Drew McIntyre was poised to win the world heavyweight championship in his home country of Scotland in a pay-per-view main event. McIntyre instead leaves his Clash at the Castle with another broken dream courtesy of CM Punk.
McIntyre's career is riddled with big moments undermined. He won his first WWE championship at an empty WrestleMania mid-pandemic. The Bloodline screwed him out of the undisputed WWE universal championship at Clash at the Castle last year. Reigning world heavyweight champion Damian Priest stole the title from him at WrestleMania 40 and Punk cheated him out of the rematch with Priest on Saturday.
Clash at the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland also featured tremendous matches involving Cody Rhodes, AJ Styles, Sami Zayn and Chad Gable, plus the crowning of new champions.
CBS Sports was with you the whole way through the event with live updates, highlights and grades as the action went down.
2024 WWE Clash at the Castle results:
Undisputed WWE Championship -- Cody Rhodes (c) vs. AJ Styles ("I Quit" match): The referee demanded the superstars go to neutral corners but it didn't do much to calm things down. The rivals got to an aggressive spot with Rhodes throwing his signature disaster kick seconds into the match. Styles countered it, highlighting how Rhodes' emotions may override his tactical precision. The action quickly spilled across the venue: first outside, then into the crowd and back to the production area with the champ getting the better of the brawl. Back in the ring, Rhodes was first to try and elicit a verbal submission from his opponent using a figure-four leglock. Styles busted open Rhodes outside before engaging in a humorous argument with Rhodes' mother who repeatedly called Styles an expletive.
The brutalization got worse as Styles repeatedly caned and whipped Rhodes with a kendo stick and belt, respectively. The champion passed out from the pressure of a crossface. Styles demanded the referee ring the bell, however, the official informed Styles the match would continue until someone uttered "I quit." An irate Styles threw a water bottle at Rhodes to wake him up before handcuffing the champion. Styles ferociously caned Rhodes before engaging in a second argument with his opponent's mom. Rhodes' mom slapped Styles multiple times. An irate Styles threatened to hit her with a steel chair before bringing it into the ring.
Styles springboarded off the ropes with a Phenomenal Forearm but ate a steel hair to the face and fell through a table stationed at ringside. Rhodes wiggled his arms underneath his feet and in front of him while Styles was distracted. Rhodes found the key, uncuffed himself and got to work. Rhodes hit three Styles Clashes, the last of which spiked Styles on a steel chair. The referee tried to check on Styles but Rhodes waved him off. Rhodes handcuffed the challenger to the ropes and stung him with chair shots. Styles initially refused to quit but conceded after Rhodes threatened to chuck steel steps into his head. Rhodes won the match but after convening with his mother decided to hurl the steps at Styles' head anyway.
The Bloodline attacked Rhodes post-match but Kevin Owens and Randy Orton rescued him. It was a wise call to open the card with this. The crowd ate up the momentum switches and big spots. Rhodes and Styles' viciousness lent well to the stipulation. The post-match angle was a nice touch to set up Rhodes' next storyline. Result: Rhodes def. Styles via verbal submission to retain the undisputed WWE championship. Grade: A
WWE Women's Tag Team Championships -- Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill (c) vs. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn vs. Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark: The champions started hot. Belair showed off her athleticism and Cargill's power overwhelmed two opponents simultaneously. A nice spot saw Cargill hoist Dawn on her shoulders, catch Baszler mid-air and hit a Samoan drop and fallaway slam congruently. Belair and Cargill followed with a series of tandem maneuvers. There was brief miscommunication, but it was a solid showcase of their developing chemistry. The champions' dominance compelled their challengers to regroup and join forces to overwhelm the champs. Their union was successful but short-lived as Stark and Baszler turned on their fellow challengers. The crowd erupted as the momentum swung towards home players Fyre and Dawn, who took out Baszler and Stark with successive rapid-fire and high-flying moves. The champions finally got back into the mix and took over in a series of messy spots from all three teams. A beautiful spot amid the chaos saw Belair hit a 450 knee splash to Baszler's back. Cargill had Baszler dead to rights after a tandem maneuver but Dawn played spoiler. Dawn hit Cargill with a German suplex as Fyre scrambled to cover Baszler.
The new champs embraced their family ringside as the crowd chanted "You deserve it!" A touching moment especially considering that Fyre's mom, Bridgeen Mitchell, passed away last month after being struck by a vehicle while visiting her daughter. The match started well enough but was dragged down by a lot of miscommunication late. Fyre and Dawn winning in their home nation was touching, particularly considering the tragedy Fyre's family experienced last month. Result: Fyre and Dawn def. Baszler via pinfall to win the titles. Grade: C+
Intercontinental Championship -- Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable: The technical talents started with some traditional chain wrestling. Zayn got the better of it early, spurring Gable to regroup with Otis and Maxxine Dupri ringside. Gable appeared to suggest there was a plan involving Alpha Academy. Zayn also convened with Gable's students, urging them to listen to the crowd and break free from Gable. A hard slap to the face by Gable reinforced the rivalry's intensity. The challenger's Olympic wrestling background served him well as he took control and targeted Zayn's left arm. A stunning spot saw Zayn hit a sitting springboard moonsault to Gable ringside. Zayn hit a one-handed Michinoku Driver expertly selling his injury even in the middle of a difficult maneuver. The arm continued to play a role as Zayn couldn't leverage his pinfalls after big moves. Gable's technical acumen allowed him to snatch multiple ankle locks that further handicapped the champ.
Alpha Academy's plan was revealed once Gable distracted the referee. Dupri reared back to hit Zayn with the intercontinental belt but couldn't follow through. Gable scolded Dupri in the corner but ducked as the champ nearly clocked Zayn with a Helluva Kick. Gable utilized the distraction to hit a Chaos Theory rolling deadlift German suplex that spurred an exhilarating near fall. Gable opted to roll out of the ring and continue scolding Durpi. An angry Otis stepped in between them and got in Gable's face. Zayn launched over the ropes with a flipping senton and hit Otis by mistake. Gable subsequently hit a moonsault to Zayn and Otis outside. Shortly after, Zayn rolled through an ankle lock attempt ringside that inadvertently launched Gable into Dupri's injured leg. Otis was irate. The strongman washed his hands of the match and carried Dupri to the rampway. Zayn cracked Gable with a Helluva Kick to win the match before succumbing to his injured ankle. A fantastic wrestling elevated by Zayn's masterclass selling and a strong storyline involving Alpha Academy. Zayn def. Gable via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: A
WWE Women's Championship -- Bayley (c) vs. Piper Niven: Niven's power was an immediate factor but Bayley's speed, precision and experience helped level the playing field. Niven's ally Chelsea Green was caught trying to intervene in the first half of the match. Referee Chad Patton promptly ejected Green. Niven performed fine without her friend, flattening Bayley with a flipping senton off the apron. Niven continued to punish Bayley with running splash and slams. Bayley finally turned the table with a top rope Bayley to Belly suplex. Bayley draped her arm for the pinfall but the referee was distracted by returning Green, this time sporting a luchador mask. Bayley clocked Green with a baseball slide before turning around into a nasty Tiger Driver for the near fall. The challenger followed up with a nice black hole slam ringside. A desperate crucifix bomb and high stack scored Bayley the pinfall. A solid match that delivered despite the obvious outcome. Niven looked strong without Green and Bayley shined as the undersized champ. Result: Bayley def. Niven to retain the title. Grade: B+
World Heavyweight Championship -- Damian Priest (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: McIntyre started hot in his motherland. The challenger hammered Priest before crashing down on the champ with a flipping senton over the ropes to ringside. Some eye gouging slowed but could not stop McIntyre's momentum. A remarkable spot saw Priest trap his own ankle between the top and middle rope while attempting a running springboard move. McIntyre welcomed the error and walloped the compromised champion. McIntyre pried the champ out of the ropes, acknowledging he couldn't win the title if Priest was tied up in the ropes. Priest hit a sharp super kick but McIntyre answered with a Future Shock DDT for a near fall. Priest expertly sold his injured ankle, even hitting McIntyre with a Razor's Edge on one foot.
The heavyweights started slugging it out with particularly nasty-looking forearms from the champ. Priest hit a series of beautiful kicks to the head and body, including a 360-degree jumping kick while remembering to sell his injury. The fight spilled outside and McIntyre shot Priest through the barricade with a Claymore Kick! Back in the ring, McIntyre launched for a second Claymore Kick but Priest countered with a South of Heaven chokeslam for a great near fall. The match continued to kick up as the crowd bought into every exchange. Priest hit a top rope hurricanrana but his injured ankle gave McIntyre a prime opening for another Claymore Kick. The Scotland crowd erupted as Priest got his shoulder up.
An unintentional collision temporarily removed the referee. McIntyre hit a Claymore Kick and draped his arm over Priest. A referee slid into the ring and counted two but halted short of three. McIntyre looked up and came eye-to-eye with CM Punk dressed as a WWE official. McIntyre lunged at Punk's throat. Punk punted McIntyre in the groin and exited the ring. Priest took advantage and landed one last South of Heaven chokeslam as the original referee counted three. There was an expectation that Punk would interfere -- especially after the Judgement Day was banned from ringside on Monday Night Raw. Still, the execution was clever and well executed. It's a bummer to see McIntyre lose another big moment, particularly in his home nation, but it should build to a stellar match with Punk at SummerSlam. Priest also looked strong as champion despite needing an assist in the end. Matches like this help shed his reputation as a transitional champion. Also, props to Priest's selling of the ankle, particularly if it wasn't a planned spot. Priest def. McIntyre via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: A
