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WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT CLASH IN ITALY? THE TIP SHEET IS NOW ONLINE

WWE will present Clash in Italy this Sunday on ESPN Unlimited and Netflix from Turin, Italy with a 2:00 PM Eastern start time for the show (with the first hour also airing on ESPN).  Here is what we think will happen on Sunday.

Men's World Championship Match . . . Tribal Combat:  Roman Reigns vs Jacob Fatu

Note: We are working under the impression that Jacob will be able to work.

Dave: This whole program has been backward.  Roman's the heel but they tell us he is the face.  Jacob gets screwed and is rightfully angry, so he is the heel.  I expect that Roman wins through less than honorable means and Jacob must acknowledge him.  Then, the story builds to how Jacob can break away from him and maybe they wrestle again at SummerSlam.  If that feels like a redo of the past Bloodline story it's because it is.  I loved the original Bloodline but this version of the story has more holes in it than Swiss Cheese.

Mike: I expect a lot of focus on the dialogue between the two and some cinematic moments.  This has every right to be a ton of fun.  I'd actually argue that Fatu should win to give Roman something to chase, but I don't expect WWE to pull the trigger.  I think Roman wins.

Richard: Roman Reigns wanted Fatu to be gone for disrespecting him, but as Fatu said, he won't lose his job regardless of the result on Sunday.  That result will be a Roman victory because why fix what isn't broken.  TRIBAL COMBAT!!!! Doot doot doot doot doot doot doot.  Flawless Acknowledgement.

Women's WWE Championship Match:  Rhea Ripley vs Jade Cargill

Dave: The six woman match had one of the stupidest booking moments I have ever seen.  In a fight for their lives, Rhea, Charlotte and Alexa seemingly forgot that they were in a match, celebrated that they were finally pals, and got destroyed for it.  That is something three vets should NEVER let happen.  Ugh.  Anyway, Jade has pinned Rhea twice now.  I expect that Rhea retains.

Mike: Rhea should retain.  I really liked their match at Mania and I'm hoping for a match at the same level.

Richard: These two women had a good match at Wrestlemania and I hope they can run it back.  Bob and I had an interesting discussion about this match on the preview audio and what could be read into the different potential outcomes.  Jade might be the biggest victim of the small PPV cards because if she isn't in a title match, she isn't likely to get on the show.  Jade has had the upper hand going into the PPV and that usually means that you are going to lose.  Could Charlotte get involved in the match because they are teasing a Flair/Cargill feud.  I think Rhea should win, but I can see Jade get the victory.

Men's WWE Championship Match:  Cody Rhodes vs Gunther

Dave: I like Cody chasing the belt so if it's me, I pull the trigger on a Gunther win and have Cody chase and get the rematch at SummerSlam.  Gunther is so, so good.  He deserves another run at the top.

Mike: This should be Vader vs. Sting 2026.  GUNTHER should be the beast working down Cody forever and a day until Rhodes makes the comeback and scores the pin.

Richard: This should be the best match on the show.  I have not been a fan of the way Gunther has been booked for a long time and while I don't think he will win, this is a way to get people to remember how awesome he is.  Will we see outside interference in this match since Sami walked away from saving Cody from a Gunther attack, or do they save that for next week and tease it on this week's Smackdown?  Cody should be fighting from behind most of this match, but he will have the combination to get the victory.

Women's Intercontinental Championship Match:  Becky Lynch vs Sol Ruca

Dave: Sol hasn't had a win yet on Raw, do they pull the trigger here? My guess is no but I think it will be with extenuating "she had it won and Becky cheated" circumstances which should lead to a Sol victory and title win at SummerSlam.

Mike: If they have Becky go over clean, they will completely lock Ruca under a glass ceiling.  They should pull the trigger and have Ruca win here.

Richard: This should be the night that Sol Ruca becomes the Intercontinental champion, but after her recent performances with Becky, I would be hesitant to pull the trigger without proof that Sol can get through the match without any major hiccups.  If they want to put their faith in the future, Sol should win this match.  We have had one title change since Wrestlemania and it is time for a second one.  I assume Jessika Carr will be the referee so Becky can have an unhinged rant at some point next week.

Brock Lesnar vs Oba Femi

Dave: So, Brock is retired, but he is wrestling another match.  Huh?  WWE's booking has been lacking since WrestleMania.  With that said, there is no way that I have Oba lose here.  He is the present and Brock is the past.  If it's me, I have Brock put in a better performance but still lose.  Then, he can spend the next two months "getting in the best shape of his life" for one last match against Oba, which is closer than the first two, but he still loses and passes the baton to figurative Femi.

Mike: Under no circumstances should Femi lose here.  I would rather they have a big war that gets out of hand and the match gets thrown out, then they brawl all over, wipe out a bunch of referees and security and leave things open for a big Summerslam rematch.

Richard:  I figured that this would be a three match series with Oba getting the big win at Mania, Oba getting a tougher victory over Brock at some point before SummerSlam, and Brock showing frustration not being able to beat Oba so he puts his career on the line at SummerSlam.  I don't think they have done a good job booking Oba since he won at Mania and hopefully he gets a convincing enough victory on Sunday.  Then we wait for August to see if they keep Oba strong.  

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