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blowflyfag · 1 year ago

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Pro Wrestling Illustrated : APRIL 1996

close-up: THE KID

part 1

Transcript Below!!!

Continued teaming with Holly; they scored numerous victories over the Heavenly Bodies … Seconded Ramon for his Wrestlemania XI I-C title match against Jarrett and helped clear the ring of Jarrett and The Roadie after the match, which ended with “Double-J” being disqualified … That started a new feud, with Ramon and The Kid going after Jarrett and Roadie. But in a tag team match on April 24. The Kid reaggravated a neck injury he suffered earlier in the month … Was pinned by The Roadie in one of his earliest return matches … Was pinned by Hakushi at SummerSlam ‘95 … Trouble started brewing during a match between Ramon and Dean Douglas at the September 24 In Your House card … Referee Tim White was hurt and out of position when Ramon had Douglas covered. Kid bounded into the ring and made a three-count for White; Ramon mistakenly thought the ref was counting and broke the cover, then shoved Kid out of the ring. Razor was then rolled up by Douglas for the pin … Ramon threw Kid into the ring again, and the two traded blows … Kid and Ramon shook hands after their match the next night at Raw and agreed to end their feud … It was wishful thinking … Ramon and Kid teamed to wrestle WWF World tag champions The Smokin’ Gunns at In Your House IV … They wrestled like rulebreakers and would have won had Ramon covered Billy Gunn after executing his “Razor’s Edge” … Ramon and Kid split after Kid refereed Ramon and Sid Vicious match on October 23. He pulled Sid out of Ramon’s “Razor Edge,” then made a fast three-count on Ramon, accepted some cash from Ted DiBiase, and left the ring … Took on DiBiase as his manager and is now a full-blown rulebreaker who’s no longer the fan’s favorite underdog … Look for him to team with Sid regularly in the near future.

TOUGHEST OPPONENT Owen Hart. They have met on several occasions, and Kid has yet to score a clean victory. The most heartbreaking defeat came at the 1994 King of the Ring tournament, when an injured Kid lost to Hart in the semifinals. Earlier in the night, he had been piledrived three times by Jeff Jarrett. Kid had several chances to win the exciting semifinal match, but he finally succumbed to a “sharpshooter” at 3:36. MOST HATED OPPONENT Shawn Michaels. They've certainly had their differences over the years. Several years ago, Kid lost to Michaels on Monday Night Raw, and Michaels punctuated the win by twice power-bombing Kid. Razor Ramon came to his rescue. Though Kid is now a rulebreaker and Michaels a fan favorite, they still have their differences, probably because Michaels and The Kid are so alike. They have huge egos and use similar styles.

FAVORITE MOVE

Reverse spinning kick. Ask Kid to name his favorite move and he’ll give you a long list. He has a lot of them in his repertoire. He loves climbing to the top rope and leaping at an opponent. But he seems to rely most upon a spinning kick that has incredible impact. Victims often wonder. How can a man so small execute a move that hurts so much and comes at you so quickly?

GREATEST MATCH

vs. Sabu, April 17,1993. The Kid had just made his first WWF appearance in the WWF, and he hadn’t impressed many people with a loss to Louie Spicolli. But they should have seen his match against Sabu on an independent card in Minnesota. It was an aerial spectacle in which both men looked like they were trying to destroy each other. After a few minutes, Kid had been bloodied. He won by DQ. When the bout was over, he knew he was ready for the WWF

#123 kid #wwf #world wrestling federation #magazine transcript #magazine scan #pro wrestling illustrated #PWI #PWI 1990s #1990s #1996

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kage-gfx · 6 months ago

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AND NEW!

TNA X-Division Champion - Zachary Wentz

#zachary wentz #the rascalz #trey miguel #Desmond xavier #wes lee #tna wrestling #tna x division #x division champion #pro wrestling trading cards #pro wrestling #panini america #panini select

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mayhemproduces · 7 days ago

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Syn vs Darby Allin

The double rings are set tonight, and our main event promises to be another absolutely insane installment of All Out War- but in the meantime tonight, we’ve got a great opening card for you all tonight, kicking it off with a match that promises to be absolutely insane. Two of the craziest men in pro wrestling, both of whom lack any sort of regard for their own safety- Syn & Darby Allin. Just a couple of hours away from Darby’s hometown of Seattle, lets get fucking crazy here tonight!

The ring was surrounded by various implements of death, such as panes of glass, barbed wire boards, a shopping cart filled with weapons, and a few other miscellaneous items strewn about. Syn and Allin pushed forehead to forehead, nose to nose with one another, before Syn fired the first shot, blasting Allin with a stiff forearm shot, which Allin returned in earnest, blasting Syn with one in return! Syn and Darby traded shots back and forth, before Syn gained an advantage by kicking Allin in the gut, and sending him off the ropes. Allin ducked a clothesline from Syn, and instead hit the ropes again, before leaping up and tossing Syn with a hurricanrana, but Syn quickly got back to his feet, hit the ropes, and leveled Darby Allin with a spear! Syn got back to his feet, and grabbed a box of light tubes, before Syn took a couple out, and laid them out on the mat. Syn then took a handful for himself, and smashed them over Allin’s head! Darby’s vision was blinded by a hailstorm of glass and poison gas, and he was reeling from the feeling of broken glass embedding itself in his head! That staggered Allin enough for Syn to lift him up onto his shoulders, and slamming him down onto the pile of light tubes in the ring with a Death Valley Driver! Allin’s back was driven into the glass! Syn dropped into a cover!

1...2.. Kickout!

Syn was trying to end this one early, to not much success. Syn pushed his hair out of his face, wiping some of the blood out of his eyes, before rolling out of the ring and looking around for something else to use as a weapon. Syn grabbed one of the glass panes that had been laid out at ringside, going to move it towards the ring, but when Syn turned around, Allin suddenly dove through the ropes, crashing through the pane of glass and right into Syn, sending glass showering down on his opponent and himself! Both men were laid out on the outside, laying in a pile of broken glass. Allin was the first to struggle to his feet, giving Syn a few stomps to body, before walking over to the shopping cart with weapons, and pulling out a plastic bat, covered in thumb tacks, and talked back over to Syn, grabbing Syn by the hair and pressing the tack bat into his forehead, raking it across his flesh, before letting Syn go and smacking him in the head with it. Allin swung the bat again, bringing it down across Syn’s back! Syn cried out in agony, and tried to kick at Allin to stop the assault, but it did little to deter Darby. Allin swung the bat again, bringing it down on the bare flesh of his opponent, before tossing the bat aside and looking for something else to attack his opponent with. Allin pulled a chair out from under the ring, and brought it down across Syn’s back, before tossing that into the ring, grabbing a barbed wire board and tossing that into the ring as well. Allin continued to load the ring with weapons, grabbing two bundles of light tubes and tossing them into the ring, along with another pane of glass. Allin walked over to Syn and tried to lift him up and drag him into the ring, but Syn caught Allin with a knife edge chop to the chest! Allin staggered backwards, holding his chest. Syn nailed him with another, backing Allin against the steel guardrail, nailing him with a couple of big chops, before grabbing Allin, lifting him up, and dropping him across the rail with a stun gun! Allin went face first into the metal of the guardrail!

Syn grabbed Allin by the hair and tossed him into the ring, sliding in himself, and grabbing one of the light tube bundles, placing it between the second and third turnbuckles, before turning his attention back to Allin. Allin caught Syn with a few shots to the midsection, trying to back Syn off of him, but a knee light to Allin’s sternum shut the fight right down. Syn clobbered Allin across the back, before running off the ropes, trying to come back at Allin with a bicycle knee, but Allin dodged out of the way, grabbing a chair, and whipping it right at Syn! Syn staggered backwards, and Allin grabbed one of the tube bundles, tossing it to Syn. Syn caught it, and Allin charged him, nailing Syn and the tube bundle with a shotgun dropkick, knocking Syn back into the tube bundle he’d set up in the turnbuckles as well! Syn was surrounded in a cloud of broken glass and dust, as blood was pouring down both his front and his back at this point! Syn rolled out of the corner, and Allin leaped over the top rope, landing on the apron, and climbing up to the top rope, setting his feet before leaping off, crashing down on Syn with a moonsault! Allin hooked the leg, looking to finish this one!

1...2… Kickout!

Syn managed to kick out, and Allin huffed in frustration. Allin grabbed Syn by the hair, and nailed him with a few shots to the face, before getting up and grabbing a chair, setting it up, and then grabbing the pane of glass. Allin put the pane of glass between the chair and the ropes, before grabbing Syn, catching him with a few more shots to the face, before lifting and trying to drag Syn onto the makeshift glass pane table, before running for the ropes, trying for a Asai Moonsault, but as he jumped up onto the ropes, Syn rolled off the glass pane and as Allin flipped off the ropes, Syn caught him and hoisted him over his shoulder, flipping him into position, before tossing Allin through the glass pane with an Awesome Bomb! Allin exploded through the glass pane! These men were practically trying to kill each other out here! Syn folded Allin over for the cover!

1...2… Kickout!

Allin kicked out, the force of which Syn used to push himself back into the ropes, and as Allin sat up, Syn ran off the ropes and nailed Allin in the head with a bicycle knee! The impact of Syn’s knee on Allin’s saw could be heard all the way in the back row! Syn went for another cover!

1...2… Kickout!

Allin stays alive again! Syn pounded his fist on the mat in frustration, before he goes for a small bag sitting on the apron, opening it up, revealing… gusset plates. Oh god. Syn grabbed Allin by the hair, and pressed the gusset into his forehead, before punching it a few times in order to really stick it in there! Blood continued to drip down Allin’s forehead, as Syn lifted Allin’s chin, and chopped him in the chest once again. Allin was in a bad way, clearly, but Syn was still trying to figure out how to put the kid down for good. Syn chopped him again, before getting up, catching him with a boot to the face, before rolling out of the ring, and looking around. Syn began to dig through the shopping cart of weapons, removing baking sheets and other various odds and ends, before finally pulling out a board of cut cans from the bottom of the cart, and leading them against the guardrail. Syn then rolled into the ring and grabbed Allin, before sitting him against the can board. Syn then grabbed the shopping cart, measured, and ran the cart right into Darby Allin, sending him through the can board! Allin was crushed between the cart, the board, and the guardrail!

Syn tosses the shopping cart aside, and grabs Allin out of the wreck, his back dripping even more blood at this point from the can board he was just driven through. Syn grabs Allin and tosses him back into the ring, before digging around under the ring, pulling out a couple of chairs, and tossing them into the ring, along with taking the guardrail they dislodged from the shopping cart stunt, and, dragged it into the ring as well. Syn got back into the ring, and grabbed Allin again, sitting him down into one of the chairs, before hitting the ropes and trying to charge back at Allin again, but Allin catches Syn with a drop toe hold, sending Syn into the seat of the chair face first! Syn is rattled!

As Syn lays, face across the chair, Darby quickly climbs up to the top rope, looking for a Coffin Drop, but Syn moves, and Darby lands on the chair! The chair buckles under Darby, Darby went spine first into the steel! Syn narrowly avoids certain doom, before he grabs Darby, scoops him back up, and drives him down on the chair AGAIN with a Death Valley Driver! Syn into the cover!

1….2… Kickout!

Darby Allin out at two! Syn pulls himself up to his knees, and brushes his hair out of his face, cursing to himself that Darby still hasn’t gone down yet. grabbing one of the light tube bundles, placing it between the second and third turnbuckles, before turning his attention back to Allin. Allin caught Syn with a few shots to the midsection, trying to back Syn off of him, but a knee light to Allin’s sternum shut the fight right down. Syn clobbered Allin across the back, before running off the ropes, trying to come back at Allin with a bicycle knee, but Allin dodged out of the way, grabbing a chair, and whipping it right at Syn! Syn staggered backwards, and Allin grabbed one of the tube bundles, tossing it to Syn. Syn caught it, and Allin charged him, nailing Syn and the tube bundle with a shotgun dropkick, knocking Syn back into the tube bundle he’d set up in the turnbuckles as well! Syn was surrounded in a cloud of broken glass and dust, as blood was pouring down both his front and his back at this point! Syn rolled out of the corner, and Allin leaped over the top rope, landing on the apron, and climbing up to the top rope, setting his feet before leaping off, crashing down on Syn with a Coffin Drop! Allin hooked the leg, looking to finish this one!

1...2… Kickout!

Syn picks Darby back up, and nails him with a chip to the chest, but Darby follows it up with a backfist of his own, before nailing Syn with a Pele Kick, and as Syn hunches over, Darby Allin leaps up, and drives Syn into the mat with a Code Red! Shoulders down!

1….2… KICKOUT!

Syn kicks out! Just what the hell was it going to take for one of these men to finish each other off tonight?! Darby seems to have an idea, rolling out of the ring, and digging around under it, looking for a couple of doors, ending up with three of them, and sliding them into the ring. Darby then slides each of the doors between the ring ropes between the two rings, stacking the three doors like a layer cake, before putting Syn in between the bottom and second doors, before Darby heads up top!

Darby sets his feet, but before he can leap off, Syn quickly gets back to his feet, grabs a chair, and nails Darby in the back! Darby is stunned, and Syn scoops him up, before Syn and Darby go off the top rope, before SYN DRIVES DARBY THROUGH ALL THREE DOORS WITH A TOP ROPE DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!!!

Darby goes through all three doors, and lands hard on the in-between area of the rings, right where both aprons meet! Darby rolls back into the ring, and Syn scoops him up, before planting him with Neurotoxin! Syn spikes Darby, and then makes the cover!

1….2….3!

“Here is your winner, Syn!”

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muffinsbasket · 2 months ago

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muffin | she/her | 23 | certified yapper

✿ gif maker

✿ I have a ton of niche interests my mom is tired of hearing about

✿ Judas Icarus is the cutest patootie

✿ I watch - raw | nxt | smackdown | tna | wow

✿ interests: Scooby Doo, Chappell Roan, Norman Reedus, GOT7, pandas, Sabrina Carpenter, power rangers, Matthew Lillard, scrapbooking, elephants, sweets, trading cards

✿ notes app is filled with drafts collecting dust so trying my best to get those done

✿ did I mention I love Judas Icarus yet?

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gummyartstradingcards · 1 year ago

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#cassandro #lucha libre #pro wrestling #trading cards #card art

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starseedfxofficial · 12 days ago

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Volatility Index + Risk Parity: The Master Key to Smarter Forex Trades Ever felt like the Forex market is that one chaotic friend who insists on skydiving, bungee jumping, and wrestling crocodiles—all before lunch? Welcome to volatility. And if you’ve ever tried balancing your risk exposure across multiple trades only to feel like you built a house of cards in a hurricane, hello to risk parity. But here’s the plot twist: combine these two, and you might just uncover one of Forex's most overlooked power plays. Let’s crack the vault open. Why Most Traders Get It Wrong (And How You Can Avoid It) The Volatility Mirage: Many traders rely solely on price action or gut feeling. They react when markets spike, thinking, “This is my moment!”—only to watch their account balance drop faster than a streaming service canceling your favorite show. The reality? Price moves are just the surface. The Volatility Index (VIX) or Forex-specific volatility metrics reveal the hidden energy behind those moves. Risk Parity Misfire: Risk parity sounds sophisticated, like something hedge funds whisper about at yacht parties. In theory, it involves allocating your capital based on asset volatility—less on risky pairs, more on stable ones. But in Forex, traders often botch this by only adjusting position sizes after a blow-up. The fix? You need these two together—real-time volatility awareness driving your risk parity allocation. The Hidden Formula: How the Volatility Index Unlocks Precision 1. Think Beyond the S&P VIX The VIX (CBOE Volatility Index) is king in equities, but in Forex, you need currency-specific volatility measures. Tools like the JP Morgan G7 Volatility Index or the Deutsche Bank Currency Volatility Index are your backdoor passes. Pro Tip: Keep an eye on implied volatility from options markets on currency pairs. It often predicts turbulence before spot traders notice. 2. Spotting the “Silent Alarm” When volatility spikes but prices stay quiet, it’s a sign that institutions are bracing for impact. Think of it like birds going silent before a storm—smart money is hedging. Example: In July 2023, GBP/AUD implied volatility jumped 18% while the pair traded in a tight range. Days later, it swung over 300 pips after unexpected labor data from Australia. Risk Parity 2.0: The Ninja Version for Forex Traders 1. Micro-Weighting by Volatility Forget generic 1% risk-per-trade rules. Adjust it daily based on current volatility. If GBP/AUD's implied volatility is 15% higher than EUR/USD, your position size on GBP/AUD should shrink proportionally. 2. Cross-Pair Correlation Shield Pairs often move in tandem (e.g., EUR/USD and GBP/USD), which can secretly double your exposure. Use correlation matrices (e.g., Mataf.net) to avoid this trap. Underground Tactic: If volatility spikes across multiple correlated pairs, reduce position size across all of them—not just one. 3. Dynamic Leverage Control Volatility contraction? Slightly increase position sizes. Volatility explosion? Dial down. This smooths your equity curve. Real-World Case: Trader Scott Redler noted that reducing exposure during high-volatility weeks helped him survive the 2015 Swiss Franc crisis. Others wiped out in hours. Insider Secrets: Emerging Trends That Give You an Edge 1. Volatility-Adjusted Moving Averages Combine ATR (Average True Range) with your moving average. It tightens during calm periods and widens during volatility. This prevents premature exits. 2. VIX Spikes as a USD Strength Indicator When equity VIX jumps, USD often surges as a safe haven. A quick glance at the VIX can foreshadow USD moves before economic news drops. 3. Exotic Currency Volatility Gaps Pairs like USD/TRY or ZAR/JPY often have volatility gaps that market makers exploit. Monitoring volatility indices for emerging markets helps avoid these traps. Step-by-Step Guide: Mastering Volatility Index + Risk Parity in Forex - Track Volatility Daily: - Monitor implied volatility via platforms like Bloomberg or CME options. - Check the JPMorgan G7 FX Volatility Index. - Assess Pair Volatility: - Use ATR and historical volatility indicators on your trading platform. - Compare volatility across pairs (e.g., GBP/AUD vs. EUR/USD). - Position Sizing Adjustments: - Reduce position size if pair volatility rises by 20% or more. - Scale up cautiously during low volatility periods. - Correlation Check: - Review correlation heatmaps weekly. - Avoid overexposure to highly correlated pairs. - Combine with Risk Parity: - Allocate capital based on relative volatility. - Shift exposure dynamically during major economic events. Expert Insights That Matter John Bollinger (Creator of Bollinger Bands): “Volatility is the most misunderstood concept in trading. Most traders see it as danger; professionals see it as opportunity.” (Source) Kathy Lien (Managing Director, BK Asset Management): “Risk management is not optional. The best traders are obsessed with it. Volatility isn’t something to fear; it’s a tool to master.” (Source) Elite Tactics Recap: What You’ll Walk Away With - Use volatility indices specific to Forex (e.g., JPMorgan G7, Deutsche Bank FX Volatility). - Adjust position sizes based on volatility, not fixed rules. - Monitor implied volatility for early signals. - Integrate volatility into moving averages for adaptive trading. - Treat volatility spikes as USD strength indicators. Take It Further With StarseedFX Ready to trade like a pro? - Get real-time volatility updates: Forex News - Master risk parity: Free Trading Plan - Track correlations & performance: Free Trading Journal ————– Image Credits: Cover image at the top is AI-generated Read the full article

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maxtaylor5803 · 4 months ago

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From Oil Fields to Sports Fields: Saudi Arabia’s Power Over the Sporting World.

By Max Taylor

In the past five years, Saudi Arabia has become a major player on the global sports stage, going beyond it's traditions to embrace a new era of competition. From hosting high profile events across the country such as Formula 1 races and international golf tournaments to investing heavily in the Saudi Pro League with household names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, the kingdom is redefining it's identity through sport. The country is set to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup making it the second time in 12 years the tournament has been held in the Middle East and makes the country one of the new homes for sport in the world.

(The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been investing in different sports in Saudi Arabia and also internationally) Credit: Joe Pompliano

The transformation not only reflects a strategic vison for the economy but also a massive cultural shift as the nation seeks to connect with a more broad and diverse audience across the world. Saudi Arabia is also gradually embracing a more westernized approach becoming more acceptant with different lifestyles and cultures to further their ambitions as a leading nation in sport.

Saudi Arabia located in the middle east has significant Islamic history as the birthplace of the religion. Saudi Arabia today still remains the central hub for Islam housing the two holiest cites for Muslims, Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia is also the world’s biggest oil exporter making them as country extortionary amounts of money.

With Major events like Riyadh Season they have quickly become a celebration of culture and entertainment showcasing different events that highlight the country’s transformation. Over the past year the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh has started to get some of the best fights and events in combat sports history due to Riyadh Season and the backing of the Saudi government. The events have significantly boosted brand visibility and engagement, leading to lucrative partnerships as companies capitalize on the heightened interest in entertainment and tourism.

The events also offer Saudi Arabia to promote their own culture as the events attract international visitors and gives them an understanding of their culture.

As Saudi Arabia continues to invest and develop its sports culture, boxing and other combat sports such as MMA and pro wrestling have emerged as a massive sport that take place at Riyadh Season attracting both international and local interest.

(Over a million people have visited Riyadh Season since its birth and has now become a massive part of the sporting world)

From the first big fight in 2018 when Antony Joshua fought Andy Ruiz Jnr to now you have seen impressive growth and stability thanks to Riyadh Season and the impressive cards it keeps producing. It almost seems as if everyone should be happy with what Saudi Arabia is doing for the country but is that the case?

Sports Washing and Soft Power

Saudi Arabia has come under huge criticism for its human rights record, with restrictions on freedom of speech or expression, gender inequality and extremely harsh punishments for dissent. Despite the ongoing international scrutiny, the Saudi government has implemented limited reforms while continuing to suppress political opposition and impose restrictions on civil liberties.

Human Rights advocates have argued that the lack of progress on the situation highlights a systemic disregard for individual freedom and is being overshadowed by the country’s alliances and economic interests.

The situation very much complicates international effects to promote human rights as many nations have economic ties and security partnerships to Saudi Arabia. There are also accusations of Hypocrisy towards foreign policy due to this.

As a result, many have called for a more robust and principled approach to engagement with Saudi Arabia urging governments to prioritize human rights in trade deals and agreements to try and foster a meaningful change in the kingdom.

The kingdoms’ aggressive push for visibility on the global stage has raised massive concerns about sports washing, a tactic that’s been employed to improve the counties image whilst overshadowing its human rights issues. By investing in international sports such as Boxing, MMA and WWE to acquiring a stake in football club Newcastle United, Saudi Arabia aims to reshape its worldwide reputation and exert soft power, effectively diverting the attention away from their domestic problems.

In a recent article posted on the guardian by Ruth Michaelson, it states that Saudi Arabia has spent £4.9bn in sports deals since early 2021 which was more than quadruple the amount spent over a 6-year period.

Read the article Here

Other events have also attracted attention for sports washing and the Saudi Government exerting soft power and influence on the world.

Riyadh Season has expanded its brand internationally, highlighted by a major British title fight at Wembley Stadium where Antony Joshua faced Daniel Dubois earlier this year. Faced with major backlash from British press and British boxing fan alike the Saudi Arabia national anthem was sung before the main event.

Also, there was some backlash over the fact the people were handing out free programmes promoting Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Season. These Programmes contained Saudi tourism and Events and people didn’t feel it was right to be constantly handed and fed Saudi information.

Lucas Accardo who attended the event at Wembley Stadium said “You were constantly handed Saudi Propaganda when walking down Wembley way, Outside the Stadium and also inside”. “You could see people been forced to take it and then throwing it in the bin Which makes the whole process pointless though I don’t care about as we had a mega fight thanks to Saudi Arabia”.

(Accardo was in attendance at Wembley Stadium for the stacked Riyadh Season card) Credit: Lucas Accardo.

“Riyadh Season has totality reinvented boxing as we know it, we are now getting the best and biggest fights in the world and its all down to them”. “In the past year we have seen Tyson Fury vs Usyk a title unification match and a match that we wouldn’t have expected if it wasn’t for Riyadh season’

He further added “the money that Riyadh season and the Saudi government are offering is definitely a factor in why we are getting the best fights now but let it carry on as I feel entertained and excited about what else is to come”

Accardo also commented on the fact the Saudi national anthem was played inside Wembley Stadium stating “If that’s what it takes to get the bests fights to happen in England I’m completely fine with it”.

This comes after comments made by Matchroom Chairmen Eddie Hearn commenting on the decision. Hearn commented after the backlash defending the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority and the chairman Turki Alalshikh who’s an advisor in the country’s royal court.

When Speaking about Turki he said he was more than entitled to have the anthem played as a ‘sign of respect’. ‘He’s given British boxing, all the fighters, all the fans, the best night, he’s paid for it all.

WWE is another company to commit a long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia hosting major Pay Per Views across the kingdom and showcasing its biggest stars in their stadiums. While featuring high profile matches with iconic wrestlers that the kingdom, WWE expand its global reach, showing cultural exchange and providing fans in the region with a quality live experience.

Over this last weekend WWE hosted a premium live event in the Kingdom known as Crown Jewel. This thrilling event saw all of WWE major talent fight in the country including Roman Reigns and WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes.

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(Cody Rhodes won his champion vs champion match against Gunther in Saudi Arabia Last Weekend).

There was also Women Fighting on the card showing Saudi Arabia progressing as previously women have been unable to fight on the card. Also, there were chants of WrestleMania (The Biggest WWE event) being screamed when Director Triple H was on stage leading to speculation that the event could take place in the Kingdom soon.

WWE host Crown Jewel every year in Saudi Arabia that has become a massive feature on the Wresting Calendar in recent years but it didn’t start that way. The show which first took place in 2018 faced a number of challenges that nearly killed off its reputation. From Saudi officials asking for dead wrestlers to appear at the show tied with the controversy surrounding the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the show faced serious backlash.

The 2019 Broadcast of the show was abruptly cut after WWE and Saudi Arabia faced money disputes. After the Show WWE planes faced alleged ‘mechanical issues’ which meant they were unable to make it to the planned Smackdown Live show the following night but many on the scene reported that the planes were grounded by the Saudi government on purpose.

(The crown Prince pictured with ex WWE chairman Vince Mcmahon (Left) and WWE Chief Content Creator Triple H (Right) with the WWE Championship) Credit: Forbes.

In an article written by Fightful, a unnamed wrestler known as CW-2 due to lawsuits told them about how he and other wrestling legends such as Hulk Hogan and Rick Flair were told ‘Someone doesn’t want us to leave the country’ as they were left stranded on a place. He also went to add that that there was a ‘ton of guards blocking the exit’.

You can read the Fightful article Here

The Seriousness of this incident shows The Kingdoms power over companies and the damaging effect it can have on future shows as WWE had no one to wrestle for them the following night and had to use developmental talent to carry the SmackDown Live show the next night.

But, WWE have reignited their partnership with Saudi Arabia and now proceed to to make outstanding showcases in the kingdom gaining praise from fans internationally.

But as WWE in Saudi Arabia captures global attention, the excitement surrounding the Saudi Pro League is also gaining momentum, showcasing the country’s growing influence in sports.

Will the Pro League Rival the Prem?

The Saudi Pro League (Saudi top-flight football division) is experiencing a massive surge in investment, with billions of pounds being put into their football teams to attract some of the best names in the football enhancing the leagues infrastructure.

The league is committed to acquiring high profile players and coaches whilst the financial status of the country aims to promote Saudi Arabia as a significant player in world football. Over the past year greats of the game such as Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo have moved to the kingdom to play the game that they love and are receiving massive wage rises in their contracts even though they are both over the age of 30.

With a major financial backing and growing number of international stars, the Saudi Pro League could be poised to challenge the dominance of the Premier League and potentially transforming the global football landscape in the future.

Despite the lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, Many Footballers still aspire to play in Europe, driven by the prestige of the big leagues and the chance to showcase their talent on the biggest stage in the UEFA Champions league. This desire often stems from the competitive environment and rich history the competition has to offer.

However, the Saudi Pro League is rapidly growing and now gives good reasons why players may consider it seriously.

(Players like Ronaldo get millions of pounds for posting on social media Look below).

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In an article by Rayhan Uddin for Middle eastern Eye, they discussed footballers making the move to Saudi. In this article, they presented a quote from Journalist Mostafa Mohamed.

Read Here.

‘For some Muslim players Approaching the twilight of their careers, the opportunity to experience and live in a Muslim nation is an attraction’

This article came after the ballon d’or winner at the time and also someone who practices Islam Karim Benzema moved to Pro League when he signed for Al-Ittihad and promotes the nation saying he’s planning to learn Arabic.

But will the Saudi Pro League ever rival the Premier League? The answer is yes potentially considering the amount of money being invested into the league and the fact that teams in the Pro League are gaining worldwide recantation due to the stars the teams have.

What’s the next steps for the Kingdom?

The 2034 world cup is set to take place in the kingdom allegedly beating Australia to host the biggest competition in the world. With Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and also rules about relationships with people from the same sex, drinking alcohol and also freedom of speech, the question should be how have they got it and should they host it?

But like the previous World Cups in Qatar who have similar human rights issues and Russia who are now currently at war with neighboring country Ukraine, FIFA haven’t had an issue with hosting in countries with human rights issues and have produced great tournaments. Well known pundits such as Gary Neville feel that we should address the issues in the counties.

Riyadh Season will again be hosting the 2nd bout between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk on the 21st December, a fight that unified all the world titles earlier this year.

Info on times and where to buy it Here.

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Saudi Arabia’s strategic investments in sport enables the nation to change its public perception and its global image. By hosting major events with some of the best athletes in the world, the kingdom does look to be using its soft power to influence and showcase their views and traditions. But by doing this they are limiting the audiences that can attend.

They might’ve won the hearts of mind of their nation but there’s still a long way to go if they want to win over the entire world.

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