#wwe uk

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Um guys I promise I'm a good person(ish) I just uh I like women what can I say (I'm not a cis man guys I promise I'm not gross)

Credits: @wweuk

WWE's third UK PPV event in recent years is an interesting one. The card for me wasn't quite exciting as the previous Clash in 2022 nor did it quite compare as either Backlash or King and Queen of the Ring during the last couple of months. What I did like was that the event offered opportunities for newer talent to stand out such as Piper Niven, Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn and most of all, Damian Priest. Priest in particular may not necessarily be new but this was his first main event showing against a proven main event star and it offered an opportunity for him to finally click as World Champion.

I did not like the result of the main event on Clash at the Castle in 2022, I felt McIntyre should've gone over but it was an event overall that provided quality matches and surprising moments. Clash in 2024 for me didn't quite deliver like the event in 2022 but that's not to suggest it wasn't fun.

MATCH 1 - I Quit Match for the Undisputed WWE Championship

Cody Rhodes (champion) vs. AJ Styles

I wondered whether WWE might pursue this feud after the stellar match they had at Backlash and to be honest it felt the right call to intensify the feud this time as well as adding the 'I Quit' stipulation. This was also the right match to start the show and it was a match of the highest quality both in terms of wrestling and moments. What was noticeable for me was that Cody went through his standard arsenal of moves early on in the match which told you it was going to be different from the first. The match utilised brawling in the crowd, weapons, blood and even Cody Rhodes' Mum which felt somewhat random though fun. The slaps to Styles got a huge pop but I felt something of a disappointment as I felt this was something that perhaps should've been held back for the teased feud with the Rock down the line. If there was one thing counting against the match itself then that would be that the result was never going to be in question but that didn't take away from another memorable clash between the two which could've been the main event on any other PLE.

4.5/5

MATCH 2 - Triple Threat Match for the Women's Tag Team Championship

Biance Belair & Jade Cargill (champions) vs. Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn

This was a very fun match that felt well put together and was helped along by a vocal crowd who injected it with extra life. Bianca and Cargill are on another level in terms of look and physicality and they dominated to the point where Baszler/Stark and Fyre/Dawn teamed up to take out the champions. This was a smart move and allowed Baszler/Stark and Fyre/Dawn to have the best moments as a wrestling match. The high spots and power moves from Belair/Cargill are truly spectacular although there was a noticeable botch from Cargill involving the top rope and a few sloppy moments. I'm not always a fan of dominant displays such as this as I feel it can make the competition look weak. So it was a surprise for the hometown team of Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn to overthrow the dominant champions and give the Scottish crowd a reason to cheer and celebrate which they did.

3/5

MATCH 3 - Intercontinental Championship Match

Sami Zayn (champion) vs. Chad Gable

This is a feud that has been steadily brewing since WrestleMania, carried over into King & Queen of the Ring and has seemingly been settled here. In my review for King & Queen of the Ring I noted how pleased I was to see that the Intercontinental title was still being utilised in a noteworthy fashion and this has only continued under Sami Zayn. Chad Gable deserves credit for his as well as his heel turn and abuse of the Alpha Academy has made this storyline a must watch of Monday Night Raw. Also given that Gable has recently signed a new contract with WWE, I was expecting Gable to win the title on this show. That he didn't marks one of the major surprises on the show. I don't think the match here was quite on point as the triple threat match the previous month, but this still a enthralling match with an injection of drama involving Otis and Maxxine Dupri that only elevated it further. The result makes me wonder what's next for Chad Gable and if this is it for him in terms of the Intercontinental title for now, then this was a entertaining story indeed.

3.5/5

MATCH 4 - WWE Women's Championship

Bayley (champion) vs. Piper Niven

Receiving a high place on the card, this was not an instant classic nor was it to the level of quality that we saw between Bayley/Naomi/Stratton at Backlash. It was however a great showcase for new talent as Piper Niven looked good against the veteran Bayley and they produced a good match that kept the crowd vocal throughout. Also adding was some fun interludes by Chelsea Green for good measure. Another predictable result perhaps but Bayley looked strong heading into what seems to be an inevitable clash with Nia Jax at SummerSlam.

3/5

MAIN EVENT - World Heavyweight Championship

Damian Priest (champion) vs. Drew McIntyre

When all is said and done, this match will be remembered for the noisy crowd, Damian Priest's determination following a painful botch and of course the ending. During the match it almost felt like a forgone conclusion for McIntyre who looked so dominant in front of a very friendly crowd to the point that Priest almost felt like an afterthought. This however was Priest's best match as champion especially following an embarrassing but painful looking mistake with the top rope that looked like it caused an injury. Ironically the match became more competitive after this with Priest in particular putting in a strong effort despite being in obvious discomfort. Drew McIntyre is a proven main eventer and with this performance, Damian Priest showed he could also deliver. The result is a testament to the long term storytelling approach of current WWE and CM Punk's interference was masterfully done on tv with the perfect choice of camera angles and only intensifies what is an already incredibly story brewing between McIntyre and Punk. Yet it is the same outcome for Drew McIntyre as it was in 2022, screwed out of a world title win due to outside interference.

4/5

OVERALL

I based this one on the post by @britwresquotes 👇