Clash of Champions (2019)
Clash of Champions was a professional wrestling pay-per-view and WWE Network event produced by WWE for their Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live brands. It took place on September 15, 2019, at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was the third event under the Clash of Champions chronology. As per the theme of the event, all of WWE's titles across the Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live brands were defended.
Eleven matches were contested at the event, including two on the Kickoff pre-show. In the main event, Seth Rollins defeated Braun Strowman to retain the Universal Championship. In other prominent matches, Kofi Kingston retained the WWE Championship against Randy Orton, Bayley defeated Charlotte Flair to retain the SmackDown Women's Championship, and the Raw Women's Championship match between Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks ended in a disqualification win for Banks, but with Lynch retaining. In the only non-title match on the card, Erick Rowan defeated Roman Reigns in a No Disqualification match thanks to the returning Luke Harper.
Of WWE's eleven championships across Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live, only the Raw Tag Team Championship and SmackDown Tag Team Championship changed hands. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode defeated Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman to win the Raw title, while The Revival defeated The New Day's Big E and Xavier Woods to win the SmackDown title.
Production
Background
In mid-2016, WWE reintroduced the brand extension, splitting its main roster between the Raw and SmackDown brands, represented by the shows of the same name. Clash of Champions was established that year to replace Night of Champions, a pay-per-view in which the concept was that all WWE titles were defended; Clash of Champions was established on the same concept. The 2016 event was Raw-exclusive while the 2017 event was SmackDown-exclusive; all titles exclusive to the respective brands during those years were defended at these respective events. A Clash of Champions event did not occur in 2018, but following WrestleMania 34 that year, all WWE pay-per-views ceased being brand exclusive. In 2019, Clash of Champions was brought back and all WWE titles across Raw and SmackDown, as well as 205 Live, at the time were defended – Raw's Universal Championship, SmackDown's WWE Championship, the Raw Women's Championship, the SmackDown Women's Championship, Raw's United States Championship, SmackDown's Intercontinental Championship, the Raw Tag Team Championship, the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, 205 Live's Cruiserweight Championship, the Women's Tag Team Championship, and the 24/7 Championship.Storylines
The show comprised eleven matches, including two on the Kickoff pre-show. The matches resulted from scripted storylines, where wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match or series of matches. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw, SmackDown, and 205 Live brands, while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows, Monday Night Raw, SmackDown Live, and the cruiserweight-exclusive 205 Live.Feeling that she deserved an opportunity for the SmackDown Women's Championship for her win over Trish Stratus at SummerSlam, Charlotte Flair issued a challenge to reigning champion Bayley during "A Moment of Bliss" on the August 20 episode of SmackDown. Bayley accepted the challenge for Clash of Champions.
On the August 12 episode of Raw, Universal Champion Seth Rollins faced United States Champion and O.C. member AJ Styles in a non-title champion versus champion match, which resulted in a brawl with fellow O.C. members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson with Braun Strowman coming to Rollins' aid. The following week, Rollins and Strowman defeated Gallows and Anderson to win the Raw Tag Team Championship. Rollins was then scheduled to defend both the Universal and Raw Tag Team championships at Clash of Champions. On the August 26 episode of Raw, Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler won a Tag Team Turmoil to earn a Raw Tag Team Championship match at the event, while later that same night, Strowman challenged Rollins for the Universal Championship, which Rollins accepted.
During the WWE Championship match at SummerSlam, Randy Orton attempted to target Kofi Kingston's family, who were at ringside. Kingston brawled with Orton outside the ring, resulting in both men being counted out; thus Kingston retained the title, but he continued to attack Orton. On the following episode of SmackDown, The New Day faced the team of Orton and The Revival in which the latter won, after which, Orton performed an RKO on all three members of New Day. On the following Raw, Big E and Woods faced The Revival in a non-title match that New Day won by disqualification due to interference from Orton. Kingston came to their aid only for Orton to attack Kingston, while The Revival and Orton temporarily injured Woods' leg. The following week on SmackDown, Orton threatened to go after Kingston's family and a WWE Championship rematch was scheduled between the two for Clash of Champions, while Big E and Woods were scheduled to defend the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against The Revival at the event.
On the August 20 episode of 205 Live, Team Oney Lorcan won the Captain's Challenge against Team Drew Gulak with Humberto Carrillo and Lorcan being the last remaining members of their team. The following week, 205 Live General Manager Drake Maverick scheduled Carrillo and Lorcan to compete in a number one contender's match to face Gulak for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship on the Clash of Champions Kickoff pre-show, which Carrillo won. On the September 3 episode, Lince Dorado defeated Carrillo, thus making it a triple threat match for the title.
On the August 20 episode of SmackDown, Sami Zayn was a guest on "Miz TV." Zayn stated that after months of losing matches, he realized that he would be better suited to helping people on SmackDown and introduced his first client, Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. The Miz questioned why Nakamura would associate himself with Zayn, who said that Nakamura was unable to express himself because of the language barrier and that he would communicate for Nakamura. Miz then received a beatdown from Nakamura and Zayn. The following week, Miz challenged Nakamura for the Intercontinental Championship at Clash of Champions and Miz received yet another beatdown. Later, the title match was made official.
At SummerSlam, Becky Lynch defeated Natalya in a submission match to retain the Raw Women's Championship. On the following Raw, Lynch said she respected Natalya and put out a warning to the rest of the women's division. Natalya later came out with her arm in a sling and said they would face each other again. She was then interrupted by the returning Sasha Banks, who was last seen at WrestleMania 35. Banks hugged Natalya but then attacked her, turning heel. Lynch came to Natalya's aid but was attacked by Banks with a chair. Banks later challenged Lynch for the title at Clash of Champions and Lynch accepted.
As Roman Reigns was getting ready to announce his SummerSlam opponent on the July 30 episode of SmackDown, an unidentified person pushed lighting equipment on top of Reigns backstage. The attacker was originally alleged to be Samoa Joe due to their previous rivalry, but he was proven innocent during a hit and run on Reigns in which Joe was a witness. Buddy Murphy then became a suspect/witness as he was spotted in the background in the footage of the original attack, prompting Reigns to force Murphy to reveal that the attacker was Erick Rowan. On the SummerSlam Kickoff pre-show, Rowan attacked Murphy for the accusation. Rowan and his tag team partner Daniel Bryan then forced Murphy to reveal that he was lying and they conducted their own investigation to find out that Reigns' attacker was a man that looked like Rowan. However, Reigns found additional footage that showed Rowan pushing over the equipment. This caused Bryan and Rowan to split due to Rowan lying, and a match between Reigns and Rowan was scheduled for Clash of Champions, which later became a No Disqualification match.
On the August 5 episode of Raw, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross defeated defending champions The IIconics, The Kabuki Warriors, and Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville in a fatal four-way tag team elimination match to win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. On the September 3 episode of SmackDown, Rose and Deville challenged Bliss and Cross for the titles at Clash of Champions. Bliss said that they did not deserve an opportunity, however, Cross accepted a non-title match for that night, which Rose and Deville won. A title match was then scheduled between the two teams for Clash of Champions.
On the September 9 episode of Raw, Cedric Alexander faced O.C member AJ Styles for the United States Championship only for the match to end via disqualification due to interference from fellow O.C. members, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. Later that night, Alexander pinned Styles in a 10-man tag team match that featured Alexander, Seth Rollins, Braun Strowman, and The Viking Raiders against The O.C., Robert Roode, and Dolph Ziggler. Styles was then scheduled to defend the title in a rematch against Alexander on the Clash of Champions Kickoff pre-show.
Canceled match
In August 2019, the King of the Ring tournament was revived – the first time since the 2015 tournament – with the finals originally scheduled for Clash of Champions. However, the finals were rescheduled for the September 16 episode of Raw, where Baron Corbin defeated Chad Gable to become the King of the Ring, thus changing his ring name to King Corbin.Event
Pre-show
Two matches were contested on the Clash of Champions Kickoff pre-show. In the first match, Drew Gulak defended the Cruiserweight Championship against Humberto Carrillo and Lince Dorado in a triple threat match. In the end, Carrillo performed an Aztec press on Dorado; however, Gulak threw Carrillo into the ring post and pinned Dorado to retain the title.In the second pre-show match, The O.C's AJ Styles defended the United States Championship against Cedric Alexander. In the end, Styles performed a Phenomenal Forearm and a Styles Clash on Alexander to retain the title. Following the match, fellow O.C's members, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, attacked Alexander.
Preliminary matches
The actual pay-per-view began with Universal Champion Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman defending the Raw Tag Team Championship against Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode. In the end, Strowman tackled Roode, who collided with Rollins. Roode performed a Glorious DDT on Rollins to win the title.Next, Bayley defended the SmackDown Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair. At the start of the match, Flair performed a Big Boot on Bayley for a nearfall. Bayley threw Flair into an exposed turnbuckle and pinned her to retain the title.
After that, The New Day defended the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against The Revival. The climax saw The Revival perform a Shatter Machine on Woods and forced him to submit to an Inverted Figure Four Leglock to win the title.
In the fourth match, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross defended the Women's Tag Team Championship against Fire and Desire. During the match, an impromptu 24/7 Championship defense occurred when reigning champion R-Truth ran out to the ring, being chased by several wrestlers. Bliss pinned Truth with a roll up for a nearfall. Truth then rushed out of the ring. After resuming the tag team title match, Cross performed a Swinging Neckbreaker on Rose to retain the title.
Next, Shinsuke Nakamura defended the Intercontinental Championship against The Miz. In the end, as Miz performed a Skull Crushing Finale on Nakamura, Zayn distracted the referee. Miz then chased Zayn before Nakamura caught him and performed a Kinshasa to retain the title.
After that, Becky Lynch defended the Raw Women's Championship against Sasha Banks. During the match, while the referee was distracted, Banks struck Lynch with a chair and then performed a Low Knee Smash for a nearfall. After Lynch obtained the chair, she accidentally incapacitated the referee with it before going after Banks, where a brawl ensued outside of the ring. Due to Lynch's actions, she was disqualified; thus Banks won the match, but Lynch retained the title since titles do not change hands via disqualification unless stipulated.
Next, Kofi Kingston defended the WWE Championship against Randy Orton. During the match, Orton performed a snap powerslam on Kingston for a nearfall. Orton performed an RKO on Kingston, who placed his leg on the rope at a two count. In the end, as Orton went for the Punt Kick, Kingston countered with a Trouble in Paradise to retain the title.
In the penultimate match, Roman Reigns faced Erick Rowan in a no disqualification match. Reigns performed a Superman Punch on Rowan for a nearfall. Rowan performed a powerbomb through an announce table on Reigns. Rowan performed an Iron Claw Slam through a table on Reigns. On the stage, Reigns executed a second Superman Punch. In the end, a returning Luke Harper appeared and performed a big boot and a discus clothesline on Reigns. Rowan then performed a second Iron Claw Slam on Reigns to win.
Main event
In the main event, Seth Rollins defended the Universal Championship against Braun Strowman. Strowman performed a Diving Stomp on Rollins for a nearfall. Rollins performed three Stomps on Strowman, which all resulted in nearfalls. Rollins performed a Pedigree and a fourth Stomp to retain the title. After the match, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt appeared and attacked Rollins with a Sister Abigail and the Mandible Claw.Aftermath
Raw
Prior to Clash of Champions, it was rumored that Bray Wyatt would challenge for the Universal Championship at Hell in a Cell. On the Raw following Clash of Champions, due to The Fiend's attack, Universal Champion Seth Rollins announced that he would be defending the title against Wyatt's Fiend persona at the event in a Hell in a Cell match. The following week, Rollins was interrupted by Braun Strowman, who said that it was Rollins' fault they lost the Raw Tag Team Championship. He also challenged Rollins to a non-title rematch later that night that was interrupted by The Fiend, who attacked Strowman.Also on the following Raw, Sasha Banks challenged Becky Lynch to a rematch for the Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell, and Lynch accepted as a Hell in a Cell match.
New Raw Tag Team Champions Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode and new SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival celebrated their respective championships victories, only for Braun Strowman to interrupt the celebration and attack both teams.
The O.C. defeated Cedric Alexander and The Viking Raiders in a six-man tag team match. Following the match, The O.C. attacked Alexander and The Viking Raiders. Styles and Alexander then had a rematch for the U.S. title on the September 30 episode where Styles again retained.
SmackDown
On the following SmackDown, The New Day defeated the team of Randy Orton and the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Revival in a six-man tag team match. Following the match, Brock Lesnar returned to challenge Kingston for the WWE Championship on the debut episode of SmackDown on FOX on October 4, which Kingston accepted.Michael Cole conducted a sit-down interview with Erick Rowan, where Rowan declared that he had been overlooked, underappreciated, and disrespected and attacked Roman Reigns to scare him and to show that Reigns was not the dominant figure he was presumed to be. He also stated that he was not Daniel Bryan's equal, but better than him. Bryan then stated that regardless if he was a face or a heel, he had never lied and thought of Rowan as his friend and his equal. Bryan was interrupted by Rowan and attacked from behind by Luke Harper. Reigns came out to Bryan's aid, only for Rowan and Harper to dominate Bryan and Reigns. This led to a tag team match pitting Bryan and Reigns against Rowan and Harper being scheduled for Hell in a Cell. Just prior to Hell in a Cell, Rowan and Reigns had a rematch on SmackDown's 20th Anniversary on October 4 in a lumberjack match that Reigns won.
Sami Zayn and Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura demanded respect from the crowd for Nakamura defeating The Miz and then attacked Ali, who had defeated Nakamura in a match a few weeks prior.
Sasha Banks faced Charlotte Flair, only for the match to end in a disqualification win for Flair when SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley attacked Flair while she applied the Figure Eight Leglock on Banks. Flair received a beatdown from Banks and Bayley, who was then saved by Carmella. A rematch between Bayley and Flair for the title was scheduled for Hell in a Cell.