line up deep and rotate for corner help, he played man, he blitzed well, and he was sturdy as a box defender. However, where I was most impressed by Hicks’ play this weekend was how he helped contain Travis Hunter. 

Everyone knows Travis Hunter; the former five-star recruit who went to Jackson State and followed Coach Prime to Boulder. Travis Hunter is a special kid, to say the least. Yet, Hicks played extremely well helping either bracket Hunter, cover him in man, or provide over-the-top safety help. Overall, it was a rather quiet night for Hicks as he didn’t directly contribute to creating turnovers or sacks. Still, he finished with nine tackles reminding evaluators of his reliable play and solid coverage skills. 

There wasn’t much play on Hicks’ end that screamed weakness. However, there were still some areas where he could improve. For instance, in the third quarter, Hicks came in as run support from his free safety spot and took an errant angle resulting in Colorado’s largest run of the game. Despite this, Hicks still got a hand on the ball carrier to slow him down, allowing him to regain his feet and eventually track him down. Along with this, hip fluidity and footwork are some areas Hicks could be better. When bailing, his hips were sometimes stiff and he took more steps than needed in his drops. 

Closing Remarks

The race for who’s the best safety in this year’s draft is tight. As of right now, it isn’t looking like Hicks will be that guy, but, this doesn’t mean he can’t be the second or third-best. After starting hot, he’s cooled down a bit causing him to slide down draft boards. Still, I give him a Day 2 grade. He’s an excellent football player with a wide skillset. 

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“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE brand into the CW Sports portfolio as they play an integral role in our mission to bring live sporting events to the network year-round,” said Dennis Miller, President, The CW Network. “WWE NXT is a perfect fit for The CW thanks to its dynamic young talent featuring the hottest rising stars in the sport and exhilarating, unpredictable weekly events. The passion and engagement of WWE’s fanbase is unmatched, and we are eager to grow that audience as WWE NXT’s new home on broadcast television.”

“The CW has made impressive moves over the past year with its live sports programming schedule,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “It’s a truly exciting opportunity to expand NXT’s audience by bringing the show to broadcast television for the first time in NXT’s history.”

Launched by WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, WWE NXT has aired weekly since 2012 and features the brightest young talent in sports entertainment. Nearly 90% of the participants in last year’s WrestleMania were developed under the NXT banner. Led by WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, NXT is popular with younger audiences, ranking No. 1 in cable primetime on Tuesday nights last quarter among adults 18-49 and 18-34. Year to date, NXT’s average viewership is up 30% among adults 18-49. WWE Superstars, such as Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, have come up through NXT.

WWE NXT joins a growing roster of live sports on The CW Network, including ACC football and basketball games airing every Saturday throughout the season and LIV Golf. The CW is also the new home of the Emmy-award winning weekly studio series “Inside the NFL” and will broadcast NASCAR Xfinity Series beginning in 2025. The network will soon offer more than 500 hours of sports programming year-round.

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Chargers WR Evaluation

After Mike Williams went down, there was already much speculation as to what the Chargers would do next. Were they going to make a trade, sign a free agent, or stay as is? As seen the past couple of weeks, the Chargers decided to stand pat. However it hasn’t been Quentin Johnston with a dramatically increased role as anticipated. Although Johnston’s role has increased, it appears to be Derius Davis’s role who’s increased the most. Don’t get it twisted, Joshua Palmer has also stepped up, but Davis’s increased usage in short throws, screens, sweeps, and out of the backfield has made the real difference. 

Looking at this year’s trade deadline, the Chargers could’ve cut a deal at receiver without giving up the farm. The Falcons kicked it off by trading a 2025 6th rounder for Van Jefferson and a 2025 7th rounder. This was followed by the Jets trading Mecole Hardman and a 2025 7th for a 2025 6th. Today, Donovan Peoples-Jones was sent to Detroit for a 2025 6th round pick. These guys may not be stars, but they still could’ve made an impact especially since Johnston doesn’t look to be ready for an increased role and Joshua Palmer doesn’t seem to be 100% healthy.

Chargers Secondary Evaluation

After Nasir Adderly retired in the offseason, the Chargers looked to Alohi Gilman to take over. While he’s been, his injury early in the season spotlighted the Bolt’s lack of depth at the position. Moreover, the Charger’s depth is also lacking on the outside as well. Starting the season with JC Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, and JaSir Taylor, the issue was who would have to take a seat. Now, with JC Jackson traded away, they’re searching for viable depth pieces. Before today, the Eagles made a trade for veteran Kevin Byard. While his price range of Terrell Edmunds, a 2024 5th round pick, and a 2024 6th round pick might’ve been too much for Telesco, there were still other options available. More in the Charger’s ballpark perhaps would’ve been Rasul Douglas who was traded with a 2024 fifth round pick for a 2024 third rounder. 

In Conclusion…

Given the talent the Chargers currently have, and are lacking,  it’s a bit nauseating that the Bolts weren’t more involved in trade talks. It’s understandable if a trade doesn’t go through, but it feels a bit as if they didn’t try. The Chargers are coming off a needed win versus Chicago and are going into another winnable game against the Jets. This upcoming week will be important in showing that the Chargers are fine with who they already have. 

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In 2010, the WSL was established that is currently ran by the Football Association. The league replaced the FA Women’s Premier League National Division as the highest level of women’s football in England.

It is in the WSL that the Blues have made a name for themselves, and ultimately, the WSL.

The start of something special

In 2013, Chelsea narrowly escaped relegation after a difficult season. In a fourteen-game season, they lost 10 games, drew 1 and won only 3. It was Emma Hayes’ first full season at Chelsea, and she had the full backing of the club which was fully embracing women’s football.

In 2014 however, saw a resurgence: a new Chelsea. In the months before the 2014 season, there was a big change in the recruitment policy. Emma Hayes got the chance to grow her team with experienced English players with winning in their DNA.

The changes were reflected in their on-pitch performances that season. After nearly getting relegated in the 2013 season, Chelsea found themselves in a three-way battle for the title on the final day of the 2014 season.

After losing their goalkeeper to injury with no back-up, Clare Fallow, who was bought a few weeks prior as a precaution, was brought on. From that day, it was her only WSL appearance to date. Unfortunately, the Blues couldn’t manage a draw, which is all they needed to clinch the title that year.

In 2014, the WSL title was Liverpool’s to take. Chelsea and Liverpool finished equal on points, but Liverpool’s goal difference was the deciding number.

Nevertheless, Emma Hayes and her team had everything to be proud of. In the span of one year, going from a relegation zone to lifting the WSL trophy was an impressive turnaround.

It was the start of something special.

The first of many

In 2015, halfway through the WSL season, Chelsea won the FA Cup for their first ever trophy. It was a huge motivation to finish the WSL season strong and add a second trophy to their collection.

Once again, the title race went down to the final matchday. A 4-0 win against Sunderland – exactly 23 years after the reformed women’s team had played their first game back in 1992 – was a victory that led to Chelsea’s first-ever WSL title.

10 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses later, Chelsea hoisted the WSL trophy, the first of many.

Redefining football

Chelsea finished runners-up in the 2016 season and were unable to defend their FA Cup title as well. It was still a good season for the Blues, but if anything, it was just a small bump on the road for them.

Ever since the start of the 2017/18 season, Chelsea have been the team to beat. Emma Hayes has since built a team that is somewhat invincible.

Here are their mind blowing accolades ever since the start of the 2017/18 season;

• 5 WSL titles
• 92 wins, 20 draws and 7 losses in 119 games
• 334 Goals Scored
• 74 Goals Conceded
• Unbeaten in two seasons (2017/18 and 2019/20)

It was an era where club legends Eni Aluko, Karen Carney, Carly Telford, Ji So-yun, Drew Spence, Pernille Harder and Magda Eriksson got to shine for the club and leave behind their legacies as they departed the club.

It was also an era where new and current legends were born – Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, Fran Kirby and Erin Cubhert.

As of the 2023/24 season, Emma Hayes’ mighty Blues have started out strong. With players like Guro Reiten and Lauren James aiming to join the list of legends, the club has won 3 out 4 matches so far this season, and sit second.

Chelsea look as threatening as ever, as they aim for a seventh WSL title, sixth FA Cup title – they are the previous winners of both – as well as a first UEFA Women’s Champions League title.

Chelsea have singlehandedly changed the women’s game, and have shone a bright light on it. Emma Hayes and her squad have redefined the game.

The post Chelsea: The Club That Is Defining The WSL appeared first on Back Sports Page.

Tickets for Elimination Chamber: Perth will be available for general purchase at Ticketmaster.com.au from 10 a.m. AWST on Friday, November 10.

Fans across the globe also have the opportunity to join an exclusive early WWE presale from 10 a.m. AWST on Wednesday, November 8, by registering their interest at www.wwe.com/au2024-presale.

Additionally, Priority Pass ticket packages will soon be available from On Location, offering fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment including premium seating, pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities, exclusive merchandise and more. To learn more about Priority Passes, please visit www.onlocationexp.com/eliminationchamberperth. To learn more about travel package opportunities and place a deposit on a trip to Perth, please visit Sportsnet Holidays at www.sportsnetholidays.com/wwe-elimination-chamber-perth.

WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth will be broadcast live in approximately 165 countries in 25 languages and seen in more than 1 billion homes – including on BINGE, the exclusive streaming home of WWE in Australia.

For more information visit www.wwe.com or www.westernaustralia.com. 

WWE and Tourism Western Australia acknowledge the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal peoples; Elders past, present and emerging.

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