Opinion

It may have been a month ago that the WWE Universe was forced to sit through a two-night event full of filler, but the company is ready to run it back with several marquee rematches at WrestleMania Backlash 2022.

With four of the six bouts on the card being rematches from April's marquee event, not only are some of the outcomes painfully obvious, but the matchups themselves aren't getting fans excited since they just took place a month ago.

The WWE Universe is mad enough at the fact the company is recycling the same storylines and matches without much additional build, but here are the results from Sunday's premium live event that will undoubtedly anger fans.

Roman Reigns Won't Take a Loss

Whether you like Roman Reigns or not, there is no doubt that WWE programming has grown stale with the Tribal Chief as champion. With a storyline that hardly ever evolves and segments that are redundant and often pointless, the WWE Universe is over Reigns as champion.

Not only is the 36-year-old not defending his championship at WrestleMania Backlash, but he will also use his cousins to take the pinfall loss to avoid looking weak for a moment. Even as a heel, the Tribal Chief is still booked like John Cena.

In addition to WWE falsely advertising a tag team unification match, the subsequent six-man tag team bout scheduled to replace it has nothing on the line, rendering it almost completely meaningless unless WWE Creative actually furthers storylines.

The problem for WrestleMania Backlash and wrestling fans is that WWE is only worried about protecting their champion at all costs, even if it means hurting the other performers involved. Instead of building Drew McIntyre as a legitimate threat, Reigns will take minimal damage, and this bout will mean nothing in the long-term scope of the program.

Fans will be even angrier when Reigns is protected again.

Charlotte Flair Quits

It's hard for the WWE Universe to get invested in the rematch between Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey for the SmackDown Women's Championship for several reasons, including the extreme predictability of the outcome.

There is no way Rousey would say "I Quit," thus making the outcome very obvious.

While polarizing among wrestling fans, Flair is one of the greatest women's wrestlers in history already and has brought relevance to the blue brand's title. Rousey also receives a mixed reaction from the WWE Universe, making it hard for people to get excited about the storyline, characters or matchup.

There is little doubt that the two talented performers will put on a match worthy of the main event spot, but when Flair finally screams "I Quit" and Rousey wins the SmackDown women's title, the WWE Universe will be furious.

Madcap Moss Earns a Dub

The reality of the match between Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss is that the WWE Universe will be unsatisfied by the outcome regardless of who comes out on top. With Moss needing a victory more for credibility, he will be the winner, drawing the ire of wrestling fans.

Moss is actually a talented performer who was able to hone his craft and show a glimpse of his talents while working in NXT. With WWE Creative on his side, a win over Corbin will be a major achievement for the 32-year-old.

The problem for Moss is the combination of a lack of support from the WWE Universe because of porous previous booking and wrestling attire that is some of the worst imaginable. Even if he wins Sunday, the Superstar may lose overall if the fans won't accept him.

How the fans respond to him at WrestleMania Backlash will tell the story.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).

Bettors, adjust your Offensive Rookie of the Year expectations accordingly. Wide receiver Chris Olave landed in a spot where he can immediately shine as one of the focal points in an offense.

In the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints traded up for Olave, moving from No. 16 to the Washington Commanders' slot at No. 11.  

This offseason, wide receivers stole the spotlight as teams traded star players such as Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill and A.J. Brown. All three big-name pass-catchers signed lucrative deals with their new teams. In need of offensive playmakers, the Saints made a move for a wide receiver high on their draft board.

As The Athletic's Katherine Terrell points out, Olave will likely see plenty of targets right away.

"The Saints are going to expect Olave to play early and often," Terrell wrote. "They feel like they are a team that can contend for the playoffs again this year if they can stay healthy, and the wide receiver cupboard was bare enough that he can get his share of catches right away."

For the 2021 season, running back Alvin Kamara led the Saints in catches with 47, and wide receiver Marquez Callaway had a team-leading 698 receiving yards. 

Obviously, the Saints desperately needed pass-catchers, so Olave will fill a huge void on offense. Fortunately for the team, he has the skill set to fill that need and produce gaudy numbers.

As a sophomore at Ohio State, Olave became a consistent contributor and big-play receiver who led the program's offense in receiving yards (849) and touchdown receptions (12) for the 2019 term. He topped the Buckeyes' pass-catching group in both receiving categories and in catches (50) for the 2020 campaign.

In 2021, Olave had to share targets with fellow first-rounder Garrett Wilson, whom the New York Jets selected at No. 10, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who's a potential top-10 pick in next year's draft. Yet, he made the most of his opportunities in the passing game, registering a personal high in touchdown receptions (13) through a single collegiate term.

Averaging 15.4 receiving yards per outing in his college career, Olave knew how to beat defenders downfield, and despite his thin frame (6'0", 187 lbs), he frequently found the end zone. Pro Football Focus tracked his big-play receiving numbers on 20-plus-yard receptions since his sophomore season: 

Pro Football Focus also noted Olave's success against one-on-one coverage, which tops all collegiate receivers in scoring production since 2019:

How does Olave do it? 

Bleacher Report NFL scout Nate Tice highlighted the wideout's ability to separate with precise routes, an understanding of how to break down coverages and a physical part of his game.

"Olave is a great route-runner with polish. He shows an understanding of not only the routes he runs, but the concept that the offense is running and will tempo his routes accordingly.

"Olave plays with balance and body control, which allows him to battle through contact and also attack defenders vertically before running by them or uncovering on a route. His understanding of space is on display when he's asked to run more 'advanced' routes and also during scramble drills, where he has to find unoccupied areas of the field."

Olave's traits and qualities should translate at the pro level. As he transitions from a loaded wide receiver corps at Ohio State to a depleted group in New Orleans, the talented wideout should see a spike in his receiving volume. 

Even with Olave's skill set, someone has to deliver well-placed targets and deep balls to elevate his numbers. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, the 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year, had Joe Burrow under center. The Saints hope to welcome back big-arm quarterback Jameis Winston after he tore his ACL in Week 8 of the 2021 season.

On The Rich Eisen Show, head coach Dennis Allen spoke about Winston's recovery (h/t NFL.com's Grant Gordon).

"Well, certainly that's certainly the plan," Allen said about Winston's status for the season opener. "There's a lot of days between now and Week 1, but we certainly like where he's at right now. We like the progress that he's making."

In his first year as a starter for the Saints, Winston threw for 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns and three interceptions through seven outings. He didn't throw for more than 280 yards in any of the games, but the eighth-year veteran had four- and five-touchdown performances despite a limited pass-catching group without wideout Michael Thomas, who missed the entire 2021 campaign because of ankle surgery and then a setback while on the mend.

With Olave in the fold, Winston should be able to push the ball downfield a lot more in the upcoming season. Though former Saints head coach and lead play-caller Sean Payton retired, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will take over full-time play-calling responsibilities, which maintains a bit of continuity on offense. He's called plays for full games in the past.

In 2006, Payton added Carmichael to his Saints coaching staff. The latter served as a quarterbacks coach and a passing game coordinator before he became the offensive coordinator in 2009. With 16 years under Payton, Carmichael could carry over some concepts and designs that worked for Winston last year.

If Winston plays comfortably in the offense, we could see him perform at a level closer to his 2019 form when he threw for a league-leading 5,109 yards. In that year, the signal-caller had two receivers (Mike Evans and Chris Godwin) with at least 1,157 yards and eight touchdowns. Of course, the Saints would want Winston's 33 touchdown passes but not the 30 interceptions that came with all of that passing production.

Winston finished a shortened 2021 campaign with a 1.9 percent interception rate—his lowest frequency as a primary starter. With better decisions in the pocket, he could have a bounce-back year with Olave as the top beneficiary.

At this point, Allen seems optimistic about Thomas' return for Week 1, but on Eisen's show, he also said (via Terrell) that the wide receiver has a few "hurdles"—as any injured player does—while on the mend. 

Thomas has already gone through complications in a lengthy recovery process, though. The former suffered a setback in an effort to return last year, and he hasn't played a down since January of 2021 in the playoffs.

Even if Thomas suits up for Week 1, he may have to knock off some rust because of a long stretch on the sideline. The two-time All-Pro isn't familiar with Winston as the leader in the huddle during live action. The veteran quarterback could develop an immediate rapport with Olave, who's healthy and ready to play.

Moreover, the Saints may have to lean on the passing game without Kamara for several games in 2022. He faces a felony charge of battery resulting in substantial bodily harm and a gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to commit battery. Kamara has a hearing for the case on Aug. 1. The league could suspend him for violating the conduct policy.

If Kamara cannot play for a notable stretch, don't expect the Saints to hand the ball off to 32-year-old Mark Ingram II 20-plus times. Fellow backup running back Tony Jones Jr. only averaged 2.6 yards per carry last year.

Without Kamara, Winston would likely take on a bigger responsibility in moving the ball through the air, which potentially creates more opportunities for Olave.

Because of the uncertainty around Kamara and Thomas, Olave has a good chance to take home Offensive Rookie of the Year. Even if Winston has to miss a few games while on the mend, the Saints have an experienced backup quarterback in Andy Dalton, who doesn't threaten defenses over the top but throws a fairly accurate ball. He completed at least 63.1 percent of his passes as a fill-in starter for each of the past two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.

This year's top quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis, all have to beat out veteran signal-callers to see the field. The Jets picked Breece Hall, the top running back, in the second round, and he'll split carries with Michael Carter. 

With the Atlanta Falcons, fellow first-round wideout London Drake has a quarterback in Marcus Mariota, who hasn't started in a game since 2019. In New York, Wilson would need quarterback Zach Wilson to make a significant second-year leap after he threw for just nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2021. Treylon Burks could be the Tennessee Titans' No. 1 wide receiver, but the club employs a run-heavy offense with Derrick Henry.

As at least the No. 2 wide receiver on the Saints' depth chart, Olave's case for Offensive Rookie of the Year looks more appealing because of his potential for early opportunities and a bigger workload.  

College statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.

Charles Oliveira's work was done in 202 seconds.

After he choked out Justin Gaethje—in front of the poor guy's hometown fans, no less—Oliveira swaggered up to Joe Rogan and the post-fight microphone and for one instant peered into the camera as if someone might be hiding inside it.

And through an interpreter, he made one simple, accurate observation:

"There's something missing here."

As shocked and irked as they were, the Phoenix faithful gathered for the main event of Saturday's UFC 274 knew exactly what he meant.

"The champion has a name," the interpreter continued, as if anyone needed the enlightenment. "And it's Charles Oliveira. … This is a message to the entire division."

After handing Gaethje (23-4) just the second submission loss of his career, Oliveira (33-8-1) further established himself as the best fighter in the UFC's best division and beyond. It was a drama-filled week for Oliveira and his fans, a week that saw him become the first fighter ever to lose a belt to the weigh-in scale. Winning, and winning in this fashion, put that drama and the division he still owns into new contexts.

In case you missed it, Oliveira was the lightweight champion until he missed weight Friday, clocking in at 155.5 pounds, or half a pound above the limit for title fights.

Oliveira took one hour and tried again, but again he weighed 155.5 pounds. As a result, he was essentially stripped of the title, with the belt formally considered vacant as of the start of the fight. He also forfeited part of his fight purse to Gaethje. Although Gaethje could become champ with a win, Oliveira would not be eligible to take back the title even in victory.

We can argue over the severity of those sanctions or the importance of half a pound until we're blue in the face, but at the end of the day, all the fighters know the rules (or should). A toe on the line is a toe on the line. The boundaries are there, literal and otherwise. That's sports.

With the MMA world in shock, the UFC threw Oliveira a lifeline, issuing a statement reading in part that "if Oliveira wins, he will be the No. 1 contender for the vacant lightweight championship and will fight the next challenger for the undisputed title belt at a time and place to be determined."

Oliveira didn't seem to need any more motivation once the door closed and the bout began. He certainly didn't appear to show any ill effects from the weight cut.

As one might expect, this was an action fight from the jump and all the way through its short shelf life. With the crowd behind him, Gaethje came out with his left hook loaded and ready. They both connected early—Oliveira with a stiff right hand and Gaethje with leg kicks. Gaethje found a home for the hook, and Oliveira briefly went down. Then it happened again, but Oliveira got up and responded with volume. It was quickly clear that the fight might hinge on sheer, unadulterated durability.

Shots were traded, chins were tested, but it was Oliveira pushing the pace. His output was higher; while both men hit on an identical 63 percent of their significant strikes, per UFC stats, Oliveira landed 30 to Gaethje's 21.

At about the 2:15 mark, an Oliveira right hand dumped Gaethje on the mat. That's not something you see every day. Oliveira pounced and went for the choke but couldn't quite wrap his arm under the neck. With Oliveira constricting, Gaethje somehow spun out, but in the ensuing moments he quickly and unwittingly gave up his back. Oliveira didn't miss a second time.

The choke was deep but still took a while, as Gaethje is as tough as they come. But with his consciousness waning, the tap came. The official result was a rear-naked choke submission at 3:22 of Round 1.

Want to know how good Oliveira is? Gaethje, a college wrestler with 73 percent takedown defense, had not a prayer on the ground. He was in deep water the moment Oliveira descended; you could see it written on his face.

The standup phase seemed like the right wheelhouse for Gaethje in this one. It wasn't, at least not enough, with Oliveira weathering his bombs and responding with stinging accuracy. For Charlie Olives, as the internet loves to call him, this was surely about redemption, but so too was it just another sunny day in the sandbox. A guy lucky enough to be a natural at what he loves to do.

But forget all that claptrap. Do you really want to know how good he is? He's now won 11 straight, dating back to January 2018 and Clay Guida. Have a gander at the UFC record books, where he leads all UFC fighters—not active fighters, all fighters—with 19 total finishes and 16 submission wins. No one else has displayed dominance over a UFC career span as long as Oliveira's, which dates back to 2010. (He's tied for ninth with 29 total UFC fights.)

So what's next? It's a good thing for all of us fans, if not Oliveira himself, that he's fighting in what is truly the cream of the crop right now in the UFC. There's something for everyone at 155 pounds.

There is, of course, the lure of the Irishman. Conor McGregor is purportedly eyeing a summer comeback, and a title shot would surely be tempting to him, just as a massive McGregor payday would be to Oliveira. That must be why McGregor was the only fighter Oliveira mentioned by name after the fight.

"I don't care, just put anybody in front of me," he told Rogan through the translator. "I'm not gonna choose. But hey, Conor McGregor, are you coming up, or are you gonna run away?"

It looks like McGregor has found another potential dance partner in Michael Chandler, who re-arranged Tony Ferguson's skull for him earlier in the night with a front kick from Hades. But even if McGregor-Oliveira doesn't happen, there are other choices—better ones, even. If I was Oliveira, I wouldn't have said Islam Makhachev's name either. The Dagestani Russian is the UFC's No. 3 ranked lightweight (and soon to be higher after Gaethje falls down the list) and tearing a hole through the heart of the division.

Oliveira has indicated previously that Makhachev doesn't deserve a shot. Others, i.e., just about everyone else, beg to differ given Makhachev's otherworldly dominance to date. Time will tell. After the fight, Makhachev renewed his push.

While we wait for that to iron itself out, there's one question we don't need to answer, even if said answer is not one you can see or touch. Belt or no belt, Charles Oliveira is indeed the champion, and for one of the best to ever do it in the UFC, there is absolutely nothing missing.