WWE Clash at the Castle PLE Results: 9-3-22
Results courtesy of
PWTorch.com (direct link to Keller's real time report).
(1) BAYLEY & DAKOTA KAI & IYO SKY vs. BIANCA BELAIR & ALEXA BLISS & ASUKA
Cole talked about how Clash at the Castle was the talk of the town all week, including fans seeking out photos and autographs of wrestlers. He noted how it’s been 30 years since they’ve had a stadium show in the U.K.
The heel trio dominated for a long stretch. Cole observed that Bayley’s team had out strategized Belair’s team. Graves attributed it to chemistry. Bliss was isolated for a while. When she went for a hot-tag, Bailey intervened. Belair went after her at ringside, but Bayley got the better of her. Meanwhile, Bliss hot-tagged in Asuka, who took it to the heels in the ring. Cole talked about the history of Sky having a faction years ago, a fact I doubt you’d have heard him say if Vince McMahon was still in charge and on headset. Graves took a lame dig at Saxton being single despite being “like 50.” Saxton didn’t fire back this time.
The heels took over on Asuka with some double-team moves. Graves said that showed their stronger chemistry. Belair hot-tagged in against Bayley next. Belair landed a standing moonsault for a near fall. Belair pressed Kai above her head, but had to fend off Sky. Kai avoided a top rope Belair move and then landed her scorpion kick. Belair made a comeback, but Sky again interfered. Bailey grabbed Belair’s braid to hold her in their corner as Dakota went on the attack.
Bailey gave Belair a Rose Plant and then Sky landed a moonsault. Bailey was leg and made the stack cover for the win. Asuka and Bliss were out of camera view during the closing sequence, unable to make an attempt at the save.
WINNERS: Bailey & Kai & Sky in 19:00. (**1/4)
(There were some really clunky spots in this match, and it would have been better with five minutes shaved off. The crowd was red-hot early and still into it late despite the length.)
(2) GUNTHER (w/Ludvig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) vs. SHEAMUS (w/Butch, Ridge Holland) – Intercontinental Championship match
Cole said Sheamus is a far cry from Irish Whip Wrestling or Wells Wrestling where he got his start. Graves reacted to Gunther reassembling Imperium. Vinci and Kaiser brawled with Holland and Butch before the bell as Sheamus and Gunther locked up in a staredown mid-ring. The brawl went to ringside and then the bell rang. Only then did Sheamus and Gunther unleash on each other. Gunther got in the first shots against Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus came back with a boot and some punches. It was intense and looked stiff. Cole noted Sheamus’s chest was already beet red. Gunther landed a kick to Sheamus’s face. Sheamus blocked a vertical suplex by Gunther then landed his own suplex.
Gunther got the better of Sheamus and took it to him at ringside. Back in the ring, Gunther landed more hard chips to Sheamus’s chest. Fans began a “Let’s go Sheamus” chant. They replayed in slo-mo Gunther kicking Sheamus in the side of his head.
Sheamus finally made a comeback and battered Gunther’s chest against the announce desk and then against the top rope from inside the ring. Fans counted along as he made it to ten. Gunther dropped to ringside. Sheamus went after him. Gunther threw him into the crowd, but Sheamus quickly took control and battered Gunther’s chest with 14 hard forearms to Gunther’s chest. Sheamus threw Gunther into the ring where the ref was somehow only up to six in his count. Sheamus landed a top rope knee to the side of Gunther’s face. Sheamus let out a loud yell and fans cheered. He then caught his breath while kneeling next to Gunther.
Sheamus delivered White Noise a couple minutes later. Fans popped. Both men lay on the mat afterward, catching their breath. They showed a fan going bonkers in the crowd. A “This is awesome” chant rang out. They went to a wide shot of the stadium crowd (which they haven’t been shy about, and for good reason). Sheamus stood. The fans stood. Sheamus pounded his chest. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick, but Gunther avoided it. Gunther then gave Sheamus a powerbomb, which didn’t look great as Sheamus seemed to slip a bit. He got a two count. Sheamus reached to grab his back afterward. Gunther stomped on Sheamus’s back, then climbed to the top rope. Sheamus stood and chopped Gunther while he was on the top turnbuckle. Gunther knocked Sheamus over, but Sheamus stood and kicked him off balance. Sheamus then delivered a Celtic Cross from the top. The crowd popped. Sheamus crawled over and made the cover for a near fall.
Both were slow to stand. Sheamus went for another Brogue Kick, but his back gave out. Gunther then powerbombed him. Gunther then lunged at Sheamus with a hard vicous lariat for the win.
WINNER: Gunther in 19:00 to retain the IC Title. (****1/4)
-After the match, Sheamus crawled over to the bottom rope while still holding his back. He stood and received a passionate standing ovation. He raised his arms, although did so with a wince of pain. He saluted the audience and patted his heart (a gesture Eric Bischoff single-handedly ruined in WCW). He leaned into the fans against a railing.
(Not sure if the fact that 95 percent of the offense as forearms and chops is a feature or a flaw, but it added up to a brutal and compelling and effective match. The moves that weren’t a forearm or chop were memorable and sold big for near falls. That’s pretty much precisely what anyone should have expected from those two.) [c]
(3) LIV MORGAN vs. SHAYNA BASZLER – Smackdown Title match
Cole noted that Wales was the only country in all of Britain that was allowed to showcase women’s wrestling into the 1980s. Cole said Liv trained with Riddle, who has an MMA background. Graves called it a smart strategy. Cole said this is the first one-on-one match ever between these two. Liv went after Baszler aggressively early. She landed a running knee in the corner. Graves said she has to avoid burning herself early by going too hard, too fast. Liv tried to springboard on the top rope whole holding Baszler’s arm, and Baszler shoved her to the ground. Graves said it wasn’t the right time to try to get fancy. Baszler shoved Liv into the ringside barricade. Cole hyped the NXT Women’s Title match on NXT World’s Collide tomorrow afternoon.
Baszler methodically beat up Liv in the ring for several minutes. The crowd wasn’t as rabid for this as they were the prior three matches, counting the Kickoff Show, which is understandable considering the emotions of the prior match. Liv kipped up and yelled when she made a comeback. She landed a step up enzuigiri. Baszler swung at Liv, but Liv moved and then Liv scored a near fall after a double knee drop. Liv surprised Baszler with a triangle and then a cross armbreaker attempt. Cole excitedly said Liv had vowed to break Baszler’s arm. Baszler forced a break and then kneed Liv in the chin for a near fall.
Liv gave Baszler a top rope sunset bomb for two count. Baszler shifted to a Kirafuda Clutch, but she was selling an arm injury and couldn’t fully apply it. Liv rolled over to the bottom rope to force a break. Liv side-swiped a knee attempt and landed a Code Breaker and then Oblivion for the three count. Liv got a nice reception as she celebrated afterward.
WINNER: Morgan in 11:00 to retain the Smackdown Title. (**1/2)
(Good solid match. The commitment to building Liv into being accepted in a top spot in the Women’s Division continues, with mixed results. I’m curious what’s next for Baszler, and if this just firmly establishes they don’t really have big plans for her beyond being a semi-top role player.)