Chris King’s Takeaways: WWE Clash in Italy

Chris King brings you his takeaways from WWE’s historic debut in Italy, WWE Clash In Italy, featuring Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat!

For the first time in history, WWE hosts a PLE in Turin, Italy. We have a massive WrestleMania rematch between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi; Rhea Ripley defends her women’s world championship against Jade Cargill; Sol Ruca challenges Becky Lynch for the women’s intercontinental championship; and Roman Reigns defends his world heavyweight championship against Jacob Fatu in a Tribal Combat Match! Chris King is giving his takeaways from Clash in Italy 

Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther – Undisputed WWE Championship 

The match started off with ‘The Career Killer’ overpowering ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes, cutting him off with hard knife-edge chops and stiff knees. The undisputed champion bounced back with a Cody Cutter followed by a pedigree for a near-fall. Gunther answered back with his signature dinosaur drop kick and patented stacked powerbomb for a two-count. 

A defiant champion avoided a chokehold, but a second time had Rhodes on the brink of defeat by Gunther. Rhodes was seconds away from passing out but desperately managed to get to the ropes to force a break. The undisputed champion fired back with another Cody cutter and a second CrossRhodes to retain his title. Gunther’s foot was underneath the rope, but the referee didn’t see it. 

• This was their second one-on-one match at a PLE. The red-hot Italy crowd made this match feel special. While this match never kicked into second gear for me, it was a B+ match quality.
• Gunther’s foot being under the rope will automatically give The Career Killer his claim for a rematch. I don’t agree with the result, but this was the best outcome to give Rhodes a win and keep Gunther looking strong.

Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill – WWE Women’s Championship 

Rhea ‘Bloody’ Ripley proved once again why she could make wrestling a broom stick look interesting because she made both of her matches with Jade Cargill enjoyable. Michin and B-Fab came down at the end of the match and broke up a pinfall. Cargill hit Jaded and Charlotte Flair came down to help and broke up Jade’s pinfall attempt. Ripley answered back with a powerful Riptide for the successful victory.

• It seems the only reason why Jade Cargill has been involved in the women’s championship scene is to build up to a singles match against Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam. I still would have rather seen Jacy Jayne getting a title shot against Rhea Ripley, but maybe next month.
• Everyone that has a brain knew that Rhea Ripley was going to retain her title here. I enjoy all of her matches, but I just think Jade is entertaining at all.

Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi – “The Biggest Rematch in WWE History”

Before the bell rang, ‘The Beast Incarnate’ Brock Lesnar attacked his opponent with a trio of thunderous F5s for only a one-count. Lesnar locked in the Kimura Lock on ‘The Ruler,’ who managed to escape. Femi tried for a chokeslam, but The Beast hit another F5 for a kickout. Femi tried for a chokeslam through the announce table, but Lesnar countered into an F5. 

Femi stood right back up and answered back with his running elbow strikes in the corner and a chokeslam. Fall from Grace was thwarted, and Lesnar countered into another F5 for the victory. 

• From the opening bell, this was a car crash of a match. Lesnar bringing the fight to Femi without a second to breath was the right call. The Beast looked stunned as Femi rose from the ashes after a thunderous F5 through the announce table.
• Lesnar’s history of trilogy matches with The Undertaker and Cody Rhodes should have made me believe he was going to tie up the score with Femi; I was just hoping WWE would book Femi to silence The Beast with 2-0. Now, the story writes itself for a third match at SummerSlam.

Sol Ruca vs. Becky Lynch – Women’s WWE Intercontinental Championship 

An arrogant champion immediately hid behind the referee Jessica Carr to get the upper hand against her challenger. Sol Ruca bounced back with some high-octane offense, including her picture-perfect moonsault to Lynch. The crafty champion managed to outsmart her challenger at every turn. Lynch brilliantly countered the Sol Snatcher into an armbar. 

Ruca delivered an avalanche X-Factor off the top rope for a near-fall. Lynch once again put the referee into the action to gain the advantage in this match. An overconfident champion went for

Ruca’s finisher and got caught in her own Manhandle Slam for a near-fall. The challenger secured the victory with a Sol Snatcher to become the new Women’s Intercontinental Champion! 

• Both superstars stole the show with a fantastic match. Lynch played the perfect foil for the young up-and-comer in her search for her first singles title on the main roster. Lynch’s ongoing issues with Jessica Carr continued the entire match, and it appears they could be potentially heading towards a match in the future.
• I did not expect Ruca to win the title here, as I felt the big moment should have been saved for SummerSlam. I was wrong; the shocking title change made the moment more special. Ruca winning the title opens up for some fresh opponents and opportunities for the intercontinental championship title scene, unless a delusional Lynch demands a rematch.

Roman Reign vs. Jacob Fatu – WWE World Heavyweight Championship –  Tribal Combat Match 

A confident ‘OTC’ Roman Reigns overpowered his cousin Jacob Fatu to start this war. An unhinged ‘Samoan Wearwolf’ answered back with a suicide dive into the world champion as the action spilled out to the raucous crowd. Both superstars are beating the tar out of each other all over the arena. Reigns threw the steel steps onto Fatu on the outside as the Italian crowd serenaded their Tribal Chief. 

Fatu delivered a Samoan wrecking ball attack to the champion in the corner. Reigns hit a desperate Superman Punch for a two-count. The challenger locked in the Tongan Death Grip that had Reigns reeling. A Superman punch on the outside gave the champion a breather. Reigns smashed Fatu’s hand with a toolbox to injure his opponent. Reigns is focusing on his target as his cousin is writhing in pain. 

An exhausted and desperate champion delivered a wicked spear through the barricade and one inside the ring for a two-count. Reigns trash-talked his cousin and exposed the turnbuckle just like at Backlash and blasted Fatu’s head off both turnbuckles. Fatu delivered his version of a spear for a long near-fall. A slugfest ensued between the champion and the challenger, and he is bouncing Fatu’s head off the exposed turnbuckle like a basketball. 

Reigns answered back with a thunderous spear through the table and another one for a dominant victory. 

• Reigns and Fatu delivered a great tribal combat match filled with weapons and destruction. Reigns almost ensured the victory after smashing Fatu’s hand repeatedly so he couldn’t successfully execute the Tongan Death Grip. Fatu still fought back and came within seconds of a victory.
• After Fatu’s loss he’s forced to fall in line, which was my biggest concern over this whole storyline. Reigns will now do the same thing he did to Jey Uso for multiple years. I feel like this makes Fatu look weaker, not stronger, in defeat.

Final Thoughts: Clash in Italy was a great PLE with some predictable outcomes and one shocking title change. How will Oba Femi respond to his loss to Brock Lesnar, and how will Jacob Fatu be forced to fall in line after his loss to Roman Reigns?