Sports
Saturday Night's Main Event Winners and Takeaways From New York City
New York City had quite the weekend at MetLife Stadium and Madison Square Garden. Spain is the 2026 World Cup Champions, while new champions were crowned at Saturday Night’s Main Event. SNME started with a bang and ended with a head-scratching conclusion depending on who you ask. Blood was shed, careers were tested, and champions made appearances. Let’s hit the headlines.
A Trick/Treat For the Big Apple
For the first time this year, a match happened on the pre-show. Trick Williams retained his US title against The Laredo Kid. This match was really good, and the crowd got invested despite the match being announced earlier in the day. Both competitors got their offense in, and Trick hit his challenger with a trick shot for the win. The next surprise of the night was Stephanie McMahon introducing Oba Femi to the ring. WWE fans love strutting along to his entrance, but time will tell if the Nigerian Giant can keep this momentum through WM season. Femi cut a promo on Brock Lesnar. Their match will likely open one of the Nights, and Brock will receive a homecoming welcome from the Minnesota faithful.
A NEW ERA IS HERE
Let’s cut to the chase. Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley) beat Scream Mode (Brie Bella and Paige) to become the new women’s tag champs. Fans were holding their breath, hoping WWE wouldn’t fumble this opportunity. WWE didn’t, and we can all take a sigh of relief. The match had Paige and Brie Bella hitting their signature moves, while Hallon and Riley used the numbers game. In the end, Jayce Jane got involved without the ref’s awareness and flipped the pin in her team’s favor. A grab of the tights, and we have new champs. Lots of media outlets criticized Jessika Carr for dismissing the interference. Regardless, Paige can now venture into solo competition, while the Bella Twins can reunite when Nikki returns. With Fatal Influence now having tag team gold, it’s worth noting Jacy Jayne was rumored to face Rhea Ripley for the title at SummerSlam before Ripley got sidelined. These three can dominate SmackDown for years to come if given the chance.
The KAT and The Curse
That was loads of fun. Danhausen and JD McDonaugh put on a show for Madison Square Garden. It was a No Disqualification match featuring minhausens, tables, curses, and a hometown star. There was a focus on the New York Knicks jersey owned by Danhausen, which drew heat for the heels. The only gripe was the Judgement Day manhandling the minihausens when Danhausen escaped to reveal his surprise in the crate. Out came Karl Anthony-Towns, who hit a better chokeslam than most superstars on the roster. He joined in the ‘You are Cursed’ shenanigans, and the face-painted vigilante pinned his opponent for the win. For those unaware of the why this match happened, Danhausen uncursed the Knicks. They won the title, and MSG was loving this match from the moment the bell rang.
One Last Hurrah?
Lyra Valkyria picked up a victory against former tag partner Bayley in a hard-hitting affair. These two didn’t hold back, and Bayley may have broken Lyra’s nose with a direct shot from the elbow. One negative from this bout is the trope of ‘can she continue the matchup?’ when Lyra got busted open. She could, and she did. Lyra’s new theme song is amazing as well. After the match, Valkyria beat down Bayley and hit a Crow Wing on the stairs. Perhaps these two add a stipulation at SummerSlam, and Bayley gets her revenge because WWE LOVES 50/50 booking. Either way, Lyra’s presentation and character get props for now. Bayley’s contract expires at the end of the year, so many question marks remain about her future.
A Score to Settle
The stipulation for the main event was that if Gunther and Sami Zayn win, they’re added to the title match at SummerSlam. Their opponents were Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. In a tag team match clouded by the age-old question, ‘Can They Co-Exist’, these four hit it out of the park. This was the match of the night, and should’ve been the last segment of the show. Zayn hit the ref in a desperate attempt to save the match. Gunther overcame his two opponents and hit a powerbomb. This prompted a ref to come down for the three counts, only for Nick Aldis to yank him out of the ring. Aldis hit Gunther with the WWE belt, costing him and Zayn the match. Would’ve rather had Gunther snap and be held by officials as Nick Aldis smirks through the crowd than what was going to happen next.
The MVP and the OTC
A segment between the King of New York, Jalen Brunson, and Roman Reigns was advertised before the PLE. When the main event ended at 8:40 pm, it was clear these two were closing the show. They gave Jalen Brunson a 10-15 (felt like it) Goldberg-like entrance sans the headbutt, and had people clapping for him backstage. He and Reigns walked out, and did their usual finger poses and ACKNOWLEDGE US schtick. Seth Rollins’ music hit, and Tyrese Haliburton came out instead. Rollins failed in his sneak attack, and Brunson said ‘Try Me, M’fer’ before Reigns hit Rollins with a Superman punch. Neither NBA star got physical as they are both hurt, but Brunson got a massive ovation from the crowd. To close out the show, Reigns hoisted the NBA trophy while Brunson wore the WH belt and a custom-made one.
TKO’s obsession with celebrities/athletes continues, but we aren’t going to let one bad apple ruin the batch. There is one more Saturday, or should I say, Sunday Night’s Main Event left on the calendar on September 6th in Atlanta. Peacock’s deal with WWE expires at the end of the year, so it’ll be interesting to see what the future holds for SNME in 2027 and beyond.
Let’s hope WWE can keep this momentum going, but their toughest test lies ahead. SummerSlam tickets aren’t selling as well as TKO/WWE thought they would. Their ticket sales are only half of what last year’s SummerSlam attendance was. Let’s see what WWE has in store with two weeks left before the biggest event of the summer.
Sports
Odell Beckham Jr.'s Giants Return Comes With Plenty of Questions
Odell Beckham Jr. watched Sunday’s World Cup final at his once and future NFL home digs amid scores of luminaries from sports, stage and screen.
The New York Giants wide receiver hopes to inspire pandemonium, not absorb it, during his forthcoming visits to what again can be called MetLife Stadium. Until then, Beckham Jr. is drawing attention for behavior beyond football as his Giants reunion begins.
Welcome back to real life, if not reality.
In June, OBJ signed a one-year, veteran minimum contract with New York that’s worth up to $1.3 million, per reports. A few weeks later, he discussed the hypotheticals of earning much more, delivering an opinion that made him look disjointed and entitled.
Again, welcome back to – well, you know.
During an appearance on the Pivot podcast, Beckham said that a five-year, $100 million NFL contract – a sum now well beyond the 33-year-old’s grasp – isn’t enough money.
Said Beckham: “It’s five years for $60 million; you’re getting taxed.”
He then asserted that his own spending habits, roughly $4 million per year, would spare him a measly $40 million. Then there’s the matter of taking care of friends and family.
“Can you make that last forever?” Beckham said.
Apparently, you can stretch a fraction of that sum to catch the conclusion of Spain’s dominant run to a world soccer title, anyway.
Beckham posted about his Sunday-afternoon whereabouts on Instagram, including a photo of him alongside Giants quarterback Jaxon Dart. The duo certainly looked cool, with OBJ showing the swagger of the youngster who earned AP Offensive Rookie of the Year with New York in 2014 while collecting 5,476 receiving yards and 44 touchdown receptions over his first five seasons with Big Blue.
To what extent Beckham can channel that production in his second stint remains to be seen. For all the flash he brings and the many feel-good voyages down Memory Lane his signing provided, Beckham shouldn’t project as a lynchpin as the John Harbaugh Era dawns.
OBJ played in only nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, finishing with nine catches for 55 yards before he received a six-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. He sat out the 2025 season and hasn’t caught a touchdown pass since Week 14 in 2023, when he played for the Baltimore Ravens.
New York brought Beckham back while adding a slew of fellow veteran wideouts – including Darnell Mooney, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios and Calvin Austin – to a receiver room that lost Wan’Dale Robinson to free agency (Tennessee) and is navigating numerous offseason injuries.
In May, Gunner Olszewski suffered a torn Achilles during OTAs. Darius Slayton had core-muscle surgery in the spring but continues to recover and was among the 80,000-plus at MetLife for Spain-Argentina.
Malik Nabers, meanwhile, appears on track to return after tearing his ACL in Week 4 of last season following a standout rookie year.
The Giants hope at least one of their veterans can slide into a starting role to augment their budding youngsters.
While OBJ’s output isn’t the proverbial money in the bank of a decade ago, you can bet his pursuit of a second chance in New York will net plenty of chatter.
He’s due back at MetLife in a little under one month; the Giants host the Minnesota Vikings in their preseason opener on Aug. 15.
Sports
Tigers ride all-around effort of Dillon Dingler into clash against Cubs
Jul 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) points after he hits a solo home run during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Dillon Dingler showed again how he can be the Detroit Tigers’ difference-maker.
The Tigers catcher had two home runs, a successful pickoff and the go-ahead RBI single as Detroit defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-6 in 10 innings in the first contest of a three-game set on Monday, all while managing six pitchers in a big-game environment.
Game 2 of the series in Chicago will be Tuesday night.
“A lot of Tigers fans in the stands and obviously a lot of Cubs fans in the stands made it feel like a playoff atmosphere, and the whole team rallied to get a big win,” Dingler said after his 4-for-5, three-RBI performance on Monday.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch concurred, calling it “a character win.”
Hinch said his favorite part of Dingler’s performance wasn’t the big hits. Instead, he enjoyed watching the All-Star’s way of “navigating the game, in this ballpark, against that offense.”
“I love homers for us, when he hits them, but his contribution behind the plate is always going to be where I go to first,” said Hinch, a former catcher who appeared in 27 games with the Tigers in 2003.
The extra-innings loss on Monday was made even worse for Chicago when reliever Trent Thornton left the game after taking a Riley Greene line drive directly off his foot in the 10th.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said X-rays were negative on Thornton’s heel after the game, but he added that the team will monitor his status.
Thornton has a 3-3 record with a 2.70 ERA and three saves in 27 appearances this season.
“We’ve done a really good job of — especially in the bullpen — just trying to do the next-man-up mentality,” Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon told reporters after Thornton’s exit. “But seeing a guy like that go down is tough.”
Injuries have been an unfortunate theme for the Cubs’ pitching staff this season. Phil Maton (knee) was added to the 15-day injured list on Monday, joining fellow pitchers Ben Brown, Daniel Palencia, Ethan Roberts, Hoby Milner and Edward Cabrera on the IL. Other pitchers, including Cade Horton, are on the 60-day IL.
Taillon was making his first start since June 7 in Monday’s loss, recently returning from a hamstring strain. He did not figure into the decision after allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings.
It will be a clash of left-handers on the mound Tuesday as Detroit’s Framber Valdez (5-6, 4.10 ERA) opposes David Peterson (4-7, 6.45).
Valdez will make his first start since returning from the bereavement list on Saturday after the death of his grandmother. He had a stellar outing in his most recent start on July 9, striking out nine and giving up one run in seven innings as the Tigers beat the Athletics 4-1.
Both of Valdez’s previous starts against Chicago came as a member of the Houston Astros. He’s 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA vs. the Cubs, most recently tossing six shutout innings in a 2-0 Astros win on June 29, 2025.
Peterson is 1-1 with an 8.16 ERA in his three starts for Chicago since being acquired from the Mets on June 25. He took a no-decision last time out against Baltimore on July 9, allowing only one run in five innings of a 3-2 loss.
This will be Peterson’s first career appearance against Detroit.
–Field Level Media
Sports
After two walk-off losses, Cardinals eager to rebound in matchup vs. Angels
Jul 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore (32) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images After suffering their second consecutive walk-off loss, the St. Louis Cardinals will turn to Opening Day starter Matthew Liberatore when they face the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif.
St. Louis, on the heels of blowing a 7-0 lead in a 10-inning, 8-7 defeat at Arizona on Sunday, saw the Angels rally to win the series opener 3-2 on Monday.
The Cardinals appeared to be in good shape heading into the bottom of the ninth with a 2-1 lead, especially after All-Star closer Riley O’Brien struck out Mike Trout to open the frame. The Angels were 0-48 this season when trailing after eight innings.
But Nolan Schanuel followed with a single and Jorge Soler was hit by a pitch. Vaughn Grissom then lined a double off the top of the right-field fence, missing a home run by inches, to drive in pinch runner Oswald Peraza with the tying run.
After Josh Lowe was intentionally walked to load the bases, O’Brien plunked Jo Adell with a 3-0 sinker to drive in the winning run.
It marked the Angels’ first walk-off win via a hit-by-pitch since Hank Conger was hit on April 11, 2014.
“That’s one of those where you don’t feel it getting hit right there,” said Adell, who snapped an 0-for-24 slump with a solo homer earlier. “Good stuff.”
O’Brien said: “Just didn’t have a good feel for the ball today.”
Despite the loss, St. Louis remained in a tie with Miami and Pittsburgh for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
Liberatore (5-6, 5.00 ERA), who has won two of his last three starts during a roller-coaster season, comes in off his finest outing of 2026. The left-hander allowed four hits over six shutout innings in a 4-1 victory over the Atlanta Braves on July 11, walking one and striking out six.
Liberatore has allowed just four earned runs over 16 innings in his last three starts. A big focus has been curtailing big innings.
“That was something that was a theme over a couple starts,” Liberatore said. “I think over the last few starts, I’ve done a much better job of that. Not to say it’s never going to happen again, but I think some of the discussions that we had and adjustments that were made helped me navigate through those moments.”
Liberatore is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in two career starts against the Angels.
Rookie right-hander Walbert Urena (5-7, 2.88 ERA) will try to pitch Los Angeles to a series win.
Urena, who has never faced the Cardinals, last started in a 13-1 win on July 8 at Texas and had a lukewarm performance. He allowed one hit over four shutout innings but walked a career-high five batters. He didn’t get a chance to go back out for the fifth inning to earn the win even though the Angels had a 7-0 lead because he already had thrown 90 pitches, just 52 for strikes.
“It wasn’t the best, man,” Urena said afterward. “My command wasn’t the best today. Walks. Behind in counts always. But I got lucky.”
–Field Level Media
Odell Beckham Jr.'s Giants Return Comes With Plenty of Questions
Tigers ride all-around effort of Dillon Dingler into clash against Cubs
