WWE Clash of Champions 2019: 5 Things the company got right at the event

The Universal Champion had a lot on his plate during Clash of Champions
The Universal Champion had a lot on his plate during Clash of Champions

After a whirlwind ride which took us through no less than ten championship matches, we have a lot to talk about the Clash of Champions pay-per-view.

While both the men’s Tag Team Championships changed hands at the event, none of the singles’ championships changed hands which led to the fans asking many questions at the end of the night.

However, WWE also managed to give us some great moments and some good results which helped the event finish in a much better way than it could have.

From crowning new Tag Team Champions to building on the characters of many Superstars, there were many things WWE got just right at the event.

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Take a look at the 5 high points from this year’s Clash of Champions, and share your favorite moments from the show in the comments section!


#1. Allowed Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode to win the tag titles

Roode and Ziggler were looking for a direction at this point
Roode and Ziggler were looking for a direction at this point

After the pre-show, the event kicked off with a huge tag team match for the RAW Tag Team Championship. Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman defended their titles against Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode before their Universal title match against one another later in the program.

Nearing the end of the match, Strowman tried to stay true to his word and stayed by Rollins' side, but in an attempt to break up Roode’s Glorious DDT to Rollins, ended up knocking his partner down.

This allowed Roode the opening he needed to deliver his finishing maneuver and pick up the win for his team, as well as the gold.

This was the right thing to do at a time when neither Roode nor Ziggler had any clear direction in the company. It was also important to change the titles at the right time to build the heat for the match between Rollins and Strowman later in the night.

Even though makeshift tag teams aren’t the way to go for RAW at the moment, Roode and Ziggler are two individuals who have managed to display great in-ring chemistry and could prove to be the team who helps elevate the title’s value.

#2. Built Bayley’s character, if not her story

Bayley surprised everyone with the finish
Bayley surprised everyone with the finish

One of the matches I was looking forward to at the event was the one between Bayley and Charlotte Flair. Both women are extremely talented and are arguably the best thing about the SmackDown women’s roster.

While the match was decent, it never really lived up to the occasion and seemed more like a regular television match rather than a pay-per-view level battle between these two women.

To end the match, Bayley pulled Flair into the exposed turnbuckle and scored a quick pinfall victory before running out of the ring. The commentary team found the perfect moment to put over the new attitude of the champion in the process.

Coming out of the match, WWE managed to build a lot on Bayley’s new character, even though they couldn’t do much for the match and the storyline involved. Bayley had defeated Charlotte for the title at Money in the Bank after cashing in her briefcase and pinning a lifeless Charlotte, who ran into a turnbuckle then too.

The match will now define Bayley’s new darker side and will work in favor of the delusional Champion who calls herself an inspiration to the kids in the audience. WWE should now look at the way they worked on Nakamura’s heel character and entrance theme, and apply something similar to Bayley.

#3. Made the SmackDown Tag Team match emotional

Xavier Woods was forced to tap out after an emotional battle
Xavier Woods was forced to tap out after an emotional battle

WWE did a magnificent job for weeks before the event by pairing The Revival with ‘The Viper’ Randy Orton. The trio managed to dish out a lot of punishment to all three members of The New Day and took out Xavier Woods and Big E for good which left Kofi Kingston exposed for weeks.

The best thing the company did with this match was bring back the story which they’d told weeks ago. They used Xavier Woods’ injury, which he sustained at the hands of the heelish trio to full effect.

The match turned from fast-paced to emotional in no time as The Revival managed to replicate the intensity which is usually shown by the villainous Randy Orton, and the duo isolated and worked on Woods’ injury to full effect to win the title.

Dawson trapping Woods in a submission, rather than delivering the good old Shatter Machine, and making the babyface tap out, was the cherry on top of the cake. Now the heelish duo begin their SmackDown Tag Team Championship reign.

#4 Allowed the Raw Women’s Championship match to end in a disqualification

Becky Lynch will have to pay for her actions in more ways than one
Becky Lynch will have to pay for her actions in more ways than one

This was arguably the most anticipated match of the entire night and the action inside the ring did not disappoint at all. Before the match, many rumors and predictions were floating around on the internet, ranging from a quick victory for Sasha Banks to the return of Ronda Rousey.

Instead, WWE took an entirely different route to protect both the women at this point and potentially set up a huge match for Hell in a Cell.

Similar to how Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton’s rivalry worked, this was too big a story to end this soon with only one match. Banks defeated Lynch via disqualification after 'The Man' attacked the referee and her opponent with a steel chair.

The ending will hopefully provide us with some more great segments in the coming weeks before a match between the two women is set for the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.

#5. Seth Rollins vs. The Fiend

Seth Rollins is the right man for The Fiend to challenge
Seth Rollins is the right man for The Fiend to challenge

The main event of the night saw Seth Rollins defend his Universal Champion against his former RAW Tag Team Championship partner Braun Strowman.

Throughout the match, WWE built Strowman as the right man to challenge for the championship, as he proved to be as strong as any other opponent Rollins has taken on for the title to date.

Strowman kicked out of multiple finishers and gave Rollins a run for his money before falling to a Pedigree from the Champion, followed by a stomp.

As Rollins celebrated his win, The Fiend appeared to stay true to his challenge and dropped Rollins with a Sister Abigail on the stage. He followed with the mandible claw.

This was the perfect way to end a night where almost all WWE main roster championships were defended. The Fiend has emerged as the biggest threat to the superstars this year.

What makes things even better is the fact that Wyatt will take on an established champion for the title, making his potential victory even more valuable. Had Strowman won the title, his match against The Fiend may not have benefited either man in the weeks to come.

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Edited by Michael McClead
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