The adage, “never meet your heroes” has been a proverb used to keep people from having high expectations of those they look up to or idolize.

For pro wrestling podcaster Dwayne Swayze, the phrase couldn’t have been more wrong.

Swayze teamed up with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star MVP to create the “Marking out with MVP and Dwayne Swayze” podcast, focused on providing an outlet for wrestling fans to listen to in-depth interviews with their favorite stars from all wrestling backgrounds.

AEW STAR MVP BRINGING PRO WRESTLING EXPERTISE AND AUTHENTICITY TO BZZR

As the podcast partners with BZZR, Swayze shared with Fox News Digital the story about how he got involved with MVP in the first place. He said he watched MVP at WrestleMania 25 in a Money in the Bank Ladder Match and days later the pro wrestler was in his studio trying to record his own music for his entrance theme.

“All of a sudden, six months after being at WrestleMania 25, my favorite wrestler walks directly in. I couldn’t believe it. And nobody knew how big of a wrestling fan I was but I refused to go to the studio on Mondays or Fridays for ‘Raw’ and, there might’ve even been a Thursday back then, for ‘SmackDown.’ I’m not working at all during those times,” he recalled. “So, he walks in, so we were able to forge a relationship and the very first song he ever released, I was just in the studio sitting in the back watching my favorite wrestler and he’s rapping. He’d ask for some pointers every now and then. And I don’t know him enough to say anything because I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re here.’ And he finishes on this song – two verses. And he looks over at me and says, ‘Hey, you, you wanna do the other verse?’ And I’m like, ‘Of course, of course I do.’

“And ever since then, we’d be in the studio and we’re chatting, I would always ask a wrestling related question being the huge fan that I am. Something along the lines of, ‘OK, at the 2008 Royal Rumble, you’re wrestling Ric Flair, he’s on his retirement tour, you, Mr. Kennedy. He’s eventually going to face Shawn Michaels and that is going to be the end of his career and when you guys are at Madison Square Garden, it was reported that he was having confidence issues, what were you saying to him in the ring right before the bell rang?’ And he’d tell me and this is what would be going on for 15 years. And in October 2024, I asked him a question and his response to me was, ‘This should be a show.’ … But that’s how we got here.”

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MVP, Dwayne Swayze and Kayla Becker have all partnered with the sports-focused social media platform BZZR. (BZZR)

Swayze said BZZR offers sports fans a break from the regular noise they would see on the major social media platforms, adding that BZZR cuts out the noise and keeps it sports focused.

“BZZR launched with I think 10,000 videos, 500 verified creators – Josh Pate (college football), Brett Kollmann (NFL), of course, Kayla Becker is like hosting everything, Kenny Beecham and the joy of basketball with the NBA,” he said. “Not only those creators, there’s also podcasst. And out of the 500-plus creators that exist, you get sports across the landscape with just top-quality sports across the landscape.

“No rage bait, you’re not going to be finding those little things. If you compare to Twitter/X, the people that you follow on your timeline, that’s not all you see. You end up seeing some things you didn’t necessarily sign up for and with BZZR, you’re only going to see sports.”

Of course, pro wrestling will be the theme of “Marking Out.”

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WWE and AEW own the mainstream conversation when it comes to pro wrestling – at least in North America, if not the world.

Swayze talked to Fox News Digital about some of the good things he’s been seeing with both companies.

“Some of the good things that I’m seeing … Well, outside my ‘Tribal Chief’ (Roman Reigns), you must acknowledge him, there’s a big youth movement of course,” he said. “In WWE, I’m loving to see Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, Sol Ruca. AEW, ‘where the best wrestle,’ of course, where MVP’s at right now. I really like Kyle Fletcher, Megan Bayne is awesome, Kevin Knight. I’m loving to see the changes of how things were in the past and how it is now.

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“These guys have so much more pressure on them than the stars from yesterday. I kinda compare it to Michael Jordan and LeBron James. They have to live in the social media era and us as fans, the expectation is to see our star – we see them on television, we see them on their socials, a dirt sheet might pull them up, there’s podcasts. There’s just so much but they’re doing their thing. They’re still performing. They’re still entertaining us. They’re putting themselves out there. As a fan, I definitely appreciate it.”

RIO DE JANEIRO: Neymar has been named in Brazil’s squad for next month’s World Cup, manager Carlo Ancelotti said, handing the forward a chance to return to international soccer’s biggest stage after an injury-disrupted cycle.

The 34-year-old, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, comes back following a prolonged absence due to a series of injuries that kept him out for much of the qualifying campaign, as the five-time champions pursue a record-extending sixth title.

As dozens of journalists gathered at Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow for a ceremony featuring music acts and celebrity guests, all eyes were on Ancelotti’s decision on whether to include Neymar in the squad.

The 66-year-old Italian, who took charge of Brazil’s men’s national team last year, had not previously called-up the former Barcelona and Paris St Germain player. He told Reuters earlier this month that Neymar’s inclusion would be based on fitness and form, not sentiment.

“We evaluated Neymar throughout the year and noticed that recently he has been playing consistently and has improved his physical condition,” Ancelotti said at a press conference on Monday.

“He has the same role and responsibilities as everyone else, but he is an experienced player. It’s true that in some positions we prioritised experience.”

Neymar, who has 79 international goals but has not featured for Brazil since 2023, has faced questions about his fitness and form following an injury-marred spell at Al Hilal and an underwhelming return to his boyhood club Santos last year.

The forward said on Sunday he was satisfied he had done all he could to prove he was fully fit and deserved a place in the squad. “Physically, I feel great. I’ve been improving with every game,” he told reporters after Santos’ 3-0 defeat to Coritiba.

Loaded offense, few surprise

The rest of Brazil’s squad was largely retained from the qualifying campaign and recent friendlies, with the likes of Vinicius Junior, Raphinha, Matheus Cunha, and Endrick shouldering attacking duties alongside Neymar.

Real Madrid striker Rodrygo, defender Eder Militao and Chelsea winger Estevao were left out due to injuries. Chelsea’s forward Joao Pedro, midfielder Andrey Santos — who had been called up on previous occasions — also surprisingly missed the final squad.

“Some of the players who were with us this year won’t be happy with this list. I’m sorry, and I want to thank everyone who was with us,” Ancelotti said.

Brazil will open their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13 in New Jersey. They also face Haiti and Scotland in Group C.

Brazil squad

Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahçe), Weverton (Gremio), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Flamengo), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Ibanez (Al Ahli), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Marquinhos (PSG), Wesley (Roma), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo), Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Neymar (Santos), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid).

Pakistan’s red-ball bowling coach Umar Gul has put an end to discussions surrounding a viral video showing him and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi during the second Test against Bangladesh at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday, which sparked speculation of an on-field argument related to the match situation.

The video went viral on social media with claims that Shaheen Afridi disrespected Gul, although there was no verified evidence of their conversation leading to misunderstanding and widespread speculation among viewers online.

Addressing confusion in the presser, the former right-arm pacer clarified that there was no internal dispute within the squad.

He explained that Hasan had suffered a head injury and was temporarily off the field while Shaheen Afridi was simply informed about the situation as part of routine team communication.

“There was also a misunderstanding on social media regarding Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali. Hasan Ali had suffered a head injury and was off the field, and Shaheen was simply informed about the situation. There is no issue, but it was misinterpreted online,” Gul stated.