WWE Clash of Champions 2019 aired live from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC.
Kickoff Show Results:
- Drew Gulak def. Lince Dorado & Humberto Carillo to retain the Cruiserweight Championship
- AJ Styles def. Cedric Alexander to retain the United States Championship
Here are 9 takeaways from the PPV:
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode Won The RAW Tag Team Championships
Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman put the RAW Tag Team Championships on the line against Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler to begin the show. Strowman and Roode started off the match by locking up in the middle of the ring as the crowd chanted “get these hands!”.
Braun launched Roode across the ring and Ziggler quickly tagged in. Strowman hit Dolph with a Splash in the corner and tagged Seth in. Roode tagged in and knocked Rollins to the outside. Roode distracted the referee and Dolph capitalized with a DDT.
Ziggler tagged in and applied a Headlock to Rollins in the center of the ring. Rollins broke free with a Jawbreaker but Ziggler bounced off the ropes and connected with a Fameasser for a near fall. Roode tagged in and hit a Suplex for a one count. Rollins battled back with a Blockbuster off the second rope and both superstars crashed to the canvas.
Dolph tagged in and rolled up Seth for a two count. Ziggler applied a Sleeper Hold and then threw Seth to the canvas. Ziggler went for a DDT but Rollins caught him and countered into a Falcon Arrow. Braun tagged in and leveled Ziggler with a shoulder tackle.
Strowman hit a Splash in the corner that sent Dolph to the outside. Strowman sprinted around the ring and took out both Roode and Ziggler with a shoulder tackle. Back in the ring, Rollins tagged in and hit Roode with a kick to the face.
Rollins followed it up with a Slingblade but Roode shrugged it off and hit a Spinebuster for a two count. Strowman got in the ring and hit Roode with a shoulder tackle that sent him flying into Rollins. Braun fell out of the ring and Roode hit the Glorious DDT on Rollins for the pinfall victory. Strowman was interviewed backstage after the match and blamed Rollins for the loss. Braun stated that Rollins is on a losing streak and he is going to make sure it stays that way later tonight in the Universal Championship match.
It was obvious that Rollins and Strowman were going to lose the RAW Tag Team Championships tonight. At the end of the day, what did giving them the titles really accomplish? I would have rather seen a title match tonight between two built up teams that had a storyline that played out for weeks on RAW.
Roode and Ziggler are a team that was randomly thrown together a few weeks ago. It is impossible to care about them and it is pretty laughable that they are the current champions. If they stay together and dominate the division then I’ll differently. However, I feel that is much more likely that they drop the titles in a few weeks and this was all just a huge waste of time.
Bayley Stole A Victory
Bayley defended her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Charlotte Flair tonight. Flair connected with a big boot right away and went for the cover but Bayley kicked out. The SmackDown Women’s Champion rolled out of the ring and Charlotte chased her around.
Back in the ring, Flair unloaded a couple of chops and then planted Bayley with a Fallaway Slam. Charlotte continued to dominate and threw Bayley into the barricade outside the ring a couple of times. Charlotte brought Bayley back inside and went for a cover but the champ kicked out at two.
Flair drove Bayley to the corner and hit her with a forearm to the face. Flair targetted Bayley’s knee and went for the Figure Four but Bayley countered into a roll-up for a near fall. Charlotte hit another big boot and then stomped away on Bayley in the corner. Bayley took off the turnbuckle pad while the referee wasn’t looking and Charlotte charged at her. Bayley bashed Flair’s face into the exposed metal and pinned Flair for the victory. After the match, Bayley quickly rolled out of the ring and sprinted to the back to avoid Flair.
Bayley cowardly running the to back was great. I’m sure this feud will continue after tonight and will lead to another match at Hell in a Cell.
The Revival Won The SmackDown Tag Team Championships
New Day defended their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Revival tonight on the PPV. Woods and Wilder started off and Xavier dominated early. Woods hit Wilder with a couple of chops and tagged Big E in.
Big E planed Dash with a Uranage and then beat him down on the ring apron. Dawson slammed Woods into the steel steps and Big E got distracted by it. Wilder Clotheslined Big E to the floor and brought him back into the ring.
Wilder went for the cover but Big E kicked out at two. The Revival isolated Big E in the corner and took turns beating him down for the next few minutes. The Revival planted Big E with the Shatter Machine and then isolated Woods in the ring. Wilder and Dawson hit Woods with the Shatter Machine but elected not to pin him. Dawson took of Woods’ knee brace and applied a Knee Bar for the submission victory.
Bliss & Cross Retained
Women’s Tag Team Championships Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross defended their titles against Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville. Rose hit Cross with a Body Slam but Nikki battled back with a Clothesline. Cross mocked Rose and danced around before Mandy retreated to the corner.
Alexa Bliss tagged in and smacked Mandy in the face and Moonsaulted onto her for a new fall. 24/7 Champion R-Truth was then chased around the ring and through the crowd as Sonya Deville tagged in. Sonya and Rose took turns beating down Alexa Bliss in the corner as Cross pleaded for a tag.
Bliss and Cross hit a punch at the same time and both superstars fell to the canvas. Cross and Sonya tagged in and Nikki hit a couple of Clotheslines. Cross connected with a Bulldog and then knocked Rose out of the ring. Cross climbed to the top rope and hit a Crossbody for a near fall.
Alexa tagged in and made her way to the top rope. Deville shoved Cross into the ropes and Bliss got tripped up. Deville and Rose connected with a High/Low and Rose went for the cover but Nikki broke it up at the last moment. Cross tagged in and planted Rose with a Neckbreaker for the pinfall victory. Cross and Bliss are still the Women’s Tag Team Champions.
I absolutely hated the build to this match but wound up enjoying this. Cross and Bliss actually do work well together, however, I still just have it in the back of my head that they are going to split up as a team. It has happened with every other superstar that was paired with Bliss. If they are going to remain a team for a while and have better feuds going forward then I am fine with it. It is not like The IIconics did anything with the titles anyways.
Sami Zayn Helped Nakamura Retain The IC Title
Shinsuke Nakamura defended the Intercontinental Championship against The Miz tonight at the PPV. Sami Zayn came down to the entrance ramp with a neck brace on. Sami stated that he sustained the neck injury from the Chokeslam from The Undertaker. Zayn then ridiculously introduced Nakamura and grabbed his neck in pain after shouting Shinsuke’s name.
Sami Zayn had a live microphone during the beginning of the match and started taunting The Miz. Sami got in a funny joke about the Carolina Panthers before the microphone was cut off. The Miz grabbed the microphone and launched it up the entrance ramp.
Nakamura capitalized on the distracted and connected with a knee to the face. The Miz battled back with a Clothesline and went for the cover but Shinsuke kicked out at two. Miz followed it up with a DDT for another near fall.
Miz locked in the Figure Four in the middle of the ring. Nakamura escaped and went for the Kinshasa but Miz countered into the Skull Crushing Finale. Sami Zayn hopped up on the apron and distracted the referee while Miz went for the cover. The Miz chased Sami around the ring and Nakamura caught him with a kick to the face. Shinsuke rolled Miz back inside the ring and hit the Kinshasa for the pinfall victory. Nakamura is still the Intercontinental Champion.
Becky Lynch Was Disqualified But Retained The RAW Women’s Championship
Becky Lynch defended her RAW Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks tonight at Clash of Champions. Becky smacked Banks in the face and bounced her head off the canvas several times as the crowd got fired up.
Lynch hit a running forearm in the corner and went for the Dis-Arm-Her but Sasha was able to escape out of the ring. Banks didn’t get back into the ring and Lynch caught her with a Baseball Slide Dropkick. Lynch hit a Clothesline off the steep steps and rolled Banks back into the ring.
Becky made her way to the middle rope but Banks caught her and stomped her down to the canvas. Lynch went for an Exploder Suplex but Sasha blocked it. Sasha leaped off the middle rope but Lynch was ready and countered with a Dropkick to the midsection.
Lynch connected with the Exploder Suplex this time and followed it up with a few knees to the face. Becky went for the Clothesline but Sasha countered and locked in the Bank Statement in the center of the ring. Lynch battled to her feet and hit the Exploder Suplex once again and followed it up with a Leg Drop off the second rope for a near fall.
Banks hit a Meteora off the second rope and went for the cover but Lynch was able to kick out at the last moment. Sasha screamed out of frustration as Becky stumbled her way to the corner of the ring. Lynch went for the Dis-Arm-Her but Sasha countered into a roll-up for a near fall.
Becky applied the Dis-Arm-Her but Banks fought through the pain and reached the bottom rope to break the hold. Lynch hit a Dropkick off the top rope for a near fall as the crowd chanted “this is awesome!”. Sasha connected with two Backstabbers in a row and then locked in the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring.
Lynch escaped the hold but Banks grabbed Becky’s arm and slammed it into the ring apron. Sasha slid a chair in the ring and the referee got distracted. As the referee was tossing the chair out of the ring, Banks grabbed another chair and hit Becky in the midsection.
Sasha followed it up with a Shining Wizard and went for the cover but Becky kicked out at two. Banks once again brought a chair into the ring but the referee grabbed it from her. Becky then grabbed the chair and swung at Banks but Sasha ducked and Lynch hit the referee by accident.
Becky hit Banks with the chair and then chased her into the crowd. Becky applied the Dis-Arm-Her on the railing for a bit but Banks escaped and scampered up the steps. Becky caught up to Banks at the concession area and bounced her face off the counter.
The brawl continued back through the crown and down the stairs towards the ring. Becky slammed Banks into a trash can and threw her over the barricade. Sasha launched Becky into the barricade and rolled her back into the ring. Michael Cole announced that the match ended in a DQ as Becky once again grabbed the chair.
Lynch unloaded a bunch of chair shots and slammed her face onto the steel a few times. Becky locked in the Dis-Arm-Her as Sasha screamed in pain. WWE officials rushed the ring and finally broke it up.
I’ve enjoyed every match tonight besides the opening bout of the show so far. This was really entertaining and I have no issue with extending both the women’s championship feuds until Hell in a Cell. WWE couldn’t hand Banks a loss tonight, so they really didn’t have an option besides a finish like this. Lynch has been rumored to go to SmackDown when they debut on Fox so I wouldn’t be surprised if she drops the RAW Women’s Championship to Banks at Hell in a Cell.
Kofi Kingston Retained The WWE Championship
Kofi Kingston put the WWE Championship on the line against Randy Orton once again tonight at the PPV. Orton slowed the match down early and applied a Headlock. Kofi escaped but Orton leveled him with a shoulder tackle.
Orton posted and turned around into an elbow to the face from Kingston. Randy rolled out of the ring and Kingston did Orton’s pose on the turnbuckle. Orton launched Kingston off the apron and into the barricade.
Randy connected with a Suplex on the floor outside the ring and followed it up with a Belly to Back Suplex on the German announce table. Orton hit Kingston with another Belly to Back before rolling him back into the ring.
Orton went for the cover but Kingston kicked out at two. Kofi battled back with a Dropkick but Randy shrugged it off and sent Kingston to the outside. Orton bounced Kofi’s face off the steel steps.
Back in the ring, Kofi hit a Clothesline and both superstars fell to the canvas. Kingston got to his feet first and connected with a Dropkick. Kofi hit another Clothesline and then the Boom Drop. Kingston went for Trouble in Paradise but Orton countered with a Backbreaker for a two count.
Kofi launched Orton out of the ring and followed it up by leaping onto him. Back in the ring, Kingston climbed to the top rope and hit a Crossbody but Orton rolled through for a near fall. Orton hit a Dropkick for another two count. Kingston hit the SOS and went for the cover but Randy kicked out at two.
Randy perched Kingston up on the top turnbuckle and went for a Superplex but Kingston blocked it. Kofi knocked Orton off the turnbuckle with a headbutt but Orton battled back with a few right hands to the face. Orton hit a Powerslam and went for the cover but Kofi powered out at two.
Orton hung up Kingston in the ropes and planted him a DDT. Randy went for the RKO but Kingston countered into a roll-up for a two count. Orton then hit the RKO and went for the cover again but Kingston got his foot on the rope to break it up. Orton set up for the Punt but Kingston avoided it and hit Trouble in Paradise for the pinfall victory.
Kingston and Orton put on a solid match tonight but the crowd was completely dead following the RAW Women’s Championship match. I’m hoping that this marks the end of this feud and Kingston can move on to something else. I thought Orton was going to take the title tonight but have no interest in seeing this match again at Hell in a Cell.
Luke Harper Helped Erick Rowan Defeat Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns squared off with Erick Rowan tonight in a No Disqualifications Match at Clash of Champions. Rowan debuted a new theme tonight and was greeted with boos from the crowd.
Reigns started off the match in control but Rowan battled back and sent Roman to the outside. Rowan launched Reigns into the barricade and then slammed his face into the announce table.
Rowan charged but Reigns got out of the way and Erick crashed into the steel steps. Roman grabbed a kendo stick but Rowan got up and bashed Reigns with the steel steps. Rowan hit Reigns with the kendo stick as the action spilled into the crowd.
The action returned ringside and Roman connected with the Drive-By. Rowan responded with a massive shoulder tackle and rolled Roman into the ring. Erick connected with a big boot and followed it up with a Splash.
Reigns hit Rowan with a couple of punches but Erick was unphased and slammed Roman to the mat. Reigns Clotheslined Rowan to the outside but Erick landed on his feet. Rowan brought Roman to the outside and slammed him into the ring post. Rowan took off some padding on the apron and slammed Reigns’ head onto it for a two count.
Erick brought steel steps into the ring but Reigns hit him with a Samoan Drop for a near fall. Reigns hit Rowan with the steps and followed it up with a Superman Punch for a near fall. Roman went for another Superman Punch but Rowan caught him and hit a Powerbomb through the announce table.
Rowan brought Reigns back into the ring and went for the cover but Roman kicked out at the last second. Rowan hit Roman in the back of the head with the ring bell and the action returned to the crowd. Rowan planted Reigns with the Iron Claw through a table and then lifted Reigns onto his shoulders.
Rowan grabbed the camera jib but Reigns hit him with a pipe. Reigns bashed Rowan in the face with the camera jib and hit him with another Superman Punch. Reigns went for a Spear but Luke Harper came out of nowhere and hit Roman with a big boot. Harper leveled Roman with a Clothesline and Rowan followed it up with the Iron Claw for the victory.
All of the dirt sheets reported that Vince McMahon didn’t want to use Luke Harper after he asked for his release. Everyone was wrong and Harper reunited with Rowan tonight. I’ve always been a huge fan of Harper and hopefully, he gets some kind of decent run while he is still in WWE.
I feared that this was just going to be a one-off and Rowan would disappear after this storyline. Thankfully, that is not the case and I’ll certainly be interested what WWE has in store for Harper and Rowan going forward. Rowan being revealed as the attacker was a letdown but I thought he proved tonight that he can be much more than a sidekick in WWE. He lifted up Reigns like he was nothing several times tonight and it was impressive to watch.
The Fiend Attacked Rollins After He Retained The Universal Championship
Seth Rollins defended the Universal Championship against Braun Strowman in the main event of Clash of Champions. Rollins tried to win the match early and hit a few Superkicks and then a Frog Splash. Seth went for the cover but Strowman kicked out before the referee’s hand even touched the mat.
Strowman dominated the next few minutes of the match and taunted Rollins while doing so. Braun charged at Rollins in the corner but Seth got out of the way and Strowman crashed into the ring post. Rollins leaped off the top rope but Strowman caught him and clubbed him out of the ring.
Braun hit Seth with a shoulder tackle and then hurled him into the barricade. Rollins tripped Braun up and Strowman tumbled over the announce table. Rollins connected with two Suicide Dives in a row and Strowman fell on to the table again. Seth went for a third but Strowman caught him.
Rollins escaped and hit a Superkick that sent Strowman tumbling onto the Spanish announce table. Rollins climbed to the top rope but Strowman got up and joined him on the turnbuckle. Strowman sent Rollins to the canvas and hit a Splash off the top rope for a two count as the crowd chanted “holy sh*t!”.
Seth locked in a Sleeper Hold in the middle of the ring but Braun broke free. Seth hit the Stomp and went for the cover but Strowman kicked out at one. Rollins couldn’t believe it but hit another Stomp for a two count. Seth hit a third Stomp and Strowman once again powered out at two.
Strowman went for the Running Powerslam but Seth escaped as Braun’s knee gave out. Rollins then connected with the Pedigree and hit a fourth Stomp for the pinfall victory. Seth Rollins is still the Universal Champion. After the match, The Fiend hit Seth Rollins with the Sister Abigail on the entrance ramp. Wyatt then locked in the Mandible Claw as his laughter echoed throughout the arena to close the show.
WWE would be out of their collective minds to have Wyatt lose to Rollins at Hell in a Cell. Bray got the best reaction from the crowd the entire night. As for Strowman, every time some of the audience gets behind him there winds up being no payoff. I had a hard time getting invested in his feud with Rollins because of that. Overall, I thought Clash of Champions was an entertaining show and Hell in a Cell is shaping up to be even better.
