Tag: clash in italy

WWE announces partnership with Juventus FC

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

WWE has officially announced a new strategic partnership with Italian football giants Juventus FC. 

The website announcement reveals that the collaboration is aimed at creating content, original fan experiences and cross-promotional initiatives that bring together the world of football, sports entertainment and global fan culture. 

“Juventus and WWE today announced a new strategic partnership designed to develop original experiences, content and activations that bring together football, sport, entertainment and global fan culture.”

“WWE Clash in Italy, held this past weekend in Turin on Sunday, May 31, marked the first tangible moments of collaboration between the Juventus and WWE worlds. Across the weekend, multiple touchpoints brought the two fan communities together including: co-created content between Juventus mascot Jay and WWE Superstar Jey Uso; social coverage of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes receiving a custom Juventus jersey; and the availability of the previously revealed WWE x Juventus Championship Title Belts at merchandise stores around the Inalpi Arena.”

“As part of the ongoing partnership, Juventus and WWE will explore a wide range of opportunities, from co- branded merchandise and cross-promotional activations to crossover content,  cross-promotional partner activations, creator-led storytelling and the integration of WWE and Juventus talent into key cultural moments. The collaboration will also extend to fan experiences, events and international activations, alongside campaigns designed to reach new audiences. At its core, the partnership establishes a long-term vision focused on building recurring cultural moments that connect football, entertainment and the next generation of fans.”

This partnership comes after WWE hosted Clash in Italy on May 31, the company’s first Premium Live Event in the country.  

WWE is in the midst of their WWE European Summer Tour kicking off from May 28 until June 24 across Italy, Spain, UK, France and Portugal. 

Giulia responds to crowd support at WWE Raw in Italy

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Giulia received a thunderous reaction to her WWE Raw appearance in Italy, with fans cheering for her throughout the match. 

She later expressed gratitude for the fans rallying behind her during her Raw match. She took to X citing her love for wrestling and the extensive audience support received. 

“I love wrestling, I love stepping into the ring and fighting, I feel sensations I don’t know how to describe. It brought me back here to Italy where I found a magnificent audience that has given me an extraordinary experience, an impressive affection. Thank you so much I love you all. Long live Italy Arrivederci‼︎”  

Giulia is of Italian and Japanese descent, with her father hailing from Italy and mother from Japan. Despite her wrestling heritage being associated with Japan, Raw marked a rare opportunity for her to perform in front of an audience from her family’s roots. 

While this was her first singles match on Raw since her transition to the main roster last year. It is uncertain whether Giulia is officially a part of the Raw brand or the match was a one time appearance. 

On Raw, she competed in the first qualifying match for the Queen of the Ring tournament against Roxanne Perez, Lash Legend and IYO SKY. Meanwhile, the same transpired for the men’s division too with Oba Femi gaining victory over Carmelo Hayes, Solo Sikoa and Penta. 

WWE Raw took place at the Inalpi Arena in Turin where they hosted Clash in Italy the previous night. 

Sol Ruca names ‘next challenge’ following WWE Clash in Italy

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Sol Ruca already has her sights set on her next dream opponent in WWE. 

In an interview with Elz (the Witch) following Clash in Italy, Ruca revealed while she’s competed in her dream match against IYO SKY, she hopes to face Charlotte Flair in a singles bout. 

“Now I’ve had my dream match with IYO SKY – I would love to have more with her – now I want to go against Charlotte Flair one-on-one.”

“I know we’re on different brands as of right now. I’ve seen her in the ring a few times, in tag matches, in other multi-person matches, but we’ve never had that one-on-one moment. I think that is my next challenge I want to do.” 

Barely a month into her Raw debut, Ruca has squared off against Liv Morgan and SKY. Last year, when she and Zaria were still a tag team they competed on SmackDown for the Women’s Tag Team Title tournament where they collided with Alexa Bliss and Flair. 

Additionally, at Clash in Italy, Ruca defeated Becky Lynch to win the Intercontinental Championship.

WOL: Mask vs. Mask, Clash in Italy, King and Queen of the Ring

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including the AAA mask vs. mask match, WWE Clash in Italy, the King and Queen of the ring, Dynamite and Collision ratings, all the news from the weekend and so much more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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Nikki Bella details scrapped pitch for WWE Clash in Italy

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Nikki Bella pulled back the curtain on a creative pitch she made for WWE Clash in Italy that ultimately was not approved. 

On the latest episode of The Nikki & Brie Show, Nikki revealed a pitch for a themed segment at Clash in Italy. The concept would have featured WWE stars like Gunther, Oba Femi, Penta, The Judgment Day, and the Women’s Tag Team Champions, in a series of lighthearted vignettes inspired by Emily in Paris aesthetics and the Italian phrase ‘Ciao Bella’ embracing the culture and atmosphere surrounding the event. 

“I pitched this incredible idea called Ciao Bella! ‘Hey, you guys, I would love to do this, whether it’s pre-show or doing a fun commercial thing for a PLE or just make it social.’ It would be where I have these different moments with WWE superstars, so there would be a moment where I’m on the scooter with Danhausen and his scarf is flying in my face. I’d have a moment with Brie and Paige and have a spritz with the tag team champions, and then I’d be on a gondola ride with Gunther, and he’s just staring straight being Gunther, and I’m looking around like Emily in Paris. This is what gave me the idea, being like Emily in Rome, me touring with WWE superstars. The gondolier is another WWE superstar giving me the look, or he’s someone who hates Gunther. I have this other moment where Oba and I are getting gelato and trying a selfie with him, but the height difference. Judgment Day comes and slaps the gelato out of our hands.”

“I had all these fun segment ideas with superstars that were very Italian and fun, that gave Emily in Paris vibes. I have a romantic spaghetti dinner with Penta. They showed interest. I was going back with the team, and they really liked the idea. My ending segment was me walking down the street, and they are going, ‘Ciao Bella, Ciao Bella.’ I take a pause and go, ‘Oh my God, I’m so famous here.’ Obviously, because they call everyone Bella, but I think it’s because I’m Nikki Bella. It was cute and they all loved it, but it fell through.”

Neither The Bellas nor Paige were a part of the Clash in Italy match card. Nikki suffered an ankle injury in March that has kept her sidelined. Last month, she indicated a hopeful return at Night of Champions on June 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Sol Ruca opens up about increased scrutiny and online hate on WWE main roster

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Sol Ruca understands the intensity of the visibility on the WWE main roster especially when it comes to online critics. 

Speaking with Sam Roberts and Megan Morant on WWE Now, Ruca addressed how she deals with online hate and negative reactions. She admitted that moving to the main roster brought greater exposure as well as increased scrutiny from fans on social media. 

“Yeah 100%. I mean even in NXT, we get people that are watching every move and we get people that are  leaving hate comments and all this negativity, and essentially being up on the main roster, you have more eyes, which means more hate, but also means more love. So it is something that I’ve had to kind of navigate because I wasn’t really, it wasn’t something that I thought of when I got signed that it was going to be like ‘oh, this means that there’s going to be more eyes or more people trying to nitpick everything’. But at the end of the day, especially with people on social media. That’s such a small percentage of our fan base, and as long as the crowd in person is happy and everyone backstage is happy with what I do, then that’s fine with me.”

Despite the added pressure that comes with performing on the big stage in WWE, Ruca seems to be taking the attention in stride. Last month, an awkward botch while she attempted her signature move, the sol snatcher, garnered widespread criticism. WWE edited the footage to make it look like a clean cut. Later, Ruca revealed Triple H reached out to her with advice on dealing with online negativity. 

Ruca officially transitioned to the Raw roster in April and a little more than a month later won her first title. She participated in her first main roster Premium Live Event, Clash in Italy, where she defeated Becky Lynch to end her third reign as Intercontinental Champion. 

Roman Reigns issues statement for LA Knight and others following WWE Clash in Italy

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Roman Reigns is aware of the WWE environment following his Clash in Italy win over Jacob Fatu, and had a message for the roster post the Premium Live Event. 

Following his Tribal Combat match win, Reigns was asked about his next move. He acknowledged the chatter in the air about potential challengers in LA Knight and Royce Keys among others. And proceeded to trash talk the roster with The Bloodline regaining supremacy again. 

“I don’t think it really matters what it means for me. What’s it mean for everybody else? I can hear the chattering – LA Knight, Royce Keys, and this goes for any of you chumps back there. You want to run your mouth about The Tribal Chief, you want to run your mouth about my family, you’re terrified about this Bloodline ain’t you? You already seen what’s happening behind me. I’m been the general, I’m been had an army. I’m trying to do it the right way. I’m trying to shine a light on my legacy in a positive manner but you’ll are forcing my hand. Keep on trying me. I’ll run it all forever.”  

Knight was one of the many eager challengers who stepped up to face Reigns during his lengthy Universal Title reign. They squared off at Crown Jewel 2023. It was during this time, main roster audiences started advocating for his push to win the Money in the Bank and the World Heavyweight Championship. However, in the last three years, Knight has ended up on the fringe of the main event scene.

Knight is aware of his positioning in the company and has addressed the frustrations. He has been involved in key storylines over the past few years and has been barely inches away from high-profile wins on multiple occasions. His last match was a six-man tag team bout with The Usos against The Vision at WrestleMania 42. Since then, Knight has yet to enter a marquee program. 

WOR: Clash in Italy, AAA mask vs. mask, CMLL vs. WWE, tons more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the AAA mask vs. mask show, WWE Clash in Italy, tons of AAA and CMLL news notes, Best of the Super Juniors, the Collision report, all the weekend news and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: The Americano mask vs. mask match from AAA Noche de los Grandes
8:35: WWE announces tour same weekend as CMLL Anniversario show, Octagon Jr. injury update
14:33: The rest of AAA Noche de los Grandes night one, CMLL notes
23:36: WWE Clash in Italy recap, King & Queen of the Ring tournament brackets
48:58: When exactly SmackDown moves back to 2 hours, NJPW Best of the Super Juniors update, Holly Holm controversial boxing decision loss
55:46: AEW Collision recap

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B&V: WWE Clash in Italy, plus thoughts on Grande vs. Grande

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny Show is back with tons to talk about including a few thoughts on the Grande vs. Grande mask vs. mask match from AAA this weekend, an absolutely incredible must-see, and a show that suffered by having to follow it, WWE Clash in Italy which ended with some lame-ass finishes apparently designed to build towards Saudi. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WWE stars who need a win at Clash in Italy | Opinion 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Sunday’s WWE Clash in Italy features several rematches against talent with some stars seeking to either gain momentum or shift momentum in their favor. With championship implications and ongoing storylines, the PLE presents a crucial opportunity for stars to re-establish themselves. 

Here’s a few talents who need to win at WWE Clash in Italy.

Sol Ruca

Ruca won their non-title SNME bout via disqualification last weekend as an awkward landing after the Sol Snatcher forced the stoppage. 

Ruca and Lynch had their first encounter on the May 4 edition of Raw. Ruca was in the middle of signing her contract, officially transitioning to the main roster. Lynch intervened to confront Adam Pearce for her impromptu match against IYO SKY the previous week. 

Despite the mixed reactions, Lynch levels up and boosts her opponents. While it seems like the Women’s Intercontinental Title is struggling to brand its own identity, Ruca’s win could help define it with exciting matches and feuds. 

Oba Femi

Femi already showed his physicality and worth against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42. Another win against him would help cement him as WWE’s next powerhouse attraction. He has developed the momentum, but a second win over someone of Lesnar’s stature would solidify his credibility as a main event force.

It would also avoid predictable squash matches which were taking place as a part of Femi’s open challenges after WrestleMania. Apart from a rivalry with Roman Reigns, which was teased in the Mania post show and Gunther’s interest in a possible feud, the pool of believable opponents is limited. 

Femi needs to gain a victory over Lesnar again at Clash in Italy so he can strut on to better opportunities and most likely the World Heavyweight Championship. 

Jade Cargill

The formulaic attraction of Cargill’s limited title defenses during her initial World title reign made it difficult to sustain her character development. It often came across as WWE protecting her to ensure her dominant position. However, it fell flat. 

Rhea Ripley has strong connections to ongoing storylines. The tension with Charlotte Flair stemming from their history is teasing another singles feud down the line. Jacy Jayne confronting the champion on the April 24 edition of SmackDown demonstrated why WWE may be keen on keeping her in the center of the women’s division. 

Without the championship, Cargill could focus on fresh feuds against top notch opponents before a likely future as a two-time WWE Women’s Champion. 

Gunther

Gunther has already been presented as a physically dominant World Heavyweight Champion. If he defeats Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship Sunday, that would be the final step in establishing himself as the company’s ultimate in-ring force.

Rhodes is in his third reign as champion. Initially, he was backed by fans worldwide to end Roman Reigns’ record-breaking Universal Title reign and take over the reins of the new era in WWE. However, over time, his monotonous tone and persona has become predictable. 

With a heel like Gunther taking the WWE Title from Rhodes, it would give him some time off from the constant spotlight and refresh his character direction. Meanwhile, it would be a change of pace with Gunther’s brutal, methodical style of wrestling in the WWE Championship picture. 

Roman Reigns

The Tribal Combat match is built to feel like it’s Roman Reigns’ domain. Reigns’ presence is still central to WWE. While this reign may feel a lot like his last one, a loss this soon would risk undercutting the aura WWE has rebuilt for him since his return to full-time competition.

Jacob Fatu’s determination is set in the right place — to take everything Reigns has for himself. However, that might get the best of him and detour him from seeing the bigger picture, blinding him with the right motive and method to get the victory over Reigns. He has proven it multiple times that his anger and quest has been the main influence to determine his next move. 

At the same time, it would enable WWE to carefully plot who could take over the leadership reins from him instead of a rushed takeover by Fatu.

WOL: Zzzmackdown, mask vs. mask, WWE shareholder lawsuit

Posted on by Jim Valley

It’s the Saturday Wrestling Observer Live with Jim Valley.

Some fans are calling AAA’s El Noche de Los Grandes the real main event of this weekend. Who will lose their mask: El Grande Americano or El Grande Americano Original?

A hot crowd in Barcelona saw a pretty lukewarm edition of WWE SmackDown leading into Sunday’s Clash in Italy PLE.

Also, what kind of revelations might we learn from the WWE shareholder lawsuit?

Plus, Clash in Italy odds, BOSJ, CMLL, AEW Collision, and more.

Check it out.

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WOR: WWE Clash in Italy preview, AEW DON fallout

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back on Wrestling Observer Radio discussing the major stories from today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

We talked about:

  • WWE shareholder’s lawsuit
  • Clash in Italy matches
  • NXT ratings
  • AEW DON fallout
  • Scott Coker’s new MMA league

Click here to listen (subscription required) or watch on YouTube

WWE Clash in Italy main event potentially in jeopardy

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Clash in Italy main event might be in jeopardy after Jacob Fatu suffered an injury at a WWE European tour house show.

Earlier today, word was going around that Fatu was seen limping after facing Solo Sikoa at a Thursday WWE live event in Liverpool, England. PWInsider now reports that Fatu did legitimately get hurt — and WWE is concerned that he might not be cleared in time for Clash in Italy. Fatu is scheduled to face World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns in a Tribal Combat match at Sunday’s PLE.

PWInsider writes that WWE “is mulling over alternative plans” in the event that it needs to pivot away from Fatu taking on Reigns. It’s not known what those alternative plans are.

Cory Hays of False Finish adds that, while WWE is looking into possible pivots, the assumption is that Fatu will be fine for Sunday. False Finish notes that Fatu’s injury is said to be a back injury.

Reigns vs. Fatu is advertised as the main event of the show, with the Undisputed WWE Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Gunther set to open the action during the hour one ESPN simulcast.

The start time for Clash in Italy is 2 p.m. Eastern. Five matches are announced for the PLE:

WWE Clash in Italy (Sunday, May 31) —

  • Tribal Combat: World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Sol Ruca
  • Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
  • WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Jade Cargill
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Gunther

WWE reveals Clash in Italy opening match

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Undisputed WWE Championship will be on the line to kick off Clash in Italy.

During Friday’s episode of SmackDown, WWE announced that Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther for the Undisputed WWE title will be the opening match of Sunday’s broadcast. The first hour of the PLE is being simulcast on ESPN, with the entire show airing on the ESPN app in the United States and on Netflix internationally.

Another big title match will be going on second with Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill for the WWE Women’s Championship also scheduled for the ESPN simulcast portion of the PLE.

Clash in Italy is Rhodes’ first televised defense of the Undisputed WWE Championship since retaining against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 42. In the aftermath of WrestleMania, Gunther moved over to the SmackDown roster to begin this title feud with Rhodes.

Inalpi Arena in Turin is hosting Sunday’s PLE and the following day’s episode of Raw. Here is the updated PLE lineup:

WWE Clash in Italy (Sunday, May 31) —

  • Tribal Combat: World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns defends against Jacob Fatu
  • Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch defends against Sol Ruca
  • Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar
  • WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley defends against Jade Cargill
  • Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes defends against Gunther

Jacob Fatu reportedly injured ahead of WWE Clash in Italy

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Jacob Fatu might be injured heading into WWE Clash in Italy this weekend. 

According to PWInsider Fatu was spotted limping after his WWE live event match against Solo Sikoa in Liverpool last night. There is no confirmation on the legitimacy and seriousness of the injury. 

Fatu is scheduled to face Roman Reigns on May 31 for the World Heavyweight Championship in a highly anticipated rematch. 

Despite coming up short at Backlash earlier this month, Fatu remains obsessed on claiming everything Reigns has and the Bloodline legacy for his own. However, the stakes have been raised with their match now officially taking place under Tribal Combat rules.