Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship run reached the two-year mark this week, and on Saturday, he’ll be put to the test once again in the main event of Clash at the Castle in Cardiff, Wales (1 p.m. ET, Peacock).
And for the first time in quite a long time, it feels like this might be the end to his reign. After all, Scotland’s Drew McIntyre has waited for this moment — a homecoming headline matchup in WWE’s first United Kingdom stadium event since SummerSlam ’92, when “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith defeated Bret Hart to capture the Intercontinental championship.
Over 70,000 are expected to be in attendance at Principality Stadium for Reigns vs. McIntyre, one of three title matches at the inaugural Clash at the Castle.
The Intercontinental title will also be up for grabs in what shapes up as a hard-hitting battle between Gunther, the champion, and Sheamus, who is attempting to become a Grand Slam champion (someone who has held all of WWE’s titles). Gunther, when he was known as Walter, became a star in NXT U.K., and Sheamus is a longtime fan favorite from Ireland. Given proper time to work, this matchup could steal the show and restore prestige to the oft-ignored IC title.
Perhaps the most anticipated match of all features no title on the line, the first-ever one-on-one meeting between Seth “Freakin'” Rollins and Matt Riddle. They were set to square off at SummerSlam last month, but the match was postponed to give this program more time to sizzle — and it has paid off. The feud reached a fevered pitch on Monday when Riddle and Rollins got personal on Raw, with Riddle inserting his opponent’s real-life wife, Becky Lynch, into the mix. Rollins responded by taking a shot at Riddle’s divorce, adding a whole lot of authenticity — and expletives — to what already figured to be an excellent match between two of the best in-ring workers on the roster.
The third title match pits SmackDown women’s champion Liv Morgan against Shayna Baszler. Following a disappointing matchup at SummerSlam, where Morgan defeated Ronda Rousey in an abbreviated bout, this year’s Money in the Bank winner faces another former MMA fighter.
A men’s tag team match and a six-woman tag match round out the six-bout card, which should give every matchup time to breathe and each wrestler ample opportunity to deliver. Edge and Rey Mysterio reunite to take on The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Damian Priest in a feud that is surely reaching its conclusion soon. Time and again, a heel turn has been teased for Rey’s son, Dominik Mysterio, and that was the case again on Monday when he fell into a spell when he went to attack The Judgment Day’s Rhea Ripley.
In the other bout, Raw women’s champion Bianca Belair, Asuka and Alexa Bliss face Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO Sky, who will team for the first time in-ring since they debuted as a faction at SummerSlam. After they surprisingly fell to Raquel Rodriguez and Aliyah in the final of the women’s tag team championship tournament on Monday, Sky and Kai (along with Bayley) will be looking to rebound.
Follow along as we recap every match as it happens.
Match in progress: Madcap Moss and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) vs. Austin Theory and Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis)
Still to come:
Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Drew McIntyre
WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship: Liv Morgan (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
Intercontinental Championship: Gunther (c) vs. Sheamus
Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss and Asuka vs. Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO Sky
Matt Riddle vs. Seth Rollins
Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. The Judgment Day