Wednesday, 29 July 2026
PETER SHALULILE TURNED DOWN PYRAMIDS FC AND RAJA CASABLANCA FOR YOUNG AFRICANS
Yanga President, Hersi Ally Said, has revealed that the people of Tanzania have won the race to sign Peter Shalulile, with the Namibian international striker choosing Yanga's sports project 🇹🇿 over offers from Pyramids FC 🇪🇬 and Raja Casablanca 🇲🇦
"I've been talking to Peter for three years. I always told him, 'One day you will be my player.'"
"Peter is a free agent, so the decision was entirely his. There were clubs that offered him more money than us, but he chose our project."
"It took me two weeks to convince him. I told him this isn't about signing a contract—it's about the environment, the support, and what we want to achieve together."
Raja Casablanca recently announced that their sports project is focused on building a young squad. Reports of their interest in 32-year-old Peter Shalulile appear to contradict that strategy.
LA LIGA PRESIDENT BRANDS INFANTINO'S FIFA DEFENCE 'PATHETIC '
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| President Donald Trump (left) and Fifa President Gianni Infantino watch confetti fall at the conclusion of the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, July 19, 2026 |
GIANNI INFANTINO’S extraordinary Instagram post accusing Fifa’s critics of spreading “hate” has been dismissed as “pathetic” by La Liga president Javier Tebas.
The Fifa president’s 15-page message came before confirmation on Monday that Democrats in the US Congress were investigating him amid what they described as “mounting evidence of potential corruption and a possible quid pro quo between Fifa and the Trump administration.”
Infantino’s social media post had advised those “spending their time and energy hating us” to “meditate, pray, or watch a football match,” drawing a scathing response from Tebas.
“Gianni Infantino has written a pathetic message on his Instagram account and on the accounts of @FIFAcom,” Tebas wrote on his own X account.
“No-one disputes that football is emotion and unity. But transparency, good governance, and accountability are never hate; they are an obligation.
“Strong institutions do not discredit those who ask questions; they answer the questions. And a reflection Gianni: when a leader dedicates an entire message to disqualifying those who exercise legitimate scrutiny, it’s inevitable to wonder… why precisely now?
“Is there something that explains such a defensive tone? Is something happening that we don’t know about?”
The US house judiciary committee has called Infantino before it to examine what it describes as “Fifa’s sustained campaign to secure special favours from President Trump – including the dismissal of high-profile corruption cases involving hundreds of millions of dollars tied to Fifa – while American consumers were gouged by exorbitant World Cup ticket prices.”
The letter cited the introduction of the “hilariously fake” Fifa Peace Prize which was awarded to President Trump last December, the renting of office space at Trump Tower as examples of acts designed “to induce President Trump and his administration to make decisions in Fifa’s favour.”
The letter requests documents and information be sent to the Committee by 10pm BST on August 9.
Fifa has been contacted for comment.
- Morning Star
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
GIANNI INFANTINO PLANS TO SELL WORLD CUP IN 'NUCLEAR BOMB' OF FOOTBALL
Fifa president would expect to bank millions as head of new company that would control tournament after his current term ends in 2031
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| Gianni Infantino is Fifa president until 2031 Credit: Eduardo Verdugo/AP |
Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, is plotting a World Cup sell-off to private investors.
Uefa, the European governing body of football and an increasingly vocal critic of Fifa, reacted with fury to a proposed £15bn deal, accusing it of trading the game’s “soul”.
Telegraph Sport understands Uefa is now considering its legal options over the biggest threat to football as it currently exists since the failed 2021 Super League plot. One source said a “nuclear bomb” had gone off in the game. The Football Association was said to be completely blindsided by the proposals.
The plan, announced nine days after the World Cup, would result in a group of investors controlling the commercial interests of Fifa’s top men’s and women’s competitions.
Thrive Capital – run by Joshua Kushner, the younger brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner – will lead the proposed investor group. Sources played down suggested involvement from the Trump administration in the plans.
Infantino has been heavily criticised for cosying up to Trump in the lead up to and during the 2026 World Cup, which culminated in the US president personally intervening to successfully get Folarin Balogun’s suspension overturned for the co-host’s last-16 match.
Saudi Arabia, who will host the 2034 World Cup, are highly likely to express interest in the company via their PIF sovereign wealth fund, and Qatar have maintained close ties to Infantino since winning the hosting rights of the 2022 World Cup.
JP Morgan, which was previously involved in the abandoned Super League plot, is Fifa’s financial adviser on the project.
Although there is no binding agreement on the plans, they increase the likelihood of an expanded World Cup or the tournament being held more regularly than every four years.
The move would also include the women’s World Cup and Club World Cup, which could both be played more frequently than the current four-year cycles.
One senior football figure said of Infantino: “He has definitely lost his mind. We will fight it fiercely.”
Another senior figure in European football told Telegraph Sport: “This is one man trying to make himself incredibly rich. Fifa doesn’t need the money, nor do the member associations as they have plenty from the World Cup.”
Fifa’s commercial rights spanning broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing would be privately owned under the plans.
‘None of us own football – it is not Fifa’s to sell’
Uefa said in a statement: “This crosses a line that football’s governing institutions should never cross. Uefa takes it extremely seriously. So should every National Football Association. So should every stakeholder: leagues, clubs, players, supporters, governments and everyone who cares about the future of the game. The soul and governance of football are not assets to trade – especially with zero transparency as to who gains financially. None of us are the owners of football. It is not Fifa’s to sell."
Fifa, on Tuesday afternoon, said in a press release: “[it] intends to expand football development funding to over $10bn (£7.5bn), subject to approval by Fifa member associations.
“If approved, football development in every corner of the world would benefit immediately from increased funding available to all 211 Fifa member associations.”
A so-called Fifa forward enterprise (FFE) project which would consolidate all commercial and event operations “would raise up to $4.2bn later this year”, projections said.
The numbers are based on an initial equity valuation of $20bn (£15bn) “by carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests in FFE”.
“All net benefits of FFE will be reinvested back into football worldwide,” the plan claimed.
Sepp Blatter, the former Fifa president, joined the backlash on Tuesday night. “The close relationship between the Fifa president and the US president has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football,” he wrote on X. “No one has the right to sell our game.”
Infantino defends plans
Greg Maffei, the chief executive of Bann Ventures and formerly president and chief executive of Liberty Media during its acquisition and ownership of Formula One, has been a key commercial adviser and will remain involved, Telegraph Sport understands. Other advisers such as OpenEconomics are engaging with prospective long-term investors.
“The process is focused on assembling a geographically diversified investor group that reflects the global nature of Fifa and the game; expressions of interest to date include investors from across every major region of the world: Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa,” a Fifa press release said.
Infantino said: “Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world. Every Fifa member association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.”
Who would be chief beneficiaries?
If approved, Fifa would offer each of its 211 member associations “the opportunity” to access up to $20m “in one-off capital”.
“The process is focused on assembling a geographically diversified investor group that reflects the global nature of Fifa and the game; expressions of interest to date include investors from across every major region of the world: Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa,” a Fifa press release said.
Infantino said: “Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world. Every Fifa member association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.”
Who would be chief beneficiaries?
If approved, Fifa would offer each of its 211 member associations “the opportunity” to access up to $20m “in one-off capital”.
“Participation would be entirely voluntary, and no member association would be required to participate,” the details stipulated. “The additional funding would be financed through FFE’s planned initial capital raise of up to $4.2bn (£3.1bn).”
The Times and Financial Times were first to report the outline plans. Fifa has denied claims Infantino was being lined up to become chief executive of the new entity. He would expect to bank millions of pounds if he took up such a role.
“However, the Fifa president and the Fifa administration will and must have leading roles in this entity – if approved – to always be in control of any Fifa subsidiary in accordance with Fifa’s statutes and regulations for the benefit of Fifa member associations,” a statement added.
The governing body said that “Jared Kushner is not an investor” and also denied suggestions staff had signed non-disclosure agreements over the plans.
The move comes amid growing pressure on Infantino following a rant in which he defended the World Cup and his position as the head of world football.
On Monday, a Democrat attorney requested Infantino appear before the House Judiciary Committee to discuss the extent of his relationship with Trump. Representative Jamie Raskin, the senior member on the committee, also requested Fifa provide all of its records on its contacts with Trump, his administration and the Trump Organisation family business.
- Tom Morgan and Ben Rumsby
AMY HUNT WON THE THIRD WOMEN'S 100M SEMIFINAL
Amy Hunt 🏴 won the third women’s 100m semifinal in 11.02s under heavy rain to qualify for the Commonwealth Games final! 🌧️
Zoe Hobbs 🇳🇿 also secured automatic qualification with 11.04s, while Jonielle Smith 🇯🇲 advanced as the fastest non-automatic qualifier in 11.07s.
- Jumpers World
10 BEST WWE SUMMERSLAM MATCHES OF ALL TIME
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| Jan 29, 2022; St. Louis, MO, USA; AJ Styles during the Royal Rumble The Dome at America's Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images |
WWE SummerSlam is right around the corner, and while there are a handful of matches on the card this year that could be fantastic, it’s going to take a lot to crack into the true all-time great category. Since 1988, there have been some true classics at SummerSlam across many different eras, so we’re going to run down the best matches in SummerSlam history.
10. Brock Lesnar(c) vs Roman Reigns vs Braun Strowman vs Samoa Joe – Universal Championship – SummerSlam 2017
Sometimes wrestling is just about watching a really entertaining car crash, and that’s exactly what this match was. This match is 20 minutes long, but it really doesn’t feel like it, as the four powerhouses featured here go all-out with the action and don’t let up for even a second. This was the peak of Strowman’s popularity in WWE too, and it features his classic carnage, whether he’s slamming Brock through the announce table and then burying him under the other announce table, or just launching a commentary chair right into Samoa Joe’s face; it is a tonne of fun.
9. John Cena(c) vs Cody Rhodes – WWE Championship – SummerSlam 2025
After the truly awful match between these two at WrestleMania 41, it’s fair to say expectations were low for this SummerSlam rematch, but in the end, these two blew us away in what is arguably the best match of John Cena’s retirement year. While there is some weirdness surrounding the sudden and complete dismissal of Cena’s heel turn right before the match, the action is so much fun to watch.
8. Bianca Belair(c) vs Becky Lynch – Raw Women’s Championship – SummerSlam 2022
This is another match that has the smell of redemption about it. The year before Becky Lynch had returned and beaten Bianca in 26 seconds in a move that everyone hated. Eventually it came back around, and the two had a barnburner at WrestleMania 38, and followed it up that summer with a similarly excellent opener. It was also a great statement to make, as this was the first major show following Vince McMahon’s exit from the company and Triple H taking over creative.
7. John Cena(c) vs Daniel Bryan – WWE Championship – SummerSlam 2013
One of the surprising things about SummerSlam is just how much John Cena loses there. He has one of the worst SummerSlam win-loss records ever, and this is arguably his most impactful loss at the event.
Daniel Bryan was the big star everyone wanted to break through, and on this night, Cena helped put him over in the biggest way possible, as the pair showcased how Bryan’s indie-rific style can mesh with the WWE main event style to create absolute magic, especially when the crowd is desperately hoping for the underdog to win.
While WWE never intended for this to be the start of Bryan’s rise to the WrestleMania 30 main event (no matter what Road Dogg says), we can look back on it now as a truly special moment.
6. Kurt Angle vs Rey Mysterio – SummerSlam 2002
If you need a match to put you on the map – as Mysterio did in his WWE pay-per-view debut – Kurt Angle is one of the best people you can have it against. This match is pure magic as these two bring fast-paced action. It’s an awful lot shorter than you probably remember, at just over 9 minutes, but Rey’s luchalibre mixes perfectly with Angle’s more technical style to create a match that is remembered more than two decades later.
5. Bret Hart(c) vs The British Bulldog – SummerSlam 1992
When it comes to iconic historical moments, there is perhaps no match on this list that tops it, though it loses points for one of the most memorable things about it being the fact that the British Bulldog was so out of it that he couldn’t remember the match at all. However, despite that, the excellence of execution led Bulldog through an all-time great match in front of one of WWE’s biggest crowds ever at Wembley Stadium, all culminating in the big win for the hometown Brit.
4. CM Punk vs Brock Lesnar – No Holds Barred – SummerSlam 2013
SummerSlam 2013 may be remembered as a two-match show (as there’s really nothing else on it worth going back to); however, what a pair of matches they are, and a great encapsulation of this era in WWE. In perhaps CM Punk’s last great match before he’d leave WWE for a decade, him and Brock Lesnar went all-out in a way that Brock doesn’t often do. Punk is the perfect ragdoll for Lesnar to throw around, but mounts a compelling comeback all the same, even if he doesn’t ultimately get the win.
3. Edge & Christian(c) vs The Hardy Boyz vs The Dudley Boyz WWF Tag Team Championships – TLC – SummerSlam 2000
The Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match is one of WWE’s more chaotic innovations. This right here was the very first, and they kicked it off in extremely memorable fashion. Much like the first ladder match several years earlier, this featured some incredible spots for the very first time that we almost take for granted today, featuring the very best of WWE’s extremely strong 2000s tag division in the best way possible.
2. Bret Hart(c) vs Owen Hart – WWF Championship – Steel Cage – SummerSlam 1994
Brother vs brother matches don’t have the best reputation in WWE. The Hardys and the Usos never really delivered, but WWE will keep trying them for one very good reason, and that’s Owen and Bret. Whenever these two got in the ring together, it was absolute magic. These two had already had an incredible clash in the opening match of WrestleMania 10, but they arguably one-upped themselves inside the Steel Cage here.
1. John Cena vs AJ Styles – SummerSlam 2016
Making the careers of fan-favourites at SummerSlam is a strange running theme of John Cena’s. We covered Daniel Bryan earlier; he also lost to CM Punk in a great match in 2011, but AJ Styles in 2016 is perhaps the one fans are most grateful for. As Styles himself has said, Vince McMahon brought him in to be a mid-card talent in the company, but it was his work with Cena that put him over the top.
This is arguably Cena’s best in-ring performance ever, and Styles does what he does best to put himself on the map, notching a huge win that would propel Mr TNA to become WWE Champion just one month later.
- Ryan Woodrow
ZIDANE APPOINYED FRANCE HEAD COACH AFTER 2026 WORLD CUP
Zinedine Zidane has been appointed head coach of the France men’s national football team, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday.
The 54-year-old takes over from Didier Deschamps, who stepped down following the 2026 FIFA World Cup after leading France for 14 years.
Zidane’s appointment comes after France’s disappointing campaign at the tournament in North America. Widely regarded as one of the favourites, Les Bleus were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals before losing to England in the third-place playoff.
The former France captain returns to coaching for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, where he enjoyed one of the most successful managerial spells in modern football.
“I have often said there is nothing greater than the French national team. It is therefore a joy and obviously a great honor to become the coach of France. It is also a responsibility,” Zidane said in a statement released by the FFF.
“I want to thank President Philippe Diallo, the Executive Committee and the French Football Federation for their trust and salute the fourteen years of Didier and his staff. I also have a special thought today for all my teachers. Needless to say, I have a lot of ambition for the French team.”
As a player, Zidane is regarded as one of France’s greatest footballers. He inspired the country to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1998, scoring twice in the 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final, before helping France win the UEFA European Championship in 2000.
His international playing career ended in dramatic fashion when he was sent off during the 2006 World Cup final against Italy following his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi.
Zidane now aims to emulate Deschamps by winning the World Cup as both a player and a coach.
Speaking at his unveiling, Zidane said coaching the French national team had always been his ambition.
“It’s a continuation for me, a dream come true. Over the last four or five years, I’ve received offers to lead a club and I rejected them all for the France national team. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted to do,” he said.
Zidane brings an outstanding club coaching record to the role. During two spells in charge of Real Madrid, he guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga championships and two FIFA Club World Cup trophies.
His immediate challenge will be preparing France for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with a squad featuring attacking stars including Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola.
“We’ll be doing things differently. Deschamps is Deschamps, Zidane is Zidane. I will do what I know how to do,” he said. “I guarantee continuity so that the French national team keeps winning.”
- Ariana News
LA LIGA PRESIDENT ISSUES STATEMENT ABOUT FIFA BOSS GIANNI INFANTINO AFTER 2026 WORLDNCUP RANT
La Liga president Javier Tebas has issued a stinging statement in response to Gianni Infantino’s 2026 World Cup rant.
Infantino has been accused of going ‘full Donald Trump’ with an unexpected statement posted on FIFA’s official website and across 15 slides on his Instagram account.
The under-fire FIFA president blasted critics of the 2026 World Cup, claiming they’ve been “consumed by hate” and urging them to “meditate, pray or watch a football match” in order to “find peace”.
Infantino claimed this summer’s tournament in North America featured “no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security” - ignoring the fact four supporters tragically died during World Cup celebrations in Mexico City.
He defended the treatment of Iran’s national football team, issues over visas, and even the hugely controversial Folarin Balogun red card situation.
“Indeed, ‘arguable’ referees' decisions or ‘strange’ disciplinary rulings such as for instance potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” Infantino wrote. “It's curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.”
La Liga President Responds to Infantino's World Cup Statement
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| REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes |
Rather than convince people that the 2026 World Cup was a tournament without any downsides, Infantino’s statement appears to have had the opposite effect.
The “lame-duck FIFA president” now finds himself under even more scrutiny, with La Liga president Tebas tweeting:
"Today Gianni Infantino has written a pathetic message on his Instagram account and on the accounts of FIFA.
"No one disputes that football is emotion and unity. But transparency, good governance, and accountability are never hate; they are an obligation. Strong institutions do not discredit those who ask questions; they answer the questions.
"And a reflection Gianni: when a leader dedicates an entire message to disqualifying those who exercise legitimate scrutiny, it's inevitable to wonder... why precisely now? Is there something that explains such a defensive tone? Is something happening that we don't know about?"
Infantino Called to Appear Before Congress Over Trump Ties
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| Reuters/Mark J Rebilas |
Meanwhile, Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, has launched an investigation into Infantino, seeking documents that would detail the ties between FIFA and US President Donald Trump and his administration, per The Guardian.
“[Y]our election as FIFA president was supposed to mark a red-card break from a decades-long culture of corruption and scandals that dressed down world soccer’s reputation,” Raskin wrote to Infantino in the letter.
“Instead, at the start of your tenure, you dismantled FIFA’s ethical guardrails and disabled the organization’s ethics committee by pushing out most of its members. This lack of transparency and oversight has since paved the way for you to ingratiate yourself with the Trump administration via tactics that a New York University law professor and one of your former ethics committeemen described as ‘legal bribery’.”
Trump, who has close ties with Infantino, has reportedly lined up a potential new job for the under-pressure FIFA president.
- Rob Swan
SHARMILA DHANKAR WINS INDIA'S FIRST COMMONWEALTH GAMES PARA ATHLETICS GOLD
Sharmila Dhankar clinched India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games para athletics gold with a season-best 9.81m throw in the women’s F57 shot put, while Shilpa Shyla was upgraded to bronze after a successful Indian protest.
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| Celebrations. Image Courtesy/ PTI |
Sharmila Dhankar scripted history on Monday as she won India’s first para athletics gold medal in the Commonwealth Games, clinching the top spot in the women’s shot put F57 event here.
The 40-year-old produced a season-best throw of 9.81m to end India’s 20-year wait for a para athletics medal in the CWG.
Another Indian, Shilpa Shyla, was awarded the bronze medal following an Indian protest in controversial circumstances. Shyla had produced a personal best effort of 7.26m.
Nigeria’s Eucharia Iyiazi was initially placed at the bronze medal position but after a protest and official review, her only valid mark was adjudged a foul. That led to Shyla being upgraded to bronze from initial fourth place. However, it is likely that a counter protest may also be launched by Nigeria.
A sobbing Shyla celebrated, along with Sharmila, after the dramatic upgradation to bronze, giving India two medals from the event.
F57 classification is for athletes with lower limb impairments, limb deficiencies, or reduced muscle power.
Infected with polio on her left leg at the age of two, Sharmila won a gold medal in the Fazza International Para Athletics Championship this year. She also took part in the 2022 Birmingham Games and finished fourth.
- Press Trust Of India
WWE RAW STARS: MEET THEIR WIVES & GIRLFRIENDS
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| WWE/Getty Images |
Their initial storyline romance may have been short and may even have gone unremembered or unknown to newer WWE fans, but one of professional wrestling's biggest power couples, despite their troubles with the industry, have reunited on screen once again. AJ Lee made her return after a decade out of the business during September 6's edition of "WWE SmackDown" in Chicago, Illinois, to reunite with her real-life husband, CM Punk, in a storyline feud against Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
Punk and Lee began dating after their storyline romance concluded in 2012, though their initial kayfabe "romance" was short-lived, with Lee choosing to continue to chase after Daniel Bryan and then Dolph Ziggler instead. The couple married in June 2014 in a small ceremony, a day where WWE infamously sent Punk his termination papers by FedEx after he walked out of the company in January. Lee would remain in WWE for over a year before she too retired from the ring, citing neck issues in addition to feeling caught in the middle between her husband and WWE.
The rumors of Lee's return to WWE started almost as soon as Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series 2023, with fans clamoring to see the real-life couple team up in the ring. When Lynch inserted herself into her husband's feud with Punk, fans got their wish as Lee returned to help her husband in the fight.
In addition to Lee and Punk, there are a few other "WWE Raw" stars dating current wrestlers, as well as stars who are married to former WWE talent. There are even more stars on the red brand, however, who wed or are dating outside of the professional wrestling industry, choosing to keep their work and personal lives a bit more separate.
Seth Rollins
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| WWE/Getty Images |
Outside of Lee and Punk, one of WWE's biggest power couples who are also now working together on screen are current World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. Their close friendship-turned-relationship is something Lynch wrote about in her 2024 memoir, "The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl." Lynch wrote that in 2018, she had recently accepted a proposal from her then-boyfriend, but realized she didn't actually want to marry him, she just thought he was a "safe" option.
Lynch said she was panicking about the fact, and spoke to Rollins about it to get some advice, well before the pair developed a romantic relationship. Lynch and her then-fiancé would break up over text message about four months after he proposed. Rollins' relationship with his then-girlfriend, former "WWE NXT" talent Zahra Schreiber, ended around the same time, and the pair started to hang out more.
They officially began dating in January 2019 and went public a few months later. They got engaged that year, and Lynch revealed on the "WWE Raw" after Money in the Bank 2020 that she was pregnant, and that Asuka actually won her title at the event, rather than just a contract for a title match. Lynch gave birth to the couple's daughter, Roux, in December. She and Rollins married in June 2021.
The couple would work together in storyline as babyfaces after their relationship was first made public. They never seemed to click together on television in their story with Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans, however, and Rollins said they wouldn't work together on-screen again. That changed, however, with the right story in 2025, with both Lynch and Rollins working as heels in their story against Rollins' sworn arch-nemesis, Punk, and his newly-returned wife.
Dominik Mysterio
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| @djt_major/Instagram |
Contrary to what WWE wants fans to believe in its stories on television, and how well the pair work together during WWE-related events and media appearances, Dominik Mysterio isn't actually dating former Women's World Champion Liv Morgan. Mysterio is actually a married man. He wed his high school sweetheart, who he had been dating since he was 14 years old, Marie Juliette, in March 2024 after the pair got engaged in January 2023. The couple wed at the height of Mysterio's heel turn, after he turned his back on his own father, Rey Mysterio, to join Judgment Day, and various wedding guests revealed that he was jokingly booed at his own wedding ceremony.
Despite Mysterio being linked in kayfabe to two of the most popular women in WWE, Morgan and Rhea Ripley, he revealed that his wife is cool with the storylines and even the kissing that has been involved. Mysterio told Chris Van Vliet in October 2024 that Juliette is his "ride or die," though he jokingly later revealed to Stephanie McMahon he would divorce her for his own In-And-Out Burger restaurant.
Mysterio said that as long as he lets his wife know what's going to be going on in his romantic storylines, she's cool with it. He revealed she's never given him a "hard time" and they text after every match and Mysterio lets her know he's okay. Mysterio called Juliette his rock and said he was "blessed" that she puts up with everything he gets up to in WWE.
GUNTHER
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| @Jinnys_/Instagram |
Former World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER is married to a fellow wresting talent Jinny Sandhu, who went by Jinny in the ring. The pair met on the independent scene in promotions like RevPro and wXw in Germany while they were still making names for themselves. They began dating while they both worked in the now-defunct "WWE NXT UK." While GUNTHER went to the United States to work with WWE, Jinny didn't make the journey to America to get back in the ring.
The couple married in a private ceremony in 2022 when GUNTHER was still the Intercontinental Champion and had cemented his spot in history as the longest-reigning champion with the title. GUNTHER and Jinny had a second wedding ceremony amongst family and friends in London in April 2023. GUNTHER announced their marriage a few days after the second ceremony with posts on X (then known as Twitter) and Instagram showing the couple dancing.
Jinny announced her retirement from wrestling in January 2023 due to an injury that was later revealed to be a concussion. Jinny and GUNTHER welcomed a son in December 2023 and in 2025, they purchased a home in Cambridge.
Logan Paul
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| Dimitros Kambouris/Getty Images |
YouTube star-turned-wrestler and former United States Champion Logan Paul recently wed model Nina Agdal. The ceremony took place in Italy in August, the same place where the couple got engaged in July 2023 and social media videos from the wedding show Paul's podcast co-host, Mike Majlak, as the officiant. Paul would later reveal on his "Impaulsive" podcast that he proposed with a 6.23 carat emerald cut diamond, which Agdal, who was a guest on the show at the time, called "stunning and perfect" while gushing that her new fiancé had outdid himself.
Prior to their nuptials, the pair welcomed their first child, a daughter name Esme, in September 2024. They revealed their baby's gender in a wrestling-themed event that April which ended in a cloud of pink smoke.
Agdal and Paul became a couple in 2022 and were spotted around London the summer before becoming Instagram official. Agdal confirmed their relationship when she posted a photo of the pair in December. Agdal said they first met in New York City and her gut was "screaming at her" to say hello to him. She said she convinced Paul to meet up with her for a drink and it "instantly" felt like she had known him for years.
Bron Breakker
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| @Izzy_wwe |
Bron Breakker may have moved up to WWE's main roster, where he's quickly gaining success as part of Seth Rollins' stable, in February 2024, but he found love on the "WWE NXT" roster. Breakker is dating current member of The Culling, Izzi Dame. The former NXT Champion and Dame started dating after Breakker's breakup with former "NXT" star Cora Jade, now known on the independent scene as Elayna Black.
In addition to being a part of "NXT's" strong women's division, Dame is also very active on TikTok, where she has amassed over 70,000 followers. She often shares videos alongside Breakker on her TikTok, as well as her Instagram page. In one of the couple's recent adventures they shared on social media, Dame went fishing for the first time alongside Breakker, and her phone ended up at the bottom of the Florida lake. "First and last time trying to fish," Dame captioned the video, alongside a laughing emoji.
While Dame has yet to be called up to the main roster, as she's already working in a faction in WWE's developmental brand, she could always potentially be part of Rollins' Vision alongside her boyfriend at a later date.
AJ Styles
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| WWE/Getty Images |
"The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, whose real name is Allen Jones, has been married to his wife Wendy since 2000. Wendy is a teacher in Gainesville, Georgia, where the family resides. The couple have three sons, Ajay, Avery, and Albey, and a daughter named Anney. Styles' famous "AJ" tattoo on his side also lists the birthdates of his four children below their shared initials. Styles and Wendy were most recently spotted together in WWE when they posed on the red carpet ahead of the 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony during WrestleMania 41 weekend.
While Wendy is not a professional wrestler and seemingly a pretty private person due to her teaching profession, she became a focal point of Styles' feud with Samoa Joe in 2018. The former NXT Champion targeted Styles' family throughout their WWE feud, which culminated in the rivals duking it out in a steel cage at WWE's Starrcade event that year. Throughout the feud, Joe would verbally target both Wendy and the couple's daughter, infuriating Styles to the point he'd make mistakes in their matches or get himself disqualified with his attacks on Joe.
Bronson Reed
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| @bronsonishare/Instagram |
Yet another wrestler who married their high school sweetheart is "Big" Bronson Reed. The former NXT North American Champion, whose real name is Jermaine Haley, married his wife, Paige, in May 2021. Paige isn't a wrestler, but did make an appearance in the crowd during the episode of "NXT" in 2021 where her husband won the NA title.
The Vision member announced in February 2024 that his wife had given birth to their first child. The birth of baby Haley changed Reed's booking plans. He had already been called up to WWE's main roster at the time and was meant to be involved at Elimination Chamber in his home country of Australia.
After missing the event, Reed posted a statement on X (then known as Twitter) about what happened. He said he was set for the premium live event and it would have been "an incredible moment," but plans changed. He said everything happened for a reason, and his wife had their baby early. He said he believed he was meant to miss the show to make sure he was there for his family. He also gave thanks to Paul "Triple H" Levesque in the post for "guiding him."
Rusev
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| Maya Dehlin Splash/Getty Images |
Rusev and CJ Perry, then known as Lana, were another couple whose relationship started out as a WWE storyline. They were paired together in Vince McMahon's WWE in 2014 with Perry working as "The Ravishing Russian" Lana, Rusev's manager. Rusev revealed on "Reel Talker" at the beginning of 2020 that the pair started dating after they would ride together on the road. He said he "felt like something was happening," but didn't wan to push her away. He revealed he asked her out on a date and things moved quickly from there. He said they kissed, then suddenly, they were moving in together and buying a house.
The pair's engagement in 2015 caused a stir within WWE, as McMahon reportedly was not happy that TMZ picked up the story, as the pair were on the outs in storyline. They officially wed in July 2016. The couple had two ceremonies, the first, a circus-themed beach wedding in Malibu, and a second in Rusev's native Bulgaria, which was highlighted on "Total Divas."
It was revealed in March 2024 that Rusev and Lana had split at the end of 2023 after seven years of marriage. Fans speculated as to whether or not the split could have been a publicity stunt, as both stars were working in AEW at the time. When news of their breakup broke, however, TMZ revealed that Rusev had moved back to his native Bulgaria and Perry provided the outlet with a statement. The couple never filed for divorce, however, and reconciled and even renewed their wedding vows in March 2025.
Rusev returned to WWE in April 2025 following WrestleMania 41. Perry has yet to make an official appearance alongside her husband on WWE TV, but Perry reported signed a Legends deal with the company.
Sheamus
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| @isabella.revilla/Instagram |
Sheamus is another wrestler who keeps his personal and professional lives separate. He married Isabella Revilla, who is not involved in the professional wrestling world, in October 2022, and Drew McIntyre served as his best man.
Revilla is an animal rescue worker who helps pets find their forever homes in both Nashville, where the couple resides, and Jersey City. which Revilla is from. Throughout their relationship, Revilla and Sheamus have been dog parents to pups Dawn, Frodo, Vesper, and Betty, and Revilla runs an Instagram account to show off photos of their dogs, as well as help others find homes.
The pair were married in New York City. Rusev also served as a groomsman in Sheamus' wedding, and they, as well as McIntyre, all wore traditional Irish garb, including kilts, to the ceremony. Rusev's wife, CJ Perry, was in attendance, and posted some of the first photos of the big day to social media, offering her congratulations to the happy couple. Other WWE stars in attendance included Naomi, Damian Priest, and Matt Riddle, which Perry confirmed with a photo in another post.
Erik
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| WWE/YouTube |
Former WWE World Tag Team Champion Erik, of the former Vikings Raiders, now once again the War Raiders in the company, is married to former WWE talent Sarah Rowe, who was known as Sarah Logan, then Valhalla, during her time in the ring. The pair got married in a Viking-themed wedding attended by fellow WWE stars, including Logan's Riott Squad teammates Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan, in December 2018.
Erik and Logan worked together when she made a return to WWE full-time in November 2022. She joined the Viking Raiders and adopted the Valhalla name. In April 2024, she left the company for the second time after announcing she and Rowe were expecting their second child.
She would not return to WWE to join her husband following the baby's birth, something she announced on her own Instagram page in June. WWE wouldn't move her to the alumni section of their website, however, until September. Rowe remains in WWE alongside his War Raiders teammate Ivar, a position both men fought through serious injuries to stay in.
Dragon Lee
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| @lupita.orozco.m/Instagram |
Former NXT North American and WWE Speed Champion Dragon Lee, whose real name is Emmanuel González, is happily married to wife Lupita Orozco and the pair have two daughters together. The couple married in December 2019 and the wedding was officiated by Fray Tormenta, a Mexican Catholic priest who is famous for founding and supporting an orphanage through his work as a Luchador.
They welcomed their first daughter into the world in 2021 and Orozco gave birth to their second baby girl at the beginning of 2025.The couple's second gender reveal was Lucha themed, with Orozco donning a pink mask alongside her husband, wearing blue.
Orozco isn't directly involved in the wrestling business, but did make an appearance on the red carpet alongside her husband at the 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. She shared photos of the event on her public Instagram page, where she also shares photos and videos of their family life. Lee also shares numerous family photos on his Instagram, including adorable snaps of his daughters in his masks.
- DAISY RUTH
RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ DEFEATS SOL RUCA ON WWE RAW, WINS WOMENS INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE
Raquel Rodriguez beat Sol Ruca to capture the Women's Intercontinental during "WWE Raw."
Rodriguez was challenging Ruca for the title for the second time this month, having fallen short before. Rodriguez might have broken her nose in the early stages of the bout as it started to pour blood, requiring the referee to wipe it while she was wrestling.
Ruca looked on her way to retaining the title before Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez made their way down to the ring. Ruca took out Perez before she could get involved and looked to run the ropes only to be tripped by Morgan, allowing Rodriguez to roll her up for a near-fall.
IYO SKY then made her way down to the ring to meet Morgan, throwing her into the ring post as Ruca sought for a Sol Snatcher back in the ring. Perez thwarted the Sol Snatcher attempt while the referee was distracted by Morgan, allowing Rodriguez to connect with her Tejana Bomb and secure the winning pinfall and capture the title.
With the win, Rodriguez has her first main roster singles title since holding the NXT Women's Championship in 2021, having since held the Women's Tag Team Championship five times.
- MAX EVERETT
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