It’s the first PLE in Italy! The World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defends the championship against his own family Jacob Fatu, but this time it’s under Tribal Combat rules! The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends his title against the newest SmackDown superstar, GUNTHER. We get to witness a huge rematch between Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar! Also, Rhea Ripley defends her WWE Women’s Championship against Jade Cargill, Sol Ruca challenges Becky Lynch for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, and more! Join us for a live recap of WWE Clash in Italy today with the main premium live event starting at 2 PM ET with the first hour also airing live on ESPN, and the rest of the show on ESPN Unlimited (USA) and Netflix (worldwide). Hit F5 or refresh as often as you like for the latest updates!
We are live in Turin, Italy for another Clash and it’s the first PLE in the country! “The Ring General” Gunther is the first person to head out, and the WWE Championship will open the show. Michael Cole and Corey Graves are the commentators of the night, and the Italian commentary team of Michele Posa and Luca Franchini are there as well. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes heads to the ring next with the Italian crowd singing his entire theme song, and he shakes hands with both Italian and English announce teams. Alicia Taylor does the proper title match introductions, Dan Engler is the referee assigned to this match, and we’re underway!
* Undisputed WWE Championship: GUNTHER vs. Cody Rhodes {C}
The bell dings, they circle around each other, they trade wrestling holds, jockey for position, and Cody cartwheels away for a clean break. They lock fingers, Gunther takes over the test of strength, backs him into a corner, and Gunther CHOPS him for no clean break. Gunther chops him again, Cody slides under him, hits the drop-down uppercut, springboards but Gunther CHOPS him in mid-air, knees to the midsection, slaps him on the chest, and covers for a 1-count. Gunther clubs him on the back, hammer throw into the turnbuckles, does a head fake, Cody counters the sleeper with an armdrag, and Gunther hits the big boot. Cody punches him, Gunther hits a short-arm shoulder block, Cody lands on his feet from a back suplex, punches him, hits the snap powerslam, and starts to fire himself up.
Cody hits the left jabs, connects with the Bionic Elbow, lands the Pedigree, and covers for a near-fall! Rhodes goes up top, jumps over him, Gunther hits the running shotgun dropkick, hits the POWERBOMB, and stacks the cover for 2.5! Gunther goes for the splash, Cody gets his knees up, hits the Disaster Kick, connects with CROSS RHODES, and covers for 1-2-KICKOUT!! Gunther counters the Cody Cutter with the Sleeper, but Rhodes rolls through, and Gunther locks in the SLEEPER! Gunther drops back for effort, they roll to their stomachs, Cody gets to his knees, stands with Gunther on his back, and drops backwards to release. Gunther grabs him for the Sleeper, hits elbows to the neck, and locks him in the SLEEPER! Rhodes starts to fade gasping for air, he rolls onto his stomach, and gets his foot on the bottom rope to break.
Gunther is dominating the match and in control here, taunting Rhodes around the ring. Cody fights back, they slap chests with chops, Gunther clotheslines him, Cody clotheslines him back, and Gunther takes him down with a big clothesline. Rhodes ducks another clothesline, Gunther blocks the Cody Cutter, Rhodes counters the Sleeper, hits the Cody Cutter, drops him with the CROSS RHODES, and covers for the 3-count!! Gunther’s foot was under the bottom rope but the 3-count was made! WINNER, and STILL, UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPION: CODY RHODES!!
After the match, we see the replays where Gunther’s foot WAS in fact under the bottom rope, but where referee Dan Engler’s position was he did not even see it. Gunther is yelling at Dan Engler for missing the rope break, then he storms off. LA Knight, Montez Ford, and The Judgment Day are all in the crowd.
