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WWE is combining with UFC to form a new company

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

(CNN) — World Wrestling Entertainment is merging with Endeavor Group, the parent company of competitor UFC, to form a new publicly traded company.The deal values the newly combined company at over $21 billion: UFC is worth $12.1 billion and WWE is valued at $9.3 billion. Endeavor shareholders will own 51% of the newly combined company, while WWE shareholders are getting 49%.“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry is headed,” said Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, in a statement. Emanuel, a Hollywood powerhouse agent, will be the CEO of the new company and retain his chief executive title at the agency.Vince McMahon will retain his current WWE title of executive chairman at the new company, which doesn’t yet have name. He said in a statement that the new company “will be well positioned to maximize the value of our combined media rights.” He also said the new company...

John Cena reps North Shore roots with special edition Kowloon sneakers during WrestleMania

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

The North Shore was represented in more ways than one at WrestleMania over the weekend as John Cena sported some sick kicks that even caught their creators by surprise.During WWE WrestleMania 39, the West Newbury native wore a pair of special sneakers made in collaboration between a local artist and Kowloon Restaurant.The red, black and gold sneakers were released back in February after Kowloon teamed up with Sway of blueswaydshoes to make some 100, hand-painted Nike Air Force 1 sneaks inspired by the restaurant.RELATED: Fine Dining & Footwear: Kowloon Restaurant teams up with artist to create special Nike sneakersPosting to Instagram, Sway shared his surprise when the sneakers made a cameo during a Cena match, stating “@johncena rocking that blueswaydshoes custom, mind is blown right now ”“That was quite incredible,” said Kowloon Restaurant co-owner Stanley Wong. “I mean, we’ve had a friendship with the Cena family for over 20 years.”On...

Breaking down the Jets’ dwindling options at defensive tackle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

On Thursday morning, right before his scheduled visit with the Jets, free-agent defensive lineman Calais Campbell agreed to a one-year deal with Falcons.Days earlier, Jets general manager Joe Douglas had spoke glowingly about Campbell and the potential to sign the 36-year-old veteran. Now Gang Green will need to satisfy their defensive tackle needs elsewhere as it still has a major void to fill alongside Quinnen Williams.Earlier this offseason, Sheldon Rankins, who started 15 games for the Jets last year, signed a one-year, $9.7 million contract with the Texans. Also, Nathan Shephard, who was the Jets backup defensive tackle in 2022, signed a three-year, $15 million deal with the Saints.Gang Green targeted Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, but he decided to return to Philadelphia instead. The Jets did retain Solomon Thomas, who played in all 17 games a year ago, but they still need a starter on the defensive line.“Like I told Joe, we still have Quinnen (Williams),” J...

UFC, WWE to merge into $21B sports entertainment giant

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

The parent company of the UFC mixed martial arts league has announced a deal to buy professional wrestling giant WWE and merge the two corporations.“Together, we will be a $21+ billion live sports and entertainment powerhouse with a collective fanbase of more than a billion people and an exciting growth opportunity,” Vince McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment executive chairman, said along with the announcement of the merger.According to an announcement made by Ultimate Fighting Championship owner Endeavor Group Holdings on Monday morning, the companies have signed a “definitive agreement” to combine with Endeavor maintaining 51% controlling interest and WWE shareholders keeping the remaining 49% holdings.The professional wrestling company formerly known as the WWF was purchased for $9.3 billion or approximately $106 per share, according to the the announcement.“This is a rare opportunity to create a global live sports and entertainment pureplay built for where the industry ...

LSU’s Angel Reese unapologetic over gestures to Iowa star Caitlin Clark

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

By SCHUYLER DIXON (AP Sports Writer)DALLAS (AP) — LSU’s Angel Reese waved her hand in front of her face while staring down Caitlin Clark, then pointed toward her finger as if to say a ring was coming while walking toward the Iowa star.The gestures late in the Tigers’ 102-85 victory in the NCAA championship game Sunday lit up social media, with comments supporting the “Bayou Barbie” for trash talk that’s just part of the game and condemning her for lacking grace in victory.The bubbly junior from Baltimore, who transferred from Maryland to join flamboyant LSU coach Kim Mulkey, was unapologetic in the postgame news conference.“All year, I was critiqued about who I was,” Reese said. “I don’t fit in a box that y’all want me to be in. I’m too hood. I’m too ghetto. But when other people do it, y’all say nothing. So this was for the girls that look like me, that’s going to speak up on what they believe in. It’s unapologetically you.”Clark, the scoring sensation who was the first with consec...

How to watch San Diego State in the NCAA National Championship

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Today is the day Aztecs fans!The San Diego State University men's basketball team will take on UConn in the NCAA Tournament National Championship game Monday night.The five-seed Aztecs advanced to the championship game after a buzzer-beater win over FAU on Saturday that propelled SDSU to a 72-71 victory.UConn, a four-seed, punched their ticket to the championship game after a 13-point victory over Miami on Saturday.The SDSU-UConn matchup will take place at NRG Stadium in Houston, with tipoff scheduled for 6:20 p.m. PT.Here is how you can tune into the game live:TVThe game between the Aztecs and the Huskies will air live on CBS.StreamingThose looking for a streaming option to watch the National Championship game will have a few options.The primetime matchup will be streamed on the NCAA website and on the March Madness Live app, but you may need a cable subscription login to watch.The game will also stream live on YouTube TV and Hulu. CBS games are simultaneously streamed ...

Oil producers’ cuts could boost gasoline prices, help Russia

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Major oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia said they’re cutting supplies of crude — again. This time, the decision was a surprise and is underlining worries about where the global economy might be headed.Russia is joining in by extending its own cuts for the rest of the year. In theory, less oil flowing to refineries should mean higher gasoline prices for drivers and could boost the inflation hitting the U.S. and Europe. And that may also help Russia weather Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine at the expense of the U.S. The decision by oil producers, many of them in the OPEC oil cartel, to cut production by more than 1 million barrels a day comes after prices for international benchmark crude slumped amid a slowing global economy that needs less fuel for travel and industry.It adds to a cut of 2 million barrels per day announced in October. Between the two cuts, that’s about 3% of the world’s oil supply. Here are key thin...

Supreme Court rejects appeal from Louisiana man on death row

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from a Louisiana death row inmate seeking a new sentencing hearing, over a dissent from the three liberal justices.The court turned away David Brown, who was convicted of killing a prison guard, Capt. David Knapps, during a 1999 escape attempt from the state prison in Angola. Brown argues he is entitled to a reconsideration of his death sentence because prosecutors failed to provide his lawyers with evidence that might have led a jury to spare his life.Only after the sentencing did prosecutors give Brown’s legal team a confession from a fellow inmate, Barry Edge, that supported Brown’s contention that he was not involved in Knapps’ killing.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that the delay violated Brown’s constitutional rights under a 1963 Supreme Court decision requiring the prosecution to turn over material that would help a defendant’s case. “At no point in the confession did E...

Spiraling housing prices spark worry about Hawaii’s future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

WAIANAE, Hawaii (AP) — Tedorian Gallano would like to buy a house for his wife and three youngest children in Hawaii, but real estate prices soared so high eight years ago he moved his family back to his childhood home outside Honolulu — and last year, his older brother followed suit.Now, eight members from three generations of Gallano’s extended family share one bathroom in a house that’s so packed they’ve jerry-rigged an extra bedroom in the garage. Buying a home is “pretty much unattainable for the average working family” in Hawaii, the 49-year-old carpenter said.“We always seem to have these hot markets that drive the prices up, and then it’s the hardworking local families that cannot buy houses who are kind of left out,” Gallano said.Gallano’s situation is emblematic of the acute affordable housing crisis afflicting Hawaii, a problem so deep that there’s now widespread concern that many of Hawaii’s children won’t be able to afford to li...

Stocks are mixed as oil price jump adds to inflation fears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:48:31 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil prices are climbing Monday and threatening to add more upward pressure on inflation, while stock markets worldwide were making only modest moves. The S&P 500 was 0.1% higher in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 226 points, or 0.7%, at 33,500, as of 9:45 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.4% lower. It’s the first day of the year’s second quarter for markets, and the 6% jump in oil prices is denting one of the main themes that helped stocks rise in the first quarter: that turmoil in the banking system and a continued slowdown in inflation could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to take it easier soon on their hikes to interest rates. The Fed has already jacked rates up at a feverish pace over the last year in hopes of undercutting high inflation. Higher rates can do that by slowing the economy, but they risk causing a recession later on.They also drag down prices for stocks, bonds and other investments. That’...