The competitive Group F continues play on Saturday as Sweden and Netherlands get the 2026 World Cup action underway for the day. Netherlands are favored in the group, but Sweden posted a 5-1 victory against Tunisia in their opener, building a substantial goal differential that could come in handy for group tiebreakers. The Netherlands and Japan, meanwhile, battled to a 2-2 draw in their opener.
Kickoff for Netherlands vs. Sweden is at 1 p.m. ET in Houston. The latest Netherlands vs. Sweden odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Netherlands at -140 (risk $140 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Sweden at +370 and a draw at +290. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Before locking in any Netherlands vs. Sweden picks, check out the Sweden vs. Netherlands predictions from SportsLine’s Martin Green.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer betting picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.
Now, Green has studied Netherlands vs. Sweden and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Sweden vs. Netherlands:
Top Netherlands vs. Sweden predictions
After examining Sweden vs. Netherlands from every angle, Green is leaning Over 2.5 total goals (-160). These teams combined for seven goals in their openers. Brighton midfielder Yasin Ayari scored twice against Tunisia, and goals from Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres, and substitute Mattias Svanberg made up for the rest against Tunisia. Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville both found the net for Sweden against Japan.
Green notes that, on paper, Netherlands have some of the best defensemen in the world, but they were “surprisingly porous” against Japan. On the other end, “Sweden’s defense looks a little suspect,” Green notes. “The Swedes have conceded in their last seven games, so it’s hard to see them keeping the Dutch attack at bay for 90 minutes.” See Green’s best bets for Sweden vs. Netherlands at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over 2.5 goals at FanDuel here:
How to make Sweden vs. Netherlands picks
After studying Netherlands vs. Sweden from every angle, Green has found a critical x-factor and locked in two best bets. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are.

It’s Moving Day at the U.S. Open, and Wyndham Clark is in full control of the tournament.
Clark got to 7-under through 36 holes at Shinnecock Hills outside of New York, which set a new course record and gave fans a number that many didn’t expect to see the entire weekend, let alone through just two rounds. That ended up giving him a four-shot lead over the rest of the field in what’s been a remarkable comeback for the man who left the major championship last season in controversy.
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Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffel and Sam Stevens are tied in second at 3-under. Clark and Fitzpatrick will tee off in the final group today at 3:45 p.m. ET.
Only three players have ever finished under par at the previous five U.S. Opens held at Shinnecock Hills. After Friday, there are currently 10 players in the red, which is a terrifying stat for the USGA, which has already notified players that the greens will be quicker on Saturday.
If Clark can pull off the win, it’d mark his second U.S. Open victory after the one he claimed in Los Angeles in 2023. He won on the PGA Tour last month at The CJ Cup, too, and hasn’t finished worse than T11 since.
Notable Saturday tee times
All times ET
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2:01 p.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Brian Harman
2:12 p.m.: Maverick McNealy, Rory McIlroy
2:23 p.m.: Keith Mitchell, Akshay Bhatia
2:34 p.m.: Gary Woodland, Ryo Hisatsune
2:50 p.m.: Ryder Cowan (a), William Mouw
3:01 p.m.: Sahitih Theegala, Sam Burns
3:12 p.m.: Harry Higgs, Justin Thomas
3:23 p.m.: Collin Morikawa, Tom Kim
3:34 p.m.: Sam Stevens, Xander Schauffele
3:45 p.m.: Matt Fitzpatrick, Wyndham Clark
How to watch the U.S. Open
Saturday, June 20
USA Network: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ET
NBC, Peacock: 12 – 8 p.m.
Keep up with the entire third round of the U.S. Open with Yahoo Sports:

Amazon Prime Day is just about here. The shopping event returns a little earlier than usual this year on June 23 through June 26, marking the second year in a row that Amazon has made it a four-day-long affair instead of just a 48-hour event. Amazon Prime members can get exclusive discounts on everything from clothing to household goods to tech, and we’re here to cover the latter. While most discounts are exclusively for Prime members, there are always a handful of deals that anyone can take advantage of, so it’s worth perusing Amazon’s site during Prime Day to see if there’s anything you can cross off your list while paying less.
But make no mistake — there are good Prime Day deals and bad ones. Plus, Amazon’s site will be awash with deals during Prime Day, so it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. We at Yahoo Tech can help — we’ve rounded up the best Prime Day deals available right now, and we’ll keep this page updated with new discounts as the event begins on June 23.
Trending early Prime Day tech deals
Apple Watch Series 11 for $299 (was $399): Smarter, thinner, more affordable than ever
Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $169 (was $249): This tech writer’s favorite earbuds
Lefant M210 Pro Robot Vacuum for $90 (was $200): Hands-free cleaning for under $100
Hopow Outlet Extender for $10 (was $16): Power up to 10 devices at once
Lisen Retractable Car Charger for $17 (was $20): Untangle your commute
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus for $25 (was $50): Stream everything in 4K for 50% off
Best early Prime Day deals
Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $169 (was $249): If I were buying AirPods for the first time, the Pro 3 would be the no-brainer pick. They’re a meaningful upgrade over the Pro 2, even before you factor in that those are sold out pretty much everywhere. You’re getting up to twice the noise reduction, longer battery life (up to eight hours with ANC) and bonus features like heart-rate monitoring and live language translation.
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $16 (was $35): Stop dealing with multiple remotes every time you watch TV. With the Fire TV Stick, you’ll be able to effortlessly switch between the news, sports, live TV and your favorite streaming platforms for easy access to millions of shows and movies. And at 54% off, this is the lowest price we’ve seen since the new model launched this past spring.
Lisen Retractable Car Charger for $16 (was $20): On a recent road trip, my wife and I realized we had two USB ports but only one charging cable, and both of our phones were dying. She won. You don’t need to worry about that with this charger, because it has two cables — a USB-C and a Lightning cable — built right in, perfect for our iPhone 14 and iPhone 16. Have two newer phones? You can still plug your own cable into either the USB-C or USB-A ports.
RedTiger 4K Dash Cam for $110 (was $130): Imagine this: You’re stopped at a red light when the car in front of you starts to back up. Before you have time to think, let alone react, bam! They hit your car, but claim you rear-ended them. Unfortunately, these kinds of insurance scams are all too common, and unless you have a dashcam that shows what actually happened, you might be shelling out a lot of dough to make this problem go away.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station for $429 (was $799): This power station is an absolute steal right now at $370 off. With a massive 1,070 Wh capacity and multiple ports, it’s great for powering everything from your camping gear to essential appliances during a power outage. Lightweight and reliable, it’s an easy way to stay charged and prepared without breaking the bank.
Best early Prime Day Apple deals
Apple AirPods 4 for $99 (was $129): Don’t like the feel of AirPods Pro or other earbuds that wedge into your ear canals? These are more traditional hard-plastic ‘buds, the kind that hang gently just outside. Some users find these a lot more comfortable, while also enjoying the benefit of added awareness, as there’s no noise-cancelling to interfere with sounds you might actually need to hear. Plus, you’ll save $30 by buying from Amazon versus the Apple Store.
Apple iPad, 11-Inch, 128GB for $299 (was $349): Out of stock for now, but check back — it usually restocks quickly and at $299, the price has only been lower during Black Friday sales. The latest iPad is an ultra-light, thin tablet that’s powerful enough to replace your laptop for most tasks but slips into your bag with room to spare. With a spacious 11-inch Liquid Retina display, you’re swiping and scrolling in vibrant color and sharpness that makes any screen that came before it feel like an old tube TV. It’s also our pick for the overall best iPad for most users. Not bad for $300.
Apple Watch SE 3 for $219 (was $249): The latest version of the SE comes with an always-on display, wrist-temperature sensing and a sleep score — features that were previously reserved for higher-end models. It’s also a favorite of Yahoo Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida — check out his full Apple Watch SE 3 review.
Apple AirPods Max 2 for $499 (was $549): You can snag a pair of Apple’s latest headphones, the AirPods Max 2, at a discount. We’re seeing some colorways on sale for $50 less than usual, which isn’t a huge discount but a notable one considering these cans just came out. Yahoo Tech’s Rick Broida tested them out and found them to have excellent audio quality, good controls and solid build quality. They’re probably still too expensive for most, but for serious Apple fans, they might be a good option.
Apple MacBook Air, 13-Inch (M5, 512GB, 16GB) for $950 (was $1,099): This latest MacBook Air is $149 cheaper than what you’ll find at your nearest Apple Store. If you’ve been waiting for this release to upgrade an aging machine, this discount is nothing to scoff at, especially for a MacBook.
Apple MacBook Neo, 256GB for $590 (was $599): While the base model isn’t discounted (very few Apple products are immediately after they’re released), the Neo is undoubtedly a deal, considering it’s the most affordable laptop the Cupertino company has ever sold. While the entry price point is a sweet sub-$600, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend spending the extra $100 to upgrade for more storage and Touch ID.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 for $700 (was $799): I’ve only seen the Ultra 3 dip lower than this (to $679) for a single day during Black Friday and Cyber Monday last year, making $700 a great deal on this top-of-the-line smartwatch. With a fast S10 chip, 5G and satellite SOS connectivity, a slightly larger display with thinner bezels, 42-hour battery life, and faster charging to 80% (45 minutes rather than 60), the Ultra 3 is the watch to get if you want a top-tier wearable.
Best early Prime Day under $25
Hopow 6-Outlet Extender for $10 (was $16): This extender is already marked down a few bucks, but the real benefit is the extra usable outlet space it provides compared to a standard wall outlet. It’s also cheaper than most power strips, and it takes up less space. That makes it a worthwhile deal even at full price.
Iniu 15W Wireless Charging Station for $15 (was $20): If all you’re looking for is a simple charging stand to juice up your phone every night, you needn’t spend more than $20. That may even be too much, as this $15 option will do the job and also act as a phone stand, whether you’re FaceTiming your family or catching up on The Pitt while doing the dishes.
Lisen Magsafe Airplane Phone Holder for $15 (was $25): Getting on a plane soon? This handy device will make it easier to comfortably watch your phone while flying. It’s one of our favorite MagSafe accessories and even beats the more expensive versions we tried.
Fyy Travel Cable Organizer Pouch for $10: USB-micro, USB-C, lightning. Keeping all of your cables organized when traveling can be a herculean task unless you snag one of these pouches. There’s room for every cable under the sun, plus card readers, chargers, power banks, you name it.
Baseus Bass BP1 Pro Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds for $24 (was $40): A pick from Rick Broida’s guide to the best earbuds, these won out as the best you can get for under $40. They have great ANC and sound quality for the price — especially during this Prime Day sale.
Best early Prime Day under $50
Kasa Smart Plug Mini 15A, 4-Pack for $24 (was $30): This is the light switch for lazy people — or efficient ones, depending on how you spin it. I use mine to schedule my non-smart lamps and automate the coffee maker, which means my cup of joe brews before I wake up. Easy control via Alexa and Google Home is just the icing.
Anker USB-C Smart Display Charger for $30 (was $40): This handy little charger can fast-charge the latest iPhones thanks to its 45W support, and its built-in display will show you real-time charging information. We also like that the foldable prongs make it easy to safely toss in a bag before you leave the house.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 (was $60): The Max is the top of the Fire TV Stick lineup, doubling the storage of the Plus and running on Wi-Fi 6E for the most stable streaming connection Amazon offers in a stick form factor. It also supports Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming, making it the pick if you plan to use your TV as a gaming screen.
MyQ Smart Garage Door Video Keypad for $36 (was $80): The MyQ is one of those smart-home gadgets that I wish I had bought years ago. I can open or close the garage from anywhere, get notifications if the garage door is left open and even schedule a time in the evening for it to automatically close. It’s simple, reliable and genuinely helpful, no subscription necessary, and thanks to Prime Day, more than 50% off.
Anker 65W 3-Port Fast Charger for $30 (was $40): If you hate cable clutter, this is your hero product. It powers my laptop, AirPods and phone from one small hub — no cord spaghetti, no outlet gymnastics. Whether I’m at my desk or on the road, I can plug in once and be done. The peace of mind (and desk space) it saves is worth way more than its price tag.
Anker Zolo Magnetic Wireless Charger, 2-Pack for $26 (was $40): You can never have too many chargers around the house, and these magnetic charging pads will power up the latest iPhones quickly and efficiently. We also like that they have 5-foot cables, so you can more easily use your phone while it’s powering up.
Best early Prime Day under $100
Beats Studio Buds for $90 (was $150): Want Beats Studio (or better yet, AirPods Pro) features like active noise cancelling and transparency mode in a smaller, lightweight package? Then these buds are for you. Plus, eight hours of listening time can be extended to 24 thanks to the charging case.
Ultimate Ears WonderBoom 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker for $70 (was $100): This could be the only portable speaker you need for the summer. It’s waterproof, dustproof and floatable thanks to its IP67-rated design. It has 14 hours of battery life, and you can pair two together to get fuller, stereo sound.
Best early Prime Day TV deals
Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K Fire TV for $160 (was $300): While we’re loving all the deals in our roundup, this 50-inch 4K TV is a standout. This is an insane price on a model that delivers everything you need: a manageable size, top-tier picture quality and all the apps, shows and movies that the Fire TV platform brings to the table. Want bigger? The 85-inch model is currently down to just $550. Yep, you read that right.
Sony 65-Inch 4K Bravia 3 Smart TV for $748 (was $800): Sony is one of the best names in the TV business for a reason, and this Bravia set offers a nice balance of affordability and great features. It’s a 4K set with support for HDR and Dolby Vision, and a 120Hz refresh rate makes it great for gaming and sports. It even includes some exclusive features for the PlayStation 5, if you happen to have one.
Hisense 50-inch Hi-QLED S7 CanvasTV Art TV for $750 (was $1,300): “One of my favorite TVs ever is within a stone’s throw of its all-time low price,” says Broida. “The Hisense CanvasTV is an affordable alternative to Samsung’s popular Frame series, which turns the screen into a museum piece — a showcase for great works of art — when it’s not showing new episodes of Slow Horses. This Hisense model includes a wood frame (Samsung charges extra) and an art library of over 1,000 works, no subscription required.”
Samsung 55-Inch The Frame 4K QLED Smart TV for $800 (was $1,098): Want big but not too big? This 55-inch screen is the Goldilocks of The Frame lineup, and it’s Yahoo’s best-tested art TV. It delivers an impressive 4K experience suited for larger living rooms or entertainment spaces — and at $200 off, it’s among the best deals for anyone who doesn’t want to go big with the 85-inch. Its ability to turn your TV room into an art gallery is just icing on the cake.
Best early Prime Day headphones deals
Beats Solo 4 Headphones for $130 (was $200): These stylish cans are 35% off — the lowest they’ve been since last summer — so you can snag all the signature Beats features for a steal. Expect rich, balanced audio with clear highs and punchy bass that’ll make your playlists pop. They pair seamlessly with Apple devices, offer up to 40 hours of battery life and are as portable as they are comfortable — just the ticket for life on the go.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds for $199 (was $299): These open earbuds bring a fresh twist to wireless audio with an open-ear design that keeps you connected to your surroundings — ideal for runners and outdoor enthusiasts. Despite the no-tip design, they deliver rich sound, while the comfortable fit makes them perfect for all-day wear. They’re built to withstand sweat and rain, so workouts and unexpected weather are no problem. Plus, the battery life is a solid seven hours, ensuring they last through your day.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Headphones for $398 (was $460): Sony’s flagship headphones are some of the best you can buy right now thanks to their excellent noise cancellation and sound quality. These also have up to 30 hours of battery life and a comfortable design.
Beats Studio Pro Headphones for $170 (was $350): With personalized sound profiles and Apple’s H1 chip, these top-sellers deliver seamless connectivity, especially with Apple gear, making switching between devices a breeze. Active noise cancellation and transparency mode let you control how much of the world you hear, whether you’re on a plane or at the gym. Plus, with up to 24 hours of battery life, they’re built to keep up with your day. If style and sound are priorities, these won’t disappoint. Snag them now at nearly 50% off.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones for $329 (was $429): Take everything you love about the Bose QuietComfort — industry-leading noise cancellation, ergonomic design and incredible sound quality — and turn it up to 11. Your music won’t just sound like it’s coming from the headphones; it’ll feel like it’s all around you, fully enveloping you wherever you are, whether on a plane, train or in your very own listening room (I’ve always wanted a listening room). Get them now, while they’re $100 off.
Amazon Prime Day FAQs
Do you need a Prime Day membership to participate in the sale?
The short answer is yes, because most Prime Day discounts will be exclusively available to Prime members. However, the long answer is that, because there are always some deals happening in parallel with Prime Day that are available to all, you may still be able to save while shopping on Amazon even if you don’t pay for Prime.
How long does Prime Day last?
This year’s summertime Prime Day will last four days, from June 23 through June 26.
Will there be another Prime Day in 2026?
While Amazon hasn’t officially announced another Prime Day for 2026, the company typically has a “fall Prime Day” in October.
What deals do you typically see on Prime Day?
You can find deals across all categories of items on Amazon on Prime Day: everything from clothing to shoes to household goods to outdoor gear to tech can be discounted. In the tech space, we’ve seen as much of 50% to 60% off gadgets during Prime Day, with some of the best deals being on Amazon’s own devices like Kindles ereaders, Blink cameras and more.
What’s better, Prime Day deals or Black Friday deals?
Black Friday deals are usually better than Prime Day deals. Not only do we tend to see steeper discounts across the board during the Black Friday shopping season, but they are more widespread — you don’t need to be a Prime member to get Black Friday discounts, and many of those sales are offered by multiple retailers. To its credit, Prime Day has gotten bigger over the years and that has resulted in more deals available on Amazon during Prime Day that everyone can grab, plus competing retailers like Walmart and Target matching Prime Day deal prices.
Does Prime Day include discounts on subscriptions?
You can sometimes save on Amazon subscriptions during Prime Day like Audible and Kindle Unlimited. Amazon Prime Video channels are also sometimes included in the sale, giving you a couple of dollars off their monthly prices.
How can I track Prime Day deals?
Yahoo Tech will be tracking all of the best Prime Day deals on tech, so make sure to follow our content for the latest and greatest deals. Otherwise, we recommend either adding items you may want to buy either to your wishlist on Amazon, or even to your Amazon cart, ahead of Prime Day. That way you can easily buy them quickly if you see their prices drop.

Group F continues play on Saturday in the 2026 World Cup with a matchup of Sweden and the Netherlands. Sweden won their opener against Tunisia 5-1, while the Netherlands battled to a 2-2 draw against Japan.
Kickoff for Netherlands vs. Sweden is 1 p.m. ET in Houston. Netherlands are the -140 favorite on the 90-minute money line (risk $140 to win $100) in the latest Netherlands vs. Sweden odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Sweden are +370 and a draw is +290. The over/under for total goals is 2.5.
Before locking in any Netherland vs. Sweden picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, you need to see what proven soccer expert Martin Green has to say.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. Anyone following could have seen HUGE returns!
Now Green has turned his attention to Sweden vs. Netherlands in the 2026 World Cup, and revealed his best bets.
One of Green’s predictions: He is leaning Over on total goals (2.5). “We should be in for an entertaining game when the Netherlands take on Sweden,” he said
Green has also found a critical x-factor and locked in two best bets!
What are the best bets for Sweden vs. Netherlands? … Join SportsLine now to see Martin Green’s best bets, all from the soccer expert who is on an 18-8 run on UCL picks!

The Last Real Good Guy with the Last Real Chance
Just a hunch, but I think the Last Real Good Guy may be a tad emotional.
Listen, Sami Zayn tried to do his best as special guest referee for the Cody Rhodes versus Gunther WWE title match. But a referee needs to be stoic. They have to manage combatants in the heat of the moment when they are not listening, and they need to do so with poise. But Sami, especially in his current, fragile state, is not that person.
The title match actually opened the show, which is always a bit disappointing because it telegraphs shenanigans. And we sure did get those with the Last Real Good Guy.
Early on, we saw Sami forcefully removing the competitors from the corner after he’d hit his five count. That once led to Cody getting into Zayn’s face and sticking his finger in the referee’s chest. Sami responded by shoving Rhodes who fell right into a Ring General Sleeper. But it really escalated when Gunther would not remove that sleeper when Cody reached the rope after the five count. So Sami pulled him off by grabbing the challenger by the mouth. Gunther powerbombed the guest referee, knocking him out of the ring.
Clearly he was trying to enforce the rules, and to this point wasn’t playing favorites. But he was reacted too personally each time Cody & Gunther wouldn’t heed him.
Darryl Sharma took Sami’s place and we had a real match for a brief amount of time. But when it looked like Gunther could win with a powerbomb, Zayn pulled Sharma out of the ring. I guess you can argue he was taking his role back, but at this point it was clear he was too hot about what Gunther did to him.
Back in the ring, Cody was attempting a sunset flip powerbomb but Gunther had the ropes to prevent it. So referee Sami Zayn kicked Gunther’s hands off the rope and then fast counted the pin.
Of course, General Manager Nick Aldis was not pleased and all four had words in the back. Cody returned to the ring and insisted the match be restarted, which frustrated Zayn who argued he was the official so his decision should be final. However his protestation just put him on the bad side of a Gunther beating.
Aldis did restart the match but it wasn’t long until Zayn Helluva Kicked the challenger, knocked out the official, and also (maybe accidentally but I don’t think so) knocked Rhodes out with the title.
At that point, there can’t be much pretense that he was trying to be the good guy. He was just too angry, though still fighting himself internally.
This was some real sports entertainment and I didn’t mind it at all. I’m a ride or die for the Last Real Good Guy, who got to cut a promo on Nick Aldis later in the night insisting that he never wanted this and it was Aldis who put him in the match. So it was really Nick’s fault.
It’s a good argument. Just enough truth to believe it if you want to. But of course Sami put himself in the Gunther/Rhodes feud despite claiming otherwise. That’s what makes this version of Zayn so good. Like Drew McIntyre the last few years, Sami Zayn really thinks he’s the good guy even though we can see why he’s not. But if you’re like me and you are a fan who wants to see him get to the mountain top and aren’t into booing him, you don’t have to. You can be a Ride or Die because there’s enough there to defend. In that way, the heel turn was smart. I think some fans were going to reject a straight heel turn. But this allows all reactions no matter what they be.
At the request of the champ, we officially got the announcement for the triple threat at Night of Champion, where I can delude myself into thinking maybe this situation can actually lead to Zayn walking out with the title.
Last time they were in Saudi, I deluded myself into thinking that Sami Zayn could defeat Drew McIntyre in a venue that just loves Sami. And he was squashed to the point I was like “Sami is never sniffing that title.”
Now just four months later we’re back in Saudi, Sami is in another title match in a situation where a win isn’t out of the realm of possibility. It won’t happen, but I’m going to let myself believe it can again.
Because I’m a Ride. Or. Die.
Onto the Finals
One thing I’ve enjoyed about the majority of the King/Queen of the Ring matches is the in-ring action actually has been overall enjoyable.
Unfortunately that thread was lost tonight, especially because both matches opted to work with a pre-match injury which dictated the match, though one was more egregious than the other.
Liv Morgan defeated Charlotte Flair
Charlotte Flair’s knee was attacked by Jade Cargill and her Baddies (are they officially calling them that here?) as she was making her way to the ring from backstage. It was bad enough that multiple times Nick Aldis and even Alexa Bliss pleaded with Charlotte not to go through with or continue the match.
The entire bout was Liv working and Charlotte selling that knee. I don’t hate the idea per se, but with the match finish pretty much telegraphed before the bell rang and the fact the tourney had consisted of some fun matches prior to tonight, it was a let down.
The Queen kicked out of an Oblivion but had to tap to a single leg Boston crab at the conclusion of the match, a match that was 75% Flair holding the knee and occasionally shouting “My knee!” Subtle.
The angle served to show Charlotte’s resilience and further her feud with Jade as they figure out how to navigate without Rhea Ripley. (Her star power is missed.) But it didn’t serve for a good main event match.
Jey Uso defeated Je’Von Evans
In this match, Evans sold the spear he took from Bron Breakker on Monday Night Raw the entire match, giving Main Event Jey Uso a target. Unlike the prior match, it wasn’t overly egregious and in this case, I appreciated them selling a spear from Monday’s Raw.
Je’Von is still a treat to watch and still had some fun sequences in this match. Also, he’s showing a bit more attitude than at his initial debut which gives him some depth. He’s going to be a star.
It took two ugly-looking spears (especially compared to Breakker’s spear that was looming over this entire match) and an Uso splash to allow Jey to advance.
I’m not entirely sure how they want me to feel about Jey Uso.
They want fans to dance to his entrance, probably because that moves merch. But his actions, including how he treats Jacob, within the Bloodline are obnoxious, and that feels intentional. Then there’s my own issues that I’m still bitter because I believe WWE’s one big title win due to a wave of popularity went to him and not LA Knight. (And I’m sorry, I don’t buy that he’s significantly better in the ring than Knight in singles matches.)
This could be leading to some interesting things regarding Jey’s place in the Bloodline, but I also worry they don’t want to push the story too far because they still want another interactive entrance that moves merch.
Bloodline Drama Lite
Talla & Tonga Loa were unsuccessful in their attempt to capture the tag team titles against R-Truth & Damian Priest. And it’s kind of the Bloodline’s fault?
The Bloodline, for some inexplicable reason, is sending Jacob Fatu to recruit Solo Sikoa back into the fold. Again, not clear why because Solo has been playing a loser for many moons now. But that distraction was something that the Loas didn’t want during their tag team match so they firmly requested Solo wait in the back instead of accompany them to the ring.
Of course, Solo eventually came out to attempt to assist his guys, but his presence distracted Talla. (To be fair, Talla was way too easily distracted there.) While Sikoa would take a Damian Priest bullet for his tall MFT brother, it also was all distracting enough that it allowed Priest & Truth retain.
I don’t mind this story but it’s not really moving me either. You’ve got questions of the Bloodline trying to get Solo back. (Again… why?) You have Solo trying to recruit Royce Keyes. It’s a lot of midcard drama, which isn’t a bad thing. It would be worse if it bleeds into a main event story, such as anything Roman Reigns is doing. And unfortunately, it’s possible it could be heading that way given Solo is threatening to mess with Reigns’s family business.
Fair Game
Ricky Saints became the #1 contender for the United States title when he won the rubber match against Carmelo Hayes tonight. Hayes lost because he hit an exposed turnbuckle twice — once on his crotch and another on the back of his head. The turnbuckle wasn’t purposely exposed so Saints really didn’t cheat to win but it did help protect Hayes a little. It’s not the narrative that WWE is pushing given their video above says that “Saints cheats” to win the match, but it was pretty clear that turnbuckle pad was not ripped off intentionally. And after it is off, it is what it is.
I find it interesting the way they use Hayes. He is a guy the powers that be know is very talented in the ring so they’ll book him in series of matches with guys with whom he has good chemistry. Unfortunately, it often doesn’t end well long term for that opponent. He did it in Andrade (released and back in AEW). He did it with Ilya Dragunov (not being used). And now he’s done it with Saints, who hopefully for his sake doesn’t get released or end up chilling in catering.
That’s entertaining because Hayes is really good in the ring. So were all those other guys we mentioned. But it isn’t how this company typically books guys they have big plans for.
As for Ricky, I’m still not buying him yet. He’s a fine promo and is strong in the ring, but I don’t see it otherwise. It’s probably intentional that he comes off as a smaller guy who wants to pretend he’s bigger than he is. That’s a good way for a heel to act. But right now, none of it is clicking for me.
Quick Hits
I’m a bit tired of “Blake Monroe coming soon.” It’s time for her to debut.
Is Danhausen (pronounced dan-HAUSEN if you’re Stephen A. Smith) going to bring back Zack Ryder?
We got a quick backstage promo from Fatal Influence. I really like Jacy Jayne but the group really feels like three random women grouped together and not a true faction.
My girlfriend finds it unfortunate that Wade Barrett is greying in such a way that his beard is half grey and half brown. But outside dying it in one color or the other or shaving it off, I don’t think there’s much he can do about it.
I’m going to go a little behind the scenes in my recap approach here. I find the hardest shows to recap are mediocre ones. Great shows leave you feeling energized with a bunch of aspects you want to praise and little details you want to point out. Terrible shows are fun to just rip apart because they’re just so bad. But mediocre shows leave you with little really tear open but nothing that made you excited to talk about that because they’re just there. Meh doesn’t inspire either way.
And that’s what we got here. A mediocre episode of television. I enjoyed the WWE title stuff enough, especially with the great character work Sami Zayn is doing. While that didn’t light the world on fire, it was enjoyable and probably the best part of the show. The King of the Ring matches, especially the main event, left some to be desired. The rest of the show was kind of forgettable.
Grade: C