NEWS

When this season is over, there will be a lot of low points to break down. But few of them will suck more than going 0-2 vs. the hated Boston Celtics. The last time these two teams played, it was a blowout from the start, but tonight they were equals for most of the game until the Lakers came up just short in the overtime, unable to recover from an awful non-call in the final seconds of regulation before eventually losing 125-121 after five extra minutes.

With this loss, the Lakers are 23-27 overall, still only a higher seed than the tanking Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs in the West, and the only key player still missing from the roster is Austin Reaves.

Despite the loss, LeBron James was once again sensational with 41 points his fifth 40-plus game this season. Anthony Davis continues to look good he had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

Things looked better for the Lakers to start the game. LeBron hit multiple deep threes to lead the team with 10 points in the opening frame, and AD came off the bench and showed that such an arrangement won’t need to last much longer, as he had six points in seven minutes. Ham utilized nine players in the first, with the only two rotation players absent being Max Christie and Wenyen Gabriel.

There were plenty of bright spots for the purple and gold, but one negative was Russell Westbrook. He just couldn’t get anything going. He was 0-6 from the field in the first, but even worst was the fact that he started avoiding open shots. I know he’s shooting 28% from three, but if he is wide-open, he has to keep shooting or else opponents will only leave him more open, further clogging up the paint. He has to take those shots and keep the defense honest.

The Celtics built as large as a nine-point lead during the second quarter, but the Lakers closed the half off well with LeBron hitting more deep threes, AD competing hard and making buckets despite already having three fouls, and Walker started cooking in his first game back from missing the last 14 with left knee tendinitis, making four of his five shots in the period to give the Lakers a 54-48 lead at halftime.

L.A. was up 75-68 with 3:21 left in the third when LeBron took his quarter rest. Boston took advantage and went on a 13-6 run. James is amazing and still the best player in year 20, but the Lakers have to find a way to better survive these non-LeBron minutes. Thanks to a late Rui dunk, I’m not sure if they survived, but they did enter the fourth all tied up at 81.

In the last quarter, with Bron back the Lakers started off rolling. They started off on an 8-2 run and Dennis Schröder was a big reason why the Celtics only had two points. He was sensational, pressuring the ball and forcing the Celtics into tough shots and difficult passes.

His offense was a bit more mixed, as he shot 50% on the night, but his misses were awful. There was one 18-foot jumper he missed at the 7:26 mark that might have put a crack in the backboard’s glass.

With four minutes left, it was a one-point game, and L.A. had to either step up and win or lose another close game. And in the closing minutes, it was the Patrick Beverley show. He hit a three-pointer to give the Lakers a lead then had a putback dunk so unbelievable that LeBron’s head nearly exploded, and followed it up with a defensive rebound and converting on a pair of free throws.

However, Pat Bev giveth, and Pat Bev taketh away. He fouled Jaylen Brown on his runner and put him on the line to tie the game. Brown converted both freebies and we went into the last play tied at 105 Laker ball. In the final play of regulation, LeBron was clearly fouled on his drive by Jayson Tatum, but the refs let it go as the game headed to overtime.

In response, LeBron was about as animated as you’ll ever see him in response to a call (and that’s saying something). He was screaming, flailing his legs, clenching his fists and eventually laying down on the floor in a fetal position like a child who was just emotionally scarred. Normally this would be considered an overreaction, but given how egregious the call was. It felt justified.

In overtime, the Lakers struggled to get over the awful missed call. Pat Bev earned a tech because he literally showed the ref the foul on a camera he took from a photographer.

No, seriously, he actually did that:

Admittedly hilarious, but not actually helpful.

Boston was pulling away when L.A. finally caught a break when Russ was fouled and it was ruled a flagrant one. After the foul, it was a three-point game.

Russ had an open jumper in the corner and opted not to shoot it and instead took a highly contested layup which he missed. This reminded me of those jumpers he refused to take at the beginning of the game. He ended the night shooting 4-14 and I know Russ already gets killed on social media, but he was really bad today.

Still, the story has to be that awful foul call.

The NBA and the referees involved have already both admitted to the Lakers that they blew it.

A Brown jumper gave Boston a five-point lead with under a minute to go and that was all she wrote. The loss will be all about the missed call and that Last Two Minute Report will likely go viral tomorrow, however Darvin Ham could care less.

Given that no matter what it says, the Lakers are stuck with a loss, it’s hard to argue with that sentiment.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bomb-carrying drones targeted an Iranian defense factory in the central city of Isfahan overnight, authorities said early Sunday, causing some damage at the plant amid heightened regional and international tensions engulfing the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian Defense Ministry offered no information on who it suspected carried out the attack, which came as a refinery fire separately broke out in the country’s northwest and a 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck nearby, killing two people.

However, Tehran has been targeted in suspected Israeli drone strikes amid a shadow war with its Mideast rival as its nuclear deal with world powers collapsed. Meanwhile, tensions also remain high with neighboring Azerbaijan after a gunman attacked that country’s embassy in Tehran, killing its security chief and wounding two others.

Details on the Isfahan attack, which happened around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, remained scarce. A Defense Ministry statement described three drones being launched at the facility, with two of them successfully shot down. A third apparently made it through to strike the building, causing “minor damage” to its roof and wounding no one, the ministry said.

Iranian state television’s English-language arm, Press TV, aired mobile phone video apparently showing the moment that drone struck along the busy Imam Khomeini Expressway that heads northeast out of Isfahan, one of several ways for drivers to go to the holy city of Qom and Tehran, Iran’s capital. A small crowd stood gathered, likely drawn by anti-aircraft fire, watching as an explosion and sparks struck a dark building. Those there fled after the strike.

The Defense Ministry only called the site a “workshop,” without elaborating on what it made. Isfahan, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) south of Tehran, is home to both a large air base built for its fleet of American-made F-14 fighter jets and its Nuclear Fuel Research and Production Center.

Separately, Iran’s state TV said a fire broke out at an oil refinery in an industrial zone near the northwestern city of Tabriz. It said the cause was not yet known, as it showed footage of firefighters trying to extinguish the blaze.

State TV also said the magnitude-5.9 earthquake killed two people and injured some 580 more in rural areas in West Azerbaijan province, damaging buildings in many villages.

Iran and Israel have long been engaged in a shadow war that has included covert attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities.

Last year, Iran said an engineer was killed and another employee was wounded in an unexplained incident at the Parchin military and weapons development base east of the capital, Tehran. The ministry called it an accident, without providing further details.

Parchin is home to a military base where the International Atomic Energy Agency has said it suspected Iran conducted tests of explosive triggers that could be used in nuclear weapons.

In April 2021, Iran blamed Israel for an attack on its underground Natanz nuclear facility that damaged its centrifuges.

Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but Israeli media widely reported that the country had orchestrated a devastating cyberattack that caused a blackout at the nuclear facility. Israeli officials rarely acknowledge operations carried out by the country’s secret military units or its Mossad intelligence agency.

In 2020, Iran blamed Israel for a sophisticated attack that killed its top nuclear scientist.

Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes. U.S. intelligence agencies, Western nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran ran an organized nuclear weapons program until 2003.

The United Nations’ top nuclear official, Rafael Mariano Grossi, recently warned that Iran has enough highly enriched uranium to build “several” nuclear weapons if it chooses.

Efforts to revive a 2015 agreement with world powers that placed limits on Iran’s nuclear activities ground to a halt last year. Both the U.S. and Israel have vowed to prevent Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons, and neither has ruled out military action.

Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin spoke publicly for the first time since his heart went silent Jan. 2 in the middle of a Monday Night Football game viewed by millions.

It shocked fans when he stayed down after his first-quarter hit on host team Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins, and then team health personnel began CPR on the field.

Experts believe Hamlin may have suffered from a rare phenomenon, “commotio cordis,” in which the heart is vulnerable for less than a fifth of a second to blunt force that can disrupt its normal rhythm and lead to death in some cases.

Hamlin’s recovery countered this dire narrative, however, by setting its own impressive pace, with Saturday marking the milestone of his first public words since the incident.

The Buffalo Bills player said he was in no rush.

“It was important for me to wait and speak publicly at the right time, as it was just a lot to process within my own self, mentally, physically, even spiritually,” the safety said.

The player is taking lessons from the episode and thanking doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo, team doctors and medical staff, teammates, coaches, team staffers, his mother, father and brother, and the “Bills Mafia” fans who helped him progress.

“What happened to me on Monday Night Football, I feel is a direct example of God using me as a vessel to share my passion and my love directly from my heart with the entire world,” Hamlin said. “And now I’m able to give it back to charities and communities all across the world, who need it the most, and that’s always been my dream.”

A fund-raising account that Hamlin had set up in 2020 to support a toy drive in his home neighborhood in McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, was flooded after he was hospitalized. By Saturday night, more than 247,000 donations totaled $9,018,830.

“I don’t even have the words to express the gratitude for the amount of support that was given into that that was something that we started even way before I made it to the NFL,” Hamlin said.

The safety appeared to have his greatest gratitude for children — “to all the kids who sent me letters and heartwarming gifts,” Hamlin said.

“You mean the world to me,” he continued. “You made my day every day. You inspired me to keep dreaming big.”

Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley are WrestleMania bound after winning their respective matches at the 2023 WWE Royal Rumble. The show closed on an emotional high note as one of WWE’s best storylines in recent memory took a major step forward with Sami Zayn and The Bloodline.

Rhodes and Ripley were the frontrunners to win their Royal Rumble matches and they did just that. Their bouts were short on legitimate surprises but featured record-setting performances and set up the winners for world title shots at WrestleMania 39.

Undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns defeated Kevin Owens in a physically taxing main event. In the aftermath of the match, Reigns demanded that Zayn lay out his defenseless estranged best friend with a career-ending blow. Zayn ultimately turned his back on The Bloodline, refusing to submit to his cruel demands. The most compelling component of the closing segment may just be Jey Uso walking out on The Bloodline, a full circle moment dating back to the group’s origins and Jey Uso’s feud with Reigns in 2020. 

CBS Sports was with you the whole way through the event, providing updates and highlights as the action goes down in the live blog below.

2023 WWE Royal Rumble results, grades

Men’s Royal Rumble match: Intercontinental champion GUNTHER and Sheamus drew numbers one and two, respectively. The ring started to fill up with Kofi Kingston (No. 4) and Johnny Gargano (No. 5) joining the fray without any eliminations. Gargano and Sheamus teamed up to kick The Miz (No. 3) out of the ring.

Xavier Woods entered at No. 6, giving the New Day a serious edge against the field. The reigning NXT tag team champions laid out the competition before teasing a one-on-one fight. GUNTHER knocked Kingston over the ropes to set up what appeared to be set up for a classic Royal Rumble spot. Unfortunately, Kingston appeared to hit a commentator’s chair too hard and hit the floor. This marks the second consecutive year that his planned spot went wrong. 

Two-time Rumble winner Brock Lesnar made his entrance at No. 12 and cleaned house. He exceeded 30 career eliminations by tossing out Santos Escobar, Angelo Dawkins and Chad Gable. Bobby Lashley (No. 13) entered the fray next and floored Lesnar with a spear before eliminating him. An outraged Lesnar destroyed the announcer’s table. Lesnar gave the furniture a break and took his remaining frustrations out on Baron Corbin (No. 14), delivering an F-5 to JBL’s protege ringside. The former UFC champion tossed a referee over ringside before finally exiting the area.

Seth Rollins entered at the halfway mark. Rollins immediately eliminated Corbin, who had only just recovered from Lesnar’s rampage and outmaneuvered Lashley for his second elimination of the night. Rey Mysterio’s music hit at No. 17 but he never appeared. The cause of his absence was alluded to when his estranged son, Dominik Mysterio, entered at No. 18 wearing his father’s mask. The evening’s first surprise entrant was revealed at No. 21 when former world heavyweight and WCW champion Booker T arrived to a big cheer from the crowd. Booker dropped Finn Balor with a Bookend before hitting his trademark Spinaroonie. He was promptly tossed out of the ring by GUNTHER afterwards.

Damian Priest (No. 22) joined the mix, giving Judgement Day dominance over their opponents. All three members of Judgement Day – Mysterio, Balor and Priest – systematically laid out the remaining superstars: GUNTHER, McIntyre, Sheamus and Rollins. Edge’s arrival at No. 24 sparked a huge reaction from the audience. Edge had not been seen since Judgement Day laid him out at Extreme Rules in September. He immediately went toe-to-toe with the trio, the faction he led before being usurped by Balor. Edge eliminated Balor and Priest before trying to do the same to Mysterio. Balor and Priest saved their Judgement Day teammate and dragged Edge over the ropes. A brawl broke out between Edge, Balor and Priest on the rampway. Edge was getting the better of the exchanges before Rhea Ripley blindsided him. Beth Phoenix, a former champion and Edge’s wife, came to his rescue.

Logan Paul entered at No. 29, squashing rumors of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson or Sami Zayn would appear in the match. A quartet of WWE superstars stomped on Paul in the center of the ring upon entry. Paul had a brief moment of success, hitting Ricochet with an impressive Buckshot Lariat. A unique moment saw Paul and Ricochet springboard from opposite sides of the ring and hit each other mid-air with clotheslines. The long-awaited return of Cody Rhodes came to fruition as he drew No. 30. It marked Rhodes’ first appearance in eight months after wrestling Rollins in a Hell in a Cell match with a terribly torn pectoral muscle. Rhodes and Rollins faced off in the final four of the match. Paul, who had been sidelined ringside, snuck back in and eliminated Rollins. The social media star gave the ole’ WrestleMania sign-point before eating a Cross Rhodes and getting tossed from the match. 

The match came down to Rhodes and GUNTHER, the latter of whom set the record for the longest time in a traditional Royal Rumble match – surpassing Rey Mysterio who lasted 62 minutes in 2006. The two fought back and forth for an extended period of time with Rhodes finally hitting a Cross Rhodes and eliminating GUNTHER. Rhodes will now fight for the undisputed WWE universal championship at WrestleMania 39.

It was a middle of road Rumble. The right man won and it was a refreshing change to see the final two superstars afforded so much time. GUNTHER shined in setting a new record in his first Rumble. The surprises were lacking and there was a general lack of big spots, excluding Paul and Ricochet’s dueling springboard clotheslines. The build to WrestleMania 39 should be fun and it’s great to see Rhodes again. Cody Rhodes wins the Royal Rumble – Grade: B-

1	GUNTHER	Miz (Sheamus)
2	Sheamus	Kross (McIntyre)
3	The Miz	Woods (GUNTHER)
4	Kofi Kingston	Kingston (GUNTHER 2)
5	Johnny Gargano	Escobar (Lesnar)
6	Xavier Woods	Dawkins (Lesnar 2)
7	Karrion Kross	Gable (Lesnar 3)
8	Chad Gable	Lesnar (Lashley)
9	Drew McIntyre	Corbin (Rollins)
10	Santos Escobar	Lashley (Rollins 2)
11	Angelo Dawkins	Otis (Sheamus 2)
12	Brock Lesnar	Elias (McIntyre 2)
13	Bobby Lashley	Gargano (Balor 1)
14	Baron Corbin	Booker T (GUNTHER 3)
15	Seth Rollins	Ford (Priest)
16	Otis	Priest (Edge)
17	Rey Mysterio*	Balor (Edge 2)
18	Dominik Mysterio	Edge (Dominik)
19	Elias	Omos (Strowman)
20	Finn Balor	Sheamus (GUNTHER 4)
21	Booker T	McIntyre (GUNTHER 5)
22	Damian Priest	D. Mysterio (Rhodes)
23	Montez Ford	Strowman (Rhodes 2)
24	Edge	Ricochet (Theory)
25	Austin Theory	Theory (Rhodes 3)
26	Omos	Rollins (Paul)
27	Braun Strowman	Paul (Rhodes 4)
28	Ricochet	GUNTHER (Rhodes 5)
29	Logan Paul	Winner: Cody Rhodes
30	Cody Rhodes	*Never entered: Rey Mysterio

Bray Wyatt vs. LA Knight (Pitch Black match): Wyatt arrived for his first televised match in more than two years sporting a new look: black eye makeup and horror-movie eye contacts. The lights in the arena cut out, revealing a glow-in-the-dark theme to the match.

The action quickly spilled to the outside as Wyatt pursued and punished Knight. Wyatt attempted to suplex Knight over the barricade onto steel steps, but Knight escaped and drove Wyatt through the announcer’s table with an elbow drop. Wyatt dusted himself off and pursued Knight inside the ring. Knight swung with a glow-in-the-dark kendo stick, but ran directly into Sister Abigail for the finish.

Wyatt, now sporting a mask, chased Knight around the arena post-match. Knight repeatedly clobbered Wyatt with kendo stick shots that registered no effect. Knight’s attempts to flee were futile. Wyatt finally snatched him and choked him out with a mandible claw by the stage. The mysterious Uncle Howdy emerged on an elevated platform and launched himself down onto Knight. Fire erupted and the unusual segment ended with Wyatt’s cast of characters watching on. 

It was an odd, third-party-sponsored match that felt more comical than fearsome. It was nice to see Knight get offense in for as long as the match lasted. Seeing Uncle Howdy do something physical should progress this storyline. Wyatt def. Knight via pinfall – Grade: C-

Raw Women’s championship — Bianca Belair (c) vs. Alexa Bliss: Belair and Bliss fought a competitive, back-and-forth match for the entirety of the contest. The rivals had a good read on each other with Bliss countering Belair’s flashy standing moonsault – a move Belair managed to land cleanly on a second attempt. The match came to an end when Belair blocked Bliss’ Sister Abigail and used the momentum to plant the challenger with KOD. A cryptic Uncle Howdy promo taunted Bliss, who used to be aligned with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, post-match. Howdy repeatedly asked Bliss, “Do you feel in charge?” 

The match was fine but there was a lack of intensity. There weren’t many big spots or tense near falls to ever put the outcome in question. This was a standard defense for the champion against an opponent few believed would actually overcome the odds. Belair def. Bliss via pinfall to retain the Raw women’s championship – Grade: C+

Women’s Royal Rumble match: Rhea Ripley, wearing her wounds after being speared by Beth Phoenix during the men’s Rumble match, drew the No. 1 spot. Liv Morgan entered at No. 2 after demanding to start the Rumble. 

Bayley entered at No. 6 after a rather pedestrian effort between the other participants. Women’s tag team champions Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky entered the fray at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, to give Damage CTRL a huge edge in the match. Natalya (No. 11) made her first appearance in months and bee-lined for Shayna Bazler. A vindictive Becky Lynch joined the match at No. 15. She immediately took out Kai and Sky ringside before stomping a mudhole in Bayley. Lynch was tossed out of the ring through the middle rope – avoiding elimination – and laid out ringside by Damage CTRL. 

Asuka received one of the evening’s loudest pops when she entered at No. 17. She sauntered to the ring wearing a mask that completely covered her face and slowly removed the mask to reveal intimidating, clown-like facepaint and contact lenses. The aesthetic is a nod to a dominant and imposing character she portrayed in Japan prior to joining WWE. Lynch made her way back into the match and tossed out both Kai and Sky. Bayley got revenge for her Damage CTRL teammates by eliminating Lynch, but Bayley was promptly tossed over the ropes by Morgan during the chaos.

Chelsea Green made her long-awaited WWE return at No. 20. It marked her first appearance with the promotion since being released in 2021 alongside several other superstars. Green was promptly eliminated by Ripley in a record-setting five seconds for a women’s Rumble. Raquel Rodriguez arrived at No. 22 to loud cheers from her fellow Texans. The powerhouse went toe-to-toe with Rumble frontrunner Ripley, knocking her to the mat before taking on the rest of the field.

The clock struck zero for the 25th entrant and Michelle McCool’s music played. McCool was sitting front row with her children watching the match. McCool tore off her civilian clothes to reveal wrestling gear underneath and hopped the barricade. The countdown to No. 30 culminated in the arrival of Nia Jax, who was released by the WWE in November 2021. Jax went through the motions of the typical monster heel spot but was eliminated after a brief encounter with Ripley. 

The Rumble came down to Asuka, Morgan and Ripley. All three women found themselves fighting on the ring apron with the threat of elimination looming. Asuka blinded Morgan with mist and Ripley eliminated Asuka. Morgan was a sitting duck but managed to connect with Ripley. The Judgement Day member was dangling from the ropes for dear life. The closing sequence saw Ripley snatch Morgan’s head and flip her onto the floor. Ripley and Morgan had beaten the record for longest time in a women’s Royal Rumble match, but the record will officially go to Ripley following Morgan’s elimination. 

A handful of NXT superstars appeared in the match, including: NXT women’s champion Roxanne Perez and Indi Hartwell, as well as Piper Niven (formerly Doudrop).

It was a meandering Rumble for the most part. The match lacked big name surprises, excluding McCool, and Jax entering at No. 30 might be the most abysmal return in Rumble history. There were a few highlights. Asuka’s new look generated a massive reaction and the closing sequence between Asuka, Morgan and Ripley clicked very well. A middle of the road Rumble, much like the men’s match preceding it. In both cases, the frontrunner emerged victorious. Rhea Ripley wins the women’s Royal Rumble match – Grade: B-

1	Rhea Ripley	B-Fab (Ripley)
2	Liv Morgan	Brooke (Bayley)
3	Dana Brooke	Emma (Kai)
4	Emma	Perez (Bayley 2)
5	Shayna Baszler	Baszler (SKY)
6	Bayley	Natalya (Kai 2)
7	B-Fab	LaRae (Kai 3)
8	Roxanne Perez	Nox (Asuka)
9	Dakota Kai	Green (Ripley 2)
10	IYO SKY	Kai (Lynch)
11	Natalya	SKY (Lynch 2)
12	Candice LaRae	Lynch (Bayley 3)
13	Zoey Stark	Bayley (Morgan)
14	Xia Li	Li (Vega)
15	Becky Lynch	Tamina (McCool)
16	Teagen Nox	Stark (Deville)
17	Asuka	Vega (Evans)
18	Piper Nevin	Hartwell (Deville 2)
19	Tamina	Jax (Ripley 3)
20	Chelsea Green	Evans (Rodriguez)
21	Zelina Vega	Deville (Asuka 2)
22	Raquel Rodriguez	McCool (Ripley 4)
23	Michin	Shotzi (Michin)
24	Lacey Evans	Michin (Niven)
25	Michelle McCool	Niven (Rodriguez 2)
26	Indi Hartwell	Rodriguez (Ripley 5)
27	Sonya Deville	Cross (Morgan 2)
28	Shotzi	Asuka (Ripley 6)
29	Nikki Cross	Morgan (Ripley 7)
30	Nia Jax	Winner: Rhea Ripley

Undisputed WWE universal championship — Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens: Owens and Reigns mirrored each other during the introductions, sitting atop opposite corners of the ring. Owens took an early lead after a feeling-out period. He crushed Reigns with a running senton and corner bomb. Owens then turned his attention to Zayn and Paul Heyman ringside, giving them the crotch chop. 

The champion and challenger exchanged momentum inside and outside of the ring. Zayn’s alliance with Reigns and estranged friendship with Owens played a role in the match much like it has throughout this feud. Zayn was seen celebrating a near fall for Reigns and lamenting a near fall for Owens. The commentator’s debated if his enthusiasm was for Reigns’ near victory or Owens’ survival and vice versa.

Owens continued to benefit from his indomitable spirit, kicking out of both a superman punch and spear from the undisputed champion. Owens marked Reigns for a stunner, but Reigns shoved Owens into the referee. Owens followed up with a pop-up powerbomb that would have guaranteed him the victory had the referee not been incapacitated.

Reigns floored Owens with a low blow and urged Zayn to retrieve a steel chair. Zayn protested the request, reminding Reigns that he was ordered by the champion to not interfere. Reigns doubled down and Zayn ran to retrieve it. Zayn was hesitant before giving Reigns the chair. The delay was long enough for Owens to recover, land a stunner and come within an inch of becoming champion. Reigns bounced back with another spear that sent Owens to the outside. 

Owens crawled over to his former best friend ringside. Zayn pleaded with Owens to stay down and take the loss. Reigns interrupted their moment, spearing Owens through the barricade. The champion continued to brutalize the challenger, repeatedly slamming Owens into the steel steps while staring daggers through Zayn. The vicious assault appeared to be a stern message to Zayn. Reigns launched through Owens with one last spear and scored the pinfall while glaring at Zayn.

Post-match, Jey Uso attempted to present Zayn with a lei — a ceremonial induction into The Bloodline. Reigns interrupted the crowning and ordered The Usos to attack Owens. Reigns, with a wide smile, draped his arm around Zayn’s shoulder as Owens was further punished by The Usos and Solo Sikoa. Zayn was visibly concerned for Owens as Heyman handed Reigns handcuffs. The Usos repeatedly struck a defenseless Owens with superkicks until he appeared unconscious. 

Reigns attempted to finish the job with a chair to Owens’ face, but Zayn intervened. Zayn insisted that enough was enough and further damage was unnecessary. Reigns handed the steel chair to Zayn and demanded that he deliver the final blow. Zayn’s hesitancy drew the ire of Reigns, who repeatedly shoved Zayn in the face. Zayn ultimately made his choice and struck Reigns with the chair. Jey Uso — The Bloodline member who formed the deepest bond with Zayn — yelled at him. Jimmy Uso super kicked Zayn and Sikoa delivered a Samoan Spike to “The Honorary Uce.” Jey Uso, conflicted by his family’s actions, walked away in tears. Reigns accused Zayn of breaking up his family and laid into Zayn with nearly a dozen chair shots. 

There was so much to dig into in that match. Zayn’s allegiance to The Bloodline appeared to be genuine, but Reigns finally pushed Zayn too far. The brightest moment of the segment was certainly Jey Uso’s walkout. Reigns and Uso had feuded for the world title early into Reigns’ heel run and it established the pecking order in The Bloodline. In this very moment, Jey Uso walked out on The Bloodline after being reminded of Reigns’ true nature. Reigns def. Owens to retain the undisputed WWE universal championship. Grade: A+

CARSON, Calif. — The United States men’s national team earned a 0-0 draw with Colombia in the second of two January friendlies for the home side, as both teams fielded relatively inexperienced sides.

Colombia had the edge in shots 12-5, but shots on goal were 2-1 in favor of the home side. And it was the U.S. that had the better chances with Paxten Aaronson, in his USMNT debut, going close in the first half. Sean Johnson was the slightly busier of the two keepers, but overall had little to do on the night.

JUMP TO: Who stood out and struggled? | Highlights & notable moments | Postgame quotes | Upcoming fixtures

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Rapid reaction

1. U.S. earns draw in a very un-January friendly

Friendlies that cap off the January camp are often tepid affairs. The U.S. players are in preseason mode, and the lack of sharpness outweighs most of the positives. There is also the relative lack of experience on show. While the U.S. featured World Cup participants Walker Zimmerman, Kellyn Acosta, Jesus Ferreira and Aaron Long, as well as veteran Paul Arriola, some of the other players were making their initial forays at the international level.

That went for Colombia as well. Aside from left back Frank Fabra, no Colombian starter had more than three caps. But this encounter had some spice to it, helped in no small part by the heavily pro-Colombia crowd. There was plenty of end-to-end play and some clear looks at goal in the opening half, including a deflected effort from Paxten Aaronson in the 14th minute that grazed the post.

LAFC‘s Cristian Arango had some clear opportunities as well, but failed to get a shot on target. Such was the chaotic nature of the game that the performers on show seemed to alternate good plays with poor ones, often in the same sequence. Matthew Hoppe was a case in point. The Middlesbrough winger was indefatigable in terms of his defensive pressure, and consistently put himself in good positions with his runs off the ball. But his decision-making on the ball looked rusty, a product of the lack of playing time with his club.

There was some physical play as well, with a trio of first-half yellow cards dished out by referee Said Martinez, all to Colombia. Two were the result of attacking runs by Arriola that forced the Cafeteros into fouls near the box. The frenetic pace cooled a bit in the second half, with interim manager Anthony Hudson feeling confident enough to finish out the match with two young center backs in Jalen Neal and Sam Rogers. Substitute Brandon Vazquez nearly got on the end of a Kellyn Acosta free kick late, but couldn’t connect, leaving both teams to settle for a draw.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & more (U.S.)

2. Another Aaronson makes a positive impression

Interim manager Anthony Hudson had said he would heavily rotate his squad from the team that fell 2-1 to Serbia, and he was true to his word, making 10 changes to the lineup that started against Serbia, with Zimmerman the only holdover. That meant another pair of international debuts, this time for Paxten Aaronson — brother of Leeds United and U.S. international midfielder Brenden Aaronson — and New York Red Bulls defender John Tolkin.

Aaronson — who signed with Eintracht Frankfurt from the Philadelphia Union in November — was up for the challenge and showed off many of the same qualities as his older brother. He was an absolute pest on defense, was active in seeking out the ball and showed off some lightning-quick feet. He nearly got onto the scoresheet in the 14th minute when his deflected effort grazed the post.

His performance wasn’t completely free of struggle. One area where Aaronson needs to improve is simply to sense danger with his back to his opponent. He was dispossessed four times in the first half, a problem that can be solved by simply playing quicker.

Fellow debutant Tolkin struggled with some physical battles as well, but adapted as the game went on. The quality of his left foot isn’t in question. But games like this are about the future. These players just starting their international careers don’t need to produce for the U.S. next week or even in March, when the first choice players will convene for the first time since the World Cup. Yet players have to start somewhere, and this was a needed first step.

3. Did anyone earn a spot for the March window?

Across the two games, 12 players made debuts (the most ever in these January camps), with Vazquez doing the most to help himself. The U.S. goal scorer against Serbia came on as a substitute in this match and while he didn’t score, the FC Cincinnati man provides a physical presence that few others in the pool can match. Combine that with his finishing touch, and he is a player who could force his way in.

Alejandro Zendejas, who returned to Club America after the Serbia match, should also get an extended look given his dynamism on the wing and his precision in terms of end product. Of course, with Zendejas the question is if he’s called up for an official competition, will he commit or file that one-time switch to Mexico? That remains to be seen.

Credit is due to Cade Cowell as well. He was an unused sub on this night, but showed plenty of potential against Serbia. The key now is can he replicate that performance at club level with the San Jose Earthquakes?

Otherwise, it feels as though the rest of the young performers in this camp are still a ways away from threatening to break through. That said, for many of them, time is on their side.

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Best, worst (and mixed-bag) performers

Best: Paul Arriola, U.S.

It’s perhaps no surprise that one of the more experienced players on the field would fare well (he earned his 50th cap), but the FC Dallas man was a menacing presence on the flank and forced two different Colombian players to commit yellow card fouls.

Best: Diego Valoyes, Colombia

The Colombia attacker gave Tolkin all he could handle, especially in the first half. He also created a team-high three chances.

Best: Paxten Aaronson, U.S.

Aaronson’s had more positives than negatives in his international debut, and adjusted his game in the second half.

Worst: Frank Fabra, Colombia

The U.S. found plenty of success down his side, with Arriola forcing a yellow card foul. Fabra struggled on the ball as well, completing just 67.5% of his passes.

Mixed bag: Matthew Hoppe, U.S.

A “worst” label would have been too harsh considering the positions he put himself in, but his decision-making and touch let him down at times. He is in desperate need of games at club level.

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Highlights and notable moments

Paxten Aaronson was one of the players who stood out for the USMNT, as evidenced in this early scoring chance against Colombia.

Pax getting involved early 👀

📺 TNT pic.twitter.com/Jx73aGnJ6V

— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) January 29, 2023

With more playing time and experience, he can be expected to put these into the net.

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After the match: What the managers and players said

U.S. interim coach Anthony Hudson, on Paxten Aaronson’s debut: “Paxten is a really exciting player, hugely confident. He came in a day or two late but you can see his quality. We don’t know what his level will be, but we believe in his talent and will see what he can do.”

USMNT keeper Sean Johnson, on the camp: “It’s a great group of players, and that speaks to the depth of our player group. … There’s good times ahead for us. We would have loved to win, and we had our chances, but it was solid all around. As a group, I feel like this camp was a step forward.”

Hudson, on whether he’ll continue as interim coach: “Until I’m told otherwise, I’m going to do my best for the team and the players.”

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Up next

U.S.: With no games until the March matches against Grenada and El Salvador as part of their Nations League title defense, expect all the action to be off the field as the speculation mounts during the coaching and general manager search.

Colombia: No planned games on the calendar so far.