WWE Clash at the Castle results: McGuire’s review of Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, Gunther vs. Sheamus for the Intercontinental Title, Liv Morgan vs. Shayna Baszler for the Smackdown Women’s Title, Seth Rollins vs. Riddle, Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley, Iyo Sky, and Dakota Kai

By Colin McGuire, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@McGMondays)

WWE Clash at the Castle
Aired September 3, 2022 live on Peacock, WWE Network, and pay-per-view
Aired live from Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium

WWE Clash at the Castle Pre-Show

The stadium looks great and this sure has a big-time show feel because of it. Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Byron Saxton were on commentary for the pre-show match. Everyone in sight was on their feet for the pre-show entrances and smart money says this crowd is only going to heat up as the show wears on. The commentators’ headsets clipped a bunch of times when their voices got particularly loud, but it kind of added to the spectacle and energy of everything, which was refreshing in an old-school way.

1. Madcap Moss and “The Street Profits” Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated Theory and “Alpha Academy” Chad Gable and Otis in 6:29. Ford pinned Gable following a double-team Blockbuster and Ford’s signature frog-splash. Then crowd was up for the Blockbuster and Moss had a particularly memorable outing.

McGuire’s Musings: You didn’t hear it from me, but Moss might – might, mind you – run the ropes as hard and as fast as Takeshita does sometimes. But again, you didn’t hear it from me. The guy just has so much intensity. Anyway, onto what we’re here for…

WWE Clash at the Castle Main Show

1. Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley, Iyo Sky, and Dakota Kai. The commentary team stayed as Cole, Graves and Saxton for the main show. Bayley and Belair began the match and smiled as the crowd went nuts. Bayley hit Asuka, so Belair hit Sky. All six women wound up in the ring and brawled. Ultimately, Belair and Bayley ended up alone in the ring and Belair got the better of Bayley to begin, but Sky and Kai interfered to give the heels control.

Before long, all six women were in the ring again and the babyface landed a triple suplex on the heels. Belair landed a moonsault on all three opponents and got a two-count out of it. Sky and Bliss tagged in and Bliss slapped Sky. Bliss tripped Sky and landed a double knees for a two-count. Bayley tagged in and worked over Bliss briefly until Asuka tagged in and hit a series of standing hip attacks.

Sky tagged in and controlled Asuka with a dropkick. Kai then tagged in and kept her team in control by working on Asuka’s arm. Sky hit a double-knees onto Asuka in a corner and got a two-count out of it. Bayley tagged in and and then tagged in Kai, who Bayley told “jump down, go down around.” As a result, Kai attacked Bliss, who received a weird tag form Asuka. Inside the ring, Kai landed a suplex on Bliss for a two-count.

Sky tagged in and kept control over Bliss, running Bliss into a middle turnbuckle. Sky face-planted Bliss. Kai tagged in and Bliss landed a Destroyer on Sky, but Sky wasn’t legal and Kai followed up quickly with a strike and a pin attempt. Bayley attacked Belair on the outside while inside the ring, Bliss got the warm tag to Asuka, who landed a missile dropkick on Sky. Bayley came into the ring, but Asuka fight her off. Asuka landed a German Suplex on Sky, but Kai and Bayley broke up the pin attempt.

Things sort of broke down again and Bayley dispersed of Bliss before receiving the official tag form Sky. Bayley hit a running clothesline on Asuka for a two-count. Belair then got a hot tag and worked over Bayley. Belair planted Bayley and landed a standing moonsault for a two-count. Kai tagged in, but Belair kept her attention on Bayley. Eventually, Belair threw Kai into Sky and went back to Bayley, who was perched atop the top rope. Bliss and Asuka super-plexed Bayley off the top and everyone was down again.

When things started moving again, Belair pressed Kai above her and used Kai’s legs to hit Sky. Belair landed a fallaway slam. Kai went for a Scorpion Kick, but Belair caught her and power-bombed Kai. Belair went to the top, but Kai moved and hit the Scorpion Kick. Kai went for another kick, but Belair lifted Kai and Sky interfered. As a result, Bayley and her team took control Sky landed a moonsault on Belair and Bayley pinned Belair for the win.

Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai defeated Bianca Belair, Asuka and Alexa Bliss via pinfall in 18:44.

After the match, the heels posed in the ring.

McGuire’s Musings: Wowzers, that went nearly 19 minutes and it felt like 39. The women worked hard, but there were a lot of clunky moments and it might not be the worst thing in the world if WWE turned down the mics surrounding the ring because Bayley was embarrassingly loud as she talked to her co-workers. The crowd was hot for this when it began, and you can tell they wanted to love it and stick with it all the way through, but the match felt like it wore out its welcome about halfway through the proceedings. I’m all for giving these six very talented performers 20 minutes anywhere, any day of the week. Here, though? An editor would have been welcome. Still, they worked hard and this obviously sets up Bayley vs. Belair for the title sooner than later. That said, I’m a bit surprised they had Belair take the pin here.

We got a shot of Tyson Fury in the crowd. A recap video of the match between Davey Boy Smith and Bret Hart at SummerSlam 1992 aired. Hart was then introduced in the crowd and he got a good ovation.

2. Gunther (w/Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) vs. Sheamus (w/Butch, Ridge Holland) for the Intercontinental Championship. Giovanni Vinci (f/k/a Fabian Aichner) was out with Ludwig Kaiser to reform Imperium, if only for a night. Gunther made his entrance with the two of them. Everyone but Sheamus and Gunther brawled. Meanwhile, Sheamus and Gunther stood in the middle of the ring and stared at each other. Once the bell rang, the two traded blows. It wasn’t even a minute before Sheamus’s chest was red as hell. Sheamus suplexed Gunther, but Gunther fought back with uppercuts.

Sheamus landed a bunch of kicks. With Gunther on the apron, Sheamus went for 10 Beats, but Gunther moved and the two fought outside. Sheamus was on the top rope and Gunther chopped him to the floor. Gunther reorganized the ring steps and slammed Sheamus onto the first level of them. Sheamus barely beat the count and the two went back and forth with chops in the ring with Gunther grounding Sheamus, whose chest was only getting worse. Gunther hit a kick to Sheamus’s head and some chops and strikes for good see. Sheamus’s chest was bleeding.

Gunther worked a Boston Crab, but that turned into Sheamus working out of it before receiving a chop to his back. Gunther landed a chop that’s still echoing through all the castles in Cardiff. Gunther kept chopping Sheamus, but Sheamus began firing up and then grabbed a chop and came back with some forearms. Gunther cut him off, though, and threw Sheamus outside. Gunther slammed Sheamus on the floor. Gunther threw Sheamus over the announce table, but Sheamus came back and hit a series of strikes onto Gunther’s chest.

Back in the ring, Sheamus finally landed the 10 Beats. The two went back outside and Sheamus went for the 10 Beats while standing in the crowd. Sheamus didn’t stop pounding Gunther until eventually, they made their way back into he ring. Sheamus went to the top and hit a knee. Both of them on their feet, they traded blows. Gunther stopped it by hitting a German Suplex. Sheamus countered with a running knee for a good near-fall.

Gunther sunk in a sleeper hold. Sheamus came back by hitting White Noise, but Gunther kicked out after another very good near-fall. Sheamus stood up and the crowd followed suit, cheering loudly. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick, but Gunther countered with a dropkick and a nasty power-bomb for a two-count. With Sheamus on the mat, Gunther went to the top rope, but Sheamus cut him off and landed a bunch of chops. Gunther fought back with, you guessed it, chops. Sheamus went for the Celtic Cross and got it. Gunther then kicked out at 2.9. Sheamus set up for a Brogue Kick, but Sheamus’s back gave out and Gunther came back with a power-bomb. Gunther landed a hell of a lariat and that was all she wrote.

Gunther defeated Sheamus via pinfall in 19:33.

McGuire’s Musings: Holy hell for two reasons. One, I guess we aren’t going to get a match under 18 minutes today and I’m not so sure that’s the best thing. Two, that was a hell of a match. Afterward, Sheamus stood in the ring and the crowd gave him a rousing ovation that might end up being the moment of the night as Sheamus looked kind of emotional. Meanwhile, this was nearly 20 minutes of two guys just chopping, slapping and punching each other. That was about it. Throw in some power-bombs and body-slams and this was a good, old-fashioned brawl. Those near-falls toward the end had me a few times and both guys worked insanely hard. I don’t know how Sheamus gets any sleep tonight with a chest as beat up as it is, but God bless him for leaving it all out there. The Imperium reunion was fun, too, and I really liked the idea that there was no shenanigans here. Just two mean dudes being mean to each other. Great stuff.

3. Liv Morgan vs. Shayna Baszler for the Smackdown Women’s Championship. Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Morgan countered a few submission attempts by Baszler early. Morgan hit a dropkick and played to crowd before landing a dropkick to Baszler’s back. Morgan went to the top rope, but Baszler pushed Morgan to the outside and mocked Morgan. Baszler threw Morgan into the guardrail before rolling her back inside the ring and working on Morgan’s injured arm. Every time Morgan tried to fire up, Baszler cut her off.

Baszler focused on Morgan’s arm. Morgan pushed Baszler away and hit a jawbreaker before landing a missile dropkick from the second rope. Morgan fired up and hit Baszler with a series of strikes with her good arm. Morgan went for a cover and got a surprisingly close fall. Morgan came off the middle rope and ran into a knee from Baszler for a two-count. Morgan went for a Triangle on Baszler and that moved in an arm bar. Baszler worked her way out, however, and stomped on Morgan’s arm.

Baszler landed a running knee for a two-count. With Morgan on the top rope, Baszler went to the second rope and tried to work Morgan’s arm, but Morgan worked her way out and hit a running power-bomb for a two-count. That immediately transitioned into Baszler working a single-arm arm bar. Morgan got to the ropes for a break. Baszler went for another knee, but Morgan hit a Codebreaker before landing Oblivion for the win.

Liv Morgan defeated Shayna Baszler via pinfall in 11:02 to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship.

McGuire’s Musings: The shortest match of the night, but that was expected and this actually exceeded my expectations. The crowd was dead for this, but that could have been as much because of the match they just saw between Gunther and Sheamus as it could have been because of anything else. Morgan continues to win unconvincingly and at times, I wish WWE would lean into that more. The problem is that she’s in this weird space after the whole “You tapped out!” fiasco. She was a strong fan favorite for a bit, but then she got the belt, and then the tapping out thing happened and she’s just colder than she once was. That said, you have to think she goes back to Ronda Rousey from here. I’m not a fan of taking the belt off her just yet because I do think there’s time to turn things around. As for Baszler, it was great to see her in a high profile spot and I hope it’s only the beginning because she’s too talented to sit on the sidelines like she’s been for months now.

4. Edge and Rey Mysterio (w/Dominik Mystero) vs. Finn Balor and Damian Priest (w/Rhea Ripley). The fans were pumped to see Mysterio and Edge, that much we know is true. Balor and Mysterio began the match and Balor got the best of Rey. Before long, Mysterio came back with a kick to the head and a head-scissors takedown. Priest then tagged in, only to point at Edge. The crowd went crazy in anticipation of Edge, so Mysterio tagged Edge into the match. Priest responded in kind by punching the hell out of Edge.

Priest continued striking Edge in a corner. Edge was thrown into an opposite corner, but Mysterio got in the way and saved Edge from hitting the turnbuckle. From there, Edge took control and threw Priest over the top onto the outside. Edge then power-bombed Mysterio onto their opponents in a neat spot. Mysterio went for a splash on Priest back in the ring, but Priest caught Rey and slammed him before working a ground-and-pound. Balor tagged in and stomped on Mysterio. Priest tagged back in and Priest hit a leg drop on Mysterio for a two-count.

Mysterio kicked Priest, but Priest dropped Mysterio immediately. After taunting Edge, Balor tagged in and the heels double-teamed Mysterio. Balor teased the Three Amigos and the crowd booed the hell out of him. Balor backed off and worked a head-lock. In a corner, Rey took out Balor’s knee, but it wasn’t enough for Mysterio to get the tag as Priest ran in and hit Edge. That in mind, Mysterio body-dropped Balor into the crowd and crotched Priest over the guardrail.

Back in the ring, Mysterio ultimately got the hot tag to Edge and the crowd loved it. Edge cleaned house. Balor was draped over the second rope and Edge landed the 619 on Balor. Mysterio came off the top for a splash, but Priest broke up the pin attempt. Priest went for a choke-slam on Mysterio, but Edge speared Priest from the apron onto the floor. Balor threw Mysterio outside and Edge ran at Balor, but Balor hit a Slingblade.

Balor went to the top, but Dominik distracted the ref and Rey attacked Balor while Ripley attacked Dominik. Rey fought Ripley off and hit the 619 on Balor inside the ring. Edge followed that up with a spear and that finished off the Judgment Day.

Rey Mysterio and Edge defeated Finn Balor and Damian Priest via pinfall in 12:35.

After the match, Dominik looked a little weird and distant. Wouldn’t you know it, he kicked Edge in the nuts. Rey tried to get Dominik off Edge and pleaded with Dominik to stop, but Dominik clotheslined Rey. The Judgment Day ate it up. Rey shouted “Why?” Dominik looked pissed and walked to the back and he looked good as a heel. Edge and Rey stated in the ring and soaked up an ovation from the crowd. Rey asked Edge for forgiveness and Edge and Rey hugged.

McGuire’s Musings: And, finally. The heel turn we’ve all been waiting for actually happened and I’ll even argue that it happened at the right time. In two short minutes, Dominik looked more like a real-life professional wrestler than he had at any point over the last two years. I loved it. I’m a little surprised Dominik didn’t end up with the Judgment Day, but there’s still time. As for the match itself, it was good fun. Rey and Edge leaned into their legend status and the crowd was happy to do its part. It appears Dominik is going to go after Edge first because he shouted something at Edge after he low-blowed him, so that should be a fun story, but for now, the headline here is Dom basking in his heel glory – and doing so in a perfect manner. The Judgment Day, meanwhile, hardly played into any of this at all, outside of Priest staring Edge down throughout the match. Where this goes now should be an entertaining ride.

Back from commercial, they announced that attendance for the night was 62,296. We then got a Riddle/Rollins video package.

5. Seth Rollins vs. Riddle. The two opened the match by brawling. Riddle kicked the hell out of Rollins until the ref pulled him off. Riddle landed a pair of gut-wrench suplexes and looked angry. Rollins came back with a clothesline, but Riddle countered with two Sentons. 90 seconds into the match and the crowd was still singing Rollins’s theme song. The two spilled outside and Rollins threw Riddle into the barricade. Rollins leapt through the the middle ropes onto Riddle before rolling him back inside.

Rollins stood tall after hitting a clothesline and mocking Randy Orton. The ref had to get mouthy with Rollins, telling him to settle down in much the same way he did to Riddle earlier. Rollins hit a kick and a Falcon Arrow for a two-count. Six minutes into the match and the crowd was singing the Rollins song again. Riddle went to the top, but Rollins cut him off. Riddle elbowed Rollins, but Rollins kicked Riddle in the face. Rollins then landed a double-stomp onto Riddle, who was hanging from the top turnbuckle.

Rollins placed Riddle back on the top rope. Rollins hit a superplex and Riddle rolled into Fisherman Buster. The two got back on their feet and traded blows. Riddle threw Rollins, who rolled to the apron. As a result, Riddle landed a knee and a Floating Bro onto Rollins. Riddle hit a Bro To Sleep, a power-bomb and a knee for a good near-fall at about the 10-minute mark. Riddle came off the top, but Rollins got his knees up. Still, Riddle sunk in a triangle choke within seconds.

Rollins looked to be fading, but Rollins started kicking Riddle and then Rollins hit Riddle’s finisher, the Bro Derek, for a very close near-fall. The crowd broke back into the Rollins theme song. Rollins went to the top and missed, but landed on his feet. The two then traded strikes. Rollins went for a stomp, but Riddle cut him off. Rollins and Riddle went back and forth, trading big moves. The sequence ended with a Pedigree from Rollins, but Riddle got his shoulder up.

Rollins said Riddle is a loser and that’s why he wife left him. Riddle fired up as a result, but Rollins cut Riddle off with a kick to the face. Rollins set up for the draping DDT, a la Randy Orton, and hit it. Rollins led the crowd in another rendition of his theme song before imitating Randy Orton. Riddle grabbed Rollins and pounded him in the back of the head with forearms. Riddle slammed Rollins’s head on the commentary table. Riddle tried to hit Rollins with a chair, but Rollins moved and ran into the ring. When Riddle followed, Rollins hit the stomp. Rollins went to the second rope to hit another stomp and landed it for the victory.

Seth Rollins defeated Riddle via pinfall in 17:22.

After the match, it looked like Riddle was going to cry as Rollins smiled and walked up the ramp.

McGuire’s Musings: The story here was simple yet effective. Rollins drew Riddle into a rage because Rollins is the master manipulator and Riddle’s rage ultimately led to his own downfall. It’s clear, concise storytelling that works even if it doesn’t have to have 12 layers and 39 callbacks to things that happened three years ago. Sometimes simple can be good, too, you know? Anyway, I don’t know why, but it doesn’t feel like this is over. Riddle is much better as Angry Riddle than he is Stoned Riddle, and I can’t imagine this feud ends like this, in this way, especially if we are only now getting into Angry Riddle. The match itself was very good. Who knows if those two actually do hate each other in real life, but they do have chemistry in the ring and the near-falls were very good. Rollins mocking Randy Orton suggests that perhaps we’ll see Riddle’s bro back sooner than later, but only time will tell that. For now, this was a good chapter in a story that should still be working toward an ending.

6. Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Reigns was out there by himself. The bell rang and the crowd went wild. Both wrestlers looked around. The two locked up at the minute mark. McIntyre backed Reigns into a corner and let go. They locked up again and Reigns worked a head-lock. Reigns tried to take McIntyre down, but McIntyre walked Reigns back. Reigns walked along the apron and ran into the ring to hit an elbow and work a head-lock again. McIntyre came back with a shoulder-block and Reigns rolled to the outside.

Reigns played to the crowd before getting back into the ring. Reigns hit a series of punches on McIntyre until McIntyre switched things around and landed a series of punches on Reigns. McIntyre clotheslined Reigns to the outside. McIntyre threw Reigns into the ring steps and Karion Kross and Scarlett, who were sitting at ringside, distracted McIntyre. Reigns took advantage of that with an uppercut. Back inside the ring, Reigns pummeled McIntyre. Reigns threw McIntyre into the ring post and McIntyre fell to the outside.

Back inside the ring, Reigns landed a clothesline for a one-count. McIntyre chopped Reigns, but Reigns hit a boot for another one-count. Reigns whipped McIntyre into a corner and jawed at McIntyre. Reigns mocked the crowd. McIntyre tried to fight his way back, but Reigns cut him off and beat him to the ground. The two went for suplexes, but neither could get the other up. Because of that, Reigns just punched and kicked McIntyre to the ground. Reigns grabbed a microphone and screamed “Cardiff, acknowledge me.” McIntyre responded with a Glasgow Kiss.

Back on their feet, the two traded blows. Reigns whipped McIntyre into a corner, but McIntyre came back with clotheslines and a belly-to-belly suplex. McIntyre hit another one before landing a neck-breaker. McIntyre did the ole’ kip up and the crowd was loud. McIntyre put Reigns on the top rope, but Reigns fought his way out of the situation. McIntyre was hanging by the top turnbuckle and reached up to throw Reigns across the ring. McIntyre went for the countdown, but Reigns rolled to the outside.

McIntyre followed Reigns to the outside, but Reigns fought back and rolled McIntyre into the ring. Back inside the ring, McIntyre went for the Future Shock DDT, but Reigns countered. It didn’t matter, though, because McIntyre landed a spine-buster for a two-count. McIntyre lifted Reigns, but Reigns worked his way out and hit a Rock Bottom for a two-count. Reigns set up for the Superman Punch, but McIntyre moved and hit the Future Shock DDT. McIntyre led the crowd in a countdown, but Reigns countered with a Superman Punch for a good near fall.

Reigns went for a spear, but McIntyre kicked him. Reigns came right back and actually did hit a spear for another very good near fall. Reigns sunk in a guillotine but McIntyre fought his way out … only to have Reigns to right back to it. McIntyre powered up out of it and threw Reigns into the ring pole at about the 25-minute mark. McIntyre went outside and speared Reigns through the barricade. McIntyre rolled Reigns back into the ring and fired up, led the audience in another countdown, but Reigns countered the kick yet again with another spear and yet again landed another close near-fall.

Reigns complained to the referee while McIntyre got to his feet. McIntyre landed a Claymore to the back or Reigns, who spilled into the ref (ref bump!). Austin Theory’s music hit and Theory ran down with his MITB briefcase. Theory was going to cash it in, but Tyson Fury knocked Theory out before he could follow through. Reigns grabbed a chair, but McIntyre landed the Claymore again and the new ref counted a … two-count.

Both guys exchanged punches on their knees. They got to their feet and the speed of their punches kicked into second gear. Reigns landed a Superman Punch and McIntyre came back with a spear. McIntyre led the crowd in the countdown and hit the Claymore, but right as the ref was going to count three, Solo Sikoa broke it up. Reigns hit a spear on McIntyre in the ring and Roman Reigns, fiends, retained his titles.

Roman Reigns defeated Drew McIntyre via pinfall in 30:47 to retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

After the match, Tyson Fury came into the ring and shook hands with Reigns. Reigns left the ring and Fury picked McIntyre up. The crowd applauded. Fury got a microphone and told McIntyre he did his country proud. Fury said, “Chin up,” and started to sing. The crowd booed at the singing at first, but once the chorus of “American Pie” hit, everyone sang along, including McIntyre. McIntyre grabbed the mic and sounded a little shaky as he yelled that Cardiff showed the world what it’s made of. McIntyre vowed he’ll get his hands on the undisputed titles. McIntyre said it’s time to party and led the audience in Oasis’s “Don’t Look Back In Anger.” Fury and McIntyre posed to end the show.

McGuire’s Musings: My. Goodness. Gracious. One more time, for the people sitting in the upper bowl. My. Goodness. Gracious. All wrestling is objective, so I’m going to go ahead and say that was the right booking. I’m also going to go ahead and say there’s no chance in any type of hell that Rock “The Dwayne” Johnson isn’t showing up at WrestleMania now. This was the perfect setting, and to a large degree, perfect opponent (not named Cody) for Reigns to lose those titles, and he didn’t, so Los Angeles, here we come. I liked the match and I liked the pace even more. Once it picked up and we got into “trade finishing moves” mode – plus, a ref bump, mind you – things got a bit too cute and the false finishes became a bit like eating cake topped with ice cream topped with brownies topped with chocolate bars topped with Skittles. But the suspense was there and that incredible crowd was with those guys through all 30 minutes of it. Crowds can make or break pro wrestling shows and this one held its end of the deal up quite well. That’s not to suggest the wrestling didn’t hold its end up either (for the most part, at least). That was a main event worthy of being a main event and it delivered in a big way. Kudos to both guys because the match was a hell of a ride.

As for the post-show karaoke contest? I don’t know about all that, but I do know that one, poor Austin Theory, and two, Mr. Solo Sikoa made one of the most impactful debuts in recent WWE memory. He’s been a bright spot in the sometimes-unwatchable NXT 2.0 and I’m excited to see if they push him hard and quick or if he maybe moves into some shenanigans with Sami Zayn? Either way, I’m happy for the kid. It’s encouraging to see the company believe in someone in this way and it added a somewhat unexpected wrinkle to the proceedings. In all, this was a very good show and one that definitely sets the tone for a different WWE moving forward. Six matches at three-and-a-half hours is definitely not what we’ve been used to over the last few years in WWE. The future feels interesting. I’ll have more to say in my audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).