The XFL was first introduced back in 2001 as an alternative to the NFL. Created by Vince McMahon, the XFL (Xtreme Football League) lasted for only one season before its cancelation. The original league consisted of eight teams: Eastern Division Birmingham Thunderbolts, Chicago Enforcers, New York/New Jersey Hitmen, Orlando Rage. Western Division: Las Vegas Outlaws, Los Angeles Xtreme, Memphis Maniax, San Francisco Demons. The league at the time was criticized for being boring, other critics question if the XFL used the same type of predetermined storytelling as the WWF, and it is viewed as one of the biggest disasters in WWE history.
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Rumors started back in 2017 that WWE was planning to bring the league back. The rumors started after the NFL was criticized over kneeling players and other controversies. According to rumors, Vince McMahon saw current events as an opportunity to bring back the XFL as a ‘traditional’ alternative to the NFL. According to reports, Vince McMahon was starting a shell corporation with his own money to protect WWE shareholders on a potential XFL revival.
On January 25, 2018, Alpha Entertainment announced a new incarnation of the XFL to begin the season in 2020. Commercials for the XFL started to air for live audiences before officially appearing on broadcast television. On February 8, the first games aired, with a planned ten-week season. However, after five weeks, the season was put on halt after the outbreak of the Coronavirus. The players were still getting paid with the hope that the season would pick right back after the outbreak ended. However, after the financial impact that WWE took after almost canceling their biggest event of the year Wrestlemania, it was announced that instead of halting the season, the XFL would officially get canceled, with no plans to return in 2021.
Unlike the first iteration of the league, XFL 2020 received positive reviews. Viewership for the first games were mildly high, with the viewership decreasing as the weeks continued. Despite the decline in viewership, it is not clear if the XFL was going to fail. However, with the impact that canceling Wrestlemania had on WWE, it was not worth it to keep the league going. This move also left every player without a source of income.
On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed wide receiver Saeed Blacknall. Blacknall was formerly employed by the XFL.
The legacy of the XFL will always be seen as one of failure. The original incarnation, despite the height of the WWF at the time, could not last more than one season. As for the latest incarnation, the league was shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. While it is good to see some players getting picked up by the NFL, the latest failure of the XFL is another example of the times that we are living.
Sports have been in a bit of a standstill of late, with the NBA, NHL, and NFL halting their seasons. However, the interesting stories come from the many unique ways that each federation is finding ways to entertain their fans. NBA players started to compete against each other in NBA 2K20, with Nascar following the same technic. As for the WWE, instead of finding alternative, they taped their largest event Wrestlemania 36 a week in advance and split the showing over the weekend with the first four hours on Saturday and the rest on Sunday. The result is one of a unique wrestling experience that WWE has delivered in years.
Most Wrestling fans have a love/hate relationship with Wrestlemania. On the one hand, Wrestlemania is the biggest event of the year, with thousands of fans gathering to watch a true spectacle. On the other hand, the events are usually mixed with a pair of good matches and a pair of bad matches. The biggest hindrance to the show (speaking from experience) is that the show is extremely long clocking in at 7 to 8 hours. This year was meant to be no different with the event originally taking place in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. However, do to the current Coronavirus pandemic there was doubt if the event was going to go through at all.
As a compromise, WWE taped their event a week in advance in their performance center. The show was shot in an empty arena with only essential personnel. The show was hosted by Rob Gronkowski, along with his partner Mojo Rawley. It was fun to see everyone perform with the idea that there is an audience, but as we will see some matches benefited while others did not.
For night one the event started with the first surprise of the night as Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross defeated The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Both teams had great chemistry and while is disappointing that The Kabuki Warriors lost their titles, it is a feel-good moment for Alexa Bliss and Niki Cross.
Elias defeated King Corbin in the first misfire of the night because this match is not a match that wouldn’t even main event on a regular episode of Raw.
Becky Lynch retained her title by defeating Shayna Baszler. It says a lot about Becky’s role when she main event the show last year to win the title, now she has the second shortest match of the night. This match didn’t help anyone and in fact it made Shayna look weak, confirming reports that Vince Mcmahon was not behind her.
Sami Zayn retained his tittle in a fun match against Daniel Bryan.
John Morrison retained the tag titles in a triple threat latter match against Jimmy Uso and Kofi Kingston. This was the first math that was able to pull off all of its tricks thanks to the power of editing. With the finish possible with a few camera cuts.
Kevin Owen defeated Seth Rollins putting on the best match of the night.
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What was originally booked as Roman Reign vs Goldberg. After backing out do to health concerns, Braun Strowman became a last minute replacer. The match was short (standard for Goldberg’s abilities) clocking in at two minutes and ten seconds. Braun defeated Goldberg, however the real question is what was the original plan, was Goldberg always meant to lose the title?
Finally, wrapping up night 1, AJ Styles vs. The Undertaker in a Boneyard match. The match was pre-recorded on a graveyard stage. This isn’t the first time WWE showed a match that was recorded in advance, but what this match benefited from was that fans did not need to watch it in the stadium. Usually, all the fans would stare at the titantron as the match would play. Knowing that everyone watching the match at home, give the match the ability to be as long and as over the top as possible. The match felt like you were watching a cheesy TV show, with all the twist and turn you would expect. Despite this, Undertaker vs. AJ Styles delivered one of the best matches in the whole show.
Night 2 started with Charlotte Flair delivering one of her best matches defeating Rhea Ripley for the NXT Women’s belt.
Aleister Black defeated Bobby Lashley.
Otis defeated Dolph Ziggler in a match that needed an audience, simply for Otis to get the hero pop he deserved.
Edge vs. Randy Orton was the longest match on the whole night as the two fought in a last man standing match for half an hour. The two spend most of the match hitting each other with weapons while walking around the Performance Center. The opening and finish of the match were the highlights, but what dragged the match was everything else. Without fans, there is no way of knowing whether or not this was a good or bad match.
The Street Profit defeated Angle Garza and Austin Theory with a surprise debut from Bianca Belair.
Bayley defeated four other superstars in a fatal 5-way elimination match to retain her championship.
The second match to be shot in another set was John Cena vs Bray Wyatt. The delivered a strange homage to the career of John Cena. Referencing his past as the Prototype, all the way to his battle with Bray Wyatt. There are so many reference and fun Easter eggs for wrestling fans that this is a can’t miss match.
Unlike night one the final match was for the WWE Championship, as Drew McIntyre defeated Brock Lesnar. While not the most entertainment match, it is always a treat to watch someone defeat Brock Lesnar.
Overall WWE managed to deliver a fun event in the mist of hard time. While events moving the way they are it is not clear if we will see another episode of Raw, or another PPV. It is great to see that despite the uncertainty this show at least left a smile in everyone’s face.
As we reported before, Canada and Australia have chosen not to attend the 2020 Olympic games. This a top of mounting pressure from other athletes/ countries to postpone the games amidst the growing Coronavirus threat. IOC member Dick Pound told USA TODAY Sports Monday afternoon that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games are going to be postponed, likely to 2021, with the details to be worked out in the next four weeks.
“On the basis of the information, the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound said in a phone interview. “The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”
Exclusive: The 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed, likely to 2021, veteran IOC member Dick Pound says.
The next steps according to Pound will come soon, “It will come in stages,” he said. “We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense.”
This is massive; the Olympics is the last major event this year that is bound to amass a larger audience. However, it is important to point out that there is still a lot of details that need to be iron out for something this big. Major companies have massive investments in the games, and other sports usually switch their schedule to work with the Olympics. With the Olympics moving to a later date, it would have to be next year, as to not interfere with already established events.
Canada and Australia will not be sending their athletes to Tokyo Japan for the 2020 Summer Olympics. This announcement comes after rising pressure to move the 2020 Olympics to 2021. On Sunday, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) announced that it was considering a postponement. IOC president Thomas Bach sent a letter to athletes explaining the decision:
“I know that this unprecedented situation leaves many of your questions open,” he wrote. “I also know that this rational approach may not be in line with the emotions many of you have to go through.”
RELEASE: The Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee have made the difficult decision to not send Canadian teams to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020: https://t.co/HyOBA5wwp4pic.twitter.com/x9OWABVxMA
In a joint statement, the Canadian and Australian Paralympic Committee said, “While we recognize the inherent complexities around a postponement, nothing is more important than the health and safety of our athletes and the world community,” they continued “This is not solely about athlete health — it is about public health With COVID-19 and the associated risks, it is not safe for our athletes, and the health and safety of their families and the broader Canadian community for athletes to continue training towards these Games. In fact, it runs counter to the public health advice which we urge all Canadians to follow.”
During the weekend Japan Olympic Committee member Kaori Yamaguchi said the Games should be postponed because some athletes had been unable to train. The heads of USA Swimming and USA Track and Field both also called for the Olympics to be postponed to 2021 over the weekend.
Announced back in 2016, the 2020 Olympics were set to be held in Japan. However, after the current pandemic outbreak of the Coronavirus, many countries such as Italy, and Peru have announced a total border closedown to prevent further infection. The spread of the virus also resulted in many sports federations to shut down their season, with the NBA and NFL halting all games. As for other sports, the largest event of the WWE calendar Wrestlemania is set to be pre-tape and aired online. The last biggest event that would amass a large gathering is the 2020 Olympics, but with mounting pressure and many countries practicing social distancing, it is looking unlikely that we will see the Olympics this year.
Tom Brady (Age 42), has played with New England Patriots as #12 Quarterback since 2000. During his run on with the Patriots, Tom Brady has amounted a fair share of career highlights including:
Most games won by a quarterback: 219
Most wins on the road by a quarterback: 98
Most wins at home by a quarterback: 121
Most touchdown passes (Superbowl): 18
Most passes completed in the first half of a single Super Bowl: 20
Most consecutive completions in a single Superbowl: 16
Most Superbowl appearances: 9
Fifteen Super Bowl records.
· Four Super Bowl MVP awards.
· A record 13 conference title-game appearances.
· A record nine conference championships.
· A total of 17 division championships, easily an NFL record (Peyton Manning is next with 12).
There has not been an official statement yet, as to what is next for the NFL Legend, but Tom Brady is 42 years old, which means he is nearing his final season. The announcement came through social media as a precaution of the Coronavirus, which has already halted the NFL season until further notice.
On January 26, 2020, a helicopter crash taking the lives of 9 people, amongst them was Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant. Their death sends shockwaves throughout the media. Millions who were inspired by the NBA legend send their wishes all through social media. After a private funeral, the world gathered on February 24, 2020, at the Staples Center. Surrounded by fans, family, and streamed across multiple platforms, the world was able to give one final goodbye to Kobe Bryant.
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To honor the legend and his daughter the stadium displayed both Kobe’s number (24) and Gianna’s number (2). Jimmy Kimmel opened, reminding us that we are not only gathering to honor the death of one man, but we are also here to honor the lives of the nine people that died on the day. “Today we are joined by Kobe’s teammates and rivals alike, his friends his family, his fans as we try to make sense of what happened to these nine beautiful people who were… so full of life who left behind parents, friends, co-workers, classmates, siblings, and children.” Kimmel continued, “All we could do is be grateful for the time we had with them and for the time we have left with each other.” The audience joined Kimmel in a moment of peace with everybody hugging and shaking hands with each other.
Michael Jordan was among the guest that honored Bryant. Bryant played against his childhood hero at the age of 18, even though they were competing, Bryant still asked Jordan for advice. “We talked about business we talked about family we talked about everything and he was just trying to be a better person.” Kobe and Jordan’s relationship went above mentor-mentee and became a deep friendship. “His attitude to compete and play against someone he felt like he can enhance and improved his game that what I loved about the kid, absolutely loved about the kid no matter where he saw me it was a challenge and I admired him because his passion you rarely see someone who’s looking and trying to improve each and every day not just in sports but as a parent as a husband, I am inspired by what he’s done and shared with Vanessa and what he shared with his kids.”
Kobe and Shaquille O’Neal careers will always be linked, and during the memoriam O’Neal was able to honor their long friendship. “What fill Kobe’s heart with the most pride was his role as loving husband to Venessa, a daddy to GG and Natalya Bianca and baby Capri and a loving son and brother. Kobe was a true friend and a true renaissance man.” O’Neal continued, “Kobe and I pushed one another to play some of the greatest basketball of all time, and I proud that no other team has accomplished what the three-peat Lakers have done since the Shaq and Kobe Lakers did it.”
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Throughout the night we were reminded of the life of Kobe Bryant, he wasn’t just an NBA legend who will be remembered as one of the best of all time. Kobe Bryant was also an amazing father, and his legacy will serve as a perfect example of what happens when you chase your dream and never give up.
