Wade Barrett (Image Source: Getty)

Some wrestlers come from entirely different branches of global entertainment, but Wade Barrett and Haley Bennett are both in the same boat when it comes to being memorable for their initial breakouts, and not much else. While Barrett was certainly the bigger name at the time, rising star within WWE in the early 2010s, Bennett was carving out a niche for himself in Hollywood with a blend of mainstream movies and independent titles, where the critics generally liked what he was doing at least. They illustrate how careers and financial stability can evolve with persistence and flexibility.The surest means for determining their total net worth in 2025 will involve a range, not an amount. Private contracts, changing ticket sales, and the uncertain value of wrestling royalties result in public estimates that vary widely. However, when you look at the career milestones, these and the streams of income, their financial situation becomes clearer.

Wade Barrett, WWE legacy and post-wrestling income

Stuart Bennett, better known as Wade Barrett, made a fortune during his time with WWE. He burst onto television as the leader of The Nexus after winning NXT’s first season, becoming a staple and multiple-time Intercontinental Champion in the process. While Barrett was earning through guaranteed contracts, pay-per-view, and merchandise sales that continue to produce royalties for him nearly a decade later, WWE did not perceive him to be large enough to open a lucrative franchise in the UK.Due to a series of injuries that ultimately forced the former Intercontinental Champion to retire from wrestling, Barrett transitioned smoothly into commentary and subsequently became a staple voice on WWE television. In conjunction with this role, he transitioned to action films, starring in low-to-mid budget action films, including the I Am Vengeance series. These movies don’t pay blockbuster prices, but they offer consistent acting wages, residuals, and con appearances. The individual net worth estimates for Barrett are typically in the low to mid-single-digit millions.

Haley Bennett, Hollywood roles, and diversified earnings

Then there is Haley Bennett, who took a more gradual but steady path through Hollywood. Music and Lyrics gave her an early role, followed by appearances in high-profile studio films like The Equalizer and The Magnificent Seven. Playing serious roles in Hillbilly Elegy and the musical drama Cyrano added more depth to her resume and raised her profile in the industry.Bennett earns most of his salary from acting; however, smaller indie films can also include backend participation or even bonuses based on how well they perform upon distribution. Now and then, she has ventured into creative development, which would provide her additional money. Depending on how relevant projects are evaluated, public estimates of her net worth can range from barely one million dollars to a few million.Also Read: The Miz and Maryse Ouellet combined net worth in 2025: WWE careers, reality TV success, Hollywood projects, and more

Ever since news of Akshaye Khanna’s exit from Drishyam 3 surfaced, it was commonly assumed that Dhurandhar’s success had changed the game, and the fallout may have been over remuneration issues. Turns out, that’s not the case. Drishyam franchise producer Kumar Mangat tells us, “I have no idea why Akshaye took that step. He left Drishyam 3 a day before Dhurandhar’s release on December 4. In the trials itself, he had a fair idea that Dhurandhar would do well. He didn’t quit Drishyam 3 over money issues because he had well predicted and considered Dhurandhar’s success while demanding his fees for Drishyam 3, and that was agreed upon.”“Akshaye Khanna was paid his signing amount after he was blown away by the script,” recalls Drishyam 3 producer Kumar Mangat, adding, “He hugged director Abhishek Pathak and told him this will easily make `500 crore. After he signed the agreement, his costumes were finalised and paid for. Just 12 days before the shoot was to commence on December 16, I got a text from him saying he wouldn’t be doing the film, and we would definitely work together in the future. I tried calling him, but he didn’t answer. He has a tendency to go MIA whenever he wants to and I am aware of that side of him, but this is highly unprofessional.”

‘How can you not respond to calls and messages?’Mangat further added, “We were also given an excuse that Akshaye quit because he wants to wear a wig, but that doesn’t sit well with the narrative. Drishyam 3 begins on the same night as the end of Drishyam 2, and one cannot grow hair in a matter of four hours. Abhishek still said we would take some creative liberties and work that out, but he never came to even discuss these things. At least walk out graciously. How can you not respond to calls and messages? We have known each other for 15 years! Why accept the money in the first place? Our deal was signed and sealed. Before I did Section 375 and Drishyam with him, he was sitting at home for four years. Is this how you behave once your film works? I have been in this industry for 40 years. Success and failure are common, but this behaviour is unethical and unpardonable.”‘Jaideep is a good addition to the Drishyam franchise’Mangat has sent a legal notice to Akshaye, but hasn’t heard from the actor yet. Meanwhile, Jaideep Ahalawat has been finalised to replace Akshaye. Mangat said, “We had to change our dates, rewrite the script to create a new character, and that has cost me over `1 crore, but jo hota hai acchhe ke liye hota hai. Jaideep is a good addition to the franchise. He is a good actor and a better human being. As far as Akshaye is concerned, never say never. I won’t say we will never work together in the future, as that’s how life is, but I am definitely hurt by his behaviour.”

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India Women crushed Sri Lanka Women by 30 runs in the 4th T20I at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, posting a record-breaking 221/2 before restricting the visitors to 191/6. Smriti Mandhana‘s 80 off 48 balls and Shafali Verma‘s 79 off 46 balls powered the hosts to their highest Women’s T20I total, sealing a commanding series victory.

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma bolster through Sri Lanka bowling attack

Mandhana and Verma produced a breathtaking opening partnership to completely dismantle Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, laying the foundation for a massive Indian total. The duo came out with attacking intent from the very start, racing to 61 without loss inside the Powerplay and bringing up India’s fifty in just over five overs. Their 162-run stand came in just 15.1 overs, with both batters striking boundaries at will and keeping the pressure firmly on the bowlers. Mandhana played a classy yet destructive knock, reaching her half-century in 35 balls while peppering the field with 11 fours and three sixes. At the other end, Verma was even more explosive, smashing her fifty off just 30 deliveries and scoring at a furious pace as India crossed 100 in under 11 overs and surged past 150 shortly after.

Sri Lanka tried to break the momentum by rotating their bowlers, but the damage had already been done as boundaries continued to flow regularly. Verma was the first to depart after her scintillating innings, followed soon by Mandhana, but the onslaught did not stop there. Richa Ghosh walked in and finished the job in emphatic fashion, blasting an unbeaten 40 off just 16 balls, while skipper Harmanpreet Kaur provided solid support. Their late flourish powered India beyond the 200-run mark well before the final over, setting up a daunting total at a blistering run rate and leaving Sri Lanka with a mountain to climb.

Also READ: Harmanpreet Kaur surpasses Meg Lanning’s record with a historic captaincy feat following T20I series triumph over Sri Lanka

India’s tight bowling attack derails Sri Lanka chase in 4^th T20I

India’s bowlers produced a disciplined and well-planned effort to halt Sri Lanka’s chase of a stiff 222, sealing a convincing 30-run victory and keeping their hopes of a clean sweep alive. Despite early fireworks from the visitors, the Indian attack held its nerve, tightened the screws in the middle overs, and ensured the asking rate remained out of reach throughout the innings.

Sri Lanka came out all guns blazing in the Powerplay, racing to 60 for 1 as Hasini Perera and skipper Chamari Athapaththu took the attack to the bowlers. Perera’s brisk 33 off just 20 balls, studded with seven boundaries, set the tone, while Athapaththu followed it up with an aggressive half-century, reaching her fifty in only 37 deliveries. The visitors crossed fifty inside four overs and brought up the hundred in just 10.4 overs, momentarily putting India under pressure.

However, the momentum shifted once wickets began to fall at crucial intervals. Arundhati Reddy broke the opening stand by removing Perera, and Vaishnavi Sharma soon dismissed Athapaththu, pegging Sri Lanka back just as the chase threatened to gather serious momentum. Though Imesha Dulani and Harshitha Samarawickrama tried to revive hopes with a quick partnership, untimely dismissals derailed the effort.

India’s bowlers, led by Vaishnavi and Reddy, maintained control in the death overs, with Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani effectively restricting the lower order. A late flourish from Nilakshika Silva proved insufficient, as Sri Lanka finished well short of the target, allowing India to complete a comprehensive 30-run triumph and eyeing a whitewash.

Another game in the bag ✅#TeamIndia register a 3⃣0⃣-run win and lead the series 4⃣-0⃣ 🙌

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/9lrjb3dMqU #INDvSL | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/Pa4iFAYejx

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 28, 2025

Also READ: Renuka Thakur and Shafali Verma power India to unassailable 3-0 series lead with eight wicket win over Sri Lanka in third T20I

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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Lean, feral dogs move with predatory intensity across a snow-dusted desert, Ladakh’s stark peaks looming behind.

SRINAGAR: It’s bloody murder on the roof of the world.A new predator has quietly grown to dangerous numbers. Feral dogs roam the cold desert of Ladakh, preying, often in packs, on endangered wildlife and attacking people. Conservationists warn that they outnumber native predators in the region.What began as a byproduct of increased tourism, military deployment, and unmanaged waste in the cold desert moonscape of Ladakh has grown into a full-blown crisis. And it’s manmade.Scientists and wildlife officials warn that these free-ranging canines — estimated by the WCBCL at nearly 45,000, far in excess of what the region’s ecology can sustain — are preying on some of Ladakh’s rarest high-altitude species. They threaten snow leopards, wolves and foxes, and prey on rare species like Pallas’s cat, the Eurasian lynx, Tibetan gazelle, blue sheep, ibex, and Himalayan marmots, said Lobzang Visuddha, chairman of the Wildlife Conservation and Birds Club of Ladakh (WCBCL), a community-based voluntary initiative by young people.The killing of a Pallas’s cat, one of the rarest and least-studied species, by feral dogs in Anley last year has alarmed conservationists like Visuddha. “In fact, there are records of killing two Pallas’s cats and Eurasian lynxes by feral dogs,” he saidThe dogs also threaten ground-nesting birds, with packs frequently chasing black-necked cranes, the UT’s state bird, and attacking ruddy shelduck chicks when they move from rocky nesting sites to nearby water bodies, Visuddha said.Advocate Tashi Gyalson, who headed the local government in Leh as chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council from Nov 2020 to Nov 2025, said the issue hasn’t been arisen all of a sudden. “We have to admit that this situation has actually been created by humans over a long period of time,” he said.Gyalson said these dogs have been part of the ecosystem and community but rapid urbanisation meant they lost their use as hunting dogs, shepherd dogs, watchdogs and companion animals. “This, multiplied by the abundant carrying capacity of the environment, caused their rapid multiplication, and eventually caused the current situation,” he said.Experts say the worst hit is eastern Ladakh, the region with the highest concentration of wildlife, where poor waste management are subsidising the dog population.“The main concern is the availability of excess kitchen waste in areas occupied by the Army and areas where there is tourism,” Gyalson said.The stretch from Kargyan Chibra to Tsokar, in eastern Ladakh, has become a hotspot for feral dog activity due to unsustainable waste “Feral dogs are by far the most serious threat as far as the wildlife of Ladakh is concerned. I have myself seen how stray dogs in Hanle and Tso Moriri actually raided the nests of the black-necked crane, and preyed upon the eggs and young ones,” said Intesar Suhail, who was wildlife warden of Ladakh in 2013-14.“I have even seen them chasing animals as big as the Tibetan wild ass. The active ground nests of waterbirds, particularly the black-necked crane and bar-headed goose, are more vulnerable as they are located in marshy areas, surrounded by shallow waters easily accessible to dogs,” he said.A strong sense of smell and pack behaviour give feral dogs a lethal advantage over wildlife that evolved without such human-introduced predators, Visuddha said.“Though these species face natural threats in the wild, feral dogs are not one of them, they are a problem introduced by humans,” said the WCBCL founder.Ladakh has also reported at least five fatal attacks on humans, mostly on women and children, by feral dogs, which was unheard of in the region until recently, he said.Phuntsog Wangail, president of the Chamba Animal Welfare Society, which runs Ladakh’s largest animal care facility, said Ladakh was facing growing fears of long-term ecological imbalance due to feral dogs.They survive largely on food waste from tourist camps, hotels, roadside dhabas and temporary settlements. When these facilities close or relocate, particularly during winter, the canines are left without reliable food sources and begin roaming over long distances.“This seasonal movement pushes dogs into wildlife habitats, increases territorial conflicts, and accelerates breeding, placing Ladakh’s fragile ecosystem under severe pressure,” Wangail said.Visuddha said the feral dog threat to wildlife of Ladakh was next only to human activity.The rapid infrastructure expansion, including road building, power lines and mobile towers, has already fragmented habitats, while the expansion of camps, resorts, guest houses and hotels has intensified pressure on wildlife, he said.In winter, when tourism grinds to a halt and food becomes scarce, the dogs roam extensively, leading to a rise in dog-bite cases, road accidents and formation of aggressive packs. “At the same time, winter offers the best window for sterilisation, as dogs tend to remain closer to human settlements.”Data from the Animal Husbandry Department in Leh shows that 32,887 dogs were sterilised between 2015 and 2024, yet officials and conservationists say the population remains dangerously high.Wangial said Ladakh should carry out mass sterilisation over the next two years, with a special focus on female dogs and puppies, while calling for strict enforcement of animal welfare laws, including heavy penalties for dog dislocation, abandonment and cruelty.He called for the replication of successful models from the Netherlands and Bhutan, where mass sterilisation, strict enforcement of animal welfare laws and strong community participation have led to significant reductions in stray populations.While Visuddha said govt appears unconcerned about the issue, Gyalson offered a contrasting view. He said that after Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, a mission-mode campaign was launched to control the dog population. “The impact of the programme is visible as there are far fewer street puppies, especially in Leh city,” he said.However, Gyalson said several challenges continue to hinder effective population control, including Ladakh’s vast and rugged terrain, extreme climate, dispersed dog population, difficulties in capturing animals, and the absence of an accurate census.

Kalyan: Bringing major relief to motorists in Kalyan and Dombivli as well as the neighbouring cities of Ulhasnagar, Ambernath and Badlapur, the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has completed repair and maintenance work on the Waldhuni railway overbridge in record time of eight days. The bridge will be reopened for motorists on Monday morning.KDMC had sought permission from the traffic police to close the bridge for 20 days — from December 20, 2025 to January 10, 2026 — to carry out extensive repair work. Owing to round-the-clock efforts and the deployment of additional machinery, the civic body completed the work in just eight days.Constructed and opened to traffic in 1998, the Waldhuni railway overbridge is a vital traffic artery connecting Kalyan with Ulhasnagar, Ambernath and Badlapur. It handles extremely heavy traffic throughout the day, making it difficult to undertake regular maintenance. Over the years, repeated potholes had developed on the bridge surface, slowing traffic movement and frequently leading to jams.During the temporary closure, commuters faced severe congestion on alternate routes, particularly as the shutdown coincided with the election period. However, KDMC officials said the inconvenience was minimised by accelerating the pace of work.The repair contract was awarded to Shah Engineers, with Jai Bharat Construction engaged as the subcontractor. Officials said the agency worked day and night using extra machinery to meet the deadline. As part of the repairs, the old bitumen layer on the bridge was completely removed, significantly reducing the dead load on the structure. A new layer of Dense Bituminous Macadam, along with highly viscous bituminous mastic has now been laid, which is expected to substantially extend the life of the bridge surface.KDMC project in-charge Rohini Lokare said that as per the quality standards followed, potholes are unlikely to appear for at least five years. She added that under the contract terms, the contractor will be responsible for maintenance of the road for the next five yearsOfficials said the smooth road surface will help reduce traffic congestion, improve connectivity, and save valuable time for motorists, restoring normal traffic flow across the region.

Smriti Mandhana, right, and Shafali Verma greet each other between the wickets during the fourth T20 International cricket match between India Women and Sri Lanka Women, at Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Smriti Mandhana scored 80 and Shafali Verma made 79 as India posted their highest Women’s T20I total of 221 for two in the fourth match against Sri Lanka on Sunday.After batting second in each of the first three matches of the five-game series, India were asked to bat first this time. Mandhana and Shafali dominated the Sri Lanka bowlers at the Greenfield International Stadium and set the tone for a big total.

Towards the end of the innings, Richa Ghosh hit an unbeaten 40 off 16 balls, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored 16 not out from nine deliveries to take India past 220.Mandhana and Shafali added 162 runs for the opening wicket in 15.2 overs. It is now the highest partnership for any wicket for India in women’s T20Is.This was also the fourth time the pair crossed the 100-run mark together. They went past their previous best stand of 143 against West Indies at Gros Islet in 2019.Mandhana also reached a major milestone, becoming only the fourth batter to complete 10,000 international runs across formats, after Mithali Raj, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates and England’s Charlotte Edwards.Shafali continued her strong run in the series, registering her third successive half-century. She missed out on her first T20I hundred and was dismissed in the 16th over, giving a return catch to Nimasha Meepage. Shafali scored 79 off 46 balls, hitting 12 fours and one six.Both openers relied on placement and timing rather than power, finding gaps regularly and scoring on both sides of the wicket.One of the notable moments came when Shafali stepped down the pitch to hit Kawya Kavindi over her head on the final ball of the fourth over. Earlier in the same over, Mandhana had struck two boundaries.Mandhana, who had a quiet series by her standards until this match, looked comfortable at the crease. Her innings included three sixes, all hit on the leg side, along with several drives.After the dismissals of Mandhana and Shafali, Richa Ghosh took charge. She hit four fours and three sixes and added 53 runs in an unbroken partnership for the third wicket with Harmanpreet Kaur as India crossed the 200-run mark.