WWE returns to the United Kingdom for Clash at the Castle on Saturday afternoon. The event marks WWE’s first stadium show in the country in over 30 years. In the main event, Roman Reigns will defend the WWE Universal Championship against Drew McIntyre from the United Kingdom.
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Intercontinental Championship Match: Gunther vs Sheamus
As expected, the two went to war immediately, brutalizing each other with massive strikes. Much of the early match was dominated by Gunther, who used chops and forearms to turn Sheamus’ chest various shades of red and purple.
Sheamus defiantly stood up after more heavy chops, grabbed Gunther’s arm, and made a comeback, repeatedly sending Gunther scrambling as Sheamus built momentum.
Sheamus almost won the match after hitting White Noise after more brutal strike trading. With a Celtic cross, Sheamus scored another near-fall. Nonetheless, Gunther was able to escape with a brutal lariat.
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This was an incredible match for what these two gentlemen do. An old-school fight with real physicality.
Match Result : Gunther def. Sheamus via pinfall to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship: Liv Morgan ( C ) vs Shayna Baszler
Baszler immediately targeted Morgan’s arm, attempting an early armbar. Even after Morgan had glimpses of hope, Baszler continued to attack the arm.
Baszler kept Morgan on the defensive with German suplexes and kicks. Morgan finally got going, landing a flurry of strikes and driving her knees into Baszler’s face for a two-count.
Baszler attempted to stomp on Morgan’s arm, but Morgan locked in a triangle and then an armbar to nearly score the submission, but Baszler stomped her way out before a knee to the jaw nearly won her the match.
Morgan rammed Baszler’s head into the turnbuckle before launching a running powerbomb, but Baszler quickly locked in a Kirifuda Clutch and an armbar.
Morgan was able to break the hold and then hit Oblivion to win. Morgan needed that scrappy win, and it was a much better booking than her match with Ronda Rousey at Summer Slam.
Match Winner : Liv Morgan def. Shayna Baszler via pinfall to retain the title.
Edge & Rey Mysterio vs. The Judgement Day
Edge walked in wearing a Lucha mask. After Balor and Mysterio began the match, Priest tagged in and requested that Edge do the same. Edge quickly ejected Priest from the ring and assisted Mysterio in his outside flip on Judgement Day.
Rey Mysterio committed the error of getting caught in Judgement Day’s corner after a hot start, as the team separated him from Edge. Edge cleaned house, including hitting Balor with the 619 before Mysterio hit a splash for a two-count when Priest did break up the pin.
Before Rhea Ripley attacked Dominik, he created a distraction to avert Balor from striking Edge with a coup de grace. Dominik created another distraction, allowing Rey to hit a 619 on Balor, sending him into an edge spear for the win.
Following the match, Rey and Edge celebrated while Dominik looked annoyed before kicking Edge in the crotch. As Rey tried to calm Dominik down, he hit his father with a lariat and walked away from the ring, while Judgement Day laughed.
The turn had been a long time coming, but WWE had to pull the trigger at some point. The match itself was alright, and it was helped by a hot crowd all night.
Match Result: Edge & Rey Mysterio defeat The Judgement Day via pinfall.
Matt Riddle vs Seth Rollins
After some early work in the ring, Rollins used a powerbomb to drive Riddle into the ringside barricade before hitting a suicide dive that sent Riddle crashing into the announcement table. Rollins used his momentum to score a few close calls with big moves resembling a falcon arrow.
Rollins landed a superplex and rolled through, but Riddle was able to reverse into a fisherman’s buster and a knee to the jaw. As Rollins exited the ring, he had been kicked in the face before Riddle hit a Floating Bro to the outside.
Riddle jumped into a triangle choke on Rollins, but Rollins managed to escape and hit Riddle with Riddle’s own finisher, Bro Derek, for a near fall. Rollins hit a pedigree for a two-count after several striking exchanges and reversals.
Rollins’ rant about Riddle’s family abandoning him caused Riddle to erupt, but the loss of control allowed Rollins to retake control before hitting Riddle with a Randy Orton-style hanging DDT.
Rollins then attempted an RKO, but Riddle blocked the move and began attacking Rollins with strikes before attempting to hit Rollins with a chair. Rollins slid into the ring to escape, then stomped Riddle as he tried to catch up with him.
The match was then won by Rollins with a stomp off the second rope. A hard-hitting match with a good story about Rollins’ being smart enough to exploit Riddle’s reckless aggression.
Match Result: Seth Rollins Defeats Matt Riddle via Pinfall
