Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Welcome to my live, ongoing WWE Clash at the Caste blog, which is brought to you by our good friends at www.RingsideCollectibles.com, who are in the middle of their annual Labor Day sale! Thank you for your support of PWInsider.com.
The Kickoff Show was a good preview of what's to come tonight. UFC's Leon Edwards popping up was a nice surprise.
The Street Profits & Madcap Moss vs. Alpha Academy & Austin Theory opens the show.
Some really entertaining exchanges between Chad Gable and Montez Ford early on. Ford was worked over. Otis nailed a BIG splash. In another era, that would have always been the finish except against the top tier babyfaces. Ford played babyface in peril excellently. Madcap got the hot tag and looked great with his explosive offense. Angelo Dawkins tagged in and looked great. His improvement in recent weeks has been something to behold. Moss got to show off his strength nailing a Fallaway slam on Otis. They built to a fun spot where Ford sailed over the top, hitting a neckbreaker on Gable, who was on Dawkins' shoulders and wiped out Otis as well. Montez SAILED high up and nailed a frog splash for the pin on Gable. Really fun stuff.
I really like the entrance video set designed to look like a castle with everyone exiting from what looked to be a drawbridge into the aisle.
Michael Cole namechecked Big Daddy and Orig Williams at the start of the show. BIG POP.
Bianca Belair & Alexa Bliss & Asuka vs. Bayley & IYO Sky & Dakota Kai kicks off the PPV proper. This is the right match to kick the night off with in my opinion. You could feel the crowd energy for this immediately. Bayley was a HUGE babyface for the crowd as they were singing for her like the old days of NXT. Dakota and IYO prevented Bianca from hitting her handspring splash so Alexa and Asuka neutralized them so Bianca could hit the move on all three of them. Sky and Alexa had some nice exchages. Bayley was worked over. We had a short exchange with Asuka and IYO that was solid. Asuka was taken down and Damage Control began tagging out working her over. Bliss had some really nice facial expressions showing concern. Asuka kept taking abuse but kept kicking up at the last second. Bianca finally got tagged in. Bayley got trapped on the ropes and nailed with a double superplex while standing on Bianca's back. They built to a triple suplex that was fun. The battle continued until Bayley pinned Bianca after a triple-team, setting her up as the next Bianca challenger. Really damn good match. The booking made sense here since you need to let the villains get something on the babyfaces so they can chase their revenge.
I was just watching the Bellas A&E Biography this week and a big part of that doc was how little opportunities there were for the women and how the Bellas helped pave the way for things to be better. This six woman tag was a great example of how far the company has come in that regard and was really damn entertaining. It's really nice to have Bayley back in the ring.
I'm not the biggest fan of all the CGI imagery on WWE programming but all the castles and dragons look really damn great.
They aired a Cody video for those who weren't getting commercials on Peacock.
They showed Tyson Fury and Drew McIntyre talking earlier today and then Tyson in the front row.
They put over the 30th anniversary of Summerslam 1992 including Bret Hart vs. Davey Boy Smith, the first time the Intercontinental title was defended above the WWE title on a PPV. They introduced Davey's family and Bret Hart at ringside.
WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER vs. Sheamus is next. Hey guys, no pressure. We are sending you out right after we plug the most famously celebrated match WWE ever had on UK soil...ANNNNNNNNNND GO TO THE RING. Butch and Ridge Holland are with him. Cole said Sheamus is far from the days of Irish Whip Wrestling! I am loving Michael Cole in the HHH regime. GUNTHER was accompanied by Imperium - Ludvig AND Fabian Aichner! - and they brawled to the floor with the Brutes. Butch hit a moonsault to the floor.
As all that was going on, Sheamus and GUNTHER stood stoic, staring the other down until the bell rang. Then, THEY began slugging it out. Big chops and a big boot from GUNTHER. Sheamus regained control and was about to smash across GUNTHER's chest but he went to the floor. Sheamus sent him into the ring steps and brought him back to the ring. He tried again for the smashing but instead GUNTHER was the one laying down the beating. Sheamus went to the top but was chopped off and crashed down to the floor. Ouch.
Lots of WALTER chants. Cole acknowledged them. Sheamus was slammed down on the ring steps. This has been really fun thus far. GUNTHER kept slapping and striking him and Sheamus crumbled down to the mat but kept trying to fight back. He locks on a Boston Crab. Is it still a Boston Crab when an Austrian locks it on an Irishman in Wales? Sheamus made it to the ropes but was still being beaten down with hard chop and fists. He kept fighting back but with each big strike, he was sent down to the mat. The slow motion replays of the strikes and chops looked absolutely EVIL.
Sheamus somehow nailed a clothesline and sent GUNTHER back to the floor. Finally, he gets him and batters him across the chest. They did it again on the floor by the barricades. Sheamus nailed a flying kneedrop from the top. They began slugging it out. GUNTHER nailed a big back suplex but was caught with a knee strike and almost pinned. Sheamus nailed White Noise and almost scored the pin again.
This is basically Kong vs. Godzilla, two badass monsters beating the crap out of each other. It's the closest we'll get to something like Vader vs. Stan Hansen in WWE today for sure. GUNTHER nailed a powerbomb but it didn't seem to hit right. Thankfully that wasn't the finish. I don't blame them on being careful there given Sheamus' back issues over the years. The beatings, as they say, continued!
Sheamus cut off GUNTHER on the top and nailed The Celtic Cross. That looked great. ANOTHER close near fall. They fought all the way to the bitter end until GUNTHER nailed a lariat and scored the pin. This was as perfect an example as you are going to get for the art of making someone look great while ascending the legitimacy of the person they beat at the same time. LOVED THIS.
The crowd gave Sheamus this awesome extended standing ovation after. It was deserved and I'm glad WWE stayed with a true, awesome organic moment.
More thoughts on Page 2!
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
| Daman Game | 55 club | vn168 | 92lottery | vn168 | 92lottery | Daman Game | 51 Game | Jai club | Jai club | Dost Win | Pinoy365 |
Bang On Casino
