Month: April 2023

As the fallout from Tucker Carlson’s abrupt firing from Fox News continues, Howard Stern weighed in with his blunt thoughts on the situation. While admitting that he doesn’t know exactly why Carlson was fired, the shock jock said the turn of events should be a “good life lesson.” Citing his own experience, Stern put Tucker in his place by reminding him who really calls the shots: Rupert Murdoch.

“I’ve been a big money earner for radio companies for a long time now, but there’s one thing I never forget. My boss is super wealthy,” Stern said via Mediaite. “Like if you work for Rupert Murdoch, you know that motherf*cker’s got so many billions that as important as Tucker Carlson might be to the Fox Network, he will fire your ass if you’re a pain in the ass.”

After citing the allegations from former Fox News producer Abby Grossman, Stern said Carlson learned how quickly he can be replaced if he becomes too much of a problem for the boss man. The shock jock cited Bill O’Reilly’s ouster as prove that Fox News personalities are still just “worker bees” for Murdoch.

“Because at the end of the day, you are a fly on his a**hole,” Stern said. “You’re nothing because he’s still gonna have billions upon billions upon billions of dollars and own a giant corporation. And you know, you cannot f*ck up. You can only push them so far.”

(Via Mediaite)

The NFL Draft is right around the corner. On Thursday night, one of the NFL’s most hectic weekends of the year will kick off, as the league will descend upon Kansas City and unveil the 31 players who will get taken in the first round in 2023. From there, it’s a marathon over the next two days, culminating with someone being named Mr. Irrelevant on Saturday evening when the final pick’s name gets read.

While we’re not going to do an entire monster, 7-round mock draft, we decided to sit down and run through the first round and make some picks. Our two rules:

1. We are not allowed to make any trades.
2. The picks are made based off of a mix of watching college football and what our guts believe will happen. We have no inside information on this one, but we can certainly hit you with earth-shattering insight like “Bijan Robinson is good.”

Anyway, here we go. Robby Kalland grabbed the odd picks, while Bill DiFilippo took the even ones.

1. Carolina Panthers (via Chicago Bears): Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

Young has been the prohibitive favorite to go first for the past week, and I expect the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner to be who the Panthers select to start Thursday night. He was wildly productive at Alabama and I think a year with a shakier than usual offensive line in front of him last year only helped his stock, as he showed that even with his shorter stature, he can make plays, evade the rush, and make throws in traffic. The height question is real, but the traits, IQ, and production are not. For a team that’s been desperate for a franchise QB since Cam Newton’s first departure, Young makes all the sense in the world.

2. Houston Texans: Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama

The Texans could go in a number of different directions. No one would fault them if they picked a QB, and if they wanted to trade back to a QB-hungry team, they can get a king’s ransom to address their myriad needs on their roster. But since we’re not projecting trades, let’s go with Anderson, the top defensive player in the class from new head coach DeMeco Ryans’ alma mater. Anderson is going to get after quarterbacks, plays the run well, and is the sort of culture setter the new regime in Houston would love.

3. Arizona Cardinals: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech

I think this is where we see the first trade of draft night, as Kyler Murray has apparently stumped for Paris Johnson, who would be a significant reach at 3 but would be more palatable at 7 or 11 (if he were to be there). Arizona will have lots of calls, and in this scenario with Anderson off the board, I think they’d prefer to make the move backwards. That said, Tyree Wilson is far from a reach at three, as he has prototypical size (6’6, 271 with 35.5 inch arms) for a modern edge rusher and makes life miserable for opposing tackles. Arizona needs a boost to their pass rush and Wilson, if they don’t choose to move back, fits the bill.

4. Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

Richardson has the highest ceiling about signal callers in this class, and after new head coach Shane Steichen built Philadelphia’s offense around a mobile QB who needed to grow into being a consistent passer in Jalen Hurts, it’s reasonable to believe he has a good blueprint for how to develop Richardson. Plus for a franchise as starved for a franchise QB as Indianapolis, taking a big swing makes a ton of sense. What’s the worst that’s going to happen, they end up needing to rely on a bunch of past their prime veterans and Day 3 guys if he doesn’t work out?

5. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

This is a very popular mock draft marriage, and I’m not going to be the one to argue it. Carter is a freak and while the misdemeanor reckless driving charge and subsequent lackluster pro day performance have knocked him down boards, I don’t see him getting past Seattle at 5 unless there’s a crazy run at the top where four QBs go in a row. Carter’s tape at Georgia is hysterical to watch, as he just throws around offensive linemen, running backs, and quarterbacks, wrecking shop constantly over the past couple years. Seattle could use that presence in the middle of their line, and Pete Carroll would be very happy to add the big fella to his front.

6. Detroit Lions (via L.A. Rams): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

Jared Goff was pretty good last year, so Detroit taking a QB doesn’t make much sense to me. Instead, they land the nastiest cornerback in the draft with the hopes of helping out one of the NFL’s most porous passing defenses. Witherspoon is unbelievable in man coverage and tackles like the ball-carrier owes him money — Dan Campbell would have a blast having someone with his edge on the defense. With Jeff Okudah being traded to Atlanta, Detroit has a need and figures to have their pick of the top corners in this draft at No. 6.

7. Las Vegas Raiders: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

Vegas is among the candidates to trade up for a QB, so they’d be thrilled with this scenario of Stroud falling to them. Stroud’s stock is a bit all over the place, but I’m a believer in what he can do. He gets knocked for the talent around him and I think there are genuine questions for him to answer about making plays when things break down. That said, he’s insanely accurate as a passer, has excellent size, and he saved his best tape for the biggest game of the season, slicing up the Georgia defense in the CFP semifinal. That tape showed what he can be, and I think with the right investment in his development, he could be an excellent NFL starter.

8. Atlanta Falcons: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia

A Savannah native who won back-to-back national titles in Athens (although he picked up a season-ending injury halfway through 2022), Smith stays in the Peach State and helps the Falcons fill a position of need. His 4.39-second 40 would bring a much-needed jolt of speed to Atlanta’s defense, his motor and work-ethic will be beloved by fans and coaches, and while he needs a little polish, his ceiling as a game-changing pass rusher is high.

9. Chicago Bears (via Carolina Panthers): Paris Johnson Jr., OT, Ohio State

The Bears top priority should be protecting Justin Fields, and as such the expectation is that they will be one of the first teams selecting an offensive tackle in this draft. That’s a good place to be, as there’s a number of talented tackles in this year’s draft, but I’d expect them to pair Fields with another former Buckeye in Johnson. There are questions about what position Peter Skoronski is best suited for, with some believing his highest ceiling is inside at guard. As such, I think Chicago goes with Johnson, who has ideal tackle size and is an excellent pass protector who could keep Fields much cleaner than he has been in his first two seasons.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints): Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

The Eagles could use this to go Best Player Available and snag Bijan Robinson to pair with Jalen Hurts in the backfield. Instead, the team takes a monster cornerback prospect in Gonzalez, who has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL. He needs to keep growing as a tackler, but he shows his track-and-field background with his speed and fluidity at 6’1. Let him walk into a room with two excellent corners in Darius Slay and James Bradberry, bring him along, and sooner rather than later, Philly will have an elite player at the position.

11. Tennessee Titans: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

The Titans would have to think long and hard about Will Levis here, as Ryan Tannehill is going to be a free agent next year and Malik Willis didn’t impress much in his rookie year. That said, playmaker is a bigger concern for me in the immediate and I think they’ll look to cross the quarterback bridge next year instead. JSN is my favorite receiver in this draft and I think he could help fill the void left by AJ Brown last year the Titans never addressed. He’s a dynamic slot receiver who runs sharp routes and has great wiggle, even if he lacks the elite top end speed. He was Ohio State’s top playmaker two seasons ago in an offense that also had Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, and I think he’d quickly become both Tannehill’s favorite target in Tennessee and a crucial piece around a new QB, whenever that day comes.

12. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns): Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

While I have some concerns about Levis in the NFL, getting him at 12 is a much, much smaller risk than getting him at 2 for the Texans. He lacks a ton of polish and has major issues with turnovers. At the same time, Levis has the kind of arm talent that every NFL team wants in a quarterback. He is by no means a sure thing, and perhaps Houston finds itself in a position next year where taking Caleb Williams is a better option than banking on Levis. Or maybe it all works out.

13. Green Bay Packers (via New York Jets): Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

It is now Jordan Love’s time in Green Bay, and keeping him upright is vital. Green Bay could look to go receiver or tight end here, as playmakers in the pass game remain a considerable need, but a QB’s true best friend is a great offensive line. I think Jones has the most upside of any of this year’s tackles, as he was just an absolute monster for Georgia. The Packers struggled at times protecting Aaron Rodgers and while Jones is a bit raw still, the tools are all there to be an anchor for the future on a Packers team that will be looking to grow alongside a new QB, whether that’s Love or someone else they target in 2024.

14. New England Patriots: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern

New England’s offense was a disaster last season, in part due to its struggles along the offensive line. Whether you think Skoronski is a tackle or his short arms makes him a guard, it doesn’t really matter, because he’d immediately step in and help keep Mac Jones upright. The dude is going to be a very good offensive lineman in the NFL for a long time, and with a new offensive coordinator joining the fray in Bill O’Brien, shoring things up along the line must be a high priority. Bijan Robinson also seems to be a popular pick here in the mock draft universe, and he’d certainly be a fun building block.

15. New York Jets (via Green Bay Packers): Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

The Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers and if Skoronski were still available to bolster the offensive line, that’d be the pick here. That said, Robert Saleh is still a defensive coach and they have invested an awful lot this offseason on the offensive side already. I think he’ll be pushing for some more juice on the defensive front, and Van Ness has the traits and build to be tantalizing to Saleh and the Jets. The Iowa standout has room to grow and add some more bulk on his 6’5 frame, but he’s already got excellent strength, athleticism, and length on the edge to be a handful for opposing tackles.

16. Washington Commanders: Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee

We’re right in Joey Porter Jr. range, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Commanders took the rangy cornerback out of Penn State. Instead, I think they’re going to try and bolster the offensive line for their quarterback of the future, whether it’s someone currently on the roster (Sam Howell) or someone in college right now (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye). Wright is big and strong, and while you can debate if his long-term future is at tackle or guard, he’ll help keep the team’s quarterback from getting sacked and give their various running backs plenty of space to run through.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

We are going to reunite Kenny Pickett with his favorite target from Pitt, trying to create a Great Value version of the Ja’Marr Chase-Joe Burrow pairing in Cincinnati. They were dynamic together with the Panthers in 2021, with Addison being a big reason Pickett looked good enough to vault into being a first round pick. This is a Steelers team in need of more playmaking help, so why wouldn’t you add the receiver you know has a great connection with your QB? Addison also proved last year with USC that his game travels and his impact can be great in different systems, and he lands in a comfortable spot here to thrive as a rookie.

18. Detroit Lions: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt

The questions about Kancey’s size are very real. He’s also an explosive defensive tackle who plays with a real edge and lived in backfields during his time in the Steel City, and his speed is a real handful for IOLs to deal with — it is worth mentioning, however, that the very easy to make Aaron Donald comps (small, ferocious DT from Pitt) is a bit off base. Perhaps he ends up getting to the league and his size is impossible for him to overcome, but he’s the sort of guys you bet on, especially for a Lions team that needs help in the trenches.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: O’Cyrus Torrence, IOL, Florida

I think Tampa probably looks to trade down if the board shakes out this way, because they can’t really address the tackle situation with the top-4 prospects all off the board. If they do stick in this spot, I still think they have to go O-line and bring the gigantic guard down I-4 from Gainesville to beef up the interior of their line that is in need of some help. Torrence is just a behemoth inside, with incredible strength in both pass pro and run blocking. He’s not a guy that’s going to be pulling and getting out in front a ton, but that’s not really Tampa’s style anyway.

20. Seattle Seahawks: Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

Getting Jalen Carter and Myles Murphy would be one hell of a draft for Seattle. Murphy looks the part as a game-changing edge rusher in the NFL, he possesses impressive athleticism, and he consistently put up good numbers during his time as a Tiger. With a bit more polish, he’ll turn into a very good player at the position for a Seahawks squad that is well-positioned for the future.

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

Flowers’ versatility would be a huge boost for the Chargers, who need some more receiver depth behind their star duo of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Flowers can very comfortably step into the slot between those two, but given the injury woes that have plagued both of those vets over the years, his ability to play outside if one of them goes down would be extremely valuable. Justin Herbert could use a weapon with some juice, and Flowers would bring that in spades.

22. Baltimore Ravens: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

Boy, this would be funny. Everything about Porter seems like a perfect fit in Baltimore — he’s a tall, lanky cornerback who plays with a real edge and is at his best manning up opposing receivers. The issue is that his dad is a Pittsburgh Steelers legend who made a career out of tormenting the Ravens. Still, while Joey Sr. probably wouldn’t like this, Joey Jr. would be an outstanding fit on the other side of Marlon Humphrey in Baltimore’s secondary.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland

There’s some rumblings that Minnesota could go QB here and make Hendon Hooker the fifth QB taken in this year’s first round, but if they don’t, defensive back is an area of need. Banks has good size and strength, which made his sensational Combine testing (4.35 second 40, 42″ vertical, 11’4 broad jump) all the more impressive. Minnesota could use a player with his skills after getting lit up on a few occasions by opposing passing attacks, including their Wild Card loss to New York.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Brian Branch, S, Alabama

While I like the idea of going with Dalton Kincaid/Michael Mayer here and giving the team a natural replacement in case Evan Engram leaves, Branch is a smart, instinctive, and productive football player who would immediately elevate Jacksonville’s secondary. His size and testing numbers weren’t elite, but if you watch him play, you’d have no clue. Branch is awesome, and the Jags would be better for rolling with him.

25. New York Giants: Steve Avila, IOL, TCU

There are a lot of ways for the Giants to go here, but they don’t have a center currently, which isn’t ideal. Avila has started at both guard spots and center in his tenure at TCU (he was the left guard last year, center in 2021), which is the kind of versatility that is very nice to have up front. He’s a very large, powerful blocker with good feet and his years of experience make me think he could step in and be the Giants center on Day 1. Whether they want to reach here for a center is the biggest question. There are a few — Avila, John Michael Schmitz, Joe Tippmann — who all have Day 2 grades, but might be gone by the time the Giants are on the clock again, unless they can find a team in the early 30s who wants to move up.

26. Dallas Cowboys: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

My best player in this class goes at 26. Ezekiel Elliott is gone, while Tony Pollard is both coming off of a season-ending injury and is slated to hit free agency next year. Robinson does everything you want at running back — he has impressive size and speed, he’s good pass catcher, and his vision is the best in his class. He’ll immediately be one of the best backs in the NFL and I’d throw $5 on his Offensive Rookie of the Year odds if he heads to a team like Dallas that values running the football behind a big offensive line.

27. Buffalo Bills: Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

Gabe Davis’ inconsistency means the Bills still could use some help at the receiver position opposite Stefon Diggs, and Johnston would be a strong option. His size and ability to stretch the field vertically would be perfect for Josh Allen, and he would also provide a jump-ball threat in the red zone opposite Diggs. There’s a lot of directions the Bills could take with this pick, as last year proved they’re a bit further away from being a top contender than initially thought. Still, the focal point of this team is the passing game and bolstering that with Johnston wouldn’t be a bad idea at all.

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

Unless there’s an Irv Smith breakout coming, Cincinnati could use a tight end to replace Hayden Hurst (and, if you wanna go back two years, C.J. Uzomah). While Michael Mayer is the best all-around tight end in this class, Kincaid is a matchup nightmare in the passing game and is coming along as a blocker. He’d give Joe Burrow a safety blanket in the passing game, especially if the Bengals end up needing to make a difficult decision on Tee Higgins in the not-too-distant future.

29. New Orleans Saints (via San Francisco through Miami and Denver): Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

Derek Carr loves tight ends, as evidenced by Darren Waller’s productivity in Las Vegas. New Orleans has talent in the receiving corps, but doesn’t really have the type of big body over the middle Carr has always loved as a security blanket. Michael Mayer would be exactly that. The Notre Dame product is huge (6’4, 249 pounds), with good hands and body control in the passing game and is the best run blocker of the top tight ends in this year’s draft. He’s also an excellent red zone target who would require opposing secondaries to consider not giving as much attention to Chris Olave and Michael Thomas on the outside.

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

Bresee is a big and explosive option in the middle of the defense, although he lacks refinement at the position. With Fletcher Cox turning 33 this year, this is a pick with one eye on the future for a team that values dominating in the trenches, and it’s not hard to envision Bresee and Jordan Davis being stalwarts at the position in Philly for the next decade.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State

The Chiefs saw Frank Clark walk this offseason, immediately opening up their biggest need at pass rusher. Will McDonald IV needs to add strength to hold up in the run game, but he’s an absolute freak off the edge, with speed and length that Kansas City could use initially as a pass rush specialist and hope to develop him into an every down rusher.

Note: The Miami Dolphins forfeited their first-round pick

SNL is off this Saturday, but when it returns the following weekend, the episode will be hosted by a familiar face. Pete Davidson is making his return to Studio 8H on May 6th after leaving the sketch series at the end of last season.

It will be an emotional evening for Pete. SNL is where he became famous enough that he could get Edie Falco and Joe Pesci to play his mom and grandfather, respectively, in a semi-autobiographical show; it’s also where he met his even-more-famous now-ex-girlfriend, Kim Kardashian.

Don’t expect to hear any jokes about their time together, however.

A source told Page Six that while Davidson will be “a good sport” about his dating life (and his, uh, “very normal-sized penis”), he wants to avoid any cracks about Kardashian. “He’s being a gentleman,” the source added.

We’re told that when Davidson and Kardashian — who were first romantically linked in October 2021 — split in August 2022 after nine months of dating, they agreed to just “drop everything” and “move on… That’s why she’s not mentioned in his stand-up,” says the source.

The musical guest for Davidson’s episode will be Lil Uzi Vert, probably because Kanye West is busy that night. Yeah, let’s go with that.

(Via Page Six)

Meghan Trainor is not holding back about her “nightmare” sex life with her self-described “big boy” husband and former Spy Kids actor, Daryl Sabara. During a recent episode of her Workin’ On It podcast, which she hosts with her brother, she spilled all the dirty details with the special guest Trisha Paytas.

“[It’s] to the point where I’m like ‘Is it all in?’ and he’s like, ‘Just the tip,’” Trainor explained. “And I’m like, ‘I can’t do anymore.’ I don’t know how to fix that.”

She is currently pregnant with the couple’s second child. However, Trainor has been diagnosed with vaginismus, making things tense — whether it’s full eggplant emoji or not. Because of this, the “Lips Are Movin” musician said it “took so long to even consider having sex” with Sabara again after the birth of their son, Riley, in 2021.

“As he would penetrate, I would be like, ‘Ow, ow, ow,’ like, to the point when … I had to ice myself after,” she added.

Later in the episode, Paytas tried to provide some advice about… hopping on top. However, Trainor has tried “every angle” and nothing seems to work, but just makes things worse. “I’m like ‘Please, no, for so many reasons.’ I’m like, ‘Don’t look at me. I don’t like this. This hurts way worse,’” she replied.

The couple’s sex life has raised some eyebrows over the years, after they were spotted leaving a sex shop a while back, but Trainor later said it was a misunderstanding, explaining on TikTok that they were buying for a friend… Who couldn’t buy it online.

It’s never fun to trend on Twitter, unless you’re Hugh Grant or a Kardashian. But it happened to Joshua Jackson recently, and he was understandably confused and a little frightened.

“When it happened to me, I felt like I must have done something terrible,” Jackson told Jimmy Fallon of the viral moment. In reality, people were just amazed at one particular scene from Dawson’s Creek in which the laws of physics were seemingly suspended and we all became Pacey being hit in the face by a basketball thrown by Dawson. High school is the worst!!

Jackson explained, “You know Twitter has its ups and downs, but one of the things I love about Twitter is — man, people get into it,” Jackson told Fallon on The Tonight Show. Yes, they really do get into it. He continued, “So when I did finally get back to my trailer and realized I hadn’t screwed up, I wasn’t dead, and my career wasn’t over, all good things, there’s like a forensic analysis of this 25-year-old TV show,” the actor joked.

While many people assumed it was movie magic or a camera trick, Jackson let everyone in on a secret. “People are going frame-by-frame, ‘Well, you can see he dodged the ball at the wrong time, so the ball’s not…’ This was just a beach ball! Painted to look like a basketball, that got bounced off of my face,” the actor revealed.

Even though it might be more fun to think about a team of animators perfectly styling a 7-second clip, the fact that it was just a beach ball does make sense. Pacey had already been through so much at this point, they had to cut him a little slack. Though he sort of deserved it for calling Dawson an Oompa Loompa. Even though Hugh Grant is going to make everyone love Oompas again really soon!

Check out the full clip above.

Over the last four decades, WWE’s iconic rivalries have created some of the most significant pieces of memorabilia in sports entertainment history. In Season 2 of “WWE’s Most Wanted Treasures” series on A&E — which debuts on Sunday, April 30, at 9 p.m. ET — WWE legends Booker T, Mick Foley, and Lita have joined forces to continue bringing dozens of original pieces of history back home.

For Lita, the experience brought along some unexpected emotions. “There were some really special connections, both human and then with the artifacts that we were able to find that go so far beyond just a pair of trunks or just a pair of boots,” Lita tells Uproxx Sports.

Lita says the show was a perfect blend between her passion for wrestling and the joy that a good scavenger hunt brings. There were numerous items she enjoyed tracking down for a variety of reasons, and among her favorites was joining Cody Rhodes in finding boots that belonged to the late, great Dusty Rhodes.

“I had a relationship with Dusty and, of course, (Cody) has a very different one,” Lita remarks. “Seeing the different emotions that each person has, whether it’s the collector or me or the person that’s coming along and the feeling they get, it’s a real attachment that you have and it evokes emotions that you maybe didn’t know were there until you are faced with this one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia.”

These pieces have traveled with WWE to the Royal Rumble and were on display at WrestleMania this year, and are the sorts of things that would look great in a Hall of Fame. Currently, WWE honors important contributors as Hall of Famers, although there is no physical building for people to visit — Lita would, ideally, like to see this somewhere down the line. If that does happen, there’s no doubt moments from her career will be prominently displayed.

Lita has played a significant role in WWE history, both on her own and as a member of Team Extreme. When she reflects on how far the women in WWE have come, she’s incredibly proud, saying that “I love just seeing them shoot for the stars and go beyond.”

“They don’t think that no is what they’re going to be told when they have an idea and go pitch it to the writers,” Lita says. “And I just love seeing them succeed. Just the level of talent. The least talented wrestler is so much more talented than we were back in the day. We were there, just in the dark trying to figure things out and holding my breath and crossing my fingers that I could pull something off.”

Lita recalls being on the independent scene, finding a ring she could work in, showing up early to shows, and picking up skills along the way. It was a much different path than coming up through today’s Performance Center.

“Here, they’re literally going to class. There’s five rings, there’s a padded ring to try things out. There’s coaches from all eras there. There’s a strength coach. All of these aides to set them up for success that we didn’t have,” Lita says. “There’s just fierce talent pouring out of the Performance Center. It’s pretty incredible.”

After retiring in 2006, Lita took a break from wrestling before eventually coming back. She recalls flipping on WWE for the first time since leaving and being taken aback at what the women’s championship — which was rebranded as the Divas Championship — had become.

“I was like what is happening, is that a butterfly on there? It was the Divas Championship for so long, but these women had been having banger matches for a long time, and it was like, alright, let’s get rid of the butterfly,” Lita says. “To be the one, just from a personal standpoint, remembering that moment when I (saw the Divas Championship), to bringing a proper title down, reinstating the women’s championship (at WrestleMania 32) was definitely an honor, and seeing how far that they’ve taken this with no limits.”

The Performance Center generation has been a driving force in changing the way women’s wrestling is viewed. From evolving the Divas Championship to holding a women’s-only premier live event, it’s been the likes of Bayley and Becky Lynch who opened new doors. It also happens to be those two who were significant factors in drawing Lita back to the ring.

At this point in her career, Lita isn’t interested in taking part in getting a pop for a one-time return at a Royal Rumble or anything like that. If she was to return to the ring, it had to be for something meaningful. An opportunity at WrestleMania and a chance to work with some of the most talented women in wrestling today was just that. As such, she teamed up with Lynch and Trish Stratus to take on Bayley’s faction, Damage Ctrl, at SoFi Stadium this year.

“I didn’t feel as though I was looking for a retirement match. The full circle of paving the way on the front end and breaking barriers for women in the industry and then moving on to having a singles match with Becky, that felt like a lovely period on the end of a career that I’m already proud of,” Lita says. “And then this just felt like fun to be able to come back with such talented women. I feel really confident and satisfied with my career. But Bayley, Dakota (Kai), Iyo (Sky) are such incredible talents, Trish and Becky, such close friends of mine. There was no way I could say no. To be with everybody and the poetry of paving the way a bit and then seeing how far these women have come and to be in the mix with them, it was a truly incredible experience.”

Several artists and public figures have taken to social media to express their sadness over the loss of Harry Belafonte. Yesterday (April 25), the singer died of congestive heart failure at 96 years old, while in his Manhattan home.

Belafonte was known for popularizing calypso music with songs like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),” “Jump In The Line (Shake, Señora),” and “Jamaican Farewell.” He was also an outspoken advocate for racial equality and worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr., and was an open critic of George W. Bush’s policies as well.

Yesterday, beloved former President Barack Obama took to Twitter to honor Belafonte and share condolences to his loved ones.

“Harry Belafonte was a barrier-breaking legend who used his platform to lift others up,” said Obama. “He lived a good life — transforming the arts while also standing up for civil rights. And he did it all with his signature smile and style. Michelle and I send our love to his wife, kids, and fans.”

President Joe Biden also reflected on Belafonte’s legacy, saying, “Jill and I are saddened by the passing of a groundbreaking American who used his talent and voice to help redeem the soul of our nation. Harry Belafonte’s accomplishments are legendary and his legacy of outspoken advocacy, compassion, and respect for dignity will endure forever.”

Last week, when Weezer suddenly announced a one-off gig at Pomona’s Glass House on Monday night, the broader assumption was that it would serve as a warm-up for their upcoming Indie Rock Road Trip Summer Tour. To a degree, that was accurate, but with a special twist.

“We’re gonna try a bunch of songs we don’t normally play and see what y’all think,” said frontman Rivers Cuomo toward the beginning of the show. “If you like them, we’ll put them in the setlist.”

As the classic SoCal band tore through their 90-minute, 27-song set, it was clear that the experiment was surpassing merely dusting off scarcely played tunes from previous tours. The audience was treated to some remarkable rarities — several of them live premiers and some not unearthed in decades — resulting in a performance that might well become coveted by hardcore fans as one of the most thrilling in the modern era of Weezer’s career.

Notably, the band took a no-frills approach to this show. They omitted the glitz and glam of bigger shows, focused purely on shredding without any added antics, and there was no over-the-top production. It was just four guys illuminated by house lights playing loud rock and roll with the raw, egoless sensibility they started with in the early ’90s. Even mainstay hits like show opener “My Name is Jonas” and “Hash Pipe” were accented with noticeably more rough and rowdy edges.

But the most obvious nods to their roots surfaced with a riveting run through “Paperface” — a pre-“Blue Album,” decidedly punk rock demo that they hadn’t touched since 1992 — and during “Longtime Sunshine” and “Blast Off!,” a pair of cuts from 1995 rock opera concept album Songs From The Black Hole, which would eventually be scrapped and provide snippets of source material for ’96 core-fan favorite Pinkerton.

As special as it was to see them bust out such seldom- or never-before-played songs (they also debuted an acoustic version of “White Album” standout “Endless Bummer,” plus two of SZNZ’s most raucous tracks, “Blue Like Jazz” and “Thank You and Goodnight”) the show was likewise exceptional for its simplicity and vulnerability — these 800 fans were gifted the most unpolished and honest version of Weezer you’re ever likely to see.

A couple of cases-in-point: when Brian Bell’s talk box malfunctioned during his solo on “Beverly Hills,” Cuomo strode over to bolster the section with an accompanying improvised riff; and later on, the shaggy-haired frontman, perhaps a little too caught up in the moment, noticeably skipped over a whole block of lyrics during the climax of “El Scorcho.” Consistently deafening cheers and widespread slaphappy grins said it all: no one cared — the slight screw-ups only made the performance more humanizing, charming, and, ultimately, unforgettable. Certainly one for the books.

Weezer is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The road to The Flash movie has been filled with too many speed bumps to count. From its early stages when it seemed to constantly switch writers and directors every other day to Ezra Miller’s problematic behavior that racked up several scandals in 2022. There was justifiable concern that the film would never see the light of day.

However, sensing a hit on their hands, the newly formed Warner Bros. Discovery continued to hold steady on the picture, which was reportedly killing it with audiences in test screenings. The studio desperately needs a theatrical hit, and The Flash could very well be that savior.

After dropping a well-received Super Bowl spot that wisely showcased Michael Keaton’s Batman, WB Discovery brought The Flash to CinemaCon where it bowled over theatrical distributors. Via Deadline:

Exclaimed Kentucky-based exhibitor Rick Roman, “The audience loved it. I thought it was very good — lots of humor. Emotional at the end with some people crying. I like how they brought in Batman to support the Flash. Smart move. The movie will have legs since people will see it more than once.”

One distributor even went so far to call it “probably one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” and he was not alone in that thought. The critics who got to see an advanced screening of The Flash also heralded the film as one of the best in the genre thanks to a surprising amount of humor, heart, and of course, Keaton’s Batman, who one critic described as “chef kiss.”

You can see reactions from critics below:

The Flash races into theaters on June 16.

(Via Deadline)

After Latto was charged with carrying a loaded firearm at Los Angeles International Airport in 2021, it has now been dismissed following the rapper completing over 100 hours of community service and a course on gun safety.

“I am extremely pleased with the outcome and glad my client can move forward with her flourishing career,” Latto’s attorney Jamal Tooson told TMZ.

Yet, just last month, Latto had denied it when TMZ said she was finishing up her community service hours.

“Idk who put out that false ass information cause I’m not in no damn program,” she wrote. “Also the situation happened over a year ago & y’all never even knew until I mentioned it in the Boom pt 2 verse. Nun to ‘brag’ about. Leave me alone.”

She also held an Instagram Live, where she clarified that she was a “housewife” and getting “million dollar deals.”

“Like plural. Multiple million dollar deals on the table. The f*ck? I’m not trying to push no f*cking gangster image, the f*ck?” Latto said, according to Complex. “As a matter of fact, we kept that sh*t under wraps. This sh*t over a year ago. We kept this sh*t under wraps. I mentioned it in a song cause I was freestyling that verse, and it slipped out my mouth.”

Whatever happened, we’re just glad that she’s able to put the incident behind her.