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Y&R’s Jason Thompson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week”

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/CBS

Last week, daytime drama offered up some stellar performances.  We had General Hospital’s Sydney Miykala (Trina) and Jeff Kober (Cyrus) being given some very emotional material and playing the heck out of it, and we had The Young and the Restless, Jason Thompson in what was to be his third standalone episode during his run as Billy Abbott.  Scenes from his last standalone episode helped win Jason the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Award at the Daytime Emmys this past June.

While there has been a very mixed-bag of reviews from fans of the writing of this standalone episode, one thing remains true –  that if given the ball, Thompson will bring the complexities needed to it, make it work, and in-turn make the audience feel the deep emotional pain within Billy.  And that was on full display in one key scene that locked up his Power Performance of the Week honors.

In the set-up, this time Billy is in the slammer contemplating his life while trying to rest and is hit with a series of dream/nightmare sequences in which he is emotionally tortured by many family members, enemies, and friends for his consistently being a screw-up, or so they like to say.  The one person in the episode who stands by Billy’s side is Lily (Christel Khalil).

During the episode, as Billy jumped from different locations within Genoa City, he grew more hopeless given his situation.  However, then he is visited by his late daughter Delia (Sophie Pollano) in the grown-up teenage version.  This is where Thompson broke hearts, playing guilt, loss, and despair.  He tells Delia if he could take one day back to do over again, it would be the night he left her alone for a few minutes to get ice-cream in the convenient store, and she wandered out in the street after her dog, only to be fatally hit by a car driven by Adam.  In this scene, it was Jason at his best, and surely a scene that should be used for his Emmy reel in 2021. What made it all the more notable is that Jason was not even playing the character of Billy back then, but you believed every heartbreaking second of his talk with his daughter about what Billy experienced the the night of her death and for years after.

Two other moments were also stand-outs in the episode.  When Victor (Eric Braeden) comes to see Billy behind bars and taunts him every which way to Sunday.  It was hard to know if that was real or imagined, but both Eric Braeden and Thompson chewed the scenery with that showdown.

Later in the episode, Billy is shocked to be transported to the police station to where his now teenage son, Johnny is in trouble with the law, and Rey (Jordi Vilasuso) is detaining and questioning him.  Billy realizes he has to fight for his freedom as he can’t leave his family in disarray, or let himself or Lily down again.

Billy Abbott continues to be an oh-so-flawed character, which gives Thompson opportunities to shine and play all the beats to perfection.

Share your thoughts on Jason’s performance and our choice for the Power Performance of the Week via the comment section below.

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Sorry Michael I truly think you are a great fan for daytime but I can’t agree I think Jason is a good actor but he is not Billy and it’s time to move on ! Billy Miller was the only Billy for me and get over it the story is over Billy is responsible for his child’s death no one else

No way! The person directly responsible for the death of that child is and always will be ADAM who was driving the car. Jason is most definitely the best Billy Abbott. Billy Miller was a complete bore in the role.

Someday, soon..
The real person that hit Delia will be caught..
Adam will be innocent..
I believe it was drunk Nikki, she is culprit, no doubts.
It will be fitting for it be Niki.
She drove off that night drunk, very drunk.
She might not remember but eventually, she will..

Years ago my husband left a relative child in the car while he went in the store a woman stood outside the car until he came back she let him have it and he deserved it never leave a child unattended in a car so let’s wrap this up ok ???

Honestly, no he didn’t. It was a badly written and predictable episode that was cringe-worthy to watch. Not entirely Thompson’s fault, because he is trying to play a character that has become completely one dimensional, but certainly nothing to celebrate.

And if Y&R writers can’t start writing Billy better, the least they can do is not ruin the character of Lily, too. She finally ditched that lech Cane and embraced her inner strength. Why would she go for another loser like Billy, despite all the red flags? It doesn’t make a lot of sense, as a plot point. She’d be the least likely to fall for his “save me from myself” nonsense.

I agree and I adore Jason Thompson I loved him as Patrick Drake he just has not fit the role of Billy sometimes no matter how great you are in a certain character you just don’t always make another fit! I have thought for a long time they needed to just shelve the character of billy

As for the character of Cane not sure what that was all about ? His exit but I do know he truly loved the show he was a champion I heard rumblings of why he was let go but I don’t like rumors

I am not trying to be hateful but viewers don’t connect when you are on your third Billy since the storyline happened and NO it is not a reflection on Jason Thompson I just can’t feel anything anymore I just wish JG would stop let’s move on.

There is no disputing Jason Thompson is a good actor. But his interpretation of Billy is not one of my favorites. He has no chemistry with any of his female counterparts (remember him and Robin on GH?) His version is just unlikeable. I would be happy if Billy were locked up for life and gone, so if that’s his objective on how to play Billy, it’s working! As far as his solo episode. Yawn. It felt gratuitous and was much less effective then last years…

Sounds like Billy was truly tortured…or was it Jason Thompson tortured from still having to play the beats of this crapfest ?
I think most viewers would agree that this storyline is torturing them the most
Didnt Billy have a standalone eppy last year when he supposedly had a breakthrough!?
Why was Adam only in the looney bin for like 20 min but Billy ‘ going to jail’ was played for eternity when the viewers knew very full well it wasnt going to happen?
Why wont tptb permantly keep the cute replacent Chance over cowboy Chance?

And for heavens sake when will y n r finallllyyyy get a new headwriter? Josh Griffith is the bottom of the barrel. …oh and ditch the music director and bring back the original. Everytime the classic music plays in the background during flashbacks it reminds me of how special the scores were. Not the synthesizer shit played now randomly

Jason Thompson is much better than Billy Miller as Billy.
Miller could have never portrayed this Billy as Thompson has.
I see Jason as the best actor on Y&R.
He is a powerful actor and brings it home every time.

I have always liked J.T as Billy. As much as I love Billy Miller, Jason just looks like I imagined Billy to look and is so compatible with every other character he has contact with. I am not too crazy about he and Lily as a couple though and I did not enjoy the dream/hallucination thing in jail. Too boring and F.F. thru most of it.

I think if anyone deserves The Power Performance of the Week it should be Marci Walker as Abby on DOOL. Today she was outstanding as she tore in to Gwen for all her lies and deception towards her family and herself personally. She was literally shaking with her hurt, anger and betrayal from Gwen.

Recaps

WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways

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Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns

Sunday night’s second night of WWE SummerSlam delivered one of the greatest matches of all-time, a match of the year candidate or even the decade. For those in attendance at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, watching on ESPN limited or Netflix around the world, the August 2 main event between former Shield members turned rivals, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins closed out a story 12-years in the making in a classic main event.

In fact, the second night of SummerSlam, (we previously gave our recap of night one here) was a vast improvement in the two-day event, dubbed ‘The biggest event of the summer.” Led by the incredible performances and masterful in-ring storytelling by Reigns and Rollins, who went 33 minutes in a spellbinding match-up with so many near pin falls, that whether you were watching at home or in the crowd, you would jump to your feet!

Let’s take a look at how things went down and give you our 5 top takeaways from the night on the six-match card, kicking it off with Roman Reigns defending his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Seth Rollins.

Photo: WWE

ROMAN AND SETH WRESTLING SOULMATES HONOR THEIR BROTHERHOOD

Right from the ring entrances, Seth Rollins paid homage to the Shield, complete with the facial mask, white version of their black vests, and more. When the Shield debuted back in 2012, it was the trio of Reigns, Rollins and Dean Ambrose (now Jon Moxley, AEW) who protected a then heel-ish CM Punk.

After Rollins delivered a chair shot to Reigns in 2014, and the group split up, Seth has always had Roman’s number, defeated him, and has been inside Roman’s head for his betrayal. The main event played on that aspect of the story throughout. With each delivering their patented moves: The Stomp from Seth, and a Superman Punch from Roman. However, neither man could truly get the upper hand on the other in a main event that lasted 33 1/2 minutes, truly a gift for the fans and the longest bout of the night.

There was plenty of trash-talking between the two, which heightened the story and made the ending all the more powerful. In addition, there were throwback moves of Dean Ambrose thrown into the mix.  But then, here’s how it all came to a conclusion. When the referee got knocked out, Rollins decided to grab a chair from ringside. He was going to use the same weapon he used on Reigns 12 years back, that led to the turn against the OTC. However, Seth hesitated. Roman got back up and had Seth on the ring ropes ready to use the chair on him. Seth told him to just get it over with. Roman put the chair down. Then, they went punch for punch. After hitting a final spear, Roman pinned Seth for the win as the referee finally came to. At the end of the match, both titans were exhausted and slumped in opposite corners of the ring.

However, in the most touching moment, Roman got up and went to the middle of the ring. The OTC extended his arm and fist, just like in the days of The Shield, as a peace offering to Rollins. Next, Seth got up and went and joined Roman. The two did a fist bump as a show of respect and the story was brought to a fitting ending.

Photo: WWE

KEVIN OWENS RETURNS AFTER 17 MONTH RECOVERY FROM NECK SURGERY, BECOMES NUMBER ONE CONTENDER

Sami Zayn cannot catch a break! Just when he thought his number one contender match was between himself and Finn Bálor, think again! Before the match started, the newly reinstated SmackDown GM, Nick Aldis came out and announced that he is adding Gunther … and Kevin Owens!

When Zayn saw that his best friend (and sometimes rival) was back and healthy enough to wrestle in a fatal-four way, his jaw dropped in probably one of the most classic moments of the night. Once the bell rang, Owens came in ready to show he could still go, complete with his reverse somersaults, stunners and more. KO dominated the four-way match up, all leading to him pinning Zayn to become the number one contender to face Universal Champion, CM Punk!

During the WWE Post Show, Owens had emotional moments with commentator and former wrestler, Big E, who suffered a career-ending neck injury and surgery, Kevin explained it was just a few weeks ago, that the doctor’s finally cleared him to return to the ring. An amazing comeback story!

Photo: WWE

BARON CORBIN TAKES THE U.S. TITLE FAST

In another comeback, Baron Corbin has had many ups and down over his tenures with the WWE, and in what was Corbin’s first WWE match in nearly two years, he faced Trick Williams for the United States Championship and right hand man rapper Lil Yachty.

The match broke down when Yachty went for the “Trick Stick” (a kendo stick) and went to hit Corbin in the back with it, but that backfired. Corbin put Lil Yachty through a table, hit Williams with the title belt, before landing his signature End of Days finishing move. With plenty of shady tactics, Baron Corbin was your new U.S. Champ.

From the looks of it, Trick’s run as the titleholder was beginning to become stale. So, WWE strapped the belt quickly on heel Baron Corbin. Will it be a long reign? Stay tuned.

Photo: WWE

GREEN WITH ENVY

This victory by Chelsea Green in the women’s ladder match to decide the interim WWE Women’s Champion, was a nod to the fans. WWE actually listened to the resounding love for Green over the past year and in turn had her grab the title above the ladder and become the current champ, while Rhea Ripley is currently out with injury.

Green bested Charlotte Flair, Chelsea Green, Lash Legend, Jade Cargill, and the hometown girl Tiffany Stratton. The ring gear worn by the gals, tore down the house with Cargill paying homage to Minneapolis music legend, Prince. But even more notably, the stunning outfit worn by Flair, which paid tribute to the little girl she had befriended named Scarlett who recently died of cancer. The women turned it out for this ladder match and you could make a case for any of them to have won the belt, but in a feel-good moment, it belonged to Green.

Photo: WWE

MINNEAPOLIS’ OWN CHAD GABLE FINALLY IS A CHAMP

The second best match of the night was delivered by the Intercontinental Championship bout between Penta and the hometown boy, Chad Gable, Going into the match-up, Penta was the IC champ. However, Gable is finally getting acknowledged for the wrestler he is after his enduring run in a a mask as the heel-ish, El Grande Americano.

Gable’s three children and his wife and parents were in U.S. Bank Stadium, so if there was any time to pull the trigger in favor of Gable this was it. Penta and Gable delivered high-flying moves and solid wrestling fundamentals that wowed the crowd. Gable was working with a seeming shoulder injury throughout the match and was somehow cut open on his face.

The match came to an emotional conclusion when Penta was caught in Gabe’s patented ankle lock and taped out. That led to the tears and the emotional celebration with Chad and his family inside the ring.

Photo: WWE

While not in our top five takeaways, the other match of the night featured Danhausen (who is one of the hottest WWE superstars with the fans) and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio in the first-ever “Human Monies on a Pole Match.”

Once again, it featured the minihausens coming out to protect their guy after much shenanigans from Dom and the Judgment Day’s J.D. McDonaugh. Danhausen and the minhausens got an assist from Joe Hendry and Dirty Dom was on the short end of the stick in this one.

You can check out the full WWE SummerSlam Sunday 2026 video highlights below. Followed by the Michael Fairman Channel’s “What’s Up? Wrestling” podcast that went live immediately following SummerSlam night two with our own post show reactions.

So, what did you think of SummerSlam night two? Did you love the Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins epic match and conclusion to the Shield storyline? What were your favorite moments of the match card? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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Recaps

WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night One: Top 5 Takeaways

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Night night one of WWE’s SummerSlam on August 1, saw the return of “The Viper,” Randy Orton, the passing of the torch to Oba Femi, and SmackDown GM, Nick Aldis getting back into the ring after 3 years to take on “The Ring General’ Gunther. These were just a few of the major moment from the six bout match card.

Emanating from U.S. Bank stadium in Minneapolis, the match-ups had several ups and downs that either got the crowd into an electric frenzy or deadly quiet. The WWE creative was smart to kick-off night one with the Women’s World Championship match between the champion Liv Morgan and Ivo Sky, who put on a great show.

Both women brought their A -game, but Liv Morgan showed why she is the champ, while Iyo Sky remains the best overall female wrestler on the current roster. Here are our five top takeaways from Night 1 of SummerSlam:

Photo: WWE

RANDY ORTON AND CODY RHODES FEUD UP NEXT

The match between CM Punk, the current Undisputed World Heavyweight, and Cody Rhodes, the former champ, had most fans booing Rhodes and cheering for Punk. However, both men displayed some heel-ish moves throughout the bout.

When Rhodes missed a Cody Cutter and hit referee Charles Robinson instead, chaos ensued. Punk was out of the ring, so too was Robinson on the other side. Cody was in the ring laid out flat. Eventually, Randy Orton does a run-in out of nowhere and delivers the RKO to Rhodes, winks at the camera, and slinks out of the ring and runs out of the arena site unseen by Punk and Robinson.

Next, Punk rolled back in the ring and hit a third GTS on Rhodes to retain the title. In the end, there was no clean pinfall for Rhodes vs. Punk. It should be noted that Punk also missed a moonsault maneuver that looked sloppy, which has been fodder on social media.

So, what does this do for Punk and Rhodes moving forward? It leave us with Punk moving on to face new challengers for the title, and Cody and Randy Orton to walk back the start of their feud that got messed up once WWE inserted Pat McAfee into the storyline at WrestleMania 42, which the WWE Universe was a hard pass on.

Can Orton and Rhodes now have a proper feud? Will there be a double turn comig? Randy (who the crowd was cheering for) actually being the face and Cody having had it with all the shenanigans used against him, just finally giving in and turning full heel? Stay tuned.

Photo: WWE

OBA FEMI WAS PASSED THE TORCH

Femi got quite the moment after he won the third match of his trilogy against Minnesota’s own Brock Lesnar,  The Ruler beat The Beast Incarnate inside Hell in a Cell.

While there were five straight F5s in a row and Femi was taken to Suplex City, it appeared Lesnar had this under control especially after he exposed the wooden boards under the ring mat and apron. Next, Lesnar delivered a Tombstone piledriver paying homage to The Undertaker who Lesnar had defeated in two Hell in a Cells. However, the move left Femi unfazed. Suddenly, Femi was back up and shortly thereafter pinned Brock and won the math.

As he was exiting the ring, Lesnar broke character to hug Femi and called fo a mic and announced himself as the “past” and The Ruler as the “future” of WWE. Clearly, Lesnar gave the crowd in attendance and the millions around the world, his stamp of approval for Femi and passed the torched.

It should be noted we did not get Lesnar officially retiring in his home state, so he may be back. Meanwhile, Oba is clearly the WWE’s handpicked star who is having a rapid ascension to the top. Is it just a matter of time before Oba takes on Roman Reigns and wins the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from him?

Photo: WWE

NICK ALDIS CAN STILL GO

Aldis, who came out to Oasis’ “Morning Glory,” and had excellent ring gear to boot, showed that after three years out of ring action that he can still turn it out and against Gunther, no less. The crowd chanted “you still got it” during the match.

However, in the end Gunther was eventually able to put Aldis down. After the match, Aldis got to share in the moment with his young son, Donovan and is wife, Mickie James inside the ring, to celebrate Aldis’ return to the ring if even for one night.

During the Post Show on ESPN, Triple H reinstated Aldis as the SmackDown GM, and tore up Aldis’ resignation letter, so Nick was still a part of the WWE in his managerial position moving forward.

Photo: WWE

THE BELLA TWINS SHOULD HAVE STAYED RETIRED DUE TO INJURIES

As we predicted, during the trios match between the Bella Twins and Paige v. Fatal Influence with Jacy Jayne, it would be Paige tho took the pin from Jayne.  With that, the Bella Twins went back to full heel-mode, when Niki Bella who just returned after suffering from a broken ankle attached Paige.

Brie Bella could not get in to the beatdown because earlier in the match she suffered a serious shoulder injury which will now keep her out of action.  If the plan was to have an evil Bella Twins run, now that Niki is back, well that just fell apart with the ill-fated timing of Brie’s injury.

This is a case where Hall-of-Famers want to get back into the ring later in their careers and things don’t go as smooth as planned. Now it remains what the WWE will do. Obviously, Niki will feud solo with Paige.

Photo: WWE

SOLO SIKOA IS GREAT AS A BABYFACE, DON’T RUIN IT!

The actual moment of the night belongs to Solo Sikoa who got the the last laugh on the Usos. Sikoa mocked Jey Uso’s Yeet chants and moves specifically when Jey runs it back with the audience, by having Jey’s theme music play and imitating him.

Later, via Samoan Spike to Jimmy Uso, he stopped a 1D attempt while L.A. Knight hit the BTF on Jey for the victory. Jacob Fatu, who teamed wiht the Usos had the coolest entrance of the night with his werewolf mask and antics. Royce Keys who teamed with Knight and Sikoa also got to show off some of his power moves to help his team secure the win.

You can check out the full SummerSlam Saturday 2026 night one highlights below.

So, what was your top takeaway and moment from night one of SummerSlam? Favorite match? Least favorite match? Let us know via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: If Jason Leaves the Mob, What Will He Do Next?

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Steve Burton

As had been teased since Jason Morgan’s (Steve Burton) captivity by the WSB and his release on General Hospital, he is clearly having issues speaking about what happened to him, after he was dragged away from Port Charles when he took the fall for Rocco (Finn Carr) who shot WSB director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Now. as Jason tries to reacclimate to life back in Port Charles, he has already displayed that he wants to do better for his son, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and the people he loves and to show up for them.

In addition, things took a turn on the Friday, July 31 episode where after Sonny (Maurice Benard) questioned Jason if he was having an issue with Ric (Rick Hearst) working side by side with his half-brother, Jason had something to say.

Courtesy/ABC

An emotional Jason tells Sonny, “I can’t work for you anymore.” The moment left Sonny dumbfounded, and viewers won’t know the pick-up of the conversation till Monday’s August 3 episode of GH.

Could it be that this time Jason will cut ties with Sonny and the mob for good? If so, it would be the end of an era for Jason and Sonny, sort of the Batman and Robin of GH with a twist.

Previous teases from the GH co-head writing team of Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte, and Burton himself on his podcast That’s Awesome ,seem to indicate there is a change coming for Jason that sends him off in a different path in his life.

However, we should learn Jason’s reasons shortly, and if Sonny can talk him back into the mob, or can just wish Jason the best and let him go. But now the question becomes, if Jason exits life as Sonny’s right hand man and henchman, what do you see him doing with his life? We do know that Jason is aware that Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) has tied to the WSB, since he escorted him to Port Charles via Jakarta on the plane which may be a clue.

Weigh-in below: Do you want Jason to go work for the Quartermaines and truly join the family in full? Do you see him doing something to help those in need, or do you see him going undercover with the WSB to expose some of the treacherous things they perpetrated on him and others, or do you see Jason doing something completely different with his life? If so, what? Let us know your hopes and thoughts for Jason in the comment section below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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