Drew McIntyre Admits Not Defeating Roman Reigns At WWE Clash At The Castle Was Bittersweet

19 years after their last pay-per-view in the country, WWE returned to the United Kingdom in September 2022, holding Clash at the Castle at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. 

The pay-per-view was main evented by an Undisputed WWE Universal Title match between Roman Reigns and the UK's own Drew McIntyre, with the hope going into the bout being that Irn Dru would have his own Bulldog moment and win in the main event to send the fans home happy. Alas, that didn't come to pass in Cardiff as Solo Sikoa made his main roster debut and cost McIntyre the victory, with Reigns connecting with a Spear moments later to retain his championship. 

Clash at the Castle then ended in strange circumstances with the pay-per-view going off the air as Drew McIntyre and Tyson Fury sang 'American Pie' and 'Don't Look Back in Anger'. 

Addressing the end of Clash at the Castle, McIntyre admitted to the Daily Mail that not winning the Undisputed WWE Universal Title in the UK was bittersweet.

"For sure [it was bittersweet]. It's very rare that you ever get moments like that. There's a stadium full of people 100 percent on one guy's side and the story has peaked at the right time and you have the chance to take a talent to that next, next, next level. That's what we had at Clash. But you need to look at the bigger picture. What are the plans for Roman and the Bloodline storyline, but at the same time it's like, 'Ah, could we do both? Theory has the Money in the Bank briefcase, there might be a way to pull this off, to look after Roman and the Bloodline story, which is the bigger picture, but at the same time take a talent to the next level?'" McIntyre said.

"Everything happens for a reason and sometimes old McIntyre doesn't quite get it done. It's the story of my life and my character's life I guess, that I keep getting knocked down and I guess that's why my fans keep rallying behind me and pushing me and believing in me because they see how hard I work and how much I believe, no matter how close I get and keep on getting it taken away from me, I'll keep pushing forward until I finally get that moment."

WWE are set to return to the United Kingdom later this year for Money in the Bank on July 1. The pay-per-view and the go-home episode of Friday Night SmackDown on June 30 will emanate from The O2 in London, England.