Sting

BY SACNILK

Rey Mysterio has explained why Dominik Mysterio was not included in the ongoing tournament that will determine who gets a chance to face Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship in Mexico City. The tournament features wrestlers from WWE's RAW and SmackDown brands, along with stars from AAA. Rey, who is the general manager of AAA, helped set up the tournament to give young luchadores a chance to compete for a major opportunity. Dominik Mysterio was one name that stood out as an omission. He is currently the AAA Mega Champion, but Rey explained that his son does not have the same lucha libre training as the wrestlers taking part in the tournament. “Well, I could say for one, he has never trained lucha libre,” Rey said. “He could say he's the best luchador. Yeah, he does a couple moves here and there, but his training was always on the American side. He trained in Tampa, he trained in Canada, and he trained, you know, in San Diego.” Rey said that being a luchador means more than simply using lucha libre moves. He believes the training and experience that wrestlers go through from the beginning are an important part of becoming a luchador. “So when you speak about luchadores, you know, born and raised, that's your bread and butter. That's where you began. That's where you got your ass kicked,” Rey explained. “Every time you stepped into the ring, they made you sweat, you threw up, you wanted to get out of the ring, but no, they pulled you back in.” Rey also made it clear that he and Dominik have different views on what makes someone a luchador. “I think my concept of a luchador is completely different from Dom's concept,” Rey said. The interviewer then asked Rey if he was basically saying that Dominik was a fraud. Rey did not agree with that description. “I never said he was a fraud,” Rey said. “But I don't consider him. Let's just say this. I don't consider him the greatest luchador of all time.” The comments are interesting because Dominik has become a major WWE star and is currently the AAA Mega Champion. However, Rey believes that his son's wrestling training is different from that of wrestlers who were trained in lucha libre from the start. For Rey, the tournament is about giving wrestlers with a lucha libre background the chance to prove themselves. That is why he believes Dominik was not the right fit for this particular competition. Rey and Dominik have had a complicated relationship on WWE television in recent years, but this time the issue is not about their family history. Rey was simply explaining why he believes Dominik does not meet his definition of a luchador.

BY SACNILK

Trick Williams has quickly established himself as one of WWE's most outspoken Superstars, but his confidence has been put to the test whenever he finds himself trading words with CM Punk. Now, Williams has explained why he believes he can stand toe-to-toe with one of the most respected talkers in wrestling history. The verbal tension between Williams and Punk has grown as both Superstars have crossed paths on SmackDown. Punk has made it clear that he is willing to answer challenges from anyone looking to step up to the Undisputed WWE Championship, with Williams among the names mentioned as a potential challenger. Williams has also made no secret of his ambition. Following his rise to the main roster, he has increasingly found himself sharing the spotlight with established stars, including Punk and Cody Rhodes. His confidence has only grown as he has become a regular part of major SmackDown storylines. However, when asked what it is like to trade bars with Punk, Williams did not back down. Instead, he acknowledged Punk's reputation while making it clear that he believes his own ability to talk trash comes from somewhere much deeper than wrestling. “CM Punk is one of the greatest of all time, and he's proven that. You know, he's had his legendary moments when talking the trash talking,” Williams said. “But, you got to understand, Shaq, I come from a long, long line of trash talking who's been passed down from my cells. You know, since a little kid, it's in my DNA to talk trash like only Trick Williams can.” Williams' comments underline an important part of his character. His confidence on the microphone is not something he believes he developed simply after entering WWE. Instead, he views trash talking as part of his personality and something that has been passed down through his family. That is why Williams does not appear intimidated by the experience gap between himself and Punk. While Punk can point to decades of professional wrestling experience, Williams believes that experience does not automatically make him the superior trash talker. “So, if CM Punk thinks that he's ready because he has 30 years of wrestling and WWE experience, he has to understand, my trash talk goes back for decades and decades, you know, all the way back to times that none of us was born,” Williams continued. “So, you know, I'm that level of trash talker.” The comments come at an interesting point in Williams' WWE career. He has already established himself as one of SmackDown's most entertaining personalities, while his United States Championship reign helped elevate his profile even further. WWE has repeatedly placed him in programs and segments alongside some of its biggest names, reinforcing the company's confidence in his ability to hold his own.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 15 - Marvel Studios has finally pulled the curtain back on its highly anticipated X-Men reboot, revealing the principal cast at D23. After months of speculation and casting rumours, Kevin Feige introduced the new generation of mutants, officially setting the stage for the X-Men's full integration into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is being directed by Jake Schreier, who previously helmed Thunderbolts, and is scheduled to hit theatres on May 5, 2028. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The biggest names in the newly announced cast include Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm and Christopher Abbott as Professor Charles Xavier. Sink's casting had effectively been confirmed with her appearance as Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, while Connor had been linked to the project before the official D23 announcement. However, the biggest surprise of the night was Adam Driver, who will not play Magneto as previously speculated. Marvel confirmed that Driver is joining the film as Nathaniel Milbury, the human identity of Mister Sinister, one of the most dangerous villains associated with the X-Men comics. His casting gives the reboot a major star-powered antagonist and could potentially establish Mister Sinister as an important villain in the MCU's upcoming mutant storyline. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The new X-Men movie will mark Marvel Studios' first standalone theatrical X-Men film following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox. The franchise is expected to become increasingly important to the MCU as Marvel moves beyond Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Several legacy X-Men stars, including Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen, are also returning in Avengers: Doomsday, creating the possibility of the old and new mutant eras crossing paths before Marvel's new team takes centre stage. With Jean Grey, Cyclops, Storm, Rogue, Emma Frost and Professor X now officially cast, Marvel has given fans their first clear picture of the next generation of mutants. The 2028 release is expected to be one of the studio's biggest post-Secret Wars projects, with the new X-Men potentially becoming the backbone of the MCU's next major saga.

BY SACNILK

Kartik Aaryan is preparing for a highly productive period over the next two years, with several major projects moving into active production. According to a confirmed update from Lets Cinema, the actor’s ambitious project, Captain India, is officially set to begin filming in September 2026. This film has generated considerable interest because it marks the return of acclaimed director Shimit Amin. Amin, who is widely respected for his work on Chak De! India and Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year, is returning to feature film direction after a seventeen-year hiatus. His involvement suggests a grounded and meticulous approach to a story rooted in real-life events. The film is being positioned as an intense action-drama based on heroic humanitarian rescue missions. In a significant departure from his usual romantic-comedy roles, Kartik will portray an Air Force Pilot who leads these high-stakes operations. Interestingly, the core idea for the film was originally pitched by Kartik himself to the director and producers, showing a deep personal investment in the story. The project is being produced by Harman Baweja under Baweja Studios, along with T-Series and Midnight Chai Films. To ensure the scale of the rescue mission is captured accurately, the production team has planned a schedule across various locations in India and Morocco, with a theatrical release date locked for August 13, 2027, just in time for the Independence Day holiday weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) While Captain India is a major highlight, it is only one part of Kartik's crowded calendar spanning 2026 and 2027. His upcoming creature comedy, Naagzilla (Naag Lok Ka Pehla Kaand), produced by Dharma Productions, has seen a shift in its timeline. Originally slated for an August 2026 release, the film is now scheduled to arrive in cinemas on February 12, 2027, strategically placed just ahead of the Valentine's Day weekend. In this fantasy project, the actor takes on the unconventional role of a shape-shifting snake creature. Meanwhile, work is progressing quickly on Anurag Basu's musical romance, reportedly titled Tu Meri Zindagi Hai. His co-star Sreeleela recently resumed filming her crucial portions in Mumbai, and reports indicate that Kartik has already completed a significant part of his shooting schedule for this movie. Looking further ahead, the actor seems to be heading toward a significant box-office onslaught in 2027. If current timelines hold, he could have three to four theatrical releases in that year alone. This packed schedule includes the February launch of Naagzilla followed by Captain India in August, alongside his musical collaboration with Anurag Basu. For Captain India specifically, the journey to the filming stage has seen its share of changes since its initial announcement in 2021 with director Hansal Mehta. However, with the script now locked and Shimit Amin taking the helm, the project is finally prepared to move from pre-production to active filming next month.

BY SACNILK

Suriya is back on the big screen with Vishwanath and Sons, and the opening day figures confirm that his star power is firmly intact. Directed by Venky Atluri, who is fresh off the success of Lucky Bhaskar, the film has been one of the most anticipated releases of the season. It is clear that Suriya is successfully continuing the winning momentum he regained with Karuppu, marking a definitive end to what had been a relatively quiet decade for the actor. According to early feedback, the movie benefits immensely from its well-rounded cast, with veteran actress Radhika and the rising star Mamitha Baiju receiving special mention for their impactful roles in this emotional family drama. Vishwanath and Sons has made a solid start. The film has raked in a worldwide gross of approximately ₹31.51 Cr. This total is composed of a domestic gross of around ₹17.51 Cr and a very strong overseas contribution of approximately ₹14.00 Cr. Looking at these figures, it is clear that the movie is benefiting from a balanced demand both at home and in international markets. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) When we look at the historical rankings, Vishwanath and Sons has secured a spot among the all-time top openers in Kollywood. With a Tamil net collection of approximately ₹9.15 Cr on its first Friday, the film currently holds the 34th position on the list of highest Friday openers in the history of Tamil cinema. It sits comfortably in the company of major hits like Varisu and Kaappaan, proving that Suriya’s pull at the box office remains highly competitive against the industry’s biggest releases. What is even more interesting is how this film compares to Suriya's previous outing, Karuppu. On its opening day, Karuppu had managed a slightly higher domestic gross of ₹17.93 Cr, but Vishwanath and Sons has managed to overtake it on a global scale. While Karuppu finished its first day with a total worldwide gross of ₹28.93 Cr, the latest release has pushed that boundary significantly to ₹31.51 Cr. The real difference-maker here is the overseas market, where the current film collected roughly ₹14.00 Cr compared to the ₹11.00 Cr earned by Karuppu. This shift highlights a growing international audience that is now playing a much larger role in defining the star's commercial success. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The ticket sales on BookMyShow provide even more context to this opening. On its first Friday, the film sold about 454K tickets. When you add the pre-sales of approximately 305K, the total ticket count on the platform stands at a massive 759K. This performance has earned the film a spot in the top ten list of highest first-day ticket sales for Kollywood movies on BookMyShow, currently sitting at the ninth position. It is trailing just behind big-ticket films like Vettaiyan and Amaran, which shows that the audience was eager to catch this one on day one. In the national multiplex chains, the film maintained a steady pace despite the heavy competition in the North. According to the data, the movie sold approximately 83,000 tickets across major chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis. This translated to a gross of roughly ₹1.80 Cr from these venues alone. PVR was the standout performer among the chains, recording an occupancy rate of nearly 47 percent, which indicates a strong preference for premium screens in urban centers. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Beyond the online bookings, the actual tracked footfalls provide a clearer picture of the movies ground-level demand. The Tamil version recorded approximately 454,514 tracked footfalls, with about 320,319 of those being actual seats filled excluding blocked ones. Similarly, the Telugu version saw approximately 337,467 tracked footfalls, with a solid 233,478 when adjusted for blocked seats. These figures confirm that the movie is drawing significant crowds to the theaters in both its primary languages. Breaking it down by region, the film shows a healthy split between its Tamil and Telugu versions. The Tamil version brought in a net of approximately ₹9.15 Cr, while the Telugu version contributed around ₹6.00 Cr. State-wise, Tamil Nadu led the charts with a gross of approximately ₹7.25 Cr, followed by the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region with a gross of around ₹6.75 Cr. Karnataka and Kerala also added significantly to the tally, with gross collections of approximately ₹1.80 Cr and ₹1.50 Cr respectively. The occupancy trends were particularly encouraging in the evening and night shows. For instance, night shows in Chennai saw an occupancy of 84 percent, while Hyderabad maintained a strong overall occupancy of 64 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The overseas performance is another highlight of the day one report. According to data tracked by Venky Box Office, the film had a fantastic start in North America. The premieres alone brought in around $305K, making it the second-highest premiere for a Suriya starrer after Kanguva. By 7pm PST on Friday, the Day 1 gross had climbed to approximately $322K from 256 locations. Interestingly, the Telugu version is doing a lot of the heavy lifting in this region, contributing about $194K to the total so far.

BY SACNILK

Chelsea Green refused to give up her championship on the August 14 episode of WWE SmackDown, delivering an emotional speech about everything she had sacrificed throughout her wrestling career. Green was confronted by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, who was dealing with the difficult situation surrounding her injury. Rather than quietly accepting the medical decision, Green made it clear that she believed the championship belonged to her until somebody physically took it away. With the crowd firmly behind her, Green recalled the sacrifices she had made to reach the position she was in. “You know how much I've sacrificed to be here. I have missed the weddings. I've missed the funerals. I have broken bones. I have left all my blood, sweat, and tears in this ring.” Green continued by listing some of the unusual and painful situations she had endured during her career, including putting her face through birthday cakes and pies, being thrown into dumpsters and having the entire world laugh at her. She explained that despite everything, she continued telling herself that the sacrifices would eventually be worth it because she would one day reach this moment. “But every night when I got into bed, I told myself it was all worth it because this moment would come. And now here we are. I made it.” Green then compared her situation to Aldis' own experience at SummerSlam, pointing out that he had recently experienced a major career moment surrounded by his wife and son. She argued that both situations represented the same idea — proving that outside opinions did not matter. “What matters is what we think about us.” Green insisted that she had earned the right to call herself a champion and refused to surrender the title simply because of her injury. Aldis initially maintained that he was doing what was medically appropriate as SmackDown General Manager. However, he then separated his professional responsibilities from his personal feelings. “As Nick Aldis the man, I don't give a damn what medical says.” Aldis ultimately decided to give Green a chance to remain champion. He granted her 30 days to get medically cleared, obtain a protective face mask if necessary and do whatever was required to return to competition and defend the championship. Aldis made it clear that, in his view, Green would remain champion until somebody actually defeated her for the title. “But as far as I'm concerned, until someone takes this from you, this is yours.”

BY SACNILK

Friday, August 14, 2026, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix, WWE SmackDown emanated from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. It was a major night for championships, with three titles changing hands. Jacy Jayne defeated Tiffany Stratton to become the new WWE Women’s United States Champion, while Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga captured the WWE Tag Team Championship alongside Haku. Elsewhere, Baron Corbin successfully defended the United States Championship against Carmelo Hayes, CM Punk and Kevin Owens had a heated confrontation ahead of their Undisputed WWE Championship match, and Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton erupted into a wild brawl. Chelsea Green Forced to Relinquish Interim Women’s Championship The show opened with Nick Aldis informing Chelsea Green that he could not allow her to compete with a broken orbital bone. Aldis asked Green to relinquish the Interim Women’s Championship, but she refused, insisting that she had worked too hard to give it up. Aldis eventually gave Green 30 days to get medically cleared and return to action. The segment later turned physical when GUNTHER confronted Green, leading to Matt Cardona coming out to defend his wife. GUNTHER def. Matt Cardona GUNTHER dominated Matt Cardona after Cardona attacked him during the earlier confrontation. Despite Cardona using a low blow and hitting Radio Silence, GUNTHER kicked out and eventually put him in a Boston Crab, forcing Cardona to tap out. Afterward, Nia Jax demanded an Interim Women's Championship opportunity from Green, while Tiffany Stratton came out to help Green before Jax attacked her. Baron Corbin def. Carmelo Hayes to Retain the United States Championship Carmelo Hayes attempted to regain the United States Championship from Baron Corbin, but the champion survived Hayes' offense and finished him with End of Days. Corbin retained the title, although his celebration was cut short when Trick Williams and Lil Yachty attacked him after the match. CM Punk and Kevin Owens Come Face-to-Face CM Punk and Kevin Owens had a tense confrontation ahead of their Undisputed WWE Championship match next week. Owens brought up their history dating back 20 years and accused Punk of being a phony, while Punk fired back by questioning Owens' work ethic. Owens eventually told Punk that he would punch him in the face next week and beat him for the championship. MFT def. Damian Priest & R-Truth and The War Raiders to Win WWE Tag Team Championship Damian Priest and R-Truth defended the WWE Tag Team Championship against The War Raiders and Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga. The chaotic three-way match ended when MFT hit Brother's Keeper on R-Truth, giving Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga the victory and making them the new WWE Tag Team Champions. Haku accompanied the brothers to ringside. Jacy Jayne def. Tiffany Stratton to Win Women's United States Championship Tiffany Stratton put her Women's United States Championship on the line against Jacy Jayne. With assistance from Fatal Influence members Lainey Reid and Fallon Henley, Jayne survived Stratton's biggest attacks and caught her with Rolling Encore to score the victory. Jayne became the new Women's United States Champion. Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton Brawl Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton's ongoing issues exploded into another violent confrontation. Orton attacked Rhodes from behind before their scheduled match with Sami Zayn could begin. The two eventually brawled through the crowd and around ringside, with both men using weapons and the environment around them. Officials struggled to separate them as SmackDown went off the air.

BY SACNILK

This week's episode of WWE Raw did strong first-day numbers even without Roman Reigns on the card, coming in up almost 7% from the August 3 show. The performance is notable given the show's biggest star was absent, and it comes on the heels of Raw already posting its best viewership since May following SummerSlam. The episode topped the charts as the No. 1 television show for the day in the United States, up from No. 2 the week before, and also claimed the top spot in the United Kingdom and Canada, both of which climbed from No. 2. Elsewhere, the show held steady at No. 2 in Australia and No. 2 in Italy, while climbing to No. 3 in France (up from No. 6) and to No. 2 in New Zealand (up from No. 3). India stayed put at No. 4, and Saudi Arabia was the only market to dip, slipping from No. 1 to No. 2. The jump builds on already-improving momentum for the red brand on Netflix. The August 3 episode — the first Raw following SummerSlam — drew roughly 2.6 million global views over its first seven days, up from the 2.4 million views of the prior three weeks and marking Raw's strongest showing since its May 18 episode. Total global watch time for that show also rose, hitting 5.4 million hours compared to 4.8 million hours the week before. Raw's rise up the domestic and international daily charts across nine different countries points to broad-based growth rather than a spike in just one region. Topping the charts in the U.S., U.K., and Canada in particular marks a notable jump from finishing second in all three markets just a week prior. Saudi Arabia was the lone market to see a slight step back, dropping from No. 1 to No. 2, though it remained near the top of the chart there as well. Raw emanated from Norfolk, Virginia, with the main event built around Bloodline drama in Reigns' absence: Jey Uso defeated Solo Sikoa, with help from Jimmy Uso. Elsewhere on the card, Penta defeated Laredo Kid to advance in the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament, Austin Theory beat Akira Tozawa before Oba Femi stepped in to confront Bron Breakker, and Sol Ruca and IYO SKY teamed up for a win over Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez. The show also featured Dragon Lee defeating Dominik Mysterio, followed by a post-match attack from Big Cass, along with appearances from Becky Lynch and Stephanie Vaquer during a segment involving Women's World Champion Liv Morgan.

BY SACNILK

It has been widely expected, ever since The New Day decided to leave WWE after turning down a 50% pay cut to stay, that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods would be winding up in AEW. The Young Bucks have wanted to do a program with them for years — and now, months after the split, that dream match feels closer than ever. The New Day's exit wasn't a typical release — it was the result of a stand. Kingston and Woods had signed five-year contract extensions with WWE back in 2025, doing so without even shopping around for offers from AEW or other promotions, widely seen as a genuine show of loyalty to the company. Just a year later, TKO came back and asked them to restructure those deals at a reduced rate, reportedly giving them only two days to decide. Both men chose to walk instead, leaving millions on the table from the remaining four years of their contracts. The New Day's situation wasn't isolated. Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer confirmed reports that at least one major-name WWE wrestler agreed to a 50% pay cut around the same time, with sources noting the wrestlers being targeted were often those earning well into seven figures — talent who "simply couldn't earn anywhere near $1 million elsewhere," limiting their leverage to push back. Multiple reports indicate the number of wrestlers approached about cuts was under half a dozen, largely veterans, including some recovering from injury, whom the company reportedly would have released outright had they refused. How WWE handled the departure reportedly stung people behind the scenes. The company quietly moved both Kingston and Woods to the alumni section of its website without any public acknowledgment of their contributions — no farewell, no statement. One WWE source told Fightful Select they were "disgusted" by the lack of recognition. A joint statement marking the departure had apparently been planned internally but never materialized. Interest from AEW's side has been an open secret. Multiple people within the company reportedly pushed for New Day to be signed, with insiders noting frustration among talent over how WWE handled the exits of players like New Day and Santos Escobar — wrestlers who'd signed extensions in good faith within the past year. The Young Bucks haven't been subtle about their excitement. AEW's Dynamite has featured Matt and Nick Jackson wearing light blue shirts with pink-and-white accents — an unmistakable nod to New Day's classic color scheme. Matt Jackson has since confirmed publicly that a Young Bucks vs. New Day dream match is "at play," calling it something he'd "counted off as a possibility" until now. As of mid-August 2026, the deal isn't officially confirmed, but nearly every signal points the same direction. The New Day's 90-day non-compete clause was expected to expire around the start of August, with some reports suggesting a debut as early as AEW Collision on August 1, or shortly after SummerSlam if not. Speculation continues to swirl around a possible arrival tied to a Young Bucks/Christian Cage & Adam Copeland trios angle, with several outlets floating AEW All In: London at Wembley Stadium as a potential landing spot for the big reveal.

BY SACNILK

Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal has opened up about the current life of his former WWE colleague Veer Mahaan, revealing that the wrestler has stepped away from professional wrestling and the pursuit of fame. Mahal discussed Veer's decision during an interview with Denise Salcedo, where he was asked about several Indian wrestlers and their journeys in professional wrestling. Veer Mahaan, who previously competed in WWE alongside Shanky and Mahal, was known for his imposing appearance and athletic background. However, according to Mahal, Veer has taken a completely different path since leaving WWE. Mahal revealed that Veer has largely distanced himself from wrestling and the fame that came with being a WWE Superstar. “He kind of just walked away from it. He’s just living a very spiritual lifestyle now. He’s got a guru, he’s very detached from all the material things.” Mahal explained that Veer's current lifestyle is dramatically different from the world of professional wrestling, where wrestlers spend much of their careers chasing championships, recognition and financial success. “He's very detached from all the material things,” Mahal said, describing Veer's decision to pursue a more spiritual life. Despite Veer's decision to walk away, Mahal believes the former WWE Superstar had plenty of potential left to explore in wrestling. Mahal spoke positively about Veer's athletic ability and the unusual path that eventually brought him to WWE. “He was very athletic, very talented. His story was very interesting too. He grew up in India, then he went to the United States and played baseball.” Mahal pointed out that Veer's journey was already unusual before he entered professional wrestling. His transition from India to the United States, followed by his baseball career and eventual move into wrestling, gave him a unique background that WWE could have used to tell his story. However, Mahal suggested that Veer's priorities have changed considerably. Rather than continuing to chase success in wrestling, Veer has chosen to focus on spirituality and a life away from the spotlight. The decision is particularly notable because Veer was once positioned as a significant part of WWE's attempt to feature more Indian talent. His WWE presentation emphasized his size, strength and athletic background, but his run with the company ultimately did not develop into the major singles career that some expected.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, August 14 - Superstar Yash's much-awaited Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is entering the final stretch of its promotional campaign with strong hype building ahead of its worldwide theatrical release on August 26. The film marks Yash's return to the big screen after KGF: Chapter 2, making it one of the most anticipated Indian releases of the year. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The recently released trailer has given the film's buzz a major push. The trailer crossed 50 million views and 1 million likes within just 24 hours, becoming only the second Yash trailer after KGF: Chapter 2 to achieve the milestone. The strong digital response underlines the enormous curiosity surrounding Yash's return, with the trailer's dark world, violent action, stylish presentation and intriguing characters generating considerable discussion among audiences. The momentum has also extended beyond YouTube, with Toxic crossing 800,000 interests on BookMyShow, reflecting strong audience anticipation ahead of release. The Hindi market is particularly interesting from a trade perspective, with the film currently expected to open in the 20 crore net range. However, the absence of major direct Hindi competition on August 26 gives the Yash-starrer considerable room to outperform these early projections if the word of mouth turns positive. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Another talking point is the film's adult-oriented presentation. The film has received an 'A' certificate, with the runtime clocking over the three-hour mark. This makes Toxic another major star vehicle embracing a lengthy theatrical runtime, which is increasingly becoming a trend among big-ticket Indian films. With less than two weeks remaining for its theatrical release, Toxic has built a strong pre-release foundation through Yash's star power, the impressive trailer response and growing audience interest. The real test now begins on August 26, when the trailer-generated hype has to translate into strong footfalls across the pan-India market.

BY SACNILK

Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal has revealed that Vince McMahon personally approved an unexpected television opportunity he received while working for WWE. Mahal discussed the story during an interview with Denise Salcedo, explaining that he was offered a role on ABC's Big Sky around 2020. Rather than waiting for the usual process to play out, Mahal decided to go directly to McMahon. “I got offered to go on a TV show. It was probably around maybe 2020,” Mahal recalled. “I got offered to go on a TV show and I just went straight to Vince.” The former WWE Champion revealed that the show was Big Sky, which aired on ABC. “It was on ABC. It was a show called Big Sky. And I just went to Vince directly and just asked him in his office and he said, ‘Yeah.’” Mahal then informed WWE talent relations that he already had McMahon's approval. “So then I went to [talent relations] after that and I told him Vince already said yes. And there was still a little bit of a hold up, but nonetheless, we got it pushed through.” Despite receiving permission from McMahon, Mahal revealed that WWE did not use the opportunity to promote him. “I just did it and WWE didn't advertise it or push it or anything, but I got to do a TV show.” Mahal believes the situation was particularly notable because outside opportunities for WWE wrestlers were viewed differently during McMahon's era. “At that time it was a little bit of a taboo thing to do,” Mahal explained. “Just Vince was in a good mood that day. He could have easily have said no.” The former WWE Champion also offered his perspective on why McMahon was sometimes protective of WWE talent pursuing opportunities outside wrestling. “I've always felt that WWE and Vince, he was protective,” Mahal said. “He didn't want someone to maybe leave the wrestling business or get too big, too famous, and then you all of a sudden have to pay them more and give them less dates.” According to Mahal, that dynamic has changed considerably in WWE today. He believes wrestlers now have significantly more opportunities outside the company and more control over their careers. “But right now I feel that wrestlers really do have a lot of power,” Mahal stated. “There's other leagues that have started that are around, other viable options for wrestlers to pursue careers in.” Mahal also pointed to mainstream exposure as something that can benefit both wrestlers and wrestling companies. “Overall, it's all good for wrestlers. Again, exposure, mainstream exposure is both good for the wrestler and the wrestling promotion.” His comments provide an interesting look back at how outside entertainment opportunities were handled during his WWE career—and how much the landscape has changed since then.