3 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Clash In Italy (Results & Review)

Here we are, six weeks removed from WrestleMania 42, and WWE is mired in an unmistakable creative slump. Clash in Italy was the latest case study in unimaginative, formulaic booking that has resulted in the product treading water rather than taking bold risks to rejuvenate a stale product.

There are probably three solid examples of this morass that were on display Sunday night: Oba Femi losing to Brock Lesnar, Gunther losing in questionable fashion to set up a rematch, and Roman Reigns wrestling a half-speed Bloodline-style main event that evoked the worst memories of 2022.

Femi has been one of the rare can’t-miss success stories in 2026 WWE, a magnetic superstar who should be main-eventing WrestleMania as early as next year. Rather than continuing to ride his invincible run longer, the company decided that now would be an ideal time to torpedo his undefeated streak to (presumably) set up their formulaic trilogy booking.

Gunther has lost just four singles matches in his four-year run on the main roster. Sunday, he inexplicably lost his fifth to Cody Rhodes in controversial fashion, presumably to set up a rematch.

And Reigns wrestled Jacob Fatu in a slow, dull Tribal Combat match that reminded fans of what many of them despised about the overdone, boring booking at the Bloodline’s height.

All told, Clash in Italy looked great on paper, but it all fell apart in execution.

Let’s get to it…