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Streaming Industry News/Media/Broadcasting

Ratings For Entertainment, Sports, Grappling; Wrestling With Intel

Past, Present And Future

Developing News Story!

Wrestling Podcasters, Scribes Onto Something Big?!

Podcasters Battle Royal or Royal Rumble?! Rules Of Engagement?!

News

Combat Sports Streaming

May 2026

TrillerTV

“TrillerTV continues to operate its global operations for its millions of registered users, leveraging hundreds of licensed publishing partners across a variety of live and on-demand sporting events” spokesperson for Flipps Media, TrillerTV’s corporate entity.

“TrillerTV intends to provide the greatest content for users no differently than it has the past 11 years.”

News

“Flipps Media cannot comment on its ongoing legal dispute that is currently active in the Delaware Court of Chancery”

News

May 15

Livestreamer ChudTheBuilder Faces $1.25 Million Bond After Courthouse Shooting

Dalton Eatherly, the 28-year-old known online as ChudTheBuilder for livestreaming confrontations with racial slurs, argued with Joshua Fox, a 31-year-old Army veteran, outside the Montgomery County Courts Center in Clarksville. Eatherly shot Fox in the stomach and shoulder during a fight, claiming self-defense after Fox pursued and punched him; over 100 stream viewers backed his account, but prosecutors pointed to the crowded public setting and Eatherly's prior arrests. Judge H. Reid Poland III set a $1.25 million bond, citing the felony charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and more, which carry 15 to 60 years if convicted. Online, reactions divide sharply between self-defense claims and criticism of Eatherly's history, with fundraising topping $130,000 amid plans to block his release.

News

May 15

Forecast: Amazon, Netflix, Google to control half of CTV ad market by 2030

The global fight to “own the living room” is entering a new phase as Google, Amazon and Netflix are projected to control 50 per cent of the global connected TV advertising market by 2030, according to forecasts presented by Omdia at RetailX in London.

The findings highlight how the centre of power in television is rapidly shifting away from traditional broadcasting toward streaming platforms, TV operating systems and advertising ecosystems. According to Omdia forecasts, global connected TV (CTV) advertising revenue will surge from $44 billion (€37.8bn) in 2025 to $81 billion by 2030, with CTV ad revenues expected to surpass traditional linear TV advertising during the 2030s.

By the end of the decade:

Google is forecast to command 26 per cent of global CTV advertising revenue

Amazon will account for 13 per cent

Netflix will represent 9 per cent

Combined, the three companies will own half of the entire global CTV advertising market.

“The battle for the living room is no longer only about streaming content,” commented Maria Rua Aguete, Senior Research Director at Omdia, speaking at RetailX London. “It is increasingly about controlling the platform, the advertising layer, the operating system, the data and ultimately the consumer relationship.”

Rua Aguete noted that television is becoming one of the most strategic gateways for digital advertising, retail media and commerce integration, with tech companies increasingly competing to control the TV interface itself.

Omdia also revealed that the European TV operating system landscape is shifting rapidly. According to the research firm, VIDAA is set to become Europe’s third-largest TV operating system this behind Android TV and Tizen, overtaking several established competitors as manufacturers seek greater ownership of the smart TV experience. The rise of VIDAA underlines how smart TV operating systems are becoming critical strategic assets in the streaming era, acting as the front door for content discovery, advertising monetisation and viewer engagement.

“Who owns the TV operating system increasingly controls advertising, discovery and monetization,” added Rua Aguete. “The operating system is becoming as important as the content itself.”

The shift comes as media companies, streamers, retailers and technology giants race to secure premium positioning in connected households. Amazon is leveraging Prime Video and retail media integration to expand its TV advertising footprint, while Netflix continues to scale its advertising business globally through its ad-supported tier. Google remains dominant through YouTube’s massive connected TV reach and broader advertising infrastructure.

Omdia expects several trends to accelerate the transformation of television advertising over the next five years:

Expansion of ad-supported streaming services

Convergence of retail media and television advertising

Growth in programmatic and targeted TV advertising

Increasing importance of TV operating systems and smart TV ecosystems

Greater competition for consumer attention and platform ownership

The findings reinforce how television, commerce and digital advertising are converging into a single ecosystem and why control of the living room is becoming one of the most valuable strategic positions in media.

News

May 6

Endemol Shine Poland brings Naked Attraction back to territory

Media and entertainment powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, has announced Endemol Shine Poland is producing hit dating format, Naked Attraction (Magia Nagosci. Polska) for Zoom TV. Returning after a year off-air, the show is set to premiere its fifth season later this year.

Originally created for Channel 4 in 2016 by Studio Lambert, part of All3Media, Naked Attraction has become a global phenomenon, with successful adaptations in Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and Italy. A true “dating in reverse” format, the show strips away first impressions inviting participants to put aside prejudices and opt for naturalness when it comes to finding love. In Poland, the format has already run for four seasons, consistently sparking conversation and encouraging audiences to reflect on body acceptance and perceptions of attraction. The new season will be hosted by Julia Oles.

Michal Kaszuba, Head of Production at Endemol Shine Poland said: “Naked Attraction has already built a strong following in Poland, and after a year off-air, we’re proud to bring it back. It’s a show that sparks conversation, challenges perceptions, and we’re confident the bold format will once again resonate strongly with Polish audiences.”

Ben Packwood, SVP Sales for CEE at All3Media added: “It is great to see Magia Nagosci. Polska returning to Polish screens for a fifth season in 2026. Zoom TV has proven that Naked Attraction has a dedicated local audience and can continue to be a ratings winner, year after year.”

Endemol Shine Poland has over 20 years’ experience producing hit shows including local adaptations of renowned brands such as Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Must Be The Music, Drag Me Out, Boomerissima, MasterChef, Lego Masters and The Money Drop. More recent launches include BAFTA-nominated factual format Banged Up and Ambulance. In addition, it is behind premium scripted programming including Our Century for TVP 1, Squared Love for Netflix, and the return of Penoza for TVP 2.

News

May 15

Spider-Noir

Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris attend 'Spider-Noir' premiere

Nicolas Cage, Lamorne Morris and Jack Huston attended the premiere of their new Prime Video series, Spider-Noir, in New York Wednesday night.

Co-stars Brendan Gleeson, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Lukas Haas and Abraham Popoola also walked the red carpet at the event.

The comic-book adaptation is slated to debut on Prime Video on May 27.

The series will be available to view in black and white, and color.

"Spider-Noir tells the story of Ben Reilly, a seasoned, down-on-his luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life, following a deeply personal tragedy, as the city's one and only superhero," a synopsis said.

News

May 15

Combat Sports: Jake Paul Can't Get Into TKO Events

According to Jake, his involvement with MVP has made it so he can't be in his older brother's corner in WWE for the foreseeable future. Despite the trouble, he enjoys what he describes as playful banter between himself and TKO.

"I don't take any beefs too serious. I think it's definitely in the name of entertainment; however, there is truth in it," the 12-2 professional boxer said on "Smash Cast." "From my side, I'm just having fun. The fact that one of the biggest organizations in the world, the TKO group, has this major beef with me, they won't even let me go be in my brother's WWE matches because they hate me so much. And so it's pretty wild, how much under their skin we are. ... I enjoy s*** talk. I like when people make fun of me. I'm easy to make fun of. I'm able to make fun of myself." (Jake Paul)

News

Streaming Rankings

May 14, 2026

Top 10 Overall

Includes movies and TV series.

1. The Pitt HB0 - Max
2. The Boys - Prime Video
3. Buey - Disney
4. The Big Bang Theory HBO Max
5. Bob's Burgers - Hulu
6. SpongeBob quarePants - Paramount+
7. Family Guy - Hulu
8. Grey's Anatomy - Hulu / Netflix
9. Thrash (2026) - Netflix
10. Survivor - Hulo / Paramount + / Pluto TV

News

Nielson (Australia)

Nielsen data shows Australian outdoor and sport retailers are changing how they advertise to win over outdoor enthusiasts

Advertising strategies shift as competition grows for a large, active and quality-focused audience

Sydney, April 22, 2026 – New Nielsen Ad Intel data shows Australian outdoor and sports retailers are changing how they invest in advertising, as competition intensifies for the attention of outdoor enthusiasts.

Advertising spend across a selected group of major Australian outdoor and sports retailers rose 4.0% year-on-year in 2025, reaching $91.9 million, up from $88.4 million in 2024. While overall growth was moderate, the way brands allocated that spend points to increasingly different strategies as retailers looked for new ways to stay visible in a competitive market.

Anaconda was the biggest advertiser in the group in 2025, investing $17.6 million, followed by BCF (Boating Camping Fishing) at $13.0 million, then Rebel Sport at $6.6 million.

Across the retailers analysed, social media was the largest channel by spend in 2025, attracting $39.9 million, followed by metro TV at A$20.0 million, general display at $11.4 million, regional television at $10.8 million, and out-of-home at $4.3 million.

The figures show brands are taking very different paths to reach consumers interested in outdoor lifestyles. Anaconda and BCF both backed broad, high-reach strategies, spanning television, social and digital display. Rebel Sport also maintained a diversified mix, with strong investment across social, television and general display. By contrast, 4WD & Outdoor Supacentre leaned heavily into social and radio, while Kathmandu was overwhelmingly social-led. Macpac, meanwhile, remained much more television-focused than many of its competitors.

The timing of spend also points to a highly seasonal battle for attention. Investment built sharply in the second half of the year, peaking in November and December, when retailers were most aggressive in competing for consumers during key promotional and holiday periods.

The ad battle is playing out against the backdrop of a large and commercially attractive audience. New Nielsen Consumer & Media View (CMV) data shows around 15.4 million Australians identify as outdoor enthusiasts via their interest in fishing, camping or bush walking, making them a substantial audience for brands looking to connect through lifestyle, wellbeing, performance and quality.

This broad audience is 53.8% male and 46.2% female, with almost two-thirds aged under 55. The strongest concentration sits among 18-39 year olds, followed by 40-54 year olds, showing outdoor enthusiasm is especially strong among active, working-age Australians.

They are also motivated shoppers. Nielsen CMV shows 73.3% say they would spend more for quality goods, while 66.9% say they tend to hold off buying until products go on sale, suggesting this audience values quality but remains highly responsive to promotions and timing.

The data also points to a strong lifestyle connection. More than 66% say they prefer holidays where they can see nature or be in a natural setting, and Australians in this audience are 25% more likely than average to be seeking an adventure or outdoor experience on a domestic holiday in the next 12 months. *Full article and coverage via Nielsen.

News

Wrestling Media And Ratings Flashback

October 6, 2025

Media Man Monday Wrestling Feature

Video

Nielsen's new ratings system is bad news for pro wrestling | Wrestling Observer Radio
https://youtube.com/watch?v=T7cAAIeHUHA

Dave Meltzer goes into detail regarding Nielsen's new ratings system, which has had a very bad effect on pro wrestling so far. (F4 Online)

Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard

WWE is playing chess when most are playing checkers
https://youtube.com/watch?v=cRHawQflb1c

JBL shares his views on WrestleMania 43 heading to Saudi Arabia.

Watch full show:

#wrestlemania #wwe #wrestling #aew

Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard is an audio podcast that discusses topics, events, wrestlers and memorable moments through the lens of former WWE executive Bruce Prichard co-hosted by Conrad Thompson. STW was launched in August 2016 on MLW Radio. The episodes typically range from 2 hours to 4 hours in length, and include discussions about previous WWE pay-per-views and former WWE wrestlers. (STWW)

"We are in the TKO ERA of pro-wrestling" - Eric Bischoff | 83 Weeks
https://youtube.com/watch?v=qnVy3f3cWe0&t=177s

Eric Bischoff discusses TKO's increasing dominance over the landscape of professional wrestling and combat sports. (83 Weeks)
#ericbischoff #wweufc #tkowwe

Teddy Long on ESPN rating Wrestlepalooza 'C
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3X1pSjdvdPg

Konnan on: if Paramount buys WBD, will they drop AEW from their network?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=BsfTd9zudqw

Jim Cornette on AEW Dynamite's Record Low Ratings
https://youtube.com/watch?v=hivB1aNgLBI

Jim Cornette on What If Hulk Hogan Demanded An Ownership Stake In WWE From Vince McMahon
https://youtube.com/watch?v=6QXabryiHaw

Why WWE & AEW Should Be Worried About Nielsen’s Ratings Shake-Up
https://youtube.com/watch?v=9E_TPYByHUI

News

Nielsen Wrestling News (via X)

October 5, 2025

The Media Rating Council accredited the system, and Nielsen plans to phase out the old method entirely by late 2025. However, early results show inconsistent effects—some sports events have seen gains, but wrestling has been hit hard, with drops of 20-60% in key demographics.

As of October 6, 2025, "Nielsen Wrestling News" primarily refers to the ongoing industry-wide discussion about Nielsen's overhaul of its TV ratings methodology, which has drastically lowered reported viewership numbers for major wrestling programs like WWE and AEW.

This change, rolled out in early Q4 2025, has sparked concern among promoters, analysts, and fans about its potential impact on media deals and the perceived value of wrestling content. Below, I'll break down the key details, impacts, and reactions based on the latest reports.

What Changed in Nielsen's System?

Nielsen transitioned from its traditional "panel-only" method (tracking ~42,000 households) to a new "Big Data + Panel" approach.

This integrates:

Data from 45 million households and 75 million devices (e.g., set-top boxes, smart TVs).

The goal: More accurate, comprehensive audience measurement in a streaming-heavy era.

Impact on Wrestling Shows

The shift explains recent "plummeting" ratings, complicating year-over-year comparisons.
Here's a snapshot of affected shows (new Big Data + Panel numbers vs. old panel-only equivalents where available):

(Media Man: See Grok live results)

Broader Context and Outlook

Wrestling remains a top performer relative to other non-sports TV (e.g., WWE Raw still ranks high in key demos), but the optics are rough amid WWE's Netflix transition and AEW's expansion pushes.

Analysts like those at Wrestlenomics suggest tracking both methodologies for now to avoid panic. No major cancellations or deal breaks reported yet, but expect more scrutiny in Q4 earnings calls

Sources: Wrestlenomics, F4WOnline, Programming Insider. These aren't actual declines in audience—it's a measurement shift—but they could influence negotiations.

Industry Reactions

Dave Meltzer (Wrestling Observer Newsletter): Called it a "disaster for pro wrestling," noting wrestling's value to TV "looks to be taking a very significant hit." He highlighted disproportionate drops for WWE/AEW compared to other genres.

WWE: Expressed internal concerns that the lower numbers could undermine TNA Wrestling's ongoing TV deal talks (aiming for ~$10M annually). However, TNA President Carlos Silva stated it hasn't factored into negotiations yet. USA Network (WWE SmackDown broadcaster) is monitoring but using supplementary data like VideoAmp.

AEW/WBD (TBS/TNT): Tony Khan and Warner Bros. Discovery view it as a short-term optics issue, relying on internal metrics showing stable engagement. One source: "Not seeing a strong pattern yet—some events go up, others down."

Broader Concerns: Fears of cascading effects on ad revenue, rights fees, and even talent contracts. Reddit's r/SquaredCircle community debated it as "doom and gloom" for public perception, though networks have access to fuller data sets.

Media Man: Change is a regular occurrence in both the media, new media and pro wrestling industry. Best to adopt the Charles Darwin ideology .. adapt to change and evolve to the changing landscape. Manage risks and focus on strengths. To help get to the bottom of things as per the old saying in and around Vegas, "Follow The Money". TKO may have an ace or two up it's sleeve here, but AEW is not short a dollar either. There's many moving parts to this situation.

The combat sports sector will be watching Nielsen with an eagle eye, or evil eye?!

Many are watching the waters.

Road To Crown Jewel and Road/Flightpath to WrestleMania Saudi!

He who owns the gold makes the rules?!

More podcast and pro wrestling news fodder right?! Got to fill up those reports with something in between the pro wrestling match results.

Plenty of news outside the ring, as well as in and around in.

This storyline is writing itself. VKM and maybe Shane watching with interest. UFC can't be to bothered by this, fresh off a Paramount Skydance Deal.

Anyone game to bring back Lucha Underground? That's what we thought. How about more web only broadcasts? Still, With WWE Speed now off X and onto NXT something knows something!

The grapple for the audience and paying customers and b2b continues.

"There's a customer born every minute" P. T. Barnum

News

(In Case You Missed It)

News Flashback

Streaming Reaches Historic TV Milestone, Eclipses Combined Broadcast and Cable Viewing For First Time

June 2025

Streaming Notches a Record 44.8% of Total TV Usage in May

Streaming Usage Up 71% Since 2021, with YouTube, Netflix and Other Platforms Showing Dramatic Growth Over Four Years

FAST Services Continue to Grow as PlutoTV, Roku Channel and Tubi Combine for 5.7% of TV Viewing in May

NEW YORK – June 17, 2025 – Streaming reached a historic milestone in May as its share of total television usage outpaced the combined share of broadcast and cable for the first time ever, according to Nielsen’s monthly report of The Gauge™. Streaming represented 44.8% of TV viewership in May 2025, its largest share of viewing to date, while broadcast (20.1%) and cable (24.1%) combined to represent 44.2% of TV.

This month also marks four years since the launch of The Gauge, which debuted with the May 2021 report. As audience viewing habits—and the media landscape at large—have rapidly evolved over that time, The Gauge has continued to serve as the industry benchmark for tracking how people spend time watching television. When comparing TV usage in May 2021 and May 2025, it’s clear that streaming has been the dominant viewing format with a usage increase of 71%. And while broadcast and cable viewing have declined (down 21% and 39%, respectively, compared with May 2021), traditional TV has shown surprising resilience.

“It’s fitting that this inflection point coincides with the four year anniversary of Nielsen’s The Gauge, which has become the gold standard for streaming TV measurement,” said Karthik Rao, Nielsen CEO. “It’s also a credit to media companies, who have deftly adapted their programming strategies to meet their viewers where they are watching TV – whether it’s on streaming or linear platforms.”

Along with the 71% increase in streaming usage, six additional streaming services are now reported in the list of platforms that exceed a full share point of TV usage. The original list included Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Prime Video and Disney+, and has expanded to 11 platforms in May 2025.

Among subscription services, Netflix has gone wire-to-wire as the leading SVOD provider in total TV usage for four straight years. Netflix’s viewership has climbed 27% since May 2021, and the streamer owned the biggest day in streaming history, thanks to two exclusive NFL games it live streamed on Christmas Day 2024. Many programs—and by extension, other distributors—have also benefited from the SVOD giant through The Netflix Effect, where licensed content becomes an even bigger hit when distributed on the platform. Exemplified by memorable streaming hits like Suits (Netflix / Peacock) and Young Sheldon (Netflix / Max), this month’s top streaming title, You, (4 billion minutes) was one of the first examples of the Netflix Effect in 2018.

Free services have been a major driver of streaming’s overall success. Most notably, YouTube Main (excluding YouTube TV) has exhibited steady, significant growth and is up over 120% since 2021. YouTube represented 12.5% of all television viewing in May, its fourth consecutive monthly share increase and the highest share of TV for any streamer to date. Additionally, FAST services have become increasingly popular, and three have reached the reportable threshold in The Gauge. PlutoTV, Roku Channel and Tubi combined for 5.7% of total TV viewing in May, which is larger than any individual broadcast network this interval.

The continued transformation of traditional media companies into streaming-first entities has also been a strong contributor to the growth of streaming. Platforms like Hulu, Paramount+ and Peacock have expanded their accessibility to create crucial points of connection with streaming-native audiences, complementing rather than competing with their linear counterparts. This trend extends beyond original and catalog content, too, demonstrated by successful simulcasts of sporting events like Super Bowl LIX on FOX and Tubi, and the 2024 Olympics on NBC and Peacock. Virtually all subscription-based platforms now have ad-supported components as well, which are creating a critical new element to the television landscape from an agency and advertiser perspective as they seek to reach streaming-centric consumers.

While the milestone of streaming exceeding traditional TV viewership is almost certainly not permanent, it presumably will be in the near future. This trend could continue into the summer months, but the balance will likely shift back—at least temporarily—as football kicks off and a new broadcast season returns.

The May 2025 interval included dates 04/28/2025 through 05/25/2025. Nielsen reporting follows the broadcast calendar with measurement weeks that run Monday through Sunday.

About The Gauge™

The Gauge™ is Nielsen’s monthly snapshot of total broadcast, cable and streaming consumption that occurs through a television screen, providing the industry with a holistic look at what audiences are watching. The Gauge was expanded in April 2024 to include The Media Distributor Gauge, which reflects total viewing by media distributor across these categories. Read more about The Gauge methodology and FAQs.

About Nielsen
Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics. Through our understanding of people and their behaviors across all channels and platforms, we empower our clients with independent and actionable intelligence so they can connect and engage with their global audiences—now and into the future. Learn more at http://nielsen.com

Source: Nielsen

https://nielsen.com/news-center/2025/streaming-reaches-historic-tv-milestone-eclipses-combined-broadcast-and-cable-viewing-for-first-time/

https://nielsen.com/news-center/

Media Man

Nielsen wins Media Man 'Data Provider Of The Month' award

Media Man

Netflix

March 25, 2026 (Sydney, Australia)

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

via The (Netflix) box/interface!

1. WWE RAW
2. Sidemen: Inside
3. Virgin River
4. One Piece
5. Dynasty: The Murdochs
6. Mark Rober's CrunchLabs
7. Unicorn Academy
8. Bridgerton
9. Tyler Perry's Beauty In Black
10. The Dinosaurs

others ...

Vladimir
The TikTok Killer
A Friend: A Murderer
The Night Agent
Formula 1: Drive To Survive
Resident Alien

News

The Lead Up (For reference, data and educational purposes)

March 11

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

via The (Netflix) box/interface!

1. The Dinosaurs
2. WWE RAW
3. Bridgerton
4. Vladimir
5. The TikTok Killer
6. One Piece
7. A Friend: A Murderer
8. The Night Agent
9. Formula 1: Drive To Survive
10. Resident Alien

others ...

Shrill
Person Of Interest
Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
The Midddle.

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

*rankings can change quickly

News

The Lead Up (For educational, reference and historical purposes)

March 4, 2026 (Sydney, Australia)

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

via The (Netflix) box/interface!

1. Bridgerton
2. WWE RAW
3. Formula 1: Drive To Survive
4. Resident Alien
5. The Night Agent
6. Shrill
7. Person Of Interest
8. The Actor Awards
9. Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
10. The Midddle.

others ...

Being Gordon Ramsay
The Lincoln Lawyer

News

The Lead Up (for data, historical, educational and reference purposes)

The Lead Up

March 2, 2026 (Sydney, Australia)

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

via The (Netflix) box/interface!

1. Bridgerton
2. WWE Elimination Chamber
3. Formula 1: Drive To Survive
4. The Night Agent
5. Shrill
6. Resident Alien
7. Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
8. The Middle.
9. Being Gordon Ramsay
10. The Lincoln Lawyer

News Flashback

The Lead Up (for data, historical, educational and reference purposes)

Feb 17, 2026

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

via The (Netflix) box/interface!

1. Bridgerton
2. The Lincoln Lawyer
3. Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
4. How To Get To Heaven From Belfast
5. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
6. Unfamiliar
7. Lead Children
8. The Art Of Sarah
9. Single's Inferno: Reunion
10. His&Hers

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

*rankings can change quickly

The Lead Up (for data, historical, educational and reference purposes)

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

Feb 11

via The (Netflix) box/interface!

1. The Lincoln Lawyer
2. Bridgerton
3. WWE RAW
4. Unfamiliar
5. Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich
6. His&Hers
7. Singles Inferno
8. Is It Cake? Valentines
9. Ghosts
10. Free Bert

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

*rankings can change quickly

News

The Lead Up (for historical, date and reference purposes)

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

WWE RAW and WWE NXT strong rankings on Thursday night live data reports via The (Netflix) box/interface!

Feb 5, 2026

1. Bridgerton
2. His & Hers
3. Single's Inferno
4. Ghosts
5. Is It Cake? Valentines
6. WWE Raw
7. Free Bert
8. WWE NXT
9. Finding Her Edge
10. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

*rankings can change quickly

*WWE Raw is ranking much stronger than some U.S based "wrestling sheets" and "pro wrestling websites" are reporting. It's Thursday night in Sydney, Australia and RAW is still at number 6 in The Land Down Under!

*WWE NXT in number 8 position now! Stronger performance since Robert Stone replaced Ava as NXT General Manager. NXT international business has picked up right Triple H and JR! This is live date from the Nexflix TV interface on a Thursday night in Sydney, Australia. You got that American pro wrestling dirt sheet "reporters"!

News Flashback

The Lead Up (for data, historical, educational and reference purposes)

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

January 21, 2026

1. His & Hers
2. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
3. WWE Raw
4. Harlen Coben's Run Away
5. Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web
6. Stranger Things
7. Can this Love Be Translated?
8. 2 Broke Girls
9. Smallville
10. Emily In Paris

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge
*rankings can change quickly

Streaming

Netflix

The Lead Up

Top 10 TV Shows In Australia Today

January 20, 2026

1. His & Hers
2. Agatha Christie's Seven Dials
3. Harlen Coben's Run Away
4. Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web
5. Stranger Things
6. Can this Love Be Translated?
7. Smallville
8. 2 Broke Girls
9. Undercover Miss Hong
10. Rick And Morty

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge
*rankings can change quickly

News

Netflix News

Here's the latest Netflix news as of mid-January 2026!

The streaming giant is kicking off the year strong with a packed slate of new releases, ongoing buzz around major deals, and continued subscriber growth.

Major Highlights

Netflix is reportedly in the midst of a blockbuster acquisition: the company has agreed to buy Warner Bros. in a massive deal valued at around $82.7 billion (with some reports citing $72 billion in equity value).

This move aims to supercharge its content library with iconic franchises like Harry Potter and classic films.

However, there's drama — Paramount Skydance has launched a competing hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, adding some high-stakes industry intrigue!

Netflix ended 2025 with over 301.6 million global subscribers, solidifying its position as the top streaming platform.

What's New & Coming in January 2026

January is loaded with fresh originals, from thrilling mysteries to romantic adaptations and long-awaited returns.

Here are some of the standout releases that are lighting up the charts and generating buzz right now:

People We Meet on Vacation — A charming rom-com adaptation of the Emily Henry novel, starring Emily Bader — it's been topping the charts as one of the biggest new movies of the year so far!

The Rip — This high-octane action-thriller directed by Joe Carnahan reunites Ben Affleck and Matt Damon — it's one of the most anticipated films dropping mid-month, perfect for fans of intense heist vibes!

His & Hers — A gripping mystery series starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal, following estranged spouses racing to solve a murder. It's been climbing the Top 10 with strong buzz around its twists.

Bridgerton Season 4 — The Regency-era drama returns later in the month (Part 1 premiering around Jan 29), with plenty of masquerade glamour and romance — the premiere events are already making waves!

Other notables include:

Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart (true-crime docuseries)

New seasons of hits like Unlocked: A Jail Experiment, Love Is Blind: Germany, and WWE Unreal

Stand-up specials and reality shows keeping the variety flowing.

Plus, don't miss the Stranger Things 5 making-of documentary One Last Adventure, which premiered earlier this month for fans wanting a deep dive into the finale. Netflix is clearly doubling down on big stars, book adaptations, and high-energy originals to keep viewers hooked in 2026. (Grok)

Netflix: News

Netflix is a global streaming service providing a vast library of films, TV shows, documentaries, and mobile games. As of 2026, it has approximately 325 million paid members across more than 190 countries.

Pricing & Plans: Subscription plans typically range from $7.99 to $24.99 per month.

Content Offerings: Includes "Netflix Originals" (like Stranger Things and Squid Game), licensed content, and a growing selection of live programming and video podcasts.

Device Compatibility: Streamable on smart TVs, game consoles, smartphones, tablets, and via http://Netflix.com.

Features: Supports offline downloads, personalized recommendations, and a dedicated "Netflix Kids" experience with parental controls.

Recent 2026 Developments

Warner Bros. Merger News: As of January 21, 2026, Netflix has moved toward an all-cash $27.75-per-share offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming to outbid Paramount.

Market Reaction: Despite a Q4 earnings beat, Netflix shares saw a 7% decline in some markets (e.g., Frankfurt) on January 21, 2026, due to investor concerns regarding the financial weight of the Warner Bros. acquisition.

New Initiatives: The company is expanding into vertical video features for mobile and has recently launched video podcasts.

Live Events: Upcoming live events include the world-record climber Alex Honnold's "Skyscraper Live" ascent of Taipei 101 on January 23, 2026.

News

(In Case You Missed It)

WWE Unreal

WWE Unreal is a professional wrestling documentary and reality series on Netflix that provides an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and internal operations of WWE.

WWE Unreal

Show Overview

Genre: Reality television / Documentary series.

Premise: The series follows WWE Superstars and executives, notably Paul "Triple H" Levesque, as they plan storylines in the writers' room and manage the "Gorilla Position" during live broadcasts.

Production: A collaboration between WWE, Omaha Productions (Peyton Manning), NFL Films, and Skydance Sports.

Seasons & Episodes

The series has released two seasons as of January 2026:

Season 1: Premiered July 29, 2025. It chronicled the lead-up to the debut of WWE Raw on Netflix and WrestleMania 41. Notable segments included a look at John Cena's high-profile storyline turns and the return of Charlotte Flair.

Season 2: Released January 20, 2026. This five-episode season focuses on the "Road to SummerSlam 2025" and features superstars like Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley, and Cody Rhodes.

It delves into real-life drama such as R-Truth's contract negotiations and Naomi's previous walkout from the company.

Season 3: Confirmed to be in development, expected to focus on John Cena's retirement tour.

Key Personalities Featured

Executives: Paul "Triple H" Levesque (Narrator), Peyton Manning (Executive Producer).

Superstars: John Cena, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, and Bianca Belair.

Merchandise

Related promotional items and apparel are available, including:

CM Punk "WWE Unreal" Hoodie: A themed fleece hoodie priced at approximately $69 USD (~$116 AUD).

Action Figures: Mattel has released sets like the "Hall of Champions" 4-pack featuring legendary superstars seen in the series.

News

Media Man

Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Service Of The Month' award (January 2026, February and March 2026)

News Flashback

TrillerTV: News

Streaming Media wars heat up: Netflix, Stan, HeyU; Sports Streamers - WWE Network, FITE TV, New Japan World, UFC Fight Pass, ESPN +, Paramount Network, Global Wrestling Network et al. Opportunities, threats and unknown

Content Live (Australian Expo)

Sports Streaming

PPV News

Streaming Top 10

Current

January 15, 2026

1.. Stranger Things (Netflix)

2. Landman (2024). (Paramount+)

3. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)

4. NCIS (Hulu / Netflix / Paramount+ / Pluto TV)

5. Emily in Paris (Netflix)

6. Homeland (Hulu / Netflix)

7. Fallout (2024) (Prime Video)

8. Bluey (Disney+)

9. IT: Welcome to Derry (2025) (HBO Max)

10. Grey's Anatomy (Hulu / Netflix)

*Correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

News

Streaming Top 10

Jan 15

Movies

1. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.
Netflix

2. Home Alone. Disney+

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Peacock

4. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Disney+

5 Elf. Max

6. Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie. Netflix / Paramount+

7. Red One (2024). Prime Video

8. Dr.Seuss' The Grinch (2018)
Peacock

9. The Great Flood (2025). Netflix

10. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. HBO Max

News

The Lead Up

January 12, 2026

1. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) (Peacock)

3. Home Alone (Disney)

4. Jay Kelly (2025) (Netflix)

5. My Secret Santa (2025) (Netflix)

6 Oh. What. Fun. (2025) (Prime Video)

7. KPop Demon Hunters (2025) (Netflix)

8. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (Disney+)

9. Dr.Seuss' The Grinch (2018) (Peacock)

10. The Santa Clause (Disney+)

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

News Flashback

October 24, 2025

Pop Culture/Entertainment

Streaming TV: Movies Top 10

Flashback

1. KPop Demon Hunters (2025) Netflix
2. Superman (2025) HBO Max
3. Elio (2025) Disney+
4. 28 Years Later (2025) Netflix
5. Ruth & Boaz (2025) Netflix
6. San Andreas. Netflix
7. Ice Road: Vengeance. Netflix
8. The Wrong Paris (2025) Netflix
9 Lilo & Stitch (2025) Disney+
10. Shrek 2. Netflix / Peacock

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

Pop Culture/Entertainment

March 21, 2025

Streaming Ratings

1. Zero Day (Netflix), 1.84 billion minutes viewed 2. Reacher (Prime Video), 1.81 billion 3. Love Is Blind (Netflix), 1.42 billion 4. Bluey (Disney+), 1.05 billion 5. Family Guy (Hulu), 1.01 billion 6. Cobra Kai (Netflix), 893 million 7. Saturday Night Live (Peacock), 863 million 8. American Murder: Gabby Petito (Netflix), 801 million 9. Resident Alien (Netflix/Peacock), 765 million 10. Yellowjackets (Netflix/Paramount+), 742 million

Acquired Series

1. Bluey, 1.05 billion minutes 2. Family Guy, 1.01 billion 3. Saturday Night Live, 863 million 4. Resident Alien, 765 million 5. Yellowjackets, 742 million 6. The White Lotus (Max), 735 million 7. NCIS (Hulu/Netflix/Paramount+), 718 million 8. Bob’s Burgers (Hulu), 706 million 9. The Big Bang Theory (Max), 702 million 10. Grey’s Anatomy (Hulu/Netflix), 701 million

Movies:

1. To Catch a Killer (2023) (Hulu/Netflix), 694 million minutes 2. Trial by Fire (2018) (Netflix), 463 million 3. The Gorge (Apple TV+), 362 million 4. La Dolce Villa (Netflix), 310 million 5. Don’t Let Go (Netflix), 244 million 6. Aftermath (Netflix), 241 million 7. The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Prime Video), 210 million 8. Heart of Champions (Netflix), 199 million 9. Nosferatu (2024) (Peacock), 192 million 10. Moana (Disney+), 189 million

News

Media Man

WWE RAW On Netflix wins Media Man 'Streaming Series Of The Month'; Runner-up: WWE SmackDown (Streaming on Netflix in Australia and some other non-US markets). RAW nor SmackDown are currently in the top 10 streaming charts as far as we can ascertain. RAW peaked at number 1 and 3 positions for the first couple of broadcasts via Netflix. WWE can be expected to race up the charts again as WrestleMania Season is heating up.

Zero Hour wins Media Man 'Political Thriller/Drama Of The Year' award. (Currently streaming on Netflix)

*Rakings can vary on a daily basis.
*Correct at time of publication.

Sources Include: X, Netflix TUDUM

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10/tv

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10

NETFLIX TO BECOME NEW HOME OF WWE RAW BEGINNING 2025

Long-Term Deal Brings Weekly Live Sports Entertainment to Netflix

STAMFORD, Conn., January 23, 2024 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) today announced a long-term partnership that will bring WWE’s flagship weekly program – Raw – to the world’s leading entertainment service. This marks a major programming shift as Raw leaves linear television for the first time since its inception 31 years ago

Beginning in January 2025, Netflix will be the exclusive new home of Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time. Likewise, as part of the agreement, Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. as available, inclusive of Raw and WWE’s other weekly shows – SmackDown and NXT – as well as the company’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. WWE’s award-winning documentaries, original series and forthcoming projects will also be available on Netflix internationally beginning in 2025

“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”

“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria. “By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”

“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base."

With 1,600 episodes to date, Raw is the most iconic show in sports entertainment. Since its debut in 1993, Raw has delivered action, compelling drama and unmatched athleticism – 52 weeks a year. Blending the best of scripted content with unpredictable live entertainment, the three-hour show has helped launch the careers of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair.

The show is currently the No. 1 show on USA Network, where it brings in 17.5 million unique viewers over the course of the year. One of television’s best performing shows in the 18-49 advertising demographic, Raw trends on X 52 weeks a year while each new episode is airing. On social media, WWE has more than one billion followers across its platforms.

###

About WWE
WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, TNT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in approximately 165 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com.

About Netflix
Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with over 247 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About TKO
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company that comprises UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. Together, our organizations reach more than 1 billion TV households in approximately 170 countries, and we organize more than 350 live events year-round, attracting over one million fans. TKO is majority owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, expected programming and viewer benefits under the multi-year domestic media rights partnership with and NBCUniversal. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from what is expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to the factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in TKO’s final prospectus on Form 424(b)(3) filed with the SEC on September 19, 2023, as any such factors may be updated from time to time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as may be required under applicable law, neither TKO nor WWE undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise

Investors and others should note that TKO announces material financial and operational information to its investors using press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts, as well as its Investor Relations site at investor.tkogrp.com. TKO may also use its website as a distribution channel of material information about the Company. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about TKO, UFC and WWE when you enroll your email address by visiting the “Investor Email Alerts” option under the Resources tab on investor.tkogrp.com.

Wrestling News

WWE

Cody Rhodes and Bayley win the Royal Rumble Matches to earn the right to headline WrestleMania

At the 2024 Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes and Bayley both outlasted 29 other Superstars to win their respective Royal Rumble Matches and earn the right to challenge a World Champion at The Showcase of the Immortals. Plus, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns successfully defended his title against Randy Orton, AJ Styles and LA Knight in a Fatal 4-Way Match, and Kevin Owens accidently got himself disqualified in a United States Title Match against Logan Paul.

Wrestling News

Cody Rhodes Addresses Never Crossing Paths With CM Punk In AEW

Cody Rhodes is surprised he never crossed paths in any real way with CM Punk during their respective runs in AEW.

“The American Nightmare” spoke about this during the WWE Royal Rumble 2024 post-show press conference on Saturday night.

“It’s funny that we meet back here,” Cody said of himself and Punk. “Really. When we were at AEW, I thought we would encounter one another there. It didn’t happen. For whatever reason, it didn’t happen.”

He continued, “I think both him and I had different personal experiences. Don’t believe anything that Wade Keller put out about why I left or anything like that. The truth is, nobody knows. Personal thing. Probably a personal thing for Punk. That happens. People come. People go. It’s not a huge thing.”

Rhodes also spoke about reuniting with The Miz, Kofi Kingston and Punk and it feeling like his first run in WWE.

“To see [CM Punk] tonight. To see Miz. To see Kofi. Those were my guys,” he said. “First OVW show I walked into, Brent Albright vs. CM Punk was the main event and Punk was also running the whole show, maybe set up the ring. To see that, sometimes you want another person who you admire and respect to stop looking at you as the kid and look at you and see who you are now. I think he got to see who I am now. That means a lot to me. He’s amazing, could have gone either way, I look forward to what he does in WWE.”

Wrestling News and Streaming News

Netflix to become new home of WWE Raw beginning 2025

STAMFORD, Conn., January 23, 2024 – WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) today announced a long-term partnership that will bring WWE’s flagship weekly program – Raw – to the world’s leading entertainment service. This marks a major programming shift as Raw leaves linear television for the first time since its inception 31 years ago.

Beginning in January 2025, Netflix will be the exclusive new home of Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time. Likewise, as part of the agreement, Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. as available, inclusive of Raw and WWE’s other weekly shows – SmackDown and NXT – as well as the company’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. WWE’s award-winning documentaries, original series and forthcoming projects will also be available on Netflix internationally beginning in 2025.

“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”

“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria. “By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”

“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base."

With 1,600 episodes to date, Raw is the most iconic show in sports entertainment. Since its debut in 1993, Raw has delivered action, compelling drama and unmatched athleticism – 52 weeks a year. Blending the best of scripted content with unpredictable live entertainment, the three-hour show has helped launch the careers of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair.

The show is currently the No. 1 show on USA Network, where it brings in 17.5 million unique viewers over the course of the year. One of television’s best performing shows in the 18-49 advertising demographic, Raw trends on X 52 weeks a year while each new episode is airing. On social media, WWE has more than one billion followers across its platforms.

Netflix to Become New Home of WWE Raw Beginning 2025

01/23/2024

Long-Term Deal Brings Weekly Live Sports Entertainment to Netflix

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), and Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) today announced a long-term partnership that will bring WWE’s flagship weekly program – Raw – to the world’s leading entertainment service. This marks a major programming shift as Raw leaves linear television for the first time since its inception 31 years ago.

Beginning in January 2025, Netflix will be the exclusive new home of Raw in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America, among other territories, with additional countries and regions to be added over time. Likewise, as part of the agreement, Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S. as available, inclusive of Raw and WWE’s other weekly shows – SmackDown and NXT – as well as the company’s Premium Live Events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble. WWE’s award-winning documentaries, original series and forthcoming projects will also be available on Netflix internationally beginning in 2025.

“This deal is transformative,” said Mark Shapiro, TKO President and COO. “It marries the can’t-miss WWE product with Netflix’s extraordinary global reach and locks in significant and predictable economics for many years. Our partnership fundamentally alters and strengthens the media landscape, dramatically expands the reach of WWE, and brings weekly live appointment viewing to Netflix.”

“We are excited to have WWE Raw, with its huge and passionate multigenerational fan base, on Netflix,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria. “By combining our reach, recommendations, and fandom with WWE, we’ll be able to deliver more joy and value for their audiences and our members. Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”

“In its relatively short history, Netflix has engineered a phenomenal track record for storytelling,” said Nick Khan, WWE President. “We believe Netflix, as one of the world’s leading entertainment brands, is the ideal long-term home for Raw’s live, loyal, and ever-growing fan base."

With 1,600 episodes to date, Raw is the most iconic show in sports entertainment. Since its debut in 1993, Raw has delivered action, compelling drama and unmatched athleticism – 52 weeks a year. Blending the best of scripted content with unpredictable live entertainment, the three-hour show has helped launch the careers of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Triple H, John Cena, Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair.

The show is currently the No. 1 show on USA Network, where it brings in 17.5 million unique viewers over the course of the year. One of television’s best performing shows in the 18-49 advertising demographic, Raw trends on X 52 weeks a year while each new episode is airing. On social media, WWE has more than one billion followers across its platforms.

About WWE

WWE, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion homes worldwide in 25 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, FOX Sports, TNT Sport, Sony India and Rogers. The award-winning WWE Network includes all premium live events, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand library and is currently available in approximately 165 countries. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to WWE Network. Additional information on WWE can be found at http://wwe.com and http://corporate.wwe.com.

About Netflix

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with over 247 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

About TKO

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company that comprises UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. Together, our organizations reach more than 1 billion TV households in approximately 170 countries, and we organize more than 350 live events year-round, attracting over one million fans. TKO is majority owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, expected programming and viewer benefits under the multi-year domestic media rights partnership with and NBCUniversal. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from what is expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to the factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in TKO’s final prospectus on Form 424(b)(3) filed with the SEC on September 19, 2023, as any such factors may be updated from time to time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and, except as may be required under applicable law, neither TKO nor WWE undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Investors and others should note that TKO announces material financial and operational information to its investors using press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts, as well as its Investor Relations site at http://investor.tkogrp.com. TKO may also use its website as a distribution channel of material information about the Company. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about TKO, UFC and WWE when you enroll your email address by visiting the “Investor Email Alerts” option under the Resources tab on http://investor.tkogrp.com.

(Sources: Netflix, WWE/TKO Group and Business Wire)

Streaming News

Netflix to stream WWE’s Raw starting next year in its biggest jump into live entertainment - January 28, 2024

Netflix and TKO Group Holdings said Tuesday that the streaming platform will air the WWE’s flagship program Raw starting next year.

Netflix is trying to drive revenue by cutting down on subscription sharing and pushing viewers toward its ad-tier membership.

The streaming platform is making its first major foray into live sports, while WWE will get access to Netflix’s roughly 250 million global subscribers.

Netflix and TKO Group Holdings said Tuesday that the streaming platform will air WWE’s flagship program “Raw” starting next year, in Netflix’s first major foray into live sports.

The 10-year deal is valued at more than $5 billion, according to a company filing. Netflix will have the option to exit the deal after five years and to extend it for another decade. The streaming platform will be able to stream “Raw” globally, and will start the agreement with exclusive rights to it in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Latin America. Netflix will also become the home for all WWE shows and specials outside the U.S., including “SmackDown” and “NXT” as well as “WrestleMania,” “SummerSlam” and “Royal Rumble.”

TKO shares spiked more than 20% following the news and a separate announcement that actor and former wrestling superstar Dwayne Johnson would join its board of directors. Netflix shares rose less than 1%, hours before the company was set to report earnings after the bell Tuesday.

Netflix, which is trying to drive revenue by cutting down on subscription sharing and pushing viewers toward its ad-tier membership, has made few attempts at live programming in its history. Adding “Raw,” which currently airs on USA Network and produces three hours of live programming per week year-round, to its programming lineup will be a boon to the platform and a significant historical shift for Netflix.

“This is a super game changer,” said TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro in an interview. “When you look back at the chapters of sports media history, new chapters are driven by extraordinary new paradigms. ESPN and Turner bringing NFL to cable in 1987. Rupert Murdoch bringing football to Fox in 1994. When new histories are written, Raw on Netflix will be such a chapter starter.”

Netflix has dabbled in sports recently with documentary-type series about Formula One and professional golf, tennis and football. This deal will allow Netflix to tap into WWE intellectual property for similar projects. With WWE permission, Netflix could even develop movies or series around WWE characters, a person familiar with the matter said.

For TKO, the parent company of WWE, striking a deal with Netflix brings WWE wrestling to about 250 million global subscribers. WWE President Nick Khan has had Netflix on his radar as a potential landing spot for “Raw” for several years.

He discussed the world’s largest streamer on a WWE earnings call in the first quarter of 2022, referencing how Netflix has showed openness to changing long-held stances, such as rejecting advertising and cracking down on password sharing. As recently as December 2022, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said at the UBS Global TMT Conference that Netflix had not “seen a profit path to renting big sports.”

“Netflix is willing to make adjustments and reverse positions when it identifies an issue,” Khan said back in 2022.

Choosing Netflix

TKO held discussions with other media companies but zeroed in on Netflix in December, according to people familiar with the matter.

Netflix’s global footprint, which outreaches every other streaming service, was a key draw for WWE, Shapiro said.

“This is one of the greatest entertainment platforms in the world,” Shapiro said of Netflix. “It has marketing you can’t even comprehend. It has positioning that’s unparalleled in terms of what they do on their front page.”

Netflix announced earlier this month it had 23 million monthly active users for its advertising tier, which the company launched in November 2022. Matches will be scripted around commercial breaks to satisfy ad-free customers, who will see continued action from live matches that aren’t important to the outcome, such as a wrestler in a sustained headlock, according to a person familiar with the matter.

“Raw” is the top program on the USA cable network, drawing 17.5 million unique viewers per year, the companies said. Shapiro said Amazon’s ability to stream “Thursday Night Football” this season without a glitch and Peacock’s recent success streaming a National Football League playoff game gave him confidence Netflix will be technologically sound streaming “Raw,” even if it hasn’t done anything like this on a consistent basis yet.

Disclosure: Comcast NBCUniversal, CNBC’s parent company, owns USA Network.

Clarification: This story was updated to reflect that Netflix said it had 23 million monthly active users for its advertising tier.

TKO APPOINTS DWAYNE JOHNSON TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Johnson Granted Full Ownership of Trademarked Name, “The Rock”

NEW YORK (January 23, 2024) – TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) (“TKO”), a premium sports and entertainment company, has appointed Dwayne Johnson to its Board of Directors, effective today.

Johnson, one of the most decorated WWE Superstars in company history and the most followed American man globally on social media platforms, brings decades of experience in live entertainment and sports to the Board. Through his expansive business portfolio, which includes Seven Bucks Productions, Teremana Tequila, ZOA Energy, Project Rock, and the recently combined spring football league, the United Football League (UFL), Johnson has significant experience identifying and cultivating revenue generating media rights, live events, sponsorship, licensing, and social media opportunities. The appointment of Johnson reflects TKO’s commitment to delivering long-term value and strong performance for shareholders through strategic growth initiatives across both UFC and WWE.

Vince McMahon, Executive Chairman of the Board, TKO, said: “Very few people on the planet understand the convergence of sports, entertainment, media, and business like Rock. We are proud to have him join the TKO board to help take our company to new heights.”

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, said: “My grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, and my dad, Rocky ‘Soulman’ Johnson, would’ve never thought this day would come. Which is why I’m very humbled to have a seat at the table that has decades of history and family legacy for me. A table that my family helped to build. Being on the TKO Board of Directors, and taking full ownership of my name, ‘The Rock’, is not only unprecedented, but incredibly inspiring as my crazy life is coming full circle. At my core, I’m a builder who builds for and serves the people, and Ari is building something truly game changing. I’m very motivated to help continue to globally expand our TKO, WWE, and UFC businesses as the worldwide leaders in sports and entertainment — while proudly representing so many phenomenal athletes and performers who show up every day putting in the hard work with their own two hands to make their dreams come true and deliver for our audiences. I’ve been there, I’m still there and this is for them.”

Ariel Emanuel, CEO, TKO, said: “I am thrilled to partner with Dwayne and welcome his immense talent to TKO’s Board. Dwayne brings an incredible track record of creating content and building globally recognized consumer brands, and he will play a key role in realizing our ambitions for TKO.”

WWE has also entered into a services and merchandising agreement with Johnson that provides for his promotional, licensing, and other services, and an intellectual property assignment agreement pursuant to which Johnson has secured ownership of the trademarked name, “The Rock”. The name is derived from his father, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson, who was the first Black champion in WWE history (alongside partner Tony Atlas). Johnson’s grandfather, Peter Maivia, a Samoan-American professional wrestler, was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008.

The addition of Johnson, as well as today’s appointment of Brad Keywell to TKO’s Board of Directors, will increase TKO’s board from 11 to 13 members.

Dwayne Johnson Background

Dwayne Johnson is a global entertainer and entrepreneur who manages a diverse and ever-expanding media and business portfolio. Johnson serves as the co-founder and CEO of Seven Bucks Companies, a multi-platform global enterprise crossing all entertainment and creative verticals with an audience-first mentality. A third-generation performer, Johnson began his WWE career in 1996 and remains one of WWE’s preeminent WWE Superstars in the organization’s history.

Johnson develops, produces, and stars in all forms of entertainment content via his production company, Seven Bucks Productions, LLC, which he co-founded in 2012. In addition to Seven Bucks Productions, LLC, Johnson has founded multiple business ventures, including Teramana Tequila, the fastest-growing tequila brand in history, and co-founded ZOA Energy, LLC, an energy drink company in partnership with Molson Coors. In 2020, Johnson co-led a consortium to acquire the XFL, a professional American football league, which re-launched in 2023 before merging with the USFL to form the UFL. Johnson also maintains several prominent brand partnerships. Alongside Under Armour, Inc., Johnson founded and developed a line of fitness apparel under the “Project Rock” brand. In 2016 and 2019, Johnson was named by TIME as one of the world’s most influential people.

A dedicated philanthropist, Johnson serves as a National Celebrity Wish Ambassador for Make-A-Wish and has been granting wishes with the organization for over 20 years. In 2008, the United States Congress and the United States Joint Leadership Commission recognized Johnson with the prestigious Horizon Award, the U.S. Congressional Award given to an individual in the private sector who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and provided opportunities for youth nationwide. Johnson graduated from the University of Miami, where he earned a football scholarship and became NCAA National Football Champions.

Johnson has been a client of Endeavor’s WME agency for nearly 13 years.

About TKO

TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company that comprises UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization, and WWE, an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. Together, our organizations reach more than 1 billion TV households in approximately 170 countries, and we organize more than 350 live events year-round, attracting over one million fans. TKO is majority owned by Endeavor Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: EDR), a global sports and entertainment company.

Streaming News

Tubi Makes Late Play To Be 'Streamer Of The Year'

Fox’s advertising supported streamer Tubi @tubi strikes deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to stream DC movies including “The Batman,” “Suicide Squad,” “Black Adam,” “Wonder Woman” and “Aquaman,” in addition to as superhero themed series “Batwoman,” “Gotham” and “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”

The news comes at a not so great time for other streaming firms such as Netflix and don't even start us on embattled Disney, who parents and their offspring have been tuning out of in droves.

“Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn),” “Green Lantern” and “Wonder Woman 1984,” will also hit Tubi’s on-demand lineup in 2024.

Available as of Tuesday are “Batman,” “Batman Returns” and “Batman Forever,” as well as “Superman: The Movie” and “Superman II,” and TV series “Batwoman,” “Gotham” and “Krypton.”

Pro wrestling living legend John Cena of WWE and 'Peacemaker' fame is keen to do some more work and collaborations with DC into the new year now that that apparent communications "ban" between him and DC powers that be is no longer. What a business hey, hence showbiz! Hollywood er Hollyweird, never mind.

More Streaming News

FITE (soon to be Triller) is our 'Sports Streamer Of The Year', and BINGE wins 'Streaming Service Of The Year' (Australian region)

Sources: Variety, Wires, New Corp, Advanced Television, Digital TV Europe, Wikipedia and last but not least, X.

The Streaming Wars

The rise of FAST services
As streaming services continue to raise subscription prices, customers have attempted to find ways to cut costs—including free. According to a Hub Entertainment Research study, more than half (55%) of consumers said they use at least one free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) service, such as Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, Tubi, Amazon’s Freevee, or the free version of Peacock. Perhaps there’s no greater example of the service’s success this year than Freevee’s Jury Duty, which quickly became a word-of-month hit, catapulting it to the top of U.S. streaming charts. Earlier this year, Tubi announced it was beefing up original programming in its catalog to lure new subscribers.

The great rebundling
In the spring, Warner Bros. Discovery unveiled Max, the result of HBO Max merging with Discovery+, to broaden the appeal of the new flagship streaming platform, while Paramount debuted Paramount+ with Showtime to domestic audiences shortly after. Meanwhile, more streaming bundles began rolling out this year: Disney—which already offered a bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+—launched a one-app experience, offering Hulu and Disney+ programming in the same space. Recently, Apple and Paramount were reportedly in talks to bundle their streaming services at a discount, while Verizon announced it would offer a $10 bundle for the ad-supported subscription plans of Netflix and Max streaming services. An AlixPartners study found that about 70% of new streaming subscribers will get their subscriptions from streaming bundles, or with plans that combine a streaming subscription with cable TV, broadband, or wireless plans, as opposed to stand-alone streaming services.

A big bet on sports
According to one study, 29% of viewers are watching sports on streaming services like Prime Video. At the end of last year, YouTube TV acquired the NFL’s Sunday Ticket for reportedly $2 billion, beating out Disney, Amazon, and Apple for the package. The deal allows subscribers to watch the Sunday Ticket as an add-on for YouTubeTV, or as a stand-alone purchase on YouTube Primetime Channels. Last year, Prime Video began live streaming Thursday Night Football games, which saw viewership go up 25% this season. Netflix announced last week it will livestream a tennis match between Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in the spring, while Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed last month that the company will launch a stand-alone streaming app of ESPN in 2025.

Studios uploading entire TV shows and films on social media
Pirating content online isn’t anything new, but Gen Z has been turning to social media to watch full episodes and movies for free. On TikTok, a quick search shows that the platform is overrun with episodes and parts of full movies uploaded by users, while an uploaded version of The Super Mario Bros. Movie was viewed by 9 million people on Twitter before it was taken down. To meet users where they are, Peacock experimented with releasing programming on social media and uploaded the pilot episode of its comedy series Killing It on TikTok in five parts, which according to a Peacock spokesperson, garnered 7 million views. A month later, on October 3 (aka Mean Girls Day), Paramount uploaded the entirety of Mean Girls on TikTok. A study found that nearly a quarter (23%) of TikTok users are more likely to discover entertainment content on social and video platforms versus other platforms.

Reruns are back in (again)
This isn’t exactly a new trend, but it’s one that’s been building as more consumers become cord-cutters. Unsurprisingly, popular classic shows with massive fan bases like The Office, Friends, Seinfeld, and Breaking Bad continue to find success on streaming services. Some other recent examples include Nickelodeon’s 2005 animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender debuting on Netflix, making it one of the most-watched children’s shows during the pandemic, while the CW’s Riverdale and All-American have trended on Netflix when it was made available on the platform. This year’s biggest example was USA Network’s Suits, which gained newfound popularity after being licensed on Netflix, pushing it to the No. 1 spot on U.S. streaming charts. If the success of Suits proves anything, it’s that licensing might be the way to go if networks want to generate interest in (and get paid for) some of their older programming.

That movie you didn’t watch might grab your attention as a 3-part limited series instead
When BlackBerry came out in theaters this spring, it was met with much critical acclaim for its acting and storytelling, and earned $2.9 million at the global box office. In October, IFC Films released the 121-minute-long film as a three-part limited series with 16 minutes of unseen footage. “I look at this as a way for a smaller, independent piece of work to double-dip and find its audience,” director Matt Johnson told Variety when asked about the decision to recut the film. Last month, Hulu premiered Faraway Downs, a six-episode series, which is an reedited version of Baz Luhrmann’s 2008 film, Australia, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. While the original film has a running time of nearly three hours, the series adds an extra hour of new footage, with some plot changes. While Australia received mixed reviews when it premiered, Luhrmann told the Daily Beast that he wanted to revisit the film, and leaned on episodic storytelling to present the story in a different way, in hopes of giving it a second chance with some viewers.

Sport, Sports News, Sports Flashback, Sports Entertainment, Sports Watercooler, Sports Culture

Australian And World Update

Past, Present And Future

January 2026

What Is Sport?

Sport: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

"Sport" means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organized participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.

A sport is generally defined as an organized, competitive activity that requires physical exertion and skill. While definitions can vary between organizations, most require a combination of physical ability, a set of formal rules, and a competitive element to determine a winner.

Key Characteristics of Sport

Physical Activity: Most traditional definitions require "vigorous bodily exertion" or specialized physical skills (e.g., athletics, soccer).

Competition: It involves individuals or teams competing against each other or a set standard (like a clock or distance).

Rules & Governance: Activities are typically governed by an institutional framework or set of codified rules to ensure fair play.

Entertainment: Beyond the participants, sports often serve as a major source of entertainment for spectators

News

Pro Wrestling Watercooler

Jade Cargill Fires Back at Critics Over 77-Day Undefended Title Reign

After pinning Tiffany Stratton at Saturday Night's Main Event, Cargill dismissed calls for a defense against SmackDown's rising star Jordynne Grace, posting that she won't face a 'walk up nobody' and only steps up for real competition. Grace, a three-time TNA Knockouts Champion, has been building momentum with quick wins and tense stare-downs, including pinning Chelsea Green after hyped segments with Cargill. Fans highlight Cargill's zero defenses in 77 days, some labeling her a 'paper champ,' while her supporters note similar reigns like IYO SKY's and praise her undefeated aura from AEW days. With Royal Rumble approaching, WWE teases the rivalry but books no match yet.

News

Pro Wrestling

Drew McIntyre Parades WWE Title in Triumphant London Return

McIntyre captured the gold by sweeping Cody Rhodes in a Three Stages of Hell match on January 9, then turned heel in his promo, denying Rhodes a rematch via contract clause while blasting doubting fans. Randy Orton interrupted demanding payback, sparking chaos with Jacob Fatu's ambush, leading SmackDown GM Nick Aldis to launch a tournament—sending Orton, Trick Williams, Sami Zayn, and Damian Priest to a Fatal 4-Way at Saturday Night's Main Event before Royal Rumble. Fans celebrated the moment, especially meaningful after McIntyre's pandemic-era reigns without crowds, with many calling him essential to WWE's draw.

News

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair Defeat Giulia and Kiana James on SmackDown

Charlotte Flair, back after missing a week due to illness, teamed with Bliss to topple Women's United States Champion Giulia and Kiana James in high-energy tag action Friday night. Post-match chaos saw Nia Jax and Lash Legend attack, with Giulia itching to fight back. The victory sets up a triple-threat tag match next week, where the winners earn a shot at the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships. Flair posted a sweet shoutout to Bliss, calling her indispensable.

News

American Football

Broncos Host Bills in First Home Playoff Game in a Decade

The No. 1 seed Broncos (14-3) welcome the No. 6 Bills (12-5) Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+, with Denver favored by 1.5 points. Rookie Bo Nix preps for his second playoff start after leading a turnaround season under Sean Payton, backed by a stout defense and receivers like Courtland Sutton. Buffalo's Josh Allen and top-ranked rushing attack with James Cook aim to advance despite injuries to Ty Johnson, Terrel Bernard, and Jordan Poyer, in ideal mid-40s weather at Mile High. (Grok)

News

American Football/NFL

NFL Divisional Round Opens with Broncos vs Bills and Key Matchups

The divisional round starts Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET with Buffalo challenging the top-seeded Broncos on CBS, pitting Bo Nix's revamped defense against Allen's dual-threat style. That night, the 49ers visit the Seahawks at 8 p.m. ET on Fox in an NFC West battle. Sunday brings Texans at No. 2 seed Patriots at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC, where Houston loses star Nico Collins to a concussion but gains no excuses against a bolstered New England secondary led by Christian Gonzalez. (Grok)

News

Boxing

Zuffa Boxing is a professional boxing promotion launched in June 2025 as a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings (the parent company of UFC and WWE) and the entertainment conglomerate Sela. Based in Las Vegas, the promotion is led by UFC CEO Dana White and Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority.

Core Operations and Strategy

The promotion aims to restructure boxing by applying the UFC’s organizational model. Key strategic goals include:

Independent Ecosystem: Developing its own rankings and world championships to bypass traditional sanctioning bodies like the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO.

Standardized Competition: Reducing weight classes and ensuring even, high-level matchups ("the best fighting the best").

Broadcasting: Events stream exclusively on Paramount+ under a multi-year media rights deal.

Upcoming Events and Rosters

Zuffa Boxing plans to hold 12 events in 2026.
Inaugural Event (Z01): Scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.Main Event: Callum Walsh (15-0) vs. Carlos Ocampo (38-3).

Co-Main Event: Misael Rodriguez vs. Austin Deanda.

Major Signings:Jai Opetaia: The IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champion signed a major promotional deal in January 2026.

Other Reported Athletes: Jose Valenzuela, Radzhab Butaev, Justin Viloria, Eridson Garcia, and Vito Mielnicki.

Historical Milestone

While the promotion's league format officially begins in 2026, it held a massive debut event on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium, featuring an undisputed title fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford.

News

UFC/MMA

UFC 324

UFC 324: Gaethje vs. Pimblett is an upcoming event scheduled to take place on January 24, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The main card will stream live in Australia on Sunday, January 25, starting from 1:00 pm AEDT.

The main event features an interim lightweight title bout between former interim champion Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett.

Main Card Fights

Weight Class FightersLightweight (Interim Title)
Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett

Bantamweight
Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong

Heavyweight
Waldo Cortes-Acosta vs. Derrick Lewis

Women's Flyweight
Natalia Silva vs. Rose Namajunas

Featherweight
Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva

Preliminary Card Fights

Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)

Nikita Krylov vs. Modestas Bukauskas
(Light Heavyweight)

Ateba Gautier vs. Andrey Pulyaev
(Middleweight)

Alex Perez vs. Charles Johnson
(Flyweight)

Early Preliminary Card Fights

Michael Johnson vs. Alexander Hernandez
(Lightweight)

Josh Hokit vs. Denzel Freeman
(Heavyweight)

Ricky Turcios vs. Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight)

Adam Fugitt vs. Ty Miller
(Welterweight)

The original co-main event between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes was postponed due to a neck injury sustained by Harrison, requiring surgery. The fight is expected to be rescheduled for a later date.

News

Motorsport

The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the 56th racing season sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association.

The season consists of 11 rounds, featuring 45 full-season entries across the GTP, LMP2, GTD PRO, and GTD classes.

2026 WeatherTech Championship Schedule

The season follows a familiar 11-round calendar, with a notable change: the event at Road America has been upgraded to a 6-hour endurance race.

Key Class & Entry Updates

GTP (Grand Touring Prototype): Features 11 full-season cars, with BMW M Team WRT taking over the factory BMW program and the Aston Martin Valkyrie set to debut at the Rolex 24.

LMP2: Has 12 full-season entries, including new programs from Bryan Herta Autosport and Intersport Racing.

GTD PRO: Includes 8 full-season entries, with Paul Miller Racing joining the class.

GTD: The largest class with 14 full-season entries.
Support Series

Michelin Pilot Challenge: A 10-round season for GS and TCR classes starting in January.

VP Racing SportsCar Challenge: Introduces new LMP3 cars and a BMW M2 Challenge class.

Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup: Continues as a support series.

News

Dakar Rally

The 2026 Dakar Rally, the 48th edition of the iconic event, concluded on January 17, 2026, in Saudi Arabia. The race began and ended in the coastal city of Yanbu, spanning approximately 8,000 kilometers over 13 stages.

Top Results & Champions
Bikes (RallyGP): Luciano Benavides (KTM) claimed his first career victory in the closest finish in Dakar history, defeating Ricky Brabec (Honda) by a margin of just two seconds.

Cars: Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia) secured the overall title, maintaining a lead over Toyota's Henk Lategan.

Stock Class: Rokas Baciuška (Defender) won in commanding fashion, securing 13 stage victories from 13 stages in his debut.

Rally2: Toni Mulec (KTM) took the class victory.

Original by Motul (Malle Moto): Benjamin Melot (KTM) won after multiple years of podium finishes.

Key Highlights of the 2026 Race

Record-Breaking Finish: The bike category was decided in the final kilometers after Ricky Brabec lost a three-minute lead on the last stage due to a navigational error.

Aussie Grit: Defending champion Daniel Sanders (KTM) heroically completed the final stages with a broken collarbone and sternum to finish 5th overall.

Route Features: The 2026 course introduced a "Sea Camp" concept and a loop starting and ending in Yanbu, passing through the Empty Quarter and AlUla.

New Entrants: The race marked the debut of the Dacia Sandriders and the Defender brand in the Stock class.

Final Bike Standings (Provisional)
Luciano Benavides (ARG) - KTM: 49:00:41
Ricky Brabec (USA) - Honda: +0:00:02
Tosha Schareina (ESP) - Honda: +0:25:12
Skyler Howes (USA) - Honda: +0:56:41
Daniel Sanders (AUS) - KTM: +1:03:15

News

Surfing

WSL 2026

The World Surf League (WSL) 2026 season begins on April 1-11, 2026, with the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event in Australia and concludes with the Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii in December.

The season features major changes, including a return to a cumulative points system to crown the world champion and the removal of non-elimination rounds.

2026 WSL Championship Tour Schedule

The 2026 Championship Tour features 12 events across nine countries:

Stop Event Name Location Dates

1. Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia
April 1–11

2. Margaret River Pro
Western Australia, Australia
April 17–27

3. Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro
Snapper Rocks, Australia
May 2–12

4. Surf City
El Salvador Pro
Punta Roca, El Salvador
May 28–June 7

5. Oi Rio ProSaquarema, Brazil
June 12–20

6. J-Bay Open
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
July 10–20

7. Lexus Pipe Pro (Tahiti)
Teahupo'o, Tahiti
August 8–18

8. Cloudbreak Pro
Cloudbreak
Fiji
August 25–September 4

9. Trestles Pro
Lower Trestles, USA
September 11–20

10. Surf Abu Dhabi Pro
Abu Dhabi, UAE
October 14–18

11. Peniche Pro
Peniche, Portugal
October 22–November 1

12. Pipe Masters
Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii
December 8–20

Key Format Changes

Cumulative Points System: The world champion is now determined by the highest cumulative points total across all 12 events, replacing the controversial single-day final.

Pipeline Finale: The iconic Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline returns as the final event of the season, and it offers 1.5 times the standard points, creating a high-stakes finish.

Expanded Women's Field: The women's Championship Tour field has been increased to 24 surfers from 18 for the regular season events.

No Non-Elimination Rounds: Every heat now carries direct consequences for a surfer's ranking, with all non-elimination rounds removed to increase stakes and event efficiency.

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

Live Sports Dates: Jan

Australian Dates And Intel

02: ICE HOCKEY: Florida Panthers v New York Rangers in NHL’s Winter Classic

02-11: TENNIS - United Cup in Perth/Sydney, Australia

03: ALPINE SKIING - Women’s World Cup giant slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

03-05: FOOTBALL - Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, last 16

03-17: MOTOR SPORT - Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia

04: ALPINE SKIING - Women’s World Cup slalom at Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

04: SKI JUMPING - 3rd leg of 4 Hills at Innsbruck, Austria

04-08: CRICKET - Australia v England 5th Test at Sydney

04-11: TENNIS - WTA/ATP in Brisbane, Australia; ATP in Hong Kong

05-11: TENNIS - WTA in Auckland

06: SKI JUMPING - 4th leg of 4 Hills at Bischofshofen, Austria

07: CRICKET - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 1st T20 at Dambulla

07: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup slalom at Madonna di Campiglio, Italy

08-11: GOLF - LIV Golf at Black Diamond, Florida

09: CRICKET - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 2nd T20 at Dambulla

09-10: FOOTBALL - Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, quarter-finals

09-11: RUGBY UNION - Champions Cup/Challenge Cup round 3

10: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup giant slalom at Adelboden, Switzerland; Women’s World Cup downhill at Zauchensee, Austria

10: ATHLETICS - World cross-country championships at Tallahassee, USA

10-12: AMERICAN FOOTBALL - NFL playoffs, wild-card round

11: CRICKET - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, 3rd T20 at Dambulla; India v New Zealand, 1st ODI at Vadorada

11: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup slalom at Adelboden, Switzerland; Women’s World Cup super-G at Zauchensee, Austria

12-17: TENNIS - WTA and ATP in Adelaide, Australia; ATP in Auckland, New Zealand; WTA in Hobart, Australia

13: ALPINE SKIING - Women’s World Cup slalom at Flachau, Austria

13-18: FIGURE SKATING: European Championships at Sheffield, England

14: CRICKET - India v New Zealand, 2nd ODI at Rajkot

14: FOOTBALL - Africa Cup of Nations, semi-finals in Tangier and Rabat, Morocco

15-18: GOLF - PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii; European Tour’s Dubai Invitational

16: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup super-G at Wengen, Switzerland

16-18: RUGBY UNION - Champions Cup/Challenge Cup round 4

17: FOOTBALL - Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off

17: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup downhill at Wengen, Switzerland; Women’s World Cup downhill at Tarvisio, Italy

17-18: AMERICAN FOOTBALL - NFL playoffs, divisional round

18-FEB 01: TENNIS - ATP/WTA at Australian Open in Melbourne

18: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup slalom at Wengen, Switzerland; Women’s World Cup super-G at Tarvisio, Italy

18: FOOTBALL - Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, Morocco

18: CRICKET - India v New Zealand, 3rd ODI at Indore

18: BASKETBALL - NBA international game Orlando v Memphis in London

19: AMERICAN FOOTBALL - US college national championship in Miami

20: ALPINE SKIING - Women’s World Cup giant slalom at Kronplatz, Italy

20-21: FOOTBALL - UEFA Champions League matchday 7

20-25: CYCLING - Tour Down Under, Melbourne, Australia

20: CRICKET - BBL Finals begin, Australia

21: CRICKET - India v New Zealand, 1st T20 at Nagpur

21-25: FIGURE SKATING: Four Continents Championships at Beijing, China

22: FOOTBALL - Europa League, matchday 7

22: CRICKET - Sri Lanka v England, 1st ODI at Colombo

22-25: GOLF - PGA Tour at La Quinta, California; European Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic

23: CRICKET - India v New Zealand, 2nd T20 at Nagpur

23: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup super-G at Kitzbuhel, Austria

23-25: FOOTBALL - CAF African Champions League, matchday 3

24: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup downhill at Kitzbuhel, Austria; Women’s World Cup giant slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic

24: CRICKET - Sri Lanka v England, 2nd ODI at Colombo

25: CRICKET - BBL Final, Australia

25: CRICKET - India v New Zealand, 3rd T20 at Guwahati

25: FOOTBALL - CAF Confederations Cup, matchday 3

22-25: RALLYING - Rally of Monte Carlo

25: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup slalom at Kitzbuhel, Austria; Women’s World Cup slalom at Spindleruv Mlyn, Czech Republic

25: AMERICAN FOOTBALL - NFL playoffs, conference championship games

27: CRICKET - Sri Lanka v England, 3rd ODI at Colombo; South Africa v West Indies, 1st T20 at Paarl

27: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup giant slalom at Schladming, Austria

28: ALPINE SKIING - Men’s World Cup slalom at Schladming, Austria

28: FOOTBALL - UEFA Champions League matchday 8

28: CRICKET - India v New Zealand, 4th T20 at Visakhapatnam

29: CRICKET - South Africa v West Indies, 2nd T20 at Centurion

30: CRICKET - Sri Lanka v England, 1st T20 at Pallekele

28: CRICKET - India v New Zealand, 5th T20 at Thiruvananthapuram

29: FOOTBALL - Europa League, matchday 8

29-FEB 01: GOLF - PGA Tour at Torrey Pines, San Diego; European Tour’s Bahrain Championship; LPGA Tour at Orlando, Florida

30: ALPINE SKIING - Women’s World Cup downhill at Crans-Montana, Switzerland

30-FEB 01: FOOTBALL - CAF African Champions League, matchday 4

31: ALPINE SKIING - Women’s World Cup super-G at Crans-Montana, Switzerland

*correct at time of publication to best of knowledge

News

Sports Movies

Sports movies cover a vast range of genres, from gritty biographical dramas to lighthearted comedies

Here are some of the most notable sports films categorized by their themes.

Acclaimed 2025 & 2026 Releases

F1: The Movie (2025): A high-octane Formula One drama starring Brad Pitt as a retired driver returning to mentor a younger teammate.

Marty Supreme (2025): Inspired by the life of ping-pong champion Marty Reisman, exploring the pursuit of greatness in a niche sport.

The Smashing Machine (2025): A biographical film about the intense life and career of MMA champion Mark Kerr.

GOAT (February 13, 2026): A new high-intensity "roarball" film following a small goat with big dreams of joining the pros.

Youngblood (March 6, 2026): A hockey drama centered on a Detroit prodigy joining the Hamilton Mustangs.
Inspiring True Stories

The Blind Side (2009): Consistently ranked as one of the most popular sports movies of the 21st century, focusing on the life of NFL player Michael Oher.

King Richard (2021): The story of Richard Williams and his instrumental role in training tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams.

Remember the Titans (2000): A seminal film about the 1971 integration of a Virginia high school football team.

Moneyball (2011): Starring Brad Pitt, this film depicts the Oakland A’s use of sabermetrics to build a competitive baseball team on a budget.

The Iron Claw (2023): A biographical drama about the tragic but legendary Von Erich professional wrestling family.

Award-Winning Classics

Rocky (1976): The definitive boxing underdog story, winning Best Picture at the Oscars.

Raging Bull (1980): Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece about the turbulent life of boxer Jake LaMotta.

Chariots of Fire (1981): A classic British film depicting two track athletes in the 1924 Olympics.

Million Dollar Baby (2004): A poignant drama directed by and starring Clint Eastwood about an aspiring female boxer.

Popular Sports Comedies

Happy Gilmore 2 (2025): The long-awaited sequel where a retired Happy Gilmore returns to the golf course.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004): A cult classic comedy about a misfits' tournament entry to save their gym.

Talladega Nights (2006): A satirical look at the world of NASCAR racing starring Will Ferrell.

Caddyshack (1980): An iconic golf comedy featuring an exclusive course and a destructive gopher.

News

Sports Business Daily and Sports Business Journal have you covered for the business of sport

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Sports Business Daily

Since 1994, Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily has provided the top decision-makers in sports with real-time industry news, allowing them to make more informed business decisions.

Sports Business Daily is relevant, contemporary and edgy. Each day, to cut through the clutter and save our readers precious time, Sports Business Daily monitors hundreds of respected media sources: daily metropolitan newspapers; weekly business journals; the top sports, business and news periodicals; sports, news and business television and radio shows; and some of the industry's leading Internet publications. We provide our high-end readers – consisting of team owners; top TV network, league and marketing executives; attorneys; corporate sponsors and other Fortune 500 companies – with the essential information they need to perform their jobs effectively. We provide not only the substance of today's news, but also the "spin," while original features from our experienced staff provide in-depth analysis of the industry's latest trends.

Its sister publication, Street & Smith's Sports Business Daily Global, was launched in June 2012. The Daily Global brings the same thorough and disciplined journalistic approach to covering sports business news stories throughout the world. On a daily basis, its editorial team will follow more than 200 local language publications and media outlets across Europe, Asia and the BRIC countries. Areas of industry coverage will include media, TV/Digital; marketing and sponsorships; technology; teams, leagues and other properties/governing bodies; facilities and franchises; and people/names in the news.

Sports Business Journal

Since 1999, Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal has provided the critical news and information that sports industry leaders need to compete, negotiate and succeed.

Sports Business Journal provides coverage of the deals, trades, contracts and boardroom power plays that shape the rapidly changing sports landscape. Regular columns cover every aspect of the industry, from media and marketing to finance, facilities and labor. With bureaus in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Charlotte, and a network that includes more than 80 reporters and editors across the country, Sports Business Journal provides readers with the breaking news stories that are crucial to their success. In addition, weekly In-Depth reports give readers the analysis they need to make sense of the topics that are most important to the industry. The publication's influence extends beyond the pages of the magazine through a variety of special events and awards series, including the World Congress of Sports, the Forty Under 40 Awards and the Sports Business Awards.

(Sports Business Journal)

Media Man

Combat Sports Week At Media Man; Elon Musk's X And Grok Take Publishers, Reporters, Fans Et Al Around The World Of Sports In A TKO Second!: Media Man

October 1, 2024

News

Alex Pereira's Arrival for UFC 307

Alex Pereira, known as 'Poatan', is gearing up for a highly anticipated UFC fight at UFC 307 against Khalil Rountree Jr., scheduled for October 2024. The fight week has begun with both fighters, including notable figures like Jose Aldo, checking in for the event. There's considerable excitement around this match, primarily due to the knockout capabilities of both fighters. Pereira has publicly stated his intention to 'break' Rountree, intensifying the event's buildup. Discussions and analyses have focused on Pereira's recent UFC activities, potential retirement, and the high stakes of the main event, suggesting it could be one of the most thrilling UFC main events recently. Additionally, Khalil Rountree hinted at employing a never-before-seen move during the fight, adding an element of mystery and anticipation. (Grok)

News

UFC 307 and DWCS Week 8

UFC 307 is generating significant buzz, particularly for the main event where Alex Pereira has promised an intense confrontation against Khalil Rountree, vowing to 'break' him. This fight is not only a highlight of the event but also showcases both fighters' formidable striking power, with predictions leaning towards a knockout rather than a decision. Alongside this main event, the UFC community is abuzz with excitement for other matchups, discussing fighters' skills and predicting outcomes. Concurrently, the Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS) Week 8 is taking place, spotlighting emerging talents like Christien Savoie, who are competing for the chance to earn UFC contracts. The DWCS not only serves as a platform for new fighters but also engages fans with live events and betting odds, adding another layer of anticipation and discussion around the UFC's upcoming events. (Grok)

News

UFC 307 Fight Week

UFC 307, scheduled for Saturday, features a highly anticipated main event between Alex Pereira, known for his striking prowess, and Khalil Rountree Jr., who has hinted at a unique move he might employ during the fight. The event has sparked considerable interest among fans and analysts, with discussions focusing on the fighters' capabilities and potential outcomes. Alongside the main event, the Dana White Contender Series (DWCS) Week 8 is also taking place, offering emerging fighters a chance to secure UFC contracts. Notable fighters like Jose Aldo, Kevin Holland, and Stephen Thompson are also highlighted, adding to the excitement with their upcoming matches. The event is set to be broadcast live, with various analyses and predictions circulating among enthusiasts. (Grok)

News

Torrez Finney's Third DWCS Victory

Torrez Finney achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first fighter to win three times on Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS). In his third appearance on DWCS, which took place on October 1, 2024, Finney secured a first-round TKO victory over Abdellah Er-Ramy. This performance not only marked his third win on the series but also showcased his dominant skills, leading to widespread acclaim across social media platforms, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter). Following this victory, there was a consensus among observers and fans that not offering Finney a UFC contract would be an oversight, given his undefeated record and his consistent performance under the DWCS spotlight. This achievement cements his status as a top prospect in the middleweight division, with many expecting him to finally receive a UFC contract. (Grok)

News

Khalil Rountree's Mystery Move at UFC 307

Ahead of UFC 307, Khalil Rountree Jr. has hinted at employing a unique, never-before-seen technique in his upcoming fight against Alex Pereira, the current light heavyweight champion. Rountree, known for his striking prowess, aims to dethrone Pereira with a knockout, seeking to establish himself as a formidable force in the UFC. The event has drawn significant attention, with fans and analysts speculating on Rountree's strategy and the potential outcome of this high-stakes match. Meanwhile, new sparring footage of Pereira with Sean Strickland has been released, showcasing Pereira's skills and improvement in English. Other notable fighters like Kevin Holland and Jose Aldo are also featured in the event, but the main event between Pereira and Rountree remains the focal point, with expectations set high for an explosive encounter. (Grok)

News

Diyar Nurgozhay's Head Kick KO

Diyar Nurgozhay recently showcased his striking prowess at Dana White's Contender Series, where he secured a notable victory via a head kick knockout against Bartosz Szewczyk during the light heavyweight bout at DWCS 74. This event took place on October 1, 2024, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nurgozhay, maintaining his undefeated record, delivered the knockout in the second round, further solidifying his reputation in the MMA community. This performance not only electrified the audience but also significantly boosted his potential for earning a UFC contract, given the platform's purpose of scouting new talent for the UFC roster. This victory adds to Nurgozhay's highlight reel, known for his finishing capabilities, as he continues his journey with an eye on the UFC. (Grok)

News

New WWENXT Logo Debuts on The CW

WWE NXT has introduced a new logo as part of its transition to The CW network, marking the beginning of a new era for the wrestling brand. The rebranding, effective from October 1, 2024, aims to evoke a more classic aesthetic. The debut on The CW was highlighted by various wrestling personalities and news outlets, with many expressing enthusiasm for the new look and the show's premiere. The debut episode featured significant matches, including a championship bout and a street fight, indicating a strong start to NXT's new chapter on The CW. (Grok)

News

Roxanne Perez Retains NXT Title with Cora Jade's Return

Roxanne Perez successfully defended her NXT Women's Championship against Giulia in a recent WWE NXT event, marked by an unexpected twist when Cora Jade returned to assist Perez in retaining her title. This intervention was pivotal in Perez's victory, sparking varied reactions among fans. While some expressed disappointment with the match's conclusion and the manner of Giulia's defeat, others were thrilled by Cora Jade's comeback, anticipating new storylines. Despite the controversial finish, the match received praise for its quality. (Grok)

News

Mixed Reactions to New NXT Titles

Based on the information gathered from posts on X and general web sentiment, the introduction of new NXT titles has generated a mix of reactions among fans and observers:

Design Critique: There's a noticeable divide over the aesthetic of the new NXT titles. Some fans have expressed a preference for the previous designs, particularly the "rainbow titles" which were admired for their vibrant yet balanced color scheme. The new designs have been described by some as less appealing initially, but there's an acknowledgment that acceptance might grow over time. For instance, one user likened the transition in perception from the old to the new titles humorously, suggesting that while the initial reaction might be negative, eventual adaptation is expected.

Nostalgia and Change: The change in title designs seems to reflect broader changes within NXT, including its move to The CW network. This shift has stirred mixed feelings, with some fans feeling nostalgic about the "black and gold" era of NXT, which these new titles symbolically depart from. However, there's also excitement about what this change could mean for NXT's future, especially with the involvement of figures like Shawn Michaels in crafting the new era.

Performance and Presentation: Despite mixed feelings about the titles' design, there's a consensus on the quality of the matches and the presentation of NXT on The CW. The debut of NXT on this new platform, highlighted by significant matches like Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams for the NXT Title, and the involvement of high-profile figures or matchups, indicates that while the titles themselves might be divisive, the content and direction of NXT are still highly anticipated and discussed.

Fan Engagement: The new titles have certainly engaged the fanbase, sparking conversations not just about design but about what these changes signify for NXT's identity and its place within WWE's broader ecosystem. This engagement ranges from criticism to cautious optimism, with some fans seeing it as a necessary evolution for NXT to stand out in the crowded landscape of wrestling entertainment.

Cultural and Identity Shifts: There's an underlying discussion about what these titles represent for NXT's brand identity. Some fans have humorously or critically remarked on the choice of design, questioning if it aligns with NXT's desire to carve out a unique identity or if it's merely a shift for the sake of change. This touches on broader themes of brand evolution and fan acceptance of change in professional wrestling.

In summary, while the new NXT titles have sparked a variety of reactions from critique over their design to nostalgia for previous eras, there's an underlying excitement about the narrative and performance aspects of NXT's new chapter. The conversation around these titles encapsulates fans' emotional connection to NXT's history and their hopes or concerns for its future under its new presentation. (Grok)

News

Wes Lee Wins Street Fight at WWENXT

During a recent WWE NXT event, Wes Lee defeated Zachary Wentz in a highly praised street fight. The match, described as both brutal and entertaining, featured intense action characteristic of street fights. Both wrestlers received acclaim for their performance, with fans and commentators noting the match as a highlight of the evening's programming. The fight included dramatic moments, such as Wentz missing a table dive, adding to the spectacle. This victory for Wes Lee was celebrated, with many expressing enthusiasm for the match's quality and hoping for future encounters between the two. (Grok)

News

WWE Bad Blood

WWE Bad Blood is making a comeback in 2024, marking the fourth event under this name and the first since 2004. Here's what you need to know:

Event Date and Location: The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. This date coincides with the 27th anniversary of the first Bad Blood event.

Broadcast Details: Bad Blood 2024 will be available via traditional pay-per-view (PPV) worldwide and will also air on WWE's streaming platforms, specifically Peacock in the United States and WWE Network internationally.

Historical Significance: The original Bad Blood in 1997 introduced the Hell in a Cell match, which has been a staple of the event, including in its previous iterations in 2003 and 2004.

Matches and Card: One of the main matches includes Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley for the Women’s World Championship, with a unique twist where Dominik Mysterio will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage to prevent interference.

There's also speculation and reports about a Hell in a Cell match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, though there was some uncertainty about whether this would be the main event or if a tag team match involving Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Solo Sikoa, and possibly Jacob Fatu would close the show. However, recent discussions and fan reactions suggest a strong possibility of Punk vs. McIntyre main eventing due to the historical significance of Hell in a Cell at Bad Blood.

Themes and Anniversaries: The event is not only a nod to its own history but also leverages the anniversary of the first Hell in a Cell match. The involvement of high-profile figures like CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and the intertwining storylines with Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes adds layers to the event's narrative.

Fan and Industry Buzz: There's considerable excitement around the return of Bad Blood, especially concerning how WWE will utilize the Hell in a Cell structure this time, given its history with the event. Fan posts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) show anticipation for the matches, particularly the potential main events, and how WWE might script the outcomes to impact ongoing WWE storylines.

This event represents not just a wrestling spectacle but a significant moment in WWE's calendar, blending nostalgia with current rivalries, making Bad Blood 2024 a must-watch for WWE fans. (Grok)

News

Beterbiev vs Bivol: Clash of the Undefeated

The latest on Beterbiev vs. Bivol, titled "Clash of the Undefeated," centers around their upcoming fight scheduled for October 12, 2024, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here's what's been circulating and reported:

Fight Details: Artur Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will face Dmitry Bivol (23-0, 12 KOs) in a unification bout for the IBF, WBC, WBO, and WBA light heavyweight titles, marking a significant event in boxing as both fighters are undefeated.

Beterbiev's Condition: After a knee injury forced a postponement from an initially planned June fight, Beterbiev has confirmed his 100% recovery and readiness for this bout. His approach to training and recovery underscores his intent to maintain his 100% knockout record.

Bivol's Perspective: Dmitry Bivol has expressed that this fight is not personal but a professional challenge to become the undisputed champion. His strategy likely involves his well-known boxing skills, with an emphasis on counterpunching and movement, aiming to possibly outbox or even, as speculated by some like Chris Algieri, potentially knock down Beterbiev.

Public and Expert Opinions: There's a mix of predictions and excitement around this match. Some fans and analysts believe Bivol's boxing IQ and defensive skills might give him an edge, while others favor Beterbiev's relentless pressure and knockout power. The discussion often revolves around whether Bivol's style can withstand or adapt to Beterbiev's aggressive tactics.

Undercard and Event: The undercard features notable fights, enhancing the event's appeal. Names like Chris Eubank Jr., Fabio Wardley, and Jai Opetaia add to the night's boxing spectacle.

General Sentiment: The fight is widely anticipated as one of the biggest in 2024, not just for the titles at stake but for the clash of styles and the potential for defining moments in both fighters' careers. The narrative around this fight often highlights the rarity of seeing two such high-caliber, undefeated champions facing off, especially at light heavyweight.

This event is not just a fight for belts but is seen as a significant moment in boxing, where the outcome could solidify one fighter's legacy or dramatically alter perceptions of both in the sport. (Grok)

News

AEW Dynamite 5-Year Anniversary Show

The AEW Dynamite 5-Year Anniversary Show, set for October 2, 2024, at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA, is gearing up to be a landmark event for All Elite Wrestling. Here's what's on the slate based on the latest information:

Main Event: A high-stakes, title-for-title match is scheduled where Bryan Danielson will defend his AEW World Championship against Kazuchika Okada, who is bringing his AEW Continental Championship into the match. However, there's a twist: Okada's championship will only be on the line for the first 20 minutes of the match. If the match goes beyond that, only Danielson's AEW World Championship remains in contention.

Another Title Defense: Will Ospreay will defend his AEW International Championship against Ricochet. This match has been highlighted as part of the anniversary celebration.

Other Matches:
Hangman Adam Page is set to face Juice Robinson. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. will return for a match, although the opponent hasn't been specified in the latest updates provided, there was mention of her facing Serena Deeb in some fan discussions or reports.

Special Features: The episode is not just about the matches but also about celebrating five years of AEW Dynamite. Tony Khan, AEW's President, has teased a significant announcement which could potentially set the tone for the future of AEW. This adds an element of anticipation beyond the in-ring action.

Broadcast Details: The show will have a significant overrun, courtesy of TBS Network, indicating more content than the usual runtime, possibly to accommodate the extra matches or the celebration elements.

This anniversary episode is not just a showcase of wrestling talent but also a milestone for AEW, marking its growth and the journey it has had over the past five years. The inclusion of champion vs. champion matches underscores AEW's commitment to big matches on big nights, promising fans a memorable event to commemorate this occasion. (Grok)

News

Danielson vs. Okada: Title-for-Title Match

On the 5-year anniversary of AEW Dynamite, a significant wrestling event is scheduled for October 2, 2024, in Pittsburgh, PA, where Bryan Danielson, the AEW World Champion, will face Kazuchika Okada, holder of the AEW Continental Title. This match is unique as it features a title-for-title stipulation with a twist: the Continental Championship, which usually has a 20-minute time limit, will only be at stake for the first 20 minutes of the match. However, the World Championship, with its 60-minute time limit, will remain in contention for the entire duration. This setup has sparked varied reactions among wrestling fans, with some questioning the effectiveness of the stipulation, while others are excited about the potential of the match. The event is set to be a highlight of AEW Dynamite's milestone celebration, pitting two of wrestling's top talents against each other in what promises to be a memorable clash. (Grok)

News

Conor McGregor's Stroll on Emirates Pitch

Conor McGregor was spotted walking around the Emirates Stadium pitch following Arsenal's victory over PSG in the Champions League. Videos and photos showed McGregor enjoying himself, including interactions with Arsenal player Declan Rice. This appearance led to various reactions and discussions online, with many finding amusement in McGregor's post-match activities. Meanwhile, Arsenal secured a 2-0 win against PSG, with goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. The match also marked the debut of Mikel Merino for Arsenal, who joined from Real Sociedad. Additionally, Thomas Partey was highlighted for his exceptional performance during the game. However, there were concerns about Jurrien Timber, who felt a muscular issue during the match, prompting Arsenal to manage his playing time carefully. (Grok)

Combat Sports News/Profile via Grok

Combat sports encompass a wide range of athletic competitions where the primary objective is to physically subdue an opponent. Here's a brief overview of some popular forms:

1. Boxing

Origin: Ancient Greece, but modern boxing is often associated with 18th-19th century England.

Rules: Competitors use only their fists, wearing gloves, and aim to score points by landing punches on the opponent's upper body or head. A fight can end by knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), or points decision.

2. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Origin: While various forms of mixed combat have existed historically, modern MMA was popularized through events like the UFC starting in the 1990s.

Rules: Allows a mix of striking and grappling techniques from various martial arts. Fighters can win by knockout, submission (tap out), judges' decision, or disqualification.

3. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)

Origin: Derived from judo in Brazil in the early 20th century, made famous by the Gracie family.

Rules: Emphasizes ground fighting and submission holds. Competitors aim to force a submission through joint locks or chokeholds. Points can also be scored for position control and takedowns.

4. Wrestling

Freestyle and Greco-Roman: Common in the Olympics, Greco-Roman restricts holds below the waist.

Professional Wrestling (Pro Wrestling): More entertainment-focused, with choreographed matches, high flying moves, and storylines.

5. Kickboxing

Origin: A group of stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching. It evolved from Karate, Muay Thai, and Western boxing.

Rules: Similar to boxing but includes kicks. Variants include allowing knee strikes and elbows (influenced by Muay Thai).

6. Muay Thai

Origin: Thailand, known as the "Art of Eight Limbs" because it uses punches, kicks, elbows, and knees.

Rules: Similar to kickboxing but with a heavier emphasis on clinching (a kind of standing grapple) and use of all eight points of contact.

7. Judo

Origin: Japan, developed by Jigoro Kano in the late 19th century as a physical, mental, and moral pedagogy.

Rules: Based on throws (Nage-waza) and ground techniques (Katame-waza). The objective is to either throw or takedown an opponent to the ground, immobilize them, or force a submission through joint locks or strangles.

8. Karate

Origin: Okinawa, Japan, with influences from Chinese martial arts.

Styles: Many styles with different focuses, but generally emphasizes striking with punches, kicks, knee strikes, and open-hand techniques like knife-hands.

9. Taekwondo

Origin: Korea, developed in the 1940s and 1950s.
Rules: Known for its high, fast, and spinning kicks.

Competitors score points in Olympic Taekwondo for strikes to the torso or head.

10. Krav Maga

Origin: Israel, designed as a self-defense system for the Israel Defense Forces.

Rules: Not typically a sport, but some organizations hold competitions. Focuses on real-world scenarios, aiming to neutralize threats quickly and efficiently.

Each combat sport has its unique culture, training methods, and competitive environments, reflecting diverse historical, cultural, and practical contexts. If you're interested in any particular sport, each has its own set of governing bodies, leagues, and famous athletes or events that could be explored further! (Grok)