#wk joint 2023

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family - The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to Factory Works in Birmingham to mark World Mental Health Day. | October 10, 2023

[d2kvirus]

27/8/23 Fact or Fiction

Statement #1: Tetsuya Naito was the right choice to win the 2023 G1 Climax. FACT - At the time my immediate response was a groan, in fact that was my response when the final was going to be another go-round of Okada/Naito when the tournament was the perfect time to launch Will Ospreay into the stratosphere, but with the realisation that this leads to Naito having a showdown against former LIJ stablemate Sanada, and doing so on the tenth anniversary of the NJPW fanbase brutally rejecting him and his IWGP title match against Okada was bumped out of the headline spot in favour of Tanahashi/Nakamura for the IC title, the multiple narratives coming together does make Naito winning the tournament the right call

Statement #2: The G1 tournament should have less entrants and feature only those with a good chance of winning. FICTION - On the one hand I most certainly agree with the tournament having fewer entrants, as increasing the number of blocks in the G1 to four has made the tournament feel bloated, but ultimately the reason to slim the G1 down again is less to do with featuring talent with the best chance of winning and more to do with not featuring talent who will habitually stink the joint out and weaken the tournament as a result

Statement #3: This year’s G1 theme song “Born in the Ring” was better than 2021’s awesome “Max the Max”. FICTION - Max the Max sounded like a boss theme from a Yakuza game. Born in the ring sounded like the end credit theme of something Crunchyroll keeps recommending but I get bored of within three episodes

Statement #4: You CARE who wins the NJPW G1 Climax. FACT - Even though it is fair to say that the G1 Climax winner can often feel like the safe choice when there's the chance to strap a rocket to somebody's back (ironically because they tried to strap a rocket to Naito's back in 2013, and the NJPW crowd said "Īe" in response, it does set the stage for Wrestle Kingdom perfectly - and let's be honest, the sigh of relief everyone breathed when EVIL was knocked out underlines that people certainly care

Statement #5: SANADA will still be IWGP Champion by Wrestle Kingdom 2024. FACT - Sanada turning his back on Naito and LIJ is still fresh in people's minds, and that does tie into Naito winning the G1. True, EVIL splitting from LIJ was the more acrimonious split...but fucking hell does the idea of EVIL winning the belt between now and WK fill me with dread given how routinely his matches stunk out G1 cards, and indeed plenty of NJPW cards in general, and I'd rather not have 'Nam flashbacks to JBL's title reign thank you very much

Statement #6: A surprise in pro-wrestling is only good when it is something you want to happen or is the “right” decision by the booker. FICTION - I went back and forth on this one, as there's plenty of arguments to be made either way, but ultimately there's been plenty of surprise results which were the "right" decision and they made all the sense in the world, yet they just didn't pan out. Case in point Rey Mysterio's 2006 Rumble win and subsequent title win at WM22 were both surprises and there was plenty of support for them happening...and yet calling his title reign lackluster honestly feels like a compliment. Same goes for Chris Jericho doing the honours for Action Andretti, which at the time felt like a pleasant surprise and did fit the storyline that was going on at the time but in reality there were plenty of people who would have been more deserving of the rub, most obviously Konosuke Takeshita would have been perfect for getting the rub and that would've fit with how Takeshita was being booked at the time

Statement #7: The card for AEW’s All In show at Wembley Stadium looks pretty lame so far. FICTION - While the card has certainly been hamstrung by injuries, most obviously Jamie Hayter being unable to perform as that would've been the ideal moment to have her regain the women's title and refocus the women's division going forward, to say the card looks lame is frankly the sort of thing I expect from the Twitter accounts that the billionaire manchild shoved into my feed from people whose only identifiable personality trait is their performative hatred for AEW. Could the card be better? No denying that, either by extenuating circumstances such as missing Hayter and Danielson or because the matches feel like filler (i.e. House of Black vs The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn, which could easily be saved for All Out so it wouldn't feel like a cooldown match) but on the other hand there's plenty which is offering to deliver such as MJF/Cole, FTR/Bucks (but, please, keep the belts off the Bucks), Punk/Joe and Ospreay/Jericho could certainly deliver if Jericho doesn't try and make a Forced Epic out of it

Statement #8: Not only will Wrestlemania take place in London in a few years but it will also be the location for John Cena’s retirement match. FICTION - If the plan is to have Cena retire at WrestleMania, and the word "If" is doing some legwork there, then logically he would hang his sneakers up at a WM which takes place in the USofA. As for a UK-based WM, I still don't see that happening for the simple reason that the only viable stadium for it would be Wembley - but Wembley can't have a roof due to that bloody great arch they erected on the stadium to make it look "iconic" (or, more accurately, so people wouldn't immediately spot it's just a slightly bigger version of Arsenal's stadium), and that risks the British weather causing the show to be almost as much of a washout as the 2016 edition of WM

[sparrownews12]

Breaking News : CPL 2023 Preview and Teams For this Season

 Jamaica Tallawahs

Where they finished: Champions (2022), 5th place (2021), Losing semifinalist (2020)

Overseas signings: Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Chris Green, Salman Irshad, Alex Hales

After seasons of middling returns on the field following plenty of turmoil off field that led to the eventual exit of their stalwart Andre Russell, the Tallawahs stunned everyone in 2022 winning three Play Off matches in a span of four days to lift their third CPL title. Tallawahs have kept most of their winning core from last year bar their talismanic skipper Rovman Powell who moved to Barbados Royals in a pre-season transfer. The architects of their Play Off wins from last year, Brandon King and Shamarh Brooks, both have not been in the best of form as is their overseas signing Alex Hales who will arrive only after completing his Hundred commitments. Imad Wasim has been in red hot form in T20s this year and will be the key in holding together the top and lower order while his erstwhile countryman Mohammad Amir will spearhead the pace attack. Tallawahs would also need Nicholson Gordon, who finished at the top of wicket charts in Super 50 competition, to step up in what is an otherwise inexperienced pace unit.

Likely starting XI: Brandon King, Kirk McKenzie, Raymon Reifer, Shamarh Brooks, Amir Jangoo (WK), Imad Wasim*, Fabian Allen, Chris Green*, Mohammad Amir*, Salman Irshad*, Nicholson Gordon

Barbados Royals

Where they finished: Runners up (2022), 6th place (2021), 5th place (2020)

Overseas signings: Donovan Ferreira, Laurie Evans, Roelof Van Der Merwe, Maheesh Theekshana/Qais Ahmad

The standout team in CPL 2022 and the only team to win more than half of their league games, Royals can count themselves unlucky to have one of their poorer days of the tournament happen in the finals. The strategy to move away from all-round heavy sides of 2020 and 2021 campaigns and bring in specialists proved particularly fruitful as all their overseas signings chipped in with their respective assigned roles. Rovman Powell's arrival bolsters their local talent pool while the likes of Laurie Evans and Donovan Ferreira fill in for Quinton de Kock and David Miller. Kyle Mayers and Rahkeem Cornwall can set them off to rapid starts in the Powerplay and Alick Athanaze is expected to light up the tournament in what will be his maiden CPL stint. Mujeeb-ur-Rahman has a like-to-like swap in Maheesh Theekshana who stands to miss bulk of the tournament owing to commitments in LPL and Asia Cup with Qais Ahmad named as his partial replacement.

Likely starting XI: Kyle Mayers, Rahkeem Cornwall, Alick Athanaze, Kevin Wickham, Rovman Powell, Donovan Ferreira (WK)*, Jason Holder, Roelof Van Der Merwe*, Maheesh Theekshana/Qais Ahmad*, Obed Mccoy, Ramon Simmonds

St Lucia Kings

Where they finished: 4th place (2022), Runners up (2021), Runners up (2020)

Overseas signings: Faf du Plessis, Sikandar Raza, Peter Hatzoglou, Sean Williams, Chris Sole/Bhanuka Rajapaksa

St Lucia Kings turned around their fortunes in the Covid era making it to Play Off in three successive seasons, having done so just once in the first seven years. Ending up as runners up in 2020 and 2021, the Kings finished fourth place last year under Faf du Plessis. Notwithstanding his poor run in Major League Cricket, Du Plessis has been in fine form in the T20 circuit and his pairing with Johnson Charles makes them the best opening pair in the competition. The Zimbabwe duo of Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza will bring both form and experience to the middle order that is lacking big-ticket local names. Alzarri Joseph and Chris Sole, at least up until the latter makes way for Bhanuka Rajapaksa, give the side a considerable edge with the new ball. Matthew Forde have impressed in LPL 2022 as well as the recently concluded Global T20 in Canada finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker and Kings would want him to extend that form in his sophomore year in CPL.

Likely starting XI: Faf Du Plessis*, Johnson Charles (WK), Sean Williams*, Roston Chase, Sikandar Raza*, Roshon Primus, Shadrack Descartes, Alzarri Joseph, Chris Sole*, Jeavor Royal, Matthew Forde

Guyana Amazon Warriors

Where they finished: 3rd place (2022), Losing semifinalist (2021), Losing semifinalist (2020)

Overseas signings: Rahmanullah Gurbaz/Mohammad Haris, Saim Ayub, Azam Khan, Imran Tahir, Dwaine Pretorius, Hazratullah Zazai

Always the bridesmaid but never the bride. The only side that has made it to the Play-Offs/semifinals every year but is yet to lift the silverware, Guyana will be hoping they clear the final hurdle this time around. They have stuck to their strategy of packing their squad with spinners and sub-continent batters who are good players of spin. Imran Tahir, the highest wicket-taker across the last three installments of CPL, will helm the spin attack with Gudakesh Motie, Kevin and Junior Sinclair in the supporting cast while the all-around trio of Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul and Odean Smith in charge of seam department in addition to adding to the lower middle order muscle. In Azam Khan and Saim Ayub Guyana have two fine players of spin in the middle order. Warriors have the advantage of playing the knockouts at their home ground in Providence and would ideally want it to stay true to its colours and bring their spinners into play, something which did not happen last season and cost them dearly.

Likely starting XI: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK)*, Saim Ayub*, Shai Hope, Azam Khan (WK)*, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Keemo Paul, Odean Smith, Kevin Sinclair, Gudakesh Motie, Imran Tahir*

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

Where they finished: 5th place (2022), Champions (2021), 6th place (2020)

Overseas signings: Dewald Brevis/Blessing Muzarabani, Ambati Rayudu, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Izharulhaq Naveed

If ever there was a side that had players looking for a platform to push their case for the national team, it would be the Patriots. Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Sherfane Rutherford, Sheldon Cottrell and Oshane Thomas have all played for West Indies in the recent past but currently find themselves out of favour. Dominic Drakes and Yannic Cariah are also in the fringes of white ball squads but are far from being certain picks for West Indies. The big name missing from their squad last season is skipper Dwayne Bravo who has moved back to home side Trinbago after two seasons with the Patriots. If the loss of Tristan Stubbs dented their middle order a touch, the possible loss of Dewald Brevis later, who got his maiden International call up in the home series against Australia, would serve as a near-killer blow. The bowling attack has variety but lacks class, the spin department in particular is amongst the weaker ones in the competition.

Likely starting XI: Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher (WK), Dewald Brevis*, Sherfane Rutherford, Ambati Rayudu*, Corbin Bosch*, Dominic Drakes, George Linde*, Yannic Cariah, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas

Trinbago Knight Riders

Where they finished: 6th place (2022), Losing semifinalist (2021), Champions (2020)

Overseas signings: Martin Guptill, Rilee Rossouw, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Waqar Salamkheil

Ahead of the last edition, a few other sides matched the might of Knight Riders on paper. And yet they startlingly went on to finish the wooden spoon holders. Trinbago gets even stronger with the homecoming of their most successful captain Dwayne Bravo after a two-year exile with Patriots and in the quartet of Pollard, Bravo, Narine, and Russell, the Knight Riders have the experience of over 2100 T20 caps. The recent batting form of Pooran, Pollard, and Russell augurs well for them making Knight Riders the most explosive middle order lineup in the tournament. Top order batting has been a nagging issue for Knight Riders in the last couple of seasons as they hope for someone to fill in the shoes of Lendl Simmons. The trio of Narine, Hosein and Noor Ahmad gives them the mantle of the best spin bowling attack ever to be assembled in a CPL squad while Pathirana's addition gives the pace attack a dimension that CPL have often lacked in recent years - that of raw pace.

Likely starting XI: Martin Guptill*, Mark Deyal, Rilee Rossouw*, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Sunil Narine, Matheesha Pathirana*, Jayden Seales

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family- The Duchess of Rothesay arrive in Burghead ahead of a visit to the North of Scotland to see those working with young people supporting mental health and improved access to the outdoors. | November 02, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family - The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay are presented with three teddy bears for their children during a visit to Outfit Moray in Moray, Scotland | November 02, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family- The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay arrive in Burghead ahead of a visit to the North of Scotland to see those working with young people supporting mental health and improved access to the outdoors. | November 02, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family - The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay meeting members of the public in Scotland | November 02, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family - The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay took part in a mountain biking session with young people | November 02, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

William and his humour

[theroyalsandi]

The Prince and Princess of Wales speak with the participants who will be joining a forum for World Mental Health Day at Factory Works in Birmingham, England | October 10, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

The Prince and Princess of Wales being interviewed for BBC Radio 1 in Birmingham | October 10, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

The Prince of Wales, President of the Earthshot Prize, and The Princess of Wales received Timothy Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Apple, at Windsor Castle. | September 28, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

The Prince and Princess of Wales during a panel discussion during a visit to Factory Works in Birmingham to mark World Mental Health Day. | October 10, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

The Prince of Wales and Princess of Wales received Timothy Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Apple, at Windsor Castle. | September 28, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

The Prince and Princess of Wales are in Birmingham to host a youth forum, Exploring our Emotional Worlds, marking World Mental Health Day | October 10, 2023

[theroyalsandi]

British Royal Family | The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre | October 12, 2023