All eyes will be on Cardiff, Wales this Saturday night for WWE’s Clash at the Castle for two reasons: First, it’s the first stadium-size show WWE has brought to the United Kingdom since the beloved SummerSlam ’92 saw the British Bulldog defeat Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Championship at Wembley Stadium in London, England. Second, it’s the first Premium Live Event produced fully under Triple H’s control (SummerSlam had his fingerprints all over it, sure, but he had just taken creative control a mere day prior, and you have to assume most of SummerSlam was closing out what his father-in-law set into motion).
There’s a lot of hype for this one, and it kicks off a Labor Day weekend full of pro graps as both AEW’s All Out and NXT/NXT UK’s Worlds Collide (which appears to be a swan song of sorts for NXT UK as a whole) both go down the next night. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves – first, we have a Clash! At the Castle!
How to watch WWE Clash at the Castle
Clash at the Castle will be available on Peacock in the United States, and WWE Network elsewhere in the world.
WWE Clash at the Castle start time
Clash at the Castle goes down Saturday, September 3, 2022. Being a United Kingdom show, Clash at the Castle will start at 1pm ET/10am PT here in the United States.
WWE Clash at the Castle Full Card
Matt Riddle vs. Seth “Freakin’’ Rollins
Jason: Talk about a feud that completely reversed my opinions since Papa H took the wheel. I honestly did not care at all about the beef that would not end between Seth Rollins and (the once again Matt) Riddle, but I’ll be damned if these guys didn’t talk me into caring about the blood feud. Sure, it’s just a worked version of the Jon Jones/Daniel Cormier spat from a few years ago, but I’ll take it. In this instance, I think Seth has to take it. He’s lot all of his big feuds since he became a cackling goon, and I’m assuming their building to Randy Orton’s return, which means Riddle will need to be sacrificed for the greater good. That dude should be able to bounce back from the loss. I just wish this one had a no rules stipulation to make things more interesting.
Winner: Seth “Freakin'” Rollins
Tyler: I don’t remember the origin of this feud, but the heat meter has certainly risen over the last several weeks. While it may have been odd at the time to postpone Riddle/Rollins at SummerSlam, it makes more sense now. Their guaranteed banger of a match will now have context. But who should win? Matt Riddle’s horizons are bright with the return of a certain Viper (and his first name), and he already feels elevated with his persona resembling that of his old indie days. As for Seth, let’s start booking him like the top guy he is.
Winner: Seth “Freakin'” Rollins
Jay: Rollins’ promo on Monday hurt. Like, I’ve been watching wrestling for 22 years. I heard “Eddie’s down there, in hell”. I’ve watched Punk dump ashes on himself insinuating that it was Paul Bearer’s, and I sat through the “Bayley, This is Your Life” segment. I have never cringed and shivered the way I did when Rollins said “Let’s talk about your family, oh wait – you don’t got one because your wife divorced you and your kids don’t want to see your bitch ass anymore.” Damn. The original plans may have had Rollins winning, but after that, Riddle has to or they risk taking his character’s heat away forever. I think the most likely scenario is they wrestle to a no-contest because this feud has just so much more to go.
Winner: No-contest, dust-up, DQ finish
Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss and Asuka vs. Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY
Jason: I do not understand why you had IYO and Dakota lose on Monday to a much less interesting act. You honestly put a title on Aliyah over IYO SKY? My only hope is that they receive a consolation victory over the assembled babyfaces…but I’m not optimistic. These kinds of overseas shows tend to be glorified house shows, and the thing about a house show match is that the good guys always win (unless the bad guy is the bigger star). Given the talent assembled, I’m picturing a flashback to NXT TakeOver: Chicago, with Bianca pinning Dakota Kai clean as a sheet. It will continue to cut the legs out from a promising up-and-coming heel stable, but the faces all move merch, and this is, after all, a house show with cameras.
Winners: Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka
Tyler: When this match was originally booked, it had a myriad of possibilities. But then Bliss and Asuka had to wrestle Kai and SKY two weeks before the PLE in the tag title tournament, then Kai and SKY lost in the finals. And while I don’t think Gonzalez and Aliyah winning the straps was necessarily the wrong call, it just makes coming into this match murky and a little convoluted. It’s fine, though, because this match is all about setting up Bianca Belair’s next challenge when Bayley pins the Raw Women’s Champion.
Winners: Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY
Jay: Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY. I’m the only one who agrees with Aliyah and Raquel winning. The win doesn’t do anything for Bayley, and IYO and Dakota can use the purposefully illegitimate loss (Aliyah pinned the non-legal person) as a pedestal to be angrier and more vicious while giving Raquel and Aliyah something to hang their hats on. It was a good move. Plus, Damage CTRL or Contra CTRL or Chaos CTRL or whatever they’re calling themselves can get their heat back in this 6-woman tag and slide into the obvious, ready-made tag and singles feuds as IYO, Dakota, and Bayley are perfect foils for Asuka, Bliss, and Bianca respectively.
Winners: Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY
Edge and Rey Mysterio vs. The Judgment Day
Jason: I think we’re all assuming that Dom is turning sub in this one, but as mentioned in previous sections, I’m viewing Clash at the Castle as a glorified house show – and nothing of note happens on house shows. I think the babyfaces have this one, with a further tease of Dom dissension. I don’t think the actual turn comes till Monday’s Raw, however. It’s the same path they took toward Finn joining the Groovy Ghoulies. I assume Edge pins Finn off a spear in a fun, but forgettable match.
Winner: Edge and Rey Mysterio
Tyler: WWE has their work cut out of them with this Judgment Day storyline. Edge has returned to kill the monster he created. That’s great, but his monster consists of three wrestlers, one of which is Rhea Ripley. How does this story come to a satisfying end? Oh well, that’s their problem. And we should be getting an Edge/Finn Balor match out of this, so we all win.
As for the Mysterios, I agree with Jay and Jason – this match is the avenue to launch into a civil war inside the luchador clan. Dominik should turn on Rey and join The Judgment Day, sure, but what if he instead snaps and takes out Rhea finally? Something to ponder, but while that would garner a pop from the crowd, the heel turn would provide substance and opportunity for more fun stories in the long run.
Winners: The Judgment Day
Jay: People are anticipating this match for all the wrong reasons and y’all know damn well why. Edge and Rey have always been a great tag team and they’ll put on a great match with Finn/Priest, but the grapples will be overshadowed by the inevitable turn to dark side by Dominik – who will be lured by none other than Rhea Ripley. What would Stokely Hathaway say to you all?
Winners: The same fans who liked Playground Alexa Bliss
Gunther (c) vs. Sheamus for the Intercontinental Championship
Jason: The rare heel vs heel match, this one should be a fun slobberknocker. I don’t think either of these guys’ seconds will be involved, I think this is just a couple of big mean bastards working stiff against each other. I’m rather looking forward to it, and think Gunther will take it in the end after a war that reminds us all that Sheamus is actually pretty good at all this, even if his character work isn’t all that great.
Winner: Gunther
Tyler: The result may not be in doubt, but neither is the quality. The Intercontential Champion and his challenger should provide a strong style clinic and properly beat the hell out of each other. Sheamus will get the showcase he deserves in front of a stadium, and Gunther will cement his position on the main roster. A heel vs heel match where both wrestlers are likely to get cheered, this one will be remembered.
Oh, and the Bruiserweight will return. We’re in the UK, so let me believe.
Winner: Gunther
Jay: This will be a sleeper hit. Sheamus is low-key the most underrated wrestler on the roster. He has banger, after banger, after banger, after banger and has consistently turned chicken s*** into chicken shepherd’s pie since 2009 and we still, still, doubt him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sheamus have an off match or phone it in for well over a decade and for this match, he’s with an equally stiff brawler with a chip on their shoulder. Gunther has been excellent since coming to the main roster and this is the only match I’m legit excited for. My head tells me that Gunther will take it but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the event’s opener and Sheamus takes it for that hometown pop.
Winner: Sheamus
Liv Morgan (c) vs. Shayna Baszler for the SmackDown Women’s Championship
Jason: Part of me just wants Shayna to tear through Liv like a Pitbull through a Toy Maltese, but I’m thinking Liv retains with a tricky pin. Shayna deserves better, and will likely dominate for the majority of the match before Liv reverses a Kirifuda Clutch into a pin – the old “Shayna loses but we think this protects her” special.
Winner: Liv Morgan
Tyler: Historically speaking, WWE tends to pull the plug when their experiments fumble out of the gate–especially ones with a short leash. But with Hunter calling the shots, assumptions should come with an asterisk. With Shayna having a similar style to Rousey, this match would be the perfect opportunity to run the SummerSlam fiasco back, so to speak, but book the finish that sees Liv suffer through Shayna’s brutality but ultimately prevail. And I think they should. Don’t give up on Liv. WWE needs to do the actual work of developing Liv as a champion, and not just the miracle kid who somehow won the belt.
Winner: Liv Morgan
Jay: Liv Morgan. This is the easiest match on the card to call. They’ve done wonders rehabilitating Baszler in the eyes of fans and she’s going to tear Liv apart but the booking powers that be won’t be able to resist making Liv look like that indomitable underdog and the potential of a Liv/Shayna/Rousey triple threat match down the line.
Winner: Liv Morgan
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship
Jason: It’s weird how Drew McIntyre is the least interesting part of his own title feud. Roman will win, there may be some shenanigans, and I assume Sami does something to get him back in the Big Dog’s good graces, but the end result will be the continuation of the never-ending Roman Reigns era. Maybe Karrion Kross will pop back up to remind us that he’s back, or maybe it’s just the usual distraction from the Usos, but they’ll try to protect McIntyre from a thorough drubbing. I think they’re building toward KO and Sami taking the tag belts (at least one set) off the Usos in the coming weeks, but as for the main titles? I’m not sure how they wrest either belt away from your Tribal Chief. Acknowledge him.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Tyler: I believe Drew McIntyre has a chance to beat Roman Reigns in the main event. I do. Kudos to WWE for heating Drew up in the manner that they have. And Kudos for Drew for taking this opportunity and running with it. It has all of the ingredients of the most dominant reign in modern wrestling to come to a shocking end. But…look. Drew legitimately feels the most relevant he has since winning the Royal Rumble in 2020, but there are two roadblocks on the paved path to decrowning the tribal chief.
One, it’s too little, too late. When McIntyre eventually ran out of steam on Raw and shifted over to Friday nights, the former WWE Champion felt like he was on a collision course with Roman Reigns. Then Clash at the Castle was announced, and they had to put this match on ice for entirely too long. It resulted in Drew spinning his wheels for months and months, and now that we’re overseas, Drew has floated back up to the top of the card. It feels a little convenient and a little too late.
The second, and most important, roadblock: Drew just isn’t the guy. That’s nothing against Drew, it’s really just the unique circumstance WWE finds themselves in with Roman Reigns truly being in God Mode. At this point, there are only two men in the professional wrestling world that can beat Roman Reigns and win the world title(s): The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Either clean or through shenanigans, Roman retains. Again. And until the man across the ring from him is Cody or The Rock, the result will be the same.
Winner: Roman Reigns
Jay: The most exciting thing about this match is that for the first time in two years, there can conceivably be a title change. Roman has hit the two year mark and the only thing left for him to do is to face The Rock, but this presents two very serious booking conundrums. On one hand, having Roman v. Rock for the title makes the event all the grander but, on the other hand, it makes that match all the more predictable because we know The Rock won’t leave with the title. On the third hand then, if Roman beats The Rock and retains the title – who the hell can beat Roman for the title believably? Roman, in other words, has gotten too big for the current roster. He’s getting to that point where his character is just too overpowered and he won’t be able to lose without some grand, overbooked, and heavy handed clusterf*ck. The easy solution is to just have Drew beat him and they can say “OMG the hometown crowd gave him the powerz and blah blah blah” but that is just so blah. And then what does he do? Start working his way through the same roster he already beat back during his first reign in 2020? Roman is WWE’s greatest strength and greatest weakness but they need to see this through till a legitimate contender takes it from him.
Winner: Roman Reigns
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