The XFL, a football oddity, played its first -- and last -- championship game 15 years ago

In the world of sports, athletes often dedicate their entire lives to reaching the pinnacle of their profession, but for many, life at the top can be short-lived. Sometimes all a player gets to experience at the highest level is one minute on the court, one trip to the plate, one shot on goal or one checkered flag, but more often than not, that fleeting moment in the spotlight is a story all its own. This is One and Done, a FOX Sports series profiling athletes, their paths to success and the stories behind some of sports' most ephemeral brushes with glory.

When WWE chairman Vince McMahon announced the formation of a pro football league in February 2000, the decision was panned as a gimmick and a questionable concept, at best. And when that league later folded in May 2001 after losing a reported $50 million in its controversial debut season, the news came as little surprise to the many who anticipated its failure.

But for those who competed in the XFL during its first and only year in existence, the experience was unlike any other, and though the league is still something of a punchline even to this day, it was an adventure ex-players like Ron Carpenter won't soon forget...More?

source: foxsports.com

WWE Announces Global Cruiserweight Series Qualifying Match For Revolution Pro Wrestling

WWE announced the following today:

Revolution Pro Wrestling to host WWE Global Cruiserweight Series qualifying match on May 1

The race to earn a spot in this summer's hottest tournament just got a little more exciting, as Revolution Pro Wrestling in the United Kingdom has announced the participants in its qualifying match for the WWE Global Cruiserweight Series. The bout is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 1, at The Cockpit in London.

Previously confirmed participant Noam Dar of Scotland enters the GCS in the qualifying round. The Israeli-Scottish competitor has made a name for himself as one of the most adaptable wrestlers in the world. Among the U.K.'s premier technical wrestlers, the 22-year-old Dar has shown he can hang with the world's best in the squared circle, having taken on the likes of AJ Styles, former NXT Champion Finn Bálor, and Austin Aries.

Dar's opponent in the qualifying match is Josh Bodom. Regarded as one of the hottest prospects in British wrestling, Bodom has made a name for himself against Superstars like Bálor and another GCS competitor, Tommaso Ciampa. He'll certainly look to ruin Dar's summer and put himself on the biggest stage possible by earning a spot in the Global Cruiserweight Series.

The all-important qualifying match takes place at Revolution Pro Wrestling's Live at The Cockpit 8 event on Sunday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m. GMT at The Cockpit in London. For complete information on how you can see this Global Cruiserweight Series qualifier live and in-person, visit RevolutionProWrestling.com. For more information on Revolution Pro Wrestling, follow them on Twitter @RevProUK and like their Facebook page.

WWE Announces Title Change At WWE NXT Live Event

Samoa Joe defeated Finn Balor to become the new WWE NXT Champion at tonight's live event in Lowell, MA. It appeared Balor was injured right before the finish but that could just be an angle.

WWE announced the following:

LOWELL, Mass. — Samoa Joe defeated Finn Bálor to capture the NXT Championship at a Live Event Thursday night in Lowell, Massachusetts, WWE.com has confirmed.

Joe's victory put an end to Bálor's record-breaking reign as NXT Champion. The Demon won the title on July 4, 2015, and held it for 292 days, surpassing the mark set by Neville in 2014.

Now that Samoa Joe has finally snared NXT's top prize, what will the destroyer have in store for anyone who dares to step up and challenge him? How will Finn Bálor handle this setback?

The Latest Regarding The Passing Of Chyna

There are no signs Chyna intended to die, based on what police found inside her apartment -- and she'd been deceased for at least a day TMZ Sports has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us there was no suicide note left in her Redondo Beach, CA home. We're also told it appears the WWE legend had passed away a "day or two" prior to Wednesday evening ... when a friend found her body. The last known contact she had with anyone happened on Sunday evening.

As we first reported, there were no illegal drugs, but officers did find legal prescription bottles. Our sources described the number of bottles as 3 or 4 ... "nothing out of the ordinary." Also, the bottles were not emptied.

We're told several neighbors told investigators they suspected "overdose" as the cause of death since she'd seemed "under the influence" lately.

source: tmz.com

WWE And Connor's Cure Win Awards

WWE was named the winner of three awards at the fifth annual Cynopsis Sports Media Awards: WWE Network for Over-The-Top Content Service, WWE App for Best Mobile App and Connor's Cure for Pro Social Campaign.

For the second consecutive year, WWE Network received the award for best Over-The-Top Content Service, beating MLB.TV, MLS LIVE, UFC and PGA. WWE Network is the fastest-growing digital subscription service that includes all live pay-per-views, original programming and a massive video-on-demand library with more than 5,000 hours.

WWE App won the award for Best Mobile App beating NBC Sports, Bleacher Report and Bellator MMA. Currently, the WWE App has been downloaded more than 27 million times in 220 countries.

Connor's Cure won the award for Pro-Social Campaign beating espnW, Litton Entertainment and Whistle Sports. Connor's Cure started as a fund within the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation to support pediatric brain and spinal cord cancer research, and continues to expand, most recently through a multi-year national partnership with The V Foundation for Cancer Research. To date, Connor's Cure has raised $1 million and assisted more than 100 families around the world.

The Cynopsis Sports Media Awards recognizes the best work in the sports industry from the past year with categories spanning television, radio, digital, and marketing.

Triple H Talks About Chyna Passing Away And A Possible WWE Hall Of Fame Induction

Triple H spoke with The Mirror while on the current UK tour and provided these comments on Joanie "Chyna" Laurer passing away at the age of 45 on Wednesday:

"It is obviously tragic and clearly my well-wishes go out to her friends and family. Brilliance sometimes, and that ability to push barriers and boundaries and be a pioneer, is often connected closely with other things that aren't so positive sometimes, and demons, and unfortunately that is the case.

"Man, [she was] just a great person, an amazing talent, a ground breaking pioneer, that was never afraid to go out on a limb and blaze her own trail through life. She never took, and when you're choosing a path [you can say] 'hey here is a path let's go down that one' or you can blaze your own path and burn it up and create something for others to follow, and that's what she did, and that star shone bright, but unfortunately burned out way too fast."

He also commented on a possible WWE Hall of Fame induction for the former Intercontinental Champion:

"You know it's not my decision, but I definitely think, as I have said before, that what she did in her life certainly warrants it. There was never anybody like her before her, and there will never be anybody like her after. It's certainly warranted and I'm sure at some point when the time is right, hopefully, that could happen."

Someone who wasn't afraid to blaze her own trail & create a path for those who would follow. A pioneer whose star shined bright. #RIPChyna

— Triple H (@TripleH) April 21, 2016

Note On Chyna's Condition Before Her Death

TMZ reported that police are investigating Chyna's death as a possible overdose. Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio today that friends of Chyna's had been discussing a possible intervention recently.

Chyna Passes Away

WWE is saddened to learn of reports that Joanie Laurer, best known for competing in WWE as Chyna, has passed away.

A physically striking and talented performer, Chyna was a true sports-entertainment pioneer. Not only was the Superstar dubbed "The Ninth Wonder of the World" a founding member of the groundbreaking faction D-Generation X, but she also holds the distinction of being the first woman to enter the Royal Rumble Match and the first and only woman to win the Intercontinental Championship.

Upon hearing the sad news, WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon tweeted the following:

I just heard the tragic news that @ChynaJoanLaurer has passed. She was truly a pioneer in our industry, and she will be missed. #RIPChyna

— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) April 21, 2016

WWE extends its condolences to Laurer's family, friends and fans.

Q&A: Inside Nicholls & Veryzer’s plan to ignite a tag team revolution in NXT

Triple H In Newcastle, England

Triple H returned to the ring at tonight's WWE live event in Newcastle, England. He lost to Dean Ambrose in the main event, described by our correspondent as the match of the night. After briefly appearing at the USO Metro-DC Awards Dinner in Washington, DC last night, Triple H flew to Newcastle, England overnight and then wrestled at around 4pm EST today. He will wrestle in Brussels, Paris and Malaga, before returning to the United States this weekend for Monday's RAW in Connecticut.

Viktor Joins The Social Outcasts

It looks like Viktor of The Ascension is replacing Adam Rose on the current WWE European tour. Viktor came out with Curtis Axel at today's WWE live event in Belfast and was wearing a "Social Outcasts" t-shirt. Axel lost to Goldust and the two beat him down after the match until R-Truth made the save.

As noted, Rose and Viktor's partner Konnor have been suspended for 60 days after their second violation of the WWE Wellness Policy. Fellow "Outcasts" Bo Dallas and Heath Slater are working the other part of the tour.

Adam Rose Statement On His WWE Suspension

As noted, Adam Rose was suspended for 60 days for his second violation of the WWE Wellness Policy, along with Konnor. He posted the following on Twitter today:

I was not going to respond to my suspension but I feel I have to. I have two sons that will one day read that news about there daddy and a sister that died from complications related to a life long battle with heroin.

So I feel the absolute need and right to respond and let the truth be known.

I am pretty sure this response will meet nowhere near the publicity that my suspension did and that this response is tantamount to career suicide.
But I feel for my sons my sister and rest of my family... you the Wwe universe have the right to the know the truth over my suspension and what it was for.

I will also quote my Dr in my response as he was as shocked and appalled by this suspension.

I can say right now I did not do anything knowingly wrong and was taking prescribed medication that my Dr and I followed all the correct protocol on.

My actual response and Doctors response will be coming soon. So before you judge, know the facts.

My family and I are still collecting ourselves from this blow. I have zero anger or animosity against the WWE. But feel the administrators over the WWE Welnness policy were just simply not right in taking this action.

But I feel facts are the facts and my family and I will will be the ones putting our lives back together after this mess.

My response will be up soon along with my Doctors.