Happy New Year 2025

Category: Sports

Eagles invite survivor of Bourbon Street attack back to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX: ‘Not letting evil win’

Former Princeton football player Ryan Quigley was seriously injured and lost his best friend and fellow teammate, Tiger Bech, in the violent terrorist attack in New Orleans on January 1. But Quigley will have the opportunity to write that tragic story when he returns next weekend as an honorary guest of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles invited Quigley and Bech’s sister to attend their divisional round game against the Los Angeles Rams last month, but this week they invited him to their training facility with the intention of surprising him with Super Bowl LIX tickets.

FILE – Princeton running back Ryan Quigley (25) carries the ball for a touchdown in the second half during the game between the Columbia Lions and Princeton Tigers on October, 5, 2019 at Princeton Stadium in Princeton, NJ. (Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

HOW TO WATCH SUPER BOWL LIX BETWEEN CHIEFS, EAGLES STREAMED ON TUBI

“We want to tell you the real reason we brought you here,” Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham said in a video shared by the team. “It’s okay if you’re not feeling it, but we would love to have you down for the Super Bowl.”

This year’s Super Bowl will be hosted by the city of New Orleans. It will take place just a little over a month after the attack. Quigley will return to the city, something he vowed never to do again.

“New Year’s Eve was my first time in New Orleans ever, it was my first night, and I told myself it was going to be the last,” he told the team’s website. “But then I thought about it, because all year I’ve been telling Tiger if the Eagles make the Super Bowl this year, I promised him I was going to take him, and he’s from Louisiana.”

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“I think, not letting evil win and evil will not prevail. I think we’re going to go back to New Orleans and leave on a positive note from that city, given that Tiger’s from there and that I promised him I was going bring him down to the Super Bowl. I’m looking forward to it for sure.”

Quigley, 26, suffered broken bones in his leg, back and face and underwent surgery and several days in the hospital to recover from a horrific terror attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people and injured dozens more.

FILE – Princeton’s Ryan Quigley (25) in runway before a game vs. Yale at Powers Field. Princeton, NJ on Nov. 16, 2019. (Erick W. Rasco /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)

CHIEFS POTENTIAL SUPER BOWL CELEBRATIONS WILL NOT FEATURE PUBLIC RALLY FOLLOWING 2024 MASS SHOOTING: REPORT

He hopes that his presence will allow him to share Bech’s story, something he plans to continue doing no, matter where he goes.

“Everything that the Eagles have done from being around the facilities today and the Divisional Round, to helping us share his story, there’s no words to describe it. We’re forever grateful to have the opportunity to tell the rest of the world how special Tiger was.”

“Everyone that I meet moving forward, I want to introduce Tiger as well, because of how special he was and how much character he had,” he added.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“He had no problem going to like anywhere in the world and fitting into different cultures. And he was just a super well-rounded individual with a ton of qualities that I’m going to make sure people know about for the rest of my life.”

The Eagles and Chiefs will meet in Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

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February 1, 2025
Figure skating community mourns the loss of legend Dick Button in the wake of D.C. plane crash tragedy

The figure skating community experienced immense grief this week after 14 members of the community were tragically killed in a midair aircraft collision in Washington D.C. on Wednesday night.

Their loss came just a day before two-time Olympic gold medalist Dick Button, a pioneer in the sport who would also go on to have a legendary broadcasting career, died at 95.

FILE – Dick Button of Englewood, N.J., a North American men’s figure skating champion and winner of the European title, executes a jump during a practice session at St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Jan. 19, 1948, in preparation for the Winter Olympics of 1948. (AP Photo, File)

“On this terrible, sad day for figure skating with the loss of young upcoming talent and their family members and coaches in the plane crash, I am further heartbroken with the loss of figure skating legend, my friend, Dick Button,” Brian Boitano, who won a gold medal in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, wrote in a post on social media.

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“RIP, Dick Button,” former American sports reporter Michele Tafoya said in another post.

“I like to think you went to heaven in time to welcome the young skaters and coaches who perished in Wednesday’s tragedy. May you all glide among the stars together.”

Everly and Alydia Livingston were killed in a plane crash between an American Airlines flight and an Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. All 67 people onboard both aircraft are presumed dead. (Instagram/@ice_skating_sisters)

A winner of two Olympic gold medals, five consecutive world championships, seven straight U.S. titles, and three-straight North American titles, Button was one of the most accomplished men’s figure skaters.

OLYMPIC MEDALIST SCOTT HAMILTON RECALLS FINAL MEETING WITH CHAMPION RUSSIAN SKATERS DAYS BEFORE PLANE CRASH

He was the first to land a double axel and triple jump in competition, both leading to victory at the Olympics. After his skating career ended, Button would enter the world of broadcasting, eventually earning the name “The Voice of Figure Skating.”

Button died Thursday in North Salem, New York, his family confirmed Thursday.

“U.S. Figure Skating mourns the loss of the legendary Dick Button,” the organization said in a statement. “The two-time Olympic champion’s pioneering style & award-winning television commentary revolutionized figure skating. His legacy will live on forever. We extend our deepest condolences to his family & loved ones.”

FILE – Dick Button, of Englewood, N.J., the reigning figure skating champion of the world, is shown tuning up at Oslo to defend his Olympic title in the Winter Games. He is performing a stag jump on Feb. 12, 1952 in Oslo, Norway. (AP Images)

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Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton spoke about Wednesday’s tragedy and loss of Button, a good friend, in an appearance on TODAY Friday.

Hamilton was in Wichita, Kansas, at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and was familiar with some of the victims in Wednesday’s crash, including world champion pairs skaters Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

“It’s just been beyond anything I can handle,” a tearful Hamilton said of the losses.

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February 1, 2025
SJSU lets go of volleyball coach who filed complaint over transgender player’s alleged plot to harm teammate

EXCLUSIVE: Former San Jose State University assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose’s contract with the university expired Friday, and she has been told that it will not be renewed, she exclusively told Fox News Digital.

Her departure comes after a season plagued by a scandal involving a trans athlete, in which Batie-Smoose took a firm stance to oppose the university’s defense of that athlete. She and her family initially moved to California from the East coast to accept the job in 2023.

“We didn’t make the decision to move our family across the country lightly, but I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I was meant to be at San Jose State to stand up for these young women and do everything I could to protect future generations. In my 30 years of coaching, this is one of the most amazing groups of young women that I’ve been around. Their strength and resiliency during a difficult season was inspiring and one of the reasons why I had to take a stand,” she told Fox News Digital.

San Jose State declined to comment on Batie-Smoose’s contract situation when contacted by Fox News Digital.

“SJSU does not comment on personnel matters,” a university spokesperson said.

Batie-Smoose was suspended from the program on Nov. 2 after she filed a Title IX complaint against the university regarding its alleged handling of a situation involving former transgender player Blaire Fleming. The complaint included allegations that Fleming had conspired with an opponent to have Slusser hit in the face during a match in October.

“I spoke up for the young women on the team who were being silenced and gaslit while dealing with having a male athlete in their locker room, on the court and rooming with them on the road. I could not be silenced and manipulated any longer so I had to stand up for what was right,” she said.

“Speaking out to protect these young women and future women was too much to ignore. This has cost me my job, but we need more coaches to stand up for what is right. I just have to pray that by doing the right thing that justice will prevail and I will be able to continue to do what I was meant to do.”

Batie-Smoose is also currently engaged in a lawsuit against San Jose State and the Mountain West alongside 11 current and former conference players.

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The lawsuit is led by former San Jose State co-captain Brooke Slusser, who alleges that she had been made to share bedrooms and changing spaces with Fleming for an entire season while the university withheld the truth about Fleming’s birth sex from her and other players.

Both Slusser’s lawsuit and Batie-Smoose’s Title IX complaint allege that Fleming conspired with Colorado State volleyball player Malaya Jones ahead of the match between the two programs on Oct. 3. The complaint alleges Fleming provided a scouting report to Jones to ensure a Colorado State competitive advantage, and established a plan to set up Jones with a clear lane to spike Slusser in the face during the contest.

NEVADA VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS WERE PRESSURED WITH ‘LEGAL ISSUES’ TO PLAY SJSU TRANS PLAYER DURING FEUD WITH SCHOOL

Colorado State University police behind the San Jose State University Spartans bench monitor Moby Arena during an NCAA Mountain West women’s volleyball game between the Spartans and the Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Slusser was never spiked in the face during that match, but Colorado State did win in straight sets.

A Mountain West investigation into Batie-Smoose’s allegations did not find sufficient evidence to assign discipline to any player who was named in the allegations, which was stated in a letter obtained by Fox News Digital that was addressed to San Jose State athletic director Jeff Konya and Colorado State athletic director John Weber from Mountain West Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliland.

That letter did not address allegations in Slusser’s lawsuit that provided further context on the incident, nor did it address the specific notion of an alleged conspiracy to have Slusser hit in the face. The letter simply referred to all the allegations listed in the complaint as “manipulation of the competition.”

Gilliland claimed that any evidence to back the claims in the complaint was insufficient, but did not explicitly state that the allegations were false, according to the letter.

The letter stated that the conference’s investigation included interviews with coaches and student-athletes at both San Jose State and Colorado State. However, the letter did not specifically state which individuals had been interviewed. The conference declined to provide any details on the individuals who had been interviewed when asked by Fox News Digital.

WHO IS BLAIRE FLEMING? SJSU VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DOMINATING FEMALE RIVALS AND ENRAGING WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS

Slusser’s attorney Bill Bock later provided a statement to Fox News Digital insisting that the investigation had been “infected with bias.”

“Because the MWC’s investigation was inadequate, and anything but thorough, and because the MWC’s close-out letter is riddled with errors, the undersigned is issuing this rebuttal and demands that the MWC immediately and publicly release: (1) the investigative report prepared by its investigator(s), and (2) all documents connected to the MWC’s claimed ‘thorough investigation’ and upon which the MWC’s decision not to proceed further was based,” read the statement from Bock.

Slusser previously told Fox News Digital she has been spiked in the face by a volleyball in the past, and that the experience “stings, but you kind of just brush it off.” However, in their first season together in 2023, Slusser said she took one of Fleming’s spikes to her thigh, then had to nurse dark bruises on her thigh for an entire week after that. Slusser says she did not even know that Fleming was a trans athlete back then.

Slusser also previously told Fox News Digital that Batie-Smoose’s suspension left some of her teammates in tears.

SJSU TRANS PLAYER AND TRAUMATIZED TEAMMATE HAD THANKSGIVING DINNER IN LAST TRIP TOGETHER AS LAWSUITS RAGE ON

SJSU trans player Blaire Fleming and teammate Brooke Slusser went to a magic show and had Thanksgiving together in Las Vegas despite an ongoing lawsuit over Fleming being transgender. (Thien-An Truong/San Jose State Athletics)

“After we found out that she was released, a lot of the team just kind of broke down and was kind of freaking out, and even one of my teammates was like, ‘I don’t feel safe anymore,’ because there’s no one now that we feel like we can go and talk to about our concerns or our actual feelings and can actually speak freely in front of,” Slusser said.

Slusser said she did not feel safe speaking with anyone else involved in the program, especially head coach Todd Kress.

“You can’t truly voice how you’re feeling without them just trying to cover it up or act like it’s all OK. With Melissa, you could voice how you felt, and she could comfort you and validate your feelings and at least make you feel heard, compared to the other coaches,” Slusser said.

SJSU went on to play in the conference championship game against Colorado State on Nov. 30 but lost. The loss kept Fleming, Slusser and the rest of the Spartans out of the NCAA tournament. Batie-Smoose was at the match in Las Vegas, Nevada, that weekend to support her former players, despite being suspended by the program.

Nearly every one of the players on SJSU’s 2024 team that has remaining NCAA eligibility has entered the transfer portal, Fox News Digital previously reported.

“I think that it speaks volumes that the majority of the team transferred because they did not want to be subjected to the mental anguish the university put them through. They had had enough of the lies and manipulation, and I wish them the best,” Batie-Smoose told Fox News Digital.

Meanwhile, Slusser’s lawsuit against the school and conference has not yet gone to trial. Slusser is also engaged in Riley Gaines’ lawsuit against the NCAA over its policies on gender ideology that allows trans athletes to compete in women’s sports.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 1, 2025
Tom Brady’s former teammate, Rob Gronkowski, discusses how Patrick Mahomes can dethrone Brady as NFL’s GOAT

Patrick Mahomes is on the fast track of surpassing Tom Brady as the NFL’s greatest ever.

With a win in this year’s Super Bowl, Mahomes would become the first player to win four rings before turning 30.

And if you compare the quarterbacks’ first seven full seasons, Mahomes’ numbers trump Brady’s.

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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) and quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrate after a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the third quarter of the 2018 Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Eagles won 41-33. (Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

Brady won more than half of his rings after turning 37, cementing himself in the conversation. But the chatter will be hot and heavy if the Kansas City Chiefs can finish a three-peat, something no team has done in the Super Bowl era.

Rob Gronkowski had a front-row seat for Brady’s illustrious career, winning four titles with him, three in New England, and one more in Tampa Bay.

“Good thing I went back to football and did that,” Gronkowski recalled in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

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But even Gronk knows his quarterback might be in trouble. However, it will be tough, and there’s a reason why Brady has the upper hand for the time being.

“In order for Patrick Mahomes to dethrone (Brady), it’s gonna be tough because Tom beat him twice in playoff football. We absolutely demolished Patrick Mahomes,” Gronkowski said, referring to the 2021 Super Bowl.

Advantage, Brady.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) after the Super Bowl Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Tampa Bay won 31-9. (AP Photo/Charlie )

But that doesn’t mean there’s no chance for Mahomes. Gronk said Mahomes doesn’t even need to match Brady in titles before being in the conversation.

“He’s gonna have to win about five, six championships in order to get in that conversation of being the greatest ahead of Tom Brady,” Gronk said.

ROB GRONKOWSKI TAKES NFL OFFICIALS TO TASK OVER ALLEGED CHIEFS FAVORITISM

Those sentiments echo those of Victor Cruz, who already has Mahomes as the “No. 2” to Brady.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes celebrates after a touchdown run by running back Kareem Hunt during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif.,Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

“To me, I can’t put him above [Tom] Brady just yet, but he’s right there. He’s 1A, 1B for me,” Cruz told Fox News Digital in October.

“If he gets to five and he continues to keep his team relevant year in and year out, when we look up at the numbers, it’s gonna be insane just to see where he nets out and just to see when it’s all said and done where he is, because what he’s doing thus far, it’s pretty special.”

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

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First, the Chiefs will have to get through the Philadelphia Eagles, who the Chiefs beat two years ago in the Super Bowl to get Mahomes his second title. He earned his third last year against the San Francisco 49ers, the same team Mahomes beat for his first ring.

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February 1, 2025
Ex-NFL player Kyle Rudolph discusses Vikings’ QB decision, referees, the Super Bowl and NFL Draft giveaways

Kyle Rudolph left the Minnesota Vikings a couple seasons before they went 14-3 in 2022, when they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Giants.

Two seasons later, they had almost a carbon copy of that campaign. This year, they went 13-4 but had another first-round playoff exit.

“You got to make the plays when it matters most, and they just didn’t do it each of those last playoff games,” Rudolph told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

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Now, the Vikings have to decide whether to keep Sam Darnold or hand the keys to the offense to J.J. McCarthy.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph (82) catches a pass for the winning touchdown over New Orleans Saints cornerback P.J. Williams (26) during overtime of a NFC wild-card playoff game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. (Chuck Cook/USA Today Sports)

Minnesota drafted McCarthy with the 10th selection of last year’s NFL Draft, and he was in the running to start until a knee injury in the preseason ended his season. That gave the nod to Darnold, who took advantage of the opportunity and had, by far, the best season of his career.

Darnold was playing himself into a lucrative contract until his final two games. Now, who knows what he’ll get on the open market?

At the very least, he may get a decent deal like Baker Mayfield’s. But even that might be a lot for Minnesota, Rudolph said.

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“Well, I think it really, so much in football comes down to the money piece. You know, when you have a salary cap, and you’re trying to build a roster, unfortunately, you have to make decisions that are solely based on the ramifications of the salary cap and what that does for your roster,” Rudolph said.

“So, when you look at Sam Darnold and the year that he had in Minnesota, there’s just so many factors that go into it ultimately for Sam. Does he want to go to the highest bidder? Do I think Minnesota can be the highest bidder? No, I do not. You have so much other talent on that roster that they would like to keep and have to pay. If that’s what Sam decides, and he wants to go to the highest bidder, I don’t think Minnesota has a chance.

“If Sam says, ‘I love playing for Kevin O’Connell. This is the best year of my career. He brings the best out of me, I love being on this team,’ I think he would have to take some sort of a discount. And then the third piece that comes in is, ultimately, you always have the franchise tag.

“So, if they were decide to franchise tag Sam, they could keep him on that one-year franchise tag deal. But, again, that makes things really, really tough on the salary cap because that’s a one-year full salary cap hit. So, it’ll be interesting what they decide.

Kyle Rudolph explained why he believes it’s “really tough” to see Sam Darnold returning to the Vikings last season. (Imagn)

“To this point, Kevin [O’Connell] has proved that it really doesn’t matter who the quarterback is. Jaren Hall, Josh Dobbs, Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold — he’s going to get the most out of him, and they’re going to go win football games.”

The Vikings will be home watching the Philadelphia Eagles try to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs, who are in their fifth Super Bowl in the last six years with a chance to three-peat.

It’s widely been argued Kansas City has the refs on their side. But Rudolph disputed the idea of any conspiracy or favoritism.

AARON RODGERS’ EX TEAMMATE THINKS QB ‘CAN STILL GET IT DONE’ WITH NFL FUTURE IN QUESTION

“If you go and look at the statistics and dive into kind of like where are the Chiefs compared to every other team in the NFL in terms of calls for and calls against, they’re kind of right there in the middle of the pack,” Rudolph said.

“But what is different about the Chiefs, they’re on national TV almost every week. They’re playing in primetime a whole lot. They’re always making deep playoff runs, five out of six years in the Super Bowl. Obviously, you have all the off-the-field publicity with Travis [Kelce] and Taylor [Swift] and Patrick’s stardom. It’s just, you see it a lot more.

Referee Carl Cheffers speaks to Patrick Mahomes during a break in the third quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Dec. 21, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (David Eulitt/Getty Images)

“They look for things that trigger, ‘Oh, that’s a foul. That’s a penalty.’ It’s the slightest jersey grab, but that’s something that triggers their psyche to say, ‘Oh, I saw that jersey grab, I’m throwing the flag.’ It’s just an immediate reaction to them. So, no, I don’t think there’s favoritism. Obviously, in the world that we’re in today, if that were ever to be the case … we have all the resources in the world to find out … right? We would know.”

Rudolph spoke to Fox News Digital on behalf of his own charity, Alltroo, where fans can donate to the campaign, and in turn, those dollars go directly to players’ charities. But Rudolph and his partners have added a couple of twists.

This year, with just a $10 donation to Alltroo, fans can win both a trip to the Super Bowl with Drew Brees in New Orleans and an opportunity to announce a draft pick in Green Bay later this year if they donate to a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee’s charity.

Considering that 94% of people who donate to Alltroo had never donated to a nonprofit before, Rudolph says it’s a “win-win” for everyone.

Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph before a game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. (Harrison Barden/USA Today Sports)

“What we wanted to create was an opportunity for die-hard sports fans, not just the high-net worth individuals or the big corporate brands, to have an opportunity to support us. And then the flip side is people are winning once-in-a lifetime experiences and items that may be out of reach.

“So, trying to create that win-win scenario where we’re raising additional funds for charity that wouldn’t otherwise be, and then, ultimately, offering these once-in-a lifetime experiences to fans that otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it,” Rudolph said, noting that Super Bowl prices are “insanely out of price for a lot of people.”

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

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“Whatever you’re willing to donate to these players’ causes, 100% of the proceeds will go directly to these player causes. So, we can just be the vehicle that passes through these donations and then, at the end of the day, a lucky fan’s gonna have the opportunity to go up there and announce a draft pick at the draft and realize someone else’s dream.

“So, all in all, super cool for me to have the opportunity as a former nominee to really spearhead this initiative on behalf of the league. For as little as a $10 donation, you have a chance to win.”

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February 1, 2025
2025 Royal Rumble: 5 predictions for major WWE premium live event

The Royal Rumble is one of the WWE’s marquee premium live events of the year.

The event features the annual Royal Rumble match for both the men’s and the women’s divisions, respectively. The unique program consists of 30 participants entering the ring with the last person in the ring standing earning a shot at the world championship at WrestleMania.

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Cody Rhodes celebrates after winning the Men’s Royal Rumble match at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 27, 2024. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

The match starts with two participants in the ring with a new competitor entering the ring every 90 seconds or so. The only way participants can be eliminated is if they’re thrown over the top rope and both of their feet hit the ground.

One of the best things about the match is the feeling that anyone could win and anyone could be in the match. WWE legends, stars who recovered from injuries, or wrestlers who fans haven’t seen in a while have been known to make epic returns and stun the audience.

Former WWE star Edge, whose real name is Adam Copeland, talked to Fox News Digital in 2022 about what it was like to return in the Royal Rumble in 2020 after being out of in-ring action for about 10 years due to injuries.

“I expected if we could keep it as under wraps as we could, then, yes, just for the sheer shock of it,” he told Fox News Digital at the time when asked whether he expected the wild crowd reaction.

“Because, just like everyone, I assumed that it’s done,” he said of what he thought of his wrestling career at the time. “So, because of that, I assumed there would be a pretty shocked response, and then you do it in a stadium and chances are there’s going to be a pretty good reaction. Even though I thought that, it still doesn’t really prepare you for every emotion that really jolts through your system at that point. I kind of felt like I got hit by lightning in a good way.”

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn celebrate after defeating The Usos for the Undisputed WWE tag team championship during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 1, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

This year is no different. The road to WrestleMania 41 is foggy at best at this point. Champions like Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Rhea Ripley and Tiffany Stratton don’t have opponents for the big couple of nights coming up on April 19-20 in Las Vegas.

The 2025 Royal Rumble in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium will feature the Rumble matches, a ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Championship between Rhodes and Kevin Owens, as well as a WWE Tag Team Championship match between Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley and Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa.

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Read below for five predictions for what might happen in the event.

1. John Cena will be welcomed back with open arms

John Cena is shown during WrestleMania Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium on April 1, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

WWE fans expected John Cena to be on weekly programming since he made his return to “Monday Night Raw” this month. But that hasn’t been the case. He did announce himself for the Royal Rumble, and when he does come back, his entrance will blow the roof off of the stadium.

2. Logan Paul, Penta steal the show

Logan Paul has stunned the wrestling audience with the moves he can pull off in the middle of a WWE ring. It’s earned him street cred among hardcore pro wrestling fans and has emboldened his trash talk on the mic to make him one of the biggest heels on the roster. He really got an earful from the crowd in Atlanta on Monday.

Paul had pulled off some incredible moments with former WWE star Ricochet, and with Penta joining the fracas over the last few weeks, it’s likely the two will pull off something wild in the ring for the fans in Indianapolis.

Penta has drawn immense praise since he debuted in WWE, and his debut in the Rumble match is certainly welcomed.

3. Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn begin bitter feud

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are best friends inside and outside the wrestling ring. They have been at nearly every promotion together and have dominated for quite some time. But their journey is at a crossroads.

Owens is already in a match for the WWE title against Rhodes early in the night. It will appear unlikely that he enters the Royal Rumble match. But with Zayn being friends with Rhodes, the possibility of Zayn costing Owens the title is very much in play.

In turn, watch for Owens to cost Zayn in the Rumble match and ignite a path of best friends-turned-bitter enemies.

4. There will be major returns and debuts

Rhea Ripley (black attire) and Becky Lynch compete in the Women’s World Championship match during WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia on April 6, 2024. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

The Royal Rumble is always known for something wild to happen, and it’s likely something like that will occur again.

The women’s Rumble could include pro wrestlers like Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella or Jordynne Grace. The latter signed a deal with WWE after her contract with TNA expired, Fightful Select reported this week, though Grace was adamant that she wouldn’t be in Indy for the weekend. Additionally, Jade Cargill suffered an on-screen injury and was written off of her storyline as a tag-team champion with Bianca Belair. She could potentially return to confront the person who “attacked” her.

The men’s side could also bring out a major return.

The Rock is always rumored to be involved in WWE storylines one way or the other, but his speech to kick off Raw’s Netflix debut left fans wondering whether he would try to tie up loose ends with Rhodes, Roman Reigns and the rest of the Bloodline.

Omos has also made an impact at the NOAH promotion in Japan. The 7-foot-3 wrestler’s popularity increased as he spent time there and might make at least one more appearance in WWE. His former teammate, A.J. Styles, has also been off television for a while and a return at the Rumble would surprise fans.

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5. CM Punk and Charlotte Flair win the Rumble matches

CM Punk is shown during the Men’s Royal Rumble match at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Jan. 27, 2024. (Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

CM Punk was injured in the Royal Rumble match last year, and it cost him months and an in-ring spot at WrestleMania 40. His intense promo with Rhodes on “Monday Night Raw” was passionate and piqued the interest of the wrestling fan. A Punk-Rhodes WrestleMania main event would definitely be the talk of the pro wrestling world in the spring.

Charlotte Flair has not been seen in a WWE ring since she tore her ACL, MCL and meniscus during a match on SmackDown on Dec. 8, 2023. She’s appeared in vignettes on WWE programming in recent weeks and is set for a Rumble return.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 1, 2025
Eagles speak out on Philadelphia plane crash just days before playing in Super Bowl LIX

The Philadelphia Eagles will have plenty more to play for when they take the field in Super Bowl LIX next Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After an air ambulance carrying six people crashed in Northern Philadelphia Friday night, causing a massive explosion that has killed an unconfirmed number of people, the Eagles released a statement expressing condolences for its impacted Philadelphia residents and the victims on board the flight.

“The Eagles organization was heartbroken to learn of the tragic loss of life earlier this evening as a result of the plane crash in Northeast Philadelphia,” the team said. “We extend our condolences to the victims and loved ones they leave behind. We are grateful to the first responders for their heroic actions at the scene.”

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Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, the global ambulance flight company operating the plane, said its Learjet 55 crashed while departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport at about 6:30 p.m.

A detailed view of the Philadelphia Eagles logo at midfield prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on November 1, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The plane was scheduled to fly from Philadelphia to Tijuana International Airport, with one technical stop in Springfield, Missouri for fuel, Air Ambulance spokesperson Shai Gold told Fox News Digital.

A senior Philadelphia fire official told Fox News the fires that were sparked by the crash are “now under control.”

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to react to the tragedy.

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“So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged,” Trump wrote. “First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all.”

Vice President JD Vance later took to X, calling the situation “very sad.”

“May God bless the victims and their families,” Vance wrote.

Site of a plane crash in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., January 31, 2025. (X / @JaredGSolomon)

The crash comes just days after an American Airlines passenger plane collided midair with an Army Black Hawk Helicopter near Reagan National Airport, killing 67 people.

Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch, Lorraine Taylor and Alexis McAdams contributed to this story.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 1, 2025
Eagles’ Jalen Hurts addresses infamous ‘straightjacket’ comment directed at coach Nick Sirianni

As the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to travel to New Orleans for Super Bowl LIX, the team’s star quarterback is clearing the air. During last week’s postgame media availability, Jalen Hurts made a seemingly offhanded comment about Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni.

Hurts said Nick Sirianni “let me out of my straitjacket” when asked about his strong performance during the NFC Championship game victory over the Washington Commanders and his overall experience playing for Sirianni.

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Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, left, and quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrate after the Eagles won the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

“He’s done a great job. He’s done a great job. He let me out me out of my straightjacket a little bit today,” Hurts told reporters.

But on Friday, Hurts insisted that comment was merely a joke. “I was just joking around after the game,” Hurts told reporters.

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During his media availability on Tuesday, Sirianni fielded questions about the “straightjacket” comment.

“I think he was having fun after the game We’ve been winning a couple different ways this year. … But I know this, and he’s said this plenty of times, he doesn’t care how we win, I don’t care how we win, as long as we win. And we do everything we can do to be able to win,” Sirianni said on Jan. 28 during the press conference.

“And as we’ve talked a lot, there have been different circumstances of how games have [gone] and where we’ve been at late in games. But we found a way to win and rattle off 15 out of 16. So, again, thought he was having fun with that after the game. And loved how he went out there and executed and prepared for this game.”

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles run off the field against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on December 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Throughout much of the 2023 season, Hurts and Sirianni reportedly navigated through a somewhat tense relationship. Last August, a report from ESPN cited a source with direct knowledge who described the last season’s dynamic between the coach and quarterback as “fractured.”

After starting the 2023 campaign with a 10-1 record, the Eagles went on to win just one of their final six games. Philadelphia subsequently suffered a 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round. The early playoff exit came on the heels of the Eagles appearance in the Super Bowl the prior season.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

However, the end of the 2024 regular season and the postseason have been vastly different for Philly. Sirianni, Hurts, and the Eagles were presented with the George Halas Trophy last Sunday after the team won the conference title and clinched a spot in Super Bowl LIX.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Eagles will meet in the big game on Feb. 9 at Caesars Superdome. Super Bowl LIX kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET with Kevin Burkhardt doing play-by-play and Tom Brady as the color commentator in his first Super Bowl as a broadcaster. Tubi will stream Super Bowl LIX on its platform live in 4K. Viewers will be able to watch the game when they sign up via email registration.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 1, 2025
Air ambulance service involved in Philadelphia plane crash once flew MLB icon David Ortiz after he got shot

A medical transport jet headed for Missouri and carrying a child patient and five others crashed in Northeast Philadelphia Friday night.

The jet was part of the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, which provides global ambulance flight services.

It’s the same service that once helped transport Boston Red Sox legend and MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz with a critical injury after he was shot in his home country of the Dominican Republic June 9, 2019, at a bar in Santo Domingo.

Ortiz was severely wounded but survived emergency surgery.

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A portion of Ortiz’s intestines, colon and gallbladder were removed, and he also reportedly had liver damage. The next day, a Jet Rescue plane transported Ortiz to Boston, where he received further treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital, including a second surgery.

Ortiz was moved out of the intensive care unit on June 22, 2019, and he was released from the hospital over a month later on July 26, 2019.

David Ortiz Aug. 16, 2024, in New York City (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Fanatics)

The suspected shooter was later identified as Rolfi Ferreira-Cruz, but an investigation also found Ortiz was not the intended target. The Dominican Attorney General announced June 19, 2019, Ortiz was shot by mistake, and Sixto David Fernandez was identified as the intended target of the shooting.

On Friday, Jet Rescue said it’s Learjet 55 crashed while departing from Northeast Philadelphia Airport around 6:30 p.m.

“Our immediate concern is for the patient’s family, our personnel, their families and other victims that may have been hurt on the ground,” Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said in a statement.

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President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to react to the tragedy.

“So sad to see the plane go down in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More innocent souls lost. Our people are totally engaged,” Trump wrote. “First Responders are already being given credit for doing a great job. More to follow. God Bless you all.”

The crash comes just days after an American Airlines passenger plane collided with an Army Black Hawk Helicopter near Reagan National Airport, killing 67 people.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 1, 2025
Pistons player misses own bobblehead night due to suspension for flagrant fouls

Detroit Pistons fans were treated to a bobblehead giveaway of big man Isaiah Stewart Friday night.

But they were unable to see Stewart in action because he wasn’t allowed to play.

Stewart was suspended for flagrant fouls assessed throughout the season.

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Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart is ejected from a game for a flagrant foul on Indiana Pacers center Thomas Bryant in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

The NBA announced Friday that Stewart would be suspended for the night’s contest after he picked up a sixth flagrant foul point this season.

Stewart picked up a flagrant foul, which prompted an automatic ejection Wednesday after he checked an opponent, Thomas Bryant, when a shot went up.

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Bryant had to be held back by his teammates, and Stewart almost immediately walked off the court.

The league announced the suspension, along with a $50,000 fine for Stewart for making “inappropriate and objectionable gestures” after his ejection Wednesday in the Pistons’ 133-119 loss to the Pacers in Indiana.

The gestures were likely the apparent finger guns he pointed at the Pistons bench.

The Pistons and Pacers have history with the Malice at the Palace in 2004.

Isaiah Stewart (28) of the Detroit Pistons knocks the hand of referee Tyler Ford away during a game against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Jan. 29, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Stewart entered the game with four flagrant foul points, so the call triggered the automatic suspension based on the league’s regular-season protocols.

Despite the suspension, the Pistons still gave out Stewart bobbleheads to 5,000 fans.

The Pistons have been a pleasant surprise this season. Their 23-24 record is good for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, which would put them in the play-in tournament.

Indiana Pacers teammates check on center Thomas Bryant (3) after a foul by Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

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Last year, the Pistons lost an NBA record 27 consecutive games, which resulted in the firing of Monty Williams despite him inking the richest deal in coaching history at the time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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February 1, 2025