Stephen A. Smith Tells Joe Budden That Shannon Sharpe Was Being Pushed Out Of “Undisputed”

Stephen A. Smith made some bombshell claims about his new First Take co-host during a recent conversation with Joe Budden. During the podcast episode, Smith claimed that he doesn’t view his acquisition of Shannon Sharpe as poaching or anything like that because Sharpe “didn’t leave of his own volition”. It’s the first major behind-the-scenes claim about the atmosphere at Undisputed prior to Sharpe’s departure.

However, it makes sense. It’s an open secret at this point that Skip Bayless has been seeking more and more control over his flagship show at FS1. It’s likely that Bayless wanted Sharpe out so that he could restructure the show to once again put himself at the top of the pecking order. This is supported by the fact several people were considered and rejected to replace Sharpe and most were rejected on the basis that they would be too much of an equal opponent for Bayless. Instead, Bayless reportedly wants easy wins when it comes to his debate partners.

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Sharpe Still Acclimatizing To First Take

Meanwhile, Sharpe appears to still be getting used to his new life at First Take. Earlier this week, Sharpe once again called Smith “Skip” during a debate. While Sharpe was evidently embarrassed about it, Smith brushed it off. It’s happened a couple of times since Sharpe began appearing on the show on September 4. It’s become something of a minor meme at this point. Furthermore, Smith even went as far as to defend Sharpe from the people calling him out about the mistake.

“Will folks calm the F$&@ down please. The man (@ShannonSharpe) worked with Skip for 2 1/2 hours every single weekday for 6 1/2 YEARS! I’m surprised he hasn’t called me Skip more. Honest mistake. Nobody is fazed this way! So long as he shows up to @FirstTake when I ask, we are good! #TRUST,” Smith wrote on X. How do you think Sharpe is doing? Let us know in the comments. Follow for all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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Skip Bayless’ “Undisputed” Ratings Tank, Stephen A. Smith Reacts

Maybe Skip Bayless did need Shannon Sharpe after all. Per a report from Front Office Sports, the launch of the new season of Undisputed has seen viewership absolutely tank. 131,000 tuned into the season premiere of Undisputed, now anchored by Bayless, Richard Sherman, and Rachel Nichols. The following day, viewership dropped 8.4% to 120,000 viewers. Furthermore, viewership fell off a cliff on the third, falling another 35% to 78,000. A big problem for many viewers was that Bayless stepped back from the role of host to that of moderator, instead letting his newfound team do most of the debating.

This was in comparison to First Take, which saw figures of 448,000, 474,000, and 423,000. In percentage terms, that’s a 5% increase followed by a 10% decrease. However, First Take, which will debut Sharpe on September 4, still held nearly four times the viewers that Undisputed did. Furthermore, remember that, as mentioned, these are viewing figures for First Take before Shannon Sharpe joins the team. From September 4 onwards, Undisputed will have to contend with that additional pressure.

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Stephen A.’s Reaction To Undisputed Numbers Says Nothing And Everything

Stephen A. Smith, host of First Take, didn’t say a whole lot about the news that Undisputed had stumbled out of the gates. In fact, Smith didn’t say anything other than posting the Front Office Sports article without additional comment. Smith has made some comments about Bayless’ first week back on the air, noting how he tried to dunk on First Take while introducing Richard Sherman. However, more might be said about the situation in the coming days as Stephen A. takes to his podcast and other outlets.

It’s worth mentioning that Front Office Sports did advise caution when addressing these numbers. It was the first week after a two-month hiatus and numbers will likely rise as the NFL season gets underway next week. “Relax, first show. Shows always evolve,” tweeted Fox radio host Doug Gottlieb. “First Take was a segment called “1st and 10” on Cold Pizza, which was rebooted after one year.” The problem is that Undisputed is not a new show. This is not a reboot, it’s a rebrand of the same show that Bayless was running with Sharpe. And now that Sharpe is on First Take, Bayless should start to feel worried.

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Richard Sherman Hits Skip Bayless With A “Pause” In Viral “Undisputed” Clip

Richard Sherman is one of the newest co-hosts on Undisputed. Overall, the FS1 show, which stars Skip Bayless, has gone through a complete overhaul. Although this may have been a risk, the first two days have proven it has paid off. Sherman, Bayless, Michael Irvin, and Keyshawn Johnson are all part of the panel. So far, they have proven to be incredible contributors who know how to make a conversation lively. It seems like every single day, the show has a real potential to go viral.

Today, that is exactly what happened as Skip and Sherman engaged in a one-on-one debate. Overall, this is the type of stuff that fans were hoping for. These two have very different opinions from one another, and they have battled before on ESPN. However, in the clip below, the virality actually had nothing to do with what they were debating. Instead, it was due to the fact that Skip told Sherman “you came hard” which subsequently led to a hardy “pause” from Sherman.

Read More: Skip Bayless Looked Dejected During “Undisputed,” Michael Irvin Goes On Epic Rant: Watch

Richard Sherman Goes Viral

These kinds of interactions always seem to go over well on social media. Moreover, it felt like Sherman had been watching a lot of It Is What It Is with Cam’ron and Ma$e. Cam and Ma$e are constantly pausing each other, and fans love that. Considering the Sherman and Bayless incident took place on FS1 and not YouTube, there was a bit more taboo that came with it. Although, Bayless didn’t really seem to get it. After all, he is a man in his 70s so that kind of stuff doesn’t get his full attention.

Either way, this show is proving to be a success right now. Although many have nostalgia for Shannon Sharpe, this is a unique new direction. Let us know what you think of the new Undisputed, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

Read More: Lil Wayne Reveals To Skip Bayless His Intent Behind New “Undisputed” Theme

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Lil Wayne’s New ‘Undisputed’ Theme Song ‘Good Morning’ Is Finally Here And Skip Bayless Was Right About It

Skip Bayless is one of sports media’s most opinionated anchors. While Undisputed viewers might not always argue with his hot takes, there’s one thing he got right: Lil Wayne had something special in store. After weeks of teasing fans of the show with updates regarding the show’s updated direction, the show made its official return to airwaves yesterday (August 28) with all new co-hosts and theme song.

Bayless claimed Wayne’s new track for the song would outdo his 2016 contribution “No Mercy,” and he didn’t exaggerate. The rapper’s new record, “Good Morning,” was the fresh musical update the show needed.

As clever as ever, in the song’s lyrics, Wayne works in his love for sports and undeniable pen, “Good Morning, it’s Weezy FS1 / Skip the BS and put everybody after VS / P.S. all I spit is F-A-C-T-S / The best, Skip Bayless, yeah, say less / Top of the top, apex, everyday flex / If you ain’t got no haters, you ain’t poppin’, I ain’t tryin’ to hate / Let’s have a Jordan and LeBron debate, I got time of day / Drippin’ on the chain, my diamonds say what they gotta say / If you think it’s a game, I commentate, I ain’t got to play / On in the morning, I own my opponent / My competition is not an issue, just cotton tissue / Unconventional, controversial, convoluted / Unconditional, undeterred, and undisputed.”

In addition to the new song, the host revealed on The Skip Bayless Show that Wayne would also stop in weekly as a co-host.

“Wayne has agreed every Friday going forward to do a segment with me live. He might not always be in the studio, depending on his schedule. But he’s going to be joining me every Friday,” said Bayless. Based on Bayless’ statement, Wayne’s first appearance is slated for this Friday, September 1.

Listen to the show’s new theme song above.

Lil Wayne Reveals To Skip Bayless His Intent Behind New “Undisputed” Theme

Lil Wayne and Skip Bayless have been friends for many years at this point. Overall, it is a friendship that began while Bayless was working at ESPN. Since that time, the two have continued to visit one another and they have even debated sports on the air. Moving forward, Bayless and Wayne will be sitting next to each other on the new version of Undisputed. Wayne is expected to appear on Friday episodes, although he did find himself in the studio on Monday. Of course, this is because the new format premiered on Monday.

During the episode, we got to see the brand-new theme song for the show, simply titled “Good Morning.” Overall, it is a pretty cool song that fans are already giving good reviews to. As for Skip Bayless, he seems to love the new track as well. He told Wayne this directly, all while revealing his love for the lyrics. Subsequently, Wayne noted that his intention behind the song was to impress Skip. Moreover, he feels like the lyrics are a good representation of their friendship and love of sports.

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Lil Wayne Speaks

“I would hope so, I try to make everything I do better than the last thing I did,” Lil Wayne said. “Just to impress you just because I know how much you love ‘No Mercy.’ Just to capitalize on what you done. It’s not complicated. It’s not hard. I love the challenge of it anyway. I attacked it like an SAT exam, like if I don’t pass this, I can’t get in.” 

The New Theme

For now, the new format of Undisputed is getting mixed reviews. Skip had a hard time getting in any sort of commentary as Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Michael Irvin dominated the conversation. However, there does seem to be some potential for greatness here. Let us know what you think of the new version of the show, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news and updates from around the sports world.

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Lil Wayne Debuts New “Undisputed” Theme Song, “Good Morning”

Skip Bayless and Lil Wayne have had an interesting friendship over the years. The two have remained close and are frequent guests at each other’s homes. Moreover, Wayne was the man behind the theme song for Undisputed. Of course, this is an iconic part of the show’s intro, and Skip has always loved it since the beginning. However, with the show changing gears following the departure of Shannon Sharpe, it was only a matter of time before things changed. As Skip revealed weeks ago, a new theme song would be recorded.

Luckily, the theme song would be done by Wayne again. His voice is synonymous with the show at this point, so it was only right to have him do it. The new theme song is simply called “Good Morning,” and it is a new take on the show’s introduction. Overall, fans may actually prefer this new one. It has an extended verse to it, and Wayne seems more energetic over it. Perhaps this is an indication of what is to come for the show. After all, names like Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Michael Irvin are all lending themselves to this new endeavor.

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Lil Wayne Outdoes Himself

With the new version of Undisputed launching today, Skip decided to come through with the new theme. You can listen to it in the Twitter clip above. Fans are already enjoying it, which is good to see. As for the show itself, well, it is off to a very interesting start. We already reported that it was difficult for Bayless to actually get any words in. Moreover, Michael Irvin went on an epic rant that impressed the viewers at home. Needless to say, the new version of the show will go through some growing pains.

Let us know your thoughts on the new theme song from Lil Wayne, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from the sports world. We will always keep you informed of the latest news concerning the biggest athletes.

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Skip Bayless Looked Dejected During “Undisputed,” Michael Irvin Goes On Epic Rant: Watch

Skip Bayless has officially relaunched Undisputed today. Overall, this is a huge deal as the series enters a whole new era. Instead of the one-on-one format of the past, Bayless is now surrounded by a full panel. This is a panel that includes the likes of Keyshawn Johnson, Michael Irvin, and Richard Sherman. Sure, they are all football players, but they certainly know a lot about all types of sports. Additionally, football season is upon us, so it only makes sense that Skip would go in this direction.

As it turns out, the very first episode was a bit of a wild ride for all of the parties involved. One thing that Skip probably didn’t account for was just how strong the personalities are. Moreover, with no moderator to give people their own turn, the show was a bit disjointed. In one of the clips below, you can see how Skip was not able to get a single word in. Although he did try, Johnson, Sherman, and Irvin were able to overcome Skip and dominate the conversation.

Read More: Skip Bayless To Team Up With Michael Irvin & Keyshawn Johnson On “Undisputed”

“Undisputed” And Skip Bayless Go In A New Direction

In one of the clips above, you can see just how heated things got at one point. Essentially, Sherman told Michael Irvin that he was giving CeeDee Lamb bad advice. Subsequently, Irvin unleashed an incredible rant in which he reiterated his credentials in the game of football. It made for some amazing entertainment, however, there is no doubt that Bayless was irked by his lack of speaking time. Only time will tell whether or not he demands another set of co-hosts or even a format change.

Did you watch Undisputed this morning? If so, do you like the new format? Let us know in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world. We will always keep you informed of the biggest stories involving the biggest athletes in the world.

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Skip Bayless Introduces His New Dream Team For The First Time

Skip Bayless is easily one of the biggest names when it comes to sports talk television. Although some people truly hate his guts, there are others who love what he has done over the years. Overall, he is someone who has truly done a great job with building his platforms. Moreover, he is incredibly entertaining. While his hot takes might be nauseating, he has shown that being provocative truly sells. First Take and Undisputed have become massive hits because of him, and now, he is entering a new chapter.

After Shannon Sharpe left Undisputed, Skip needed to pick up the pieces. Well, today, the show made its return from hiatus with some brand-new voices. Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Michael Irvin were all on the show for the very first time. Fans have no idea what they are in for. The chemistry could be amazing, or it could be truly awful. However, if one thing is for certain, it will be a lot of fun. Below, you can see Skip introducing his new co-hosts for the very first time.

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Skip Bayless Is Back

During the intro to the show, Skip had every single person come out one by one after a massive introduction. Additionally, Bayless claimed that this was the best day of his career. He seemed extremely excited about his new show format, and it remains to be seen just how well it will work out. For years, Bayless thrived by debating just one other person. However, he will now have to deal with a panel format that can be pretty hit-or-miss. Hopefully, it turns out to be an overwhelming success.

This will be a pivotal week for the show as all four co-hosts look to make a huge first impression. Let us know if you will be tuning in, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sports world. We will be sure to keep you informed.

Read More: Skip Bayless & Lil Wayne Shoot Music Video For New “Undisputed” Song

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SOURCE SPORTS: Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson and Michael Irvin Set to Join Skip Bayless as New Co-Hosts of ‘UNDISPUTED’

Skip Bayless

Skip Bayless is adding to Lil Wayne as his run of new partners. Joining Skip Bayless on Undisputed beginning Monday (Aug. 28) are Richard Sherman, Keyshawn Johnson, and Michael Irvin.

Skip Bayless confirmed the additions, which he calls the “new dream team” on X.

Lil Wayne was previously announced as the Friday co-host for FS1’s Undisputed, pairing Weezy F baby with his friend Skip Bayless.

According to Bayless, Wayne will be featured for 15 minutes but could remain on the show longer if he gets hot during the debate. Wayne is also delivering a new theme song for the show.

“He is so deep when it comes to sports,” Skip said. “He doesn’t yell or scream, but he does get emotional. And you hang on his every word because, trust me, he has thought through every single word.”

He added, “That’s why I love him so much. That’s why we text so much about sports. We’re kindred spirits, but we do see things differently, but very deeply.”

Lil Wayne created the theme music for ths daily sports tlak show. You can hear it from Skip below.

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“Undisputed” Reportedly Adds Ex-ESPN Host To New Lineup

Undisputed will return on August 28 to premiere its brand-new look. The show returns without Shannon Sharpe, who abruptly left the show in June. It’s believed that a growing rift with co-host Skip Bayless was the reason that Sharpe left. Since leaving, Sharpe has been linked with a move to ESPN, with Stephen A. Smith eager for him to join First Take. Sharpe’s next move is yet to be officially confirmed.

However, the future of Undisputed appeared much less certain. A number of rumored co-hosts for Bayless were floated but none of them seemed to come to fruition. Then Bayless dropped the news that Lil Wayne would be joining him for a weekly segment on Fridays. Bayless and Wayne have been friends for years but it also served as the first major piece of news for the post-Sharpe vision of the show. Now, we have another piece of the puzzle.

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Rachel Nichols Joins Undisputed

According to the Sports Business Journal, former ESPN host Rachel Nichols will be joining Undisputed when the show returns later this month. Nichols has spent the last two years with Showtime after a leaked phone call ended her career at ESPN. In the leaked call, Nichols was heard complaining about the rise of Maria Taylor, who anchored the network’s NBA Finals coverage in 2020. Nichols did not apologize for her comments, instead placing the blame on ESPN. Regardless, she joins Wayne and former NFL star Richard Sherman as confirmed cast members for the new-look show. But are more on the way?

The SBJ also hinted at two other potential additions to the team at Undisputed. First is Keyshawn Johnson, who was recently fired from ESPN amid their round of talent cuts in June. The second is a slightly more controversial choice. Michael Irvin has also been floated as potentially joining the show. Irvin is currently on suspension at the NFL Network following accusations of an inappropriate incident with a hotel worker during the Super Bowl weekend in February. Both Irvin and Johnson are believed to be being considered for rotational contributor roles. Meanwhile, Sherman and Nichols will serve as permanent panelists alongside Bayless.

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