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Senate Republicans rammed President Donald Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ through a procedural hurdle after hours of tense negotiations that put the megabill’s fate into question. 

Speculation swirled whether Republicans would be satisfied by the latest edition of the mammoth bill, which was released just before the stroke of midnight Saturday morning.

Nearly every Republican, except Sens. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., all voted to unlock a marathon 20-hour debate on the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., could only afford to lose three votes.

Though successful, the 51-49 party line vote was not without drama.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., flipped his vote from a ‘no’ to ‘yes’ in dramatic fashion, as he and Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, made their way to the Senate floor accompanied by Vice President JD Vance.

Vance was called in case he was needed for a tie-breaking vote, but only his negotiating services ended up being used.

No lawmaker wanted to be the fourth and final decisive vote to kill the bill. Republican leadership kept the floor open for nearly four hours while negotiations continued – first on the Senate floor and then eventually in Thune’s office.

The bill won’t immediately be debated thanks to Senate Democrats’ plan to force the reading of the entire, 940-page legislative behemoth on the Senate floor, which could drain several hours and go deep into the night.

The megabill’s fate, and whether it could pass its first test, was murky at best after senators met behind closed doors Friday, and even during another luncheon on Saturday.

Lingering concerns in both chambers about Medicaid — specifically the Medicaid provider tax rate and the effect of direct payments to states — energy tax credits, the state and local tax (SALT) deduction and others proved to be pain points that threatened the bill’s survival.

 

However, changes were made at the last-minute to either sate holdouts or comply with the Senate rules. Indeed, the Senate parliamentarian stripped numerous items from the bill that had to be reworked.

The Medicaid provider tax rate was kept largely the same, except its implementation date was moved back a year. Also included as a sweetener for lawmakers like Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and others was a $25 billion rural hospital stabilization fund over the next five years.

Collins said that she would support the bill through the procedural hurdle, and noted that the rural hospital stabilization fund was a start, but whether she supports the bill on final passage remains to be seen.

‘If the bill is not further changed, I will be leaning against the bill, but I do believe this procedural vote to get on the bill so that people can offer amendments and debate it is appropriate,’ Collins said.

Tillis, who is also concerned about the changes to Medicaid and would like to see a return to the House GOP’s version, said that he would not vote in favor of the bill during final passage.

The SALT deduction included in the House GOP’s version of the bill also survived, albeit the $40,000 cap will remain intact for five years. After that, the cap will revert to its current $10,000.

Other sweeteners, like expanding nutrition benefit waivers to Alaska and a tax cut for whaling boat captains, were thrown in, too, to get moderates like Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on board with the bill.

Lee announced that he withdrew his open lands sale provision, which proved a sticking point for lawmakers in Montana and Idaho. 

Still, Republicans who are not satisfied with the current state of the bill will use the forthcoming ‘vote-a-rama,’ when lawmakers can offer an unlimited number of amendments, to try and change as much as they can before final passage. 

Democrats, however, will use the process to inflict as much pain as possible on Republicans.

Once the amendment marathon concludes, which could be in the wee hours of Monday morning, lawmakers will move to a final vote to send the bill, which is an amendment to the House GOP’s version of the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ back to the lower chamber.

From there, it’s a dead sprint to get the package on the president’s desk by July 4.

In a statement of administration policy obtained by Fox News Digital, Trump signaled that he would sign the bill.

‘President Trump is committed to keeping his promises,’ the memo read. ‘And failure to pass this bill would be the ultimate betrayal.’ 

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One night after a historic performance, Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers will be out for June 28’s matchup against the Washington Mystics due to a right knee injury.

This will be the fifth game that the 2025 No. 1 overall pick will have missed this season. Bueckers missed three games earlier in the season because she was in the WNBA’s concussion protocol and then sat out another game because of an illness.

Bueckers had 27 points in a 94-86 loss to the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever on June 27. Clark missed the matchup between the last two No. 1 picks because of a groin injury.

Paige Bueckers’ stats vs Indiana Fever

Along with her 27 points against the Fever, Bueckers also added six assists, two steals and two blocks. She became the first player in WNBA history to record a game with 25-plus points, five-plus assists, two-plus steals, two-plus blocks and zero turnovers.

Bueckers shot 9-for-18 from the field, made two of her three 3-point attempts and knocked down all seven free throws.

On the season, Bueckers is averaging 18.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals on 46.1% shooting from the field in 13 games. She was the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft in April after leading UConn to its 12th national title and the first since 2016.

Chris Koclanes on Paige Bueckers

Dallas coach Chris Koclanes provided an update on Bueckers’ injury ahead of the matchup against Washington on June 28.

‘Just precautionary,’ Koclanes said of the Bueckers injury. ‘Some soreness. We’re doing our due diligence of managing what’s best for her long-term health.’

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Carlos Pineda helped Honduras secure the victory over Panama in penalties Saturday in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal at the State Farm Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

Pineda’s successful penalty kick attempt helped make up the difference after Eduardo Guerrero was unable to score on the fifth attempt for Panama.

Anibal Godoy (Panama) and Anthony Lozano (Honduras) had each missed penalty kick attempts early, allowing the game to come down to the final set of kicks tied at 4-4.

Lozano still managed to play a key role in the final minutes of regulation, scoring the equalizer in the 82nd minute for Honduras to even the score at 1-1. In the end, Honduras managed to get over 5-4 on penalties.

Watch Carlos Pineda lift Honduras over Panama

Honduras vs. Panama penalty kick results

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Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Jared Verse was asked in a recent interview with Whistle Sports which opposing NFL team has the best fan base.

His answer was a surprise to many who closely observed the 2024 first-round pick during his rookie season.

‘Probably the Eagles,’ Verse replied. ‘I’ve got to give them that.’

Verse’s assertion comes just months after the 24-year-old expressed his disdain for the Philadelphia faithful ahead of a playoff clash between the two teams.

‘I hate Eagles fans,’ Verse told the Los Angeles Times in January. ‘They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.’

‘When I see that green and white I hate it,’ he added. ‘I actually get upset. Like I actually, genuinely get hot.’

The Eagles acknowledged they used Verse’s jab as fuel in their 28-22 win over the Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs.

But that didn’t appear to be the main reason behind Verse’s change of tune. While the Florida State product may not like Philadelphia fans, he appears to have a healthy respect for their fervent support of the Eagles.

‘I like when you kind of like get into it, you’re aggressive, you’re loud and all that stuff,’ Verse said. ‘They stand by that with no doubt.’

Verse likened the atmosphere at Eagles games to a college rivalry matchup.

‘You never know what they’re going to say and they’re gonna try to say disrespectful stuff,’ he said. ‘Don’t get me wrong, they’re not gonna say anything where it’s like, ‘Bro, you crossed the line,’ but they’re gonna say some stuff where you’re like, ‘Who you talkin’ to?”

Verse figures to face plenty of those jeers and taunts every time he suits up against the Eagles as a response to his initial comments. Philadelphia fans will next get a chance to heckle the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year when the Eagles host the Rams in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season.

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U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts warned Saturday of the dangers of politicians using heated rhetoric against judges. 

‘It becomes wrapped up in the political dispute that a judge who’s doing his or her job is part of the problem,’ Roberts said in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Judicial Conference of the Fourth Circuit, a gathering of judges and lawyers. 

‘And the danger, of course, is somebody might pick up on that. And we have had, of course, serious threats of violence and murder of judges just simply for doing their work. So, I think the political people on both sides of the aisle need to keep that in mind.’

Roberts didn’t name anyone but appeared to be referencing President Donald Trump and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer when he said he’d felt compelled to speak out against rhetoric by Democrats and Republicans in the past. 

Trump has criticized judges many times over the years, including calling for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against a deportation policy earlier this year, referring to him as ‘radical left’ and a ‘lunatic.’ 

Roberts responded at the time, saying, ‘For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision. The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.’

In 2020, Roberts condemned Schumer for saying that Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch would ‘pay the price’ regarding an abortion rights case during Trump’s first term. 

‘You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price,’ Schumer said at a rally outside the Supreme Court at the time. ‘You will not know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.’

Schumer later said he was referring to the political price he believed Senate Republicans would pay, but he said, ‘I shouldn’t have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat. I never, never would do such a thing, and Leader McConnell knows that.’ 

Roberts, at the time, said of Schumer, ‘Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous. All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter.’

In April, an armed man who was arrested outside of Kavanaugh’s home pleaded guilty to attempting to assassinate the justice. 

Roberts’ remarks came after the Supreme Court issued the final decisions of its term, handing the Trump administration a win Friday by limiting judges’ ability to block his agenda through court orders. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

The Kansas City Chiefs spent their first-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons in the hopes of shoring up the left side of their offensive line.

Jason Kelce acknowledged he is a big fan of the pick during a discussion with his brother, Travis, and Chiefs guard Trey Smith in a recent episode of the ‘New Heights’ podcast.

The elder Kelce brother referred to Simmons’ tape from his lone season at Ohio State as ‘absurd’ and had a lofty comparison for the 22-year-old rookie.

‘I’ve watched a lot of these linemen coming out the last few years,’ Kelce said. ‘This kid, I mean, he is the closest thing I’ve seen to like a Trent Williams – like that next level strength and athleticism. The only reason he fell to you guys is because of that (patellar tendon) injury.’

Williams has long been one of the NFL’s top offensive tackles. The 37-year-old was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and has made 11 Pro Bowls and earned three All-Pro first team nods during his 14-year career. Williams graded as Pro Football Focus’ 7th-best tackle among 81 qualified players at the position in 2024, ending a run of four consecutive seasons as a top-two tackle.

With that comparison in mind, Kelce is excited to see if Simmons can win Kansas City’s left tackle job, which the former Philadelphia Eagles center classified as ‘a revolving door’ in 2024. The rookie’s main competition for the job will be Jaylon Moore, who signed a two-year, $30 million deal with the Chiefs in free agency.

The younger Kelce and Smith are also excited about Simmons’ potential. Smith – who made his first Pro Bowl in 2024 in his fourth year as a starting guard for the Chiefs – hasn’t seen Simmons in action yet but has heard the 6-5, 310-pounder is ‘unbelievably strong.’

Kelce came away with a similar takeaway after going head-to-head with Simmons when the rookie took some scout-team reps at defensive end.

‘I felt that man’s hands grab me, and I was like, ‘All right, I gotta come with it,” Kelce said, laughing. ‘Even when he’s just giving the looks, I gotta make sure I got my feet planted.’

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Simon (Haoxi) Wang, the first player off the board in Round 2, was among the notable players selected during Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft on June 28 in Los Angeles.

The second day got off to a historic start as Wang became the highest drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history when the San Jose Sharks took him with the top selection of Round 2 (No. 33 overall).

‘Coming from China, I hope I can inspire a lot of kids coming over,’ Wang said, expressing an interest in continuing to grow the sport in his home country.

Not to be outdone, Australia set its own record when Swedish national – and Australian born – Jakob Ihs Wozniak was selected 55th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights, becoming the highest an Australian-born player had ever been taken.

The Seattle Kraken took Blake Fiddler from the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) at No. 36, continuing a family NHL tradition. His father, Vernon, played in 877 games for the Nashville Predators, Arizona Coyotes, Dallas Stars and New JerseyDevils from 2002-17.

In a similar vein, the Anaheim Ducks chose Eric Nilson, the son of Marcus Nilson, at No. 45. The elder Nilson skated for 521 career games with the Florida Panthers and Calgary Flames.

A day after Pyotr Andreyanov became the first goalkeeper taken in the first round since 2021 (No. 20 to Columbus) and then Joshua Ravensbergen followed him at No. 30 (San Jose), two more goalkeepers were taken in the top 50, making it the first time since 2014 that four goalkeepers went in the top 50.

The Carolina Hurricanes selected Semyon Frolov at No. 41, and the Vancouver Canucks picked Aleksei Medvedev at No. 47.

Three teams made their first selections of the entire draft in the third round. The Colorado Avalanche nabbed defenseman Francesco Dell’elce at No. 77, the Edmonton Oilers picked right wing Tommy Lafreniere at No. 83, and the Stars took rightwing Cameron Schmidt at No. 94.

The son of Thomas Vanek, Blake Vanek, went to the Ottawa Senators at No. 93. The elder Vanek was a former first-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres who played in 1,029 career NHL games.

The Panthers, the last team to participate, selected their first player in the fourth round, Mads Kongsbak Klyvo, a left wing who went No. 112 overall.

The last player to go off the board in the seventh round, at No. 224, was also taken by Florida, goalkeeper Yegor Medlak from Russia.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

The FIFA Club World Cup now advances to the round of 16, showcasing a diverse array of teams from 10 different countries. The group stage, held across the USA, saw a lower-than-expected turnout of fans at the 48 matches.

According to the Associated Press, there have been one million empty seats during the group stage of the tournament, even though the world’s top clubs are participating. This is despite FIFA claiming it has sold about 1.5 million tickets for the group stage. The organization says fans from more than 130 countries have purchased Club World Cup tickets, with a majority of the sales coming from the United States.

This has sparked curiosity about how the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in North America next year, will turn out.

‘FIFA is proud of the unique and multicultural atmosphere and support this new competition has already generated – and thanks every fan who has brought their voice, passion, and presence as the FIFA Club World Cup continues to grow into the undisputed pinnacle of global club football,’ FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.

The Round of 16 teams include Fluminense, Al Hilal, Inter Miami CF, Monterrey, Palmeiras, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, Chelsea, Benfica, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Botafogo, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Flamengo, and Manchester City. The Round of 16 kicks off on Saturday, June 28.

FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 schedule

All times Eastern.

Saturday, June 28

Palmeiras vs. Botafogo, 12 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field
Benfica vs. Chelsea, 4 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium

Sunday, June 29

Paris Saint-Germain vs. Inter Miami, 12 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Flamengo vs. Bayern Munich, 4 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium

Monday, June 30

Inter Milan vs. Fluminense, 3 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium
Manchester City vs. Al Hilal, 9 p.m. at Camping World Stadium

Tuesday, July 1

Real Madrid vs. Juventus, 3 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium
Borussia Dortmund vs. Monterrey, 9 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

How to watch the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16?

All rounds of the 16 matches of the Club World Cup will be available for free streaming on DAZN, and select games will also be broadcast in English on TNT.

Univision, TUDN, and ViX will all carry games in the U.S. in Spanish.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

What a roller coaster Night of Champions was.

WWE had a bit of everything in Saudi Arabia as there were chaotic finishes, surprising debuts, shocking results, some not so bright moments and matchups between some future Hall of Famers that made it a night fans will definitely remember − for better or worse.

Six matches took place, headlined by the Undisupted WWE Championship match between two 21st century icons in John Cena and CM Punk. The match had plenty of hype, and it had a wild ending with so many layers to unfold.

Still, the night of champions saw a new title holder named, and royalty was crowned with the winners of the King and Queen of the Ring tournament. The men’s and women’s victors now have a championship match waiting for them, symbolizing how the event was a setup for SummerSlam. But a lot could be happening then, making for a potential fun summer of wrestling.

USA TODAY Sports has all the results, highlights and analysis from Night of Champions 2025:

Watch: Night of Champions postshow

Undisputed WWE Championship match: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk

Two of the most impactful names in recent wrestling history met in the ring again in a highly desired matchup. Both competitors soaked it in as they locked up several times to get a feel of the match. Even if Cena had some of the early shots, Punk was still partaking in the mind games.

It took a few minutes before things started to pick up, by way of a vintage Cena sequence. He landed the five-knuckle shuffle and was getting ready for an Attitude Adjustment, but Punk got out of the way to start his own vintage moment. Punk was about to land the Go To Sleep when Cena jumped right out of it and rolled into the STF submission. Punk got out of it and turned it around into the Anaconda Vice. Cena got his way out and got the AA to fall. However, the pin was unsuccessful.

A second AA didn’t work, and Punk took a page out of the champion’s book with his own STF. It was quickly broken up by Cena, and a flurry of counters ensued that resulted in another AA to Punk, followed by another kick out by the challenger. Cena hoped a third one would be the charm, but Punk didn’t give up with another kick out.

Frustrated with Punk surviving, Cena grabbed the title to hit Punk. However, he stopped himself and decided not to. Punk found a window of opportunity and surprised him with a GTS, which ended in an unsuccessful win attempt. Cena and Punk traded blows and the champion inadvertently knocked out the referee. Punk hit Cena with another GTS and got a pin that would’ve won if the referee wasn’t taken out.

Punk called for another referee, and instead ‘Burn it Down’ played through the arena. Seth Rollins and his group arrived. Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed then took out Punk by throwing him through the announcer’s table.

Meanwhile, Rollins stood in the middle of the ring. He called a referee over, ready to cash in his Money in the Bank contract. However, Cena knocked the new referee and argued with Rollins before delivering an AA. Rollins’ henchman then attacked Cena, which was stopped by the arrival by Penta. Then Sami Zayn came to help, and the duo were able to take out Breakker. In the ring, Cena gave Reed an AA.

Punk and Cena stood in the ring, and Punk extended his hand for a shake. Cena accepted it, but he tried to pull a fast one. Then Rollins came back to hit Punk with the Money in the Bank briefcase. Rollins landed a stomp on his rival but Cena capitalized on the chance by throwing Rollins out of the ring. He then pinned Punk to sneak out of the ring with his title, leaving Rollins frustrated at the missed opportunity.

Watch: John Cena Night of Champions entrance

Watch: CM Punk Night of Champions entrance

Queen of the Ring final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill

It was an even contest in the early stages with no real advantage on either side. Asuka was using her technical skill while Cargill stuck with powerhouse approach. When it looked like one star was start to take control, the other countered it. There were several pin attempts in between moves to try and steal a victory that were unsuccessful.

Then came a real quick finish. Cargill nor Asuka was able to get the finishing moves to land, and when Asuka went for Empress Impact, Cargill caught her opponent. She picked her up for Jaded and it landed. Cargill went for a pin that came off really awkwardly, but the referee counted to three and Cargill is the Queen of the Ring.

Cargill then proclaimed a ‘storm is coming’ to SummerSlam with her title shot now secured.

Analysis: A match that real potential turned out to be somewhat of a letdown. The match felt really out of sync with no real solid flow. What was even worse was the finish, as it didn’t have the anticipation like the closing part of the match. The winning pin didn’t look right, and when it ended, it left an unsatisfying feeling in most of the wrestling world. It didn’t help that the crowd wasn’t really into it, but the match was really a dud with an unspectacular finish.

Despite a poor match, a big name is now getting a title opportunity and it’s felt like Cargill has had to really be patient in getting it. Her name and potential will help draw attention to whichever championship match she chooses, but work definitely needs to be done in order for it to not be a total flop like the Queen of the Ring final.

Jade Cargill arrives in X-Men outfit

A storm has indeed arrived. Cargill is wearing an outfit resembling Storm from the X-Men series, a perfect nod to her persona.

United States Championship match: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa

Sikoa was clearly no longer extending an arm to Sikoa, immediately attacking the champion as the bell rung. But you have to remember it’s not easy to put Fatu down, and he quickly recovered.

Despite the clear talent advantage Fatu had, Sikoa was using his high in-ring IQ to stop any momentum of Fatu and instead get the better of his cousin. Sikoa had plenty to say to Fatu when he had him in a sleeper hold, taunting him in the process. For as smart as Sikoa is, he does get cocky, and it hurt him by allowing Fatu to get back on his feet and start to get rolling.

Tanga Loa returns, Hikuleo arrives

Fatu was closing in on victory, but JC Mateo came out to disrupt. The referee was focused on stopping Mateo when a hooded individual pushed Fatu off the top rope. It was revealed to be the returning Tanga Loa. Yet the help wasn’t enough for Sikoa to get a pin.

Sikoa prepared the Samoan Spike, but Fatu got out of it and launched himself out of the ring to take out Sikoa’s reinforcements. Fatu got ready for the win, but when he went for the pin the referee wasn’t there. Instead, there was the debut of Hikuleo, who slammed Fatu into the announcer’s table. He threw him back in the ring, and Sikoa spiked Fatu to get the pin and become the new champion.

Analysis: He may not be the Tribal Chief, but Sikoa remains a dangerous man.

He nearly has all of his group back with Loa returning for the first time since Survivor Series: WarGames in November, but he got a major addition with the debut of Hikuleo. The personal aspect of the rivalry is what makes it good, and it doesn’t hurt to bring in more of the family as they are all incredibly talented wrestlers.

Eventually, the numbers game was going to help Sikoa, but it’s a shock that it happened so quickly. Fatu looked to be really falling into a role as a dominant champion, but his reign ends in just more than two months. While disappointing, Sikoa is a great character that needed an accolade to remain a dominant force after spending most of 2025 trying to find something.

The rivalry between Sikoa and Fatu is far from over, and there’s no telling what the next chapter will be.

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

The mind games from Kross started as soon as the bell ring, as he tried to get Zayn to crack. It didn’t look like Zayn was falling into Kross’ tricks, and Kross’ wife Scarlett was telling things to her husband in between breaks.

After getting taunted by Kross so much, Zayn was starting to show a more intense version of himself as he tried to put his opponent away. He nearly had a victory when he countered Kross with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Kross kicked out. Zayn still felt close to winning, and he was going for a Helluva Kick when Kross caught him into the sleeper hold. Kross nearly had him out, but Zayn kept his arm up before the referee could stop the match.

Zayn was still shaken up and Kross was still trying to play with his mind. Kross spoke right to his opponent before he went to the other side of the ring, but when he turned around, there was Zayn surprising him with the Helluva Kick. It completely caught Kross off guard and Zayn got the win.

Analysis: No cracks in the mind of Zayn. He gets past the devil on his shoulder.

The whole match was going to be about whether Zayn finally turns full dark side, which would be a win for Kross regardless of the result. However, Zayn didn’t come close to doing it. Instead, he fended off any opportunity for Kross and comes out the better man for not folding.

Could Kross try to still get in the head of Zayn? Possibly, but it appears he wasn’t successful in this attempt, and Zayn could still be the fan favorite. If it’s any consolation, Kross finally got another premium live event match, and he did great in his opportunity to showcase his talents in front of the WWE universe.

Watch: Karrion Kross entrance

Kross makes his stunning entrance alongside Scarlett.

Street fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Ripley is used to being the dominant person in the ring, but it wasn’t the case to start this one. Rodriguez was immediately in control, throwing Ripley around in a sight rarely seen. Rodriguez tangled Ripley in the ropes and she brought out the kendo stick to lay some shots right to the midsection of her opponent. There was a brief moment where Ripley had momentum and tried to launch Rodriguez off the announcer’s table, but it was countered with Ripley getting sent through the top of the table.

Rodriguez took too long setting a table up in the ring to take full advantage. Ripley got back on her feet and used her belt to hit Rodriguez several times, with each shot sounding more painful than before.

Ripley tried to get Rodriguez to tap out before Roxanne Perez came in to stop the attack. While it did get Ripley off her opponent, it resulted in a brutal attack to Perez by way of the steel trash can. However, it allowed Rodriguez to regroup and throw Ripley into the corner of the ring and the steel steps.

After an exchange of blows, Ripley set Rodriguez up on a table on top of the top turnbuckle. She launched a Riptide from the top in a nicely executed maneuver. It was enough for the pin and get Ripley a win.

Analysis: It was easy to predict everything that would happen in this match. It was unexpected on how it ended.

Putting Rodriguez and Ripley in a street fight was a great idea, allowing each to really showcase the power they have, and do it against a dominant force in the process. For the limited time they had, the match had a nice flow. There weren’t several brutal moments, but there were great spots.

It was a given Perez would come into the match, but she seemed to be a non-factor with how quickly Ripley dispatched her. The tone felt like Rodriguez would win until the sudden momentum shift at the end.

Ripley getting the win was a major victory in her still trying to get past The Judgment Day. It’s unclear how it really advances the story, but it’s likely there will be a concentrated effort from Rodriguez and Perez to slow down Ripley. The duo will have to get the upper hand, and could use the numbers game to their advantage.

King of the Ring final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

The mentor and mentee met in the ring to a raucous crowd, getting the energy going before the two could even lock up. There were several pauses as the two got reacquainted with each other as opponents.

Orton did a suplex off the top rope, but he appeared more hurt by it, immediately grabbing his back. With Orton suddenly hampered, Rhodes targeted Orton’s back. Anytime Orton got any offense in, it was met with pain.

Blows were exchanged and both stars appeared to be getting close for a victory. Rhodes executed a Cross Rhodes, but the pin didn’t work and not long afterward, Orton got the RKO out of nowhere. Then Rhodes was able to kick out. Orton saw Rhodes in position for his punt kick, but the hesitation on whether to do it bought Rhodes some time to get out of the way before the devastating shot.

After an exchange of hits, Rhodes tried a Disaster Kick, and got greeted by an RKO in the middle of the air. Orton’s pin attempt was unsuccessful.

Orton then brought a chair into the ring, and when the referee took it away, Orton exposed one of the top turnbuckles. Orton tried to drive Rhodes’ head to it, but he avoided it and instead shoved Orton into it. It clearly hurt Orton’s ribs, and with him in pain, Rhodes capitalized with a Cross Rhodes and got the pin to secure the crown.

After the match, Rhodes was interviewed by Byron Saxton. He gave props to Orton, and Rhodes said he will be waiting for the winner of John Cena vs. CM Punk at SummerSlam, where he will ‘get the ball back.’

Analysis: ‘The American Nightmare’ is now royalty. While it would’ve been nice to see Orton add another accolade, it was clear Rhodes was going to get his title rematch at SummerSlam, All that was needed was a compelling match to make sure it happened. It was far from a classic match, as it had a really slow start and several breaks in the action. But both stars were able to get their signature moves in, and the names and aura alone helped keep the intensity high.

How the match ended felt like a significant turn could be happening. Orton has always been one to look for any means of winning, even if it meant playing dirty. Even though he didn’t initiate it, Rhodes also did what he had to do by using the turnbuckle to his advantage. It’s not egregious, but it showed Rhodes is willing to do anything he can to get back to the top of the company. Little hints of a heel turn are being dropped, and by the time SummerSlam rolls around, we could finally see the end of the baby face and a true ‘American Nightmare.’

When is Night of Champions 2025?

Night of Champions takes place Saturday, June 28.

Night of Champions 2025 start time

WWE Night of Champions starts at 1 p.m. ET. The preshow begins at 11 a.m. ET.

Where is Night of Champions 2025?

It takes place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

How to watch Night of Champions 2025

Night of Champions will be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

Stream WWE Night of Champions on Peacock

How to watch Night of Champions 2025 preshow

The Night of Champions preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including YouTube.

Night of Champions 2025 match card

Matches not in order

Undisputed WWE Championship match: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk
King of the Ring final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton
Queen of the Ring final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill
United States Championship match: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa
Street fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

Night of Champions 2025 match order

PWInsider reported lineup.

Night of Champions 2025 predictions

See the full predictions of what happens in each match here.

Undisputed WWE Championship match: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk

Jordan Mendoza: John Cena
Richard Morin: John Cena

King of the Ring final: Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton

Jordan Mendoza: Cody Rhodes
Richard Morin: Cody Rhodes

Queen of the Ring final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill

Jordan Mendoza: Asuka
Richard Morin: Jade Cargill

United States Championship match: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa

Jordan Mendoza: Jacob Fatu
Richard Morin: Jacob Fatu

Street fight: Rhea Ripley vs. Raquel Rodriguez

Jordan Mendoza: Raquel Rodriguez
Richard Morin: Raquel Rodriguez

Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross

Jordan Mendoza: Sami Zayn
Richard Morin: Sami Zayn

King of the Ring 2025 tournament

First round

Sami Zayn defeats Dominik Mysterio, Bron Breakker and Penta
Randy Orton defeats LA Knight, Aleister Black and Carmelo Hayes
Jey Uso defeats Sheamus, Rusev and Bronson Reed
Cody Rhodes defeats Shinsuke Nakamura, Damian Priest and Andrade

Semifinals

Randy Orton defeats Sami Zayn
Cody Rhodes defeats Jey Uso

Final

Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes (Night of Champions, June 28)

Queen of the Ring 2025 tournament

First round

Roxanne Perez defeats Kairi Sane, Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley
Jade Cargill defeats Michin, Piper Niven and Nia Jax
Asuka defeats Raquel Rodriguez, Stephanie Vaquer and Ivy Nile
Alexa Bliss defeats Candice LeRae, Charlotte Flair and Alba Fyre

Semifinals

Asuka defeats Alexa Bliss
Jade Cargill defeats Roxanne Perez

Final

Asuka vs. Jade Cargill (Night of Champions, June 28)

King of the Ring history

The 24rd King of the Ring will be crowned Saturday, as the tournament first took place in 1985. Here are all the stars who won King of the Ring:

1985: Don Muraco
1986: Harley Race
1987: Randy Savage
1988: Ted DiBiase
1989: Tito Santana
1991: Bret Hart
1993: Bret Hart
1994: Owen Hart
1995: Mabel
1996: Stone Cold Steve Austin
1997: Triple H
1998: Ken Shamrock
1999: Billy Gunn
2000: Kurt Angle
2001: Edge
2002: Brock Lesnar
2006: Booker T
2008: William Regal
2010: Sheamus
2015: Bad News Barrett
2019: Baron Corbin
2021: Xavier Woods
2024: Gunther

Queen of the Ring history

This is the third Queen of the Ring tournament after it debuted in 2021.

2021: Zelina Vega
2024: Nia Jax

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Major League Baseball lost a titan of its own on June 28 with the passing of former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Dave Parker.

Noted by USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale, Parker passed away after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 74 years old.

‘We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Dave Parker. A legendary Pirate, Parker spent 11 years in a Pirates uniform, winning 2 batting titles, an MVP award and a World Series Championship in 1979,’ the Pirates wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Known as the Cobra, Parker was set to receive his elongated induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame next month in Cooperstown, New York from the Classic Baseball Era Committee.

In his 19-year MLB career, which included an 11-year stint with the Pirates, Parker, who was known to be an intimidating bat for pitchers to face, recorded 2,712 career hits and a .290 batting average at the plate with 339 home runs and nearly 1,500 RBIs.

Accolade-wise, Parker was a seven-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, a two-time National League batting title champion and the 1978 National League MVP on top of several other accolades.

Before the second of their three-game weekend series against the New York Mets at PNC Park, the Pirates held a moment of silence to remember Parker — as did the Cincinnati Reds, who Parker played for from 1984-1987. Parker’s death has also brought in an outpouring of reactions from those on social media. Here’s a snippet of those reactions:

Baseball reacts to Dave Parker’s death

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(This story was updated with new information)

This post appeared first on USA TODAY