WWE Clash of Champions results: Rollins survives Strowman, but Fiend gets last laugh
Clash of Champions was set up as a crossroads in the world of WWE. With 10 titles on the line and the upcoming SmackDown move to Fox airwaves, WWE had a chance to line everything up the way they liked heading into a major new era.
This file was updated in real time.
It took four Stomps and a Pedigree for Rollins to finally get the three count and retain the Universal Championship. The victory, which kept Strowman looking strong, included a ridiculous splash off the top rope from the enormous Strowman, who was bleeding from his nose due to some significant contact on the outside.
After the match, the lights went down and eerie, high-pitched music played. When the lights came back up — dimly — The Fiend was attacking Rollins on the ramp. The Fiend gave Rollins a Sister Abigail and then the Mandible Claw. The show closed with the lights off and the sounds of Bray Wyatt’s frightening laughter.
The match itself was a strong one, perhaps better than expected. It started off hot with Strowman dominating. Rollins turned the tide with three big super kicks and a frog splash, which didn’t even earn a one count from Strowman.
Later, on the outside, Rollins sidestepped a running Strowman, sending him careening over the German announce table. Back on his feet, Strowman came after Rollins again, but Rollins sent him knee first into the steel steps, and then Strowman fell onto the Spanish announce table. Rollins seemed as if he were going to jump off the top rope onto Strowman on the table, but Strowman jumped up and tossed Rollins off.
That’s when Strowman climbed to the top and landed that splash, almost falling off in a scary moment in the process. Rollins kicked out at two after a bloody Strowman could not cover right away.
Rollins then hit a stomp for a one count, another stomp for a two count and a third for about a 2-1/2 count. Strowman would not stay down. He picked Rollins up for his powerslam finisher, but his knee gave way. Rollins landed a Pedigree, then another stomp for the three count.
What’s next: Rollins putting the Universal title on the line against The Fiend at Hell in a Cell. Wyatt challenging for the belt on that card was already heavily rumored. It’ll be interesting to see if they do it inside the actual cell. What will also be intriguing is how that finish goes. It would be very early for this new character to lose, especially given all the starts and stops Wyatt has had during his career, which has been a hit to his character’s credibility.
As for Strowman, this is yet another Universal title match loss. Maybe he’ll benefit from a move to Smackdown and Fox in the draft. He’ll need to be slightly rebuilt again, but he still came out looking fairly strong here.