Botch At Scotland's Castle

Today, wrestling fans were treated to a WWE PLE, Clash at the Castle. This event took place in Glasgow, Scotland, and it was the second PLE WWE has done across the pond in several months. So, let's get into the initial reactions of this PLE.

My initial reaction was, why is WWE doing a 2-hour pre-show without pre-show matches? We got a 2-hour show showing video packages and a panel trying to fill time. Nobody wants to see this shit. Second, if the PLE is called Clash at the Castle, why aren't we wrestling in a castle? There would be plenty of room. There were so many botches in this PLE that it was hard not to notice them. What has gotten into Peacock?? They did not censor when the crowd began to chant "FUCK." I was shocked they started the show off with the "I Quit" match. The best part of this PLE was the face made by Corey Graves when he was told he had to cover the post-show and was called a boo-boo face.

The Botches

Let's discuss the numerous botches in this PLE. In the first match, we get this graphic as Cody stands in the ring face-to-face with AJ Styles. So now Cody is a Women's Tag Team Champion, and his name has been changed to TALENT NAME.

This should have been a sign that things were going to go downhill. Next, in the Women's Tag Team match, Jade Cargill makes two botches, one from the hot tag from her partner below. Then Jade is choked out by Shayna Bazler and taps out, but that is not how the match ends. We must address the fact that Jade is not improving in the ring. Is she dedicated to professional wrestling? That is a blog for another day.

The Sami Zayn and Chad Gable match had a spot where Zayn goes for a half-and-half suplex, and Gable comes down right on the crown of his head. Gable could have broken his neck in this spot, but this was not the first instance tonight that someone landed awkwardly on their head and neck.

Then, in the main event match between Drew McIntyre and Damien Priest, he gets hung up in the ropes in a move that Priest has done numerous times. Priest is set to fly over the rope and gets his foot/ankle caught in the rope. The referee acts like he has no idea how to untangle the rope to release Priest, who is dangling there upside down. Priest could have broken his leg or ankle from this spot. McIntyre realizes that he can't win the match, then untangles Priest and gets him back in the ring.

Cody v AJ

For an "I Quit" match, this was very disappointing. Cody gets busted open after Styles sends his face through the ringbell table, but by the end of the match, you cannot tell he has been busted open. Interestingly, the commentary states this is Cody's first "I Quit" match, and Styles is 4-0. There were some nice moves in this match, but it moved at a very slow pace. After the match, Solo emerges as Cody walks up the ramp and is attacked by the other two members of Bloodline 2.0. As Cody is being outnumbered, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton come out to even the odds. There are two takeaways from this: (1) why in the hell is Orton just casually walking around the arena in his wrestling trunks (not that I am complaining), and (2) after they had sent the Bloodline reeling, Orton was staring hard at Cody's championship.

Bianca/Jade (C) vs Shayna/Zoey vs Alba/Isla

Alba and Isla are the only "true" women's tag team in this match, as the other two teams were thrown together. I will say that Shayna and Zoey look good as a team, and I would not mind them continuing to be a tag team. We all know the WWE put Jade with Bianca so that Jade could learn from one of the best women's wrestlers in the WWE. This match was awful and even Bianca looked bad. Alba and Isla get the win by picking up the scraps as Bazler takes the pin. We have new Women's Tag Team Champions. I seriously hope WWE will not already have Bianca and Jade feud; they need some more build to that.

Sami Zayn (C) vs Chad Gable

Most fans were probably looking forward to this match. Going into it, the question would be, can Gable win the title, and will the Alpha Academy turn on Gable? This match was okay, but I am seriously concerned, as it seems that Zayn may have lost a step or two in the ring. He appeared to be slow tonight. It is also hard to believe that Gable has never won an individual title in WWE. Zayn retains with his signature move, and now fans are left to wonder if WWE is ever going to give Gable that individual title run. Gable just re-signed with the company, and this is how they reward him, with a big FUCK YOU!!

Bayley (C ) vs Piper Niven

Bayley's title run has been boring as hell, and nothing significant has come out of her being the champion. This match was okay for a women's match, but tonight's matches left much to be desired. For those fans who clamor for more women's matches, this is why there aren't. This match was basically strength (Niven) against, I would say, speed (Bayley), but that is not factually correct. The highlight of this match was Chelsea Green coming to the ring in the Rey Mysterio mask; she is the long-lost daughter?? Bayley would retain, so we continue with this boring reign. I look forward to when the Queen returns, Charlotte Flair, and returns the title

.Drew McIntyre vs Damien Priest (C)

The bagpipes were cool, but Wade Barrett said they should be exclusively restricted to Guantanamo Bay, which was hilarious. Drew got his moment with the crowd before the match started because he sure as hell didn't get it afterward. The match was decent, but the most interesting part was when the referee had to jump out of the ring to get out of the way, and then, as he was climbing back in, he knocked off the apron. Drew lays out Priest with a claymore and then goes for the pin, but the ref is knocked out, and he actually got almost a nine-count until another ref slithers into the ring. That ref, as the fans did not get a glimpse of their face at first, just thought it was another basic ref...but oh boy, that was not the case... it was none other than CM Punk. Who counts to two, and then mysteriously, Priest kicks out. Drew then is pissed and attacks Punk, who then low-blows Drew and allows Priest to hit his South of Heaven and as he slides to cover, the original ref comes back too and gets in the ring and counts, 1, 2, 3, and Priest retains.

The fans in Scotland were pissed as they chanted Bullshit. They felt as if they got screwed, and I can't say I blame them. Twice the WWE has been to the United Kingdom, and both times, Drew has been screwed. Guess we will have to see where this leads...