Saturday, June 15th saw WWE follow up from a very successful NXT Battleground show with the United Kingdom getting their second-ever themed premium live event in the form of WWE Clash At The Castle emanating from Glasgow’s OVO Hydro Arena; it takes on a more intimate feel compared to the previous event at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
This show was built around WWE’s Scottish wrestling talents, with three of five matches featuring talent from the host nation, showcasing the work WWE has done to scout and hire talent from the area, emphasised by the fact there were several references to Scotland’s top independent wrestling company ICW where all the Scottish talent have worked in the past.
The showpiece match involved Drew McIntyre once more squaring off for the World Heavyweight Championship. The undercard saw Piper Niven in her first WWE Women’s Title match and the Women’s Tag Team Championships on the line in a match featuring the ‘Unholy Union’ Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. This will be a breakdown of each match with some commentary, as there is much to discuss.
Cody Rhodes vs AJ Styles – WWE Undisputed Championship – I Quit Match
Embed from Getty ImagesCody Rhodes entering his WWE Undisputed Championship match against AJ Styles
The WWE Title was contested under ‘I Quit’ rules during Clash At The Castle, which is always a fun stipulation as the talent is free to enter the more violent aspects of professional wrestling. AJ and Cody had instant chemistry in their first match in May at the Backlash Premium Live Event and added to that connection here with another stellar showing.
Initially, it was a brawl, and both men left the ring fighting on the floor before fighting across the barricade into the backstage of the OVO Hydro. Eventually, they went to the ‘Gorilla Position’, where the show is produced, before fighting back toward the ring. AJ and Cody recall a spot from Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart and Mr. Perfect’s classic encounter from King of the Ring 1993, with a suplex from the ring to the floor, which left both men lying.
Following action on the outside, AJ Styles introduced handcuffs to the ring, locking up Rhodes, and began punishing him with a kendo stick, but he would not quit when asked. AJ turned his attention to the famous ‘Mama Rhodes’ in the front row for this contest. Getting in her face, he would receive three slaps to the face for his trouble, resulting in more abuse for Cody with the use of a steel chair. Styles retrieves a chain from the bag he grabbed the cuffs from, wrapping it around his forearm and setting up for his ‘Phenomenal Forearm’ finish. However, when jumping to the top rope, Cody, who had managed to switch his arms in front of him, launched a chair at Styles’ head, sending him tumbling through a previously set-up table.
Rhodes finds the key to the cuffs during this time he had, freeing himself and delivering ‘Cross Rhodes’ to Styles three times with the third on a chair; both men are bleeding by this point. Rhodes, realising Styles still will not say “I Quit”, uses the handcuffs he had unlocked by attaching Styles to the ropes, brutally beating him down with a chair, which again does not result in the Phenomenal One quitting, in a desperate attempt, he grabs the steel steps holding them over Styles who finally relents saying “I Quit” frantically, ending the match. Rhodes, in triumph, looks to his mother, who signals to attack Styles with the chair anyway, likely ending this feud for good.
As he leaves, Solo Sikoa enters the picture, sending ‘The Bloodline’ Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa to beat down the tired, bloody champion. They are rescued by Kevin Owens and Randy Orton, who receive a huge ovation from the Glaswegian crowd.
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill vs Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark vs Unholy Union – WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships – Triple Threat Match
The second bout of Clash At The Castle saw a clear favourite team from the partisan crowd; Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn received massive ovations from their fellow countrymen. Bianca Belair begins the match showing her outstanding ability, simply showing off her extreme talent as she blends powerful offence with backflips off the ropes to show off. Belair and Cargill had the match in control with their entertaining tag move-set mainly seen with the wheelbarrow moonsault they pulled off, this prompted the challengers to regroup outside isolating each champion to make it a more winnable affair.
This teamwork did not last long, however, leading to an incredible rally by Alba Fyre, formerly known as Kay Lee Ray. She is an extreme talent, easily in the top 50 in the world. Watching her wrestle in this match was a pleasure, especially her cannonball diving from the top rope onto her opponents outside the ring.
Cargill re-entered the fray with a top rope dive, which did not quite work out with a slip from the top rope, which has received a huge overreaction from the online fanbase, deriding her in-ring skills. This is nonsense. A clear issue with the top rope was evident all night, as evidenced by the incident involving Damian Priest during the Main Event. Cargill does not need an NXT run, although Cargill vs Giulia could be an interesting match, she does need some grace from the entire fanbase nobody should face the sheer vitriol from a mistake especially someone still in the early stages of a career despite the TV time she’s had across AEW and WWE.
The finish of the match saw Belair and Cargill return to their creative offence, performing a wheelbarrow German suplex to Shayna Baszler, but before covering for the pin, Cargill was ripped from Baszler through a German suplex by Isla Dawn, who capitalised, pinning the Queen of Spades to capture the Tag Team Championships in a true pleasant surprise. The Unholy Union are such a talented unit criminally underused since their call-up and loss in unifying their NXT Tag Championship to Baszler and Ronda Rousey in 2023. In a case of potentially accidental long-term storytelling, Isla Dawn took the loss to a team involving Baszler, who is now pinning her to win the belts.
Embed from Getty ImagesAlba Fyre and Isla Dawn are celebrating with their new Tag Team Championships
Sami Zayn vs Chad Gable – Intercontinental Championship – Singles Match
A storyline-heavy bout is in the centre of the Clash At The Castle card. Chad Gable tries to install a tough approach to his Alpha Academy, while Sami tries to free them from the verbal and physical abuse they face from the challenger. This is an excellent wrestling match; these two also have instant chemistry. I would highly recommend watching this if you had to watch one match.
The play-by-play in this article would not do it justice, but it was a technical match based on targeting Zayn’s ankle via the ankle lock. Despite being an excellent match, this bout’s main objective was advancing the story for Monday Night Raw between Chad Gable and Otis. Again, this cannot be explained fully in written form. Do seek highlights of what happened here, as it is as close to ‘cinema’ as you can get in your wrestling.
The match ends with Zayn hitting Gable with a hellacious Helluva Kick following Otis’ departure with Maxxine; Sami Zayn retains, but how long will he hold the gold as it was revealed Gable has signed a new deal with WWE, likely under the promise that he will hold the Intercontinental Championship in the future, perhaps as part of Team Gable…
Embed from Getty ImagesSami Zayn entering his Intercontinental Championship match against Sami Zayn
Bayley vs Piper Niven – WWE Women’s Championship – Singles Match
The second of three homecomings for Clash At The Castle saw Piper Niven arrive for her biggest match within WWE, flanked by her tag partner Chelsea Green, Niven got a mixed response, given the monstrous ovation for the defending Champion due to the popular chant for Bayley in the tune of ‘Give it Up’ by KC and The Sunshine Band.
Piper looked great here even with the shenanigans of Green on the outside who was quickly ejected, she looked powerful and a real threat to the champion hitting many power moves. There is nothing extreme to report from this match not to take away from its entertainment value as these were two of the best in their element in front of a hot crowd willing to chant and play along as the pro-Piper chants began to rally during the match. Niven received a brutal-looking ‘Avalanche Bayley to Belly’ from the top rope, leaving both women on the mat; Chelsea Green or what looked to be Chelsea Green in a mask (we cannot confirm the identity) took this opportunity to interrupt the pin by Bayley which allowed Niven to kick out at two following around ten seconds of the pin attempt.
Niven reversed an attempt at Bayley’s ‘Rose Plant’ finish into a ‘Piper Driver’ for a close two count, and Bayley failed once more to carry out her marquee manoeuvre; however, he managed to think quickly, executing a ‘Crucifix bomb’ surprising the challenger and picking up the victory.
Niven looked at home in the title picture and should be pushed to this level once more as, for a time, there was a period where the women’s division was thin in terms of main event talent, so elevated excellent wrestlers like Piper Niven is a good thing for all involved.
Embed from Getty ImagesBayley performing an elbow drop on Piper Niven
Damian Priest vs Drew McIntyre – World Heavyweight Championship – Singles Match
You would be forgiven for thinking Drew was an all-conquering babyface such as Cody Rhodes or Steve Austing entering Clash At The Castle, preceded by a traditional band with Glasgow reaching a noise level of over 100 decibels upon seeing the Scottish Warrior. Drew matched the Scottish crowd’s energy throughout his entrance and the match. However, he is still a bad guy officially; it’s what Jerry Lawler would call “Bizarro World”. Damian Priest played the bad guy well, the arrogant champion entering the lion’s den to keep what was his, and this was set to be great.
Beginning it was hard-hitting, Drew got the hot start, dropping Priest repeatedly with ease, culminating in a luchador-style dive from McIntyre, clearing the top rope with grace, something I did not know was in his locker. Drew was putting on a wrestling clinic with Priest breaking out the Michinoku Driver for a close two count in the early stages. Whilst Drew was on the ring apron, Priest hit him with a roundhouse kick and prepared for a dive of his own; however, going back to Jade Cargill earlier, the top rope was not cooperating, catching Priest’s right leg as he jumped, causing injury which he sold for the rest of the match. Still, I am not convinced he didn’t stretch ligaments in his knee or ankle with how he hung from the rope for over a minute, to the point where Drew broke character, briefly realising the gravity of Priest’s predicament.
Once Priest was freed, he did an impressive job continuing the match, even falling off the top rope and performing a Razor’s Edge to McIntyre, which shows the heart of a champion to continue the show.
In the closing moments, referee Eddie Arango found himself in harm’s way escaping the ring to avoid being hit, upon entry he was knocked from the ring to the floor with force after McIntyre pushed Priest into him. McIntyre hit his devastating ‘Claymore Kick’ in the chaos and covered Priest for a nine count, but with no official present until the new referee appeared, he counted a two count but stopped because this was not a referee… this was CM Punk.
Embed from Getty ImagesCM Punk interrupting Drew McIntyre’s championship Main Event
McIntyre squared up to his enemy, receiving a low blow for his trouble, resulting in Damian Priest performing a chokeslam, pinning the challenger and retaining in his homeland. The Glasgow crowd fell silent as their hero lost due to these means. To add insult to injury, CM Punk appeared during the Clash At The Castle post-show media scrum at a Glasgow Celtic training top, a further shot to a passionate Glasgow Rangers fan, McIntyre.
Whilst this does seem like a poor decision now, with Drew McIntyre lobbying for a Scottish PLE for years only to lose, this will make his victory over Punk even better as Punk revealed at the press conference he is close to clearance for in-ring competition, meaning he and McIntyre will have their long-awaited blood feud matches soon. Also television will be excellent with all the fallout from Clash At The Castle a very monumental show.