Highest paid golf players in the world 2024: PGA Tour money list
Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 highest paid PGA Tour golfers in the world today.
The money up for grabs on the PGA Tour has never been bigger. Prize purses have grown and grown over recent years, with winners earning life-changing sums over the course of 72 holes. Increased broadcast interest and competition pushed the Tour to inject boosts to event winnings, meaning players regularly compete for tournament prize purses of $20m and more. The biggest? The $25m up for grabs at the Players Championship. Expect to see that tournament feature heavily in the make-up of this rankings. Our countdown covers all the biggest earners up to and including the Valspar Championship, won in emotional circumstances by Peter Malnati. The following list features many of the biggest and best names in golf today, while impressive talents like Jason Day and Mexico Open victor Jake Knapp are left knocking on the door. RadioTimes.com brings you the round-up of the highest-paid golf players on the PGA Tour this year, not including earnings from the LIV Golf series. Updated: 24th March 2024 10. Will Zalatoris - $2,922,316 Zalatoris is on the comeback trail. A recurring back injury kept off greens for most of 2023, and eventually required surgery. Before his injury nightmare, Zalatoris was showing all the potential to be one of the best golfers on the planet. That’s why it’s doubly good to see him playing great golf once again. His hard work on his rehab, conditioning and recovery has put Zalatoris in a place where he can challenge the top of leaderboards once again. He built up his early season form, following up a T13 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open with T2 (partly thanks to a hole-in-one) at the Genesis Invitational and T4 at the Arnold Palmer. Those were his first top 10 finishes in almost a year post-surgery. Let’s hope this is the start of a second dawn for a huge talent. 9. Brian Harman - $3,202,283 It’s not going to be easy for Harman to top his 2023 performances, but he’s sure going to try. Last year was the 37-year-old’s landmark season on tour, headlined by winning his first major, the Open. That win was the crowning moment of Harman’s career so far, and also his first PGA tour victory since 2017. It led to his first Ryder Cup appearance and made everyone stand up and notice his talent. The leftie is currently 8th in the world and his recent outings have been backing up that ranking. He started the season T5 at the Sentry - bagging him nearly $700k - and followed it up with six more consecutive cuts made. The final one of those was his highest earning, finishing 19 under par to seal T2 and nearly $2m at the Players Championship. His 2023 is a lot to live up to, but Harman is putting in that work to exceed his own expectations. 8. Matthieu Pavon - $3,382,793 There aren't too many opportunities to make history on the PGA Tour these days. Beau Hossler recently made some unwanted history, hitting the 1000th shot to find the water at the Players Championship’s iconic 17th. The history Pavon made earlier this season was much more positive. He won his first PGA event back in January, which made him the first French golfer to win on the PGA Tour since 1907. The 31-year-old has been a professional for more than a decade and achieved his PGA tour status after finishing 15th on last season's Race to Dubai Rankings. His win at the Farmers Insurance Open fired him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings and shot him onto this rankings. That victory earned him more than $1.5m, which he almost matched on his next PGA start. A third-place finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am took his two event winnings to over $3m and proved that, though he is new to the PGA, he has all the tools to compete at the highest level. 7. Ludvig Aberg - $3,698,451 Some players come onto the pro scene with a whisper, others with a bang. Aberg’s debut season was the latter. After finishing as the top golfer in the PGA Tour University Class of 2023, he joined the PGA Tour and made an instant impact. 2023 saw him finish high in several events, win his first event and even help Team Europe win the Ryder Cup. Now, it’s important the 24-year-old capitalises on that momentum. The Swedish sensation has begun 2024 in impressive form. Aberg has beaten the cut in all seven of his PGA events so far this season, earning huge paychecks with lofty finishes at the Farmers Insurance, Players Championship and AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He finished second at Pebble Beach, in his tournament debut no less. That event, which was shortened to three days due to weather and safety concerns, earned him more than half of this season-so-far earnings. Don’t be surprised to see him add to it over the rest of the season. 6. Chris Kirk - $4,182,871 Kirk may be 25th in the world rankings, but his powerful start to the 2024 season sees him on the precipice of this list’s top five. The 38-year-old from Athens, Georgia, is here courtesy of his impressive victory at the Sentry, edging out the man fifth on this list by a single stroke. That win was Kirk’s sixth on tour - in 338 events - and contributed heavily to his season earnings total. Kirk scored 29-under par that weekend, bagging 30 birdies. It was the first time he’d hit that many in a 72-hole event on the PGA. Add that performance to his T18 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, T26 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and T26 at the Players Championship and it equals a wonderful start to the 2024 season. He’s showing that he’s well placed to hold firm on this leaderboard. 5. Sahith Theegala - $4,282,963 Golf’s not all about winning. Amateurs and pros alike focus on the result like it is, but in terms of a money list like this, players can rack up huge season earnings simply by beating cuts and finishing high in leaderboards. Sahith Theegala is proof of that. The 26-year-old is in the top five despite being without a win so far this season. The golfer ranked 15th in the world has powered onto this list through consistent performances and successful finishes. He finished 5th at the WM Phoenix Open, T6 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and T9 at the Players Championship, but his top performance so far this season was at the Sentry. Theegala’s solo-second finish was his third runner-up finish on the PGA and earned him a cool $2m. Theegala is still waiting to earn his second ever Tour victory, but these performances show that he’s getting closer. 4. Xander Schauffele - $4,664,208 Since the 2022 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Schauffele has competed in 41 PGA events - and he’s made the cut in every single one. That incredible streak is the longest such run on tour, which makes the fact that he’s only won three times in that period, an even bigger surprise. Xander is standing strong in this list, just as he did last season, through his consistency and class. If he wants to go higher, however, he will need to translate more of his impressive performances into the mammoth pay cheques that come with victories. That is to take nothing away from the quality of golf Schauffele is playing. His narrow T2 at the PLAYERS contributed nearly $2m of this season earning total, supplementing his top ten finishes at the American Express, Farmers Insurance Open, The Genesis Invitational and Valspar Championship. Schauffele finished tenth on the 2023 money list and is well on his way to bettering that placement in 2024. 3. Hideki Matsuyama - $5,632,462 It’s going to be tough for Hideki Matsuyama to better his top golfing achievement. Three years ago, he became the first Japanese golfer to win one of golf’s majors. That win will probably be his proudest, but it certainly won't be his most lucrative. His 2021 Masters win earned him $2.1m, but the 32-year-old recently bagged almost twice that prize purse at a much smaller event. Matsuyama is on this list’s podium thanks largely to his performance at the Genesis Invitational in February. He entered the final day six shots off the lead, reeled in the leaders with a round of 62, and took home the trophy - plus $4m. He’s added to that steadily over the season, including winning almost $1m from a T6 finish at the Players Championship, and now sits with a season earnings almost twice as large as his season average on tour. Not bad going, that. 2. Wyndham Clark - $7,896,591 In Jon Rahm’s absence, it looked like there could be a void at the top of the PGA Tour. Wyndham Clark is proving that he’s ready to step up and take a seat at golf’s top table. This season he has stood out from the pack, winning the very well-funded AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and finishing runner up at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. These tournaments had Clark’s nest egg looking very tasty going into the tour’s biggest money event where, if not for one of gravity’s cruellest tricks, it could have grown to list-leading levels. Clark was right in the mix at the Players Championship, pushing the leader all the way on the final day. He birdied holes 16 and 17 to leave himself needing just one more birdie on the final hole to send the tournament into a playoff. His 17-foot putt rolled up to the hole, but then around the lip, and back out towards Clark. He finished T2 and won a hair under $1.9m. The next man on this list won the tournament and went home with $4.5m. Golf is a game of fine margins and huge consequences. 1. Scottie Scheffler - $10,939,500 Here he is, the undisputed number one golfer in the world. He is also a man getting rather wealthy at breakneck speed. Scheffler is a titan on the golf course, dominating fields with his consistent brilliance and composure. Not only is he leading this season’s money race, he’s also recently become the fastest golfer to break the $50m earnings mark on tour. A sizable chunk of those earnings came from his success at the Players Championship. In March he became the first man to defend that crown, despite a neck injury, and sealed $4.5m in the process. Five years previous, he would’ve earned just half of that. Scottie is earning every penny on the course, using his ball-striking wizardry and newly found putting perfection to create an unstoppable combination. Even when he’s having a quiet day, he’s climbing leaderboards and earning bank. Every time he shows up, Scottie is the man the beat. Who is the highest paid PGA Tour golfer of the year? With the season in full flow, many of the game’s top talents are fighting tooth and nail to climb into the top earners list on the PGA Tour. Yet, even when elite talents like Wyndham Clark and Xander Schauffele are performing near their peak, they are going to struggle to catch the number one golfer in the world. Two event victories, including the most lucrative PGA tour event, have lined Scottie Scheffler’s pockets nicely to this point. There’s no way the 27-year-old doesn’t collect more silverware - and the prize purses that go with them - before the season is over. Our job is just to watch and enjoy. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Our comprehensive round-up of the best golfers in the world 2024.
Nobody knows quite where professional golf is headed. The best players are split between two competing tours and only meet on the course four times a year. This makes drawing up an ultimate list of the best golfers in the game an especially tricky task. Yet, that is exactly what we have done. Gallons of mental sweat have been spent poring over the stats, accolades and abilities of the game's top stars. We've pit experienced aces against burgeoning talents to compile this definitive RadioTimes.com ranking. The players' technical ability, current world ranking and recent performances have all fed into our thinking, which has left some incredible talent on the sidelines. With plenty of golf still to play this season, big names like Jordan Spieth and rising stars like Ludvig Aberg, have plenty of time to prove that they deserve to be a part of this list's next update. RadioTimes.com brings you our take on the best men's golf players in the world right now. Best golf players in the world 2024 10. Max Homa It feels harsh that the six-time PGA Tour winner has dropped down this list since the last update, but we promise that's more of a reflection of the quality of talent across the world than a comment on Homa himself. The 33-year-old is a short game specialist and holds the record for longest drive on the tour so far this season. His 2023 season was sterling, winning both the Fortinet Championship and Farmers Insurance Open before standing out for all the right reasons at the Ryder Cup. Homa is still looking for his first top ten finish of the 2024 season, but knowing how fierce, driven and talented he is, that surely won't be too far away. 9. Cameron Smith The Australian is an exceptional golfer and the first of three LIV Golf stars to make our list. Smith was as high as second in the Official World Golf Rankings before he joined the breakaway tour, but with LIV's 54-hole events not earning OWGR points, his ranking no longer reflects the true quality of his golf. The mullet-rocking golfer isn't the longest driver around but makes up for it by draining chip-ins and putts with regularity. This has helped him make history already: the 30-year-old was the first player to finish all four rounds at the Masters in the 60s, in 2020. Last season's major performances backed up this quality, finishing T9 at the PGA Championship and fourth at the US Open. He'll be a major player at the majors once again this year. 8. Patrick Cantlay The 2021 PGA Tour Player of the Year is a reliable, level-headed golfer with talent in abundance. He is also one of golf's more understated personalities. One of Google's recommended questions about the 32-year-old is: "Has Patrick Cantlay smiled?" Patty Ice is a composure king and one of the best par-5 players in the world. He has a handy blend of distance and accuracy with his driver, while his consistency of action and performance means he's routinely in the running at big tournaments. This stability has helped him leave eight PGA Tour events victorious, with plenty more close calls to his name. The California native is, however, missing the major victory which would establish him as the equal of the world's most elite golfers. It could well be on its way. 7. Wyndham Clark What a year it has been for Clark. He's gone from the fringes of the PGA Tour to a central player in golf's biggest tournaments. Last season saw the 30-year-old win his first PGA Tour event – at 134th time of asking – and then follow that up with his first major title. His single-shot victory at the US Open saw the elite putter establish himself among the game's elite. Clark has followed up his breakout season with a strong start to 2024, winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-AM before finishing second at March's Arnold Palmer Invitational. All this having become a star on Netflix's excellent golf series, Full Swing. On the show, Clark speaks openly about his mental health and how working with a sports psychologist has put him in the best place mentally to succeed on the course. All we know is that the American has rapidly gone from a golfer playing below his potential to one showing it is higher than many ever thought. 6. Xander Schauffele Schauffele boasts one thing that no other golfer on this list has. The 30-year-old is one of just two male golfers to have won Olympic gold in the modern era. Yet, his career is often spoken about in terms of what he hasn't won. Despite a string of top ten finishes over the past eight seasons, Xander is undoubtedly one of this generation's most talented golfers never to have won a major. The 2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year has all-round excellence on the course – and proved it in 2023. He had his first season with double figures of top 10 PGA event finishes and saw off the season with a second place finish at the FedEx Cup. His sights will be set on taking those impressive performances one step further and lifting silverware once again. Do that a few times and he could be even higher on this list at next update. 5. Brooks Koepka Brooks gives off massive main-character energy. My word, he's earned that right. He is one of the outstanding players on the LIV circuit and last season he reaffirmed his pedigree at the majors. He rocked the apple cart by finishing T2 at the Masters before flipping it over completely, becoming the first LIV golfer to win a major, at the PGA Championship in May. That win, coupled with strong performances at the US Open and Ryder Cup later in the season, proved that the move away from the PGA had done little to quieten the flame inside Kopeka. He overtook modern icon Rory McIlroy for majors won (five to four) and finished third individually in his first LIV season. We might not see Brooks on our screens quite as often these days, but it's always box-office when we do. 4. Viktor Hovland The young Norwegian has always been a golfer with incredible upside. He's shown glimpses of that ability for several seasons now – winning three PGA Tour wins in his first three seasons – but it was during the 2023 season when a match lit his fuse. Hovland worked out how to affect the top of scoreboards with scary regularity, winning three tour events before topping his season off with his first FedEx Cup victory. The 26-year-old put in some statement performances in the majors and stepped up another gear during last summer's electric Ryder Cup. His 3-0-1 record in Italy helped Team Europe to an historic 16.5-11.5 victory. This season has started a little slower for the precision putter, but he's just getting warmed up. 3. Rory McIlroy Ever since winning the US Open as a 22-year-old, McIlroy has had golf's brightest spotlight pointed toward him. That spotlight became blinding in the wake of golf's civil war, and he openly admitted that it affected his golf. The pressure of batting for the PGA Tour combined with the pressure of very famously not having won a major in almost a decade must be an incredible weight. If anyone can overcome it, it's Rory. The Northern Irish star was top of the world rankings as recently as last year, but is still working his way back to the top of his game. Wins at the CJ CUP in South Carolina and the Genesis Scottish Open last season proved that McIlroy is still an immense talent with incredible control of the golf ball. His solo second finish at the US Open also reiterated that he has all the talent and determination to be back winning majors very soon. 2. Jon Rahm The Spaniard is one of the day's truly elite golfers. He won 11 times on the PGA Tour – finishing in the top 10 of almost half of his 151 events before his nine-figure switch to LIV late last year. He hits fairways with power, greens with precision and putts with deadly dependability – all as long as his emotions don't get the better of him. Rahm's move to the less-visible Saudi-backed league has done little to diminish his star power, and even less to affect his ability. He is the most recent recipient of the green jacket, having won last year's Masters by four shots. That topped a truly landmark 2023 season, winning four tournaments plus the Ryder Cup. We readily await his next standout major performance. 1. Scottie Scheffler Age works a little differently in golf to most other sports, which makes the success Scottie Scheffler has had even more impressive. The 27-year-old has shone over the past two seasons – winning back-to-back PGA Tour Player of the Year awards – and is following it up with an already outstanding 2024. His imperious five-shot victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was the first win of what promises to be another historic season. Scheffler is playing at a remarkably high level. Nobody gets to the green with more conviction and class than Scottie. Over recent years, he's had some trouble with his putter, but recent showings hint those may be behind him. We feel sorry for everyone else on tour, if so. Who is the best golfer in the world? The depth of ability in the modern golf scene is outstanding, with experienced heads battling exceptional youngsters and talented outsiders at every event. Yet, one golfer has managed to stand out from the chasing pack. Talent is one thing, but without consistency it doesn’t mean too much. Thankfully for Scottie Scheffler, he has both in bucketloads. We may be watching the early stages of a golfing great. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. 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Our comprehensive round-up of the best golfers of all time.
Picking a list of the most talented, most revered, and most influential golfers in history is a herculean task. Our countdown won’t go back to the very origins of the sport but will feature stars spanning over a hundred years of competition, ranging from trailblazers in golf’s early professional years to its dominators in the modern day. Winning tournaments has gone a long way in our rankings, while grabbing a career grand slam is the icing on the cake. We’ve also considered players’ pure ability and their impact on the game’s growth. The level of talent and legacy across the sport’s rich history is immense and means fan favourites like Seve Ballesteros and Rory McIlroy, plus incredible historic figures like Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson, have just missed out. RadioTimes.com brings you our take on the best men's golf players of all time. 10. Phil Mickelson We start our list with the most lethal leftie to play the sport. Phil Mickelson may now captain a team on the LIV Golf tour, but it should not be forgotten that the Californian is tied 8th all time for wins on the PGA Tour. The 53-year-old has 45 PGA wins - plus a reported 47 career hole-in-ones. Mickelson has victories at every major except the US Open – a feat few men have ever achieved. He won six majors in total, including three Masters titles, so he can be more than happy with his haul to date. That ‘to date’ is very important too. The Hall of Famer’s phenomenal performance in the final round of last year’s Masters – hitting a 65 to tie for second – shows he’s got plenty left in the tank. 9. Walter Hagen Sir Walter also missed out on a career grand slam by one tournament, but he was playing almost a century before Mickelson. Hagen excelled in the first half of the 20th century, racking up 11 majors from 1914 to 1929, including four consecutive PGA Championships. His incredible winning streak has Hagen tied with Mickelson on 45 tour victories, and third all-time in terms of majors won. The Haig was an on and off-course entertainer, who helped to raise the stature of the game with his personable nature and wonderful golfing prowess. Not only did he excel with club in hand, Hagan made sure to leave the game in a better place than he found it. 8. Gary Player The South African is the only non-American on our list, making him truly the greatest international golfer of all time. Player was one of the ‘Big Three’ golfers of the 1960s, alongside two of our list yet to be named, and managed to earn 159 professional wins around the globe. He is still the only non-American to win a grand slam – and he did it with formidable aplomb. Player won three Masters, three Opens, two PGA Championships and the US Open during the 1960s and 70s and is tied for fourth all time in majors won. He may not compete with the rest of this list for PGA Tour victories, but Player was a model of hard work and dedication and should be credited with changing the face of golf internationally. 7. Tom Watson Watson was a unique golfer who could hit long and scramble with the very best. His incredible peak from the late '70s into the '80s, in which he won PGA Player of the Year six times in eight years, is one of the most impressive periods of form from a single golfer. It didn’t curb his desire for the game either, as he played on the tour for over 40 years. The 74-year-old from Kansas finished his PGA Tour career tied 10th all time with 39 victories. He was a master of playing with and against the conditions, earning five Open wins as part of his eight majors won. In the only major he never won, the PGA Championship, he finished tied second in 1978. Golf will always be a game of fine margins. 6. Bobby Jones Before Bobby Jones would found and help design Augusta National - and also co-found the Masters - he was the most successful amateur golfer in the world. A lawyer by trade, Jones found time to become the first golfer to win a grand slam, then consisting of the US Open, US Amateur, British Open and British Amateur. He held the sport in an iron grip between 1923 and 1930, winning a remarkable 13 major championships before retiring at just 28 years old. He played in 31 majors in all, finishing in the top 10 on 27 occasions. Jones’ influence on the game we watch today, through his on-course entertainment and post-career exploits, cannot be overstated. 5. Arnold Palmer This legendary golfer has a legacy built on more than just the combination of iced tea and lemonade. The King was adored for his will to improve and win on the course and also the manner with which he held himself off it. He was a golfer people flocked to see play and a man of class and character they wanted to be around. The former US Coast Guard had an incredible winning run from 1958 to 1970, sealing many of his 62 PGA tour wins, leaving him in fifth all time. His seven majors won could have been even more historic, too. Palmer finished tied second three times at the PGA Championship, the only competition missing from his grand slam. Thankfully, his legacy is transcendent without it. 4. Sam Snead As far as the numbers go, Snead is in a class of his own. The Virginia-born golfer holds the record for most PGA Tour victories, with 82 wins sealed between 1936 and 1965. As we watch today’s elite players battle and fight and claw just to earn one victory on the tour, that achievement seems truly staggering. His records go on and on. Snead finished in the top 10 in majors across five different decades. He won seven majors in total, just missing the US Open for his grand slam. His longevity was historic too: he is the oldest player to have ever shot a score lower than his age on the PGA Tour, hitting an incredible round of 66 at the Quad Cities Open when he was 67. Simply put, Snead was the most incredible winner golf has ever seen. 3. Ben Hogan The Hawk’s career was nearly derailed before it had really begun. The beginning of Hogan’s professional career was interrupted by his service in the US Army Air Forces during the Second World War, and a few years after he had returned to golf he had a traumatic car accident which threatened more than just his occupation. This context makes his recovery and subsequent success even more extraordinary. Hogan had one of the all-time great golf swings and the ball moved to his will. His remarkable tally of 64 PGA Tour wins leaves him fourth all time and includes nine majors and the career grand slam. He only missed seven cuts in the 300 PGA events he played. He holds the distinction of being the only man to win the Masters, US Open and British Open in the same year. Now, that you can call a comeback. 2. Jack Nicklaus Our top two golfers were almost impossible to separate. Nicklaus deserves all the flowers for his iconic career and the dominance he held over the sport during the highly competitive era of the '60s and '70s. His tally of 73 PGA Tour wins can only be bettered by two men and none can match his potentially uncatchable record 18 major championship victories. He also finished second at majors on 19 other occasions. Nicklaus duelled against the likes of Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Gary Player – all members of this list – and still his skill, both mental and physical, won out. The Golden Bear won a record six Masters and at least two PGA Tour events in 17 seasons running. At 26, he was the youngest ever Grand Slam winner, a record that would only be broken by the one man who ever had a chance. Nicklaus set the standard for modern golf, a standard only one man has ever matched up to. 1. Tiger Woods Peak Tiger was the full package. He had every kind of shot in his arsenal. He had the career of a once-in-a-lifetime athlete. He had a winning mentality and an aura which captured the imagination of the world. The 11-time PGA Tour Player of the Year has a list of records, accolades and achievements too long to even read in one sitting. He is tied number one all time for PGA Tour wins and won 15 majors, including enough to fill three separate Grand Slams. He is the only player ever to win four majors on the bounce and spent a ridiculous 683 weeks as the best golfer in the world. He also made fans feel that impossible shots were no longer impossible. He made fans believe that as long as Tiger was standing over the ball, anything could happen. May we appreciate every event he is still a part of. Who is the best golfer of all time? Golf has grown at a rapid rate over the past century, with much of the credit due to players like Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. Nobody had the same combination of unbelievable ability, star power and tournament dominance that Tiger Woods possessed though, and that’s why he’s the best golfer of all time. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Highest paid golf players of all time: PGA Tour money list
Your complete round-up of the highest paid golf superstars in the history of the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour is home to many of the world's elite golfers and so pays elite sums to those who win its events. Hobbyists like us can barely imagine the magnitude of these prize pots, but still fork out small fortunes to get a sliver of the rush top pros feel when they hole a monster putt. This list of the highest paid golfers from the PGA Tour is skewed heavily toward those who are still playing today, as the Tour has seen a rapid increase in prize money this century. That growth is only being accelerated by the presence of LIV Golf and their cavernous pockets. Some exceptional talents miss out on this list due to number of events played – Justin Thomas is closing in on this list at speed – or from peaking when prize purses were significantly smaller. Last year's Players Championship paid $4.5 million to its winner, Scottie Scheffler. The top prize at that event was just $1.89m as recently as 2017, which shows why ultra-experienced icons like Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els also miss out. RadioTimes.com brings you a round-up of the highest-paid golf players of all time from the PGA Tour, up to and including the Mexico Open at Vidanta, not including earnings from the LIV Golf series. Updated: 25th February 2024 10. Jason Day – $58,832,125 The Australian has started the 2024 season in strong form and that has powered him into this list. Sitting around $3,000 ahead of 11th placed Matt Kuchar at time of writing, the 36-year-old has jumped onto this leaderboard thanks to a combination of career consistency and standout performances. Last year's AT&T Byron Nelson champion is 339 events into his 16-year PGA career and has finished in the top 10 an incredible 94 times. More than half of those have been impressive – and lucrative – top five finishes, with Day coming out on top 13 times. It was always a case of when not if JD would break into this top ten, and he won't be slowing his progress anytime soon. 9. Jordan Spieth – $61,747,504 The real question here is just how high Spieth's talent can take him up this ranking. The short-game specialist has spent 12 years as a professional and could yet be less than halfway into his PGA Tour career. His exceptional ability, born with and crafted through work, has earned him 13 tour wins, plus plenty more strong finishes. They have built up this ridiculous earnings total – which doesn't even include any of the money he'll be earning from sponsorships, like his deal with Under Armour. Spieth is just one PGA Championship away from the career grand slam, a tournament he finished second at in his banner 2015 season. That season saw him finish as the FedEx Cup winner, the PGA Player of the Year and the PGA Tour money list leader, after bagging more than $12m on course. He has the talent and work ethic to eclipse that season total and hit heady heights on this list. 8. Justin Rose – $62,399,291 The Englishman is the second highest European on this list – no guesses at who's above him – with a fortune built up over 400 Tour events in a 20-year PGA career. The 43-year-old has come a long way since his fourth-place finish at the 1998 Open Championship, as an amateur no less, and has the career earnings to reflect his sustained success. The 2013 US Open was just one of Rose's 11 wins on the Tour, while 29 further trips to the podium have helped the golfer born in Johannesburg comfortably into this top 10. Holding off Jordan Spieth's financial charge might not be possible, but there's no doubt that Rose's career has been a special and lucrative one. 7. Adam Scott – $63,913,326 Nope, tell your mates we're not on about the Severance and Parks and Recreation star, but an Aussie golfer of the highest order. The Uniqlo-clad sportsman has been a constant toward the top end of PGA leaderboards for more than two decades, taking the top spot at 14 events, with the same amount of runner-up finishes. The Adelaide-born star is still adding to his legacy and earnings, bagging a tied eighth spot at the WM Phoenix Open in November. The 2013 Masters winner isn't resting on any laurels despite being in the back nine of his career. 6. Vijay Singh – $71,236,216 The Big Fijian is a great example of just how much the money has grown in professional golf. Singh won an incredible 34 events on the PGA Tour, including three majors, but his highest single take-home was just $1.35m, for winning the 2008 WGC Bridgestone Invitational. If he was playing at his peak today, he'd be eyeing up the summit of this countdown. The former top golfer in the world made almost as much history as he did cash on the tour. Singh was the first person of South Asian descent to win a major, while he bagged the PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2004 and was the leading PGA Tour money winner three times in the space of six years. It has truly been a career worthy of his Hall of Fame entry. 5. Jim Furyk – $71,507,269 The 53-year-old has been a professional for more than 30 years. It took him almost 20 to win his FedEx Cup, but still the former world number two achieved so much in his storied career. Most famously, Furyk carded the first round of 58 in PGA Tour history; a score only surpassed this year on the PGA Tour. Furyk racked up his on-course riches through this combination of success and longevity. The Florida resident has been a part of an incredible amount of Tour events (636 to date), coming out on top at his fair share (17). His headline year was back in 2006, where he earned $7,213,316 on course. 4. Dustin Johnson – $75,417,837 Before DJ swapped over to LIV Golf in 2022, he made money hand over fist on the PGA Tour, dominating between 2016 and 2018. In the first of those seasons, the South Carolina native won the PGA money list, earning a whopping $9,365,185 on course. The 39-year-old has bundled up his pile through 24 victories on the PGA Tour. He bagged a shred over $2m alone by winning his second of his two majors, the 2020 Masters. His reliable, strong showings led him to serious riches and to spend 64 weeks as the top golfer on the planet. 3. Rory McIlroy – $80,295,727 Rory has done so much in the game and has so much ahead of him. The 34-year-old has four majors to his name and will keep chasing down the only one missing from his career grand slam. We might not always see the best of the Northern Irish megastar, but his class, hard work and ability is evident every time he takes to the course. McIlroy has 24 career wins to his name, plus ten runners-up berths. He’ll be adding to those in the rest of 2024 and beyond, inching him closer to the top two of this countdown. We've seen him play some outstanding golf in the past year, so don't be surprised to see the two-time PGA Tour leading money winner back with trophy in hand – and winnings in account – very soon. 2. Phil Mickelson – $96,572,310 The PGA Tour's oldest major champion banked an incredible amount of money before he hopped over to LIV Golf for a reported $200m. Mickelson is now thought to have earned more than $1 billion pre-tax earnings in his career – through both on and off-course activity – with the exceptional scope of his talent pocketing the lethal leftie almost nine figures alone. Mickelson was never a PGA Tour season money winner, but 45 event victories and numerous top finishes have led him to a total only one man can top. The 53-year-old added healthy cheques to his account after winning six majors – three Masters, two PGA Championships and a single Open Championship – and would have earned significantly at the only major he never won. Mickelson finished second six times at the US Open, bagging him sizeable pay cheques in narrow defeat. 1. Tiger Woods – $120,954,766 Another golf list topped by Tiger Woods. It might be quicker to write about the records he doesn't hold. Tiger's bank balance is the biggest because his career had everything. A record 82 PGA Tour wins point to an immense will to win, potentially never matched in the sport. That mentality combined with his out-of-this-world talent and desire to play the game for as long as possible has left Woods with an astronomical haul of career earnings. The 48-year-old's biggest ever win was a whisker over $2m – less than half of what Scottie Scheffler banked for winning the Players Championship last year – but a total of five Masters, four PGA Championships, three US Opens and three The Opens were always going to contribute significantly to his standing on this list. He was the PGA Tour money winner a record 10 times; just another way that Tiger is golf's GOAT. Who is the highest paid PGA Tour golfer of all time? Earning big bucks in golf is reserved for the elite. Players who mix peaks of success on the course with longevity and consistency can take home incredible sums of money. By epitomising these criteria, Tiger Woods earned himself an on-course fortune, which he only expanded off it. His biggest money season – his seven PGA wins in 2007 – bagged him almost $11m, a figure that now-LIV star Jon Rahm surpassed on the PGA Tour last season. With the money in the game growing season on season, this list is sure to change at speed. Even still, Tiger will take some catching. Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How do Ryder Cup points work? Format, points system and tiebreakers explained
All the details about how the Ryder Cup format works, including points, matchplay golf and tiebreakers.
The PGA Tour season has now come to a close, making way for the most exciting, most historic and most important team event in golf. The Ryder Cup is headed to Italy for the first time ever, with Team Europe hoping home advantage will help them steal the iconic trophy back from Team USA. Over three special days at the end of September, a collection of the best golfers on the planet will descend on Rome to compete for the honour of their countries and continents. This year Europe’s lineup features three of the top four seeds in the world plus, in Ludvig Aberg, the first golfer to play in a Ryder Cup without ever competing in a major. The team from across the Atlantic, meanwhile, have the best golfer in the world, plus five of the remaining top ten. Everything is set up for a weekend full of drama, intrigue and exceptional golf in a format that strays from standard tournaments across the world. RadioTimes.com brings you all the details on how the Ryder Cup points system works, including more about matchplay golf and tiebreakers involved. Ryder Cup matchplay format If you’ve watched any of the PGA Tour’s regular tournaments, like the Masters or the US Open, then the chances are you’ve watched strokeplay golf. This is the standard in golf tournaments, where every player keeps their own score over four rounds. Whoever has completed the 72 holes in the fewest shots wins. Instead of strokeplay, the Ryder Cup uses match play. In match play, players compete against specific opposition golfers, either alone or in pairs. Their score is not tracked over the whole course, just over the individual hole. The player or pairing who scores lowest on each hole wins a point. So if a Team Europe player shoots par on a hole while his designated Team USA opponent finishes the hole with a bogey, the Team Europe player will win that hole and go one point up. This continues until the points advantage is larger than the amount of holes left to play in the matchup. If both players or pairs finish level after all 18 holes, the matchup is halved and both teams add one half point to their overall scores. On the mornings of Friday 29th and Saturday 30th September, we will see four matches of foursomes, pairs playing alternate shots on the course. For example, if Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick are chosen by the Team Europe captain to team up, they will take shots in turn around the course, with each playing from where the other finished their turn. In the afternoons of these days, we will see four matches of fourball. In this match type, four players will play the hole as if playing individually. The lowest score from each team’s pairing counts as that team’s score for that hole. For example, if Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa are chosen by the Team USA captain to team up, they will both play the full first hole. If Scheffler finishes with a birdie and Homa ends with a par, Team USA would get a birdie for this hole. The final day of play, Sunday 30th September, will see 12 singles matchups. This is the only day all 24 golfers compete, with four players from each team sitting out each day during the fourball and foursomes formats. How do Ryder Cup points work? As there are eight pairs matchups on Saturday, eight pairs matchups on Sunday and 12 individual matchups on Monday, there are 28 points available over the weekend. Win your pairs or solo matchup and you win a point for your team. It takes a minimum of 14 and a half points for a team to win the Ryder Cup. At the last Ryder Cup in 2021, Team USA beat Team Europe 19 points to 9. Ryder Cup tiebreakers In most strokeplay golf events, if two golfers finish the 72 holes on the same lowest score, they then play a tiebreaker hole, called a playoff. If both players finish this playoff hole in the same amount of shots, another playoff hole is played. This continues until the players are separated in their score and a winner is crowned. Nothing like this will happen at the Ryder Cup. If a matchup is drawn over the 18 holes the team point is halved, with half a point added to each team’s score. There are no extra holes played at the Ryder Cup. If after the three days of play Team Europe and Team USA finish on the same amount of points (14-14), the Ryder Cup is drawn. The holders of the Ryder Cup would then retain the trophy, which this year means Team USA, having won it most recently in 2021. This happened just last week in the women’s version of the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup. Team Europe and Team USA tied the event 14-14 which meant Team Europe, the holders of the Solheim Cup, retained the trophy. View Green Video on the source website If you're looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10, PLUS a £10 John Lewis and Partners voucher delivered to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who has won the Ryder Cup most? Team Europe v Team USA head-to-head record and results
Your round-up of how many Ryder Cup victories have been recorded by Team Europe and Team USA.
It’s that time of year again - that time of year where the world’s best golfers team up for a good old-fashioned international rivalry. It’s the Ryder Cup, and this year’s edition is going to be as hotly contested as ever before. Team Europe will once again battle Team USA in this bi-yearly extravaganza, with the victors securing themselves a spot in the history books. A selection of the best and brightest golfers on the planet are soon to play the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club’s par 71 course, where the rough is deep and the excitement is mounting. The Ryder Cup was first established in 1927, but until 1979 Team USA played against a team under the banner of Great Britain or Great Britain and Republic of Ireland. In the modern era of the competition, since that first Team USA v Team Europe face-off in West Virginia in 1979, both teams have had memorable victories, crushing defeats and moments that will never be forgotten. RadioTimes.com brings you all the details about who has won the Ryder Cup most in history. How many times have Europe won the Ryder Cup? TEAM EUROPE RYDER CUP WINS – 11 Team Europe have won 11 of the 21 Ryder Cups since 1979, when the Great Britain and Republic of Ireland team expanded to include its continental neighbours. Additionally, they retained the Ryder Cup after the 1989 edition ended in a draw, as they had won the previous Ryder Cup in 1987. The European team has had a great deal of success when home advantage has been on their side. They have won seven of the ten Ryder Cups played in Europe since 1979, drawing once and losing twice. Both of those defeats came in England, first at Walton Heath in 1981 and then at the Belfry in 1993. Every time Europe has hosted the Ryder Cup outside of England, Team Europe have lifted the trophy. The iconic Seve Ballesteros captained Europe to victory in his home nation of Spain in 1997, while Team Europe have also been victorious in the Republic of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France in this century. Team Europe routed their opposition in the last home Ryder Cup, winning 17½-10½ in France in 2018. They have not lost in Europe since 1993, which means the new European contingent are hoping to turn six consecutive home wins into seven in Rome. Europe’s biggest victory was in 2004, where they beat Team USA 18½-9½ on American soil. Their biggest win on home soil was that victory in France five years ago. The equivalent women’s event, the Solheim Cup, has been won by Europe seven times since the competition’s inception in 1990, with this year’s event ending in a 14-14 draw. Europe retained the trophy after winning the previous Solheim Cup in 2021. How many times have USA won the Ryder Cup? TEAM USA RYDER CUP WINS – 9 Team USA have won nine of the 21 Ryder Cups since 1979, losing 11 and drawing the event in 1989. Going back to 1927, Team USA have won 27 Ryder Cups, while their opposition has won 14. Home advantage has been important for the US team too. Team USA have won seven of the 11 Ryder Cups played in the USA since 1979, while they have only won the Ryder Cup twice in Europe in ten attempts during that time. Team USA stormed past their opposition in the last Ryder Cup, winning 19-9 at The American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin in 2021. This is the record margin of victory in the modern era of the Ryder Cup. The Americans’ biggest win over Team Europe on European soil came in 1981, when they won 18½-9½. It was the USA’s 22nd consecutive Ryder Cup victory. The equivalent women’s event, the Solheim Cup, has been won by Team USA 10 times since beginning in 1990, though they have not won the event since 2017. Past Ryder Cup results Last five Ryder Cup results. 2021: Team USA 19-9 Team Europe – The American Club, Wisconsin 2018: Team Europe 17½-10½ Team USA – Le Golf National, France 2016: Team USA 17-11 Team Europe – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Minnesota 2014: Team Europe 16½-11½ Team USA – Gleneagles Resort, Scotland 2012: Team USA 13½-14½ Team Europe – Medinah Country Club, Illinois How to watch the Ryder Cup on TV and live stream You can watch the Ryder Cup live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event. You can upgrade to the Sky Sports Cricket channel from just £15 per month as part of a limited time deal or pick up the complete sports package from just £24 per month. Find out more about the best Sky packages Sky Sports customers can live stream the Ryder Cup via the Sky Go app on a variety of devices including most smartphones and tablets as part of their subscription. You can also watch the Ryder Cup via NOW without signing up to a contract. NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps found on most smart TVs, phones and consoles. NOW is also available via BT Sport. View Green Video on the source website If you're looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10, PLUS a £10 John Lewis and Partners voucher delivered to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ryder Cup 2023 teams: Who will play for Team Europe and Team USA?
Your complete guide to the Ryder Cup 2023 teams as Europe faces USA.
Burned out office workers aren’t the only ones day-dreaming of a late September mini-break to Italy. The Ryder Cup 2023 means 24 of the best golfers on the planet have packed their hand luggage, paid for the extra carry-on and are heading to Rome for the biggest team event in golf. Team USA have a rather long flight to deal with, as well as a rather long curse to break. They’re heading to Italy to try and lift the Ryder Cup on European soil for the first time in thirty years. That’s longer than five of their team members have been alive. Team Europe have a shorter trip to the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club and they’re looking for revenge. Team USA humbled their European counterparts in Whistling Straits, Wisconsin two years ago. A fresh new line-up is hoping to right that wrong. The visitors will start the weekend as favourites, having an average World Ranking across the squad of 12.92, while Team Europe has an average of 30. Team Europe has the experience edge though, with a combined 21 Ryder Cup appearances across the squad compared to Team USA’s 17. RadioTimes.com brings all the details on the Ryder Cup 2023 teams, including who will feature for Team Europe and Team USA. Ryder Cup 2023 teams Ryder Cup Team Europe The European team is made up of six players who qualified automatically for the team via their performances over the last season, and six players chosen by the team’s captain, Luke Donald. Donald replaced Henrik Stenson as the European captain after the Swede joined LIV Golf last year. The six automatic qualifiers are made up of the three top players on the European points list and the following three players on the World points list. These points leaders include Ryder Cup staple Rory McIlroy, recent world number one Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland, who won back-to-back PGA Tour events in August. The final six players were chosen as wildcards by captain Luke Donald. He picked players including veteran Justin Rose and reigning John Deere Classic champion, Sepp Straka. Donald was not able to select players from the LIV Golf tour as European Ryder Cup players have to be members of the DP World Tour, which LIV golfers are not. Players like Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia were therefore not in contention for the roster. Team Europe line-up Luke Donald (Captain) Rory McIlroy Jon Rahm Robert MacIntyre Viktor Hovland Tyrrell Hatton Matt Fitzpatrick Justin Rose Tommy Fleetwood Sepp Straka Shane Lowry Nicolai Hojgaard Ludvig Aberg Ryder Cup Team USA The USA team is similarly made up to Team Europe, with half the team qualifying automatically through points and the other half chosen by the team’s captain, Zach Johnson. This will be the two-time-major-champ’s first time captaining his country, after being vice-captain for the USA’s dominant 19-9 victory at the 2021 Ryder Cup. The six automatic qualifiers are the players who accumulated the most Ryder Cup qualifying points over the past two years. These include world number one Scottie Scheffler, reigning Open champion Brian Harman and US Open champion Wyndham Clark. Johnson selected six other players to complete his Ryder Cup roster. The USA captain was allowed to pick from LIV Golf’s ranks for his team, which is why Brooks Koepka is set to play in his fourth Ryder Cup. Alongside him will be experienced heads like Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, as well as 27-year-old Sam Burns, who won the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play event back in March. Team USA line-up Zach Johnson (Captain) Scottie Scheffler Wyndham Clark Brian Harman Max Homa Xander Schauffele Patrick Cantlay Brooks Koepka Justin Thomas Jordan Spieth Collin Morikawa Sam Burns Rickie Fowler If you're looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10, PLUS a £10 John Lewis and Partners voucher delivered to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Best male AEW wrestlers in the world 2023
Our comprehensive round-up of the best male wrestlers in AEW in 2023.
It’s a cracking time to be a wrestling fan. Whether you’re satisfied with a slice of sports entertainment or prefer to sample from the wider pro wrestling world, there’s something out there for everyone. For the first time in decades, the juggernaut called World Wrestling Entertainment has true competition. All Elite Wrestling, the upstart wrestling company backed by Fulham FC owner Tony Khan, has gone from strength to strength over the past few years and now has the talent to compete with any promotion around. This list of AEW’s best male wrestlers was extremely tough to compile, owing to the sheer depth of talent on the roster. Some hugely impressive stars miss out on this list, as we ranked the performers via a combination of in-ring ability, mic skills, storyline strength and wrestling legacy. This takes nothing away from the iconic careers of stars like Chris Jericho or blossoming talents like Orange Cassidy, but right now, the following five men stand above all others in AEW. RadioTimes.com brings you our ranking of the best male AEW wrestlers in the world right now. Best male AEW wrestlers in the world 2023 5. CM Punk If AEW was built on the backs of Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes and the Elite, it was raised even higher by the arrival of CM Punk. When the Chicago-native bid farewell to the industry in 2014, he left a chasm in the business. The longer he was away, the more unlikely it felt that he would ever return. That’s why CM Punk lacing back up his wrestling boots was so special. He brought more eyes to the show and has repaid the attention, with interest. Injuries and off-screen drama have disrupted his run, but the former AEW World Champion has still created history with the likes of Jon Moxley and MJF, proving he’s still one of the best talkers in the business, with the in-ring storytelling to keep up. It now looks like he has his health back, has a direction and, in Collision, a show to make his own. CM Punk is still one of the biggest stars in the industry, and the best could still be to come. 4. Bryan Danielson Is Bryan Danielson the greatest wrestler of all time? It was a question asked in the lead up to this year’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view, but it’s a valid one. You won’t catch this writer arguing against giving him that title. The pro wrestling fan base thought they’d seen the last of Bryan when injury prevented him from competing in WWE, but the American Dragon would not be kept out of the game. He has been a man reborn since joining AEW, performing with the shackles off, with new levels of intensity, ruthlessness and violence. The legend from Aberdeen, Washington has missed more time due to injury in the last few years but is now part of a special band of warriors - the Blackpool Combat Club - who will continue to have a massive role in the business going forward. Every time we get to see Danielson’s technical mastery should be cherished. He is the GOAT of what he does and is rounding out his legacy. Danielson is the standard-bearer of greatness in professional wrestling. 3. Jon Moxley There’s just nobody quite like Mox. He is violent, sure, but that word hardly scratches the surface. He’s intense, brutal, snarling, antagonistic, rageful, nasty and he loves every second of grinding his body against his rivals’. And what a spectacle that creates. The three-time AEW World Champion has been a tentpole in AEW since joining in 2019, carrying the weight of the company when they’ve needed him most. He’s stood up and stood out, raising his unique, bruising style to new levels, tolerating untold levels of pain, and wearing the crimson mask like it’s part of his ring attire. He could well be the toughest man in professional wrestling. The bed-of-nails bump he took at Blood and Guts may just have won him that crown. Mox is the man. 2. Maxwell Jacob Friedman MJF is unparalleled on the mic. He can be devilish, he can be cocky, he can be churlish, but he is also undeniably brilliant. The champ is impossible to look away from. His critics point to his in-ring work and its regularity - he hasn’t always wrestled a lot - but those criticisms get swept under the sheer power of his personality. He is loved, he is hated, he is cheered, he is booed, just as a wrestler wants to be. Every AEW fan has an opinion on Max and that’s because he’s a star. Nobody is doing what MJF is doing. He might not yet be the best professional wrestler in the world, but he’s already an elite-level entertainer. 1. Kenny Omega The Canadian ‘Best Bout Machine’ is built different. He’s an incredible athlete, capable of doing remarkable things inside the squared circle, but he’s also as hard-hitting as they come. His forty-minute match-of-the-year-contender with Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door surely cemented the veteran firmly within the conversation for the sport’s king. He’d get plenty of votes for the industry’s modern GOAT. He can sell, has got a ridiculous engine on him, can create drama - even when nobody expects him to lose - and his snap dragon suplex looks like it could legitimately break necks. Omega is special among special athletes. It only takes watching him work to see that. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Best female AEW wrestlers in the world 2023
Our comprehensive round-up of the best female wrestlers in AEW in 2023.
All Elite Wrestling is in great shape. They have a clear vision, a mass of ridiculously talented performers and a fan base ballooning by the week. Events like their recent collaboration with New Japan Pro Wrestling, Forbidden Door, have been a huge success with fans and critics alike, and show that the brand is only going in one direction. This is reflected in the quality of the promotion’s women’s division, which is growing and improving. AEW has a blend of homegrown stars and more mainstream names and gives them space to spread their wings, which is creating ever more exciting matches. Picking the best five female wrestlers in the company was no easy task, but we finally narrowed down our choices after taking into account their in-ring ability, character, current storylines and wrestling legacy. Injuries meant stars like Thunder Rosa wouldn’t make this countdown, while others like Ruby Soho, Willow Nightingale and the recently returned Kris Statlander are primed to burst onto this list at its next update. RadioTimes.com brings you our ranking of the best female AEW wrestlers in the world right now. Best female AEW wrestlers in the world 2023 5. Jade Cargill You’re never going to have the best undefeated streak in wrestling: The Undertaker has that honour for all of time. All you can hope for now is that if you get on a roll of avoiding defeat, it means something. Jade Cargill’s streak meant something. Cargill’s run to becoming the inaugural TBS Champion, and her subsequent streak of defences, was unlike any other. Cargill won her first 60 professional matches, establishing herself as a dominant match for any competitor, all the way up to and including her first loss, dropping the belt to Kris Statlander at Double or Nothing. This 60-0 run gave Cargill all the platform she needed to become a major player. She was sold like a superstar, lost the belt with a caveat and proved herself to be an athletic, powerful and charismatic heel. She’s got the look, the spark and the potential to be a top performer for years to come. 4. Hikaru Shida Professional wrestling is as much about the fans as anything inside the ring. The audience pays the bills so their word, their fire, their passion keeps the business thriving. That’s one reason the pandemic was such a challenge for the industry. Companies like AEW and WWE had to shut their doors to fans and figure out new ways to keep the fire burning. Just like Drew McIntyre in WWE, AEW relied on one superstar to put a division on their back in the toughest of times. Shida won the AEW Women’s World Championship at the first Double or Nothing and lost it at the second. The majority of her historic 372-day reign was spent competing in front of no live audience. When fans were allowed back, Shida soon dropped the belt. The fan-favourite has not long returned to AEW after a break and it is great to have her stiff strikes and class kicks back on the show. Shida may not have got her due as champion, but she’s back to regain her spot at the top of the mountain. There are some huge matches, rivalries and moments in her future. And hopefully the crowing title moment she deserves. 3. Dr Britt Baker DMD It’s easy to hate going to the dentist. It’s strangely intimate, it’s uncomfortable and fillings are silly expensive. Well, next time you get a check up, just be glad your doc doesn’t put the mandible claw on you to finish your appointment. Dr Britt is a legit dentist, still fixing people’s chompers on her off days, but she’s also a legit star in AEW. Still young in the business, Baker has got the crowd behind her like few others thanks to her work over the last few years. It’s too easy to say that she’s surgical inside the squared circle, but Baker can do a bit of everything when the bell rings. Her Lockjaw finisher is already iconic, her superkicks rival those of her IRL partner Adam Cole and she looks every bit the part of a superstar. Baker was the first woman signed to AEW, she’s a former World Champion and was the inaugural Owen Hart Tournament Cup winner. She is the poster child of the AEW women’s division, deservedly. 2. Toni Storm Storm came to AEW with pedigree - and she capitalised on it. She is the top of the card in the women’s division, the first two-time AEW Women’s Champion and in with a shot at the title of greatest AEW Women’s champion ever. All thanks to a little help from her friends. Don’t get me wrong, hitting piledrivers on everyone in sight has definitely helped, but the Gold Coast native is the heel to beat thanks to her excellent work alongside The Outcasts. The straight-talking Aussie is the classic win-any-way baddie, using cheats, shortcuts and the interference of her faction-mates, Ruby Soho and Saraya, to cling onto her title. Toni Storm is growing bigger in the company of two seasoned pros with every green L spray-painted onto her opponents. She can be gritty, she can be sassy, she’s always full of disdain. Storm is the superstar to beat. 1. Jamie Hayter The Outcasts may have been running roughshod over the women’s division ever since Toni Storm stole Hayter’s top title, but they may have forgotten a certain saying about everything that goes around. Hayter has been MIA ever since Double of Nothing and fans are buzzing in anticipation of her return. The physical former champion has grown a healthy group of Hayters (the very opposite of haters) through her battles alongside Dr Britt Baker DMD and as a champion in her own right. Her title reign was just blossoming when it was cut short, but its next chapter is going to be a doozy. Hayter’s comeback is going to be huge. If she returns at, or in time for, AEW’s first ever show on British soil, then Wembley Stadium will become unglued. The superstar from Southampton will receive a welcome as raucous as any. If she brings the fight to the Outcasts, and if that AEW Women’s title is in play, we better hope Wembley’s foundations are secure. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Our round-up of the best British WWE wrestlers of all time.
The United Kingdom is known for producing incredible footballers, cricketers and athletics stars, but lesser known for the phenomenal wrestling talents it has produced. That is changing, as the British wrestling scene expands into the mainstream, with heaps of top talent crossing the Atlantic to find success. We have studied the tapes to find the greatest British WWE wrestlers, from outstanding athletes to some of the best brains the industry has ever seen. To be clear, this is a list of the greatest professional wrestlers from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - so incredible stars from the Republic of Ireland, like Becky Lynch and Finn Bálor, are not eligible. To compile this countdown, we balanced superstars’ career influence, in-ring ability and championship success in WWE. This meant wrestlers like the late Dynamite Kid just missed out, while burgeoning talents like Noam Dar, Butch and Piper Niven wait, ready to smash their way onto this esteemed list in the future. RadioTimes.com brings you our ranking of the 10 best British WWE wrestlers of all time. 5. Finlay Though David John Finlay Jr was only an in-ring competitor in WWE between 2005 and 2010, his influence on the company is still growing even today. Inside the squared circle he was a tough, skilled competitor – even winning the United States championship – but he has made his largest contribution outside of it. Fit is one of the most respected trainers in the business. Stars from several generations praise Finlay with having a huge influence on their careers. He trained the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton in his early days with the WWE, while his work with the company’s female competitors is also credited with changing the face of the division. 4. Paige Everyone remembers Paige’s WWE debut. It was the Raw after WrestleMania XXX, typically the most unpredictable night of the year, and dominant Divas champion AJ Lee was in the ring. That’s where Paige comes in. She came out to congratulate AJ on her WrestleMania title defence, reaching 295 days as champion, but the heel champ took things too far, slapping and forcing Paige into a title match. The fans were behind the 21-year-old NXT upstart, and the crowd simultaneously jumped out of their seats when Paige fought out of AJ’s Black Widow submission move and ended up pinning the champ for three. That moment was hard to top, but Paige broke real ground for female competitors in WWE. She was the inaugural NXT Women’s champion, became a two-time Divas champion and played a key on-screen in WWE’s Women’s Revolution before serious injury cut her run with the company short. 3. William Regal You’ll be hard-pressed to find many more highly-respected pros in the wrestling business than William Regal. The Staffordshire-born superstar has done it all in sports entertainment and in WWE - and he has done whatever it takes for the health of the business, even if that meant literally kissing the boss’s ass (for a storyline). In WWE, Regal won multiple Intercontinental, Hardcore, European and Tag Team Championships, while also earning the distinction of winning the King of the Ring tournament. He was the king of the wrestling psychology, too. Regal understood every intricacy of heel work and he has spent the second half of his career sharing with young talent everything that made him an in-ring master. His work in NXT continues to take that platform to new heights. 2. Drew McIntyre Having a brilliant finisher is helpful in professional wrestling. Luckily for Drew McIntyre, he has two. The Scottish Warrior lays out anyone in his path with his devastating Claymore Kick, but only if his wicked DDT, the Future Shock, hasn’t done the job. These moves have most certainly done the job for Drew McIntyre's career. The superstar from Ayr, Scotland, has made the most of his second chance in the company, building swiftly up through NXT and the main roster to the top of the mountain. He eliminated Roman Reigns to win the 2019 Royal Rumble, beat Brock Lesnar in the main event of WrestleMania to become the first British WWE champion, and kept rolling from there. While his place in the company is a little unsure at present, his resume and career speaks for itself. He is a Triple Crown champion, led WWE during its toughest times and that comeback, well, has been as brilliant as his finishers. 1. British Bulldog View oEmbed on the source website The stage was Wembley, the year 1992, the event was SummerSlam. The first major pay-per-view held outside of North America was headlined by an Intercontinental Championship match between the British Bulldog, aka Davey Boy Smith, and Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart. After 24 minutes, the Bulldog reversed the Hitman’s sunset flip into a pinfall and scored a count of three. The match was iconic, the pop was iconic and the embrace between real-life brother-in-laws was equally so. It’s exactly the sort of story WWE tells better than anyone else, and it crowned the career of Davey Boy Smith. This was the highlight of the British Bulldog’s Hall of Fame career, a career which included winning a plethora of titles, including becoming the first ever European Champion in the company. Davey Boy Smith’s life was cut short in 2002, but his legacy is unmatched. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Our round-up of the highest-attended WWE shows in the United Kingdom.
If you walk by the O2 this weekend and wonder why it’s got no roof, that’s because WWE has blown it off. The sports entertainment powerhouse is about to bring one of its tentpole events, Money in the Bank, to British shores, and fans could hardly be more excited. For the first time ever, the biggest names in the industry will climb ladders to grab briefcases outside of the USA. This is just the latest - and potentially greatest - trip to Great Britain for World Wrestling Entertainment, whose long-standing relationship with UK fans has been blossoming in recent years. The company has been nipping over to London, Manchester and further afield since 1989, capitalising on the energy, passion and dedication of fans who don’t get to see their idols quite so often. This list runs down the most-attended British WWE events pre-MitB and, thankfully, those numbers match up nicely with the event’s historical importance. RadioTimes.com brings you our round-up of the biggest WWE shows in UK history. 5. Smackdown Live Event 19 June 2005 Attendance: 17,500 Yes, this was just a regular second show live outing, but there was nothing regular about the show’s content. The WWE ferries superstars to the UK for non-televised events on a near-yearly basis, but these shows rarely feature two matches as exceptional as those seen on this show. Attendees to the MEN Arena on that balmy Sunday evening were treated to iconic figures Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero doing what they do best, before a stacked main event brought the curtain down. The light wind whistling through Manchester would have done nothing to calm any fever pitch in the crowd as WWE Champion John Cena defended his title against Olympic gold medallist Kurt Angle and long-time rival John Bradshaw Layfield - all with the Texas Rattlesnake, Stone Cold Steve Austin, serving as special guest referee. That place must’ve been seriously sweaty. 4. No Mercy 16 May 1999 Attendance: 18,407 Let’s not confuse this UK-exclusive No Mercy with the pay-per-view they held in Ohio just a couple of months later. This was the inaugural outing of the No Mercy show, one that would get twelve more outings, all in the US of A. This WWF (I said it) event was crammed full of generational talent. Again, it was Manchester and the MEN Arena who alone were treated to the likes of Mankind, Kane and Edge in the ring. Plus, everyone who bought it on Sky. And everyone who watched the DVD. As WWE is oft to do, the night ended with a WrestleMania-worthy triple threat for the WWE Championship. This time, champion Stone Cold was challenged by then-future-Hall-of-Famers Triple H and The Undertaker. Whatever the circumstances, any who got to witness those three in the ring can count themselves extremely fortunate. 3. Mayhem in Manchester 4 April 1998 Attendance: 18,514 Maybe Vince is a closet United fan, because we’re starting three for three in Manchester. The biggest city in England’s north was home to another UK-exclusive PPV as the company toured on the back of WrestleMania XIV. It was another event which followed a house show format - no titles changed hands - but that doesn’t mean it lacked excitement. Attendees and VHS purchasers were treated to the team of Ken Shamrock and Owen Hart beating Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and D-Lo Brown, while the biggest hitters of the time turned up too. Mayhem in Manchester, like No Mercy the following year, would see Triple H challenge for Stone Cold’s top title, while the last match of the evening would be between the future Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, and Michelle McCool’s husband. Also known as Kane vs The Undertaker. 2. Clash at the Castle 3 September 2022 Attendance: 62,296 Post-pandemic, WWE made something a little magic for the UK. Drew McIntrye had been That Guy for the company during the pandemic era, holding the WWE Championship for much of the disrupted year between WrestleMania 36 and 37. Without fans in the arena during much of this period, Drew never really got his crowning championship moment. Soon after WrestleMania 38, WWE came back to the UK - rocking up to Cardiff, Wales - where the super Scot got a hero's reception. McIntyre and Irish veteran Sheamus were as raucously cheered as ever before, both fighting for titles the British corner of the WWE Universe thought they deserved. It was WWE’s first major stadium show in the UK for thirty years and its success directly led to Money in the Bank flying over to the UK in 2023. 1. SummerSlam 29 August 1992 Attendance: 78,927 It’s the event UK fans have never been able to let go of. WWE’s decision to bring its second-largest show to the British Isles was a huge moment for wrestling fans this side of the Atlantic. It was the first major pay-per-view to take place outside of North America and it rocked Wembley like never before. Though the actual attendance is disputed, the event was certainly the biggest non-WrestleMania event, and ranks in the top ten most-attended WWE events of all time. The three-hour spectacular was dominated by two matches. After seeing big stars like The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels in midcard matches, the ‘Biggest Party of the Summer’ gave fans a WWF Championship match between the Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage. It was the event’s final match – and true main event – that was the history maker, though. Real-life brothers-in-law Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart and the British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, battled over the Intercontinental Championship to close the show. The crowd was electric and exploded for the finale, which culminated in circumstances wrestling fans will never forget. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide, or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast.
Best female WWE wrestlers in the world 2023
Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best female WWE wrestlers in 2023.
We are living through the greatest time for women’s wrestling in WWE, and it’s only getting better. Fans growing up with the current crop of female superstars see their idols given space to provide magic inside and outside of the ring, which is a world away from the often side-lined and sexualised situations previous generations of female athletes were handed. This ever-improving environment makes our job to select the best female superstars in the company a real challenge. The strength of the roster means former champions like Natalya and Alexa Bliss miss out on this list, with other competitors edging them out thanks to their current storyline success, in-ring ability and on-mic technique. RadioTimes.com brings you our complete round-up of the top 10 women in WWE wrestling right now. Read more: Best WWE wrestlers of all time | Best male WWE superstars 2023 10. Shayna Baszler If you saw Shayna Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship run, you’ll know just how good the Queen of Spades can be. At her dominant best, Baszler is a destroyer of limbs, capable of breaking opponents apart like no other woman in the division. She’s an in-ring predator, willing to pounce on any weakness, and holds a unique position in WWE as a result. She may have struggled to be her unstoppable submission specialist self during her run on the main roster so far, but ever since Ronda Rousey has got her hooks back into her, Baszler has shown signs of reaching her peak once more. 9. Iyo Sky Anyone who rubs shoulders with Bayley is going to have their game raised, but the sky was already the limit for this former NXT Women’s Champion. The Genius of the Sky lives up to her WWE nickname, creating showstopping moment after showstopping moment from the top rope. She is a superstar capable of anything inside the ropes and as soon as the WWE Universe sees all that she can be, Iyo has the potential to be the breakout star of Damage CTRL. 8. Liv Morgan Liv Morgan was the perfect person to win the Money in the Bank contract. A super hard worker with all the desire and ambition in the world, the mega valuable briefcase helped progress Liv from the middle of the card to the top. The WWE Universe was behind Morgan like no other woman in 2022 and the swell of emotion and excitement for her cash in and subsequent victories over Ronda Rousey were some of the most deserved triumphs of the year. 2023 has seen Liv slip back down the card a little, but we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg that is her potential. 7. Ronda Rousey Rousey burst into WWE with a rocket strapped to her back. She proved to the world that she was a bonafide elite athlete in UFC but, despite some brilliant big-stage moments at the beginning of her WWE tenure, she is only now on a path where she can truly become the main event. Ever since turning heel last year, Ronda’s character has gone from strength to strength. Not only did she help raise Liv Morgan’s credibility in a moment she needed it, she also put herself in a position to become the most hated – and therefore successful – heel in the company. As soon as WWE gives her something big to work on again, there’s nothing Ronda can’t achieve. 6. Asuka Though Asuka has achieved almost everything there is to in WWE – multi-time champion, Money in the Bank winner, Royal Rumble winner, having a two-and-a-half year unbeaten run – it still feels like she can get even better. As we write this, she’s well placed to have a huge post-WrestleMania 2023, with her aggressive, serious, unhinged persona taking shape at a key time. Her ferocity in-ring has levelled up and adding the mist to her repertoire has made big matches even more must-see. Asuka is a superstar on the rise once more. 5. Bayley The Role Model is one of the most underrated superstars in recent memory. Despite her title reigns and superb heel performances, Bayley is not singled out for praise quite often enough. Though WWE has struggled to really figure out what makes Damage CTRL different to any other experienced-head-plus-two-upcoming-stars faction, everything Bayley has touched since her return has turned to gold. Her rivalry with Becky Lynch has been the most enduring non-title women’s storyline for months, producing some excellent moments of awe and drama. Her presence and dislikability means she elevates anything she’s a part of. Raw is a better show when Bayley’s a part of it. 4. Charlotte Flair Charlotte has had the career of a first-ballot Hall of Famer already, but she’s still smack-bang in the middle of her prime. Year on year Flair proves why she is the standard in the women’s division, providing excellent matches and fierce rivalries. Her biggest talent is how she grows the star power of every opponent who steps to her. Whether as a heel or in her current face role, Charlotte has an unrivalled ability to make stars of those who stand opposite her. Her legacy is secured whatever else she achieves in WWE, and one day she’ll leave it in a better place than she found it. 3. Becky Lynch Becky Lynch is a record-breaker, history-maker and truly inspirational figure. Her current run, since coming back from the birth of her daughter, has been outstanding in a purely wrestling sense. Lynch has the enviable ability to succeed at the highest level as a heel or a face, creating magic with Bianca Belair as the former and fireworks with Bayley over the last few months as the latter. The Man continues to be a centrepiece of the women’s division and shines bright in any position she’s given. 2. Rhea Ripley Our number one entry may have dominated the women’s roster picture over the past two years, but it’s hard to argue anyone is better placed to lead this industry in the years to come than Rhea Ripley. The Nightmare has had an incredible run over the past 12 months, dominating Raws and Smackdowns as part of the Judgement Day. She has simultaneously elevated her own position to the very top of the card as well as propping up the talented Judgement Day lads around her. Mami is casting an ominous shadow over the whole women’s division and the storm is surely going to crash down on it soon. Ripley says she needs to be a star. She already is one. 1. Bianca Belair 2022 was the year of the EST. She lifted the women’s division onto her shoulders and carried it from big moment to big moment. Belair stepped up against every top star the division had to offer and proved that she’s their equal – and then some. If we’re talking about in-ring athleticism and power-based perfection, then Bianca Belair is unmatched. She’s an incredible physical athlete and has the ability to get the crowd behind her as an inspirational, even underdog, face despite her title dominance. We still think there are even more levels for Belair to go up, which is only phenomenal news for us all. Who is the best female superstar in WWE? The women’s division in WWE has a brilliant combination of trailblazing veterans and emerging talents. Future icons like Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are helping raise Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley to ever-higher heights. While there’s no doubt that it’s Bianca Belair’s division right now, Rhea Ripley is firing on all cylinders and is growing in readiness to lead the pack for years to come. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Our comprehensive ranking of the best male and female WWE superstars ever.
Picking your favourite wrestlers is like, in the words of WWE commentator Corey Graves, picking your favourite flavour of ice cream: it’s all so subjective. Picking the best, however – the greatest WWE superstars of all time – can thankfully be a little more scientific. Everyone on this list is either a Hall of Famer or a future Hall of Famer, but we’ve spent the time splitting hairs between them, based on their unique combinations of star power, iconic looks, mic skills, career longevity, in-ring dominance and lifelong legacies. RadioTimes.com brings you our top five lists of the greatest male and female WWE wrestlers to ever grace the squared circle, starting with the best female wrestlers ever. Read more: Best female WWE superstars 2023 | Best male WWE superstars 2023 Best female WWE stars of all time 5. Chyna The late, great Joan Marie Laurer may have a troubled legacy post-WWE, but her impact during her time with the company cannot be overstated. Chyna was an athlete unlike any seen before in WWE. Her Ninth Wonder of the World moniker was earned through her in-ring work and accomplishments. Chyna was the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble match, the first to compete in the King of the Ring tournament and the only woman to have held the Intercontinental championship. She was a pivotal part of one of WWE’s most influential factions, D-Generation X, and helped change the expectations placed on women in the industry. Her in-ring legacy will endure forever. 4. Lita Many of the women that led and continue to lead the Women’s Revolution in WWE idolise one woman more than any other: Lita. Her high-flying, all-action style was a unique in-ring sight during the Attitude Era and helped her smash glass ceiling after glass ceiling. Her alternative image, especially when competing alongside the Hardy Boyz, was a beacon for so many young fans, allowing them to see someone like them on screen. Lita got physically involved in storylines – hitting hurricanranas and being put through tables – and made history by being half of the first ever Raw main event involving solely women. It’s even more credit to her that she’s still adding to her in-ring achievements in 2023. 3. Becky Lynch Simply put, Becky Lynch changed the game for female superstars in WWE. And just like her hero Lita before her, she’s done it her way. All the women on this list are trailblazers, but few have achieved what Becky Lynch has. At the height of The Man’s popularity, she saw a level of ferocity from the WWE Universe rarely reached. She was the top competitor in the company, regardless of gender, breaking new ground every week. That hot streak led to her stealing the show – and two championship belts – in the first women’s match to headline at WrestleMania, a truly iconic moment in wrestling history. 2. Trish Stratus Trish led the charge against the stereotypes placed on female superstars during the '90s and noughties. She transitioned from fitness model to WWE superstar and then into the most decorated Women’s champion the company had ever seen. She used her in-ring excellence and impassioned storylines to become synonymous with women’s wrestling during this period. The other half of the first ever Raw main event involving just two women, Trish spent her career proving that she was an athlete capable of going in the ring and on the mic at the highest levels. Her work helped legitimise the women’s division and provide a platform for all the female superstars that would follow in her footsteps. No wonder she won Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Woman of the Decade for the noughties. 1. Charlotte We could be here all-day listing Charlotte’s achievements, but the only one we need to mention are those 14 Women’s championships. Even more impressive than that championship tally is how Charlotte has been able to balance the duality of becoming her own person in WWE with the fact that she’s the daughter of Ric Flair, a man whom many considered to the be the GOAT of this industry. The Queen has stepped out of her father’s shadow and set about casting her own over every other female superstar that has ever competed in WWE. She has racked up championship reigns, epic rivalries and statement matches at breakneck speed, becoming an icon in her own right, as well as the biggest starmaker on the women’s roster today. Charlotte is the best women’s WWE superstar there has ever been and there’s so much more for her to achieve. And now, it’s time for the best male WWE superstars of all time... Best male WWE stars of all time 5. The Undertaker There is little more iconic in WWE than The Undertaker’s entrance. There is little more legendary in WWE than The Undertaker’s WrestleMania unbeaten streak. There was little more shocking in WWE than the moment that streak was finally broken. The Undertaker’s legacy is one of consistent quality, as the Deadman put on classic matches, worked in legendary rivalries and provided the company with some of its most memorable moments over a WWE career spanning three decades. His influence on several generations of superstar is immense, while his in-ring work should be lauded just as strongly. The Undertaker is a legend in every sense of the word. 4. Hulk Hogan It’s undeniable that the Hulkster was wrestling during much of the '80s and '90s. Hogan’s magnetic persona reached levels of popularity never seen before, with Hulkamania truly running wild in the mainstream media. He was a red, white and blue Superman dominating WWE in a period of incredible boom and provided so many memorable moments for wrestling fans. WrestleMania became the juggernaut it is today on foundations he helped set, working with Mr T and body-slamming Andre the Giant in early editions. While many have criticised his in-ring ability and his controversies don’t help his legacy, there’s nobody who drew more passion, more admiration and more excitement from the WWE Universe and beyond than Hulk Hogan. 3. John Cena Just like his childhood idol Hogan, Cena has his fair share of critics, but also just like Hulk, there can be no arguments against his impact on the health of the wrestling industry around the world. To many people today, wrestling means John Cena. If people know just two things about the sport, it’s that it is ‘fake’ and that you can’t see this man. His gimmick was so infectious, polarising crowds like none before or since, that fans couldn’t help investing in him, for or against. He led the company into a new era, becoming a true icon while simultaneously teaching a generation of kids the value of Hustle, Loyalty and Respect and, above all, to Never Give Up. As legacies go, that’s hard to top. 2. Ric Flair There is debate in the industry over how many world titles the Nature Boy won, but this is a sidenote. Another wrestler with plenty of controversies, Ric Flair lived, breathed and became professional wrestling in a way no other has ever done. In the ring, Flair had the perfect blend of athleticism, technique and in-ring awareness, while his ability to make his opponents look good was extraordinary. Outside of it, few have played the crowd like Flair did, using his huge persona to create support, disdain and pure emotion through a catalogue of incredible promos. His longevity is unmatched, being involved in the business for more than half a century, providing some of the most impactful moments in the industry’s history. His WrestleMania match against Shawn Michaels is pure magic. It’s making us teary just thinking about it. 1. Stone Cold Steve Austin Some things are a case of right place, right time and right circumstance. Stone Cold Steve Austin hit all three of these criteria like nobody else. He was only a wrestler in WWE for eight years but his impact during the Attitude Era of the late '90s was truly monumental. Sent into the stratosphere by his infamous Austin 3:16 promo at King of the Ring 1996, Stone Cold hit the cultural zeitgeist of the time right in the master vein. His fierce anti-hero persona exploded into the mainstream, with his catchphrase, persona and incredible rivalries with The Rock and Vince McMahon all becoming cultural milestones of the period. None have ever burned as brightly at the exact moment they were needed like the Texas Rattlesnake. Nobody has ever done it better. Who are the best WWE wrestlers of all time? There have been countless incredible performers, athletes and talents on our screens and in our stadiums under the World Wrestling Entertainment banner, but those who endure are those who raised the game of the entire industry or those who affected change from within it. It is truly remarkable that the Flair family has provided two of the most influential in-ring figures ever seen, while in a moment WWE needed a gamechanger to survive, Steve Austin turned Stone Cold and nothing was the same again. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Best male WWE wrestlers in the world 2023
Our comprehensive round-up of the 10 best male wrestlers in WWE in 2023.
WWE continues to find itself in a rich vein of form. Despite the controversies and upheaval that have caused chaos behind-the-scenes at the company over the past number of months, WWE’s on-screen product is as strong as we’ve seen in decades. The absurd depth of the men’s roster is playing a big part of this success, with dream matchups popping up on premium live events and engaging, expansive storylines regularly making Raw and Smackdown can’t-miss entertainment. Compiling this list of the 10 best male main roster superstars was no mean feat. We broke a mental sweat comparing the in-ring abilities, on-mic skills and storyline successes of the major players – while also trusting in the intangibles for each superstar – to finally arrange this definitive ranking. We’re sure there will be parts of this list you’d change, especially with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Bray Wyatt and Rey Mysterio all missing out, but it’s too late now. RadioTimes.com brings you our complete round-up of the top 10 men in WWE wrestling right now. Read more: Best WWE wrestlers of all time | Best female WWE superstars 2023 10. Drew McIntyre The first British WWE champion nearly missed out on this list altogether. After carrying the company on his back throughout the pandemic, McIntyre has slightly dropped off the top of the mountain, despite standout moments like his title bout at Clash at the Castle. He makes the cut here over the likes of Jey Uso and Austin Theory because of his multi-layered frenemies relationship with Sheamus. Not only have these two elite pros put on some incredible matches, but the likes of Karrion Kross, Gunther and Solo Sikoa have all benefitted from sharing the spotlight with the Scottish Warrior during their intertwined rivalries. We’ve still more to see from Drew. 9. Edge The Rated R Superstar would have been way up this list 10 years ago, but it’s testament to the superstar Edge that he’s even in contention here. His comeback has been truly remarkable and he is making the most of every opportunity he has left. Everything Edge does is opera. His storylines are drama and he bleeds raw emotion. He’s all grit and bite and history and fire and injustice and you feel every beat of his heart in the ring. Every Edge match feels like we’ve stolen something back from the universe. May we have him for all the time he lost and more. 8. Kevin Owens KO keeps finding new ways to make us care. This iteration of the Prizefighter is one of the most passionately supported faces in the company, with fans backing him all the way in his never-ending fight against the Bloodline. It’s an ongoing rivalry which has provided some of the most emotional and entertaining moments in recent years. Right now, he’s a hero people feel good about supporting. With his unique appearance, impassioned promos and badass entrance music, he’s cultivated a persona people love to love. Owens is special because you know he could flip all that in an instant and turn into one of the most sadistic, hated heels around. 7. Finn Balor The Prince, The Demon, and the first-ever WWE universal champion, Finn Balor has proved his worth time and time again. It therefore shows just how incredible a moment the Irish star is in that the main roster has never seen him better. Balor has always had the ability to put on a five-star classic with anyone in front of him, but the level of venom in his storylines and promos has never been this high. The Judgement Day light up every show they’re on and when they’re around, we want to see Finn in the ring. He can go anywhere from here. 6. Gunther We’re sure if we stood overlooking the coast in Penzance and Gunther hit one of his trademark chops on the east coast of the USA, we’d hear it bounce off the Cornish cliffs. The Intercontinental champion’s wicked strikes are the perfect entry point for anyone wanting to see just who Gunther is. A powerhouse in the ring, the Ring General is incredibly athletic for his size and capable of pulling out match of the year contenders at an immense rate. WWE UK fans saw some of the best of Gunther during his record setting NXT UK Championship reign, but his Intercontinental title reign has been almost as impressive. His battle with Sheamus in Cardiff was just one of the many matches in which Gunther has proved he is ready for anything WWE can throw at him. 5. Sami Zayn Comparing the crowd reactions Sami Zayn got in the build-up to Elimination Chamber to Daniel Bryan’s historic YEStleMania run is the highest compliment we can give. Through hard work, a tenacious appetite to improve and a pitch-perfect understanding of the situation he is in, Sami has managed to become one of the most emotive, supported faces WWE has seen in years. His ability to turn, on paper, underwhelming storylines into unbelievable entertainment (who thought he’d help Johnny Knoxville steal the show at WrestleMania 38?) has earned the trust and respect of the WWE Universe and in the past year, he’s cashed that in. This business can, at times, be a meritocracy and Zayn has earned all the limelight he’s getting. 4. Bobby Lashley Over the past three years, Bobby Lashley has turned himself into a true top-of-the-card, all-dominating superstar. He may be an immense physical specimen, maybe the most impressive physical athlete on the roster, but Lashley has grown into much more than his acts of strength and speed. Whether it’s leading the Hurt Business or ruling a title division, whether it’s being the goliath people are trying to slay or the unstoppable force fighting back against injustice, Lashley has shown his versatility in providing quality and entertainment in any role he’s given. Perhaps strongest as the cocky, suited and booted smug heel he finds himself as today, The Almighty will succeed and thrive wherever WWE takes him next. He’s that damn good. 3. Seth 'Freakin' Rollins The past few years have been truly transformational for Seth Rollins. During COVID, his Messiah gimmick lit up the Thunderdome, before he remixed it into The Visionary in a barnburner of a rivalry with Edge. He’s now in the form of his life, garnering crowd reactions like nobody else in the company and putting on show-stealing performances with anyone he’s placed inside the squared circle with. In the past year, this butterfly has stretched his wings. Rollins’s drip has become stuff of legend, his feud with the next person in this list elevating both men and somehow, he’s managed to make his WrestleMania match against a YouTuber one of the most anticipated across the whole weekend. Seth’s choir is singing his song and we’re so excited for the next verse. 2. Cody Rhodes The son of a son of a plumber has gone through being Randy Orton’s understudy, playing an intergalactic comic-book supervillain and shooting his own indie company to the stars before now returning to the company so close to him and his family. Cody Rhodes is here to finish his story and it’s the one people want to see most. Cody can tell his story better than anyone else in the company. He has a remarkable ability to emote the pain and suffering and injustice he’s endured and is enduring and this has led him to be the only challenger worthy of facing Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. Few share his strength for elevating a segment by working the crowd in the precise way it needs. Cody has an astonishing understanding and love for the business which shines through in all of his work. This is just the start, the rebirth, for Cody Rhodes and we can’t wait to be along for the ride. 1. Roman Reigns Roman’s Greatness On a Different Level catchphrase works and endures because it’s the truth. When he says that he’s in GOD Mode or when Paul Heyman calls him the modern GOAT, there’s really no arguing. Everything the Tribal Chief has done in the past 1,000+ days has resonated on a higher level than anything else in WWE. The Undisputed WWE Universal Champion has dominated in a way never seen in the modern era. He formed and spearheads The Bloodline, the most influential faction since the Attitude Era. Reigns’s on-mic quality and in-ring excellence has set a sky-high bar for all others to try and reach. His iron grip on his family, those championships, and the top spot in all of WWE doesn’t look to be slackening any time soon. Roman, we acknowledge you. Who is the best male superstar in WWE? While WWE is currently blessed with a collection of the greatest athletes and storytellers the industry has ever seen, Roman Reigns undeniably stands head and shoulders above them all. He has dominated the company for several years, headlining every major premium live event and keeping the top titles away from every challenger. Reigns sets the bar, the pace, and the tone of WWE and everyone else just has to keep up. If you’re looking for something else to watch, check out our TV Guide or Streaming Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Best FIFA 22 formation, tactics & tips from West Ham esports star Alfie Calder
Level up your Ultimate Team with these tips from one of the top FIFA 22 players in the UK!
Whether you’re trying to take the step up from World Class to Legendary or from Division 1 to Elite, FIFA 22 tactics and formations are all about learning what works for you. So, we’ve picked the brain of one of the best FIFA 22 players out there, West Ham Gaming and ePremier League star Alfie ‘AC Redlac’ Calder, to find out everything you need to know to help take your game to the next level. Here’s Alfie’s advice on how to set your team up and dominate on the pitch: The best FIFA 22 formation The most used formations in FIFA 22 are 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and the most popular, the 4-1-2-1-2 (2). This formation helps casual players play at a higher level. This 4-1-2-1-2 formation is narrow, which means that there are a lot of players in the middle of the pitch, making it very congested. This slows your opponent down, but it is also a formation that lets you attack quickly, helping you catch opposition teams on the counter. Also in the 4-1-2-1-2 formation, the fullbacks push forward a lot. They provide your team with the width the formation lacks further up the pitch. They provide options in the final third to aid your attacks and make the opposing team’s fullbacks drift wide to mark them. This leaves more space in the middle of the pitch for your forwards to create chances. These flying fullbacks also get back into their defensive shape very quickly, so the defence isn't often left short on numbers. FIFA 22 chemistry explained It’s important to have as much chemistry in your team as you can. Switching formations in-game is a great way to get full chemistry and have all the players you want to use in the starting XI, even if they don't easily fit your preferred formation. When you set up your team before a game, make sure it has as much chemistry as it can with what players you’d want to use. Choose the formation that links your players in the best way, in order to get 100 total chemistry and each player on a 10 individually, if possible. Then head to Squad Actions, click Custom Tactics and edit the game plan of an in-game mentality you don't use often, for example Ultra Defensive. Here you can change the formation of your team to your preferred formation, like the much used 4-1-2-1-2 (2), and you can move your players into the positions you'd like to see them in-game. Then in-game before kickoff, just press the D pad to whichever game plan you’ve edited to the updated formation and your players will switch into that formation, while still benefiting from the high chemistry of your initial pre-game set-up. Also, in terms of players, it’s better to play a better player on 8 individual chemistry than a worse player on 10 chemistry. Playing players on any lower than an 8 gets a bit shaky, however. Using a player on a 7 or lower chemistry seems to negatively affect their performance in-game. The best FIFA 22 tactics Your in-game tactics help turn defeats into wins, and wins into defeats very quickly. Here’s what we suggest to use with the 4-1-2-1-2 (2) formation: Defense Defensive style: Balanced Width: 40 Depth: 65 Offense Build up play: Fast build-up Chance creation: Direct passing Width: 45 Players in box: 6 Corners: 1 Free kicks: 1 Set pieces can win or lose you games. For corners and free kicks, it’s best to turn the amount of players in the box down low in custom tactics. It’s easy to get caught on the counter attack from these situations. EA has also changed how they work in-game, meaning you score from them less than earlier in the game’s cycle. Why you need a plan B in FIFA 22 It’s also very helpful to have another option if your initial tactic isn't working. If you’re starting with a fast but small striker, then being able to bring a tall, strong and fast striker coming off the bench can help swing the game in your favour. Alfie uses the Player Moments Calvert-Lewin and Headliners Vinicius Jr off the bench to change things up, and both have scored important goals for him. Calvert-Lewin, for example, may feel clunkier than some other strikers, but he's quick in a straight line and has good shooting, heading and jumping, meaning he gives defenses a different sort of problem in clutch moments late on. Read more on FIFA: FIFA soundtrack - every song from every game FIFA 23 ratings - the best players revealed FIFA 23 release date - will EA Sports rebrand the franchise? FIFA 23 web app - when it drops FIFA 23 early access - how to get it FIFA 22 cheap players - find a bargain in Career Mode FIFA 22 young players - the best wonderkids to sign FIFA 22 Career Mode teams - the best and worst clubs FIFA 22 goalkeepers - the best shot-stoppers in the game FIFA 22 defenders - best RB, LB, CB, RWB and LWB FIFA 22 midfielders - best CM, CDM and CAM FIFA 22 wingers - best LM, RM, LW and RW FIFA 22 strikers - best and fastest ST and CF FIFA 22 review - a giant leap for realism, but some things never change FIFA 22 tips you need to know Having your team set up in the right way is only half the battle, as those minutes on the pitch are where it counts. Here is some advice from Alfie about how to approach the 90 virtual minutes. Attacking At the start of this FIFA cycle, the driven pass [RB+A] was the most overpowered pass in the game. EA did nerf this pass, and while it’s still a good tool to use, using the ball is all about picking the right pass at the right moment. In some situations a normal A pass is perfect. You won't have a lot of time to think when attacking through on goal, so deciding which pass is most appropriate - from the normal pass, driven pass and the through ball - is key. Sometimes the driven pass will lock onto a player you aren’t aiming to pass to, so be careful with it. It is still a very useful move when trying to push toward goal, but it is less accurate than at the start of the game, so remember that a simple ground pass is sometimes the best option. Another key move in this FIFA is the extra pass in the box. Defenders block shots at a very high rate so you need to be patient to wait for space to open up in the box. Sometimes, even in a 2v1 situation, patience is important, as the lone defender will often block the passing lane. You might even need to slow down the attack or bring the ball back towards your own goal to open up space or give the opponent a chance to make a mistake. Patience is also needed when moving with the ball. Choosing to walk with the ball is useful in certain moments, so don't sprint with the ball all the time. Sprinting is for attacking into space or pushing at defenders, but in crowded areas your player will take bigger touches and you might lose possession. If you slow your players down, you will have more time to decide what you want to do next. Walking with the ball means you’ve more control, meaning agile players will be able to bait a defender into getting too close or making a challenge, allowing you to get past them easier. Skill moves can also be very effective while walking, for example simply pressing LB to stop the ball still. When the defender comes towards your player, a skill or a sprint boost can help you beat them. Defending Player pressing is one of the most useful tools you can use when defending. If you hold RB when defending, one of your AI-controlled players will close down the opposition player with the ball. Using this effectively can help you squeeze players and trap them into areas where they’ll likely lose the ball. Defending with just the player you are controlling means that the forward is always essentially going to be playing in a one-v-one situation. Off the ball pressing turns defensive situations in your favour. Players can’t press like this indefinitely though. It works in a similar way to sprinting, tiring your players if you activate it a lot, so pick your moments to use it. Player switching is important in defensive moments, also. Use the right analogue to swap players as well as the left bumper, which is standard. The small, grey triangle above one of your AI-controlled players indicates that you’ll swap to this player if you press the left bumper, in the same way it shows which player will press if you use off the ball pressing in that moment. Using the analogue stick can help you swap to players the game is not indicating and can save you important moments in the final third to get your players in the right positions to shut down attacks. View oEmbed on the source website Skill moves Having a few skills up your sleeve is a game-changer. Learning skill moves to the point where they become instinctive in-game may take a long time, but they’re most effective when you don't have to think about how to execute them. Here are a few Alfie recommends trying out: Roulette (Right) - Roll right analogue stick clockwise from bottom to right Roulette (Left) - Roll right analogue stick anticlockwise from bottom to left Scoop Turn Fake - Tap shoot then pass, hold left analogue stick up diagonally, flick to other side Elastico Roll - Right analogue stick from the bottom right to left Reverse Elastico Roll - Right analogue stick from the bottom left to right Only top-rated skillers can do the more effective skill moves, so look out for the players in your team who have 4 or 5 star skills, before trying to pull them out in-game. Player traits Don't overlook the player traits your stars have. Goalkeepers with the Saves with Legs trait can often be very reliable in between the sticks, and offensively, players with the Finesse Shot trait can score some incredible goals, curling in from outside the box. Look out for players with Power Header from corners or Power Free Kick when shooting from distance. Utilise the player’s traits in-game and they could help you score and save more! For more FIFA 22 content, check out the latest issue of the UK’s best-selling footy mag, BBC Match of the Day magazine, and their YouTube channel. To subscribe, head to BuySubscriptions.com. For more from West Ham Gaming check out @WHUGaming and @AC_RedLac on Twitter, plus @westhamgaming and @alfiecalder on Instagram. Follow Radio Times Gaming on Twitter for all the latest insights. Or if you're looking for something to watch, see our TV Guide. Visit our video game release schedule for all upcoming games on consoles. Swing by our hubs for more Gaming and Technology news. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the Radio Times podcast with Jane Garvey.
The 355 review: Action ensemble sparkles with face-crunching action – but there's too much plot
Jessica Chastain forms a band of sisters for fun, friendship and violence – while saving the world, of course
Most people will never see the inside of a fish market freezer room, let alone be rugby-tackled into one by a CIA agent. Most people will never be tossed into a mound of frozen haddock, nor have to smash an assailant on the head with an oyster, but then again, most people aren’t in Universal’s new spy heist action thriller. It’s a perilous situation Jessica Chastain has put herself in. As the lead focus of The 355, she’s in danger at every turn. Standing on the balcony? Here comes an enemy throwing his fists toward you. Chilling by the docks? Watch out for the JCB about to smash through that wall of crates. Settling down with a nice herbal tea? There’s only one way that’s going to end. The threat that pulls all this chaos together is that of an all-powerful digital masterkey. In the film’s opening beats, a shady deal is taking place with said cyber weapon on offer. In showing off the goods’ potential, a city is sent into blackout and a passenger aircraft is taken out of the air, making it clear that this device is capable of starting - and ending - World War III, all in the space of a few keyboard strokes. Inevitably this device cannot fall into, quote-unquote, the wrong hands. It is the CIA who take an early lead in the hunt, with agent Mason "Mace" Browne (Chastain) pairing with her close friend Nick (Sebastian Stan) to retrieve the key from an elusive contact. The mission, inevitably, goes awry, as German operative Marie (Diane Kruger) muddies the water. Reluctant MI6 agent Khadijah (Lupita Nyong’o) is quickly drawn into the fold, while Colombian therapist Graciela (Penelope Cruz) soon also gets caught up in the melee. These women - along with Bingbing Fan’s Lin who joins the group quite far down the line - are swept into a perfect storm of international interests, a cyclone of mistrust first pitting the agents at odds, before uniting them against the greater threat. View oEmbed on the source website And it is the evolving relationships between these women which gives the film its pulse. The film takes its name from the first female spy during the American Revolution, a woman known by no more than her codename, Agent 355. Writer/director Simon Kinberg, along with story writers Theresa Rebeck and Bek Smith, split this tradition between agents from the USA, Germany, Britain, Colombia and China, giving them each roles to contrast with their team of necessity. Kruger’s Marie is a lone wolf, trusting no-one but her father-figure superior officer, who is long exasperated with her inability to play well with others. Evidently, Marie has a tumultuous relationship with the headstrong Mace, even before Lin swoops in with loyalties of her own. Khadijah tries to hold the group together, while Cruz’s out-of-her-depth Graciela is just trying to hold it together. Her therapist feels genuinely dropped in from elsewhere, more suited to a New York second-storey corner office filled with succulents to water than a bustling market in Marrakesh, filled with threats to life. Chastain and Kruger are given the lion's share of the action and it is in these scenes where the film lets loose. Full-throttle close combat scenes combine with ruthless, efficient gunfights to create one of the hardest-hitting 12As going: executions, kill boxes and action hero explosions are all par for the course. The combat hits hard, with the actors pulling no punches to create visceral fight scenes. Kinberg ensures these scenes aren’t littered with the thousands of cuts suffered by some other films of the genre, while Chastain and Bingbing Fan, especially, provide strength and a roughness to their fights, making them feel both real and reactive. Chastain even finds herself a new signature move: kicking people down the stairs. The film is a well-tuned symphony of people's faces being driven into very hard surfaces but, with five central characters to flesh out, along with a host of enemies and more than a handful of subplots, the film has more than its fair share of exposition. Plot developments are started and then scooted past at breakneck pace, and while the bickering between the agents may well very much be part of the genre, it adds to the tangle which weighs the action down. We’re given so many threads to hold, we weren't sure if we should keep watching or knit a sweater. This may be symptomatic of the size of the task the team took on. Kinberg, Rebeck and Smith are playing with a well-worn genre here, shaking together a sweet cocktail of spy and heist adventure, evoking everything from Bourne to Ocean’s, Mission: Impossible to Indiana Jones. They pack the two hours with double-crosses, spectacle and thousands of rounds fired and - despite the amount that needs to be talked out - The 355 credibly manages to become something of its own beast. It’s a film that has popped the spy heist formula under a microscope, kept the best cliches and added plenty to be proud of. There’s a layered villain, whom you desperately want to see defeated, but also quite want to meet again, there are interpersonal relationships that fizz and grow and crash, and there’s pure reckless abandon shown for property and passers-by. The 355 hasn't changed the game, but it is packed with thrills, spills and kills and will leave you with something more than just the added knowledge of which shellfish is best used in a fistfight. The 355 is in UK cinemas from Friday 7th January 2022. Looking for something to watch? Visit our Film hub for more news, interviews and features, or check out our TV Guide to see what’s on tonight.
FIFA 22 star Tom Leese: Esports legend says he's "terrible at all other games"
After his mega transfer from Hashtag United to EXCEL, Tom Leese is psyched for what his new team have in store for FIFA esports.
“I am terrible at all other games,” Tom Leese told us at a swanky event in London. “I used to play Call of Duty back in the Modern Warfare 2 and World of War days, but I was no good. I tried Fortnite when it was booming and I was terrible at that. I also tried NBA 2K, terrible at that. For some reason, FIFA’s the only game I’m good at!” Saying that Tom Leese is good at FIFA is like saying Lionel Messi is good at football. While he might not be bagging many Warzone wins, Victory Royales or slam dunks, the young football gaming star is on top of the world when it comes to FIFA esports - and he’s helping change the game. The 22-year-old has recently made esports history, moving from YouTube sensations Hashtag United to a new home at EXCEL in a ‘first of its kind’ transfer. There have been many transfers between FIFA esports teams to this point, but this one stands apart due to the reported fee involved. It is rumoured that securing Leese’s signature cost the ambitious EXCEL team a six-figure fee. Tom’s transfer fee, therefore, is larger than many seen in professional football itself and has attracted attention from all corners. The move was even reported by premier football news outlet, Sky Sports. View oEmbed on the source website With this move, EXCEL have upped the stakes in FIFA esports. It’s a landmark move for the industry, but also one for Tom personally. “It’s a big move for me,” he says. “I was massively ingrained in what was happening at Hashtag but I’ve really enjoyed things so far.” Hashtag United have one of the biggest online football platforms in the world. The Isthmian League North football club was born and raised on YouTube, growing from a team playing exhibition matches into a very well-supported semi-professional outfit. The brand extends further too, with a well-backed women's team and a successful esports team both parts of their growing reach. Hashtag’s combined outlets boast more than a quarter of a million Twitter followers, more than half a million subscribers on YouTube and have big name recognition and influence in the footballing world. They are not an easy team to leave. EXCEL, however, are planning to extend their own empire. With the signings of Tom and his new teammate, 2017 FIFA eSports World Cup winner Spencer ‘Gorilla’ Ealing, as well as the addition of Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli to the mix as an ambassador, EXCEL are looking to start big and continue strong as they dip back into the world of FIFA esports. It was this ambition from EXCEL, and the team’s track record of success in games like League of Legends and Fortnite, that convinced Tom that a move was the best option for him. “Knowing that they want to go to the top of esports in FIFA, like they have in other games, that excited me. It seemed like their priority was to make me the best person I can be, commercially and in content-creation, and also as a player.” EXCEL’s strategy is a holistic one. They want to turn Tom and Spencer into the most commercial products they can, and that starts by them winning FIFA tournaments. To support their players as they try to do this, they’ve created an impressive HQ for them to train in and stream from, recruited former FIFA esports pro Nathan "Zelonius" Horton to manage their players and, importantly, hired a performance analyst to help push the lads to their max. Read more on FIFA: FIFA 23 release date - when is it coming? FIFA soundtrack - every song from every game FIFA 23 ratings - the best players revealed FIFA 23 price - how much does it cost? FIFA 23 crossplay - new feature explained FIFA 23 Heroes and Icons - all FUT World Cup cards EA Sports FC - what do we know about the reboot? FIFA 22 formations and tactics - tips from a pro player FIFA 22 cheap players - find a bargain in Career Mode FIFA 22 young players - the best wonderkids to sign FIFA 22 Career Mode teams - the best and worst clubs FIFA 22 goalkeepers - the best shot-stoppers in the game FIFA 22 defenders - best RB, LB, CB, RWB and LWB FIFA 22 midfielders - best CM, CDM and CAM FIFA 22 wingers - best LM, RM, LW and RW FIFA 22 strikers - best and fastest ST and CF FIFA 22 review - a giant leap for realism, but some things never change “Being good at FIFA isn’t enough,” Tom says. “Mentality is massive, being in the right headspace, because you have to be composed when the time comes. You can't really prepare for playing in big finals, for £20k, £50k, even £100k. It just comes down to your mental state and how composed you are.” “It’s strange for me because I’ve always been chasing,” he admits. “I’ve always looked at Tekkz or Dossary or Gorilla and wanted to get to their level, but now I’m happy that I’m at that level. It’s where I knew I should’ve been, though it’s taken me a while to get there.” Leese proved his credentials last year, outlasting some of the best players in the country to win the ePremier League trophy for Watford. He also pulls on the Three Lions shirt to represent England as part of the eLions - but Leese only wants more success. “My only goal is to win as many trophies as I can, every single tournament. I don't prioritise them, I just want a clean haul of trophies. I want to be that guy, when people talk about FIFA esports, they talk about Tom.” People are already talking about Tom. He has gone from losing to his big brother on FIFA, to being too good to play against his mates, to becoming an esports history-maker. As long as he doesn’t swap to CoD or Fortnite, he’ll only make more history in his new surroundings. For more FIFA 22 content, check out the latest issue of the UK’s best-selling footy mag, BBC Match of the Day magazine, in shops now. To subscribe, head to BuySubscriptions.com. For FIFA videos, check out BBC Match of the Day magazine’s YouTube channel. Or if you're looking for something to watch on telly, see our TV Guide Visit our video game release schedule for all upcoming games on consoles. Swing by our hubs for more Gaming and Technology news.
WWE Elimination Chamber 2021 predictions and confirmed match card
Superstars from both Raw and Smackdown are looking to make waves on the road to WrestleMania – here’s what we know of the event and our predictions.
We’re about to arrive at the most dangerous stop on the road the WrestleMania, so we hope you’ve got your seatbelt on. WWE have started packing out their next big event with title matches, red-hot rivalries and a top-tier main event. Here are all of the matches currently scheduled for Elimination Chamber. Elimination Chamber match – WWE Championship Entrants: Drew McIntyre (c), Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, AJ Styles, The Miz and Sheamus Elimination Chamber’s main event will be as big as it can get, as Drew McIntyre has been tasked with defending his WWE Championship inside the eponymous huge steel structure. The Scot and five more elite superstars will enter the Chamber, each will be pinned or submitted until one is left standing, standing tall with the WWE Championship in hand. It’s fair to say the odds are stacked against the current champion, with a field of former world champs itching to steal the title away from the dominant Scot. AJ Styles has been on quite the roll, Randy Orton is at his most dangerous and Sheamus is fired up to take his chance. This one’s going to be a brutal battle with serious WrestleMania implications. Our prediction: Drew McIntyre pins AJ Styles to win the Elimination Chamber match and retain his WWE Championship. Raw Women’s Championship – Asuka (c) vs Lacey Evans This one’s come about in an interesting way. Lacey Evans proclaimed, out of the blue on Raw, that she knew WWE officials would grant her a title shot if she beat rival Charlotte Flair in a match. Evans then did so, albeit via disqualification, and this did indeed earn her a title shot. Having Ric Flair in her corner has only been to the benefit of the ex-Marine, with the Nature Boy helping earn her this opportunity for gold. Lacey has been gaining momentum and faces a champion with defeats in her recent past. This could be Evans’ best shot at glory. Then again, with WrestleMania looming, the Empress of Tomorrow has a serious point to prove. Our prediction: Asuka makes Lacey Evans tap to retain her Raw Women’s Championship. United States Championship – Bobby Lashley (c) vs Riddle vs Keith Lee Bobby Lashley has, apparently, said that no man alive can take the US Title from him. In a one-on-one match, we may be inclined to agree; Lashley has been on an absolute tear of late, destroying everyone who has stepped in this way. This isn’t a one-on-one match though. Lashley’s attack on Lee and Riddle on Raw has led to them both getting a chance at his title, in a match where he doesn't even have to be involved in the decision to lose the strap. If Keith Lee pins Riddle, Bobby Lashley is no longer a champion. Whoever leaves Elimination Chamber with the belt will have at least one challenger with a legitimate claim at a rematch. Our prediction: Bobby Lashley makes Riddle tap to retain his United States Championship. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Smackdown matches and predictions (February 12th)
With only a couple of weeks until Elimination Chamber, expect spots in the main events to start filling up.
We’ve only just caught our breath after one of the best Royal Rumble PPVs in recent years and WWE has to shift focus to Elimination Chamber. The next big night on the WWE calendar is closing in and the match card needs to take shape. Smackdown is the perfect place for that to start. Here’s what to expect on this week’s episode of Friday Night Smackdown. Seth Rollins returns WrestleMania season is the season of the return. We saw Carlito and Alicia Fox back at the Royal Rumble, but the most important comeback that night was that of the Greater Good. Seth Rollins was a shock Rumble entrant, coming in at number 29, eliminating three superstars, before being eliminated himself. We haven't seen the former world champ on Smackdown since November, having taken time off to be with his partner, Becky Lynch, and their newborn child. His return will be a massive shot in the arm for Friday nights though: The Messiah is a main-eventer through and through. Will he rekindle an old rivalry or try to earn himself a spot at the Show of Shows? We can't wait to find out. Bianca holds her choice With her stock the highest it's ever been, WWE needs to capitalise on BelAir’s momentum. The Royal Rumble winner has a big choice on her hands – which champion to face at WrestleMania – but is in no rush to make that decision. On Smackdown we’ll see more from Bianca, living her best life, and, after last Friday’s confrontation, Reginald or Carmella might be in her line of fire. Further build to a potential BelAir v Carmella match at Elimination Chamber might be on the cards. Owens wants one more If there’s one thing that the Head of the Table hates, it’s disrespect. Roman Reigns has seen disrespect in the eyes and actions of several men since he won the Universal title, beating it out of Jey Uso and bullying Adam Pearce into the background. It seems, however, that he’s still got work to do when it comes to Kevin Owens. Last Friday, Kevin Owens showed his defeat at Royal Rumble would not keep him down, surprising Reigns in the main event, dropping him with a Stunner. Owens would be champion today if the referee had stood a foot further away from Reigns to administer the 10-count during the pair’s recent Last Man Standing match, and they both know it. Reigns will be incensed and so will Owens. This one’s still burning. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE PPV schedule: Elimination Chamber, Fastlane, WrestleMania dates and more
Find out when all the biggest events in WWE are set to take place with our full PPV schedule for 2021
WWE is shaping up for a huge year in 2021. The global pandemic put a stop to most of their plans last year, but the company is setting itself up rather nicely for a strong year ahead. Shows, both little and large, will be based at the ThunderDome for the time being, so until fans are back to provide the atmosphere, WWE will be packing fireworks into the ring. Alongside usual weekly shows, SmackDown and Raw, the WWE calendar is peppered with huge pay-per-view events that are set to blow you away, with the biggest names in the business coming together to create extraordinary events. Here are the biggest events on the WWE calendar in 2021. WWE PPV schedule 2021 Elimination Chamber Date: Sunday 21st February, midnight (into the early hours of Monday morning) WWE's next big event is one of its most brutal. Its main event will take place inside a giant steel structure, where six superstars will put each other through all kinds of pain for gold or a future title opportunity. Fastlane Date: Sunday 21st March, midnight (into the early hours of Monday morning) The last stop on the Road to WrestleMania, Fastlane is where rivalries are set, champions are decided and matches made for the Show of Shows. WrestleMania 37 Date: Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th April, time TBC The biggest night in professional wreslting has been split in two and will take place over both weekend nights at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Despite the pandemic, this one will be huge. Money in the Bank Date: May TBC Two opportunities are on the line at one of the most exciting PPVs on the WWE calendar. Two superstars will grab a briefcase containing a contract for a championship match whenever and whenever they so choose. This PPV is a star-maker. Backlash Date: June TBC With another year of wrestling well underway, Backlash is usually the event WWE signs off the last rivalries from WrestleMania and looks forward to SummerSlam. If last year's show, and its 'The Greatest Wreslting Match Ever' main event, is anything to go by, this one's a top wrestling show, with fewer match gimmicks. Extreme Rules Date: July TBC Taking a note out of ECW's playbook, and sanitising it for the PG Era, WWE goes extreme in summer. Chairs will be used, bodies will be thrown into steps and announce tables will be broken, all in the hunt for glory. SummerSlam Date: August TBC WWE's biggest night since WrestleMania, SummerSlam will be packed with elite tier match-ups. Expect the intensity to be through the roof, as rivalries burning for months will come to a head, and maybe a big name or two will drop by to make headlines. Payback Date: August/September TBC With the embers of SummerSlam still burning, WWE sets a night in the calendar for retribution to be paid. Those recently wronged get a second chance at glory, and the summer's big winners get a chance to underline their superiority. Clash of Champions Date: September TBC The only night of the year where where every title in WWE is defended, this PPV is draped in gold. From the WWE title to the 24/7 title, we'll see dominant champs retain their titles and new champions crowned. Hell in a Cell Date: October TBC HiaC is the most hellacious night of the year - and whomever steps inside the chain-link will be forever changed. This one is not for the fait-hearted, apparently. Survivor Series Date: November TBC One of the most historic PPVs around, Survivor Series is the proving ground for brand supremacy. Culminating in two huge tag-team elimination matches, five superstars will pit themselves against five more to show that they are on the superior show. TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs Date: December TBC Another of WWE's harder-hitting PPVs, WWE sees out the year with a plethora of weapons for its superstars to use. Expect tables to be broken, chairs to crack against backs and gravity-defying dives from the top of ladders. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Smackdown results – recap, winners and losers (February 5th)
Moving past the excitement of Royal Rumble, Friday Night Smackdown was back with even more scores to settle.
This week’s action was the first from the blue brand since Royal Rumble and one of their superstars came in especially hot. We would see Smackdown’s fastest rising star, Bianca BelAir, for the first time since her epic Rumble performance, Roman Reigns bask in the glow of another underhanded victory and even an impressive title match. Here are biggest winners and losers from another week of Friday Night Smackdown. WINNER – Edge The Rated-R Superstar turned up on Monday night, he turned up on Wednesday night and he turned up on Friday night to put every top champion in WWE on notice. He showed no fear staring into the eyes of the WWE Champion on Raw, he actively pumped up both Finn Balor and Pete Dunne before their NXT Title clash next Sunday and, when Roman Reigns called him out on Friday, Edge answered with his eyes fixed on those of the Head of the Table. This week, Edge delivered three impassioned promos which were the tentpoles of WWE TV. Yes, he was outdone by Kevin Owens, who jumped Roman Reigns with another surprise stunner but, following his Royal Rumble success, this week was Edge’s. WINNER – Bianca BelAir There’s no doubt about it, Bianca is the main event now. She showed up on Friday night full of energy, full of enthusiasm, full of confidence in her own abilities and it was a joy to watch. She shrugged off the disrespect of Reginald, laughed in the face of Carmella’s interruption and was visibly excited by the prospect of a clash with The Boss, Sasha Banks. She got the best of the promo segment, whipping Reginald into retreat with her hair, and is on top of the world right now. The EST is going to be a huge player in the women’s division all the way until WrestleMania – and for years after. LOSER – Sami Zayn The conspiracy theorist has even more fuel for his ever-growing fire. Sami was stripped of the Intercontinental title last year, with the pandemic leaving him unable to defend his gold. Friday night gave Sami Zayn – and Apollo Crews – a shot at the title now held by Big E in a massive triple-threat match. Zayn almost won back the title he never lost. Sami was a one-count away from stealing back his baby after hitting Big E with an oh-so-sweet Helluva Kick, but his chance was ruined by someone he didn't even believe should have been in the match. Apollo broke up the pin, threw Sami into the timekeeper’s area, and was quickly pinned by Big E. Zayn lost without losing. He’s going to hate that. LOSER – Daniel Bryan Bryan is not in a great place right now. He made his Royal Rumble intentions very well known – he wanted to win it – and, ultimately, he failed. His fortunes have not been any better on Smackdown, losing to an admittedly red-hot Cesaro twice in the space of three weeks. This week's defeat was even more embarrassing than the previous, as the Leader of the Yes Movement tapped out to the Swiss Superman’s Sharpshooter. Something’s going on with Bryan, and WWE isn't making what that is very clear just yet. All that we know is something’s got to change, and change soon. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Raw matches and predictions (Feburary 8th)
With Elimination Chamber on the horizon, Monday Night Raw is going to heat up the action.
There will be another big WWE PPV upon us before we know it. Royal Rumble has only just left the rear view, and Elimination Chamber is already around the corner. With a few weeks to go before the next big event, things are ramping up. The WWE champ has a new rival, new faces are looking to make their mark and some familiar faces are in trouble. RadioTimes.com rounds up what to expect on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Best of enemies After last week’s fiery opening, Drew McIntyre will want a piece of flesh. Usually when a good guy goes bad, people clamour for an explanation but Sheamus has already given us that. He’s a multi-time world champ who doesn't want to be known as Drew’s best mate anymore. He wants his gold back. WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will not be handing it over. Hurt by his friend’s betrayal last week, the Scot will come in ready for a fight. He’s willing to give Sheamus a shot at the strap, and though that might not be for a few weeks, that doesn't mean they can't have a bit of a scrap in the meantime. Don't be surprised if fists and, well, feet fly. Asuka wobbles on throne After being pinned twice in three weeks, Asuka’s title is under threat. The precise location of that threat is not super clear, though. Last week she was pinned by the girl that glows, Naomi, but she’s in the hunt for the tag team titles. A fortnight before it was Alexa Bliss who got the pinfall victory, but she’s entangled in The Fiend and Randy Orton’s rivalry. The Empress of Tomorrow is nobody’s sole focus, but being in everyone’s peripherals isn't a particularly safe place either. Asuka hasn’t defended her title at a PPV since Clash of Champions in September. She beat Zelina Vega that night, who hasn't been with WWE for almost two months now. Asuka needs a challenger. Priest stands out Last week, after a strong showing in the mens’ Royal Rumble match, Damian Priest knocked off a former-WWE Champion in a one-on-one match. That champion was, yes, The Miz, but Priest looked like a destroyer and showcased impressive agility for a man of his size. He even got a pep-talk from Edge in a backstage segment later in the night. This Monday, expect Priest’s hot start to continue. The Archer of Infamy was a North American champ during his NXT run and should be placed to challenge some of the best athletes Raw has to offer. He might start off here against John Morrison, which we’d be all for. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Raw results – recap, winners and losers (February 1st)
Following on from the drama of Royal Rumble, here's all the top action from Monday Night Raw.
Just hours after Edge and Bianca BelAir shocked the world and punched their ticket to WrestleMania, WWE was back to hit us with more in-ring action. Royal Rumble saw several shock results and even more shocking returns, with all this action bleeding into another hard-hitting edition of Monday Night Raw. RadioTimes.com rounds up who left this week’s episode with the biggest grins and the foulest moods after another night of drama. WINNER – Sheamus And there we go. One kick and the Celtic Warrior is back in the title picture. On Monday night, he Brogue Kick-ed his long time bestie, Drew McIntyre, and stamped his authority on the WWE title hunt. The former world champion’s night was short but his actions got the job done. Be it inside the Elimination Chamber later this month or outside of it (but at the PPV of the same name), the next time Drew McIntyre puts his WWE Championship on the line, a red-hot, determined Sheamus will be involved. WINNER – The Hurt Business If there’s one word to describe The Hurt Business it is ruthless. The faction went into Monday night with all their gold on the line, and left with it all still around their waists. Bobby Lashley, in a foul mood after his Rumble dream was dashed the night before, mauled poor Riddle, trapping him in the Full Nelson for so long that he got DQed. He was relentless and left the Original Bro asking the refs where he was. Things went even better for Raw Tag Team champions Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin. They faced the Lucha House Party and saw them off with little alarm. Despite some bickering during the match, a delightful Pay Dirt from Benjamin earned the 1-2-3. The Hurt Business roll on. LOSER – Asuka Simply put, The Empress of Tomorrow is one of the most dominant champions WWE has ever seen. From going over a year unbeaten in NXT to holding multiple titles across both main roster shows, few have been booked stronger than Asuka. In the last few weeks however, Asuka has been pinned clean by Alexa Bliss, lost the tag-team titles, been left by her tag team partner and pinned clean by a returning Naomi. She has fallen rather far in a very short period of time. At this rate she might not even make it to WrestleMania as champion. LOSER – Randy Orton Randy Orton is vicious. He is remorseless. He lost another match to his long term rival, Edge, on Monday night. After seeking out the Royal Rumble winner, demanding another match, the Viper lost in the main event. Yes, he was in control of the match for the most part, but another enemy he’s made recently repaid a favour. Last week, Orton RKOed Alexa Bliss as it looked like she was closing in on the Raw Women’s title. This week, as Orton looked to be closing in on defeating Edge, Alexa arrived on the turnbuckle, black liquid oozing from her mouth, providing the Ultimate Opportunist just enough time to Spear Orton in half. With enemies at every turn, this may be a hard few months for the Legend Killer. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
List of current WWE Champions – Universal Champion, WWE Champion, Women's Champions and more
Find out who holds all the gold on Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown!
With WWE’s main shows airing twice a week and the company creating new special events all the time, its titles are constantly on the move. There’s always an Elimination Chamber or a Money in the Bank cash in to swap gold to another waist or an injury leaving another vacant. So, unless you’re thinking about the 24/7 Title which, more often than not, R-Truth holds, has just lost or is about to win for the 89th time, it’s good to check in sometimes. RadioTimes.com rounds up all of the champions across Raw and Smackdown. WWE Champion (Raw) Drew McIntyre After seeing off challenges from the likes of Randy Orton and Goldberg, McIntyre stands strong atop Monday Night Raw. It's going to take a once-in-a-lifetime effort to dethrone the Scottish hero. Universal Champion (Smackdown) Roman Reigns Whether it's using a collection of powerful moves, the interference of Jey Uso or the brilliant tactics of Paul Heyman, Roman Reigns is the Head of the Table on the blue brand. And he's going nowhere. Raw Women’s Champion Asuka She may have lost her tag team title at Royal Rumble but the Empress of Tomorrow is still leading the Raw Women's division. Can anyone put a stop to her dominant reign? Smackdown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks Ever since cutting ties with her best friend Bayley, Sasha Banks has been on a roll. She took the title from the Role Model in a brutal Hell in a Cell match last year and has kept it safe ever since. United States Champion (Raw) Bobby Lashley The premier athlete of The Hurt Business, Bobby Lashley has never looked this good in WWE. He's an absolute Goliath that can make anyone tap in his devastating Full Nelson submission. Intercontinental Champion (Smackdown) Big E Big E's trajectory has only been up since taking a hiatus from his New Day brothers on Monday Night Raw. This is his second IC title reign, having also won the title back in 2013! Raw Tag Team Champions The Hurt Business (Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander) Yes, the Hurt Business is dripping in gold. To add to Bobby Lashley's US Title, Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin have a firm grasp on the Raw Tag Team titles. That's as long as they stay on the same page in the ring... Smackdown Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode Two well-worn ring veterans, Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode teamed up and have gone straight to the top. The Dirty Dawgs love having gold around their waists, so won't be letting these straps go without a fight. Women's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Bazler Defeating Charlotte Flair and Asuka at Royal Rumble is no mean feat, even with a helping hand or two. The ferocious champions are fixated with keeping their gold now they've got it back. For the latest news and expert tips on getting the best deals this year, take a look at our Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday 2021 24/7 Champion R-Truth R-Truth has lost and won this title more times than we can count. He recently lost the strap to Peter Rosenberg at the Royal Rumble PPV, but won it back shortly after. Let's see who takes it off him next... Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Smackdown matches and predictions – February 5th
With lots of questions still up in the air from Royal Rumble, here's what to expect on this week's Friday Night Smackdown.
Six days removed from a jam-packed, thrill-a-minute Royal Rumble PPV, Smackdown will bound back onto our screens to continue us down the road to WrestleMania. With the buzz of the Rumble still hanging in the air, superstars will be looking forward to what these results mean for their immediate futures. RadioTimes.com rounds up what to expect on this week’s episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. Roman stands tall Everything Paul Heyman says is true. Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, is the top competitor in WWE. He might not win clean like Drew, or want multiple titles like Asuka, but he is cold, clinical and gets the job done. Champions survive, and on Sunday night, Roman Reigns survived. Kevin Owens put in a monumental effort at Royal Rumble and, be it for a golf cart, a low blow and a Guillotine, he’d be the new Universal champion. Yet, he isn’t and it is Reigns who still rules over WWE’s blue brand. No doubt Paul Heyman will help him make that fact known on Friday. Banks moves on Speaking of champions retaining their titles, The Boss made Carmella tap once again at Royal Rumble and should now be looking forward. The Queen of Staten Island has been a thorn in Banks’ side ever since she became champion, but now a new challenger should emerge. Sasha has been one of the top superstars in WWE for some time now and deserves a big challenge to take this title reign to the next level. The EST is the B.E.S.T. That challenger? It could well be the roughest, toughest, most Royal-Rumble-est womens’ superstar in WWE, Bianca BelAir. After entering the Royal Rumble at number three, BelAir outlasted all 29 other competitors, tossing the phenomenal Rhea Ripley over the top rope. BelAir’s promo after her massive win on Sunday night was brilliant, full of genuine emotion and was the next step in creating another headline act in WWE. Expect the EST of WWE to come out full of energy and excitement, and who knows, she may just announce which champion she wants to face at WrestleMania. No exaggeration: Banks v BelAir could steal the whole Show of Shows. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Raw matches and predictions – February 1st
With Royal Rumble still fresh in the memory, here's all the action we can expect on a huge episode of Monday Night Raw.
Last night, dreams came true. New champions were crowned, new faces made a statement and WWE Royal Rumble history was made. We even got a prediction or two right! Yet, WWE can’t stand still. Raw is here, just 24 hours out from the PPV’s conclusion, to shed some light on what last night’s results mean for the future of the business. RadioTimes.com rounds up what you can expect to see on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, featuring some of the biggest match-ups and predictions. Edge did it He actually did it. Even from number one spot, Edge’s grit, determination and will to never give up has taken him to WrestleMania. The moment he eliminated Randy Orton to win the Rumble match, all these years after having to retire before his time, will go down as one of the all-time great Royal Rumble moments. We need him to be on Monday Night Raw just to let that sink in. Just to confirm that we didn’t imagine it, that it did actually happen and nobody can take it away. Whether the Rated-R Superstar gives any hints to which champion he will now challenge at the Show of Shows or not, witnessing a jubilant Edge promo is what we all need right now. Drew is still the King It was just as billed. It was swift, it was hard-hitting and it was box office. Drew McIntyre v Goldberg at Royal Rumble was a big bang of powerhouse action and in the end the Scottish WWE Champion kept his crown. Drew will still be reeling after surviving multiple Spears and a Jackhammer from one of the most destructive to ever do it, but he’ll now be looking for his next hurdle. The threat could come from any avenue, but with The Miz failing to deliver on his Money in the Bank cash-in promise, he’ll surely want to make his presence known once more. Bliss and Orton clash With Alexa Bliss swamped and eliminated by Rhea Ripley during the women’s Royal Rumble and Randy Orton failing to get past his bitter enemy Edge, it’s fair to say neither superstar’s night went quite to plan. It’s time to move on from that disappointment for both, as the animosity shared between the two is nowhere near solved. With The Fiend still nowhere to be found – except maybe somewhere inside Alexa’s head – the former Goddess will still have to go things alone. Being in the sights of the most sadistic force WWE has ever seen is not a good place to be. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Royal Rumble 2021 predictions and confirmed match card
Raw, Smackdown and NXT superstars will be hoping to punch their tickets to WrestleMania at this Sunday’s Royal Rumble - here’s what we know of the event and our predictions
Every year in WWE, fans and superstars alike wait for Royal Rumble. Midnight on Sunday 31st January is when WWE turns things up to 11. The event is one of the biggest nights on the wrestling calendar and this year’s edition should be packed with all the shocks, high-spots and returning faces that make a WWE Network subscription worth the price-tag. Here are all of the matches currently scheduled for Royal Rumble. Mens’ Royal Rumble match These days WWE has enough elite talent to fill three mens' Royal Rumble matches. Doing just one means some big names will miss out. Drew Gulak won't be involved, Ricochet won't be involved, but a selection of the biggest names in the company will be. Thirty men will enter the ring, but only one will be left standing, having earned a spot in the main event of WrestleMania. Heavy favourites in this year's match will be the big names like Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles, and whilst wildcards like Shinsuke Nakamura, Jey Uso and Otis will be set to surprise a few. Feuds will continue - expect to see Bobby Lashley and Riddle clash - while new and returning faces will drop jaws to the floor. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a cracking hour of sports entertainment. Our prediction: Edge throws Randy Orton over the top rope to win the Royal Rumble match Womens’ Royal Rumble match The same goes for the women's roster. We’ll see a collection of the most elite competitors in the world attempt to steal the show and bag themselves a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. All eyes will be on the likes of Charlotte Flair, Bayley and Alexa Bliss, but don't write off the impact of those with a point to prove, like Liv Morgan, Peyton Royce and Shayna Bazler. We can’t wait for this. Our prediction: Rhea Ripley throws Charlotte Flair over the top rope to win the Royal Rumble match Drew McIntyre (c) v Goldberg - WWE Championship You know it’s WrestleMania season when two things happen. Firstly, Royal Rumble, granted. Second? Goldberg gets a title match. In 2017, The Myth returned to the title picture, stealing the Universal Championship from Kevin Owens. Last year, Bill speared The Fiend into the ground and again took the Universal title. This year, he’s set his sights on Drew McIntyre and his WWE strap. The Scot has been almost unstoppable since winning last year’s men’s Royal Rumble match, so Goldberg will have to be at his retro best to down the Claymore-kicker. It’ll be short and sweet, but this match is box-office. Our prediction: Drew McIntyre pins Goldberg to retain his title Roman Reigns (c) v Kevin Owens - Universal Championship Months of back and forth between these two prizefighters should culminate in this, a huge Last Man Standing match. Reigns has gotten the better of Owens every time the title has been on the line, recently utilising his cousin Jey Uso and a low blow to retain at TLC, but with one more shot at the gold, Owens will give his all. There’s no need for Reigns to fight clean here, he just needs to make sure Owens finally stays down. Our prediction: Roman Reigns wins the Last Man Standing match to retain his title Sasha Banks (c) v Carmella - Smackdown Women’s Championship A returning Carmella, fresh with a new look, demeanour and “special sommelier”, has taken the fight to Banks ever since the Boss saw off her former best friend. Despite Carmella’s attitude and confidence, Banks made the Queen of Staten Island tap out at TLC and things could well turn out the same here. Our prediction: Sasha Banks makes Carmella tap again to retain her title Charlotte Flair and Asuka (c) vs. Nia Jax and Shayna Bazler - Women’s Tag Team Championship The modern-day Mega Powers, Charlotte Flair and Asuka, won the tag team straps at the back end of last year, ending Nia Jax and Shayna Bazler's dominant reign at the TLC PPV. The ex-champions feel hard done by however, as Charlotte's entry in that match was a surprise, with The Queen having been away from the company for a number of months. Jay and Bazler have been chomping at the bit for a shot at redemption, and will get it this Sunday. This rematch means that three of the four competitors will be pulling double duty, also competing in the Royal Rumble, so this might not be the longest match on the card, but with these four athletes, it could be a potential show-stealer. Our prediction: Asuka pins Shayna Bazler to retain the titles Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Smackdown results - recap, winners and losers (January 29th)
With Royal Rumble just a couple of days away, Friday Night Smackdown set the stage for a massive evening of WWE action
From the moment Daniel Bryan welcomed us to Royal Rumble weekend, the stakes were set rather high. We saw wins for superstars on the rise and more of disappointment for those in need of change. The Rumble go-home-show gave us a just flavour of what to expect on Sunday night. Here are your top performers and biggest losers from this week’s Friday Night Smackdown: WINNER - Braun Strowman The last action before Royal Rumble was just as chaotic as the traditional thirty-man match itself. Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Big E, Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, Sheamus, Otis, The Miz and John Morrison (phew!) faced off in a ten-man tag, hitting signature offense after signature offence, even after the pinfall. That was until a wrecking ball cleared the ring. The return of Braun Strowman hyped Royal Rumble perfectly. Here’s the superstar with the most eliminations in the match’s history, reminding us all what damage a big man can truly do. The Strowman Express tore through AJ Styles before absolutely manhandling an in-form Cesaro and recent Intercontinental champion Sami Zayn. He’ll have a big role to play come Sunday night. WINNER - Bianca BelAir Bayley held the Smackdown Women’s Championship for a record 379 days. She saw off all comers in 2020, until Sasha Banks solved the puzzle and toppled the Role Model. Bayley was one of the hottest, most in-form superstars in WWE last year, and Bianca BelAir beat her clean in the middle of the ring on Friday night. Rightly billed as the biggest win of her career, the victory makes the EST of WWE a top tier competitor in the women's division. That’s how much this win should do. BelAir is a phenomenal athlete with a shining personality. A marquee victory, in a rivalry that should run for some time, will give her real momentum en route to a future title feud. LOSER - Kevin Owens To win the Universal Championship on Sunday, Kevin Owens needs to be at his absolute best. The champion, Roman Reigns, is bulletproof at the moment, with Jey Uso, Paul Heyman and a plethora of underhanded tactics all at his disposal. So, to beat the Tribal Chief, Owens needs his head in the game. Friday was billed as The Final Showdown between champ and challenger, and it was Reigns who came out on top. Owens got riled by the ultra-cool champion’s comments about his father and grandfather and let his anger out in a wonderfully fiery promo. If that’s a sign of how things will go on Sunday night however, Owens’ fire may take Reigns to the limit, but it may also be his downfall. LOSER - Rey and Dominik Mysterio Despite Dominik jumping the Lone Wolf during his entrance, King Corbin picked up another win against the young upstart on this week’s show. The son of the Greatest Mask of All Time took the fight to Corbin, hitting him with some impressive offense, but the match was less than seamless and it ended the same way it did last week: End of Days. This rivalry is hurting the Mysterio family, with Dominik looking softer than he did during the long programme with Seth Rollins, and Rey Mysterio has been unable to help his son get past the King of the Ring winner. The rivalry’s going to continue, with more ingredients to be added, but right now everything’s going against the father-son duo. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE Raw results - recap, winners and losers (January 25th)
Championship matches, title implications and Royal Rumble hype, here are all the biggest talking points from this week's Monday Night Raw
Airing just six days before one of the most exciting events on the WWE calendar, every superstar wanted to make an impact on this week’s episode of Raw. From those trying to earn an opportunity to those trying to convince us all that this is their time, Monday night was the breeding ground for so many looking to build momentum. So, here are the superstars who came out of Monday night stronger and those who hit a roadblock this week on WWE’s red brand: WINNER - Drew McIntyre and Goldberg We hadn't seen the WWE Champion, or his challenger, live on WWE television since Goldberg issued his challenge to the Scottish destroyer. COVID-19 hit Drew McIntyre this month and thankfully the champion was able to overcome it during the past two weeks. The return of these two goliaths needed to build hype for their Royal Rumble clash - and that it did. Just as Goldberg’s matches are hard-hitting and over in a flash, so was this promo. The two men stood face-to-face, built tension and hit their finishers on the pot-stirring Miz and John Morrison. Their spot was exactly what it needed to be. WINNER - Sheamus The Celtic Warrior spent 2020 finding his feet in WWE once more. After a few years of success alongside Cesaro, as part of The Bar, in 2020 Sheamus went solo again. He feuded in the mid-card with the likes of Jeff Hardy and Big E, before linking-up with Drew McIntyre on Raw. The Fella had looked good, but until this week, he seemed still a step away from the big time. A very strong match against John Morrison, followed by a handicap match against both Morrison and his tag-team partner, The Miz, changed all that. The Great White may have lost the second match-up, but in agreeing to fight against the odds and in battling, resisting and taking his licks, Sheamus looked like a genuine force once more. This is a great start to a renewed push, but it needs to be capitalised on. LOSER - Alexa Bliss For the second week on the spin, Alexa Bliss faced Asuka in the main event. After pinning the Empress of Tomorrow last week, this one-on-one was for the Raw Women’s Championship. However, Alexa Bliss did not win the title. Alexa’s night started in her Playground, in which she was absolutely captivating in recapping the last few weeks. Later in the night, she was in full-control of the Raw Women’s champ. Bliss’ mind games stepped up to the next level, with the challenger playing her new Playground character, reverting to her old-school Goddess character and then dominating as her new demon alter-ego, all in the space of a few minutes. All paths were leading to Bliss being atop this article, as the biggest of winners, but Randy Orton had other ideas. With a singed face and malice in his veins, the Legend Killer RKO-ed Bliss just as she was about to put Asuka away. Her title chance was gone, and she’s now got a real Viper problem to deal with. LOSER - Bobby Lashley The United States champion, Bobby Lashley, looks as good as he ever has in WWE. He’s obliterating anyone he faces, looks reasonably comfortable on the mic and has a elite tier finisher in his arsenal. Since he teamed up with MVP, Lashley’s stock has only continued to rise. Yet, he’s under threat. Yes, Riddle has earned himself a shot as Lashley’s gold, having beaten Shelton Benjamin, MVP and Cedric Alexander in a Gaulter match this week, but the Original Bro is not that threat. Without distraction or outside interference, Bobby has been booked strong enough that he’d surely make Riddle tap. The only thing that could change that is those closest to him. Not only has Lashley got to watch his own back and the gold around his waist, he’s got to make sure the dissension between Alexander and Benjamin does not cost him his title. It could well. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.
WWE predictions – Raw and Smackdown preview
Find out what is set to happen on the final Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown before WWE's Royal Rumble PPV.
We have arrived, breathe it in. That smell in the air is the scent of 29 superstars being tossed over the top rope, and one left standing with a ticket to WrestleMania in hand. Twice. Yes, it’s Royal Rumble on Sunday evening, and WWE is set ablaze. Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown should be packed to hype the biggest show of the year so far. Apart from a lot of jaw-jacking and fist-fighting, here’s what to expect this week in WWE. McIntyre and Goldberg face-off Six days before their highly-anticipated clash at Royal Rumble, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and the legendary Goldberg will both return to Raw. The super Scotsman is hoped to have overcome COVID-19, which has kept him off the previous two episodes of Raw, and he’ll finally stand face-to-face with the part-timer who challenged him at Raw Legends Night. These two behemoths are going to shake the ThunderDome to its foundations at Royal Rumble, but on Monday, it will all be about raising the intensity. Alexa Bliss takes control Last week’s Monday Night Raw ended with Alexa Bliss turning into something we’ve never seen before. Just as a switch flips to turn Bray Wyatt into The Fiend, Bliss turned into a calm, creepy, clinical character mid-way through her match against Raw women’s champion Asuka, then controlling the dual-champion and pinning her clean in the middle of the ring. The women’s division changed with that result and Raw will only become a darker place because of it. Expect Bliss to move even closer to the title picture this week. Reigns puts Owens on notice After getting one over on Roman Reigns last week – and powerbombing him through the announcer’s table – Kevin Owens will have to watch his back on Friday Night Smackdown. Reigns will not have taken well to being shown up, so will likely set his cousin Jey Uso and the nefarious mind of Paul Heyman to work on making Owens and WWE official Adam Pearce’s lives a little less comfortable. We might not see any of these superstars in action, but whatever spot Reigns is in at the moment, it’s must-see. Things change for Apollo Crews Last week, Sami Zayn interrupted Apollo Crews’ shot at Big E’s Intercontinental Championship, forcing a DQ. After weeks of failed attempts at the hard-working title, and having being invited into the presence of Smackdown’s Tribal Chief Roman Reigns, Apollo will stand for no more. On last week’s Talking Smack, Crews promised to deal with his Sami Zayn problem before “going to go and get that Intercontinental title”. All because he can. On Friday, it begins. For a preview of Sunday evening's huge PPV, check out our Royal Rumble predictions and the full match card. Our how to watch WWE guide for SmackDown, Raw, NXT, PPVs includes a full schedule for the big events in 2021 so you can keep track of the action. Check out our guide on how to watch BT Sport Box Office for all the big PPV events. If you’re looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide.