5 Biggest Headlines From WWE Clash Of Champions 2020
Featuring the debut of Medical Chair...
Sep 28, 2020
The circumstances aren't fully known at press time, but on the Sunday afternoon of WWE Clash of Champions, two scheduled matches were pulled from the card: the SmackDown Women's title bout between Bayley and Nikki Cross, and the Women's Tag Team title bout pitting Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax against The Riott Squad. Given how recent episodes of WWE and AEW programming have turned into games of, "Guess Who's Missing", speculation quickly ran rampant as to what was to blame.
Usually, WWE Clash of Champions (formerly Night of Champions) sees every single main roster championship defended, but this time, that wouldn't be possible because of whatever precise circumstances. Nonetheless, WWE still had a fairly stacked line-up for Sunday night, and kicked things off with a bang, in the form of a wild ladder match (with a pretty clever finish).
The show always seems to go on for WWE, no matter what the outside world throws their way. That never changes.
Here are the five biggest headlines coming out of Sunday night's WWE Clash of Champions.
The circumstances aren't fully known at press time, but on the Sunday afternoon of WWE Clash of Champions, two scheduled matches were pulled from the card: the SmackDown Women's title bout between Bayley and Nikki Cross, and the Women's Tag Team title bout pitting Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax against The Riott Squad. Given how recent episodes of WWE and AEW programming have turned into games of, "Guess Who's Missing", speculation quickly ran rampant as to what was to blame.
Usually, WWE Clash of Champions (formerly Night of Champions) sees every single main roster championship defended, but this time, that wouldn't be possible because of whatever precise circumstances. Nonetheless, WWE still had a fairly stacked line-up for Sunday night, and kicked things off with a bang, in the form of a wild ladder match (with a pretty clever finish).
The show always seems to go on for WWE, no matter what the outside world throws their way. That never changes.
Here are the five biggest headlines coming out of Sunday night's WWE Clash of Champions.
5. Angel Garza Injury Shortens Raw Tag Team Title Match
It wasn't all that long ago that Asuka and Mickie James' Raw Women's title match ended on a confusing note, when the referee believed that a brilliantly-selling James was legitimately hurt. At Clash of Champions, there was similar confusion for what appeared to be a real injury.
Raw Tag Team champions The Street Profits retained their gold over Andrade and Angel Garza, on a hasty pin off of an Angelo Dawkins powerbomb, in which Andrade clearly kicked out. Turns out that Garza had injured his hip, and the referee just levied the count as an audible, ignoring Andrade's shoulder. The severity of Garza's injury is unknown.
4. Sasha Banks Attacks Bayley Following Impromptu Title Match
Nikki Cross hasn't been around for presently undisclosed reasons, but WWE was still determined to get Bayley on the show for some kind of SmackDown Women's title match. So they had Bayley issue an open challenge, which brought out Raw Women's champion Asuka.
The brief match (which ended with Bayley getting DQed for using a chair) was merely an excuse for Bayley to be out there, so that a neck brace-wearing Sasha Banks could attack her, beating the champ with a kendo stick. This was presumably the plan even if Cross *had* been there.
4. Sasha Banks Attacks Bayley Following Impromptu Title Match
Nikki Cross hasn't been around for presently undisclosed reasons, but WWE was still determined to get Bayley on the show for some kind of SmackDown Women's title match. So they had Bayley issue an open challenge, which brought out Raw Women's champion Asuka.
The brief match (which ended with Bayley getting DQed for using a chair) was merely an excuse for Bayley to be out there, so that a neck brace-wearing Sasha Banks could attack her, beating the champ with a kendo stick. This was presumably the plan even if Cross *had* been there.
3. Sami Zayn Becomes Undisputed IC Champion After Ladder Match Win
Given the participants and match type, it's no surprise that we were treated to some very daring stunts (like the one where Jeff Hardy was sent to the floor while still trapped awkwardly in the ladder). It's amazing, though, when you remember that two of the entrants are well into their forties.
Sami Zayn then demonstrated just how genius he is by using handcuffs in a ladder match (how has nobody thought of this til now?). It nearly backfired, but thankfully, he was smart enough to have the key in his mouth. That springtime IC title vacancy has officially been undone.
3. Sami Zayn Becomes Undisputed IC Champion After Ladder Match Win
Given the participants and match type, it's no surprise that we were treated to some very daring stunts (like the one where Jeff Hardy was sent to the floor while still trapped awkwardly in the ladder). It's amazing, though, when you remember that two of the entrants are well into their forties.
Sami Zayn then demonstrated just how genius he is by using handcuffs in a ladder match (how has nobody thought of this til now?). It nearly backfired, but thankfully, he was smart enough to have the key in his mouth. That springtime IC title vacancy has officially been undone.
2. Randy Orton's Past Haunts Him In Ambulance Match
Drew McIntyre's WWE title reign will continue past the six month mark, after his win over Randy Orton in an Ambulance match on Sunday night. Orton's months of treachery and latently-random attacks took their toll, as McIntyre wasn't Orton's lone attacker in the match.
Big Show, Christian, and Shawn Michaels (all recent Orton victims) made cameo appearances to assault the challenger, leading to McIntyre stuffing Orton into the vehicle following a Claymore, and his own punt. For good measure, Ric Flair (another victim) drove Orton off.
1. Roman Reigns Brutalizes Jey Uso Into Corner Submission
Finally, WWE seems to have found Roman's calling - the most heartless of alpha males who sees his own family as a caste system, affirmatively tabbing himself at the head of the chain. The Universal title match with cousin Jey Uso made good on this new direction.
Much of the title bout was just Reigns mercilessly beating Jey into oblivion, and demanding acknowledgement that he is, in fact, the Tribal Chief. Jimmy Uso ultimately threw in the towel on his helpless brother's behalf, and Reigns posed proudly after his sadistic triumph.
