Latest news with #ObaFemi
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where to watch WWE NXT Great American Bash 2025: Live stream, start time, price full card for pro wrestling event
WWE's NXT brand looks to heat things up this summer with its Great American Bash event. Here's how to watch WWE NXT Great American Bash 2025, including streaming options, start time, and more. Where to watch WWE NXT Great American Bash 2025 Advertisement WWE's PLE events are available on Peacock. You can also watch past events in WWE history on Peacock. From WrestleMania 1 to last year's event. Old WCW matches and ECW pay-per-views, Peacock has it all. WWE NXT Great American Bash 2025 start time Date : Saturday, July 12 Time : 3 p.m. ET | 12 p.m. PT Location: Center Stage - Atlanta, Georgia The latest Great American Bash event is at Center Stage in Atlanta. The event starts at 3 p.m. ET. The Great American Bash started as a WCW event and transitioned to a WWE PPV. Discontinued for a few years, the event returned as part of NXT programming. Oba Femi defends the NXT Championship against Pro Wrestling NOAH's Yoshiki Inamura. Inamura won a top contender's match to challenge for Femi's title. An elite wrestler, Femi looks to continue his reign by facing an international star in Inamura. Advertisement Before Jordynne Grace challenges Jacy Jayne at Evolution for the NXT Women's Championship, she teams with Blake Monroe (the former Mariah May) to take on Jayne and Fallon Henley. With Fatal Influence at an advantage in manpower, can Grace and Monroe defy the odds? Sol Ruca has been busy, winning the NXT Women's North American and WWE Speed Titles. The 25-year-old defends the former title against Izzi Dame. Meanwhile, TNA World Champion Trick Williams, Mike Santana, and Joe Hendry will participate in a contract signing for their match at Slammiversary. WWE NXT Great American Bash 2025 fight card
New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Oba Femi, All-America shot putter turned WWE rising star, has the NCAA's NIL era to thank
Every Tuesday night in Lagos, Nigeria, a young Isaac Odugbesan would make his way out to a local store. The goal: Find a DVD of last night's episode of 'WWE Monday Night Raw.' Odugbesan was unable to watch the American show live at home, but he'd been fascinated with professional wrestling since coming across it on a TV screen as a kid. He loved the action. He loved the characters. The Undertaker and Triple H were his favorites. Advertisement Years later, Odugbesan came to the United States on a track and field scholarship, earning All-America honors in shot put at Alabama and dreaming of the Olympics. But plans change. Odugbesan, now a mountain of a man, is the reigning NXT champion, the top man for WWE's developmental program, wrestling under the name Oba Femi. When the NCAA loosened its rules on name, image and likeness monetization in 2021, WWE saw an opportunity to build a new pipeline of athletes with the makeup to become entertainers. Odugbesan became the first product of that program to hold a company title and the first to become NXT's top champion, meaning the company is pushing him upward on the scripted show. He's held the belt for exactly six months and will next defend it Saturday at WWE's Great American Bash show. 'I want to be remembered,' Odugbesan said. 'A lot of guys have good runs and accomplish a lot, but nobody remembers how much they did. I don't want my legacy to be that.' THE GAME HAS CHANGED. 🤯 OBA FEMI IS THE NEW #WWENXT CHAMPION!!! #NewYearsEvil — WWE (@WWE) January 8, 2025 One day in high school, a group of students was selected to attempt various track and field events as part of a program to find future Nigerian athletes. Odugbesan was big, so they told him to try throwing. He didn't know what he was doing with a shot put, but his throws immediately grabbed the attention of a national coach. 'He was like, 'I need to talk to your parents,'' Odugbesan recalled. He began training as a thrower and qualified for national and international tournaments, but he said the country's athletic federation needed him to pay for it and be reimbursed later. The experience rubbed Odugbesan the wrong way. So when longtime Middle Tennessee track and field coach Dean Hayes reached out about coming to America on a scholarship, Odugbesan jumped at the opportunity. He could go to America, win NCAA championships and reach the Olympics, perhaps finding a Persian Gulf oil country to represent instead of Nigeria. Advertisement 'In my mind, I'm going to get good and when they need me, I'm not going to be there,' he said. Odugbesan had been to the United States before, on a trip to visit family in Texas. It was a leap to go on his own, but he never doubted his decision. 'I was at a point where passion trumps all, and for your dreams to come true, you have to go through every single step to make that happen,' he said. 'Leaving my family was one of those steps.' Hayes was a Hall of Famer who had led Middle Tennessee's program since 1965, but when Odugbesan got there, the team didn't have a throws coach, and he was the only thrower on the roster. Still, Odugbesan credits Hayes, who died in 2022, for the opportunity and advice he offered. Even without robust resources, Odugbesan won a Conference USA championship in shot put in 2019. He was named CUSA's male freshman of the year and still holds the school shot put record. 'We took it as far as we could,' Odugbesan said, 'but if I want to get to the Olympics and win championships, I have to move.' The NCAA had just created the transfer portal the prior fall, and Odugbesan entered his name in the offseason, not knowing what to expect. Odugbesan heard from multiple SEC schools, but Alabama throws coach Derek Yush drove up to Murfreesboro to spend an hour talking with him at a Subway. 'The dude's a specimen,' Yush said. 'He's so big, strong, athletic. We saw this guy grinding, trying to figure it out. There are a lot of great athletes, but not a lot that are students. He cared about his technique. Golly, if we can ever get that guy wearing crimson, he'd be really good.' Odugbesan thrived in Tuscaloosa, earning second-team All-America honors as a junior and becoming the first Alabama thrower to win an SEC outdoor shot put title in 31 years. He majored in Studio Art and would show his drawings to teammates and coaches. Advertisement 'I never once had an issue with the dude,' Yush said. 'He came in and just tried to lead by example. He was a great communicator with the team. He's really diligent in what he does.' During his junior year, Odugbesan received a direct message on social media from a WWE recruiter, inviting him to attend a tryout in Las Vegas. He initially thought it was spam, but after a back-and-forth, he realized this was a real chance at a childhood dream he never knew was possible. The tryout didn't involve actual wrestling. It was more about cardio, running the ropes, learning how to fall and tumble and talking into a microphone. 'Childhood Isaac was excited and doing backflips (in my mind),' Odugbesan said. 'But Adult Isaac took the wheels. Being an athlete, you don't celebrate until it's over.' The tryout went so well, Odugbesan said, WWE wanted to sign him right there. But he had another year of school left, and he wanted to graduate. So he became part of WWE's first class, along with athletes that included Northwestern football player Joe Spivak. Those athletes received some perks from WWE, with plans to join the developmental program when their college careers ended. WWE's pivot to sign college athletes a few years ago is quickly paying off, finding coachable athletes and future stars at a young age. Most of WWE's NIL athletes come not from revenue-generating sports like football or basketball, but from sports with limited earning options after college, such as gymnastics and track and field. Back at Alabama as a senior, Odugbesan finished third in the spring 2022 NCAA outdoor championships and was ready to turn his attention to getting to Florida to begin WWE training when a different childhood dream resurfaced. A friend told Odugbesan that Nigeria wanted him to represent his home country at the world championships. After the initial shock, Odugbesan decided it was too late. He'd moved on from those Olympic aspirations. Advertisement 'In my heart, I was done,' he said. 'They reached out for the first time ever, actively trying to get me to go, and I told them my mind is in WWE already.' Less than three years later, Femi looks like a future WWE star. He debuted on TV just a few months into training. He won a championship in less than two years and took NXT's top title in January, pinning former South Carolina football player Matrick Belton (known as Trick Williams) in a matchup of ex-SEC athletes. Former WWE champion and Iowa football player Big E has called Femi his favorite wrestler. Yush watches him on NXT every Tuesday. In April, Odugbesan stood tall backstage during a TV segment, talking about his NXT championship and an upcoming match, when up walked The Undertaker: the childhood hero of Odugbesan, now standing eye-to-eye with Femi. 'Big man,' The Undertaker told him in a scripted segment. 'This is your yard now.' A public show of respect from The Undertaker is considered a sign of arrival in the wrestling business. Odugbesan's goal now is to be remembered like The Undertaker, a larger-than-life icon. Not just for a single match or a short run. He'd dreamed of rings; now he works in one. WWE's developmental system is full of recent college graduates coming in through its NIL program. The program has created a new career path for athletes, and atop that mountain of future potential sits Odugbesan. 'It's not an easy job,' he said. 'You get hurt or it's a lot mentally. You don't want all that to be for nothing. I'm trying to get to a place where Oba Femi has an iconic run. Where people remember they used to watch Oba. That's what I want.' (Top illustration photos: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images; John Nacion / Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE NXT Great American Bash Live Streaming: How to watch Sol Ruca vs Izzi Dame fight, Preview, Full Match Card, Timings and more
The 2025 NXT Great American Bash is shaping up to be a blockbuster event packed with title bouts, fierce rivalries, and cross-promotional highlights. Headlining the night, NXT Champion Oba Femi will defend his title against Pro Wrestling NOAH's powerhouse Yoshiki Inamura, continuing the WWE–NOAH partnership. Inamura earned the opportunity by defeating Jasper Troy in a hard-fought No. 1 contender's match. In the NXT Women's North American Championship match, Sol Ruca defends against the relentless Izzi Dame, who earned her shot after pinning Ruca in a tag match-thanks to an accidental spear from Ruca's partner, Zaria. — SolRucaWWE (@SolRucaWWE) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo A major highlight will be the live contract signing for the TNA World Championship match at Slammiversary. Trick Williams, the first WWE-contracted wrestler to hold a TNA title, will defend against Joe Hendry and Mike Santana in a Triple Threat bout, solidifying the growing WWE–TNA collaboration. Tag team action includes Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe facing Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne), marking Monroe's televised WWE debut. Grace, meanwhile, is eyeing women's gold after earning a title shot at Evolution. Live Events Also on the card, Je'Von Evans and LFG Season One winner Jasper Troy will collide in a grudge match, reigniting their intense rivalry. WWE NXT GREAT AMERICAN BASH FINAL CARD NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs Yoshiki Inamura NXT North American Championship Match (Falls Count Anywhere) : Ethan Page (c) vs Ricky Saints NXT Women's North American Championship Match: Sol Ruca (c) vs Izzi Dame Tag Team Match: Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe vs Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley Grudge Match: Je'Von Evans vs Jasper Troy TNA World Championship Contract Signing HOW TO WATCH WWE NXT GREAT AMERICAN BASH IN US Date: July 12, Saturday Event: Great American Bash Venue: Center Stage Theatre, Atlanta Time: 3PM ET Streaming: Peacock (United States), Netflix (International)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
WWE NXT Great American Bash: Oba Femi battles Yoshiki Inamura in cross-promotional title clash
NXT's Great American Bash, WWE 's developmental brand, returns on Saturday, July 12 from Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, airing live on Peacock (US) and Netflix (internationally) At Great American Bash 2025, powerhouse champion Oba Femi defends his NXT Title against Pro Wrestling NOAH standout Yoshiki Inamura , continuing a heated cross-promotional rivalry. Inamura secured his title shot by defeating Jasper Troy in a gritty No. 1 contender's match on July 1, setting the stage for a high-stakes international showdown. — WWENXT (@WWENXT) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Pieces of Clothing Older Women should Avoid Learn More Undo Meanwhile, Sol Ruca puts her Women's North American Championship on the line against Izzi Dame. Dame earned her opportunity after scoring a pinfall over Ruca in a tag match, aided by an accidental spear from Ruca's partner, Zaria. Expect fast-paced action and high drama across both matchups. The event will also showcase a tag team clash as Jordynne Grace teams up with Blake Monroe to face Fatal Influence, the duo of Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne. The match marks Monroe's official televised WWE debut, adding extra intrigue to the bout. Grace, fresh off a dominant win in a No. 1 contender's match, has already secured a future Women's Championship opportunity at Evolution. Live Events The five-match card also features two high-stakes matches with Ethan Page putting the North American Championship on the line in a Falls Count Anywhere match against Ricky Saints while Je'Von Evans and Jasper Troy will take their rivalry to the Great American Bash in a highly anticipated singles match. — WWENXT (@WWENXT) In addition to the stacked match card, a major moment is set to unfold at NXT Great American Bash 2025 with a live TNA World Championship contract signing. Trick Williams, who controversially claimed the title from Joe Hendry at Battleground and dubbed it the 'Trick-NA' Championship, will put pen to paper for his upcoming Triple Threat title defense at Slammiversary against Hendry and Mike Santana. Hendry and Santana are both fired up and determined to reclaim the title, setting the stage for an intense showdown leading into the Slammiversary event. WWE NXT GREAT AMERICAN BASH FINAL CARD NXT Championship Match: Oba Femi (c) vs Yoshiki Inamura NXT North American Championship Match (Falls Count Anywhere) : Ethan Page (c) vs Ricky Saints NXT Women's North American Championship Match: Sol Ruca (c) vs Izzi Dame Tag Team Match: Jordynne Grace & Blake Monroe vs Jacy Jayne & Fallon Henley Grudge Match: Je'Von Evans vs Jasper Troy TNA World Championship Contract Signing HOW TO WATCH WWE NXT GREAT AMERICAN BASH IN US Date: July 12, Saturday Event: Great American Bash Venue: Center Stage Theatre, Atlanta Time: 3PM ET Streaming: Peacock (United States), Netflix (International)
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where to Watch WWE NXT Battleground Live Online Via Stream, Match Card Preview
WWE NXT Battleground comes to you live from Tampa's Yuengling Center in Florida this Sunday. Here's how you can watch the show: Where to watch NXT Battleground online (May 25) in the U.S. WWE NXT Battleground will stream live exclusively in the U.S. on Peacock. Advertisement You can watch it below: Watch WWE Battleground in the U.S. via Peacock Photo Credit: WWE Where to watch NXT Battleground online in the U.K. & international WWE Battleground will stream live on Netflix for international viewers. You can watch the event below: Watch NXT Battleground internationally via Netflix When is the NXT Battleground start time? The PLE will start at the following times, depending on your time zone: Region Start Time Eastern 8 p.m. Pacific 5 p.m. Central 7 p.m. U.K. & Ireland 1 a.m. (May 26) Canada 9 p.m. Here's the complete NXT Battleground card (at the time of this writing): Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Jordynne Grace – Singles match for the NXT Women's Championship Oba Femi (c) vs. Myles Borne – Singles match for the NXT Championship Joe Hendry (c) vs. Trick Williams – Singles match for the TNA World Championship Sol Ruca (c) vs. Kelani Jordan – Singles match for the NXT Women's North American Championship Tony D'Angelo vs Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo – Singles match Hank & Tank and Josh Briggs vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears, Brooks Jensen and Nico Vance) – Six-man tag team match NXT Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer will defend her title against Jordynne Grace. Stephanie has been on a tear with incredible showing on Monday Night RAW and representing NXT as its top champion. Jordynne is looking to claim the crowd for herself and has already put Stephanie's former tag team partner and rival Giulia down en route to Battleground. Advertisement Elsewhere on the card, NXT Champion Oba Femi will go one-on-one against No Quarter Catch Crew's Myles Borne. Myles earn the opportunity with a shocking win in a 25-man battle royal previously on NXT. As for Oba, The Ruler is coming off an impressive victory against both Trick Williams and Je'Von Evans at Stand & Deliver. Tampa to host TNA World Title match Joe Hendry will make history as the first TNA superstar to defend the promotion's world title in an NXT ring. Trick Williams claims to have outgrown NXT and is looking to become the first NXT superstar to win TNA's richest prize. Who will walk out as champion in this clash of friends-turned-enemies? Advertisement Kelani Jordan will look to reclaim the NXT Women's North American Championship against Sol Ruca. Jordan punched her ticket to WWE NXT Battleground with a controversial win over Sol's team partner ZARIA this past Tuesday on NXT? Can Kelani become the first-ever two-time NXT Women's North American Champion or will Sol continue to surf her way to the top? Channing 'Stacks' Lorenzo shocked the NXT Universe with his betrayal of Tony D'Angelo and The Family at Stand & Deliver. A vengeful Tony looks to get back at his former Underboss but can The Don prevail with Luca Crusifino missing and Adriana Rizzo in hiding? Following a confrontation with The Culling, NXT Tag Team Champions Hank and Tank will join forces with Josh Briggs to take on Shawn Spears, Niko Vance and Briggs' former tag team partner Brooks Jensen in a six-man tag team match at Battleground. WrestleZone will have full coverage of WWE NXT Battleground as it airs. The post Where to Watch WWE NXT Battleground Live Online Via Stream, Match Card Preview appeared first on Wrestlezone.
