By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Clash in Italy
May 31, 2026, in Turin, Italy, at the Inalpi Arena
Streamed live on ESPN Unlimited, Netflix internationally, first hour simulcast on ESPN
Michael Cole opened the show with a geography lesson regarding the location of the host city. Pre-taped shots aired of World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, Jacob Fatu, Sol Ruca, Women’s U.S. Champion Becky Lynch, WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Jade Cargill, Oba Femi, and Brock Lesnar… A Clash in Italy video package aired…
Pyro shot off on the stage while Cole said there were over 12,000 fans expected for the sold-out show…
Gunther made his entrance while Corey Graves joined Cole on commentary. Graves noted that he called the AAA event the night before. The Italian broadcast team checked in from the desk next to Cole and Graves. WWE Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance wearing an American Nightmare helmet. The fans sang Cody’s song…
1. Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for the WWE Championship. Ring announcer Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. The fans sang Cody’s name before the bell rang to start the match. A loud “Let’s go, Gunther” chant broke out, and then fans went back to singing Cody’s name.
Cody connected with an uppercut from the mat. Cody went for a springboard move that Gunther cut off with a big chop. Gunther threw another chop at Cody before covering him for an early two count. Gunther went for a sleeper, but Cody took him down with an armdrag to avoid it, only to have Gunther drop him with a big boot.
Cody came back with a powerslam. Cody threw jabs at Gunther before hitting him with a Bionic Elbow. Cody followed up with a Pedigree for a near fall. Cody went up top and had to dive over a charging Gunther, who turned around and hit him with a shotgun dropkick. Gunther powerbombed Cody for a near fall.
Gunther went for a top rope move, but Cody put his knees up. Cody hit a Disaster Kick and followed up with CrossRhodes for a near fall. Cody went up top for a Cody Cutter, but Gunther caught him in a sleeper hold and took him to the mat.
Cody stood up and fell back to break the hold, but Gunther immediately reapplied it. Gunther released the hold and threw elbow strikes at Cody before locking in the sleeper again. There were loud “Cody” chants before he got his foot on the bottom rope to break the hold.
Cody and Gunther traded strikes in the middle of the ring. Gunther threw a big clothesline. Cody came back with two clotheslines of his own, and then Gunther fired back with another that took Cody off his feet. Moments later, Cody regrouped and hit a Cody Cutter and a clothesline. Cody hit CrossRhodes and covered Gunther for a three count despite Gunther’s foot being under the bottom rope.
Cody Rhodes defeated Gunther in 11:35 to retain the WWE Championship.
Gunther protested. Some fans booed as Cody celebrated his win. The replay showed Gunther’s foot was not only under the bottom rope, but his foot actually hit the bottom rope during the count. Cole said the referee’s decision is final.
Powell’s POV: A good match with a finish that creates the need for a rematch. The production team did a nice job of showing the pin from an angle that didn’t make the finish obvious, even though I suspect Gunther was going to do something involving the ropes due to the way he positioned himself after taking CrossRhodes. I thought he was going to put his foot over the bottom rope to break the count, but it turned out to be the finish. It was fun while it lasted. My concern going in was that the event had an A-show lineup of matches that could conclude with B-show finishes. I get why they went with this finish, but I hope there will be more satisfying finishes throughout the night.
LA Knight, Montez Ford, and the Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez were shown sitting with the fans…
A split-screen shot showed WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill. Cole said their match was up next, and then they cut to the first commercial break 25 minutes into the show… [C] Oba Femi was shown backstage… A video package set up the WWE Women’s Championship match…
Jade Cargill made her entrance without B-Fab and Michin. Rhea Ripley’s entrance followed…
2. Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship. Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the championship match. Jade had good heat, and there was a loud “Let’s go, Mami” chant during the opening minute. Jade body slammed Ripley and then did push-ups until Ripley slapped her. Ripley sent Jade to the floor and then dropkicked her through the ropes.
Ripley went for a suicide dive that Jade stuffed. Jade dumped Ripley on the apron. Jade picked up Ripley and tossed her at the ropes, and then hit her with a knee strike from the floor. Jade rolled in the ring for a moment to break the referee’s count and then performed a fallaway slam on the floor before tossing Ripley back inside the ring.
Jade continued to dominate the offense. Graves said Jade used a slow, methodical pace, which made it less likely that she would make any mistakes. Jade slammed Ripley, who avoided an elbow drop that followed. Jade charged Ripley, who moved, causing Jade to crash into the corner. Ripley held Jade’s right arm while clotheslining her multiple times and then dumped her face-first on the mat. Ripley connected with a basement dropkick.
Ripley executed a German suplex. Moments later, Ripley missile dropkicked Jade and then covered her for a two count. Ripley powered up Jade for a Razor’s Edge, but Jade avoided the move and performed a backbody drop. Riley caught Jade with a kick from the mat, which left both wrestlers down.
Ripley and Jade went face-to-face on the mat before standing up and trading punches. Ripley avoided Jaded, but Jade dodged a dropkick. Ripley caught Jade with a headbutt and followed up with a kick before hitting a Razor’s Edge. Ripley performed a shining wizard before covering Jade for a two count.
Ripley got Jade in the electric chair position. Jade used her legs to pull Ripley over the top rope with a hurcanrana, but Ripley stood up on the floor and held Jade in the electric chair position before dropping her face-first onto the apron.
Back in the ring, Ripley stuffed a Jaded attempt. Ripley went for her finisher, but Jade countered with a DDT. Jade followed up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Jade went up top, but Ripley cut her off and joined her on the ropes. Ripley performed a side suplex from the top rope and then covered Jade for a near fall. Ripley showed frustration over not getting the pin.
B-Fab and Michin jogged to the ring to boos from the crowd, which distracted Ripley, who turned into a pump kick. Jade avoided Jaded and then hit Riptide by rolling through Jade’s legs and then double-stomping her. Ripley covered Jade, and the idea was that B-Fab would put Jade’s foot over the bottom rope, but she flubbed it, and the referee had to stop his count before the foot was on the rope.
Ripley went to the floor and pointed at her head, and then Charlotte Flair jumped off the barricade and hit B-Fab and Michin with a crossbody block. Flair ran B-Fab into the ring post. In the ring, Jade hit a pump kick. Jade followed up with Jaded and had the pin, but Flair put Ripley’s foot over the bottom rope. Ripley stuffed a chokeslam attempt and then headbutted Jade. Ripley hit her Riptide finisher and scored the pin…
Rhea Ripley defeated Jade Cargill in 17:00 to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.
Cole quickly hyped the rest of the show as being available via ESPN Unlimited… A SummerSlam ad aired for the August 1-2 event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at U.S. Bank Stadium… [C]
Powell’s POV: I’m sure nobody feels worse than B-Fab, but that spot put a black mark on an otherwise very good match. The fact that the opening match ended with the referee missing Gunther’s foot being under and then hitting the ropes made this even more awkward. But Ripley and Jade came through with a hot match. Charlotte Flair’s involvement gave Jade an out for losing, and Flair could also say that she’s the only reason that Ripley is still the champion when the time comes for their next match.
Italian rapper Capo Plaza, football player Sandro Tonali, Italian podcaster Gianluca Gazzoli, and record producer Sick Luke were all shown in the crowd…
Cole said that Corey Graves filmed a Bollywood movie right up the road several years ago… A video package spotlighted the Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar feud…
Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman made their entrance through the small entrance set. Cole said this was the first time since 2002 that Lesnar competed in a match held in Europe. The fans popped big for Lesnar, as well as Oba Femi, whose entrance followed. The fans chanted “Oba” as he strutted to the ring…
3. Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar (w/Paul Heyman). Alicia Taylor delivered in-ring introductions for the, um, match without a title involved. Heyman took the mic and stood next to Lesnar while introducing him, which included a line in Italian. Taylor introduced Oba.
Lesnar attacked Oba before the opening bell. The idiot referee rewarded him for it by calling for the bell. Lesnar hit four F5s before covering Oba for a near fall. Lesnar put Oba in a kimura lock. Graves said Lesnar wouldn’t hesitate to snap Oba’s arm. Oba eventually stood up while Lesnar had the hold locked in and then slammed him to the mat to break it.
Lesnar went for the kimura lock again, but Oba drove him into the corner a few times. Oba went for a chokeslam, but Lesnar slipped away and put him down with an F5 for another near fall. Lesnar slammed his hands on the mat in frustration over not getting the three count.
Lesnar went for another F5, but Oba avoided it and then chokeslammed him and got a two count. Oba clotheslined Lesnar over the top rope to the floor. Oba cleared the English broadcast table. Oba tried to run Oba into the ring post casing, but Lesnar reversed it, and Oba sold his arm. Lesnar went for the kimura lock, but Oba drove him into the ring post casing to avoid it.
Lesnar came right back with an F5 that put Oba through the broadcast table. Lesnar returned to the ring and held up his arms in celebration. The referee started to count Oba down, but he shot up and returned to the ring. Lesnar looked stunned. Oba hit him with running shots in the corner before picking him up and tossing him across the ring. Oba went for his Fall From Grace finisher, but Lesnar jumped over him and then hit the F5 and scored the pin.
Brock Lesnar defeated Oba Femi in 6:25.
Lesnar stood on the floor and said, “One plus one, you’re done, bitch.”
Powell’s POV: Another hot match. There will be a lot of debate over that outcome. I said going in that I didn’t think Oba should lose clean, but I’m actually okay with it after watching the match play out. I didn’t expect a Goldberg-like winning streak. The debate will ultimately be decided by whether Oba stays hot or cools off following this finish. Oba strikes me as being way too over to have one loss to Lesnar derail him.
Bron Breakker and Austin Theory were shown in the crowd holding the World Tag Team Titles. Cole said Breakker is now one-half of the tag team champions due to Logan Paul’s injury. A blonde Giulia was shown. TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella was also shown…
Powell’s POV: For a moment there, I thought AEW Women’s Champion Thekla was being shown, but it was Giulia with a new look. It’s a fun move to have Santino Marella in Italy.
Highlights aired of El Grande Americano beating Original El Grande Americano in a mask vs. mask match at Saturday’s AAA event. In a shocking twist, it was Chad Gable under the Original El Grande Americano mask. What?!? They also hyped Las Vegas as playing host to night one of the TripleMania event…
A split-screen shot showed Becky Lynch and Sol Ruca, and then Cole set up an ad for the Scary Movie film, which also has its logo in the middle of the ring… [C] Miz and R-Truth were featured in another ad for the movie…
Sol Ruca made her entrance to a tame reaction and slapped hands on her way to the ring. The broadcast team questioned whether nerves would be a factor for Ruca. Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch made her entrance…
4. Becky Lynch vs. Sol Ruca for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Yes, Jessika Carr was the referee for the match. Lynch got in Carr’s face. Lynch tried to surprise Ruca with a clothesline that she ducked. Lynch sent Ruca to the floor and then hit her with a baseball slide kick. Ruca avoided a kick from the apron. Ruca ran at Lynch, who ducked, and then Ruca did a handstand on the apron. Lynch swung at Ruca, who pulled herself up, causing Lynch to hit the ring post casing.
Ruca performed a great moonsault from the top rope onto Lynch on the floor. Back in the ring, Ruca went for a springboard move, but Lynch tripped her and then worked her over with punches. Lynch sent Ruca to the floor and got a shot in before tossing her back inside the ring. Lynch hit a top rope leg drop for a two count. Lynch bickered with Carr about the speed of her count.
Ruca came back and performed a German suplex. Ruca followed up with a missile dropkick from the middle rope. Ruca connected with a knee strike and then covered Lynch for a two count. Moments later, Ruca went for a Sol Snatcher from the middle of the second rope, but
Lynch caught her in an armbar on the way down. Ruca escaped the hold and countered with a crossface. Lynch escaped and reapplied the armbar, but Ruca ended up on top of her, so Lynch had to release the hold to avoid being pinned. Lynch came back and got another two count and then complained about Carr’s count again.
Ruca dropkicked Lynch. Ruca charged Lynch, who shot her over the top rope. Lynch went to the middle rope and pulled Ruca up from the apron. Ruca battled back and hit a facebuster from the middle rope. Ruca went up top, but Lynch shoved Carr into the corner, which led to Ruca being crotched.
Lynch superplexed Ruca. Lynch followed up with a DDT that Ruca blocked before superkicking Lynch, who rolled to the floor. Ruca kipped up and performed a handspring into a flip over the top rope, but Ruca’s feet hit the ropes, and she came up short. Ruca tossed Lynch back inside the ring. Ruca went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Lynch caught her and hit a Manhandle Slam for a two count.
Lynch went to the ropes for a Sol Snatcher, but Ruca pulled her down and hit a Manhandle Slam for a near fall. Rica charged Lynch, who hoisted her up on her shoulders. Ruca slipped away. Lynch went for the Manhandle Slam, but Ruca avoided it and then hit the Sol Snatcher and pinned Lynch clean.
Sol Ruca defeated Becky Lynch in 14:10 to win the Women’s U.S. Championship.
A “you deserve it” chant broke out. Ruca stood in the entrance aisle and held up the title while some pyro shot off on the stage. Lynch sold the loss by looking angry while lying on the mat…
Powell’s POV: Perhaps it’s by design, but Ruca looks nervous before performing big spots. It was easy to see when she was going to attempt a big move because she’d take a deep breath before going for most of those moves. She had the one botch when she hit the ropes, but she recovered nicely, and the Sol Snatcher looked terrific. There was even more friction than usual between Lynch and Carr, but they still haven’t pulled the trigger on the big angle that will presumably lead to a match.
Je’Von Evans, Iyo Sky, Ethan Page, and Lyra Valkyria were shown in the crowd…
Cole said the King and Queen of the Ring brackets will be revealed on the Clash in Italy post-show… Cole hyped Saturday Night’s Main Event for July 18 at Madison Square Garden… Jacob Fatu was shown in the crowd while Cole hyped the main event… [C]
Cole hyped the WWE Night of Champions premium live event for Saturday, June 27, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cole also hyped Monday’s Raw with the first King and Queen of the Ring matches for Monday at 1CT2ET… Highlights were shown from the matches with Italian commentary…
The pre-show panel of Joe Tessitore’s hair, Big E, and Peter Rosenberg spoke from a desk set up off the main floor… A video package set up the main event…
Alicia Taylor announced the rules of Tribal Combat as being no count-outs or disqualifications, and the first person to score a pinfall or submission will be the World Heavyweight Champion. Jacob Fatu made his entrance. The lengthy Roman Reigns’ entrance followed…
5. Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat for the World Heavyweight Championship. Reigns removed his ulafala and looked at it before handing it to the referee, who held it up in the middle of the ring before calling for the opening bell.
Reigns performed an early leapfrog followed by a clothesline. Reigns slammed Fatu’s head into the turnbuckle pads in multiple corners. Fatu came back with a spinning elbow and went for the Tongan Death Grip, but Reigns scambled to the floor.
Cole said there was a lot of “speculation online” that Fatu was injured coming into the match. Fatu hit a suicide dive. Graves said it didn’t look like he was injured. Fatu dumped Reigns over the barricade and followed. Cole noted that the host venuew as built for ice hockey during the Winter Olympics (USA, USA, USA – one for the women, one for the men, and one for the paralympics team all winning gold in Italy).
Reigns threw ten punches at Fatu while they were standing on the steps just off the main floor. Fatu slammed Roman’s head into the railing. Fatu headbutted Reigns and slammed his head onto a chair. Fatu headbutted Reigns again, and then they fought near a concession stand. Reigns grabbed an ice container and hit Fatu with it.
Fatu slammed Roman’s head on the railing again and then walked him back and tossed him over the barricade. Fatu looked in the timekeeper’s area. A “we want tables” chant broke out. “This is what you get,” Fatu told Reigns before headbutting him. Fatu looked to the crowd and then pulled up the ring skirting. Fatu pulled it down again, and then Reigns punched him.
Reigns played to the crowd for a moment and then pulled a table out from underneath the ring. Fatu hit him from behind. Fatu leaned the sponsored table against the side of the ring. Reigns hit Fatu and then positioned the table under the ropes. Fatu knocked Reigns down while the broadcast team pointed out an elbow pad that Roman was wearing while playing up a potential injury.
Fatu tossed Reigns back inside the ring. “I tried to tell Roman,” Fatu said before climbing on the apron, only to be knocked back down by a Reigns punch. Reigns picked up the top piece of the ring steps and tossed it at Fatu’s head.
A short time later, Fatu avoided a Superman Punch and then fired punches at Reigns. Fatu no-sold a kick and went back on the offensive. Fatu splashed Reigns in a corner of the ring and then headbutted him while the fans counted along.
Reigns followed up with a hip attack before doing his usual dance. “There’s something wrong with him,” Cole said. Fatu went for a pop-up move, but Reigns hit him with a Superman Punch on the way down and then covered him for a two count.
Reigns let out the war cry in the corner and then ran into a kick. Fatu applied the Tongan Death Grip. Reigns threw punches and was eventually dumped to the floor. Fatu went for a suicide dive, only to have Reigns punch him from the floor. Fatu went under the skirting for a moment.
Reigns placed Fatu’s hand on the broadcast table and slammed a toolbox on it. Reigns placed Fatu’s injured hand in an opening of the ring steps and bashed it with the toolbox again. Back in the ring, Reigns set up to spear Fatu through a sponsored table that was set up in the ring. Reigns let out a war cry, but Fatu charged and hit Reigns in the corner. Fatu followed up with a couple of hip attacks. Reigns went to the floor, and Fatu followed.
A short time later, Reigns speared Fatu through the barricade by the timekeeper’s area. Reigns got Fatu back inside the ring and then speared him, which led to a near fall. Reigns spoke to Fatu inside the ring, saying he never needed anyone’s help.
Reigns removed some turnbuckle pads, and three of the four were exposed, and the fourth had a table in front of it. Fatu applied the Tongan Death Grip, but he released it because of his bad hand. Reigns hit him with a Superman Punch. Fatu did his crazy dance. Rinse and repeat with another Superman Punch and another crazy dance. Reigns slammed Fatu’s head into an exposed turnbuckle and then ran the rope for a spear, but Fatu beat him to the punch with a spear for a near fall.
Fatu went for his moonsault finisher, which Cole called the Mighty Moonsault, but Reigns moved. Reigns let out another war cry, but Fatu cut him off. Fatu hit the Mighty Moonsault and covered Reigns, who hit him with a low blow while kicking out. The wrestlers traded blows in the middle of the ring. Fatu applied the Tongan Death Grip, but Reigns escaped while Cole spoke about Fatu’s hand injury.
Reigns speared Fatu through the table in a corner of the ring. Fatu got up, and Reigns looked surprised. Reigns ran the ropes and speared Fatu again before pinning him.
Roman Reigns defeated Jacob Fatu in roughly 27:00 in Tribal Combat to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
“The Samoan Werewolf has been neutered,” Cole said. “He’s been domesticated at the hands of the still Head of the Table, the still World Champion, Roman Reigns. Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso came out. Jey placed the ula fala around Roman’s neck.
Cole said they turn their focus to Raw, where Fatu will have to honor Reigns as the Tribal Chief. Fatu sat in a corner of the ring. Reigns looked down at him and jawed at him while exiting the ring with the Usos. Fatu got to one knee and looked at Reigns.
Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Talla Tonga were shown in the front row. Reigns was censored while talking to the Usos, and then they headed up the entrance aisle. Fatu exited the ring and looked at Solo, Tama, and Talla. Reigns cued Jey, who then motioned for Fatu to hurry up and follow them. The executive producer credits were shown while Reigns jawed at the fans about being the Tribal Chief to close the show…
Powell’s POV: The main event was plodding at times during the first half of the match, but it picked up during the second half. It was fine, but they never sold me on the threat of Fatu winning. I could have done without Cole saying that Fatu was neutered and domesticated, but we’ll see where Fatu’s storyline of having to serve Reigns goes next.
Overall, the show looked great on paper, and it was strong in execution. They got the weakest finish out of the way in the opener, and surprised me with the clean finish in the Lesnar vs. Oba match. I will have a lot more to say when I team up with Jade Barnett for our same-day audio review of Clash in Italy, which will be available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of the show by voting for the best match and grading the overall show below.