MLB Star Liam Hendriks Back On Mound After Cancer Battle ... Emotional Return
Chicago White Sox closer Liam Hendriks made his return to an MLB mound on Monday night -- nearly five months after he was diagnosed with cancer -- and the scene was emotional.
The 34-year-old came into Chicago's game against the Angels in the top of the eighth inning ... and for a full minute, fans at Guaranteed Rate Field gave him a standing ovation. In fact, a stadium-wide "LI-AM" chant broke out, too.
Comeback complete.
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2023 @MLB
Liam Hendriks fires a strike for his first pitch of the 2023 season. 💚 pic.twitter.com/GwTyLXlgUC
Hendriks soaked it all in as Angels catcher Matt Thaiss purposely took his time getting into the batter's box ... and then he fired a perfect strike once play resumed.
While the pitcher didn't go on to have his best outing -- he gave up three hits, a walk, and two earned runs -- he said afterward he was super grateful to be back.
"It was definitely emotional," Hendriks told reporters. "It was humbling going out there and walking out there and seeing the amount of people wearing my shirts and the amount of people having signs or flags or anything like that."
"It was a very humbling and sobering moment for me," he added.
Hendriks was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in January ... and spent the ensuing months undergoing treatment. In April, docs declared him cancer-free -- and for the past few weeks, he's pitched in the minor leagues to gear up for his White Sox return.
An inspiration to all. 💚
— MLB (@MLB) May 30, 2023 @MLB
Liam Hendriks receives a roaring ovation as he heads to the bullpen. pic.twitter.com/Lblcafws3L
While Day One back on the bump resulted in a loss, Hendriks told media members he'd be available once again on Tuesday if Chicago needed him to throw again.
"I felt good," Hendriks said of the return. "I felt strong. I felt comfortable out there."
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Florida Memorial Day Mayhem 9 Beachgoers Shot And Injured ... 4 Minors Struck By Bullets
Memorial Day turned violent at a popular Florida tourist destination ... nine people were shot and injured, including four minors, in Hollywood Beach.
The bullets started flying Monday afternoon when two groups got into a heated argument and decided to settle their differences using guns.
Several videos circulating online caught all the chaos. One clip shows the moment shots were fired, causing people to scatter on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk -- a busy promenade filled with restaurants and shops.
Other footage captured paramedics giving first aid to victims at the scene.
Police said five adults and four minors were treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds -- and one had to undergo surgery. Yet, all nine victims -- ranging in age from 1 to 65 -- were listed in stable condition.
Hollywood Police Department spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said investigators detained one person of interest and were searching for a second possible suspect.
As of right now, no one has been arrested and charged in the shooting.
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Ralph Yarl Shows Up To Brain Injury Fundraiser ... Signs Of Progress After Last Month's Shooting
Ralph Yarl, the Black teen who was shot in the head after walking up to the wrong house last month, was at a charity event for a good cause ... helping others who have ended up in situations similar to his in one of his first outings since the near-death experience.
The 17-year-old Missouri student was at the “Going the Distance for Brain Injury” run-walk event in Kansas City Monday -- the same city where he was shot 2 times -- including in the head -- just over a month before by 84-year-old Andrew Lester.
Ralph's mom, Cleo Nagbe, told local outlet KMBC she's extremely grateful for the outpouring of support she's been receiving for her son. In regards to the event, she says, "Socially it’s still hard for him. So, I’m glad he was able to overcome this. I pray that he will overcome most of his social hurdles after doing this."
You'll recall, Ralph was attempting to pick up his siblings when he mistakenly approached Lester's home, resulting in Lester shooting the teenager twice ... he's since been dealing with a serious brain injury but is luckily alive after the terrifying incident.
Lee Merritt, attorney for the Yarl family, told TMZ the part of Ralph's brain that deals with emotion and stress was damaged, so his doctor didn't give him the green light to return to school due to all the social interactions.
Ralph also got an invite from Ahmaud Arbery's mom, Wanda, to join her at a 5K race earlier this month, but his fam didn't think the time was right to be in a social setting, especially after the school denial.
Looks like Ralph's doing better on that road to recovery -- seemingly well enough to take to the Kansas City event.
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Johnny Depp Postpones Upcoming U.S. Shows w/ Vampires ... Due to Fractured Ankle
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Johnny Depp's American fans are going to have to wait a little longer to see him live, 'cause the guy's got a bum ankle right now ... and it's temporarily put him out of commission.
Sources close to the actor tell TMZ ... Johnny's upcoming U.S. shows with his band, The Hollywood Vampires, are getting postponed on doctor's orders ... as a result of a nagging lower-body injury.
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We're told JD recently tweaked his ankle during his Cannes press run, and he stressed it further while trying to power through some recent music gigs ... when he was doing back-to-back Jeff Beck tribute shows. You'll recall ... he was front and center for those in the U.K.
Now, our sources tell us Depp's ankle is fractured and his medical team has instructed him not to fly for the foreseeable future -- which means the first 3 HV gigs are off the table.
Those initial shows were on the East Coast -- Manchester, NH, Boston and Bethel, NY. We're told Johnny and co. are trying to find a way to reschedule them toward the end of their tour -- which will begin to wrap up around late July ... when they'll be in Europe.
Our source tells us Johnny's disappointed over this, explaining ... "Johnny went from two full days of press appearances in Cannes, straight to London for rehearsals and then played two tribute shows in honor of his dear friend, the late great Jeff Beck."
They add, "His ankle was already bothering him at Cannes, and it got progressively worse, but he wanted to honor his commitments for 'Jeanne du Barry' and for Jeff. He’s devastated to postpone the shows, but his doctor believes flying could make the situation much worse. He plans to rest up so the European dates go off without a hitch." Those will start in June.
As we reported ... Johnny's been taking his health much more seriously amid his comeback -- with a lot of rest and clean eating -- and this move is just further evidence of that.
The last time he was in the U.S. was way back in November -- when he did a concert with Jeff Beck here in L.A. Since then, the guy's mostly been across the pond ... this after his W in his defamation case against Amber Heard.
Funny enough, she's been over in Europe too.
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Hulk Hogan Billy Graham Shaped My Career I Wanted To Be Like Him!!!
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Hulk Hogan will never forget the impact pro wrestling legend Billy Graham had on his life, saying Graham's influence on his career is one of the main reasons he became one of the greatest icons in WWE history!
Hogan reflected on his relationship with Billy after the 79-year-old wrestling legend died last week, recalling how he would take his father to watch Billy's matches ... and was captivated by BG's larger-than-life personality on the microphone and stellar physique.
"I want to be just like him," Hulk used to tell his dad, referring to Graham, as he watched in awe whenever "Superstar" would flex his biceps at events.
Hogan says he modeled his career after Graham, a former WWE Champion, and WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, aka "The American Dream."
"I stole a little bit from each of them," Hogan told Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1).
Hogan said he and Billy became good friends over the years and shared a full circle moment ... telling a story of how Graham came to watch him in the main event at Madison Square Garden after years of watching Billy headline shows.
"We just bonded and just got along great," Hogan said.
One of Hogan's career highlights was when he joined forces with Graham, a moment The Hulkster appreciates all these years later when he reflects on his wrestling legacy.
"When we were in Atlanta working for Ted Turner," Hogan said. "They teamed us up. We looked like brothers. He was in prime shape. I was in prime shape. We had the same balding hairline. It was amazing."
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B2K Singer Raz B Breaks Window, Gets on Hospital Roof ... Brother Voices Concern
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3:42 PM PT -- 5/26 -- Raz B's brother says their family is concerned about his behavior, and they're asking for prayers.
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Ricardo Thornton posted a video on social media addressing Raz B's hopsital incident, saying their mom is working with hospital staff to make sure Raz is safe as he goes for surgery.
Alarming behavior from Raz B -- breaking a window at a hospital and climbing onto the building's roof, forcing police to get involved ... TMZ Hip Hop has learned.
The scary incident went down Thursday in Kansas City, the morning after the B2K singer posted a video on Instagram where he repeatedly said he didn't feel safe.
Raz B claimed to be at a Hilton hotel in Kansas City on Wednesday night, saying he was "fighting to stay alive" and didn't want to "have this surgery here." He also posted the address for a Kansas City hospital.
TMZ obtained video showing Raz on a roof of that same hospital ... as shocked onlookers watched in horror from a window across the way.
Law enforcement tells TMZ ... officers were dispatched to Saint Luke's Hospital at 10:20 AM Thursday after being called by off-duty cops and hospital security.
Police say when they got there they determined he had broken a window in order to climb to the roof.
There was concern Raz might jump off the ledge ... cops say the fire department responded to the scene too and placed mats down below, just in case he did.
Police say a negotiator got involved too, and he ultimately came back through the window peacefully and was treated by medical staff.
Needless to say, folks online are super concerned about Raz B's behavior. It's unclear what his condition is right now ... we've reached out to reps.
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Celine Dion Puts The Brakes On World Tour ... Hobbled By Neurological Disorder
Celine Dion has just nixed her Courage World Tour -- and it's all because of her constant battle with a neurological disorder.
The iconic vocalist made the announcement on Instagram Friday, expressing "tremendous disappointment" she would be unable to continue her sold-out tour. But, she insisted she's "working really hard to build back her strength" while pointing out it's hard to tour even when you're feeling 100 percent.
Celine also apologized to her fans for disappointing them and acknowledged it was unfair to keep postponing shows. This time around Celine canceled performances in France, Belgium, Denmark, Poland and the UK.
She ended with this ... "I want you all to know, I'm not giving up … and I can't wait to see you again!"
As you know, Celine previously postponed concerts after publicly disclosing in December she was suffering from stiff-person syndrome. SPS is a rare neurological disorder that causes stiffness in the torso, arms and legs, and creates emotional distress and muscle spasms.
After Celine broke the bad news, she received some good news from her fans on social media.
One fan wrote: "We love you Celine, take good care of yourself, your health is the most important and precious thing. We are praying for your healing."
Another person added, "We miss you! We keep our faith in your recovery."
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Raquel Leviss FBI Contacted for Death Threats Nasty Attacks from Scandoval
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11:47 AM PT -- Bravo is speaking out against the alleged threats being made against Raquel.
A network spokesperson tells TMZ ... "The threats being made on social media are appalling. Bravo strongly condemns this behavior and urges people to stop."
Raquel Leviss and her family are so terrified after a wave of death threats stemming from her affair with Tom Sandoval, they've contacted the country's top law enforcement source for help ... TMZ has learned.
The "Vanderpump Rules" star's rep tells TMZ ... Raquel and her family have been on the receiving end of violent and graphic death threats both online and over the phone that has gotten so bad they've had to contact the FBI.
We're told some of the alleged threats include messages sent to Raquel through social media, saying ... "Tear you limb from limb" and "Un-alive and dump the body."
A source close to Raquel tells TMZ ... it's understandable why people hate her for the Scandoval, but to elevate that hate to the point of threatening Raquel and her family takes things too far and is disturbing.
A spokesperson for the FBI tells TMZ ... "FBI neither confirms nor denies investigations. Obviously, we review all allegations reported to us and encourage anyone who believes their life is in imminent danger to call 911."
As we reported, Raquel's getting mental health treatment in the wake of the cheating scandal, and we haven't seen her out in public in weeks ... so she's clearly in a bad spot, and the alleged threats aren't helping.
As we reported ... Tom and Raquel were raked over the coals during part one of the "VPR" reunion, with some of their fellow costars threatening Tom with violence.
But death threats are on a whole other level.
Originally Published -- 1:00 AM PT
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Mama June's Daughter Chickadee Celebrates Kid's Graduation Amid Cancer Battle ... 'I'm One Proud Mama'
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Mama June's daughter Anna "Chickadee" Cardwell is still in the middle of her cancer treatments, but she just got a reason to smile -- her daughter's elementary school graduation.
Anna posted a series of photos from the special moment and sang the praises of her 11-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn. Anna took pics with both of her kiddos and her boyfriend, Eldridge Toney, during the special occasion.
She wrote, "I am one proud mama right now and I also can’t believe I am going to have a middle schooler and a second grader give me a minute while I go cry my eyes out. I am so proud of my girls and everything they have accomplished.”
Anna was wearing a light-pink scarf on her head -- remember we broke the story, she was losing her hair due to her treatments to combat stage 4 cancer.
It goes without saying ... it's been a tough several months for Anna, but she has been keeping a positive outlook ever since she was diagnosed with adrenal carcinoma at the top of the year.
In the words of Mama June, they are all just taking it day by day.
Nice to see one of those days filled with celebration. Congrats to the little graduate!
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Tina Turner Regretted Not Taking Care of Kidneys ... Two Months Before Death
Tina Turner regretted not taking better care of her kidneys ... admitting two months before her death that her approach put her in "great danger."
The legendary singer opened up about her struggles with hypertension, high blood pressure, and kidney issues in a March 9 post on her Instagram page, talking about her health struggles for International World Kidney Day.
At the time, Tina admitted ... "My kidneys are victims of my not realizing that my high blood pressure should have been treated with conventional medicine. I have put myself in great danger by refusing to face the reality that I need daily, lifelong therapy with medication. For far too long I believed that my body was an untouchable and indestructible bastion."
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Tina died Wednesday, 11 weeks after she talked about her kidney issues. The cause of death is unclear but she was reportedly battling a "long illness."
In addition to her IG post for International World Kidney Day, Tina also shared more about her health issues in a blog post for Show Your Kidneys Love.
There, Tina revealed she was diagnosed with hypertension way back in 1978 ... though she says she "didn't care much about it" and "didn't really try to control it."
She said she found out her kidneys had lost 35% of their function after her 2009 stroke.
Tina said she had to start dialysis to survive and admitted it was "depressing to be connected to a machine for hours." She said she was lucky to get a kidney transplant in 2017 from her second husband, Erwin Bach.
After her kidney transplant, Tina said her body tried to reject the organ and she was often hospitalized as a result. She said she would often feel nauseous and dizzy and had problems with her memory. She also said she was scared.
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Tom Sandoval & Ariana Madix Late Friend Ali Found Collapsed in Parents' House
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Tom Sandoval and Ariana Madix's late friend, Ali Rafiq, collapsed in his parents' house before he was eventually found dead ... TMZ has learned.
Ali's sister, Rabia Rafiq, tells us her mother found Ali on the floor of their St. Louis home Friday afternoon, and she says it appears he had fallen and hit his head on a table.
We're told Ali was found dead on the floor around 4 PM Friday ... about 3 hours after they believe he passed. He had called his father from the house about 4 hours earlier.
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Ali's sister says her brother had no known illnesses, other than asthma ... and the family didn't believe that was ever a serious issue for him. We're told there were no signs of foul play, and no indicators as to why he collapsed.
Ali was a big foodie who loved to post pictures of his meals, but his sister says he was not overweight or unhealthy.
The Rafiqs are Muslim and Ali's sister says their religion calls for bodies to be buried ASAP ... so the family buried Ali on Saturday, right after his body was released to the family.
Because Ali died Friday and was buried the next day, we're told Tom did not have a chance to fly out to St. Louis in time for the burial. We're told Tom got to his hometown Sunday and has been spending time with Ali's parents, and visiting the gravesite to say goodbye to his friend.
Ali's sister says Tom's parents attended Saturday's funeral and FaceTimed with Tom so he could feel like he was there ... and Ariana sent flowers.
As we reported ... Ariana looked somber Saturday when she got back into town from her trip to NYC, paying tribute to Ali with a social media post. Tom also shared a remembrance post.
Ali's sister says his death certificate cites "organ failure" as the cause of death, but the family is waiting for toxicology reports to learn what really happened.
We're told Ali's friends are planning a celebration of life in St. Louis, and possibly another memorial in Los Angeles.
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Damar Hamlin Puts In Work At Bills Practice ... Looks Sharp!!!
Damar Hamlin is continuing to make steps in his road to returning to NFL action -- on Tuesday, the defensive back got in some work at Bills practice ... and he looked GOOD!!!
Just over four months after he went into cardiac arrest on the field during a "Monday Night Football" game ... Hamlin was out at Buffalo's organized team activities -- and while he didn't fully participate in the practice, he still showed off some athleticism at the workout nonetheless.
Damar Hamlin was present at #Bills OTAs wearing a jersey, without pads. He did participate in stretches, agility and conditioning work, along with individual drills. @Batavia_Daily pic.twitter.com/3DqNkoErFU
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) May 23, 2023 @alexbrasky
According to reporters on the scene, Hamlin did some calisthenics with his teammates, got in some agility work ... and even hit some drills with his fellow DBs.
Video from the sidelines shows the guy doesn't appear to have lost a step at all since his Jan. 2 medical episode ... he caught the ball with ease and flashed some big-time burst.
Damar Hamlin didn’t do a lot at Bills OTA but he did A LOT at the same time: pic.twitter.com/J1eBh8Piem
— Josh Reed (@4JoshReed) May 23, 2023 @4JoshReed
Following the practice, Bills head coach Sean McDermott insisted Hamlin didn't do a whole lot on the field ... telling reporters they're taking things very slowly with the 25-year-old.
"We're taking it one day at a time and just support Damar in every way possible," McDermott said.
For now, there's no public timetable for an official return to practices -- or games, for that matter -- for the Bills safety ... though docs have cleared him to play, and it seems like only a matter of time before he's got a helmet and shoulder pads strapped on.
That's a sight we're sure everyone -- not just Bills fans -- will be very happy to see once again.
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Foster Moreau Practices For 1st Time Since Cancer Diagnosis ... Catches Passes From Carr
Foster Moreau is back doing what he loves ... the Saints tight end took the field for New Orleans offseason workouts on Tuesday -- the first time he's been able to practice since his March cancer diagnosis.
The 26-year-old participated in Day 1 of the Saints' organized team activities ... and he looked like he hasn't lost a step whatsoever.
A good look at Foster Moreau out at OTAs today #Saints pic.twitter.com/qfStnq1Zln
— Jeff Nowak (@Jeff_Nowak) May 23, 2023 @Jeff_Nowak
The former Raider caught balls, ran crisp routes ... and got in some blocking work too.
Of course, he spent a lot of the afternoon snagging passes from new Saints quarterback Derek Carr ... and the former Las Vegas teammates sure appeared to have some great chemistry.
FIRST LOOK 🧐
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) May 23, 2023 @FletcherWDSU
Derek Carr, Foster Moreau and Jamaal Williams in Black & Gold#Saints OTAs day 1 in the books
🎥= @wdsu pic.twitter.com/ebxRATL0qt
Saints head coach Dennis Allen spoke with reporters following the workout about Foster -- who signed a three-year, $12 million deal with New Orleans earlier this month -- and he praised the tight end, saying the guy "looks good physically."
The whole scene is pretty incredible ... considering in early March, doctors discovered Moreau had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the body's immune system.
Moreau, though, has been fighting it valiantly ... and, clearly, he's on his way to making an impact for his new team right away.
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Stefan Wilson Suffers Broken Vertebrae ... In Indy 500 Practice Crash
9:23 AM PT -- 5/23 -- Stefan Wilson just shared an update from his hospital bed ... saying he's "doing well, all things considered."
He thanked his fans for their support ... and vowed to try to make a full recovery in time for next year's Indy 500.
6:40 AM PT -- 5/23 -- Awful news for Stefan Wilson ... the driver's team revealed he suffered a fracture of the 12th thoracic vertebrae in the crash and will now be forced to miss this weekend's big race.
The team added that Wilson stayed overnight at the hospital "for further tests and observation."
Scary moment at Indianapolis 500 practice on Monday ... Stefan Wilson was taken off the track on a stretcher after his car violently collided with a wall during a wild wreck.
The crash happened just moments ago at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway ... when Katherine Legge got into Wilson's ride in Turn 1.
Accidente durísimo entre Katherine Legge y Stefan Wilson, el primero del mes en el que Wilson se lleva la peor parte, Katherine sale por su propio pie pero al piloto lo evacúan en camilla, el angulo de impacto frontal es lo preocupante #IndyCar #Indy500 pic.twitter.com/5ugPaENaku
— Ulter Motorsports #Indy500 🥛🧱 (@ultermotorsport) May 22, 2023 @ultermotorsport
You can see in video of the accident, Legge struck Wilson with so much force ... both of their cars skidded into a nearby wall -- with Wilson's vehicle seemingly getting the worst of the impact.
Trainers immediately raced to tend to both drivers ... and, eventually, Wilson was strapped to a backboard and loaded into an ambulance.
Stefan Wilson gives the thumbs up. Good to see. pic.twitter.com/3NLrzwxmr5
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthewCFB) May 22, 2023 @MrMatthewCFB
Thankfully, Wilson was able to give a thumbs up just before he was transported to a nearby hospital ... and, according to IndyCar medical director Dr. Julia Vaizer, he's now "doing well" and is "in good spirits."
Legge, meanwhile, was evaluated by medics following the crash -- but has since been cleared to drive again.
Graham Rahal & much of the @RLLracing team at the RLL garages surveying the major damage to Katherine Leg he’s No. 44 chassis damaged in her practice crash with Stefan Wilson. pic.twitter.com/xPLCL0yYdq
— Nathan Brown (@By_NathanBrown) May 22, 2023 @By_NathanBrown
The scene couldn't have been scarier for the 33-year-old Wilson and his family ... as Wilson's older brother, Justin, tragically died in an on-track accident back in 2015.
It's unclear if Stefan or Legge will now be able to race in the 107th iteration of the Indy 500 on Sunday.
Originally Published -- 5/22 2:08 PM PT
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WWE Legend Goldberg Suffers Bloody Head Wound ... In Tractor Accident
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No, Goldberg didn't get into a WWE hardcore match on Tuesday ... but he certainly looked like he did -- suffering a gnarly head wound while out on his farm in Texas.
A rep for the wrestling legend tells TMZ Sports ... Goldberg was getting work done on his property, when he accidentally knocked his noggin on his tractor -- opening up a big gash near his forehead.
In photos of the injury that the 56-year-old shared on his social media page ... you can see the cut was so bad, it poured blood everywhere.
Fortunately, Goldberg told us it was nothing serious ... explaining it was all "just a flesh wound."
In fact, in true Goldberg fashion, he said he's simply super gluing the thing shut!!!
"I will stop at nothing to get that @WWE #UniversalChampionship!" - @Goldberg #RAW #RoyalRumble pic.twitter.com/Bd1YDn8bBp
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) January 24, 2017 @WWEUniverse
Of course, bleeding profusely isn't anything new for the WWE Hall of Famer ... he's found himself leaking in the squared circle more often than not over the years.
Tough dude!!!
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Kyle Richards This is Not Ozempic Face or Bod!!! I'm Too Afraid to Take It
Kyle Richards is setting the record straight about how she obtained her toned body ... saying she's never used the diabetes drug Ozempic, instead, she's putting the work in herself.
The "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star says she's never even tried the drug, when it comes to her astounding weight loss results ... claiming, she couldn't bring herself to do it if she wanted.
She told Page 6, “I’m not on any weight loss drug. If you know me, you know I have terrible anxiety so that would scare me to death. I have never, ever ever taken it.”
ICYMI, Kyle has been posting away and showing off her toned body on social media the last few months ... prompting fans to speculate she might have taken the drug, to achieve her slim body -- just as some other celebs and 'Bravo' stars have admitted to doing.
On the other hand, Kyle has voiced her frustration with these rumors, maintaining she's done it all herself by changing her lifestyle and habits ... and now we have a better idea of how she got started.
Kyle says her new bod is homemade, thanks to grueling workouts with her personal trainer Cory Gregory, whom she met through singer Morgan Wade.
BTW, some of the dietary changes include cutting out alcohol, sugar, pizza and carbs.
The use of Ozempic for weight loss has become widely popular across the U.S. and has even caused shortages of the drug for those who have Type 2 diabetes ... despite some experts warning against it.
But, for Kyle, the bottom line is ... she's not on that trend!