I’ll be honest, I didn’t know if I was going to carry on with this series, or this blog in general. The passing of Bray Wyatt really hit me harder than I could’ve imagined, but I found solace in wrestling, and thought I owe it to his legacy, and to myself, to continue my love of this wacky and wonderful world, and so on we go! On to 3 Raws and 3 SmackDowns, and on to my CLASH AT THE CASTLE PPV in my own WWE 2K23 Universe Mode!
Raw – September Week 1
The Judgement Day come out for an in-ring promo, as Damian Priest (alongside Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio) welcome out the NEW WWE Champion Finn Balor. He talks, before being interrupted by AJ Styles, who goes back and forth before welcoming out Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson! They have a stare down which sets up the main event…
Bayley (with Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky) defeated Candice LeRae (with Bianca Belair & Indi Hartwell)
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams defeated Austin Theory & Dolph Ziggler (Hayes pins Ziggler)
Tommaso Ciampa backstage interview
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Chad Gable (with Otis)
Cody Rhodes comes out, he cuts an in-ring promo, before MVP comes out. They go back and forth before BOBBY LASHLEY jumps Cody and lays him out!
Matt Riddle (with Randy Orton) defeated Kit Wilson (with Elton Prince)
Asuka defeated Mia Yim – Asuka BRUTALIZES her!
Candice LeRae has a backstage interview (with Bianca and Indi with her), she is unhappy about her husband Johnny Gargano, and doesn’t know where his head is it … but also says they (her, Belair and Hartwell) are ‘not done’ with Damage CTRL just yet!
Finn Balor (with Dominik Mysterio & Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley) vs AJ Styles (with Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) ends when Seth Rollins comes out and attacks Balor, there is then a huge brawl with Seth and The OC standing together against The Judgement Day!)
SmackDown – September Week 1
The Wyatt 6 come out for an in-ring segment. Eventually Braun Strowman and Ricochet come out to interrupt, and they make the challenge for a match at Clash At The Castle. Bray laughs and says “see if you can make it to Clash At The Castle…”…
Braun Strowman & Ricochet defeated Dutch & Vincent
Sami Zayn defeated Jinder Mahal
Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan are backstage, both seem down until Raquel ‘fires up’ Liv telling her to “go get what’s yours!” … Liv then goes to the ring for an in-ring promo segment, Toxic Attraction interrupt her, with Mandy and Liv going back and forth…
The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston with Big E) defeated Legado del Fantasma (Cruz del Toro & Joaquin Wilde)
LA Knight defeated Madcap Moss (Knight cuts a promo before the match)
The New Day are backstage, eventually Big E walks to another part of the backstage area away from Woods and Kingston… when…
Karrion Kross defeated Big E in a Backstage Brawl
The Bloodline come out for an in ring promo segment, eventually The Brawling Brutes interrupt and they go back and forth before Drew McIntyre comes out. Drew cuts a BIG promo before going face to face with Roman! Those two go back and forth, and Drew makes the challenge for Clash At The Castle! They go back and forth again on the mic, before we get into a huge BRAWL (involving everyone) that ends with Drew hitting the CLAYMORE to Roman!!!
Raw – September Week 2
Finn Balor (and the rest of Judgement Day) come out for an in-ring promo segment, The OC all come out, followed by Seth Rollins who in turn suggested an OC and Rollins vs Judgement Day match… Rhea Ripley volunteered, but Seth told her “You’re busy…”, which is then when Becky Lynch came out and brawled with Rhea Ripley! The OC and Rollins then brawled against the Judgment Day.
Trick Williams (with Carmelo Hayes) defeated Austin Theory
The Hurt Business backstage interview
Omos (with MVP) defeated Otis (with Chad Gable)
Bianca Belair backstage interview
Street Profits defeated Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin (with Bobby Lashley) – Cody Rhodes comes out and stops Lashley interfering, leading to the finish
Pretty Deadly come out for an in-ring promo segment. They welcome out Randy Orton, and then go back and forth, with Pretty Deadly trying to ‘hammer’ Matt Riddle verbally, as Orton doesn’t really defend him… Riddle is then shown watching on backstage, not looking very happy at all…
Carmella defeated Dana Brooke
Tommaso Ciampa vignette
Bianca Belair defeated Dakota Kai – Bayley jumps Belair after the match and attacks her with a chair!
Cody Rhodes is interviewed as he leaves the arena… he makes the challenge for next week (Cody and Street Profits vs Hurt Business!)
The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson with AJ Styles) & Seth “Freakin” Rollins defeated The Judgement Day (Finn Balor & Damian Priest & Dominic Mysterio) (with Rhea Ripley) – Rollins pins Dominik
SmackDown – September Week 2
Sheamus defeated Shinsuke Nakamura & Rey Mysterio & Solo Sikoa (Sheamus pins Nakamura) in an Intercontinental Championship Number 1 Contenders Match – Imperium are seen watching on from backstage
Liv Morgan (and Raquel Rodriguez) backstage interview
Shayna Baszler (with Ronda Rousey) defeated Natalya – Rousey attacks Natalya after, before Kayden Carter and Katana Chance make the save
The Brawling Brutes are backstage (and happy), Drew McIntyre approaches them (and he’s happy too…)…
Drew McIntyre defeated LA Knight (in a very competitive match)
Karrion Kross (and Scarlett) vignette on The New Day (and in particular on Big E)
Alexa Bliss in-ring promo, she calls out Braun Strowman, and they go back and forth until Bray Wyatt and Uncle Howdy jump attack him! Rowan, Dutch and Vincent all stop Ricochet from Making the save by attacking him backstage, and Bliss just cackles at this all…
Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) defeated Tyler Breeze
Sami Zayn comes out for an in-ring promo, Robert Roode comes out to interrupt and they go back and forth
Toxic Attraction backstage promo
Liv Morgan (with Raquel Rodriguez) defeated Mandy Rose (with Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) in a SmackDown Women’s Championship number 1 contenders match
Raw – September Week 3
Cody Rhodes & ‘Street Profits’ defeated The Hurt Business (Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander)
Carmella is interviewed backstage … she talks about Dana Brooke, the upcoming Raw Women’s Championship match, and her own future…
Viking Raiders (with Valhalla) defeated The OC (Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson) – as Valhalla helps her team win, AJ Styles is seen looking in from backstage pondering…
Becky Lynch comes out for an in-ring promo, she calls out Rhea Ripley, who eventually comes out accompanied by Dominik Mysterio, and they go back and forth…
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Otis (with Chad Gable)
Austin Theory is seen backstage, looking downtrodden, when Mustafa Ali approaches him…
Omos (with MVP) defeated Dexter Lumis
Matt Riddle comes out for a fiery in-ring promo
Becky Lynch defeated Rhea Ripley in a Backstage Brawl – Asuka can be seen looking on with glee
AJ Styles approaches Mia Yim backstage, and he asks her about joining The OC
Bianca Belair (C) (with Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) Vs Bayley (with Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai) for the Raw Women’s Championship – ends in a non finish
Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins comes out, followed by Finn Balor for an in-ring ‘summit’, this descends into a giant brawl (of course)…
SmackDown – September Week 3
(Before the show starts, The Bloodline are seen arriving at the arena, with Roman Reigns telling The Usos “go get the job done”, then as Solo goes to follow them out to the ring Roman holds him back, telling him “this is their fight”…)
The Usos (C) defeated The Brawling Brutes (Butch & Ridge Holland) to retain the SmackDown Tag Team Championship – Roman (and Solo and Paul Heyman) is seen watching on from their locker room with approval
Sami Zayn speaks VERY passionately in a backstage interview
The New Day (Kofi & Woods only) come out to the ring and call out Karrion Kross
Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) defeated Kofi Kingston (with Xavier Woods)
Sheamus is backstage where he sees a beaten Butch and Ridge, but they all fire one another up, before Sheamus goes out to the ring to call out Gunther… but Kaiser and Vinci respond…
Sheamus defeated Ludwig Kaiser (with Giovani Vinci) – Gunther jump attacks Sheamus after the match
Charlotte Flair & Liv Morgan have a face to face in-ring segment
LA Knight is backstage, he sees Rey Mysterio, whom he mocks and the two go back and forth…
Drew McIntyre is backstage, when he is approached by (a returning) WADE BARRETT! … Wade gives Drew a ‘pep talk’ before saying “see you around, champ’”…
Katana Chance & Kayden Carter defeated Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler (Carter pins Baszler)
Bray Wyatt comes out for an in-ring promo (with no other members of the Wyatt 6), he says he just wants to speak to Ricochet man to man, he then comes out and they go back and forth, Ricochet eventually slaps Bray, the lights go out, and when they come back on the entire Wyatt 6 have surrounded Ricochet before proceeding to attack him 6on1! Braun runs out for the save, putting both Dutch and Vincent through the announce table with help from Ricochet, as Bray, Rowan, Howdy and Bliss retreat… Strowman roars as he and Ricochet stand tall to end the segment.
Sami Zayn defeated Robert Roode
Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman) come out to the ring, Drew McIntyre comes out and they go back and forth, Solo Sikoa tries to jump Drew, but McIntyre hits a Claymore! Drew jumps OVER Roman’s spear attempt, leaving Reigns baffled and as he gets up and turns around angrily… CLAYMORE! Drew closes SmackDown holding the World Heavyweight Championship up high (with Heyman looking on shocked)
And now after all that… it is finally TIME! Lets all head to Cardiff, for MY Clash At The Castle!!!
Clash At The Castle (Cardiff, Wales) – Sunday September Week 3
What better way to open a show than by putting THE championship on the line…!
Finn Balor (C) defeated Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins to retain the WWE Championship
A solid match between two of the best, but this is Finn’s time now… JUDGEMENT DAY IS (still) UPON US!
Following that, we go to the SmackDown side of things, as the dominant Charlotte Flair tries to fend off another challenger…
Charlotte Flair (C) defeated Liv Morgan to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship
I’d have this be a really solid match, with Charlotte dominating the start. Liv would then begin to fight from underneath and then a sprint towards the finish. Charlotte would eventually catch Liv with a big spear and then the Natural Selection for the win to retain.
Next it’s time for a match that may have happened in other promotions (I’m not quite sure to be honest), but I’d absolutely love to see it, so here it is in MY WWE universe…
Cody Rhodes defeated Bobby Lashley
The American Nightmare recovers here from his failure to capture the WWE Championship to get a big win here. As for Lashley, it’s another bad day at the office for the newly reformed Hurt Business…
Next… well in the UK, I just had to give these pair a title match… YES BOIIIIIII … !!
RK-Bro (Randy Orton & Matt Riddle) (C) defeated Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince) to retain the Raw Tag Team Championship
Going into this, there has seemed to be some dissension between the champions, but they were able to put that behind them here, and get the big win. I’d imagine the crowd would be very split here, but that could only help the match I think. The champions retain, and all is good for RK-Bro… for now…
I’d then cut to the backstage area, where we would see Sheamus getting ready for his match with Gunther… when he is approached by Wade Barrett, and he gives Sheamus (stood with Butch and Ridge Holland) a mini-pep talk, telling him “Good Luck… go kick arse!”)…
Next up… it’s destiny time… or is it…
Gunther (C) defeated Sheamus to retain the Intercontinental Championship
Maybe not quite the 5 star classic their real life match at this show was… but it was still another notch on the belt for one of the more dominant champions in WWE history. And one of my favourite wrestlers to watch do the ‘rasslin… so that helps his cause booking-wise with me …
Next match, we go to the Raw Women’s division, where one group is looking to take over, and the other looks to fight the good fight for their locker room’s sake…
Bianca Belair & Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell defeated Damage CTRL (Bayley & Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky)
I think this would be really fun, and part of my reasoning for not going as absolutely ridiculous with my Sheamus Vs Gunther match was to give the match that followed it a chance. I don’t plan on having the issues between these two sides end anytime soon, and so I felt it was best for the champion to look strong and get the win for her team (pinning Iyo Sky, this part is crucial)…
Next up, a tag team match which should be… something…
Bray Wyatt & Uncle Howdy defeated Braun Strowman & Ricochet
I was pleasantly surprised how well Bray and Howdy worked together, the spot where Howdy hit the Sister Abigail and Bray got a nearfall was so good. The finish was only ever going this way, it was a sign of things to come and that the Wyatt 6 are here and here to stay! As for Strowman and Ricochet now, they must somehow try and pick themselves up, with Braun in particularly now been beaten both physically in the ring, and emotionally by the demons of his past.
With the show drawing to a close, we go back to Raw for our penultimate match…
Rhea Ripley defeated Becky Lynch
I don’t think many people would’ve expected this result… and that’s part of why I did it to be honest! With Rhea doing Judgment Day… stuff… I’ve not had her wrestle all that much, but I think that also helps keep her special, and so coming up against a big babyface star here in Lynch I felt a win would do her real good. It’s RHEA’s era, we all just live in it…!
And FINALLY, it’s time for the main event…
(Oh and for the record, I would indeed have Drew come out to ‘Broken Dreams’, I had tears in my eyes when they played it for his intro before the real life encounter)
Roman Reigns (with Paul Heyman) (C) defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
My word, this was GOOD! I was so pleased with how this turned out… the spot with Drew accidentally hitting the Claymore to the ref, and then hitting Roman with it and getting the visual pin with the ref still down was so good, the fact the ref got up and Roman kicked out at 2, was PERFECT! A great effort from McIntyre though, but Cardiff and the rest of the world are once again forced to ACKNOWLEDGE our Tribal Chief, and STILL our World Heavyweight Champion, ROMAN REIGNS!!!
And that… is THAT! There’ll be a few changes and lots of big happenings in my WWE Universe over the next few weeks and months, next up is Extreme Rules, so stay tuned…
Josh.