Fans tearful as WWE’s legendary Undertaker retires at WrestleMania

The wrestling champion, known outside the ring as Mark Calaway, left the stadium to a cheering audience. (Photo courtesy: WWE.com)
Updated 03 April 2017
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Fans tearful as WWE’s legendary Undertaker retires at WrestleMania

Legendary wrestler The Undertaker retired at WrestleMania Sunday night, after a WWE career that spanned 27 years.
The wrestling champion, known outside the ring as Mark Calaway, left the stadium to a cheering audience after a defeat to Roman Reigns, only the second WrestleMania loss in his career.
After the match, the wrestler stood in the center of the ring adorned in his traditional gear and enjoyed a “Thank You Taker” chant from more than 75,000 people who filled out the arena at WrestleMania, the WWE’s Super Bowl equivalent.
He then slowly took off his coat, hat and gloves and left them in a spot-lit pile in the center of the ring before looking around the stadium emotionally and walking back up the ramp for what seemed to be the last time.

Having won 23 WrestleMania matches since his WWE debut in 1990, The Undertaker was a fan favorite and icon in the wrestling world.

He began his WWE career as “Kane the Undertaker,” dressed as a mortician in a trench coat and black Stetson hat and shot to fame after memorable fights with Hulk Hogan and Yokozuna.
His ongoing rivalry with Yokozuna reached its peak in the WWF – now the WWE — World Heavyweight Championship casket match at the Royal Rumble in January 1994.

During the iconic match, Yokozuna sealed The Undertaker in a casket in order to win the match after which the wrestler was not seen in the ring for seven months. In reality, the star was given time off to allow a back injury to heal and in 1995, he defeated Yokozuna in a casket match rematch wearing an updated purple outfit.
During his absence, wrestling authorities introduced an Undertaker back into the ring.
This Undertaker was, however, an imposter played by Calaway’s real-life cousin and was dubbed the “Underfaker” by fans. The real Undertaker defeated the imposter in a much-hyped SummerSlam main event using a “Tombstone Piledriver,” his signature move in which he grabbed the opponent, turned him upside down and drove his head into the mat.

In 1996, he took to the ring with a new persona and dubbed himself “The Lord of Darkness,” a Gothic, rebellious character.
By January of 1999, the wrestling hero took a decidedly darker turn with the introduction of “The Ministry of Darkness,” a stable reigned over by The Undertaker who now dressed as a dark, malevolent priest.
With the help of his minions, the robe-clad Undertaker performed sacrifices on select wrestlers in order to recruit them into his ministry.
The turn of the millennium saw a more rock and roll persona come to the fore, with The Undertaker donning biker clothes and entering the ring to a slew of popular rock songs as the “American Bad Ass.”

However, the new persona wasn’t set to last long. In 2001, The Undertaker became a villain once again as he chopped off his hair and called himself “Big Evil.”
At 2004’s WrestleMania, he returned to the ring in his Stetson hat and black outfit, harking back to his original persona.
Fast forward to 2017 and wrestling fans have been left tearful with the news of his retirement.
“I’ve been watching The Undertaker since I was six or seven years old. This is truly the end of an era,” one user wrote.
“The greatest character in professional wrestling history. No body will ever touch a career as great as The Undertaker,” another posted.

Wrestling star The Miz posted: “If there’s a dry eye at #Wrestlemania ur a bigger man then me. #ThankYouTaker”

While the WWE’s Mick Foley said: “#ThankYouUndertaker — my life has been so much better for having known you.#WrestleMania.”

"A multiple WWE and World Heavyweight Champion, a six-time tag team titleholder and a Royal Rumble winner in 2007, Undertaker’s accomplishments in WWE have cemented his place among the greatest in the game," the WWE said on its website.


Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

Updated 08 November 2024
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Paul Waring shoots 61 in Abu Dhabi to set 36-hole record on European tour with 19-under par

  • Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links
  • Rory McIlroy made a triple bogey on No. 17 in his second successive 67

ABU DHABI: Paul Waring hit the shot of his life to complete a career-low 11-under 61 in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday and establish a five-stroke lead heading into the weekend of the European tour’s first playoff event.
The No. 229-ranked Englishman hit a draw with a 3-wood from about 260 yards to inside 4 feet at No. 18 and tapped in the birdie putt to move to 19-under par for the tournament.
The European tour confirmed to The Associated Press that it is the lowest 36-hole score to par in the tour’s history.
Waring, who opened with a 64 on Thursday, made nine birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at Yas Links and set a course record.
First-round leader Tommy Fleetwood of England (68), Johannes Veerman of the United States (67) and Danish players Niklas Norgaard (65) and Thorbjorn Olesen (67) were tied for second place on 14 under.
Rory McIlroy made a triple bogey on No. 17 in his second successive 67 and was nine strokes off the lead.
McIlroy can clinch a sixth Race to Dubai title with a win this week.


Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Updated 08 November 2024
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Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

  • Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp
  • The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge

Liverpool: Arne Slot said he is not shocked by a stunning start to life in charge of Liverpool as the Reds have stormed to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.
The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge in all competitions as the holders have also progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals.
Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp.
But he has built on the solid foundations left by the German after Liverpool finished third in the Premier League behind Manchester City and Arsenal last season.
“Surprise isn’t the right word I’d use because I knew the quality of our team. But quality is one thing, to be consistent is a second thing,” said Slot at his pre-match press conference ahead of hosting Aston Villa on Saturday.
“From the moment I started working with them I saw how much energy they put in on a daily basis and that is I think the reason you can be consistent.”
Liverpool were inspired by the power of the Anfield crowd to come from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 last weekend to move two points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League.
A similar atmosphere helped blow Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen away 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Slot is keen to keep his players’ feet on the ground but is happy for the fans to get excited about the possibility of just a second league title in 35 years.
“If the end result of them being excited is to bring the atmosphere of the second half against Brighton and the whole game against Leverkusen, I am hoping they will keep being excited because that atmosphere helped us a lot,” added the former Feyenoord boss.
Diogo Jota remains sidelined but should return after November’s international break.


Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

Updated 08 November 2024
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Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

  • Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title for 3rd time
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif promises to set up world-class facilities for sportsmen

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif for winning the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Championship in Qatar for the third time, Pakistani state-run media reported on Thursday.
Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title in a thrilling final on Nov. 6. He outclassed Ali 5-3: 70-25, 7-87(84), 82(56)-8, 106(106)-08, 82-12, 43-91(58), 0-118 and 93(80)-4.
“Asif made the entire nation proud by winning the international championship for the third time,” PM Sharif was quoted as saying by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster. “The talented youth of Pakistan are highlighting the country’s name in the fields of sports.”
The IBSF, founded in 1971, is the governing body for billiards and snooker worldwide. It represents 85 member countries and is recognized by the World Confederation of Billiard Sports and the International Olympic Committee.
Asif, 42, first won the IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2012 and went on to win it again in 2019. His victory ties him with India’s Pankaj Advani who has also won the World Snooker Championship thrice.
The Pakistan prime minister said Asif’s family and coach also deserved recognition, adding that providing quality facilities to Pakistani players was top priority of his government.
“The government is making all possible efforts to provide international standard facilities to the players,” he added.
 


Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

Updated 08 November 2024
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Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

BARCELONA: Raphinha knew he would have a hard time getting off Barcelona’s bench with the soccer world enthralled by teen phenom Lamine Yamal and the club eyeing to sign another hot prospect in the attack.

Instead of pouting, he evolved.

While the entire Barcelona team improved under new coach Hansi Flick, no player has made such a leap forward this season as Raphinha.

His 12 goals and team-leading 10 assists across all competitions are a big part of why Barcelona is playing its best soccer since the exit of Lionel Messi more than three years ago.

But if one player looked to be on the out when the season started, it was the Brazil forward.

Raphinha seemed destined to become a second-choice right-side winger after 17-year-old Yamal helped Spain win the European Championship in dazzling style. To make matters worse, the club was heavily linked to a possible transfer bid to pry Spain left-side winger Nico Williams away from Athletic Bilbao.

That move never materialized for Williams, but Raphinha was still left with either playing in a new position or being a backup to Yamal.

And when Flick gave him the chance to have a new role, he made the most of it.


England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

Updated 08 November 2024
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England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

LONDON: Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall were called up to the England squad for the first time on Thursday as interim coach Lee Carsley made his final selection before Thomas Tuchel takes charge.

Tuchel does not start until January after being hired to lead the national team’s bid to win the 2026 World Cup.

Carsley will oversee England’s final Nations League games against Greece and Ireland and has continued to look toward a new generation of players, having already handed debuts to Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke since taking over on a temporary basis from Gareth Southgate in August.

Carsley said had not discussed his selection with Tuchel.

“He hasn’t had any influence on the squad selection. I’ve spoken to him by text, but it’s literally congratulations,” he said. “I think he’s highly respectful of the job that not only myself, but the staff are doing.

“We’ve been left to it, like we always have.”

England plays Greece in Athens on Nov. 14 and Ireland at Wembley on Nov. 17.

Carsley will resume his role as England Under-21 coach after those games.