WWE hyped Clash in Italy as a historic PLE, and to their credit, they delivered a fine show in Turin. The card was packed with top-tier talent as Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther were all featured in prominent roles.
The overall reception of the PLE has been intriguing. Special praise has been directed towards the performances of Jade Cargill, Jacob Fatu, Roman Reigns, and Sol Ruca. Simultaneously, the booking of Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther has been intensely debated, too.
On that note, let’s look at 4 things WWE got right at Clash in Italy.
#3. Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill Exceeded Expectations
Quite a few fans took issue with Triple H’s decision to prolong the Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill saga. However, both women outdid themselves and exceeded their expectations at Clash in Italy. They wrestled for more than 15 minutes and had the crowd in the palm of their hands.
The Storm’s in-ring work has been criticized in the past, but Cargill brought her A game. The action was great as each woman found innovative counters and pulled out their big moves. Extra credit must be given to the storytelling, and teases dropped towards the end of the WWE Women’s Title match.
During the climax, B-Fab and Michin interfered to help Cargill. It felt as if the Storm would regain her title, but Charlotte Flair appeared out of nowhere to neutralize B-Fab and Michin. The Queen helped Ripley survive Cargill’s Jaded finisher. This created room for the Eradicator to hit one final Riptide for the win.
In many ways, Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill exceeded expectations. Cargill’s work in the ring has improved tremendously, and her performance at Clash in Italy indicated her growth. Furthermore, the odd alliance between Flair and Ripley is something that Triple H could work on to build a compelling storyline.
#2. WWE Protected Oba Femi in Defeat
To the surprise of the wrestling world, Oba Femi suffered a clean loss to Brock Lesnar at Clash in Italy. This was the Ruler’s first loss on the main roster. Furthermore, Triple H’s decision to have Lesnar go over makes sense. With both men tied at one win apiece, the stage is set for a colossal rubber match.
However, WWE went the extra mile to protect Femi. Before the match even began, the Beast jumped on his opponent and landed 4 consecutive F5s for a nearfall. The action spilled over to the ringside, where Lesnar put Femi through the table with a thunderous F5. By all means, this would have put the average man down for the ten count, but Femi got up for more.
The Ruler launched his own rapid assault. He was about to land the Fall From Grace, but Lesnar got out and landed a seventh F5 for the win. In total, it took seven F5s, including one through the announce table, to put the former NXT Champion away for the three count.
Although he didn’t get the win, Femi still came out looking strong. The F5 is one of the most protected finishers on the main roster, and it took 7 to defeat the Ruler. In contrast, Femi’s finisher was protected.
#1. Roman Reigns is Still the Tribal Chief
At this stage of his career, Roman Reigns should be invincible. However, the OTC looked vulnerable in his feud against Jacob Fatu. Fatu’s wild and unpredictable behavior gave him an advantage in Tribal Combat. Furthermore, the Samoan Werewolf had the Tongan Death Grip in his arsenal.
This was billed as a battle between two warriors, and that’s exactly what we got at Clash in Italy. They fought all over the arena. From throwing steel steps onto each other’s faces to scary Spears, Reigns vs. Fatu was loaded with action. Unsurprisingly, Fatu was made to look formidable and was protected in defeat.
Nonetheless, Triple H made the right call by having Reigns go over Fatu at Clash in Italy. The Bloodline, now, feels stronger, and the OTC comes off as a powerful leader. Hopefully, fans can see him in more pressing challenges in the near future.
