Pon de Replay: the birth of bad girl Riri

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Rewind to 24 July 2005 to 30 July 2005
This week in 2005, Rihanna made her Diwali riddim-fuelled debut, Hulk Hogan became the ultimate helicopter dad and Birmingham took a surprise spin on the tornado ride. We also hit Splendour just as it pivoted to electro and watched Canadian scientists crush Bigfoot dreams with one tuft of bison hair.

🌪️ Birmingham gets twistered. A rare urban tornado tears through England’s second city, tossing trees, ripping roofs and causing £40 million in damage. The miracle? Zero deaths. The mess? Immense.

👣 Bigfoot? more like big buffa. Canadian scientists crush cryptid hearts after testing some mysterious Sasquatch hair… and finding it belonged to a common bison. Cue sighs across the Yukon.

🎶 Pon de riddim. Rihanna begs the DJ to replay her debut banger and the world listens. Dancehall meets flip phone and suddenly everyone's winding to Diwali riddim.

🎸 Splendour goes synthetic. Byron’s beloved mudfest leans into synths as Moby headlines Splendour, with Bloc Party, QOTSA and Sarah Blasko rounding out one of its most eclectic years.

📺 Hulk knows best, allegedly. Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan becomes reality TV’s most overprotective dad. Tracking Brooke’s dating life and Nick’s drifting dreams? Just another day in the ring-shaped household.

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