President Donald Trump is on the marketing train for UFC’s White House card, Freedom 250, on June 14, and there are plenty of Republicans chasing tickets for the historic event. Axios published a report that quoted Trump as saying the event was the “hottest ticket I’ve ever seen,” as donors, lobbyists, Congress members, and well-connected fans clamor for tickets. 

The event will see 5,000 VIP seats on the White House South Lawn. Many of those tickets will go to military personnel, leaving just a couple thousand for the aforementioned well-connected. After getting inundated with requests, one source told Axios that they’re sick of being asked about the fight. 

It’s further noted that “Republicans began flooding the White House with inquiries about VIP tickets almost immediately after the event was announced last summer;” “One senator asked to attend with their family;” “A GOP fundraiser close to the White House received dozens of direct messages on social media asking how they could get in;” and “Trump himself has been fielding ticket requests, a person familiar with the event prep said.”

Dana White announced last week that 85,000 tickets will be publicly available for an outdoor viewing experience on the Ellipse just south of the White House grounds. The event will stream on Paramount+ in the US per the usual. 

Organizers are reportedly still determining how the VIP tickets on the South Lawn will be distributed, with a Trump aide quoted as saying, “It’s all very fluid.” Another familiar with planning is said to have warned that “some of those jockeying for seats are likely to come away disappointed.” 

WWE’s Cody Rhodes is still a fan of Travis Scott and is happy that he was involved in his storyline, despite injuring him.

Scott, who was in the storyline involving Rhodes, The Rock, and John Cena, landed a vicious slap on “The American Nightmare” that reportedly busted Rhodes’ eardrum and gave him a black eye. Despite the slap, Rhodes said to Chris Van Vliet on “Insight” that he likes the rapper and is grateful that he gave WWE his time.

“Travis Scott did not hurt me. It looks like he hurt me,” said Rhodes. “I like Travis Scott. I think it’s safe to say at this point I like Travis Scott. I like that he lended us his time and that we had moments with him. I mean, he took a Cross Rhodes. Most people just remember the slap, and I’m going to be on this side of history with it [right side]. I know it wasn’t everyone’s favorite thing. That is not the hardest I’ve ever been slapped. That’s number three.”

Rhodes went on to name two other slaps that he received in his pro wrestling career that were much harder than the one that the rapper landed on him. One unsurprising name from that list was Bob Holly, who was known to take liberties with his peers in the ring, while the other was an unexpected name in Natalya.

“The number one might shock you, but I felt it in both of my heels. I felt it in my feet. I had to plant my feet. It was so hard. Natty Neidhart. Natty Neidhart hit me, it felt like an MLB batter swinging the bat and I walked into it. She leveled me. So, Natty’s one, Hardcore Holly [is] two, Travis Scott, I’d say maybe three,” he added. 

The WWE Champion did not place the blame for his ruptured eardrum and black eye solely on Scott, but also on Cena, Rock, and the singer.

Damian Priest and R-Truth defeated MFT’s JC Mateo and Tama Tonga to win the WWE Tag Team Championship during “WWE SmackDown.”

Priest spent much of the bout under pressure from Mateo and Tonga, using sly tactics to keep him isolated on their side of the ring as well as moments of interference from Tanga Loa and Talla Tonga on the outside. 

Priest eventually managed to tag out to Truth who cinched in an STF on Mateo before taking a chokeslam from Talla while the referee had his back turned. He kicked out of the subsequent pinfall attempt as the Wyatt Sicks emerged to continue their feud with the MFT. In the subsequent skirmish over the lauded “Wyatt Lantern,” Truth managed to get Mateo up on his shoulders for an Attitude Adjustment, securing the winning pinfall and capturing the tag titles alongside Priest. 

Truth is now a three-time Tag Team Champion, having held the title alongside Kofi Kingston and The Miz previously. Priest is also a three-time Champion, with both of his first two reigns coming alongside Finn Balor. 

Tyson Fury is another to have thrown his hat in the ring for a potential fight with estranged UFC star Jon Jones. 

Fury spoke to “SportBible” about his upcoming fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11, why it is he took that fight following back-to-back losses to Olekandr Usyk in 2024, and what he planned to do when his career wrapped up.

He went into his desire, should he beat Makhmudov, to finally make the all-English clash against Anthony Joshua, as well as what he looked at doing once he had hung up the gloves for good. But before retirement, he was asked if he would consider stepping into the cage for MMA. 

“I’ve tried to do it about ten times,” he said. “For one reason or another it hasn’t happened. [It would take] the right amount of money. It always takes cold, hard cash, baby. 

Fury then named Jones, former UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion, as a potential opponent. “Anybody can beat anybody on the day. Nothing’s impossible, is it?” 

Fury is just the latest in a batch of names including Usyk, Francis Ngannou, and Alex Pereira all declaring their interest in fighting “Bones” if and when he returns.

Jones had made it clear heading into the weekend it was announced that he wanted to return from retirement and fight on the White House card in June. He announced he was in negotiations for the event but when the announcement came there was no Jones to be seen. Instead, Pereira and Ciryl Gane were booked as the co-main event for the Interim Heavyweight title. 

Jones had since said he was lowballed in negotiations to return, after Dana White claimed there never had been talks to begin with, and asked for his release if the true belief is that he’s done.