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Image: AEW Former TBS, NJPW Strong Women’s and CMLL Women’s Champion Willow Nightingale is reportedly sticking around AEW. After first reporting she was in her contract year, Fightful reported Wednesday that Nightingale has signed a multi-year deal to remain with AEW. No terms were disclosed. The 31-year-old is currently in a feud with Marina Shafir as part of the Death Riders storyline. She hasn’t competed frequently in 2025, wrestling eight times total with three of those appearances coming in Japan. Her first AEW appearance came in a Dark match in April 2021 during the pandemic era. She officially signed with the company in October 2022, announced by Tony Khan after a victory on Rampage. Nightingale held the TBS title for 35 days in 2024, defeating Julia Hart for the gold at April’s Dynasty before losing it to Mercedes Mone at May’s Double or Nothing. That was preceded by a 45-day NJPW Strong Women’s title run in 2023 and followed by a 62-day CMLL Women’s title run in 2024. During her AEW tenure, Nighting

This article first appeared on F4WOnline.com and was syndicated with permission.

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Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal
NHL

Oilers to Acquire a Top-Tier Goalie. An Official Trade Offer Is on the Table in a Blockbuster Deal

The Boston Bruins have been under pressure to retool after a disappointing season, and now a potential blockbuster move could shake the entire NHL. A major trade proposal has surfaced that could send a star goaltender to the Edmonton Oilers, a move that would give them the elite presence they've lacked in net while forcing Boston closer to a rebuild. The deal being floated by multiple outlets would send Edmonton's current starter, Stuart Skinner, along with Matthew Savoie, Beau Akey, and a 2028 first-round pick to Boston, while the Oilers land a goaltender capable of changing their Cup window overnight. Edmonton's push for a franchise goalie could reshape the Western Conference and challenge the Dallas Stars' path to the Cup If this trade goes through, the Oilers would instantly address one of their biggest weaknesses, setting up a showdown with teams like the Dallas Stars, who already see Edmonton as one of their toughest rivals. Boston, on the other hand, would fully commit to a rebuild, pairing Joonas Korpisalo with Skinner in what could be one of the NHL's weakest tandems, likely boosting their draft lottery odds in one of the most hyped draft classes in recent memory (NHL.com). An insider noted, "They weren't the only ones who had inquired about Swayman, but yes, I was told they poked around." That comment shows just how wide the interest is for this level of goalie talent (Heavy.com). I think this kind of trade would completely shift the balance of power in the West, making Edmonton even more dangerous for teams like Dallas, who could end up facing a vastly upgraded Oilers team in the playoffs. If Boston truly embraces a rebuild, moving their top goaltender could be the first domino in a massive roster overhaul, something that could shake the market for weeks.

Vikings Training Camp Notes: J.J. McCarthy has solid day, while Jonathan Greenard and UDFAs steal the show
NFL

Vikings Training Camp Notes: J.J. McCarthy has solid day, while Jonathan Greenard and UDFAs steal the show

The Minnesota Vikings are firmly entrenched in training camp right now, and Monday’s practice was the first where they put on the pads. How will players like J.J. McCarthy look now that it’s full physicality? Who stands out? What positions are the most competitive? Let’s break it down. Punt return battle The Vikings are going to have a lot of competition for the punt return job. I saw the following players field punts WR Myles Price WR Rondale Moore WR Tai Felton WR Silas Bolden WR Dontae Fleming Winning this job could be the deciding factor on one or two of these players making the 53-man roster. Dwight McGlothern season? One of the biggest question marks for this team comes at the cornerback position. After Byron Murphy Jr, many questions persist. Who is going to step up in a big way to make an impact? That player could be Dwight McGlothern. He looks much improved from last year’s training camp, including a fantastic rep where he got an interception on a comeback route covering Rondale Moore by staying insanely patient, and undercutting it. Dontae Fleming shows out When you are a depth wide receiver, there aren’t many opportunities to stand out. When they do come about, you need to jump on them, The Vikings did some one on ones before they transitioned into teams and we got a standout catch from UDFA wide receiver Dontae Fleming out of Tulane in both drills. Both catches were on deep balls, where he showed really nice separation and tracking to get both throws. With him being an option also as a punt returner, having some offensive prowess will only help his case. Max Brosmer makes play in limited reps The fourth quarterback doesn’t get a lot opportunities to throw the football. When you do, it’s best to make it count. While he did throw an interception, his last rep in team drills stands out. The pocket collapsed on him rather quickly, but Brosmer escaped through the pressure and fired a bullet to Myles Price on a deep crosser on the sidelines. It was his throw of the day and a very good one to end on. Jonathan Greenard wrecks the 2 minute drill To end practice, the Vikings did a two minute drill with the fist team and second team. It was an opportunity for McCarthy to wow the crowd. It didn’t happen, mainly due to the rush by Greenard. He was causing consistent havoc across the board. Greenard was doing his thing in getting off the ball extremely quick and forcing fast decisions. From my angle, I couldn’t tell him if he got any sacks, but he certainly forced the issue and at least one bad throw. J.J. McCarthy has solid day Consistency and growth are the keys for me this time of year. What does your process look like and how well do you perform? There wasn’t a lot to be upset about when it comes to McCarthy’s performance, but he only had one play that gave us a “wow” moment, when he hit Lucky Jackson in the cover-2 honey hole with a missile. Hitting that window unlocks a lot out of your offense. Zemaiah Vaughn looks the part The Vikings have a great history recently when it comes to UDFAs. The next one up looks to be the cornerback from Utah in Zemaiah Vaughn. He looks the part as a long, tall cornerback, but he moved incredibly well in and out of his breaks, including attacking at the catch point. He was firmly with the second team today, which puts him a leg up over others,

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice
NFL

Kirk Cousins makes notable leadership move after Falcons practice

Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.

Possible Bengals Free Agent Target Officially Cleared After Devastating Injury
NFL

Possible Bengals Free Agent Target Officially Cleared After Devastating Injury

Free agent guard Will Hernandez was fully cleared for football on Monday. The veteran suffered a torn left ACL in October. Hernandez has been mentioned as a possible free agent target for the Bengals. The 29-year-old is a seven-year veteran that is known for his pass blocking. He posted pass blocking grades of 70 or better in each of the past three seasons according to Pro Football Focus. Hernandez has appeared in 97 games (91 starts) over the past seven years. He spent the past three seasons in Arizona after spending the first four years of his career in New York. Realistic Target? On paper, the Bengals are an obvious match for Hernandez. He's coming off of a serious injury, but would certainly like to start and play for a true contender. The Bengals have questions at both guard spots. They parted ways with Alex Cappa before free agency opened, but opted not to sign a clear-cut starter. They added veteran Lucas Patrick and re-signed Cody Ford instead. Patrick is dealing with a calf injury that he suffered last week. Ford is taking all of the starting reps at right guard. Will the Bengals consider signing Hernandez or another veteran guard? So far, the answer has been "no." Things could change, especially if Patrick is going to miss real time. The injury sounds minor and head coach Zac Taylor said the veteran is "day-to-day." The Announcement Hernandez announced that he's fully cleared for one reason: to let all 32 teams know that he's ready to return to the field. He should have his fair share of suitors. If the Bengals are unsure about their guard room, then adding a proven player like Hernandez would make a ton of sense. Check out his announcement below:

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