BY CHRISTA LINCY

Batwara 1947 arrived in theaters during a high-stakes holiday weekend, but it quickly became clear that the film was struggling to find its footing against the Awarapan 2 wave. While the clash was expected to be competitive, the Emraan Hashmi-led sequel dominated the multiplexes from the opening show, leaving little room for Sunny Deol's latest period drama to breathe. For many younger viewers, this was supposed to be a re-introduction to the man who defined patriotic cinema with Gadar, yet the market data shows that the audience preference leaned heavily toward the urban thrill of its competitor. Even with a significant holiday boost on Saturday, the film could not escape the shadow of the weekend's primary blockbuster, resulting in an opening that feels underwhelming when compared to the record-breaking numbers seen elsewhere. The film concluded its opening weekend with an India net collection of ₹26.50 Cr, which highlights the struggle it faced in a crowded market. Even with the star power involved, these domestic net earnings place the movie as the 10th highest-grossing Bollywood opening weekend of 2026. When compared to the massive benchmarks set by Sunny Deol's recent hits like Border 2, it is evident that this release is performing on a significantly smaller scale, failing to draw the same volume of audiences across the country. 1. Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge - ₹290.94 Cr 2. Border 2 - ₹121.00 Cr 3. Awarapan 2 - ₹81.75 Cr 4. Dhamaal 4 - ₹65.00 Cr 5. Welcome To The Jungle (Welcome 3) - ₹60.00 Cr 6. Bhooth Bangla - ₹54.25 Cr 7. Cocktail 2 - ₹47.50 Cr 8. Alpha - ₹34.00 Cr 9. O Romeo - ₹30.15 Cr 10. Batwara 1947 - ₹26.50 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Take a look at the daily net earnings within the Indian market. The trend shows a very distinct spike on Saturday followed by a sharp correction on Sunday. Batwara 1947 - India Net Collection (Opening Weekend)DayNet CollectionDay 1 (Friday)₹ 5.75 CrDay 2 (Saturday)₹ 13.50 CrDay 3 (Sunday)₹ 7.25 CrTotal₹ 26.50 Cr (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The gap between the weekend's two major releases was evident from the very first show. While Awarapan 2 enjoyed a much stronger start in terms of occupancy, Batwara 1947 faced a relatively quiet opening day despite having a similar volume of shows. On Friday, the film ran across 8,721 shows but could only manage an overall occupancy of 15.0 percent. In major circuits like the National Capital Region, it started with 829 shows and an 18.3 percent turnout, while Mumbai saw a modest 12.5 percent occupancy on 644 shows. It was clear that the initial audience preference was leaning toward its competitor, leaving the patriotic drama to rely on the big holiday ahead. The real turning point came on Saturday. While Awarapan 2 was busy adding shows to accommodate its massive demand, Batwara 1947 actually saw its show count dip to 8,071 as screens were realigned. However, the Independence Day holiday acted as a massive catalyst. Despite having fewer shows, the net collection surged by an incredible 134.8 percent to reach ₹13.50 Cr. The overall occupancy more than doubled to 34.0 percent during this peak. This surge was most visible in the National Capital Region, where occupancy jumped to 44.5 percent, and in Ahmedabad, where it rose to nearly 23 percent. This holiday boost was exactly what the film needed to offset its slow start and remain relevant in a very competitive weekend. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The difference in audience pull becomes even more apparent when we look at the tracked footfall data, which measures the actual number of tickets sold without accounting for blocked seats. Batwara 1947 managed to record approximately 1.05 million footfalls across the country over its first three days. While this is a respectable figure in isolation, it was heavily overshadowed by Awarapan 2, which drew in nearly 2.80 million viewers in the same period. This stark contrast in footfalls confirms that despite Sunny Deol's legacy, the current audience preference leaned much more heavily toward the urban thriller, with more than double the number of people choosing it over the period drama. Unfortunately, the momentum did not sustain through the rest of the weekend. On Sunday, the film witnessed a 46.3 percent drop, with collections falling back to ₹7.25 Cr. The show count also declined to 7,239, and the overall occupancy settled at 24.12 percent. Regional data reflected this cooling off, with Mumbai occupancy dropping from 30.0 percent on Saturday to 20.5 percent on Sunday. While the Saturday surge provided a much-needed boost, the steep decline on Sunday indicates that the film might struggle to find a stable footing during the coming weekdays. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) BookMyShow recorded approximately 414,000 tickets sold over the weekend. This included 51,000 tickets from pre-sales, followed by 104,000 on Friday and a peak of 180,000 on Saturday. Sunday saw a significant dip to around 79,000 tickets. National cinema chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis contributed approximately 114,000 tickets to the overall weekend total. Similar to the general trend, these chains saw their highest activity on Independence Day, accounting for over 54,000 tickets on that day alone. While the overall weekend might be considered underwhelming for a project of this scale, it still manages to find a place among Sunny Deol's top career openers. By netting ₹26.50 Cr, it has surpassed the opening weekends of some of his earlier successful ventures. Here is how Batwara 1947 compares to the actor's top five opening weekends: 1. Gadar 2 - ₹ 135.98 crore 2. Border 2 - ₹ 121.00 crore 3. Batwara 1947 - ₹ 26.50 crore 4. Ghayal Once Again - ₹ 23.38 crore 5. Yamla Pagla Deewana - ₹ 22.50 crore

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 17 - With Avengers: Doomsday shaping up to be one of the biggest Marvel Cinematic Universe events yet, Disney+ has officially revealed a list of essential projects that fans should watch before heading into the highly anticipated Avengers movie. The curated lineup brings together several major MCU entries as well as key projects from the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises, highlighting the multiverse connections expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming film. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The official Disney+ guide features 15 movies and television seasons, beginning with X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003). The list then moves through several major MCU milestones, including Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. It also includes both seasons of Loki, which are particularly important to the MCU's multiverse storyline. The remaining recommendations include Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Deadpool & Wolverine, Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The selection makes it clear that Marvel wants viewers to be familiar not only with the Avengers' history but also with the franchise's expanding multiverse and its newly integrated legacy characters. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Interestingly, Disney+'s list includes the original X-Men movies, Deadpool & Wolverine, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This suggests that the legacy Marvel universes will be significantly connected to Avengers: Doomsday, particularly with the return of several X-Men and Fantastic Four characters. Robert Downey Jr.'s transformation from Iron Man to the villainous Doctor Doom is another major storyline that is expected to drive the film. The absence of some other MCU titles, including The Marvels, is also noteworthy. While several projects have explored the multiverse or introduced characters who could potentially connect to Doomsday, Disney+ appears to have deliberately narrowed its recommendation list to the projects it considers most important for understanding the upcoming crossover. With Avengers: Doomsday scheduled to arrive on December 18, 2026, Marvel fans now have an official roadmap for their rewatch. Given the scale of the movie and its expected connections between the MCU, X-Men and Fantastic Four universes, the 15-project lineup could provide the essential groundwork before the Avengers return to the big screen.

BY CHRISTA LINCY

Awarapan 2 has arrived at a time when the audience was craving a solid mix of nostalgia and modern storytelling. The franchise returns after years, and seeing Emraan Hashmi back in this intense avatar seems to have struck the right chord. The opening weekend has not just met the buzz; it has translated into significant numbers that put the film among the top performers of the year. For Hashmi, who defined an entire era of his filmography with successful franchises like Raaz, Murder, and Jannat, this film marks a massive commercial milestone as a solo lead. While the 2007 original film is often cited as one of his most critically acclaimed performances and has enjoyed a long-standing cult status, the overwhelming response to this sequel proves that the character has deep roots . Awarapan 2 has arrived at a time when the audience was craving a solid mix of nostalgia and modern storytelling. For much of the Gen Z audience, this release marks the first time they are witnessing Emraan Hashmi as a leading man in theaters. It is an opportunity for a new generation to understand the significance of an actor who practically ran a parallel Bollywood during the first decade of the 2000s. The film wrapped up its first three days with a worldwide gross collection of ₹110.10 Cr. Out of this, the domestic market contributed ₹98.10 Cr in gross value, while the overseas regions added a steady ₹12.00 Cr to the total. This global performance has helped the movie secure its spot as the third highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2026 so far. On the all-time charts, it now holds the 32nd position for the highest opening weekend collections in Hindi cinema history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The momentum saw a steady spike through the weekend. The film saw a massive jump on its second day, which coincided with the Independence Day holiday, followed by a respectable hold on Sunday. Awarapan 2 - India Net Collection (Opening Weekend)DayNet CollectionDay 1 (Friday)₹ 22.00 CrDay 2 (Saturday)₹ 33.75 CrDay 3 (Sunday)₹ 26.00 CrTotal₹ 81.75 Cr The film began its journey on Friday with 9,033 shows, recording a healthy overall occupancy of 45.0 percent. The initial interest was immediately apparent in major circuits, with the National Capital Region starting at 858 shows and Mumbai at 687 shows. This set a solid foundation, but the real momentum shifted on Saturday. The total show count was increased to 10,496 to meet the rising demand, leading to a massive 53.4 percent growth in net collections. During this peak, overall occupancy climbed to 55.0 percent. Looking at the regional performance, NCR saw its shows rise to 1,051 with occupancy hitting 68.3 percent, while Mumbai show counts increased to 814 with occupancy reaching 54.5 percent. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Moving into Sunday, the film maintained a strong presence even after the significant holiday surge. The show count remained at a solid 9,403, which was notably higher than the opening day volume. While the net collection saw an expected 23 percent drop to settle at ₹26.00 Cr, the overall occupancy held steady at 45.0 percent. In key markets like NCR and Mumbai, the film continued to run with 947 and 751 shows respectively, both figures remaining above Friday levels. This steady trend of high show volume coupled with consistent occupancy across the weekend highlights a strong and widespread acceptance among the audience. Awarapan 2 managed to sell approximately 1.59 million tickets over its opening weekend. This started with a strong 443,000 tickets on Friday, which then peaked at 537,000 tickets on Saturday. By Sunday, the sales remained steady with around 324,000 tickets being booked. This collective volume shows that despite heavy competition from other 2026 hits like Dhurandhar 2 and Chhaava, the film carved out its own significant space in the market. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The contribution from national chains like PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis was equally vital, accounting for roughly 410,000 tickets across the three days. On the opening day, these chains moved about 140,000 tickets. As the word spread and the holiday crowd stepped out on Independence Day, this number spiked to over 150,000 tickets. Even on Sunday, the momentum continued with national chains recording sales of approximately 120,000 tickets. Seeing these figures across the weekend confirms that the film maintained a very healthy presence in the premium multiplex segments throughout its first three days. Even with a 23 percent drop on Sunday after the Saturday peak, the film has comfortably crossed the 80 crore net mark in India. This performance has rewritten the record books for Emraan Hashmi, easily becoming his biggest opener to date. Here is a look at where Awarapan 2 stands compared to the actor's previous top opening weekends: 1. Awarapan 2 - 81.75 crore 2. Baadshaho - 43.3 crore 3. Raaz 3 - 36.1 crore 4. Jannat 2 - 23.47 crore 5. Murder 2 - 22.34 crore

BY SACNILK TEAM

Here is the Telugu movie Hushar Pittalu box office collection which is a Drama Romantic film. This film is directed by Bikshu koyagura and produced by . ## Hushar Pittalu stars , Vasavi Ganeshan, Ansh Thorat, Prani Reddy, Govardhan Reddy, Ramesh Nakirekanti in key roles. ## Hushar Pittalu Review ## Hushar Pittalu Review: What Public Has To Say About This Movie ## Hushar Pittalu Box Office Collection Day Wise | All Language DayIndia Net Collection Day 1 [1st Saturday] ₹ - Cr * may earn Total ₹ - Cr ## India Net Collection ₹ - Cr ## Worldwide Collection ₹ - Cr ## Overseas Collection ₹ - Cr ## India Gross Collection ₹ - Cr ## Hushar Pittalu Budget: ₹ 1 Cr * Approx ## Hushar Pittalu Verdict: Coming Soon ## Hushar Pittalu Screen count ## India: - * expected ## Overseas: - * expected ## Worldwide total: - ## Release Date: 15th August 2026 ## For more and the latest news about Tollywood Box Office Collection, Stay tuned to us.

BY JITU JANGIR

Kevin Nash once challenged The Ultimate Warrior to a $100,000 MMA-style fight after the two exchanged shots on Twitter. Years later, Nash revealed what happened when they finally met face-to-face. The former WWE Champion looked back on his unusual feud with Warrior during a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, recalling how a simple Twitter exchange turned into a challenge for a three-round fight. The incident began in 2012 after a fan asked Warrior why he didn't dye his hair. Warrior responded with a comment about not being someone who tried to steal the spotlight from younger talent. Nash took the comment personally and fired back. "I thought we got on well," Nash wrote before challenging Warrior to put up $100,000 for a three-round fight under MMA rules, with the winner taking everything. Looking back, Nash admitted he knew the challenge would get a reaction. "I knew it would strike a nerve because I knew he was deathly afraid of me," Nash said. Nash also claimed he spent only about 30 seconds writing his response, while Warrior took considerably longer to respond. "It took me, I don't know, maybe 30 seconds to type that," Nash recalled. "He spent three days to put together a seven-minute tirade that had about 45 edits." Nash said he never seriously expected the fight to happen. In fact, he believed the two could have turned the situation into a profitable spectacle if Warrior had played along. "I just said, 'Jesus, dude, it was a work,'" Nash said. "If he was smart we could have done the Jake Paul before Jake Paul was even Jake Paul." When asked what he would have done if Warrior had actually accepted the challenge, Nash didn't hesitate."Beat his bottom up," he said. Despite their public argument, Nash and Warrior eventually made peace. The two crossed paths backstage at the 2014 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, where Scott Hall was inducted. Warrior was also being presented with his Hall of Fame induction by Vince McMahon. Nash recalled seeing Warrior and deciding to put the old feud aside. "I went up and I hugged him," Nash said. Nash remembered Warrior being visibly soaked with sweat despite the room being extremely cold. The moment took on greater significance because Warrior died only a few days later at the age of 54. Looking back now, Nash's story about Warrior is less about their old Twitter argument and more about how quickly things can change. The veteran wrestler also spoke about losing many of the people he came up with, including Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan. "When you go to the dog park... you get to a point and you say to yourself, well, the average age is kind of 76. So, I got 10 years. Which means I got 520 weekends left," Nash said. "That's not a lot of weekends."

BY JITU JANGIR

WWE Monday Night Raw returns this week on August 17, 2026, live from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The show streams live on Netflix in the United States starting at 8:00 PM ET, continuing the post-SummerSlam build as several ongoing storylines head toward their next chapter. The card is headlined by Chad Gable defending his newly won Intercontinental Championship against Rey Mysterio, alongside two first-round matches in the World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament, a Women's Intercontinental Championship match between Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria, and the long-awaited return of Roman Reigns, who is set to be on hand as Jey Uso delivers Solo Sikoa to him following weeks of Bloodline fallout. WWE Raw 8/17/26 Confirmed Match Card WWE Intercontinental Championship: Chad Gable (c) vs. Rey Mysterio Gable won the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam by defeating Penta, and he wasted no time lining up his first challenger. On the following episode of Raw, Gable approached Mysterio backstage and called him "the greatest luchador of all time," offering him a shot at the title as a sign of respect. Mysterio, who is currently juggling in-ring competition with his role as General Manager of AAA, accepted on the spot. Gable said he'd get Raw GM Adam Pearce to make it official, and Pearce has now confirmed the match for this week's show. It will be just the second-ever singles meeting between the two, with Mysterio winning their first encounter back in October 2022. Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria This one grows out of the increasingly tense dynamic in the women's division. Ruca has been chasing a rematch for the Women's Intercontinental Championship, while Valkyria — the first-ever holder of that title — has grown more erratic in recent weeks, repeatedly bringing up her attack on Bayley at Madison Square Garden. The two clashed backstage after Ruca and IYO Sky's tag win on August 10, arguing over who deserves the next shot at the title. That unresolved tension sets up this singles matchup, with both women looking to establish themselves as the top contender. Roman Reigns Returns Roman Reigns is advertised to make his return to WWE television this week, stepping back into the spotlight as the World Heavyweight Championship picture continues to take shape around him via the ongoing No. 1 Contender's Tournament. Jey Uso to Deliver Solo Sikoa to Roman Reigns This segment is the payoff to a stipulation match earlier on Raw, where Jey Uso defeated Solo Sikoa under terms that determined Sikoa's future with the Bloodline. Had Sikoa won, he would have been free of the group for good; instead, Uso's victory means Sikoa must fall back in line, and Uso is set to personally deliver him to Reigns on this show. World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Rey Fenix vs. El Fiscal One of two first-round matches set to determine who eventually earns a shot at Reigns' World Heavyweight Championship, pitting Fenix's high-flying lucha style against El Fiscal in a first-round showdown. World Heavyweight Championship No. 1 Contender's Tournament: Dragon Lee vs. El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr. The second first-round tournament match of the night, continuing WWE's push to spotlight top lucha libre talent as part of the road to crowning Reigns' next challenger. Predicted Match Card Chad Gable retains the Intercontinental Championship in a competitive back-and-forth with Rey Mysterio, likely with some form of outside interference or a controversial finish, given how protective WWE has been of new champions so soon after a title change. Solo Sikoa doesn't go quietly when Jey Uso brings him in front of Roman Reigns — expect a chaotic segment, possibly with another Bloodline member inserting themselves, rather than a clean, peaceful resolution. Dragon Lee and Rey Fenix both advance in their respective tournament matches, setting up a lucha-heavy path toward the next World Heavyweight Championship contender. Where and When to Watch WWE Raw WWE Raw airs live in the United States on Netflix at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT. United Kingdom & Ireland: 1:00 AM BST (Tuesday) on Netflix India: 5:30 AM IST (Tuesday) on Netflix Australia: 10:00 AM AEST (Tuesday) on Netflix Mexico: 6:00 PM CST (Monday) on Netflix

BY JITU JANGIR

Layla has no regrets about leaving WWE before she could work with Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Bayley, saying she knew it was time for the next generation to take over. Speaking on TMZ Inside the Ring, the former WWE Women's and Divas Champion was asked if she wished she had stayed longer to work with the women who became the faces of WWE's women's wrestling revolution. Layla explained that she was 38 when she left WWE in 2015 after nine years with the company. She had already worked with Charlotte during the early part of her career, but Becky, Sasha and Bayley were coming up around the time she decided to leave. "No. No. I was 38. I was there for 9 years. I was 38. And it was just time for me to go, you know?" Layla said. She explained that she didn't want to stay and take opportunities away from younger wrestlers. "And then Becky came up, Sasha came up, I think they finally then Bayley came up," Layla said. "And it was just like, you know what, this is their time now." Layla said she had already enjoyed her own run and was happy to let the younger stars have their opportunity. "I was too old, you know, and it wasn't my time, it wasn't my moment," she explained. "And I had my time and I had my moment, and I'm grateful for that." She added, "They're young. I don't want to hold them back. They got to go. Let them shine." Layla also praised the current generation of WWE women, saying she is proud rather than jealous of the opportunities they now have. For Layla, leaving WWE in 2015 was the right decision, even if it meant missing potential matches against some of the biggest stars of the next generation. Layla joined WWE after winning the 2006 Diva Search and went on to spend nearly nine years with the company. During her run, she became a two-time Women's Champion and the final WWE Divas Champion, while also working with stars such as Michelle McCool, AJ Lee and Kelly Kelly. She left WWE in 2015 after establishing herself as one of the notable names of the Divas era.

BY JITU JANGIR

Chad Gable vs. Rey Mysterio for the Intercontinental Championship is officially set for tomorrow night's WWE Raw. The title match headlines a stacked card that also features tournament action, a Roman Reigns appearance, and fallout from the Jey Uso–Solo Sikoa stipulation match. WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced it in an Instagram post ahead of Monday's show, which airs live from the KeyBank Centre in Buffalo, New York. The match itself came together after Gable won the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam by defeating Penta. On the following episode of Raw, Gable approached Mysterio backstage, calling him "the greatest luchador of all time" and offering him the first shot at the title. Mysterio, currently balancing in-ring competition with his role as General Manager of AAA, accepted the challenge on the spot, and Gable said he'd get Pearce to make it official — which he has now done for tomorrow's show. It marks just the second-ever singles meeting between the two, with their first coming back in October 2022. The rest of the card is loaded around the ongoing World Heavyweight Championship picture. Two first-round matches in the No. 1 Contender's Tournament are set, with Dragon Lee taking on El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., and Rey Fenix squaring off against El Fiscal, as WWE continues narrowing the field for a future shot at Roman Reigns' title. Reigns himself is advertised to appear on the show. Also on tap is a women's division matchup between Sol Ruca and Lyra Valkyria, along with continued fallout from Jey Uso's win over Solo Sikoa, as the Bloodline storyline moves toward Reigns' return.

BY JITU JANGIR

Layla has opened up about the difficult transition she experienced after leaving WWE, admitting that her identity had become so closely connected to being a WWE Diva that she eventually felt she had lost herself. The former WWE Women's Champion discussed her post-WWE life during an appearance on TMZ Inside the Ring, explaining why she deliberately disappeared from the wrestling world following her retirement in 2015. Layla said that when she finally left WWE, she realized that being a WWE Diva had become a major part of her identity. "When I left WWE, Layla was like my whole identity was kind of lost," she explained. "I believe my identity was just around that I'm a WWE Diva." After spending nine years in WWE, Layla decided that she needed a complete break rather than immediately pursuing appearances, wrestling-related projects or other opportunities. "When I retired, I literally just disappeared," Layla said. The former Divas Champion explained that she stopped doing everything connected to wrestling because she needed to focus on herself. She acknowledged that her decision may have hurt some relationships within the wrestling industry, with people potentially believing that she had taken her distance personally. "I lost a lot of like wrestling family relationships and that because I think a lot of people took it personally," she said. "But that wasn't... it was nothing about anybody else. It was just about myself." Layla also spoke candidly about another difficult aspect of stepping away from the entertainment industry: getting older after spending years being presented primarily for her appearance. "Growing up, getting older... when you've always been like for your looks and stuff like that, like it was eye candy for a very long time," Layla said. "Getting older as a female, it's tough." Rather than immediately returning to wrestling, Layla said she needed to close that chapter of her life completely. She believes that decision ultimately helped her find herself again. "I needed it for myself," she explained. "I was being very selfish and taking care of me at that time and that's what I needed."

BY JITU JANGIR

Former WWE Divas Champion Layla has finally revealed what was really behind one of the most unexpected moments of her WWE career, admitting that her viral interaction with AJ Lee during a 2013 match was completely unplanned. The moment happened during a singles match between Layla and AJ Lee on the May 20, 2013 episode of WWE Raw. AJ ultimately picked up the victory by applying her signature Black Widow submission, but it was what happened during the finish that caught the attention of fans watching at home. After the match reached its conclusion, Layla appeared to tap out while AJ had her trapped in the submission. However, instead of simply tapping the mat, Layla reached toward AJ and appeared to grab her backside. The unusual moment was picked up by the cameras and quickly became one of the more talked-about clips from Layla's WWE run. Contemporary coverage of the match also specifically noted the unusual interaction after Layla's apparent submission. During an appearance on TMZ Inside the Ring, Layla was shown the viral moment and asked whether the spot had been planned beforehand or whether she was simply tapping wherever she could. "No, it was my fault," she admitted. The former WWE Women's Champion explained that she sometimes became so immersed in what was happening inside the ring that she forgot the cameras were capturing every little thing. "I forget the camera's on and I thought that nobody would see that," Layla said. According to Layla, there was no secret WWE plan behind the moment. She was simply trying to mess with AJ and make her laugh while they were working the match. "I was just squeezing her butt, like messing with her," Layla revealed. That explanation gives the moment an entirely different context. What appeared on television to be an unusual part of the submission sequence was actually Layla breaking from the seriousness of the match for a brief joke with AJ. Layla also admitted that she had no idea the cameras had captured the interaction or that fans would eventually turn it into a viral clip. "I didn't even know that people saw it," she said. The former Divas Champion explained that she was particularly surprised because AJ was in an important stage of her WWE career at the time. Layla said she was only trying to make her opponent laugh at the end of the match, rather than intentionally creating a moment that would be replayed by wrestling fans for years. "I was just trying to mess with her, like to make her laugh at the end," Layla explained.

BY JITU JANGIR

Raquel Rodriguez has revealed that the skin condition that previously forced her to step away from WWE has not completely gone away, but she has learned to manage it and use the symptoms as a warning sign from her body. Speaking about the condition during her recent appearance on Busted Open, Rodriguez was asked whether she worries about the issue returning and affecting her wrestling career. She explained that she still experiences occasional flare-ups, particularly when her body is under stress. “I've really learned to live with it this past year because it's not like it's fully gone away,” Rodriguez said. “I can talk right now. I have a couple of spots, a couple of rashes that pop up because of obvious reasons.” Rodriguez explained that she has learned to recognize what triggers her symptoms. Stress, poor sleep, an unhealthy diet and traveling can all affect her condition, making her skin something of an early warning system. “When I'm stressed or I'm not eating right or I'm not getting enough sleep or I'm not in my natural environment, my skin tends to show me, you know, hey, you need to bring it back. You need to calm down and you need to relax,” she explained. “And so, my skin has kind of been like my warning sign this past year.” Rather than allowing the condition to prevent her from wrestling, Rodriguez said the experience has forced her to make healthier decisions. She revealed that she now pays closer attention to rest, sleep and her diet and has also reduced her alcohol consumption, particularly while traveling. Rodriguez admitted that dealing with the condition has been difficult, but she believes it has ultimately made her stronger. “I've just learned to live with it and actually because of it I feel like it's made me stronger. It's made me mentally stronger. And it's made me more confident too,” Rodriguez said. The WWE star also revealed that other people have approached her to discuss similar problems and ask how she handles them. That has given Rodriguez another reason to be open about her experience.

BY SUNIT JANGIR

Mumbai, August 16 - Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures' Spider-Man: Brand New Day has created history at the worldwide box office. The Tom Holland-led blockbuster has crossed the $2 billion mark globally, becoming the first Spider-Man movie in history to achieve the milestone. The film's extraordinary theatrical run has now taken it into one of the most exclusive clubs in cinema history. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The achievement is even more remarkable considering the speed at which Brand New Day has reached the milestone. The film has crossed $2 billion in just 20 days, making it the second-fastest movie ever to reach the $2 billion mark, behind only Avengers: Endgame, which achieved the feat in 11 days. Ne Zha 2 took 33 days, while Avatar: The Way of Water needed 39 days and Avatar took 47 days. The milestone represents a phenomenal turnaround for the Spider-Man franchise. Spider-Man: No Way Home previously stood as the highest-grossing Spider-Man film worldwide, finishing its theatrical run at around $1.92 billion. Brand New Day has now comfortably surpassed that figure by the third Sunday and has established a new franchise benchmark. It had already become one of the biggest theatrical successes of 2026 after crossing $1 billion worldwide in just six days. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) The film's journey to $2 billion has been powered by an extraordinary opening and strong legs across domestic and international markets. Brand New Day opened to around $941.8 million worldwide, including a record-breaking $360 million domestic (North America) opening weekend, before continuing its momentum through subsequent weeks. With the $2 billion milestone now achieved, Spider-Man: Brand New Day has become only the 8th movie in the world to do so and has officially joined the most elite group in box-office history. More importantly, it becomes the first Spider-Man film to cross $2 billion worldwide, giving Tom Holland's superhero film a record that previous franchise entries could not achieve. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Films That Crossed $2 Billion Worldwide S. No. Movie Release Year Worldwide Gross Days To $2B 1 Avatar 2009 $ 2.92 Billion 47 Days 2 Avengers: Endgame 2019 $ 2.80 Billion 11 Days 3 Avatar: The Way of Water 2022 $ 2.33 Billion 39 Days 4 Titanic 1997 $ 2.26 Billion — 5 Ne Zha 2 2025 $ 2.20 Billion 33 Days 6 Avengers: Infinity War 2018 $ 2.05 Billion 48 Days 7 Star Wars: The Force Awakens 2015 $ 2.07 Billion 53 Days 8 Spider-Man: Brand New Day 2026 $ 2.00+ Billion 20 Days