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Welcome to PWInsider.com's live, ongoing coverage of WWE's Clash at the Castle: Scotland Kickoff event from Glasgow, Scotland.
Michael Cole welcomed everyone. There are a LOT of fans there.
They showed Drew McIntyre and Piper Niven arriving.
Cole welcomed Triple H to the stage. Cole noted it was the first time in eight years they are taping TV and their first PPV event in Scotland thanks to Levesque. HHH said it wasn't because of him, but because of the fans here giving WWE everything they have. Levesque said it was important to show the global nature of what WWE has become with talents from all over the world competing.
Cole said the company is red-hot right now across the globe and asked Levesque why that was. Someone yelled they loved HHH. He said he would say it back, but he doesn't know them. He said that when you grow up your whole life wanting to be a WWE star and then get to come back to your home doing that, there's nothing like that passion like that in the world.
Levesque said this era is not because of him. He said he was a kid who watched wrestling and WWE until it wasn't on anymore when he was a kid and it's, to him, the greatest form of entertainment on this planet. He said it's remarkable to be a small part of the machine alongside the talents and the behind the scenes people who do this for the fans. The fans are the ones who will make sure this continues long after Levesque and everyone else are long gone. HHH closed out asking if they were ready.
Cole brought out AJ Styles next. Styles was asked thoughts on the TNA relationship. He said it was a best of both worlds and if he was running WWE, it's what he would do.
It was noted that he was the first man to win the WWE title outside of North America and that he hopes to do that again tomorrow. Styles said he was back in the WWE Championship picture because he can beat Cody Rhodes. He was within seconds of winning last time, but Cole pointed out he still lost. They noted Styles is 4-0 in I Quit Match while Cody has never been in one. Styles said that it was Cody's idea and if he want Styles to make him quit, so be it. He did the retirement ruse because Nick Aldis didn't want to give him a new title shot. He said everyone can be mad, but they all fell for it and Styles got what he wanted.
Cole noted Styles could be forced to say I Quit tomorrow and wondered what would be next for Styles then. The crowd chanted for TNA! Styles said they will cross the road when it comes.
Styles left and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes was next.
Rhodes said if Styles had retired after Backlash: France, he would have gone out on top but instead he's angry and bitter and will be saying the words I Quit.
Cole noted Cody has never competed in an I Quit Match before. Rhodes said that when he left WWE, he learned how to get down and dirty. He asked if the crowd ever heard of The Bullet Club and said he was ready to go "full Homelander" and rip Styles' throat out. He asked the fans if they wanted another PPV in their future and said he'd see them tomorrow.
They aired a nice video package on Piper Niven vs. Bayley.
Piper came out and did the HHH spitting entrance. She noted she grew up Kilbirnie in a tiny town of 5,000 people. People don't really go there for anything but they have a Target. It was noted she was a fan her entire life. She found the SWA wrestling school when she was 16 and it changed her life forever. Cole ran down her history and the mention of ICW got a huge pop with the fans chanting the initials. Cole asked how the independents helped her get to WWE. She said the independents led to the most chaotic, crazy schedule and work. She said when she went to Japan for the first time, in comparison, it was a cake-walk.
Cole talk about her title match tomorrow. The crowd chanted, "You deserve it." Piper told the fans that she loves them. Cole noted there are fans who says she doesn't deserve the title shot because she didn't deserve it, she just attacked Bayley. She asked Cole if he realized where they were. The fans are here now because people like her put wrestling on the map. They all made WWE come to them. She's tired of pretending she's not one of the best on the roster, because she is. She started kicking down doors and no one told Bayley not to answer. Piper came off really great.
Cole brought out Bayley. The crowd sang for Bayley like they did in the NXT days. Bayley was thankful Cole said she was a future Hall of Famer. She said she know Piper is in her country and she studied 15 of her matches last night but she thinks she's Scotland's adopted girl and she's up for the challenge.
Bayley was asked what happens if she loses. Bayley said that she's lost before she never left and she's still here. Piper disrespected her, saying she was obnoxious. She asked Bayley what it was like knowing the countdown was down to minutes before she kicks Bayley's head off and wins the title. He said Bayley will need some magic to beat her. Bayley said the crowd is ready for a how and promised she is walking out still champion.
They aired a video package on Drew McIntyre.
Drew came out. Big reaction but some noticable CM Punk chants as well.
Drew said this is about Scotland. Cole said it was an incredible homecoming week for McIntyre, noting he was the first-ever active wrestler inducted into the Scottish Hall of Fame. He said he can't wrap his head around the first big show in Scotland and he's in the main event for the title.
McIntyre was asked if he was ever going to be here 25 years ago. He said he wants to say yes but growing up, the dream was getting to WWE and winning the title and Wrestlemania and all that happened. He said that every time it seems like something has never been done before, that goal can be accomplished. He noted for years, he was given reasons as to why they couldn't have a big stadium show in UK, like time differences but then they did a show from Australia and that's the ultimate time difference.
On the title match, Drew said that he's never been so focused on a match as he is after last year's Clash at the Castle. He said it was a stab in the heart for himself, his family and the UK. His wife can't be there tomorrow as she's in emergency surgery and told him to win and bring back the title. It was a hell of a babyface promo.
McIntyre said he's going to win. "That's it."
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest was introduced and joined McIntyre on the stage. Priest spoke in Spanish to get heat. Drew translated it to say he admitted he was going to lose. They went back and forth.
Priest was asked how he felt about the Judgment Day to be banned from ringside. Priest said he can't control his friends and he's never been the first person to use outside interference to win, but he doesn't need outside interference to win. He's going to win and shove that victory down Drew's throat.
Cole brought up Drew calling Priest a "transitional champion" Damian said Drew talks a lot because that's the only thing that keeps him a WWE star. He's the World Champion and is honored to be champ. He's embarassed Drew had the belt for five minutes. Drew said his 5:46 as champion is way more talked about than all of Priest's title reign. Priest said that's because Drew never stops bitching about it.
Drew said Priest is going to have to prove himself tomorrow but Drew is going to make Broken Dreams come true. He praised Damian as a fighter but said his problem is he's champion when Drew is coming for the belt.
Damian and Drew faced off as they went off the air.
Very good presentation.
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