Sport

WWE is returning to Manchester for first-ever box office televised event

Friday Night SmackDown: MCR Edition.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th August 2026

The WWE is coming back to Manchester for what looks set to be one of their biggest overseas event yet, let alone just here in 0161.

Following spectacles such as WWE Live and the ‘Road to Clash in Paris’ last summer, WWE is bringing proper SmackDown scenes to the UK and Europe early next year.

Announcing the blockbuster booking on Monday, 10 August, WWE has chosen the Co-op Live arena to host an unprecedented first televised edition outside of the US this coming January.

Confirming an all-star cast of competitors for one of the franchise’s biggest promotions, this one is a must-not-miss for Manc wrestling fans.

As per the caption of the announcement: “WWE brings the 2027 Road to Royal Rumble European Tour to Co-op Live, the first ever WWE televised event.

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“Fans will see their favourite WWE Superstars in action including Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, World Tag Team Champions The Vision and many more.”

Last time the world-famous sports entertainment company came to our city, we got to see the likes of Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, GUNTHER, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair and more.

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Safe to say that we have been fortunate enough to see many of their most famous faces grace the canvas already.

Manchester, of course, isn’t the only domestic/European ‘Road to Royal Rumble’ date on the calendar in 2027 either.

WWE UK and EU tour dates | 2027

  • Friday, 15 January – Brussels, Belgium
  • Sat, 16 Jan – Gliwice, Poland
  • Sun, 17 Jan – Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • Mon, 18 Jan – Glasgow, OVO Hydro
  • Fri, 22 Jan – Manchester, Co-op Live
  • Sat, 23 Jan – Stockholm, Sweden
  • Sun, 24 Jan – Budapest, Hungary
  • Mon, 25 Jan – Dublin, 3Arena

For anyone looking to grab tickets for the next Manchester WWE show at Co-op Live, you can sign up to find out all the details at the first opportunity right HERE.

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Once again, official Co-op members get early access via the venue’s exclusive pre-sale window, and you can expect general admission to sell out fast, so keep your eyes peeled…

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied via Co-op Live)/The Manc Group

Sport

New number ‘confirmed’ as Marcus Rashford returns to Manchester United

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rashford new shirt number confirmed back at Man United

Against the odds and the transfer gods, local lad Marcus Rashford has officially rejoined Manchester United for pre-season, and it looks as though his new shirt number has been revealed.

It’s one with a fair bit of significance for a couple of reasons, too.

Yes, despite it looking nailed on for Rashford to have all but left Man United ‘for good’ following two loan stints at Aston Villa and a successful spell at FC Barcelona last term, the Wythenshawe winger has returned to Carrington and now looks set to be reintegrated into the squad.

Just goes to show that besides the Red Devils having seen plenty of sagas in their time, anything can happen in a transfer window.

As you can see, the homegrown United academy product turned first-team star and England international was spotted driving into the team’s training complex to link back up with his former teammates and, indeed, some new faces since he left.

The last time Rashford played for his boyhood and still parent club was back in December 2024, and his most recent loan deal to Barcelona was expected to be made permanent provided he performed well – which, with 14 goals and 10 assists, he did.

Plenty of Barca fans were more eager to see him join his self-proclaimed dream destination full-time, too.

However, not only were the Catalan giants ultimately unwilling to pay the estimated €30 million transfer fee for his services – not to mention his significant wage demands – but after they decided to sign Newcastle and fellow Three Lions attacker Anthony Gordon in a similar position, it never came to fruition.

Now seemingly set to be given another chance in the senior setup and a chance at getting into the first-team squad under Michael Carrick, who has seen every up and down of Rashford’s time at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’; he’s also set to carry on wearing the same shirt number he did for the ‘Blaugrana’.

Reportedly set to take the vacant #14 jersey, which has been free since Christian Eriksen left the club in May 2025, it provides some kind of continuity from his fruitful chapter away from home.

Not only did Rashford supposedly select the shirt while in Spain due to his admiration for Thierry Henry, who famously shared a similar kind of inside forward role throughout his career, but it’s been noted by many fans that it’s also the same number his best mate Jesse Lingard used to wear.

While it remains to be seen how happy the 28-year-old is to have ended up back at Old Trafford, this has at least served as a nice little full-circle coincidence for some supporters.

As for the apparent reintegration process itself – what do you make of it, Reds: are you among those glad to see him back in United colours, or do you think he should still look at a move away from the club in the near future?

Manchester United announce plans for first permanent fan zone at Old Trafford
He’s not the only surprise new addition ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

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Featured Images — @rachaelandimogenmufc (via TikTok)/Bryan Berlin (via WikiPortaits)

Sport

A local Manchester run club is holding two special running routes to see the total eclipse

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester eclipse running route Trail Division hike 2026

With the highly anticipated total eclipse fast approaching, people not just here in Greater Manchester but all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world are gearing up to try and watch it – but this native running club are doing it a bit differently.

Eclipses occur once every 12-18 months, but this is set to be the biggest since 1999.

The moon is set to cover approximately 96-98% of the sun this coming Wednesday, 12 August, 2026, and rather than try to watch it from a window at home or drive to somewhere with supposedly ‘the best view’, local sports club Manchester Road Runners are turning it into their latest one-off event.

Sharing details online, the free-to-join local organisation, which boasts thousands of members on Facebook and various other platforms, will be timing things to make sure they catch the phenomenon.

Writing in the accompanying caption, the Road Runners say: “We’ve pulled some strings and have a very special event taking place on August 12th, a solar eclipse! Come run with us under a darkened sun next Wednesday from The Wharf at 18:30, with peak moon coverage expected at around 19:10.”

Better still, they’re also teaming up with their trail running spin-off club for an even more scenic twist on the evening excursion.

“If you prefer to experience your solar phenomena under the wide open skies”, they go on to write, “our friends over at Trail Division will be holding a hike/run off road, meet at Piccadilly Station at 18:00 to get shady in the great outdoors.”

Fortunately, they have issued an important disclaimer, going on to remind runners that “while beautiful and majestic, the sun should NEVER be directly looked at in the face unprotected”, signing off by adding, “Respect the sun, respect your peepers, stay ocularly safe out there.”

If you’ve never come across MRR before, they’re probably the biggest run club in the entire Greater Manchester region and their social-first jogs, intervals, track sessions and more revolve around meeting back up with your mates for a wholesome pint and a chat.

This massive Manchester running club where jogs finish at the pub is the best
For many, it’s the biggest and the best in the city.

As for the eclipse run, it’s set to be a very magical variation on their usual Wednesday evening meets.

Quite rightly, they also point out in the post that you can actually buy certain glasses to view eclipses on these rare occasions, with search traffic often ramping up in and around these events.

Meanwhile, the Trail Division branch is yet to confirm the route for their run/hike, but it will most likely remain in the nearby North West vicinity; keep your eyes peeled on their social media pages (linked above) for more information and other upcoming trail events.

Speaking of trail runs, there’s a pretty beautiful albeit challenging one coming up next month…

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Featured Images — Manchester Road Runners

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