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NHL Style Rankings: a Wild Ryan Reaves Appears, but No. 1 on the List Is in Boston
Dec 14, 2022
The Sabres' Tage Thompson made the NHL Style Rankings list ... but is he No. 1?
The holiday season is quickly approaching, and the weather outside is starting to match the temperature at ice level. This can only mean one thing: it's overcoat szn in the NHL, baby.
Plenty of players debuted fresh outerwear in the first half of December, so we've got a lot to cover in this latest edition of the style rankings.
But first, take a look at this video of the Biebers at a Leafs game last week:
Aesthetically, you're either the Justin or the Hailey of your relationship. If you own more than two bucket hats, you're the Justin. It's me, I'm also the Justin.
Sadly no NHL players have stepped up to the plate and purchased the Willy Wonka-esque sunglasses Justin was rocking yet.
Until then, here are the 10 best-dressed players in the league from the last two weeks.
Charleston, Massachusetts' GQ Ambassador Matt Grzelcyk finally cracked the Top 10 with this matchy-matchy Thom Browne moment.
It's cute that he and Pastrňák have the same classic suit in different colors. Do we think they called each other and coordinated who would wear it on which day?
It's tempting, but I will not succumb to the pressure of picking Auston Matthews just because I haven't yet. How could I, when Nylander is always right there serving looks of his own?
Love a fancy topcoat, especially in the Toronto cold.
If houndstooth has ten fans, I am one of them. If houndstooth has one fan, it is me. If houndstooth has zero fans, I have died.
Kapanen has a lovely take on the trendy-yet-timeless pattern, here. The beautiful luggage that happens to match is just the icing on the cake he will surely receive for his No. 8 spot on this week's style rankings.
Few shine in the outerwear department quite like Lowry. It takes a special person to not only brave the Winnipeg winter, but to look good doing it. He's killing the coat/pants combination in the first photo, and he's showing us he's still dedicated to the outfits underneath the coats with the cool silver-y pinstripe look in the second.
Give me fuel, give me fire, give me Nino Niederreiter's style rankings debut.
Niederreiter almost always has a fun pair of socks on, and that vibe clearly extended to the rest of his outfit, here. The purple and pink color combination is a good example of how to look put together when going for two bold colors: match the undershirt with the secondary color (usually the tie)!
Miller has once again obliterated the rest of the competition in the texture category. I'm loving thicker material that manages to keep its shape lately, not to mention the green gradient might be one of the best color schemes we've seen from Miller thus far.
Does he deserve better than No. 5 this week? Please let me know in the comments.
Also, the Rangers released an adorable video with Miller detailing some of his "fashion secrets" earlier this week. As you can see, it was basically him looking at some of his best outfits and going, "Yeah, I looked great that day," but as humbly as possible.
Reaves made two equally important debuts in the past month: His Minnesota Wild debut, and his 2022-23 NHL style rankings debut. The man knows how to make an entrance.
Again, we must commend Thompson for his dedication to clothes that fit his 6'6" frame.
And class, what do we always say? That's right, "Look good, play good." You'll recall Thompson scored five goals in less than 15 minutes against Columbus Dec. 7. It was a highlight in what appears to be a breakout season for the Sabres forward on the ice. His outfits lately indicate it might be a breakout season off the ice, too.
I'm especially fond of the first one pictured, that screams "Scoring five goals in one hockey game at 7 pm, performing in a My Chemical Romance cover band at 10 pm."
Folks, it appears that Mr. Double-breasted suit is slowly winning me over.
It might be his sense of humor about the whole thing, which showed up again in his interview with Spittin' Chiclets yesterday.
"You guys talk about fashion, but I'm not that fashionable, I'm not like (Auston) Matthews who does GQ stuff and everything," he said on the podcast. "I just like nice suits. All I care about is making sure I look good when I get to the game -- outside of that I have basic style...I don't sit at the websites and order new essentials. I know all the brands, but it's just like, stupid. I have two kids and a wife, like, come on guys. I'm not going to spend f----- money on some sh---."
That philosophy is smart and efficient, if you ask me. Anyway, I thought the blue leather was different and fun, and he looks fantastic in the plaid while staying true to his jacket preferences.
Goaltender Linus Ullmark is currently leading the NHL in wins, save percentage, and goals against average. His contributions to Boston's historic start cannot be understated.
Big woop.
Today, he's officially No. 1 in the most important metric of all: suit game per 60.
There's just no one out there doing it better day in and day out right now, and we can thank his (and maybe his stylist's?) combination of creativity and class. He nailed three drastically different looks in one week with ease, and that'll get you your first No. 1 spot on the NHL style power rankings.
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Amid Return Rumors, Sasha Banks Sits at Forefront of Huge Shift in Women's Wrestling
Dec 13, 2022
Sasha Banks is making headlines again as fans and insiders speculate about what she will do next.
The Legit Boss hasn't entered the squared circle since May. Nevertheless, the former WWE women's tag team champion has been a trending topic all year, which is a testament to the name she has built inside and outside of the pro wrestling bubble.
Still, the 30-year-old seems primed to take another giant leap forward in 2023.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 26: Mercedes Varnado as Lexus Shines Bright on the Red Carpet for Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Premiere on October 26, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for Lexus USA)
Following her abrupt exit from WWE in May, many fans expected her to eventually return to the company where she made a name for herself.
Instead, though, Banks has appeared at red-carpet events, taken part in stunning photo shoots and filmed her first movie.
That shouldn't be a surprise as she seemed destined to head to Hollywood following her role in The Mandalorian.
However, it quickly became evident that she wasn't done with wrestling just yet. In November, the women's grand slam champion revealed she had been living in Mexico for a month to train at Bandido's Gym.
Finally, a new update stunned the pro wrestling world as Mike Johnson of PWInsider reported that Banks is set to show up at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 on Jan. 4. This lines up with a report from Fightful Select in July, which stated she wouldn't be available for wrestling-related appearances until Jan 1, 2023.
The news raises many questions about her status with WWE and what she plans to do next. Regardless, it's not hard to see that The Blueprint could be at the forefront of the next major shift in women's wrestling.
Wrestle Kingdom will be a historic event. At New Japan's biggest show of the year, the inaugural IWGP women's champion Kairi will defend her title against Tam Nakano.
NJPW is a subsidiary of Bushiroad, which acquired Stardom in 2019. As a result, wrestlers from Stardom have been a part of the event for the last two years. Even more, the blossoming partnership laid the groundwork for potential inroads into the U.S. market.
During NJPW's 2022 Business Strategy Presentation on Thursday, its president Takami Ohbari announced the roster would also compete at NJPW of America shows moving forward. This led to the creation of the company's first women's championship, a mantle to defend in Japan and the U.S.
In October, Kairi and Mayu Iwatani advanced to the finals of a seven-woman tournament to crown the first champion. On Nov. 20, the former WWE star defeated Iwatani to win the prize at the first NJPW x Stardom show. The monumental victory grants her the chance to be the first woman to defend it at the Tokyo Dome on Jan. 4.
The inception of the IWGP Women's Championship is one of many developments that suggest 2023 will be a landmark year for Joshi wrestling. Stardom has grown exponentially under Bushiroad, and the promotion is producing some of its best shows. It feels similar to the beginning of NJPW's rise in popularity in the early 2010s.
To that end, many of its most noteworthy stars are becoming more visible among fandom in the United States. World of Stardom champion Syuri claimed the No. 1 spot on the 2022 PWI Women's 150 list. This achievement makes her the first Japanese star from a promotion outside of the U.S. to appear on the list.
Tokyo Joshi Pro has also made waves this year thanks to Maki Itoh and Miyu Yamashita's appearances with AEW. Additionally, Thunder Rosa and Hikaru Shida competed at Summer Sun Princess in July.
Expect to see more talent exchanges between the two companies next year.
A Fortuitous Opportunity
During her appearance on Steve Austin's The Broken Skull Sessions in February, Banks said she dreamed about wrestling in Japan before she signed with WWE. So, it almost feels too good to be true that she would be a free agent at the perfect time for her to debut in The Land of The Rising Sun.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, her "WWE contract is set to expire at the end of the year, and the last he had heard, the two sides were far apart on money. While a deal with NJPW has not been officially signed, Banks has agreed to terms for multiple dates in 2023 with the promotion."
Having one of Stardom's biggest stars and a recognizable name in Kairi will be beneficial. However, The Boss brings an unparalleled reputation and mainstream buzz that will give the new women's title much more exposure.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 8: Six time WWE Women's Champion Sasha Banks holds up her arms after throwing out the first pitch before the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park on May 8, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
To put this in perspective, she's one of five women who have headlined WrestleMania. She also competed in the most influential women's match of this era with Bayley at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in 2015.
New Japan couldn't ask for a better option to help it build a new legacy around the IWGP Women's Championship.
The Boston native will likely stake her claim to the title ahead of the next Wrestle Kingdom show at Yokohama Arena on Jan 21. Of course, that's just a guess, but you don't bring in a major star like Banks to be a spectator when trying to create a legitimate source of women's wrestling.
The report that Banks will be at Wrestle Kingdom also sparked discussion among fans because it came the day after another story developed. On the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, Britt Baker challenged Saraya to a tag team match at the Kia Forum on Jan. 11.
It seems peculiar that AEW would book the match so far ahead and make it evident there would be a mystery partner. Now that we have reason to believe The Boss is accepting bookings outside of WWE in January, it has to be her, right?
After all, Banks is also important to Saraya's journey back to wrestling. She infamously delivered the kick that reaggravated her neck injury in her last WWE match.
During a recent appearance on The Sessions with Renée Paquette, the English wrestler revealed that her former colleague was the first person she called when she found out she was cleared to wrestle.
Seeing the two team up for the first time since 2017 would be a powerful moment. It would also be a game-changer for AEW. Viewers have regularly criticized the company's use of its women's division, but this could be another necessary shot in the arm.
There has been notable progress since All Out, but a major star such as Banks would be a huge asset. It would be worth it even if she's only interested in a per-appearance deal similar to her agreement with NJPW.
It's still unclear why her negotiations with WWE broke down. Many expected Triple H to remedy the situation by the end of the year. Maybe she's simply planning to check some things off her bucket list and raise her profile in hopes of eventually returning for a bigger payday.
Mercedes Varnado debuted with NXT 10 years ago. In that time, she has accomplished everything there is to do with WWE and then some. She has already cemented herself as one of the greatest women's wrestlers ever.
The Boss has made history time and time again. It could be time for her to bet on herself again and help to advance women's wrestling elsewhere.
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