JACKSON East Mississippi Community College running back Gavin Griffin has been named the MACCC North Division’s Offensive Player of the Year to highlight the Lions’ 13 selections to the 2025 All-MACCC football teams. Chosen by a panel of the MACCC’s head football coaches, the conference’s first-team, second-team and honorable mention football selections from the league’s North and South Divisions were announced Wednesday by the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference office. Along with Griffin, head coach Buddy Stephens’ 7-3 EMCC Lions placed Ole Miss bounce-back Noreel White on the MACCC North Division First Team as both a wide receiver and return specialist. Also earning first-team honors for the division co-champions were offensive lineman Kison Shepard, defensive lineman Kevin Norwood Jr., along with defensive backs Donald Passmore III and Jathan Hatch. Second-team accolades for the Lions went to the offensive line tandem of Mike Wallace Jr. and Julian Jakobe, as well as the defensive line duo of Davier Bishop and Darrell Gross. A pair of EMCC freshmen, wide receiver Christian Thomas and linebacker Ja’Cari Owens, earned honorable mention recognition for the Lions. As EMCC’s lone repeat all-conference performer from a year ago, Griffin was twice selected the NJCAA and MACCC Offensive Player of the Week this season on the way to currently topping the NJCAA Division I statistical ranks in rushing yards (1, 168), rushing touchdowns (22) and rushing attempts (207). Griffin’s 134 points scored this season presently lead the NJCAA Division I ranks by 47 points, while his 22 rushing TDs are nine more than his nearest competitor. During the Buddy Stephens coaching era (since 2008), both totals rank only behind Tyrell Price’s 24 rushing touchdowns and 150 points scored during the Lions’ 2017 national championship season. On EMCC’s single-season statistical leaders list during the Stephens era, Griffin’s 1, 168 rushing yards (in 10 games this year) rank only behind 2025 EMCC Sports Hall of Fame inductee Rod Moore (1, 303 in 2011) and Lakenderic Thomas (1, 334 in 2013). Both Moore and Thomas had the luxury of playing two additional games during their respective national championship seasons with the Lions. In addition, Griffin’s 207 rushing attempts this season are the most by an EMCC player during the Stephens era, breaking the mark of 200 carries previously held by Deon McIntosh during the Lions’ 2018 national championship season. On EMCC’s career statistical leaders chart during the Stephens era, Griffin’s 1, 722 career rushing yards rank only behind Lakenderic Thomas (1, 724) and Rod Moore (2, 211). Griffin’s 30 career rushing touchdowns tie Tyrell Price for the most during the Stephens era. Along with Griffin’s 66 points scored (8 rush TDs & 3 TD catches) as an EMCC freshman by way of Velma Jackson High School, the 2023 MHSAA Class 1A Mr. Football also became just the second EMCC player of the Stephens era to reach 200 career points scored. Kicker Drew White tallied 204 total points during the Lions’ back-to-back national championship seasons of 2013 and 2014. Noreel White, out of St. Martin High School, currently ranks third in the MACCC with 52 receptions on the year in addition to standing second in punt return yardage (15. 0 yds/ret) and sixth in kickoff return yardage (24. 5 yds/ret). Among his 12 punt returns on the year was an 83-yard touchdown return against Itawamba. Kison Shepard, a transfer from Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, anchored an EMCC offensive line that has helped the Lions rank fifth nationally in total offense yards (428. 5 yds/gm) as well as rushing yards (217. 3 yds/gm). The 6-foot-7 left tackle prepped at Memphis’ Germantown High School. On the defensive side of the ball, Kevin Norwood Jr., out of Theodore High School in Alabama, made an immediate impact along EMCC’s defensive front following a redshirt season at Troy University. In the secondary, Donald Passmore III, a Terry High School product, was the Lions’ second-leading tackler on the year with 58 total stops along with his team-leading eight pass breakups and two blocked kicks. Jathan Hatch, a bounce-back from the University of Louisville by way of Biggersville High School, was EMCC’s No. 3 tackler this past year with 51 stops. EMCC’s second-team quartet earning all-conference honors was evenly distributed between the offensive and defensive lines. Davier Bishop, a product of Notre Dame College in his home state of Ohio, topped EMCC with nine tackles for loss, including six quarterback sacks, this past season. Darrell Gross, a Madison native out of Germantown High School, was credited with six tackles for loss as an EMCC sophomore. From the Lions’ offensive line, sophomore Mike Wallace Jr., out of Itawamba Agricultural High School, benefitted from moving over to the starting center position and was joined on the division’s second-team unit by freshman right tackle Julian Jakobe from Tupelo High School. Honorable mention recognition for the Lions was earned by freshman receiver Christian Thomas, who ranks sixth in the MACCC with 43 catches after having bounced back from Jacksonville State by way of Shades Valley High School in Alabama, and freshman linebacker Ja’Cari Owens, a Louisville High School product who led EMCC with 61 total tackles, including 6. 5 stops behind the line of scrimmage, this past year.
https://meridianstar.com/2025/11/20/griffin-heads-emcc-football-honorees-as-maccc-north-division-offensive-player-of-the-year/
Tag: championship
CM Punk makes a heartbreaking John Cena confession ahead of WWE retirement
CM Punk and John Cena have had some really great matches with each other over the years. The iconic rivalry between the two stars from the summer of 2011 is fondly remembered by fans. Ahead of Cena’s retirement match next month, Punk made a heartbreaking confession about being a part of his retirement tour. The Second City Saint faced off against the Last Real Champion earlier this year at the Night of Champions Premium Live Event. Fans loved to see the long time rivals go at it once again during Cena’s retirement run. Thanks for the submission! In a recent interview with WGN News, the World Heavyweight Champion shared his thoughts on Cena’s retirement. He made a confession stating that he was a small part of Cena’s tour. However, a lot of fans might find this heartbreaking since Punk was actually one of Cena’s biggest rivals. “A real treat to come back to WWE to be a witness to John gracefully bowing out and retiring. I’m a small part of his story, and I’m proud to be that small part. It’s been everything to me. I’m a fan of his, just like people are fans of me.; So being around him and being there to experience him just kind of gracefully, I feel like I’m skating with Gretzky during his last couple games.” Punk said. (4: 10 onwards) It’s heartbreaking to see CM Punk act so modestly even after being such a big part of the career of John Cena. CM Punk and John Cena will be in action at Survivor Series: WarGames Survivor Series: WarGames is just a few days away and the card is already stacked. The Men’s WarGames is set to take place between Team Punk and The Vision. On this week’s episode of RAW, Reigns returned to join Punk, the Usos and Cody Rhodes against Heyman’s group. However, Brock Lesnar made his return to ally with his former manager’s group including the Vision, Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul. It was also announced that John Cena will defend his Intercontinental Championship against Dominik Mysterio at the event. It will be interesting to see if Cena can retain his title in San Diego.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/news-cm-punk-makes-heartbreaking-john-cena-confession-ahead-wwe-retirement
Discussion with defensive coordinator gets Batavia’s Luke Gardner starring role at safety. ‘Just want to play.’
In the offseason, Gardner figured he would be on the sophomore team this fall, seeing that the Bulldogs were loaded at receiver. “I remember it like it was yesterday,” Gardner said. “I was in the weight room working out with my buddies. He came up to me, and I had never really talked to him before. “He asked if I could play safety. I was like, ‘I can do it.’ I just want to play.” Gardner was willing to give it a shot and, boy, are the Bulldogs glad he did. Rita (8-4) at 2 p. m. Saturday for a state semifinal game in Chicago. As the strong safety, Gardner leads the Bulldogs with 86 tackles, picking up his production even more as the playoffs have gone on. He has 27 tackles the past two weeks alone. “With his movement skills, speed and tackling, we thought it was a good spot for him. “He really stuck out over the summer and stuck to it, worked very hard.” It didn’t always come easily, however. “At first in the summer, it was really hard because as a safety, you have to read and keep your eyes right and make sure you’re reading the receivers,” Gardner said. “It took me a long time to understand route combinations and also tackling.” It led to a memorable moment with defensive backs coach Billy Colamatteo during summer camp. Colamatteo challenged Gardner to get tough and want to tackle. “Preston hit the hole,” Gardner said. “That was my first time really laying it down, and since then, I kind of enjoy hitting.” Holm couldn’t have been happier with the move. “We were going around the room talking about the growth that everyone has had this season,” Holm said of Gardner. “He’s one of the ones that really stand out. “He’s out of position. He’s never played safety before. He’s a good tackler, smart, and he’s done a fantastic job.” The Bulldogs utilize their strong safety in the box often, which has suited Gardner quite well. “People don’t usually like defensive backs to have a lot of tackles, but the way our defense plays, our safeties have a lot of tackles,” Holm said. “You have to be able to recognize pass-run quickly and fill your assignments against the run. “He’s become a very sure tackler. He’s done a great job for us.” This is technically Gardner’s first playoff run on varsity as well. He was along for the ride in a reserve role last season, but being in the mix has been a whole different feeling. “It’s definitely been very emotional,” Gardner said. “I didn’t experience the true feelings of the games. Now that I’ve experienced it, I realize how much has to go right for you to win.” He’s not just experiencing it. He’s going to have to be a big part of slowing down an explosive St. “I’ve been getting a lot more confident in my play,” Gardner said. “I know what’s happening. We’ve come a long way and we’ve progressed as a group, so I’m really happy about that.” Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/19/luke-gardner-batavia-ihsa-football/
Want to know what high school football is all about? Talk to coaches after a tough playoff loss.
If you’re ever looking to hear some tough men share their feelings, talk to high school football coaches after their teams have lost a hard-fought playoff game. You’ll probably hear a lot about joy, gratitude, pride and love. The Bangor area had three teams in particular that shined on the gridiron this fall, and all three fell just short of their respective state title games over the weekend. The Bangor Rams lost to defending state champion Portland in Class A, the Hermon Hawks missed out on their second straight Class C championship game appearance with a loss against Leavitt, and the John Bapst Crusaders had an otherwise perfect campaign stall against Winslow in Class D. Longtime John Bapst head coach Dan O’Connell paused for a moment after Saturday’s game when he was asked what it was like to lead a senior-laden Crusaders team that put together such a fantastic season. “I’m just lucky,” O’Connell responded. “I’m so thankful that I get to be around this great game with great kids, great families.” Hermon coach Kyle Gallant, a former assistant and player under O’Connell, had a similar answer when asked about the Hawks’ 8-2 season coming to a close. “Like I said to my guys, 48 minutes of football doesn’t define who we were this season. I’m super proud of them,” Gallant said. “You know, they’re just a joy to coach.” Both of Hermon’s losses this year came against Leavitt. “I just find myself trying to figure out what to do at night without football practice and being around those guys, because I love them that much,” Gallant added, “Unfortunately the season didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but it didn’t take away what those guys were able to do.” Bangor coach David Morris said his Rams players would be the first to tell you that they didn’t want to have their season end in the state semifinal against Portland for the second year in a row. But most importantly, he said his players could look themselves in the mirror and be proud of who they are. The Rams battled it out with top-seeded Portland in a back-and-forth contest for the ages, but came up just short against reigning Gatorade Player of the year Cordell Jones and the Bulldogs. “That’s the biggest thing really proud about what kind of people these guys are,” Morris added about his Bangor team. He was also proud of their commitment to Bangor High School in general. “Not to get sentimental, but one of our mottos was, ‘LEO,’ which means love each other,” Morris explained. “And yeah, they exemplified that to the fullest.” All three of these Bangor-area teams had an impactful group of seniors who played their final high school football game over the weekend. “They came to work every day, especially the seniors,” Gallant said about his group of five seniors in Hermon. “The senior leadership was amazing. The sad part about it being over was it was so fun to be with them every day.” That made his job as coach an easy one. “I’m just so honored to have been able to coach them, especially those seniors, for the last four years,” Gallant added. Morris shared similar sentiments about Bangor’s 15 seniors, who he said have “tremendous character” after weathering difficult seasons in their early high school careers and seeing the rewards later down the road. “They’re really a coach’s dream in terms of just the commitment that they made, not just in football, but in the offseason,” Morris said. He couldn’t recall any of the seniors missing practice at all this season. “Each of them have their own story, as to what they not only contributed to football, but what they brought to Bangor High School,” Morris added. The Rams, like the Hawks and Crusaders, fell just short of the state championship game. Things didn’t work out quite like these three talented teams had hoped. “But that’s what’s so great about this great game of football, is that it teaches you so much about life,” O’Connell said Saturday when reflecting on the John Bapst season. “For these kids, this is a hard lesson. But sometimes in life, you can work as hard as you can, you can put the time in, you can want something so bad. And sometimes, you just don’t get what you want.” That’s not where the story ends, however. “You’ll be measured by how you come back from that,” O’Connell continued. “And I have zero doubt that these kids will rally from this, because they’re great people they’re great football players, but they’re great people, and we’re awful proud of them.”.
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/18/sports/high-school-football/maine-high-school-football-coaches-after-playoff-loss-joam40zk0w/
Yahoo Top 10: Mike Elko, Texas A&M have plenty to be excited about after massive comeback win
Late Friday night, perhaps even into the wee hours of Saturday morning, Mike Elko and Texas A&M finalized a new contract for the coach. And then, just a few hours later, his third-ranked Aggies fell into a 27-point hole at home against lowly South Carolina. Bad timing?
Well, Elko and Co. made sure that the announcement of his big new deal wasn’t completely spoiled. They mounted the biggest comeback in school history, storming back for a 31-30 win over South Carolina by scoring touchdowns on four consecutive drives in a span of 15 minutes of game time—a stretch in which QB Marcel Reed threw for more than 300 yards.
The remarkable effort pushed the Aggies to 10-0 and Elko to 18-5 in his second season at the school. Speaking of Elko, he’ll be making more than $11 million annually as part of the new six-year contract. More importantly, the contract secures his place in Aggieland during one of the craziest coaching cycles in history.
Plenty of schools took an interest in Elko, most notably Penn State, where the coach has a deep connection. He apparently declined the interest from the Nittany Lions and got himself a $3-4 million raise in the process.
Texas A&M’s victory made the SEC championship game race even murkier, especially after Oklahoma stunned Alabama in Tuscaloosa (goodbye, Tide, from our Top 10; and hello, Sooners!). The Aggies now control their own destiny: beat Texas in two weeks and you’re in.
As for everyone else, there could be a bunch of teams locked at one loss, including Alabama, Ole Miss, and Georgia. Tiebreaker time! Either way, we won’t know who will play in Atlanta until the final Saturday results are in.
What’s going on in the other conference races? Indiana and Ohio State are on a crash course for the Big Ten title. The same goes for Texas Tech in the Big 12. In the ACC, there’s a logjam of four one-loss teams.
Meanwhile, the non-power league playoff race got interesting on Saturday when Navy beat South Florida, opening the door for Tulane, North Texas, and JMU to squeak into the postseason tournament.
Speaking of the playoff, Michigan survived in Wrigley Field against Northwestern to keep its hopes alive, Notre Dame pummeled Pitt to stay in position for an at-large berth, and USC rallied against Iowa to move to 8-2.
Let’s get to the Top 10!
—
### 1. Indiana Hoosiers
**This week:** beat Wisconsin 31-7
**Next week:** at Purdue
The Hoosiers turned a 10-7 halftime lead into a second-half blowout as QB Fernando Mendoza carved through the Badgers secondary for 299 yards on 22-of-24 passing. For the first time ever, Indiana is 11-0, and Curt Cignetti is now 22-2 at the school—a remarkable and historic run.
A bye week comes next before the annual rivalry clash with the in-state Boilermakers and then a titanic showdown with Ohio State in the Big Ten championship game.
**Best win:** 30-20 at Oregon
—
### 2. Ohio State Buckeyes
**This week:** beat UCLA 48-10
**Next week:** vs. Rutgers
The backups got in pretty early in this one. Are the Buckeyes ever going to be challenged in a tight fourth-quarter game? Freshman RB Bo Jackson broke 100 yards again, and OSU jumped out to a 34-0 lead.
**Best wins:** 14-7 vs. Texas
—
### 3. Texas A&M Aggies
**This week:** beat South Carolina 31-30
**Next week:** vs. Samford
You read plenty about the big comeback in our rankings intro above. But you can never write too much about the fact that a team climbed out of a 27-point hole. The A&M offense did plenty, but the Aggies’ defense did wonders. South Carolina had five second-half drives; three ended in punts, and two on failed fourth downs.
**Best win:** 41-40 at Notre Dame
—
### 4. Georgia Bulldogs
**This week:** beat Texas 35-10
**Next week:** vs. Charlotte
QB Gunner Stockton threw four touchdowns, and the Bulldogs suffocated Texas to the tune of less than 30 yards rushing—an all-around stellar performance from Kirby Smart’s defense. Texas didn’t get into the end zone until late in the third quarter.
**Best win:** 43-35 vs. Ole Miss
—
### 5. Ole Miss Rebels
**This week:** beat Florida 34-24
**Next week:** Off
Lane Kiffin and the Rebels had to sweat this one out against the 3-6 Gators. Good thing they had RB Kewan Lacy, who posted more than 200 yards on 30 carries as Ole Miss locked up a playoff spot ahead of the Egg Bowl.
**Best win:** 34-26 at Oklahoma
—
### 6. Texas Tech Red Raiders
**This week:** beat UCF 48-9
**Next week:** Off
At one point, the Red Raiders led 38-2. Tech’s offseason investment is paying off (have you heard that one before?). But the Red Raiders go beyond just cash and talent. They are sound, well-coached, and have a direct path to Dallas for the Big 12 title game—a playoff ticket-punching event for coach Joey McGuire and company.
**Best win:** 34-10 at Utah
—
### 7. Oregon Ducks
**This week:** beat Minnesota 42-13
**Next week:** vs. USC
The banged-up Ducks played without several of their top receivers, but it didn’t matter. QB Dante Moore threw just three incomplete passes against a Gophers defense that entered as one of the nation’s best. Oregon is two wins away from securing a playoff spot. Standing in the way is a home game against the Trojans and a road trip to Seattle.
**Best win:** 34-24 vs. USC
—
### 8. Oklahoma Sooners
**This week:** beat Alabama 23-21
**Next week:** vs. Missouri
The Sooners had four sacks and turned three turnovers into 17 points to take down Alabama, handing coach Kalen DeBoer his first home loss in Tuscaloosa and his first defeat while wearing the vaunted “black hoodie of death.” OU, despite two losses, finds itself in prime position to get into the playoff as an at-large selection. Missouri and LSU await at home in Norman.
**Best win:** 24-13 vs. Michigan
—
### 9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
**This week:** beat Pitt 37-15
**Next week:** vs. Syracuse
The Irish failed to live up to Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi’s expectations. He half-jokingly said the Irish could hang 100 on his team and it wouldn’t matter! Well, they didn’t get there, but they did more than enough to batter the Panthers. RB Jeremiyah Love ran for 147, including a 56-yard touchdown, and the Irish defense held Pitt to 219 total yards.
**Best win:** 34-24 vs. USC
—
### 10. USC Trojans
**This week:** beat Iowa 26-21
**Next week:** at Oregon
A chilly and rainy day in Los Angeles seemed to favor the Hawkeyes and, for a while, it certainly did. The Trojans needed a second-half rally and 154 yards from WR Makai Lemon in the rain to overcome a two-touchdown first-half deficit and salvage any playoff hopes. Next up: the mighty Ducks in Eugene.
**Best win:** 31-13 vs. Michigan
—
The college football landscape continues to shift as the regular season nears its end. With so many marquee matchups and potential tiebreakers on the horizon, fans can expect an electrifying finish to the season. Stay tuned!
https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football/breaking-news/article/yahoo-top-10-mike-elko-texas-am-have-plenty-to-be-excited-about-after-massive-comeback-win-041252829.html
Harris makes 3 interceptions and Gardner-Webb takes advantage of 4 takeaways in 30-14 win over TSU
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Quasean Holmes rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown, while Josiah Harris made three interceptions, helping Gardner-Webb secure a 30-14 victory over Tennessee State on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb capitalized on four takeaways during the game, boosting their overall performance. With this win, Gardner-Webb improved to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the Big South/Ohio Valley Conference, marking their second time reaching seven wins in three seasons.
On the other hand, Tennessee State fell to 2-9 overall and 0-7 in conference play, continuing their challenging season.
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/college-sports-general-news/10191248/harris-makes-3-interceptions-and-gardner-webb-takes-advantage-of-4-takeaways-in-30-14-win-over-tsu.html
Eagles Could Make Surprising Brian Daboll Hire Amid Locker Room Discontent
Serious cracks are showing in the foundation of the Philadelphia Eagles offense in Week 11. The Eagles earned a big win over the Green Bay Packers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 10, but managed to score just 10 points against a stout Packers defense.
**AJ Brown Voices Frustration**
Earlier this week, Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown openly expressed his frustrations with the offense’s struggles. During an appearance on Janky Rondo’s Madden stream on Tuesday night, Brown was blunt when asked about how things were going.
“I mean, no. Where have you been?” Brown responded. “No, like, family’s good, but everything else? No. It’s a (expletive) show. You on some ‘How you been?’ I’ve been struggling, brother.”
**Pressure Mounts on Hurts and Patullo**
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo have received the bulk of the criticism as fans and analysts voice dissatisfaction with the team’s offensive performance this season.
**Brian Daboll Rumored as Potential Offensive Coordinator**
Adding fuel to the speculation, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports there is league chatter about former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll possibly joining Philadelphia as their next offensive coordinator.
“Daboll is a football fanatic who knows the business, and he’s not done,” Russini wrote. “He wants to coach again, but it has to be in the right situation, in a spot that feels like the right fit.”
Some insiders have floated the idea of Daboll returning as the future offensive coordinator for either the Eagles or the Houston Texans. Although this is currently only speculation, there’s no doubt Daboll plans to return to coaching.
**Daboll’s Credentials and Fit**
Daboll is regarded as one of the top offensive minds in the game. He was the offensive coordinator for Alabama when the Crimson Tide won the national championship in 2017. Afterward, he became the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2018, where he played a key role in developing Josh Allen into one of the league’s premier quarterbacks.
While Daboll would be an intriguing hire for Philadelphia, he might also bring added complexity to an already volatile locker room. He was known for clashing with coaches and players during his time in New York, making him a risky choice for Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.
As the Eagles continue to seek solutions to their offensive woes, all eyes will be on how the team’s staff evolves moving forward.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/brian-daboll-philadelphia-eagles-nfl-11053563
Former WWE Star Gets Brutally Honest About John Cena Winning the IC Title
Earlier this week, John Cena made history in his hometown of Boston by winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship for the first time in his career. This epic moment, featured on “Monday Night Raw,” received widespread praise from fans as Cena officially became a grand slam champion during his retirement tour.
While many praised the match, it wasn’t without some criticism directed at WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque and John Cena himself for various issues. Several former WWE employees shared their honest thoughts about the match, including former WWE writer Vince Russo and manager Jim Cornette.
Russo mainly criticized Triple H’s decision to remain in the ring during Cena’s big moment with Dominik Mysterio in Boston. Cornette, on the other hand, was more critical of certain spots during the Cena vs. Dominik Mysterio match.
In a recent edition of his podcast alongside The Great Brian, Cornette addressed several issues he observed during the match. In his “Official Jim Cornette” video, his most significant criticism was aimed at the referee’s behavior and the use of false finishes.
“They did an unnecessary spot and then did a false finish that was better than the actual finish, and I think they just tried to get too cute,” Cornette said.
He pointed out a moment where Dominik undid the turnbuckle cover and walked away, while the referee focused on retying the cover instead of watching the action in the ring. Cornette claimed this made the referee look “stupid” to the live audience.
Cornette also mentioned how odd the referee looked after Cena and Dominik each tried to blame the other for hitting with a steel chair. According to Cornette, the referee should have started a count with both men down on the mat, rather than looking back and forth between them.
Cornette was especially critical of the match’s finish, where Dominik landed a 619 to knock Cena down, followed by a frogsplash from the corner for a pinfall attempt. Cena reportedly “no-sold” the frogsplash by rolling through it and hitting the Attitude Adjustment to secure the win—something Cornette noted is likely unprecedented with that move.
Despite these criticisms, Cornette acknowledged that the match was “put together very well,” featuring mostly in-ring action rather than high-flying or risky spots involving crashing into tables or other objects.
He also agreed that the crowd reaction to Cena winning the Intercontinental Championship was tremendous. Cornette’s co-host even suggested it might have been the biggest pop for an IC title win since Ultimate Warrior captured the championship in 1988 at Madison Square Garden.
Looking ahead, Cornette speculated that Cena will likely face Gunther in his final match on “Saturday Night’s Main Event” this December—an encounter that could further elevate Gunther before Cena retires.
—
**Read more:**
– Former WWE Star Calls Out Triple H for Disrespecting John Cena
– WWE: Nikki Bella Breaks Silence on ‘Gross’ Chants From WWE Fans in Boston
– Popular WWE Star Offers Strong Words About John Cena’s Retirement
– WWE Star Addresses ‘Big’ NXT Call-Up to Main Roster
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/wrestling/former-wwe-star-gets-brutally-honest-about-john-cena-winning-the-ic-title-11052293
Big E Predicts World Title Run For WWE Star
John Cena shocked the Boston crowd on Monday Night Raw when he defeated Dominik Mysterio to win the Intercontinental Championship, becoming a Grand Slam Champion in his final hometown appearance. While the loss ended Dominik’s title reign, former WWE Champion Big E explained on the WWE Raw Recap why the match was a huge step forward for the young star’s career.
### A ‘Big Co-Sign’ For Dominik
Big E noted that being in a competitive match with Cena during his retirement tour is a massive endorsement from the company.
“I know that it’s a losing effort, but I do love this for Dom. We have what, four more weeks of John Cena’s career, and Dominik Mysterio is not in a squash match with John Cena, he’s going toe to toe with John Cena, he’s getting mic time with John Cena. I understand that he lost the title to Cena, but I think this was a big moment for Dom. ‘Passing of the torch moment’ might not be the right way to put it, but I think it is a big co-sign that yeah, Dom is a guy who we’re going to invest in for a long time.”
### A Pivotal Career Moment
Big E stated that he believes this match will be remembered as a key moment in Dominik’s eventual rise to the main event.
“He didn’t get the job done, but I love this for Dom, and I think this is going to be a moment we look back on when Dom is a world champion, who knows, a year, two years from now, whenever that time comes.”
“I think we’ll look back at pivotal moments in his career, his ascension to that top spot, and we’ll look at this as a great moment in his career.”
https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/big-predicts-world-title-run-wwe-star/
Trent Boult picks 6-a-side team ahead of SA20 2025-26; chooses Pakistan pacer and not Jasprit Bumrah
The veteran seamer Trent Boult revealed his dream six-a-side cricket team, starting with his first pick: Rohit Sharma. Boult described Rohit as one of the best-ever batters to watch. Rohit led the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2020 and 2021, with Boult playing a key role in the lineup. The duo reunited last season when the Kiwi pacer returned to the franchise in the IPL 2025 auction.
Rohit Sharma holds several impressive records, including being the joint-record holder for the most IPL titles as captain, having won five. He is also the only batter in the sport to score three double-centuries in One Day Internationals (ODIs). Additionally, the right-hander is the all-time leader in ODI World Cup centuries, with seven. Rohit further showcased his leadership by leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Boult’s second pick was the former West Indian opener, Chris Gayle. Gayle is the all-time leading run-scorer in T20 cricket, amassing 14,562 runs, including 22 centuries. He played a vital role in the West Indies’ title wins in the 2012 and 2016 T20 World Cups.
Next, Boult selected himself at No. 3. Having picked up over 600 wickets in international cricket, the left-arm pacer ranks third all-time in wickets among New Zealand bowlers. He was instrumental in helping New Zealand win the 2021 World Test Championship (WTC) title.
To complete his dream team, Boult opted for two pacers and one spinner. As the lone spinner, he chose former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne. Warne is the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history, with 708 wickets and an incredible 37 five-wicket hauls. He also played a key role in Australia’s 1999 ODI World Cup victory, earning Player of the Match honors in both the semifinal and final.
In a somewhat unexpected choice, Boult selected Mohammed Shami as one of his two pace bowlers instead of the widely chosen Jasprit Bumrah, who also played alongside Boult for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025. Shami ranks fifth among all-time wicket-takers in ODI World Cups, with 55 scalps at an average of 13.52, including a record four five-wicket hauls.
Finally, Boult’s last pick was Pakistan’s left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi, who boasts over 100 wickets across all three formats in international cricket.
This well-rounded lineup reflects Boult’s appreciation for both explosive batting and impactful bowling, blending legends from various eras and backgrounds into his ultimate cricket team.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-trent-boult-picks-6-a-side-team-ahead-sa20-2025-26-chooses-pakistan-pacer-jasprit-bumrah