Connect with us

Sports

Pro wrestling star says missing brother taken to hospital after being found

Published

on

Pro wrestling star says missing brother taken to hospital after being found


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Pro wrestling star Shotzi Blackheart said Wednesday her brother, Dean, was found after she and her family worried about his safety in California.

Shotzi, whose real name is Ashley Alfaro, wrote on social media that her brother was missing after he was involved in a car crash in the San Francisco area. She said at the time that he was receiving dialysis treatments and may have been “confused or disoriented.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Shotzi makes her entrance SmackDown at the TD Garden on September 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images)

“My brother has been found and is being taken to the hospital,” she wrote on X.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who shared the post, reached out, and helped spread the word. The support and kindness from so many people truly means the world to our family. Thank you all so much.”

AEW STAR JEFF JARRETT RECALLS ‘UNIQUE’ GUITAR SHOTS HE’S DOLED OUT OVER HIS CAREER

Shotzi being powerbombed

Shotzi (top) and Nia Jax during the Women’s Royal Rumble match during the Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field on Jan. 27, 2024. (Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports)

Shotzi was born in Santa Clara County, California, and embarked on a pro wrestling journey that started in Oakland, California, and led her to the heights of WWE. She departed WWE last year and hit the independent circuit, finding renewed popularity.

She made her debut with Major League Wrestling (MLW) in June 2025, where she became the company’s women’s world featherweight champion.

Earlier Tuesday, Sports Illustrated reported that she re-signed with MLW.

Shotzi in October 2022

Shotzi Blackheart, left, and Raquel Rodriguez defeat Xia Li via and Sonya Deville on “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” at the DCU Center, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Photo/Dylan Azari / USA TODAY NETWORK)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“I’ve been at every MLW taping since June,” she told the outlet. “They were one of the first companies to hit me up when my WWE contract ended, and it has turned into my favorite creative playground. It’s a company that truly believes in me.”

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





Source link

Sports

Late Iron Maiden drummer’s niece makes WWE NXT debut

Published

on

Late Iron Maiden drummer’s niece makes WWE NXT debut


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

WWE NXT on Tuesday night was filled with surprise debuts, but one wrestler made more noise than the rest as she entered the ring.

Lizzy Rain, the niece of late Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, vowed to keep heavy metal alive as she came to WWE from PROGRESS Wrestling where she was the PROGRESS women’s champion. The British wrestler, formerly known in the ring as Rayne Leverkusen, squared off against Nikkita Lyons in her first NXT match.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Lizzy Rain celebrates her win during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, on April 28, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)

She avoided a mid-rope splash from Lyons and then nailed her opponent with a step-up knee shot to Lyons, which was dubbed Thunderstruck. She pinned Lyons and picked up her first win.

Rain talked about how her uncle inspired her in her life on “Busted Open After Dark.”

“Clive, he inspired me so much. To be honest, when I was younger, I didn’t really know who he was,” she said, via Wrestle Talk. “He died, I think it’s 13 years ago now, something like that, so I was 15 years old. And when I was growing up, and he was well, he died from MS, unfortunately so he wasn’t very well by the time I got into my teens, he was not verbal or anything.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“Then I was younger and around him I didn’t have a clue who he was. I liked music, I always liked Alice Cooper, I always liked Iron Maiden but as a child I didn’t really know, ‘Oh, my uncle is the original drummer of Iron Maiden,’ until I got into my teens.”

Unfortunately, Rain said, she was unable to really talk to Burr about his life in Iron Maiden before he died in 2013.

Elsewhere, a few other newcomers appeared.

Evil confronting Tony D'Angelo during NXT at WWE Performance Center

Evil confronts Tony D’Angelo during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on April 28, 2026. (Chansey Augustine/WWE)

Former IWGP champion known as EVIL stepped up to Tony D’Angelo, the current NXT champion. After EVIL left the ring, former PROGRESS atlas champion known as Will Kroos assaulted D’Angelo.

Kam Hendrix, Tristan Angels and Tate Wilder also appeared on NXT for the first time.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Ricky Saints entering the wrestling ring at WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida

Ricky Saints enters the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on April 28, 2026. (Chansey Augustine/WWE)

NXT Results

Myles Borne def. Saquon Shugars to retain the NXT North American Championship.

EK Prosper and Sean Legacy def. Stacks Lorenzo and Uriah Connors.

Lizzy Rain def. Nikkita Lyons.

Kelani Jordan def. Wren Sinclair.

Shiloh Hill def. Ricky Saints.



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Two players ejected after scrum amid Knicks’ 50-point lead against Hawks sends referee crashing to the court

Published

on

Two players ejected after scrum amid Knicks’ 50-point lead against Hawks sends referee crashing to the court


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Frustrations boiled over in Game 6 of the New York Knicks-Atlanta Hawks series amid a shocking 50-point Knicks lead in the first half.

Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson and Hawks guard Dyson Daniels were both ejected after receiving double technical fouls after inciting a scrum that led to a referee hitting the court hard in the second quarter.

At the time, the Knicks were up a whopping 72-22 when free throws were being taken by New York. As OG Anunoby hit his and-one opportunity, Robinson and Daniels were face-to-face, leading to an embrace that turned aggressive.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks and Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks fight during the second quarter of Game 6 in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on April 30, 2026. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

One official was trying to break up the skirmish but lost his footing and hit the hardwood. Meanwhile, Robinson was trying to go back at Daniels, and both Hawks and Knicks players were trying to hold others back in the exchange.

Robinson and Daniels continued jawing at each other, repeatedly trying to get face-to-face as coaches and officials worked to calm them down.

MAMDANI GETS MIXED REACTIONS FOR USING KNICKS STAR JALEN BRUNSON’S SIGNATURE CELEBRATION AT INAUGURAL SPEECH

Once Robinson and Daniels got back to their respective benches, both players were ejected after further review.

Replay showed that Daniels threw an elbow into Robinson’s chest while Anunoby was taking the free throw, and the Knicks center reacted accordingly. Ultimately, it led to an early exit for both players.

Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks reacts during a basketball game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta

Mitchell Robinson of the New York Knicks reacts during the first quarter of Game 6 against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on April 30, 2026. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Knicks entered the game on the road in Atlanta with a chance to move on to the second round of the NBA Playoffs, but perhaps even they didn’t expect what occurred in the first half.

When the buzzer rang out at the end of the second quarter, the Knicks were up 83-36 going into the locker room. Though there are two quarters left to play, it’s not looking good for the Hawks, who were shooting a lackluster 31% from the field, while committing 14 turnovers.

Meanwhile, the Knicks couldn’t stop hitting their shots, especially Anunoby, who had more points than the Hawks did as a team at one point in the first half. He ended the half with 26 points on 10-of-12 shooting, while hauling in seven rebounds and two assists. He also tallied four steals for New York.

Dyson Daniels driving past Jalen Brunson during NBA playoff game in Atlanta

Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks drives around Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks during the first quarter of Game 6 in the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ga., on April 30, 2026. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Mikal Bridges (16 points) and Jalen Brunson (13 points) also added to the Knicks’ total, while Karl-Anthony Towns hit all 10 of his free throw attempts in the first half.

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





Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Colts decline Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year option, setting former No. 4 overall pick up for free agency

Published

on

Colts decline Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year option, setting former No. 4 overall pick up for free agency


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The Indianapolis Colts have declined quarterback Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year option.

Richardson, the team’s No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, is headed for free agency after the 2026 season.

The move was one many viewed as inevitable considering the tumultuous start Richardson has had to his NFL career. 

The Florida product has dealt with a number of injuries and inconsistent play, and the Colts looked outside the organization for quarterback help before the start of the 2025 season.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. warms up before a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md., on Aug. 7, 2025. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)

Indy was high on Richardson when it took him with the fourth overall pick of that year’s draft, though there were some who questioned if he was NFL ready right away.

That proved not to be the case. Richardson split time with veteran journeyman Gardner Minshew in 2023, while Joe Flacco eventually took over for him in 2024.

Richardson eventually got his starting spot back over Flacco in 2024, with the Colts announcing he would be the team’s starter the rest of the way.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones running off the field at SoFi Stadium

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones runs off the field after a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)

But he was benched prior to Flacco coming in after voluntarily taking himself out of a game for one play, saying he “needed a breather.” The move was ridiculed by pundits and fans, and the Colts ultimately made an example of it.

The Colts signed Daniel Jones during the 2025 offseason after the New York Giants released him midway through the 2024 campaign, parting ways with their own first-round pick who had a roller-coaster tenure with the franchise. Jones and Richardson were pitted in an open quarterback battle at the start of training camp, and, on Aug. 19, Jones was named the team’s starter.

Richardson served as Jones’ backup to begin the year, but he was placed on the injured reserve after a freak accident fractured an orbital bone in his eye during pregame warmups.

Richardson also dealt with a grade-three AC joint sprain that required an IR stint during his rookie season. It was initially supposed to be a one-to-two-month recovery, but he needed surgery to repair the shoulder.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson warming up at Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson warms up before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 7, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Richardson heads into his fourth NFL season fighting for his next contract, whether it’s with the Colts or elsewhere.

Jones re-signed with Indianapolis for two years and $88 million with $50 million guaranteed, and rookie Riley Leonard remains on the depth chart.

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





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending