Latest news with #sportsentertainment
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Hulk Hogan's close friend reveals heartbreaking regret over decision he took days before WWE icon's death
The death of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan has shaken the world of sports entertainment - including many who were friends with the WWE legend. Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake - a WWE Hall of Famer and one of Hogan's longest friends in the wrestling business - got emotional when reflecting upon the life of the man that helped him get into the industry. Speaking to TMZ, Brutus - born Ed Leslie - reflected on the man he knew and revealed how important he was to him. 'Well, he meant everything,' he told the outlet. 'He recruited me basically out of high school to go into the wrestling business when all his other friends refused and didn't want anything to do with it.' Brutus went into more detail about how Hogan - born Terry Bollea - recruited him into the business. 'Here's the thing. When he said to me, "You're going to be a wrestler, kid", I was like, "Holy cow,"' Brutus revealed. 'I used to go watch wrestling when I was a kid, but nothing I ever thought about getting involved with. And he and I became so close: starting together, coming through the trenches and training... 'There's so much that nobody knows about, really, our beginnings, our past. I owe him everything, and I'm grateful to have known him, to have been there many times for him as he was for me.' The emotions really got to Brutus when discussing a harrowing accident - and how Hogan got right to his side. 'He had a heart so big. Thirty-five years ago, July 4, 1990, I was in a horrible accident and not expected to live. 'And he left his family in California. His wife about to have a baby, his son, Nick, to fly to Florida to be there because the doctor said they didn't think I was going to make it. 'And he flew there to be there for me. And when they brought me out of a drug-induced coma, and he said to me, "Don't even think about it, Brutus, you're going to live." And I did. And he was there for me at the moment I needed the most.' Brutus even revealed that he intended to see Hogan in recent days, but passed. 'I was going to try to go to his house a couple of days ago. My wife said, "You just go over there." I was thinking, "Oh, my God." But if I go to the house and they say, "No, you can't come in, it would have crushed me." I didn't [go]. And now I wish maybe that I had tried to get in and tried to get to see him before he passed.' Lastly, Brutus revealed what he would say to Hogan if he had the chance: 'I love you brother, and we truly are friends to the end. 'I don't even know what else to say about that. I know his family and mine were close for many years, and I wish the best for them. I know they're having a horrible, difficult time. 'And I just wanted to say to them, keep your chins up. He would have wanted us to fight on and move forward. That's hopefully what we're all going to do.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Remembering Hulk Hogan: Uncrowned's complete coverage of the wrestling legend's death
The news of Hulk Hogan's passing on Thursday sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. One of the defining — and polarizing — figures in sports entertainment history, Hogan revolutionized the industry in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a pop culture icon in the process. Uncrowned tackled Hogan's death from myriad angles, examining his path from wrestling powerhouse to pariah and everything in between. Here's a roundup of the team's coverage: Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies at 71 (Anthony Sulla-Heffinger) Video obituary: Ariel Helwani remembers Hulk Hogan on 'The Boys in the Back' (Ariel Helwani) President Trump, Vince McMahon, others offer tributes to Hulk Hogan (Yahoo Sports Staff) Hulk Hogan and the ugliness that changed everything (Kel Dansby) Hulk Hogan's legacy isn't as simple as our love for Hulkamania once was (Ben Fowlkes) Hulk Hogan wasn't just an American icon, he was America (Jay Busbee) The early days of Hulkamania were something to remember (Chuck Mindenhall) Hulk Hogan's legacy: 5 hidden-gem matches from his career (Phil Schneider) Hulk Hogan: The larger-than-life figure behind pro wrestling's global takeover (Robert Jackman) The heel turn that defined the entirety of Hulk Hogan's career (Anthony Sulla-Heffinger) Hulk Hogan's most iconic cards and collectibles (Mantel) Hulk Hogan was an original in the ring — and in sports marketing (cllct)
Washington Post
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Popular unicycle performer Red Panda injured at halftime of WNBA game
MINNEAPOLIS — The popular halftime show performer who goes by Red Panda fell off her unicycle and crashed to the court during intermission of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final between the Indiana Fever and the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night, unable to finish her show. There was no immediate word on the extent of her injuries. She appeared to be grabbing at her left wrist after the fall — she fell forward off the unicycle onto the court — and was helped off the floor by wheelchair.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Prayers Pouring In For Longtime WWE Star Liv Morgan
Prayers Pouring In For Longtime WWE Star Liv Morgan originally appeared on The Spun. Prayers are pouring in for longtime WWE star Liv Morgan on Tuesday morning. Morgan, one of the most popular figures in the WWE, is dealing with an unfortunate injury situation. Morgan, 31, suffered a nasty injury on Monday Night Raw. It looked pretty bad. Advertisement The standout WWE star was wrestling Kairi Sane in an otherwise routine singles match on Monday evening. However, the match was stopped when Morgan appeared to suffer a legitimate shoulder injury. Morgan was declared unable to compete and Sane announced the winner by forfeit. Prayers are pouring in for the longtime WWE star following her unfortunate injury. WWE fans are thinking of the longtime wrestling star amid her injury situation. It has to be painful. "Liv Morgan was one of the most important parts of the women's division on RAW. She was in multiple storylines at once and her getting injured will absolutely affect all the stories because she was a major part of everything. You will see a lot of pivoting in the coming weeks. Combine that with her being one of the most consistent TV workers in the entire company. A huge loss," one fan wrote. Advertisement "Liv Morgan just injured her shoulder area and rolled out of the ring 💔💔💔💔💔💔," one fan added. "Liv Morgan's shoulder dislocation injury is 100% legitimate. If it's a severe dislocation, it could be upwards of 16 weeks before someone is cleared for athletic activity, but again, it's all dependent on the severity. It was seen as a freak occurrence and there is no heat on anyone," one fan added. "Bruised, battered, bloodied, scarred, and now dislocated shoulder. You don't have to like her but the least you can do is respect Liv Morgan's name bc she really be putting her body on the line just to entertain us," one fan added. Liv Morgan.X. Our thoughts are with Morgan as she deals with what has to be an extremely painful injury. Advertisement Hopefully, the popular WWE star won't be out for too long. Prayers Pouring In For Longtime WWE Star Liv Morgan first appeared on The Spun on Jun 17, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Entrepreneur
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Entrepreneur
This Sports Festival Might Be the Most Ambitious Live Event in America
Fanatics Fest is redefining live sports events by blending culture, entertainment and fan experiences into an immersive festival unlike anything the sports world has seen. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. The digital revolution opened up a universe of opportunity for marketers. Millions can be reached in seconds with just a few clicks. But in a screen-saturated world, people crave something deeper: a real connection. "Compared to a digital marketing campaign, live events may reach fewer people," says Fanatics Events CEO Lance Fensterman. "But digital is shallow. It's a quick scroll and move on. Live events are deep and immersive. They allow you to truly interact with fans and give them experiences they'll never forget." Fensterman put that philosophy into action in his first year at Fanatics, leading the launch of Fanatics Fest NYC in 2024, a three-day festival that blends sports, culture and entertainment into one in-person experience. The inaugural event drew over 70,000 attendees last summer. This weekend, Fanatics Fest returns to the Javits Center, with Fensterman at the helm once again, bringing together more than 500 athletes, celebrities and artists — including Tom Brady, LeBron James, Travis Scott and Kevin Hart — from June 20–22. Fanatics Fest is an ambitious undertaking, but it's in experienced hands. Before joining Fanatics, Fensterman served as president of ReedPop, where he helped turn niche gatherings into major pop culture events like New York Comic Con, ComplexCon and Star Wars Celebration. "If you think about the early days of Comic Con, these were people who didn't have a place," Fensterman recalls. "We built this world where they were not just safe, but they were stars." Related: How Global Digitization is Transforming Sports Focus on the fans The sports world brings its own set of challenges, but Fensterman's mission remains the same: bring people together around a shared passion. "A consistent theme throughout my career has been giving fans what they want," he says. "When you can do that, you create moments and experiences they'll never forget." That fan-first mindset is especially important when navigating the diverse and often divided landscape of sports culture. "Sports fans are tribal," Fensterman says. "They group around specific teams or leagues." The self-described nerd likens it to Harry Potter houses, tight-knit communities with distinct identities. WWE fans, for example, are fiercely loyal but may be less inclined to engage with fans of other sports. "When you look at other sports events, they're largely organized by team or sport," he notes, pointing to NBA All-Star Weekend and the NFL's Super Bowl Experience. "We've tried to zoom out and show people there's an entire world where sports, entertainment and culture intersect—regardless of tribe." Think of it like a music festival. You might show up for the headliner but end up discovering two side-stage acts you fall in love with — or years later, brag that you saw a breakout band before they made it big. That's the kind of atmosphere Fensterman wants to create at Fanatics Fest. "What you're hoping is, someone comes because they wanted to see the New York Greats panel, but then they rediscover their love of card collecting, or they catch a simulcast of the Club World Cup and realize European soccer is actually really cool," he says. "Those kinds of cross-pollination moments are exciting — when fans come for one thing and end up connecting with something entirely new." Related: 'Nobody's Ever Seen This Before': How These 2 NYC Sports Icons Are Infusing Swagger into Next-Gen Eyewear Control the chaos The flip side of planning something this all-encompassing is knowing when to stop. "Fanatics is the most ambitious organization I've ever been around," Fensterman says, noting he was still making tweaks to the schedule the morning of our interview. "But we have to go pencils down at some point, because we have to physically build all of this." Once they've finalized the schedule, Fensterman and crew face the daunting challenge of escorting A-Listers through a raucous crowd of avid sports fans without incident. "It's all about giving fans a frictionless experience to access the things they love," Fensterman says. "We don't want talent or athletes sneaking through back corridors— we want them moving through the crowds. But the challenge is, how do you do that without someone like LeBron James getting overrun?" No matter how meticulously Fensterman and his team plan, the only way to understand the logistics of a behemoth like this is to experience it. And after last year, they know what to expect. "My focus is on making new mistakes," Fentsterman says. "It's about constant innovation–fixing what didn't work last year, trying bold new ideas and creating a culture where people feel safe to experiment, take risks and push boundaries." Elevate the experience This year's Fanatics Fest is set to be four times bigger than last year's event, with twice the staff — and with that growth comes a small bump in ticket prices. But Fensterman says the added cost is well worth it. "We raised prices slightly this year because we felt there was room to do so," he explains. "Even during economic downturns, it's still a great value. Compared to the cost of a movie per hour, 10 to 12 hours of immersive entertainment is an affordable way for a family to spend the day doing something special." One of this year's biggest additions is Fanatics Games, where a lucky group of fans will get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to compete against 50 of the biggest names in sports and entertainment in a series of skill challenges, with prizes up to $1 million in cash. The star-studded lineup includes LeBron James, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, DJ Khaled, John Cena, Joe Burrow, Kai Cenat and many more. Fanatics Fest 2025 is unlike anything the sports world has seen. From its star-studded lineup, to its mission of uniting fans across all sports, to its unique offerings like Fanatics Games, Fensterman and his team are ushering in a new era of sports events. The only question now is how they'll top it next year.
