NEW YORK — Venus Williams isn’t letting her age or anything else, for that matter, get in her way of trying to take home a 15th Grand Slam doubles title, and with three more victories, she will head back to the podium.

Williams and her partner Leylah Fernandez are on to the quarterfinals after needing only an hour and 15 minutes to beat the No. 12 seeds Ekaterina Alexandrova and Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-4 in front of a frenzied Louis Armstrong Stadium.

The road gets tougher, though, as the duo takes on No. 1 seed Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, who won Wimbledon in 2024 and this year’s Australian Open, in the quarterfinals.

Each of Williams’ 14 Grand Slam doubles titles has been with her sister Serena, with whom she also won three Olympic gold medals.

For the 45-year-old Williams, it is her first doubles quarterfinal appearance at a Grand Slam since 2016, when she and Serena won their sixth Wimbledon championship.

Teaming with the 22-year-old Fernandez from Canada, who was a 2021 US Open finalist, has Williams back in the spotlight after she took a 16-month hiatus before returning to the sport this summer. The duo has yet to lose a set in the tournament.

“I have full confidence in Venus, and I hope she has full confidence in me during our match,” Fernandez said. “We’re just going out there, playing our game: Be offensive, aggressive and ready for the ball.”

The praise didn’t stop there when Williams called Fernandez ‘the best doubles partner’ she has had outside of her sister Serena.

But Venus also had a message for her younger sister before her quarterfinal match.

“She’s so happy for Leylah and I. She’s given us advice, and we just need her in the box. So, my message is, Serena, you need to show up,’ Williams said while laughing.

• Several NFL teams could get off to slow starts in 2025 thanks to tough schedules and pervasive problems.
• The Bengals have been one of the league’s worst early-season underperformers in recent years, and Cincinnati is under pressure to turn things around.
• The Chiefs have been strong in September throughout Andy Reid’s run, but Kansas City faces a daunting slate to open the 2025 campaign.

NFL teams are judged on the entirety of their body of work – once they reach the season’s finish line. Until then, new verdicts are rendered constantly in a week-to-week league.

While every team has its slate wiped clean in the standings to start the fresh campaign, there’s hardly even footing in Week 1. Schedule imbalances, for one, confer advantages and disadvantages from the get-go. The latter can prove particularly troublesome to some franchises, which can be tripped up by various vulnerabilities that weren’t fully sorted out in the preseason. And while some teams end up shaking off the initial narratives that surround them and their slow starts, others end up engulfed by them.

With the new season kicking off Thursday, here are five NFL teams that could stumble out of the gates this season:

Cincinnati Bengals

No contender in recent history has embodied September struggles quite like Zac Taylor’s crew, which is just 7-14-1 in the month since the coach took the reins in 2019. Only once in that span – during the team’s 2021 Super Bowl run – has the franchise avoided an 0-2 start.

But Cincinnati has at least some reason to believe it can break out of the pattern that has dogged it for the better part of a decade. For once, Joe Burrow was granted a sense of normalcy not afforded to him in previous training camps, during which he was either battling an ailment or on the comeback trail. Last summer might have been relatively smooth for the quarterback if not for All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase missing all of camp and preseason amid a contract standoff. An 0-3 start ensued, and the hole proved to be too deep for the team to climb out of, with the Bengals missing the postseason for the second consecutive season despite winning their final five contests.

With Burrow healthy and Chase signed to a massive extension, Cincinnati surely hopes its all-important passing attack skews closer to the form in which it finished last season rather than the manner in which it opened 2024, when it faceplanted in a stunning home loss to the New England Patriots. But the effort to give starters more preseason run yielded mixed results, with Burrow and Taylor calling out the sloppiness that spoiled the opener. Cohesion could prove problematic along the offensive line, where two new guards join a starting lineup that’s seldom granted Burrow any semblance of comfort, and throughout the defense, which is counting on new coordinator Al Golden to develop a host of underperforming young players.

The schedule should provide a bit of relief – at least initially. With the opener at home against the Cleveland Browns followed by a tilt with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Bengals have a solid shot at their first 2-0 start since Andy Dalton’s penultimate season with the organization. But an intensely difficult five-game stretch afterward – at the Minnesota Vikings, at the Denver Broncos, vs. the Detroit Lions, at the Green Bay Packers and vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers – threatens to put the team at another serious deficit in the standings approaching midseason.

Chicago Bears

In building a reputation as one of the NFL’s offensive masterminds, Ben Johnson has repeatedly hammered the importance of precision. So far, it’s clear the new head coach in Chicago isn’t seeing much of that.

After a preseason finale in which his starters gained just 22 yards on their two first-quarter drives and the offense committed several miscues thereafter, Johnson made clear the showing left him with a bad feeling.

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‘This is our first time on the road, and we were going to find out what kind of road team we were going to be,’ Johnson said. ‘If the first quarter was any indication, it was not good enough. We have to get better in a hurry.’

Johnson represents a sea change for the Bears, as a long listless franchise finally appears to be energized. But growing pains are inevitable given the immense scope of the shift. Johnson acknowledged that even exponential growth for Caleb Williams likely entails an initial lag, and operating within structure and better sensing danger might not come easily to the 2024 No. 1 pick after he took a league-high 68 sacks last season. And while the overhauled interior offensive line looks much improved, there’s no guarantee the front will coalesce early, especially with the question at left tackle remaining open. With a slate that opens against the Vikings and Lions and includes October trips to face the Washington Commanders and Baltimore Ravens, Chicago might require a bit of a recalibration on the feel-good vibes.

Houston Texans

Equipping C.J. Stroud with more responsibility seems bound to produce better results than the ones Houston saw in 2024, when the signal-caller ranked second in both quarterback hits (109) and sacks taken (52). But how much can first-year coordinator Nick Caley’s new scheme do to cover for a front that still looks to be on shaky ground? Meanwhile, the receiving corps lacks a reliable running mate for Nico Collins, and Joe Mixon’s uncertain injury outlook leaves an already suspect ground game in a dangerous spot.

There’s plenty for a first-time play-caller to compensate for, leaving lots of reasons to believe that this unit might not find its footing until much later into the fall or winter. The schedule also does little to assuage any acclimation concerns. Houston opens up on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, a team that has famously tripped itself up at the start of each of the last two seasons but now has enviable continuity. Two other matchups against 2024 division winners – vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and at the Baltimore Ravens – loom before the Week 6 bye.

Kansas City Chiefs

Maybe it’s foolhardy to doubt the NFL’s model of consistent excellence, with Kansas City having won at least four of its first five games in each of the last three seasons. But despite all the advantages readily accessible to any team with Patrick Mahomes at the helm, the Chiefs are facing a slate that easily could ignite a Super Bowl hangover discourse. Six teams that won at least 11 games last season await in the first nine games, though only the opener against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil and the pre-bye tilt with the Buffalo Bills will be played away from Arrowhead Stadium.

With Rashee Rice’s suspension in place for the first six weeks, the renewed commitment to reviving the downfield passing game might be forced to go on hold for a bit. And if the reshuffled left side of the offensive line doesn’t provide Mahomes with sufficient protection, Kansas City might fully revert to scraping by with its aerial attack in the short term. Don’t expect a full-blown crisis, but a mere regression to the mean in one-score games for a historic outlier could produce an uncharacteristic run of early setbacks.

Detroit Lions

If Dan Campbell’s crew really does feel the effects of substantial attrition, it should be apparent in short order. While new coordinators John Morton and Kelvin Sheppard can stand firm on the foundation put in place by their predecessors, replacing eight assistant coaches in total is bound to yield some instability. An offensive line that ranked as one of the league’s elite once looked perfectly capable of ironing out imperfections elsewhere, but the loss of Kevin Zeitler and Frank Ragnow, the latter serving as the mainstay in the middle, leaves a lot for rookie Tate Ratledge and second-year blocker Christian Mahogany to take on in starting roles.

The biggest issue for Detroit, however, is its unrelenting schedule. Road matchups against the Packers, Bengals, Ravens and Chiefs will keep the Lions on their toes in the first six weeks, and a brutal four-game stretch that features the Buccaneers, Vikings, Commanders and Eagles follows.

After a historic 15-win campaign in 2024, success can and should be measured differently for Detroit moving forward. That’s good for all involved, because matching the regular-season output amid so much change will be a nearly impossible task for a still-formidable group.

The Green Bay Packers acquired Micah Parsons in a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys in the week leading up to the 2025 NFL season.

While Parsons passed a physical with the Packers to complete the trade, the 26-year-old is dealing with a back ailment that could impact him early during the 2025 NFL season.

Parsons’ back malady was a known issue before the trade. The Cowboys edge rusher was held out of practice because of the injury, though some assumed it was a ploy to allow the disgruntled pass rusher to continue his hold-in away from the team.

Parsons’ injury was, in fact, real, and he figures to have to manage it throughout the 2025 NFL season as he looks to quickly establish himself as a star with the Packers.

Here’s what to know about Parsons’ injury and whether he will be able to see the field in Week 1.

Micah Parsons injury update

Parsons is dealing with an L4/L5 facet joint sprain in his back ahead of the 2025 NFL season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Facet joints are ‘are the links between the bones of the spine,’ according to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The joint between the L4 and L5 vertabrae is located in the lower back, which is also known as the lumbar portion of the spine.

Injuries to facet joints can cause ‘pain and irritation,’ which is presumably what Parsons is dealing with ahead of the 2025 NFL season.

Parsons was in a physical therapy program at the end of his time with the Cowboys, according to Schefter. Dallas also ‘prescribed [Parsons] a five-day plan of an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid’ to help him recover from the injury.

It isn’t yet clear how exactly the Packers will treat Parsons’ injury, but Schefter reports the perennial Pro Bowler ‘may take an epidural injection prior to Sunday’s game vs. the Lions if needed to help him play.’

Will Micah Parsons play Week 1 vs. Detroit Lions?

Parsons is ‘trying to play’ in the Packers season-opener against the Lions on Sunday, Sept. 7, per Schefter.

Parsons has been practicing since being acquired from the Cowboys, but it remains ‘uncertain’ whether he will be able to get on the field in Week 1.

Micah Parsons injury history

Parsons has played in 63 of a possible 68 regular-season games during his NFL career to date. Below is a look at the absences he endured during his four years with the Cowboys.

• 2021: Parsons missed Dallas’ regular-season finale after being played on the reserve/COVID list. He returned to play in their 23-17 playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
• 2024: Parsons suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Cowboys’ Week 4 game against the New York Giants. He missed four games because of the injury.

Dallas posted a 2-3 record in its five games without Parsons from 2021-24.

Micah Parsons trade details

Below is a look at what the Packers sent to the Cowboys to acquire Parsons:

Packers get:

• EDGE Micah Parsons

Cowboys get:

• 2026 first-round pick
• 2027 first-round pick
• DL Kenny Clark

A freshman football player at Florida State was shot late Sunday night while visiting family in Havana, Florida.

The school confirmed in a social media post on Monday, Sept. 1 that linebacker Ethan Pritchard suffered a gunshot wound and is in the intensive care unit in ‘critical but stable’ condition. The Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, reports Pritchard underwent surgery Sunday night at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.

Captain Anglie Holmes, a spokesperson for the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, said there has been misinformation spread online about a potential suspect. She said the sheriff’s office has been canvassing the area for information after Pritchard was shot inside a vehicle.

Pritchard was a three-star recruit from Seminole High School (Sanford, Florida) who enrolled at Florida State over the summer. He did not play in Saturday’s season-opening win over Alabama.

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The first possession of the Bill Belichick era with North Carolina football ended with a touchdown.

It was downhill from there for the Tar Heels, as the TCU at one point scored 41 unanswered points and put a spoiler on Belichick’s collegiate coaching debut on Monday, Sept. 1, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

UNC led 7-0 following a Caleb Hood rushing touchdown with 10:55 left in the first quarter. The Horned Frogs tied the game at 7-7 on a touchdown pass from Josh Hoover to Jordan Dwyer just over six game clock minutes later. It was all TCU from there.

Here’s a look at some reactions on social media from fans on Belichick’s dud debut at the collegiate level:

Social media reactions to TCU blowing out UNC

One of the best atmospheres in wrestling awaits.

WWE returned to France today, where an electric crowd showed out for Clash in Paris 2025. It was the second premium live event to take place in the country and first one since Backlash 2024. That event, held in May last year, was one that wrestling fans will remember for years to come thanks to one of the most raucous crowds in recent memory.

The fans certainly made this another fun international event. Five matches took place Sunday, headlined by a fatal four-way for the World Heavyweight Championship and John Cena facing Logan Paul as his farewell tour reaches its end.

All in all, zero titles changed hands, but that didn’t stop several of the matches from delivering. The fatal four-way was fantastic and offered a totally unexpected ending that shocked fans. Logan Paul vs. John Cena wasn’t just fun, it was riveting and showcased the best of what both wrestlers had to offer. Sheamus vs. Rusev was violent, dirty, harsh, everything a donnybrook should be.

This was certainly one of the best international events in recent memory. Here are the highlights from the event.

Follow USA TODAY Sports for all the action from Clash in Paris 2025:

Rollins retains title thanks to his wife

After Jey Uso stuck his neck out to protect a defenseless Roman Reigns, the fatal four-way started off as bad as it could have for him, with CM Punk delivering a kick that would make titans shiver.

Uso remained out of the fight for about two minutes after that, allowing LA Knight to attempt a quick pin on Punk, who promptly kicked out.

Punk was gifted a few moments alone in the ring with the damaged Uso, and Punk took advantage, damaging Uso even worse, but Punk was pulled out by Rollins, who proceeded to keep laying hands on Uso until LA Knight returned to team up on Rollins.

Rollins would be the first to dominate the ring, walking around and laying individual hits on each competitor about five times each, but he never really had an opportunity to attempt a pin. Once everyone recovered, their gameplan was clear though. They all ganged up on Rollins. At one point, LA Knight threw Punk off Rollins, just to get a few licks in himself. No one was making a push for the title. They just wanted to kick Rollins into the ground and throw him through a table, even teaming up to lay everything out.

However, that plan fell through when Uso took the opportunity to return Punk’s early kick. Uso would also land a super kick on LA Knight and follow Rollins into the crowd to hit him with a few uppercuts.

When the four returned to the ring, Rollins had the first opportunity for a win, pinning Punk while LA Knight and Jey Uso were recovering. Punk kicked out though.

At that point, it was anyone’s match, every contender had their own moment with a chance to win. Everyone had a pin attempt, but interference, kick outs, and counterattacks were common.

Uso shined throughout the match, even with his injured ribs, he put up great fights against the other contenders. While he did usually lose his individual fights, even taking a harsh kick to the face from LA Knight, Uso often found himself in the middle of the action, causing havoc and problems for anyone trying to overlook him.

In general, the wrestlers with the most chances to win were Seth Rollins and CM Punk. Each of the were laying out competitors and attempting pins left and right, but neither was able to seal a victory. Rollins, specifically, was targeting Punk, even going out of his way to mock Punk, telling him that he hopes he never has a match in WWE again. He screamed, ‘I hate you. I hate your family, and I want you to go away.’

Right after that brief monologue, Rollins grabbed a chair and was all alone in the ring with Punk. Rollins attempted to seriously hurt Punk, but Punk was just able to evade the move, and nearly countering Rollins had it not been for a low blow from Becky Lynch, who flew in to save her husband.

That interference was all Rollins needed. Punk was out for the count, and Rollins pinned him with ease. WWE’s power couple of Rollins and Lynch each maintained their titles tonight.

While a return from Breakker or Reed was expected, it would’ve cost The Vision two titans, but instead it was a best-case scenario for the group. Not only did Rollins retain the title, but neither Breakker nor Reed will suffer suspension.

John Cena doles Logan Paul a lesson in respect

As much as Cena wanted to teach Logan Paul to show respect in this match, Paul put up a good fight, giving the former champion a run for his money at multiple points throughout the fight. No matter what great maneuver Paul pulled in this fight though, the crowd was entirely behind Cena, even mirroring Cena’s classic ‘U Can’t See Me’ taunt after Cena laid Paul out center ring.

Paul’s athleticism was on full display in this fight. The YouTuber was flipping over the ropes, flipping out of throws from Cena and was crawling all over old man Cena throughout the fight, constantly putting Cena in uncomfortable positions. However, Cena was able to turn some of those moves around, nearly getting Paul to tap out on occasion.

The pair traded pins for the next fifteen minutes or so. Paul got the upper hand late in the fight, slamming Cena on the ring multiple times and even mocking Cena with a ‘U Can’t See Me’ chant of his own right in Cena’s face. Cena would not go down like that though. He wouldn’t even go down after Paul hit him with his titanium-loaded right hand.

About thirty minutes into the match, both fighters were extremely tired, but Paul still managed to kick up from the floor without his hands, showing that his youth was turning into a massive advantage. After everything Cena had thrown at Paul, Paul still had the energy to pull of athletic feats other wrestlers can only dream of.

Paul used that energy to mock Cena once again, but just like the first time, Cena turned that around. Paul was looking for an AA, but it was countered and Cena managed to slam Paul, but Paul kicked out without much issue.

Cena kept his foot on the gas though, hitting Paul with back-to-back Attitude Adjustments. Paul tried his best to avoid the inevitable, hitting Cena with that deadly right hand again, but Cena merely shook it off and pinned Paul for the win.

Rusev defeats Sheamus in a good ol’ fashioned donnybrook

This match was as back-and-forth as any match can be, which is to be expected from a donnybrook. No rules, no one holds back. From kendo sticks to shillelaghs to barstools. Everything was used as a weapon in this fight.

Rusev and Sheamus traded blows the whole time. However, the tide turned when Rusev tried to embarrass Sheamus by holding him over the rope and beating Sheamus’ drum, which is normally a move reserved to Sheamus.

Sheamus showed why it was his move, doing the same thing to Rusev three separate times. Once over the ropes, once over the bar setup outside the ring, and once outside the barrierrs. All of that resulted in a pin attempt for Sheamus that Rusev was shockingly able to kick out of.

The battle continued and returned to its back-and-forth nature. It was unclear who had the advantage, and the French crowd responded with ‘This is awesome’ chants. Every blow landed by Rusev was retaliated by Sheamus. The match moved all over the venue, including the top of whiskey barrels placed alongside the announcer’s tables.

That was one of the defining moments of the match. Rusev had Sheamus in a monster hold, knees in his back, hands over his chin. It looked like Sheamus might tap out, which wouldn’t have done anything since the submission would had to happen in ring, but it emphasized how much pain Sheamus was in. However, Sheamus didn’t tap. In fact, he turned it around, launching Rusev onto tables next to the barrels. After Sheamus dragged Rusev back into the ring, he attempted to pin again, but Rusev managed to kick out.

Rusev responded by shattering a shillelagh across Sheamus’ body. That type of blow would normally devastate your average wrestler, but Sheamus managed to kick out. However, the fight wouldn’t last much longer. Rusev would use the broken shillelagh to hold Sheamus in a painful position. The shillelagh was shoved into Sheamus’ mouth as Rusev stuck his knees in Sheamus’ back.

For jus the second time in his storied career, Sheamus tapped out.

Becky Lynch retains Intercontinental Championship

The Man started this match off hot, taunting, disrespecting, and downright humiliating Bella. Bella needed to kick out of two pin attempts before even really getting a shot at Lynch.

In general, Bella never really had a strong stretch. Most opportunities Bella had were brief counterattacks on Lynch. When Lynch would pin Bella, Bella would occasionally turn it around and turn it into a slam or counterpin. However, Lynch was fighting like her life depended on it the whole match.

The only problem was that no matter how much Lynch threw at Bella, Bella looked fresh. At times, it looked like she was smiling when Lynch would pull her in a chokehold or pin.

Bella’s best opportunity came after Lynch missed a launch from the corner. Lynch’s miss put her off-balance, and Bella took advantage, putting Lynch in a chokehold. Lynch was able to reach the ropes to break the hold, but Bella maintained her momentum, keeping the pressure on Lynch.

Ultimately, that enthusiasm from Bella is what would do her in. After slamming Lynch off the steel steps, and hitting Lynch with a Manhandle Slam. Lynch stayed resilient.

Lynch would seal the victory by securing a Lynch-pin afer rolling over Bella’s back.

Wyatt Sicks retain against The Street Profits

This title rematch got off to a weird start, as Angelo Dawkins dominated the start of the match, but teammate Montez Ford still hit Dawkins with a hard tag to get in the ring against Dexter Lumis. Dawkins was clearly displeased with the decision.

Although Ford would hit Loomis hard, Lumis ouwld be able to tag Joe Gacy and the pair would put a serious beatdown on Ford in the opposite corner, far away from Dawkins. Ford would kick out of three pin attempts before finally being able to tag Dawkins back in.

Dawkins destroyed Joe Gacy, hitting him in a series of flying kicks and neckbreakers before trying to finish the fight with a swanton bomb. Gacy was able to kick out.

The Street Profits absolutely dominated the fight from that point on. It was getting so bad that the rest of the Wyatt Sicks had to step in, with Nikki Cross and Uncle Howdy holding Ford back, preventing him from helping Dawkins, which ultimately allowed Lumis and Gacy to pin Ford for the win and retention of their tag team title.

Adam Pierce kicks Reed, Breakker out of Paris La Défense Arena

Backstage, Adam Pierce wasted no time telling Reed and Breakker off. He informed fans that Uso would be hobbled for his match later and Roman Reigns was being taken to the hospital.

Pierce kicked the pair out of the venue, telling them that they would not be allowed near the Paris La Defense Arena for Rollins’ fatal four-way title defense match. Pierece even went as far as threatening suspension without pay if either of them stepped in to help Rollins later.

Of course, The Vision is stronger than Pierce can handle right now, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see either Reed or Breakker make an appearance tonight to help Rollins regardless.

Roman Reigns beats Bronson Reed, The Vision gets last laugh

It took a while for this match to get started as the crowd in Paris went crazy at Reigns’ entrance. The crowd really enjoyed Roman Reigns’ subtle jeers at Paul Heyman, Reigns’ former wise man, who now sides with Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed.

Reigns rode that crowd support to early domination in the match, pushing Reed into the corner and landing a series of solid blows. However, that momentum would come to a screeching halt when Reigns would try to lift Big Bronson Reed over his head at center ring. Reed’s weight proved too much though and Reigns collapsed, with Reed landing on his head.

That’s the shift that Reed needed. The match moved outside the ring, where Reed dominated, even slamming Reigns on the announcer’s table. Even when the match moved back into the ring, Reigns struggled to find an advantage. Every time Reigns looked like he was going to make a move, Reed would counterattack and lay Reigns flat.

Reed was doing so well in the fight, he even taunted Reigns with the stolen sneakers that Paul Heyman had around his neck ringside. Reed and Breakker stole those sneakers from Reigns at SummerSlam, and Reigns clearly hasn’t forgotten.

After that, Reed tried to add to his collection, looking to untie Reigns’ shoes in the ring, but Reigns retaliated, landing two clotheslines, a slap, and pushing Reed over the ropes, before hitting Reed with a drive-by drop kick. Reed, ever tough, stayed standing through most of it, even after Reigns landed two Superman punches, the Aus-zilla was able to kick out of a pin attempt.

Reigns went for his finisher after, loading up a Samoan spear, but Reed countered it with a drop kick, knocking Reigns out of the ring. Reed then flew out of the ring and landed on Reigns, much to the chagrin of the Parisian crowd.

Reed would miss the ensuing Tsunami but would hit Reigns with a massive slam. Reigns would be able to kick out though. Reed was shocked. But he wasn’t finished. Reed dragged Reigns to the corner and prepared for another Tsunami, but Reigns quickly recovered and landed a huge punch on Reed followed by a Samoan drop which left Reed on all fours. Reed tried to recover but the moment he got up, Reigns had a spear loaded up and knocked Reed out cold. It was an easy pin after that.

Reigns wasn’t done though. As Paul Heyman lay down, checking on Reed. Reigns snuck back into the ring. Heyman turned around and was shocked to see his former Tribal Chief staring him down. Heyman begged for mercy, even acknowledging Reigns as tribal chief and telling Reigns that ‘the world is yours.’

Reigns merely gestured for Heyman to return his shoes. Heyman obliged. But Reigns wanted more. He put Heyman in a guillotine, choking out the wise man who betrayed him at WrestleMania. Heyman tried to tap out, but Reigns didn’t let up. Heyman fell to the mat unconscious.

As Reigns celebrated atop the announcer’s table, Reed’s ally Bron Breakker came out of nowhere to spear Reigns, taking his moment of glory away from him.

Reed and Breakker took that time to help Heyman out of the ring. Reigns was clearly in pain, but tried to leave the ring on his own. Unfortunately, Bron Breakker came back for Round 2, landing another spear on Reigns.

Security tried to escort Breakker away from Reigns, but Reed kept them away, even shoving Reigns back into the ring, where Breakker stood over him and placed him in prime position for Reed to land a tsunami.

Reigns was done at that point. EMTs needed to be called, and Reigns was carried off on a stretcher. Or at least he was supposed to be…when Reed and Breakker returned again. Reed hit Reigns with another Tsunami, while Reigns lay defenseless on the stretcher.

Finally, Main Event Jey Uso burst into the ring to help his cousin, trying to fight off both Breakker and Reed, putting himself on the line when he has his own championship match later today. It was a truly selfless act. But The Vision were too much for Uso to handle. Breakker hit Uso with a spear. Reed hit Reigns with a third tsunami.

Finally, security did their job and escorted Reed and Breakker out. The damage was obviously done though. It’s very likely that Reed and Breakker will face serious repercussions for their actions.

Watch: Clash in Paris 2025 preshow

When is Clash in Paris 2025?

Clash in Paris 2025 is on Sunday, Aug. 31.

Clash in Paris 2025 start time

Clash in Paris starts at 2 p.m. ET. The preshow begins at noon ET.

Where is Clash in Paris 2025?

The event takes place at Paris La Défense Arena in Paris.

How to watch Clash in Paris 2025

Clash in Paris will stream on Peacock, but you must have a premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

The event will also be available to watch at select Regal Cinemas theaters around the country. 

Clash in Paris 2025 preshow: how to watch

The Clash in Paris preshow will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including YouTube.

Stream WWE Clash in Paris on Peacock

Clash in Paris 2025 match card

Matches not in order

• Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook match: Sheamus vs. Rusev
• Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed
• John Cena vs. Logan Paul
• Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Nikki Bella
• Fatal four-way match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. CM Punk vs. LA Knight vs. Jey Uso

Will there be Clash in Paris 2025 post-show?

Yes, the post-show will begin immediately following the conclusion of the event. It will be available to watch on Peacock, and on WWE’s social channels, including YouTube.

Clash in Paris predictions

USA TODAY Sports’ wrestling writers predict Clash in Paris. See the full predictions for the entire event here.

Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook match: Sheamus vs. Rusev

• Jordan Mendoza: Rusev
• Richard Morin: Rusev

Roman Reigns vs. Bronson Reed

• Jordan Mendoza: Bronson Reed
• Richard Morin: Roman Reigns

John Cena vs. Logan Paul

• Jordan Mendoza: John Cena
• Richard Morin: Logan Paul

WWE Tag Team Championship match: The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis) (c) vs. The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)

• Jordan Mendoza: The Wyatt Sicks
• Richard Morin: The Wyatt Sicks

Women’s Intercontinental Championship match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Nikki Bella

• Jordan Mendoza: Becky Lynch
• Richard Morin: Becky Lynch

Fatal four-way match for the World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins (c) vs. CM Punk vs. LA Knight vs. Jey Uso

• Jordan Mendoza: Seth Rollins
• Richard Morin: Seth Rollins

Paris crowd expected to be loud

It won’t be hard to notice the crowd noise at Clash in Paris as WWE is back in France, where one of its most memorable shows in recent memory happened.

In May 2024, WWE held Backlash 2024 that featured one of the loudest and stunning crowds in wrestling. It really kicked off the electricity with Jey Uso’s entrance and had iconic moments like singing Randy Orton’s entrance music and AJ Styles phenomenal introduction.  

Expect much of the same this time around, from singing to chants unique to France.

Match canceled: Where is Naomi?

One match that won’t happen at Clash in Paris is the Women’s World Championship bout. It was originally scheduled to be champion Naomi against Stephanie Vaquer after she won a battle royal at Evolution.  

However, Naomi announced on Aug. 18 she was pregnant and was relinquishing the title as a result, officially canceling the match.

What happens to Women’s World Championship?

Raw general manager Adam Pearce determined no championship match would take place at Clash in Paris for the vacant title, but it will be awarded soon. Vaquer will face an opponent to be named later for the championship at a later date.

John Cena farewell tour approaching end

We are almost done seeing John Cena in a WWE ring.

Clash in Paris will mark the 28th appearance of 2025, and with 36 promised in his final year of wrestling, there are only eight shows left for the WWE icon after the show. His career will culminate with Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13.

Of the eight shows left, six are confirmed. His next appearance will be on the Sept. 5 edition of SmackDown. Here are the rest of the dates known:

• Sept. 5: SmackDown (Chicago, Illinois)
• Sept. 15: Raw (Lowell, Massachusetts)
• Sept. 20: Wrestlepalooza (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Oct. 11: WWE Crown Jewel: Perth (Perth, Australia)
• Nov. 29: Survivor Series (San Diego, California)
• Dec. 13: Retirement match at Saturday’s Night Main Event (Location TBD)

Clash in Paris final WWE PLE on Peacock

Clash in Paris 2025 will be the final WWE premium live event to air on Peacock as the company will shift its content to ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service. The first WWE event on ESPN’s platform will be on Sept. 20 with Wrestlepalooza.

One year ago, Walker Buehler was on the mound for the final out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series victory. Two days ago, the Boston Red Sox released the two-time World Series champion. The esteemed postseason pitcher suddenly found himself without a team wondering if he’d be able to join another squad by October in his quest for a third ring. Well, it turns out, he didn’t even have to wait for September.

On Sunday, Buehler signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, who assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the hopes that he can join the big league squad for their upcoming postseason run.

Why did the Phillies sign Buehler?

Not only does Buehler boast a stellar postseason resume, but the Phillies were in dire need of pitching after ace Zach Wheeler was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, requiring season-ending surgery.

That isn’t to say Philadelphia’s rotation is now struggling. They still boast incredible talents like Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, Jesus Luzardo, and Christopher Sanchez. But Buehler’s postseason experience could prove very valuable to the team and if a change of scenery is all Buehler needed, he could very well compete for a rotation spot before the regular season ends.

Buehler’s struggles in Boston

Buehler signed a one-year deal with Boston this past offseason, worth $21.05 million. He disappointed though, going just 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA across 22 starts for the team.

Buehler posted career-worst marks in both strikeout rate (16.6%) and walk rate (10.7%) as well, detailing issues that were evident during Buehler’s 2024 season but that the Red Sox were hoping could be figured out.

The Red Sox are currently in position to reach the playoffs, but ultimately decided that Buehler’s struggles were not worth his playoff expertise. The Red Sox remain on the hook for the rest of Buehler’s one-year deal he signed in the offseason. The Phillies will only pay Buehler one month’s worth of the league minimum salary, which is set at $760,000 for a full season.

Buehler’s postseason resume

Buehler boasts a stunning 3.04 career ERA in the postseason, and he’s pitched in those games a lot.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers, he reached the playoffs in five different seasons, pitching a total of 94.2 innings during those playoff runs. Even last year, when Buehler started to shows signs of regression, he still posted an outstanding 3.60 ERA once the postseason rolled around.

There were some troubling signs though. Particularly, his strikeout rate. Buehler struck out only 7.8 batters per nine during the 2024 postseason, a full strikeout less than his worst mark before then. In all fairness, he did lower his walk rate substantially in exchange − just three walks per nine innings.