The Clash in Italy Report SLAM!
THE ONLY BLVD IN ITALY IN TWENTY YEARS!
After nearly two decades, the WWE is back in Italy for the county’s first ever PLE at the Inalpi Arena in Turin! Tonight, we have a total of four title defenses as well as Lesnar vs Femi II. Let’s get into it.
Before we got to the main show things started off with “Then, Now, Forever, Together” and a two-hour “Countdown to WWE Clash In Italy” pre-show with panelists Joe Tessitore, Peter Rosenberg, Corey Graves and Big E.
Afterwards, at 2pm ET, we get the cold open intro featuring Italy’s rich legacy and history mixed in with the intense high stakes matches for tonight. So, without further ado, we’re under way. The first hour aired for free on ESPN.
Gunther’s theme hits and out comes “The Career-Killer” for our opening contest. The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes then made his entrance as the Italian fans sang along. “Amazing-Hair” Alicia Taylor does the formal major pre-match intros before we get under way.
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther
The finish came when Cody tried a sleeper on Gunther, Gunther slipped out of it, but Rhodes hit a Cody Cutter and a Cross Rhodes (second of the night) for the win.
WINNER: Cody Rhodes (11 minutes)
But wait! Gunther is upset about something. He’s banging on the bottom rope as he rolls outside the ring and yells at the ref. The announcers believe his foot was under the bottom rope. The replay from other angles shows Gunther’s foot was, indeed, under the ropes but Cody cranked Gunther away just as the ref hit three.
ANALYSIS: *** ½ by TJR
This came off to be quite a short match to start the show. Cody and Gunther work well together, but it was said to feel like more of a TV main event than a major PLE match. At least the Turin crowd was still hot for it.
I’m not sure exactly what happened with the finish. Gunther’s foot under the bottom rope seemed like it could’ve been a botch at first; the way Cody realized it and yanked it away in the middle of the count, then the way Gunther was reacting to it afterwards. If it was a planned spot, I would’ve expected Gunther to play the angry heel and give Cody a good post-match beatdown. But he just left. I guess tune in to SmackDown this week to see if there’s going to be a continuation to this story, maybe even giving Gunther a rematch.
A video package about the Rhea Ripley vs Jade Cargill match was shown. Then a video promoting Club WWE narrated by retired wrestler and now full-time ambassador John Cena. A video package about the Rhea Ripley vs Jade Cargill match was shown (again).
Jade Cargill was up first. Then Rhea Ripley, who got a huge ovation from the Turin crowd. We’re off with our first of two WrestleMania 42 rematches.
WWE Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Jade Cargill
Mid-match, B-Fab and Michin head to ringside and B-Fab tried to put Cargill’s foot on the bottom rope during a pin attempt but messed up. She got herself ejected by the ref. Charlotte Flair comes to ringside, gives them a crossbody block beating, then Flair put Ripley’s right foot on the bottom rope during her pin attempt. With Cargill furious, Ripley hits a headbutt and Riptide for the pinfall win.
WINNER: Rhea Ripley (17 minutes)
ANALYSIS: *** ¾ by TJR
This was a solid match and said to be a little better than their WM encounter, going back and forth starting with the heel then halfway through the face makes her comeback. The whole “put-the-foot-on-the-bottom-rope” deal got a bit much after B-Fab botched her spot. I think the ref was still supposed to see her do it. At least Flair got it right behind the ref’s back. Overall, great effort by both women.
The ESPN free hour wraps up, so let’s watch an intense video package for the Lesnar vs Femi II match.
We return live inside the arena where “The Beast Incarnate” makes his way down to the ring to a great ovation. Then, the theme for Oba Femi begins as the crowd chants. Hard to tell who the crowd likes best in this one.
Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman) vs. Oba Femi
Right off the bat, Lesnar immediately hoists up Femi for four F-5’s but only gets a two count. This match was all about F-5’s and Kimura locks, but Femi keeps getting out. Outside the mat there were ring post shots back and forth and even a commentary table. The end came when Femi hoisted Lesnar up and looked for the Fall from Grace, but his arm gave out on him thanks to all of Lesnar’s damage. Lesnar hit a final winning F-5.
WINNER: Brock Lesnar (6 minutes)
ANALYSIS: *** ¼ by TJR
For those who were incrementing your counters, that’s seven F-5’s, two Kimura locks, several ring posts, and even a commentary table Femi took from Lesnar. As expected, “Br-r-rawk L-l-lesnar!” gave a short and decisive beating this time, since Femi did the same to Lesnar last time at WM. Hey, Lesnar doesn’t get paid by the hour.
Obviously, this will cause the feud to come to a head with a likely final best of three match. I don’t think Lesnar vs Femi III should be just another regular match. Make it a gimmick match that can hold these two monsters for a good ten minutes or longer. Maybe a steel cage match. Or it would be nice to bring back Hell in a Cell. It could happen as soon as Night of Champions on June 27th in Saudi for a good Lesnar payday. Or save it for Saturday Night’s Main Event at the Garden on July 18th. That way the “Bore General” Gunther can “officially” retire Lesnar at SummerSlam, which is where they’ve been wanting it to happen for some time.
They showed some more superstars that weren’t on the card but were at ringside. Including TNA’s Director of Authority Santino Marella. Marella had his main roster debut match in Milan, Italy, on April 16, 2007. The last time WWE was in Italy for a taping of RAW. Maybe he should’ve done a promo or something.
A video package aired about the awesome El Grande Americano vs OG El Grande Americano “Mask vs Mask” match at AAA Noche De Los Grandes event last Saturday night. OG El Grande Americano lost, so the Original had to be unmasked and revealed to be… Chad Gable! Even though we already knew that.
Another video aired to set up the Becky Lynch vs Sol Ruca match. Yet one more random silly video aired featuring The Miz, Fraxiom and R-Truth to promote the new “Scary Movie” before we get the trailer for the reboot comedy film.
Back live, Sol Ruca’s theme hits as the challenger for the Women’s IC Championship makes her way to the ring. Then Becky Lynch makes her entrance as the cocky heel champ.
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sol Ruca
Nice back-and-forth action as Lynch keeps underestimating the challenger. Eventually, both superstars try each other’s finishers but can only get a two-count on each other. Lynch finally tried her Manhandle Slam, but Ruca jumped off the turnbuckle with the Sol Snatcher and got the victory. New IC champ!
WINNER and NEW WOMEN’S INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: Sol Ruca
ANALYSIS: *** ½ by TJR
Said to be a great match by both superstars, with Ruca proving she’s capable of performing as a main roster star. We all predicted she would get the Women’s IC title with Lynch putting her over, and rightfully so. So much so, that fireworks went off for her celebration as the fans went wild for her. Let’s hope she has a decent title reign.
They showed some more superstars in the crowd before announcing the next Saturday Night’s Main Event is July 18th in New York City at The Garden. The next WWE PLE is Night of Champions, on Saturday, June 27th, in Saudi Arabia.
Next, we get an exciting and elaborate pre-match video package telling the tale leading up to our main event of the night: “The OTC” Roman Reigns vs “The Samoan Werewolf” Jacob Fatu in a Tribal Combat match for the World Heavyweight Championship.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Tribal Combat: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
Jacob Fatu was up first to a good reaction from the crowd. Roman Reigns got a massive ovation as the “Tribal Chief”. We get the pre-match intros and are under way.
An incredible back and forth brutal match. The end came when Reigns hit multiple spears on Fatu, including one through a table against the turnbuckle, finally getting the pinfall win.
WINNER: Roman Reigns (26 minutes)
ANALYSIS: **** ¼ by TJR
An exciting WHC match, even though I expected Reigns to come out still the Tribal Chief. Tons of back and forth fast-paced action with weapons and creativity, and still just enough to tell their story which is why I think this match was so good. It really showed why Fatu is liked by fans. He’s tough as nails and can take a real beating and keep coming back. Like at Backlash, Reigns gave Fatu everything he had, yet Fatu kept on coming. I sort of thought there would be some Uso interference as well, but I guess we got a decisive victory this time.
After the match, The Usos came down and Jey presented Reigns with the Ula Fala. Fatu was still at the corner looking on as the announcers remind us that he must now acknowledge his Tribal Chief on RAW. We hear Reigns tell the Usos that Solo Sikoa and The MFTs, who we see standing at ringside, are next. As they left, Jey shouted at Fatu to follow them. So Fatu went up the aisle behind them.
We end with Reigns talking smack into the camera. RAW will be in Turin on Monday. Till then, see y’all along the BLVD!
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