By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Clash at the Castle
Streamed live June 15, 2024 on Peacock
Glasgow, Scotland at OVO Hyrdo
WWE Clash at the Castle Pre-Show Notes
-The pre-show was hosted by Michael Cole, who was joined by Big E and Kevin Owens at a desk in the empty venue.
-A pre-taped Jackie Redmond interview with Drew McIntyre in the seats of the empty arena aired. She noted that he recently re-signed with WWE and questioned why he did when he’s upset by so many things in the company. McIntyre said he was considering taking time off. He spoke about losing his sister in-law and family issues. McIntyre said he sat down with his wife and they decided that “you don’t leave when you’re on a heater.” Nice. Redmond said WWE feels like it is on a heater. McIntyre said the roster is on fire and the matches and athleticism are on a new level. They previewed additional footage from the interview for later in the show.
-Chad Gable, Otis, and Maxxine Dupri were interviewed in a backstage area by Cathy Kelley. Gable said his team would do what he says and it would lead to a different game play. Gable emphasized “no matter what” while talking about his team. Dupri wore a protective boot on her left foot and was asked about her injury. Gable said she was fine. Gable asked where Akira Tozawa was and then barked at Otis by saying, “I told you to keep track of him.” Gable said Tozawa would pay on Monday.
-There was a video package on whether fan signs are back in WWE. Various wrestlers commented on the fan signs. Damian Priest said it’s the perfect time to bring them back. Various wrestlers spoke about some of their favorite signs.
-WWE Women’s Champion Bayley was interviewed by Kelley in the backstage area. She said she would beat Piper Niven. She said she was sorry it had to happen in front of Niven’s friends and family, but she had to do what she had to do. “Back to you, Michael Cole, you idiot,” Bayley said at the end. Cole laughed (fans were filing into the venue).
-Chelsea Green joined the pre-show panel and spoke about how she would be WWE Women’s Champion if Piper Niven beats Bayley. She said “we” will win the title. Owens spoke about how he and “a fellow Canadian” claimed “we” were tag team champions. Owens said it wasn’t true because he was the tag team champions and he added that it ended terribly. Funny.
-A Roddy Piper video package aired. Narrator Peter Rosenberg acknowledged that Piper was born in Canada rather than Scotland. Kayfabe, brother!
-The second part of Jackie Redmond’s interview with Drew McIntyre aired. It was heavily in-character with McIntyre responding to critics such as Michael Cole, who labeled him a hypocrite. He also spoke about winning the championship during the empty venue era caused by the pandemic. McIntyre said Damian Priest plays the role of champion. McIntyre noted that he’s been around WWE for twenty years and is still younger than Priest.
-Redmond replaced Cole at the pre-show desk. There were fans wearing CM Punk t-shirts behind the panel, so perhaps not all Scottish fans are hoping he doesn’t cost McIntyre the title.
-William Regal spoke in a video package about UK talent and holding a PLE in Scotland.
-Cathy Kelley spoke backstage about the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. She mentioned that Jade Cargill lost a bag in transit. She struggled while trying to say the names of Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, but she composed herself and got it right, then chuckled. It happens.
Separate shots aired of Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles dressed in their gear while walking backstage. Their match will open the show, while the World Heavyweight Championship match will close it.
WWE Clash at the Castle PLE
Michael Cole spoke while high speed footage aired of fans entering the venue. Separate shots aired of Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles from earlier in the day, along with arrival shots of Bayley, Piper Niven and Chelsea Green, Damian Priest (booed loudly), and Drew McIntyre (cheered loudly)… McIntyre hosted the show opening video package…
Cole welcomed viewers to the show and said there were 11,391 fans in attendance. Cole was joined on commentary by Corey Graves and Wade Barrett, and Samantha Irvin was the ring announcer…
AJ Styles made his entrance. WWE went with a small entrance set for this show. The broadcast team checked in and Cole wished viewers an early happy Father’s Day. Cody Rhodes made his entrance and some fans sang along with his theme song. Cody stopped and hugged his mom Michelle, who was in the front row. Fans continued to sing Cody’s song after it stopped playing…
1. Cody Rhodes vs. AJ Styles in an I Quit match for the WWE Championship. Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. Referee Dan Engler delivered introductions to both wrestlers. Cole said it was the 26th “I Quit” match in WWE history, and champions have gone 4-2 in those matches. The crowd sang the Phenomenal song (thank God that hasn’t caught on in North America).
Cody got Styles to ringside and pulled out two tables from underneath the ring. Cody set up one of the tables on the floor and then sent Styles tumbling over the ring steps. The referee checked with Styles, who did not quit. Cody ran Styles over the barricade. Styles climbed onto the barricade and played to the fans before jumping off and punching Styles.
Back inside the ring, Cody put Styles in a figure four. Styles reached the ropes and Rhodes broke the hold. A short time later, both men tumbled over the top rope to the floor where Styles dumped Cody on the broadcast table. Styles picked up Rhodes and performed a brainbuster on the broadcast table, which did not collapse. The referee checked on Cody, who did not quit.
Styles and Cody’s mother bickered. Cody’s mom called Styles an asshole. Funny. Cody came up bleeding from the forehead. “We got a bleeder,” Styles yelled before rolling Cody back inside the ring. Styles worked over Cody. The referee checked on Rhodes, who said “absolutely not” over the house mic.
Styles took Cody back to ringside. The crowd chanted “f— you, AJ.” Fortunately, it was not censored. Styles set up for a move on the bottom half of the ring steps, but Cody backdropped him onto the floor. Styles came back and wrapped a chair around the neck of Rhodes while both men were back inside the ring. Style stomped on the chair. The ref checked on Cody, who did not quit.
Styles pulled out a kendo stick and battered Rhodes with it repeatedly. Styles told Cody to quit. Cody replied “Hell no!” over the house mic. Styles whipped Cody with a belt and then struggled to put it around his forehead. Once Styles pulled back on the belt, it slipped off of Cody’s head, which drew “You f—ed up” chants.
Styles pulled out a bag that had handcuffs inside and then cuffed Cody’s wrists. Styles bashed Cody with the kendo stick again and told him to say the words, but Cody once again said no. Styles went to ringside and bickered with Cody’s mother again, telling her that he would hurt her son. Cody’s mother slapped Styles three times.
Styles grabbed a chair and approached her, then returned to the ring and slammed the chair over Cody’s back twice. Styles wrapped a chain around his forearm and set up for the Phenomenal Forearm, but Cody threw a chair at the head of Styles, who fell off the ropes and through a table at ringside. Cole noted that Cody was able to move the handcuffs in front of his body (the chain is long). Cody found the key and unlocked himself.
Cody hit Styles with a Cody Cutter and played to the crowd that erupted in response. Cody hit CrossRhodes. Cody picked up Styles and hit CrossRhodes again. Cody placed a chair in the middle of the ring and then performed CrossRhodes on top of it. Cody told the referee “not yet” before he could check on Styles.
Cody handcuffed Styles to the middle rope and the destroyed him with numerous chair shots. Cody slammed the chair over the right knee of Styles. The referee checked on Styles, who said, “I… Screw you, Cody Rhodes.” Cody went to ringside and picked one part of the ring steps and tossed them inside the ring. Cody returned to the ring and held the ring steps over his head while looking at Styles, who said he quit.
Cody Rhodes defeated AJ Styles in an I Quit match in 27:45 to retain the WWE Championship.
After the match, Cody looked at his mother while holding the ring steps and then hit Styles with the ring steps. Cody stood on top of the ring steps and held up his title belt. Cole questioned what’s next for Styles after losing the I Quit match.
As Cody was playing to the crowd near the entrance area, Solo Sikoa walked out and smiled. Sikoa was joined by Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa and they attacked Rhodes. The beatdown didn’t last long, as Kevin Owens and Randy Orton ran out to help Cody run off The Bloodline members…
Powell’s POV: I’m not a big fan of I Quit matches, but this was a good one. Of course, I never bought into the possibility of Cody quitting, but it was a nice touch to have his mother at ringside. It created the possibility that Styles could use her to force Cody to quit. They didn’t really go there, but Michelle jawing with Styles and slapping him was fun. By the way longtime Dot Net Member Jordan from Edinburgh, Scotland is in the fifth of sixth row on the floor opposite the hard camera and is dressed in an NWO t-shirt and seated next to his lovely girlfriend. Jordan is a regular participant in the Q&A audio show and a good guy who keeps me in check with my Scottish city pronunciations. Please let me know if you catch him singing the “Hey, Bailey” song so I can ban him for life.
Following the usual ads and video packages, entrances for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match took place. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn received a nice pop when they came out first. Samantha Irvin delivered the introductions as the teams made their entrances. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark were out next to a flat reaction with some boos. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair made separate entrances. Cargill wore black face paint around her eyes…
2. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair vs. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark in a Triple Threat for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Jessika Carr was the referee. Cole said the rules of the match allowed wrestlers to only tag their own partners into the match. Graves spoke about how Cargill and Belair remind him of “a team that used to wear spikes on their shoulder pads” (The Road Warriors).
There was an early spot where Cargill overpowered Stark and Fyre simultaneously. The crowd did the “yay/boo” in favor of the hometown team. Cargill got Fyre on her shoulders and then caught Stark diving at her, which led to a Samoan Drop and fallaway slam combo move. Belair tagged in and was slammed by Cargill onto Dawn. The champions performed simultaneous vertical suplexes.
The champions were roughed up and were down while Stark and Baszler had a run of offense on Dawn, which led to Baszler getting a near fall. Dawn came back with a backdrop on Stark and then tagged out. Fyre sent Baszler and Stark to the floor and then ran up the ropes and performed a senton dive onto them at ringside. Fyre rolled Baszler back inside the ring and then hit her with a missile dropkick. Fyre covered Baszler, but Belair broke it up.
Baszler set up for a superplex on Dawn. Fyre slipped under Baszler and powerbombed her while Baszler superplexed Dawn, who came up holding her elbow. Cargill took a hot tag and stumped while performing a move from the ropes. Cargill performed a series of spinebusters. Cargill caught Fyre diving from the ropes and then hit Baszler with a big boot while performing a sit-out powerbomb.
Baszler came right back and caught Cargill in the Kirifuda Clutch. Belair went up top and performed a 450 splash that resulted in her driving her knees onto the back of Baszler, who released the hold on Cargill. Stark went for a springboard move, but Belair shoved her violently to the mat. Belair and Cargill performed their DDT and suplex combo move. Dawn grabbed Belair and suplexed her. Fyre held Belair’s legs while Dawn covered Baszler and pinned her…
Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defeated Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark and Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair in a Triple Threat in 12:10 to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles.
After the match, Fyre and Dawn went to ringside and celebrated with friends and family, who gave them each a bouquet of flowers. Fyre was emotional while Cole mentioned that it has been a tough three weeks for her. The duo returned to the ring and played to the fans, who chanted, “You deserve it”…
Powell’s POV: A big upset. I guess this explains why Baszler and Stark plowed through Fyre and Dawn on Raw. For those who missed it, Fyre’s mother was killed a few weeks ago when she was struck by a car while visiting her daughter in Florida. I don’t expect a long title reign for Fyre and Dawn, but it’s great to see them get this moment in front of family and friends, especially given the circumstances.
After video packages and/or ads (depending your Peacock tier), entrances for the Intercontinental Title match took place. Chad Gable came out with Otis and Maxxine Dupri, who was wearing a walking boot. It was indicated on the pre-show that Akira Tozawa wandered off, as Gable said he would may him pay on Monday. Sami Zayn made his entrance to a big ovation and the crowd sang along with his song…
3. Sami Zayn vs. Chad Gable for the Intercontinental Championship. The crowd sang the “Ole” song and another song early in the match. Gable took an early powder and gritted his teeth while telling Otis and Dupri to remember what he said. Zayn rolled to the floor while Gable returned to the ring. Zayn looked at Otis and then spoke to him before returning to the ring.
The crowd continued to sing and chant while Gable wrenched Zayn’s left arm over the top rope. Zayn rallied while continuing to sell the arm by holding it at his side. Zayn clotheslined Gable over the top rope and then hit him with a springboard moonsault on the floor.
Zayn rolled Gable back inside the ring and then went for a top rope move, but Gable caught him with a dropkick that led to a near fall. Zayn came back with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall of his own. Gable took offensive control and performed a top rope headbutt for a close near fall. Zayn came back with a series of suplexes for another near fall.
A short time later, Gable caught Zayn in an ankle lock. Zayn eventually rolled out of it and rolled Gable into a pin for a two count. Gable left the ring and grabbed the Intercontinental Title belt off the podium at ringside and left it with Dupri. Gable returned to the ring and choked Zayn over the middle rope.
Gable distracted the referee. Dupri wound up to hit Zayn with the title belt, but she opted against it. Gable barked at Dupri to join him on the apron. Gable told her that he’s sick of her never listening. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick that Gable avoided. Zayn stopped short of hitting the move on Dupri and checked on her. Gable hit the Chaos Theory on Zayn for a great near fall.
Gable went to ringside to scold Dupri. Otis got between them and went nose-to-nose with Gable. Zayn dove from the ring and Otis shoved Gable out of the way and took the move himself. Back in the ring, Zayn avoided a Gable move and then hit him with an exploder suplex. Zayn went for a Helluva Kick, but he sold his ankle while Gable rolled to the floor.
Zayn followed and was put in an ankle lock on the floor. Zayn rolled out of the move, which sent Gable crashing into the bad leg of Dupri. Otis was pissed. Gable returned to the ring and bickered with the referee, hoping Otis would attack Zayn, who was holding his bad ankle at ringside.
Otis wound up to hit Zayn, but he was distracted by Dupri selling her bad leg. Otis picked up Dupri. Gable yelled at Otis from the ring. Otis carried Dupri to the back. Zayn returned to the ring and hit Gable with a Helluva Kick and then pinned him…
Sami Zayn defeated Chad Gable in 22:15 to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
After the match, Zayn played to the crowd at ringside while Gable knelt in the ring and stared daggers at him. Zayn turned around and looked at Gable, while Cole assumed Zayn was thinking that’s all the chances that Gable will get and their feud is over…
Powell’s POV: A fun match. It felt like there was no way the match was going to end until they got to the spots with Otis and Dupri, but the crowd spent most of the early portion of the match singing and chanting while amusing themselves anyway. Assuming Gable re-signs with WWE, it’s hard to imagine that this was truly the blowoff match.
Cathy Kelley interviewed new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn in a backstage area. The duo spoke about winning the titles and having all of Scotland behind them… Ads/video packages aired…
Piper Niven and Chelsea Green made their entrance. Niven entered the ring and stood on the middle rope while playing to the crowd for a moment. Cole noted that Niven worked as Viper during her independent wrestling days. Bayley made her entrance while Cole acknowledged that it’s her birthday…
4. Bayley vs. Piper Niven (w/Chelsea Green) for the WWE Women’s Championship. Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions and Charles Robinson was the referee. The crowd sang the “Hey, Bailey” song (I’m watching you, Jordan!). Niven slammed Bayley, who rolled to ringside. Green threw a slap that missed by a mile, but Bayley sold it anyway.
Bayley returned to the ring and avoided a running splash. Green tried to trip Bayley, who then stomped her hand. Green climbed on the apron and yelled at the referee, who ejected her from ringside. Moments later, Bayley was on the apron and was pulled into the ropes by Niven, who then went to the apron. Niven performed a senton off the apron onto Bayley.
Back in the ring, Bayley threw some punches at Niven, who dropped her with a headbutt. Bayley battled back and hit a top rope elbow drop for a two count. Moments later, Bayley caught Niven on the ropes and performed a Bayley-to-Belly.
A masked luchadora, who just so happened to be dressed just like Chelsea Green, ran out and distracted the referee, which kept him from making the three count. Niven hit a Piper Driver for a near fall. Bayley avoided a senton splash.
Bayley went for her finisher, but Niven avoided it and hit Bayley with a headbutt. Bayley hooked Niven in crucifix position. It looked like Niven was going to fall on top of her, but Bayley hooked her into a pin using a crucifix driver and got the three count.
Bayley defeated Piper Niven in 13:30 to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
After the match, Bayley gave Niven a nod from ringside. The crowd applauded Niven…
Powell’s POV: A good match. Despite the hometown upset earlier, I never bought into Niven going over, so that worked against the match a bit. Chelsea Green is a riot and I continue to hope that creative will get behind her and Niven.
The reigning World’s Strongest Man Tom Stoltman was shown in the crowd and applauded by the crowd… Cole hyped the Clash at the Castle post show with Paul Levesque and others. The broadcast team argued about who had to do the post show. Graves acted pissed about it, which Cole cracked up over. Barrett said Graves was booboo facing…
A Money in the Bank ad aired… Cole said the Money in the Bank qualifying matches will start on Monday’s Raw… Ads/videos aired…
A bagpipe band played as they walked to ringside. Drew McIntyre made his entrance to a huge ovation and held the Scottish flag. Cole pointed out that he had “K” on his wrist tape for his wife (Kaitlyn). Cole said his wife could not make the trip (McIntyre stated yesterday that she underwent emergency surgery). Damian Priest made his entrance while the crowd continued to chant McIntyre’s name…
5. Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship. The Judgment Day members are banned from ringside. Samantha Irvin delivered in-ring introductions while the champion and challenger glared at one another. When Priest looked away and held up his belt, McIntyre moved in front of him to stare him down. Barrett said that if McIntyre wins he’s British, but if he loses he is Scottish. Funny.
The wrestlers locked up and McIntyre tossed Priest to the mat and then flexed for the crowd. When Priest got up, McIntyre put him down with a clothesline. McIntyre hit another clothesline and then sent Priest over the top rope with a third. McIntyre performed a flip dive onto Priest. McIntyre regrouped and shoved McIntyre into the ring post and then the barricade.
A short time later, McIntyre stood on the apron and worked over Priest while the crowd chanted, “F— him up, Drew, f— him up.” Priest caught McIntyre with a kick. Priest went for a springboard move from the middle rope and tripped. Priest somehow caught his right leg in between the top and middle rope and hung upside down while McIntyre took shots at him.
McIntyre freed Priest’s leg and suplexed him back inside the ring before covering him for a two count. Moments later, Priest performed the Future Shock DDT for a near fall. McIntyre had Priest seated on the top turnbuckle and threw punches at him. McIntyre set up for White Noise, but Priest slipped out of it and hit a Razor’s Edge that led to a near fall.
The champion and challenger traded punches in the middle of the ring. Priest threw kicks McIntyre, who eventually ducked one and performed a neckbreaker that left both men down temporarily. McIntyre kipped up and then shook the ropes before going to the corner for his finisher. Priest rolled to the floor.
Priest pulled McIntyre to ringside and was drilled with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre hit Priest with a Claymore Kick that sent Priest crashing through the barricade and into the timekeepers area. McIntyre dragged Priest back inside the ring and set up in the corner for his finisher. McIntyre counted down and charged Priest, who grabbed him by the throat and chokeslammed him for a near fall.
A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Priest sat McIntyre on the top turnbuckle and threw chops at his chest before climbing onto the middle rope. McIntyre knocked Priest off the ropes. Priest sold his ankle from the earlier rope spot, then pulled McIntyre off the ropes with a huracanrana. Priest sold his ankle again. McIntyre got up and blasted Priest with a Claymore Kick for a strong near fall.
McIntyre tossed Priest across the ring. McIntyre pushed Priest into the corner. Referee Eddie Orengo rolled to the floor to avoid the wrestlers. When the referee got back on the apron, McIntyre shoved Priest toward the corner, causing Priest hit the referee, who fell off the apron and crashed into the barricade. REF BUMP!!!
Priest stuffed a Claymore Kick, but then McIntyre connected with one and got a long visual pinfall. A second referee entered the ring, counted to two, and stopped. The second referee was CM Punk. McIntyre got up and pushed Punk into the corner where Punk kicked him below the belt. Priest hit the South of Heaven chokeslam, sold his ankle, and made the cover. Referee Eddie Orengo returned to the ring and made the three count.
Damian Priest defeated Drew McIntyre in 20:20 to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
After the match, Priest spoke to McIntyre while both men were down. Meanwhile, Punk found some fans wearing his t-shirt and stood by them. Priest held up the championship while McIntyre was still down. Priest limped as he held up the title while walking toward the back. Graves said Monday night would be must see TV… A video package recapped the event…
Powell’s POV: A good match with the expected finish involving Punk. It was interesting that Cole said it didn’t seem like Priest was aware of what happened while Barrett was the most vocal in terms of being critical of Punk for interfering. The crowd wasn’t as livid as I anticipated, perhaps because they expected the interference from Punk. At this point, my guess is Priest vs. Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship and Punk vs. McIntyre at SummerSlam.
Overall, a good show with another enthusiastic crowd. The international crowds have created strong atmospheres that make the wrestlers and the company come off red hot. Jake Barnett and I will be teaming up for a same day audio review of WWE Clash at the Castle for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Yeah signs are cool and all,but I’ve been to shows that they can be an issue when they’re blocking your view
Ok how about we end this match with Cody passing out and not saying I quit. Leading to a 3rd match at summerslam…..
Wow, Cody and AJ might be able to be home in time for dinner.
Guess they don’t do pyro in Scotland?
And why would you bring your mama to an I quit match… lol
So she can get a cheap trip to Scotland?
I really did not expect the women’s belts to change hands.
After botch master Jade Cargill messed up, an audio was called to switch the titles. LOL
We will never know — but I wouldn’t bet against that.
No. They wouldn’t have had the family members with flowers ready to hand to them if this wasn’t the plan.
I suppose the flowers could’ve been given to them anyway right?
I wonder how many pundits will now question whether Drew goes over.
Wow that IC match was the worst match I have seen in years
Please get Sami away from this Alpha crap
Oh, go vandalize a McDonald’s
Wait — is Ken Patera behind the breaking of all the McFlurry machines????
I don’t have any evidence to confirm it but yes
He is the reason McDonald’s hasn’t had a working ice cream machine since 1984.
You guys are the best!!!
Graves saying this is the healthiest the women’s division has been.Really?
No Charlotte no Becky no Rhea!
Really hope Priest’s foot/knee isn’t screwed up with that rope botch.
Still waiting for the CM Punk interference that feels like it has to happen.
This whole show felt WAY too choreographed
“Assuming Gable re-signs with WWE, it’s hard to imagine that this was truly the blowoff match.”
Gable already announced he re-signed with the WWE.