Latest news with #WWE-style
BBC News
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Faster than Rory, further than Bryson - life on golf's 'party' side
Six golf balls, a shot clock with music blaring, and a WWE-style belt for a it's not a scene from the new Happy Gilmore movie, but the professional sport of Long Drive Golf. As the sport's name would suggest, it is all about hitting the longest drive possible and Northern Ireland's Aaron Lennie is one of the best in putts, no wedges and no water hazards. Driving distance off the tee is all that matters. Just how far are those drives? Well, at the recent Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Bryson DeChambeau topped the driving distance category with an average of 327.5 yards - a full football pitch less than Lennie's personal best of 437 more than 185mph, Rory McIlroy is one of the top players in professional golf for ball speed, but Lennie can surpass 200mph. That's as quick as a Formula 1 have two-and-a-half minutes to hit six balls down a long grid, with an out of bounds area either side. They go head-to-head in group or knockout stages, and there's plenty of drama, a party in the stands and some showboating alongside it all."It's like a party atmosphere, a totally different scene to golf," said Lennie, who recently won his first professional event in Austria."I don't know if people will like this, but it kind of has a LIV feel to it. There's music blasting, there's a lot of noise, a lot of energy. It's fast-paced, which for some people is something that's missing from golf. "It's a breath of fresh air that way. It's a game within a game. None of us claim to be good golfers but we can hit a ball far and we can do it well." Speaking of DeChambeau, the two-time major winner has played a key role in the growing popularity of the sport. Not afraid to step outside his comfort zone, the American entered the World Long Drive Championship in 2022 and, of the 128 players to start the event, he came second with a drive of 406 yards."My generation have benefited massively from Bryson doing what he did," Lennie said."When he dipped his toes in the Long Drive scene it was kind of at rock bottom. "The spotlight he brought to it was massive for us and it's getting bigger and bigger year on year." 'There's a lot of ego in the sport' Lennie came across the sport after a failed attempt at breaking into golf's professional ranks. The 26-year-old went to college in the USA and said he wanted to stay involved with the sport, taking part in his first Long Drive tournament in 2022."I got the bug for it and just wanted to hit it further, further and further," said Lennie."It's got explosive power movements, you want to be able to rotate really quickly and create a lot of force from the ground. "It's the same thing a lot of the pro golfers are doing now to hit it further, it's just we are at the extreme end of that." Lennie combines his Long Drive commitments with being an assistant professional at Clandeboye Golf Club in County only picking up the sport three years ago, he won his first professional event in Austria on the European tour and qualified for his first World Championships in September. "It felt good and it was a monkey off my back," he said."Hopefully it's the start of a few more to come".Due to the distances that the professional Long Drive players can strike the ball, Lennie does the majority of his practice sessions indoorsIt allows him to adjust his technique, look at the data behind each swing, and track each one of his drives. "In some sessions we don't really care where the ball goes, we just want it to go fast and far. In terms of hitting it straight it's a whole other practice session."There's a lot of ego in the sport, I don't think anyone can deny that, but there's a science to it as well with all the fine details to make sure the ball is going as far as it can."We get to do the fun part, we don't need to worry about the bunkers or anything like that. We just tee it up and give it a hit."
The Guardian
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Hulk Hogan, wrestling star and actor, dies aged 71
Hulk Hogan, the wrestling star turned vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71, his manager confirmed. Chris Volo told NBC Los Angeles that Hogan, given name Terry Gene Bollea, suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, and died surrounded by his family. Rumors about Hogan's health have swirled for weeks, after he reportedly was hospitalized. Just last week, his wife, Sky, denied rumors that he was in a coma, stating that his heart was 'strong' after multiple surgeries. Instantly recognizable from his blonde horseshoe mustache and bandannas, Hogan was one of the most popular wrestling stars of the 1980s and considered one of the sport's greatest of all time. Known for his ring theatrics and sizable physique – in his prime, Hogan clocked in at 6ft 7in and weighed 320lb – he helped transform professional wrestling into home entertainment, primarily through his partnership with Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the performance routine known as Hulkamania. The entertainment company also confirmed Hogan's death and mourned its former star in a statement on X: 'WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans.' 'The Hulkster' headlined WrestleMania, WWE's signature event, eight times, including a seminal showdown in 1987 with his 520lb mentor Andre the Giant at Michigan's Pontiac Silverdome, before a then record crowd of 93,173. Hogan won the WWE championship six times during his career. In 1996, Hogan founded the New World Order (NWO) and became Hollywood Hulk Hogan. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, only to have his status revoked after scandal following the release of a secret recording of a sexual encounter, during which Hogan made numerous racist comments. The 2010s blog Gawker first published the recording; Hogan subsequently sued the website, winning and forcing it out of business. Hogan was once again inducted in 2020, as he became a more prominent figure in Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again' (Maga) political movement. He starred at the 2024 Republican national convention, ripping off his shirt, WWE-style, to reveal a Trump 2024 T-shirt. Ever the performer, Hogan maintained a decades-long acting career, appearing in the 1982 film Rocky III as the character Thunderlips, as well as films such as No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Mr Nanny, Santa With Muscles and the 1994 syndicated series Thunder in Paradise. As one of the most recognizable figures of the 1980s – at his peak, he was the most requested celebrity for the Make-a-Wish foundation – Hogan appeared as himself in many shows and movies, including the A-Team, Baywatch, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Spy Hard and Muppets From Space. He also lent his voice to episodes of Robot Chicken and American Dad! In 1985, he co-hosted Saturday Night Live along with Mr T. The same year, he was the star of his own cartoon series on CBS, Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling. Hogan parlayed his fame into reality television, starring on the VH1 reality show Hogan Knows Best along with his then wife Linda and his children Brooke and Nick, from 2005 until 2007. The Guardian has reached out to Hogan's reps for comment. Tributes began pouring in on social media in the hours after his death, including from Maga political figures with whom he campaigned in 2024. 'We all have fond memories of Hulk Hogan,' wrote Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House, on X, alongside two photos – one with Hogan, and the other of Hogan arm-wrestling Trump. 'From my childhood in the '80s, to campaigning with him last year, I always saw him as a giant in stature and in life. May he rest in peace.' 'I Am Absolutely Shocked To Hear About The Passing Of My Close Friend,' Hogan's friend and fellow wrestling star Ric Flair posted on X. 'Hulk Has Been By My Side Since We Started In The Wrestling Business. An Incredible Athlete, Talent, Friend, And Father! Our Friendship Has Meant The World To Me.'
Extra.ie
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Watch: Lions fans slam 'stupid' Pollock after igniting fight
The British and Irish Lions just about got the job done on Tuesday after narrowly beating First Nations & Pasifika XV 19-24 in Melbourne. Leinster back Jamie Osborne was one of the highlights in a lacklustre performance after scoring two tries in his first Lions appearance. However, there was a brief moment in the first-half that caught fans' eyes when England's Henry Pollock found himself in a pushing and shoving match with FNP's second try-scorer Seru Uru. Henry Pollock's antics got mixed reactions on social media. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile The WWE-style fight was very much ignited by the Lions man but fans believe there was a bit of regret in his eyes before he was wiped out by the Fijian-born Australian flanker. Fans took to social media to slam Henry over his 'childish' antics that led to him getting thrown to the floor. One fan wrote: 'I know who I fancy in a scrap and it isn't the posh 20 year old public school boy.' Another added: 'Lucky the referee was there to stop Pollock getting taught a real lesson.' A third commented: 'Sooner or later Pollock is going to be laid out. That boy consistently bites off more than he can chew. To loosely quote Top Gun: 'His ego is writing cheques his body can't cash'. Tick tick on that.' Yet another said: 'Pollock yet to learn an important life lesson, no matter how hard you think you are there's always someone harder out there.' Henry Pollock and Sere Uru getting to know each other a little better 😅 — Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) July 22, 2025 However, it wasn't all negativity being thrown at the young player online. One supporter shared: 'The comments are embarrassing. You are meant to support your team.' Another remarked: 'There was a moment in that schmozzle where Pollock's life literally flashed before his eyes. In fairness to him, after the initial shock, he doubled down and fought back.' There was a TMO review of the incident but the referee decided that a lecture was enough for the pair of them.
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Well done': Indian father-son duo recreates The Undertaker's iconic entrance at home, WWE star reacts
A video of an Indian man helping his son live out his dream of becoming WWE legend The Undertaker is winning hearts on the Internet, prompting a reaction from the star himself. The video shows the father recreating the WWE-style entrance at home, giving a touch of the theatrics the wrestling icon is popular for. The clip begins with the father playing The Undertaker's iconic theme song Graveyard Symphony on a harmonium. His son, dressed in casual attire, steps into the room with confidence and flawlessly imitates The Undertaker's slow walk. He further raises his arms in the wrestler's signature pose, reminding several social media users of the same aura that made The Undertaker a legend in the ring. Sharing it, X handle @gharkekalesh wrote, 'Father Help to Fulfills His Son's Dream of Entering as WWE Star Undertaker.' Soon after the video came to light, The Undertaker hailed the father-son duo. 'Well done, young man!' he responded to the viral video. Watch here: Well done young man! — Undertaker (@undertaker) July 5, 2025 Several social media users applauded the performance, garnering nearly a million views on the video. 'Why do I feel the father was actually fulfilling his own dream through his child,' a user wrote. 'Father can do anything for his children. Interesting part is deadman also commented on this Post,' another user commented. 'Wholesome, dad interacting with son's interest without slamming him and calling it weird,' a third user reacted. 'Things man does for their loved ones,' a fourth user said. The Undertaker is one of WWE's most legendary figures. Celebrated for his iconic 'Deadman' persona, he had a streak of 21 consecutive victories at WrestleMania. With a career that spanned more than 30 years, he has become a cultural icon over the years. His signature moves, including the 'Tombstone Piledriver' and the 'Chokeslam,' are widely imitated by his fans.
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Team India's Lighter Moment in Birmingham - Times of India Videos
/ Jun 28, 2025, 09:30PM IST The nets at Edgbaston weren't all serious business! Bowling coach Morne Morkel and Arshdeep Singh brought the laughs with some WWE-style fun between training drills Watch this hilarious behind-the-scenes moment as Team India keeps the mood light ahead of the high-pressure 2nd Test.
