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WrestleMania returning to MetLife Stadium in 2019
The WWE, the Jets and Giants football team and state officials announced the 35th edition of the wrestling extravaganza will be held on Apr. 7, 2019 at the arena. The weeklong showcase will also feature four events at Barclays Center.
The last time WrestleMania was held at MetLife Stadium was in 2013, and it drew a crowd of 80,000 people. It also marked the first time 16-time WWE world champion John Cena beat Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Giants co-owner John Mara and Jets president Neil Glat attended the news conference. MetLife Stadium is owned by the teams.
Cena and fellow WWE stars Ronda Rousey, Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Nikki Bella, Braun Strowman, Apollo and Titus O’Neil also were on hand.
Sharapova withdraws from Miami Open
Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from the Miami Open that begins next week because of a left forearm injury.
TX Body: Sharapova announced the decision on Friday. She’ll be replaced in the main draw by American Jennifer Brady.
Sharapova lost in the first round at Indian Wells last week and in the third round of the Australian Open in January. She returned to the tour last year after a 15-month doping ban.
The women’s field includes eight-time Key Biscayne champion Serena Williams and No. 1-ranked Simona Halep. The men’s field includes defending champion Roger Federer and six-time Key Biscayne champ Novak Djokovic.
Kovalchuk aiming for NHL return
Former NHL forward Ilya Kovalchuk says he wants to return to the league this summer and play there for “several more years.”
Kovalchuk tells Russian state sports channel Match TV that if he doesn’t try again to win a Stanley Cup, “I won’t forgive myself for it when I get older.”
Kovalchuk, who won the Olympic gold medal last month, says he’s focused on winning the Kontinental Hockey League with SKA St. Petersburg, “but in the summer I’m going to examine offers” from the NHL.
He adds that he wants to match Russian teammate Pavel Datsyuk as a member of the socalled triple gold club of players who have won the Olympic gold medal, world championship, and Stanley Cup.