Sport

WWE is returning to Manchester for a blockbuster live show

They couldn't have teamed up with two more fitting partners either.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 19th March 2025

Just a few months on from making its debut at Co-op Live, WWE has announced it will be returning to Manchester for another turn around the ring and a blockbuster clash of stars later this year.

However, this time they’re heading back to their roots here in Manchester with the AO Arena set to welcome them once again for a very special show.

As part of the build-up to the first-ever WWE Premium Live Event taking place in the French capital this August simply entitled, Clash in Paris, a number of shows will be taking place here in the UK first.

Teaming up not only with the AO but beloved local dive bar, Junior Jackson’s, for a special giveaway, wrestling fans have all the more reason to get excited by the ‘Road to Clash in Paris‘ programme.

With the venue also set to host a special screening of the 1995 Royal Rumble – the same year that the AO Arena first opened its doors – there are prizes to be won.

Not only are there 100 free drinks to be won at Junior’s, with the home venue Bunny Jackson’s and the country-style karaoke spin-off regularly showing the WWE action, but if you happen to be first and second in the queue you’re in for a real treat…

Yes, if you’re an eager enough beaver, the first two people through the door at JJ’s on Wednesday, 19 March will receive two free tickets to the live WWE show in Manchester on Tuesday, 26 August.

They’ll be letting people in for the ticket giveaway from 5pm and the free pints will be poured until approximately 7:20pm when the Royal Rumble rewatch is due to end.

See in the queue, I guess – and be prepared for us to wrestle you to be first in line.

Anything under the Jackson’s banner is considered the unofficial home of WWE in Manchester, as far as we’re concerned.

As for the AO Arena date, fans in attendance will see their favourite WWE Superstars in action, including Undisputed WWE Champion, a.k.a. ‘The American Nightmare’, Cody Rhodes; World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER, Jey Uso, WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton; Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Charlotte Flair, Sami Zayn, and many more.

The final lineup is still yet to be fully confirmed but you’ll be treated to some seriously big names and, of course, they always have a few surprises up their sleeve.

For instance, when WWE Live came to Manchester back in November 2024, the crowd was treated to a special guest appearance by another homegrown fighting champion.

You can register for pre-sale now and you can sign up for the Manchester waitlist HERE.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied

Sport

Rugby Football League to merge second and third divisions from next year

Danny Jones Danny Jones

The Rugby Football League (RFL) has officially announced that it will be combining the Championship and League One divisions next year as part of a larger restructuring.

Besides the push for phasing out automatic promotion and relegation with the top flight, these will be among the biggest changes in the RFL since the creation of the Super League.

Revealing their plans earlier this week, the rugby authority confirmed that the second and third-tier divisions will be merging, with the changes set to be implemented from 2026 onwards.

You can see the statement in full down below, which has been met with a mix of

Confirmed in a lengthier statement online this past Wednesday, 27 August, the update reads: “The RFL Board have confirmed that the Betfred Championship and League One competitions will be combined in a single division outside the Betfred Super League (BSL) in 2026.

“This follows the decision to expand Super League from 12 clubs to 14, subject to conditions – which was taken by the existing Super League clubs last month.

“A number of fixture formats are being developed following consultation with the Championship and League One clubs, but there will be no final announcement until after the number and identity of clubs in each of the two expanded competitions is confirmed, on Thursday, October 16.

“However, the reversion to a single division outside Super League means the Middle Eights that had been scheduled for the end of the 2025 season, as a means of determining promotion and relegation between Championship and League One, will no longer take place.”

It’s also worth noting that these changes will also see the proposed Super 8s end-of-season fixtures scrapped, as the 12 teams set to compete in the playoff-style tournament are obviously now being combined into one league moving forward.

As detailed in the latest communication from the RFL, the League One champions’ prize of £25,000, as well as the usual trophy and medals promised at the start of the season, are still up for grabs; the Championship Play-Offs will still also take place as scheduled.

The winners of the Betfred Championship Grand Final are to receive £100k and 0.25 club grading points.

Commenting on the impending overhaul, Rugby League Commercial Chair Nigel Wood OBE – who headed up the latest strategic review – said: “Following the decision of the Betfred Super League clubs that the elite competition should expand to 14 clubs in 2026, subject to conditions, this is a logical and equally exciting next step.

“The Championship and L1 clubs have been extensively consulted and were virtually unanimous that the two divisional structure for the part-time game wasn’t working as well as it ought, particularly League One – and it is a great credit to the Championship clubs that they recognised that position.”

Reiterating the belief that this is the best way to support and promote “historic and ambitious clubs” outside of the BSL, helping boost attendances, finances and hopefully future investment. It remains a touchy subject for some, though.

Greater Manchester Mayors deliver update on Salford Red Devils situation
The RFL merging divisions may not yet even matter for some.

Speaking of clubs looking for further backing, questions remain over the vetting process for investors and the ‘fit and proper persons tests’ in both rugby and football, especially with the ongoing crisis at Salford Red Devils.

With all that being said, while everyone will have the chance to win the new Championship and perhaps Super League promotion, the likes of Salford are just trying to stay afloat.

Regardless, what do you make of the RFL merging the Championship and League, and do you think it’s the right step for the future of rugby league?

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — RFL

Sport

Ruben Amorim has explained why he refused to watch Man United’s penalty shootout against Grimsby

Danny Jones Danny Jones Ruben Amorim explains why he didn't watch Man United's penalties against Grimsby

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has explained the reason why he didn’t watch his team’s penalty shootout against Grimsby Town as they crashed out of the EFL Carabao Cup.

It was yet another night to forget for Man United as the Premier League outfit conceded the first two goals against the League Two side in a fixture that hadn’t been played since 1947.

Even a late comeback through new signing Bryan Mbuemo and Harry Maguire’s late header – an increasingly frequent scenario, it would seem – wasn’t enough to spare their blushes, as the Carabao‘s straight-to-penalties format meant that they couldn’t even rely on extra time.

You already know the rest, and if you were watching on telly, you will have seen head coach Ruben Amorim rocking back and forth as he refused to watch his squad’s spot-kicks. Like the rest of the game, it’s not gone down as a particularly great look.

While there were plenty at home who felt similar reluctance to watch the pens, many supporters have been left understandably frustrated by the Portuguese head coach’s behaviour, accusing him of a lack of leadership.

Admittedly, it doesn’t project great optics, especially given all the talk of ‘storms clearing’ and ‘good days coming’ spouted via club media in recent weeks and months.

However, the 40-year-old has at least given some reasoning for not watching his players take a total of 12 penalties, though we’ll leave it up to the fans.

Speaking to ITV in one of the few post-match interviews he conducted on Wednesday evening, Amorim said: “The penalty shootout was not important, if I’m there trying to see if we win the game, it doesn’t matter. The beginning of the game, during the game, that’s what mattered.

“If we win this game, it’s so unfair on these guys – the opponents. So today, the football was fair; congratulations to them. We move on to the next game, and then we have time to decide things.”

You see Amorim’s post-match interview with ITV in full right here:

As you can see, he went on to explain that he was “not thinking about the penalties, to go to the next stage”, choosing instead to add that his side “spoke really loud about what they want today. It’s really clear, I think it’s really clear to everybody what happened today.”

Being probed further on the precise meaning of this turn of phrase, he told multiple reporters that “a good team can win anything”, suggesting instead that those he fielded were, in the end, merely a collection of players who failed to chime with each other.

Many would argue this has been a common theme not only since he joined the club, but for the last few managers who have taken charge at Old Trafford.

Besides that, he signed off by insisting that there was little he could say to soften the blow of the result, besides apologising to them directly and adding, “something has to change, and you’re not going to change 22 players again.”

Be it as a begrudging Red, an amused rival, or just a neutral, you can either hate-watch or simply study the shocking defeat on what was a historic night for some very happy Grimsby fans down below.

Amorim may not have wanted to sit through the penalty shootout, but MUFC weren’t great to watch in regulation time either.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshot via YouTube)

More Sport

Manchester MMA fighter Lewis McGrillen fighting in Dubai PFL Champions Series 2025

Sport

Rising Mancunian MMA star Lewis McGrillen set to take part in PFL Champions Series

Latest Man United Drama Call collab drop location

Shopping

Drama Call drop latest limited edition Manchester United collection

Antony transfer update Man United loan deal

Sport

A deal has reportedly been agreed for Antony to leave Manchester United

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches