WWE stars who need a win at Clash in Italy | Opinion
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.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.