Roman Reigns PREVAILS in TRIBAL COMBAT, Jacob Fatu falls in line | Clash in Italy Recap

Summary

WWE Now – Clash in Italy Recap

Podcast: WWE Now (WWE x Fanatics Podcasts)
Date: May 31, 2026
Hosts: Sam Roberts, Megan Morant
Special Guest: Sol Ruka (New WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion)

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Episode Overview

This episode of WWE Now offers an in-depth recap of WWE's "Clash in Italy" Premium Live Event (PLE), focusing on the climactic Tribal Combat between Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu, the fallout for the Bloodline, and pivotal championship matches. Hosts Sam Roberts and Megan Morant passionately break down all the key storylines, major moments, and shifting dynamics in WWE, featuring a celebratory interview with new IC Champion Sol Ruka.

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Main Theme: Bloodline Lore Reaches a New Chapter

Sam and Megan open with their signature energy, zeroing in on the "bloodline lore" that fueled the night’s biggest moment: Roman Reigns retaining supremacy in Tribal Combat and the fracturing yet again of the Anoa’i wrestling family dynasty. The conversation moves fluidly across other high-stakes matches, upset finishes, and character arcs, all framed against the electric atmosphere of a WWE show staged in Italy.

“My favorite thing in wrestling is bloodline lore. And I felt like the end of this show was all bloodline lore.”
— Sam Roberts [03:04]

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Key Discussion Points & Highlights

1. Clash in Italy: Tribal Combat – Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu

[02:40 – 14:47]

• Emotional Depth of Jacob Fatu’s Loss

  • Jacob left slumped in the corner, pained but without excuses. Sam reflects on how Jacob’s state echoed Jey Uso’s from 2020:

    “He’s like, ‘Oh my gosh, I gave everything that I had to give. No matter how strong I am, I can’t beat Roman Reigns.’”
    — Sam Roberts [03:13]

• Law of Tribal Combat and Bloodline Power Structure

  • The match was without interference; every law was respected. Roman manipulated emotional ties, challenging Jacob to “serve me, and you’ll love me.”

    “Roman said specifically, and this could be manipulation… ‘You’ll serve me, and you’ll love me.’”
    — Sam Roberts [09:12]

• Jacob’s Dilemma: Past vs. Future

  • Emotional conflict over following Roman or returning to the ‘I love you, Solo’ era. The parallels of trauma within the Bloodline are explored.

    “Maybe it’s not in his rearview mirror… is the future the ‘I love you, Roman’ era?”
    — Sam Roberts [09:54]

• The Bloodline Splinters and New Alliances

  • Solo Sikoa and the Tongans present as a separate faction. Is Roman targeting Solo’s “family tree” as well?

    “Does Roman want to start eliminating threats before they build?”
    — Sam Roberts [11:13]

• Roman’s Victory and Legacy

  • Sam and Megan both assert that, given the clean victory, it’s time to retire narratives about Roman always needing help or being a “part-time” champion.

    “The conversation about Roman always needing help... is that done?”
    — Sam Roberts [19:49]
    “Yes.”
    — Megan Moran [20:06]

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2. Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi: Beast Meets the New Force

[24:32 – 35:50]

• Lesnar’s Return and Aggression

  • Brock’s first Europe match in 24 years, returning with immediate ferocity against Oba Femi.

    “He attacks Obafemi before the bell rings and then hits him with 4 F5s. And then Obafemi kicks out.”
    — Sam Roberts [26:19]

• Oba’s Resilience and First Loss

  • Despite multiple F5s and a kimura lock, Oba survives longer than anyone expected, but Lesnar ultimately prevails after a seventh F5.

    “Obafemi suffers his first pinfall loss on the main roster. Brock Lesnar beats Oba Femi.”
    — Sam Roberts [30:16]

• Impact on Oba’s Trajectory

  • Discussion on how Oba will face WWE and its fans following his first defeat.

    “That is what I want to know. We’ve never seen Oba coming off a loss.”
    — Sam Roberts [33:06]

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3. Championship Reigns and Controversies

a. Sol Ruka Wins the Women’s Intercontinental Championship

[36:56 – 48:57]

• Interview with Sol Ruka

  • Reflections on winning in Italy, emotional aftermath, and the journey from NXT to the main roster.

    “As soon as I hit my finish on Becky…I just kind of got a little bit emotional, was a bit just like shocked and just like, oh my God, like, I did it.”
    — Sol Ruka [38:20]

  • Handling Main Roster Scrutiny

    “Being up on the main roster, you have more eyes, which means more hate, but also means more love.”
    — Sol Ruka [42:40]

  • Future as Champion

    “I want to be a fighting champion. I want to defend this thing as many times as I physically possibly can.”
    — Sol Ruka [47:51]

• Controversial Officiating

  • Megan airs grievances about referee Jessica Carr’s impact on the match—missed pinfalls, accidental interference, and its effect on both competitors.

    “There’s an officiating problem within the WWE.”
    — Megan Moran [49:48]

b. Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther (WWE Championship) – Officiating Error

[55:42 – 59:49]

• Finish in Question

  • Cody pins Gunther while Gunther’s foot is clearly out of bounds:

    “I cannot for the life of me imagine that this was the way Cody would want to win a WWE Championship…there may be more of Gunther's body outside the ring than inside.”
    — Sam Roberts [58:13]

• Rematch Called For

  • Cody addresses the controversy by promising Gunther a rematch.

c. Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill – Women’s Championship Showdown

[61:17 – 65:09]

• European Crowd Dynamics

  • Jade heavily booed, Rhea idolized.

  “They love their mommy all over.”
  — Megan Moran [60:15]

• Outside Interference and Evened Odds

  • B-Fab intervenes for Jade, Charlotte Flair levels the playing field for Rhea.

  “Charlotte returning the favor by putting Ria's foot on the rope, interrupting a pinfall attempt.”
  — Sam Roberts [63:10]

• Ripley’s Second Win Over Jade

  “Rhea Ripley has now beaten Jade Cargill twice.”
  — Sam Roberts [64:46]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sam on the Bloodline’s Storytelling

  “There are volumes of books in this story… that's how you make it generational.” [12:13]

• Megan on Legacy Stakes at Clash in Italy

  “The trade-offs aren’t just about laundry or meetings. They're about legacy. On the grandest stage of them all.” [21:50]

• Sol Ruka: On Overcoming Doubt

  “At the end of the day, I’m here for a reason...I just had to lock in and just do my best and see what happens and, you know, proved everyone wrong.” [45:17]

• Sam on Brock/Oba Post-match Trajectory

  “If I won the lottery, I’m not playing anymore. …We beat the house already.” [35:51]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening banter & Bloodline setup: [01:01–05:56]
• Roman Reigns vs. Jacob Fatu (deep-dive analysis): [02:40–14:44]
• Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi: [24:32–35:50]
• Interview: Sol Ruka (IC Title Win Reaction): [36:56–48:57]
• Referee/officiating issues (Sol/Becky): [49:48–53:02]
• Cody Rhodes vs. Gunther/Controversial finish: [55:42–59:49]
• Rhea Ripley vs. Jade Cargill: [61:17–64:56]
• Tournament/Queen of the Ring outlook: [65:09–66:06]
• Closing/final thoughts: [65:50–66:27]

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Conclusion

Sam and Megan shine in their blend of behind-the-scenes insight and fan-like excitement, giving listeners a satisfying rundown of an event packed with legacy-defining moments, power shifts, and in-ring drama. The Clash in Italy not only delivered wrestling action, but advanced generational stories, introduced new champions, and set the stage for coming Raw and Smackdown episodes where all these threads will continue to unravel.

Next Steps:

• Monday Night Raw: Fallout for the Bloodline, Oba Femi’s first post-defeat appearance, Sol Ruka’s first night as champion.
• Queen/King of the Ring Tournament kicks off.

Don’t miss WWE Now Raw Recap—Sam and Megan will break down all the fallout!

Transcript

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[Sam Roberts]

So close you can almost taste it. What, you just gonna walk away? Time to bring the juice. Never leave a fit behind. Rip it, rip it and bring the juice. That flavor's just out of. Drop the leg ooze and bring the juice. Oba Femi. Taste that bitter taste of defeat. We now know who the tribal chief is. There is a new women's intercontinental champion. Saul Ruka will be on the show. And so much more. This is the Clash in Italy recap on WWE now at WWE and fanatics. Original production. Oh, what a show, what a show, what a show. And now another show. Megan Moran coming right off of Clash in Italy. First of all, I'm a little disappointed.

[Megan Moran]

I listen to all of your shows, every single one of them. And this week you said that since it was an afternoon show that you were gonna roll up wearing a tank top.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, that's true. I thought. Cause the sun's out, the gun's out. But it was a little cloudy. That's all. It was just a little cloudy today. So the guns couldn't officially come out. But we're out in spirit.

[Megan Moran]

A little false advertising.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, I thought it was more like a tank top vibe than an actual physical tank top.

[Megan Moran]

And you're wearing a flannel.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, no, no, I'm trying. I'm giving tank top. That's my. And you'll see, you'll see. As the. As the show continues, we'll check in again at the end of the program and you'll find that, yeah, Sam was really giving tank top today. Flannel appearance Short, but he's giving Tank Top, okay? Because it is an afternoon show. It's like a European vacation watching Clash in Italy. The crowd in Italy coming absolutely alive, electric from start to finish. But let's talk about this finish, okay? We're going to talk about the match, I promise, the whole way through. But watching Jacob Fatu at the end of this show, this is what charged me up. You know, my favorite thing in wrestling is bloodline lore. I love bloodline lore. And I felt like the end of this show was all bloodline lore. When Roman Reigns steps out of the ring and the Usos step outside with Roman, first of all, okay, there was this moment where Jacob is sitting in the corner, right, and he's like slumped on that lower turnbuckle, almost realizing, oh, my gosh, I gave everything that I had to give. No matter how strong I am, I can't beat Roman Reigns. And I don't have any excuses. This was tribal combat. There was no Jimmy uso, There was no Jay uso. Roman said in the match, I didn't ever need any of them. I brought them along because I loved them. Now you're finding out. Every turnbuckle was ripped off, some of it to no effect. Jacob took more Superman punches than anybody's ever taken. Yet still Jacob is slumped in the corner. Having to look up at Roman Reigns being the undisputed tribal chief, being the World Heavyweight Champion, and maybe reality setting in that everything Jimmy said was right, that. That you can't have everything that Roman has. But everything that Roman has is based on sharing with the family. And Jacob had this look on his face and it was. I would never say fear, but it was almost a. I don't know if it's helplessness or hopelessness with which he looked.

[Megan Moran]

I think the latter. Hopelessness, hopelessness, to me, that's what I took away from it.

[Sam Roberts]

You know when the last time I saw that look was? When it was the autumn of 2020 when Jay realized, I'm just not going to be able to beat Roman Reigns. It was the very beginning of the bloodline when Jey USO twice tried to stop Roman and realize it's just not going to happen. Like, it really was the only option that there ever was. Join Roman or nothing or there's nothing for you. And Jacob was in that position, right? It's like either join Roman now or literally just be fired. That's what. If you're not going to acknowledge Roman

[Megan Moran]

now, where do you go?

[Sam Roberts]

You got no place left to go except maybe that's not true because you're

[Megan Moran]

talking about who we saw afterwards, that

[Sam Roberts]

the bloodline is ultimately still splintered. And Roman, I don't know if he fully plans on reforming this family and just putting everybody all on the same page or what exactly he's going to do. But you got to this spot where the USO's were telling Jacob, all right, come along with us. I mean, Jay was even.

[Megan Moran]

It was wild to see, because Jacob's one who always says, I'm going to dog walk your ass.

[Sam Roberts]

I know.

[Megan Moran]

Then all of a sudden, he's the one who's being told what to do.

[Sam Roberts]

It was like in the Sopranos when Carmela starts asking her friend, come and help me. Come and help me. And the friend realizes what she's gotten herself into and. And how insulting and condescending it is, but really, what choice does she have?

[Megan Moran]

And because of the point you brought up, the fact that Jay's the one going to get right.

[Sam Roberts]

And maybe. And you wonder too, if Jay, because he's got that built in trauma from years ago, sure, maybe he likes it. Maybe he enjoys being the one that's like, okay, I had to live through this, but now I can make somebody else live through it. Hurt people, hurt people.

[Megan Moran]

That's what they say.

[Sam Roberts]

And that is something that occurred to me when Jay was the one being aggressive about saying, hey, Jacob, fall in line, right? It's like an older brother being mean to his younger sibling because he's had to take the brunt from the parents. So now he's gonna try to flex his power on the sibling. Except as Jacob is looking and he can't snap back.

[Megan Moran]

No, he can't.

[Sam Roberts]

Who do you think you are to talk to me? He's not in that position.

[Megan Moran]

Especially after he just lost to Roman Reigns.

[Sam Roberts]

He lost in tribal combat. That. I mean, tribal combat. That was it.

[Megan Moran]

That's it.

[Sam Roberts]

They were. I was asked on Thursday, you love Roman, you love Jacob. Like, whose side are you on at the end of this thing, Romans? And I said, try. I'm on the side of the tribal chief. That's what the laws of tribal combat are. Tribal combat leaves you going, okay, this is who the tribal chief is. This is who we are loyal to. And Jacob knows this. There are not many laws that Jacob respects, but the laws of tribal combat are laws that everybody abides by except Jacob. Standing outside the ring, looking down the aisle and seeing Jimmy and Jey, USO and Roman Reigns. But then over to Jacob's right over here, seeing that solo Sokoa and Tala Tonga and Tama Tonga are all there. Of course, Tama Tonga has fallen in line. And Jacob looking, realizing, that's the life that I left. When Jacob showed up in wwe, his whole thing was there. He was there to serve Solo Sokoa.

[Megan Moran]

I love you, Solo.

[Sam Roberts]

It was an era for months. We all still missed this. The era.

[Megan Moran]

It was fantastic. Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

But he stopped it. He said, no, I'm not here to be subservient to Solo Sikoa. But now, as he's looking down the aisle at Roman Reigns and the USO's, it felt like to me, Jacob was in this spot where he's going, well, there's the devil that I know and there's the devil that I don't. He knows Roman, but he's never served Roman Reigns. Roman said specifically, and this could be manipulation. This could be a trigger word, right? Roman said, you'll serve me and you'll love me.

[Megan Moran]

You'll learn to love me.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you think he's using the word love by mistake?

[Megan Moran]

No.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, he knows that's where Jacob came from with Solo Sikoa. So now Jacob's sitting there going like, wait, maybe there is an option B. But option B is going back to this life with Solo that I've already left.

[Megan Moran]

And it's like he's looking at his past. And Jacob, who he is now, has come a long way from the I love you, Solo era. Even though we did love the I love you, Solo era. Whenever you see your past in your rear view mirror, it can be a little scary.

[Sam Roberts]

But maybe it's not in his rearview mirror because is the future the I love you, Roman era? Is that any different? You know what I mean? I think that's more. It's sitting there going like, well, wait, like, no, I'm not in the I love you Solo era anymore. I'm. I'm walking towards the I love you, Roman era.

[Megan Moran]

You think you get so far and then you're back right where you started.

[Sam Roberts]

Maybe I didn't go. Maybe I didn't go at all. And maybe, you know, on one end you've got this sure thing, but there's a leader that you're following. On the other end is a rebel force from within the family. Now, Roman also looked right at Solo and said, I got something for him too. And so you wonder, you know, it felt like after Solo lost tribal combat to Roman Reigns at the beginning of

[Megan Moran]

2025 on Netflix, yes, the debut, it

[Sam Roberts]

felt like Roman was perfectly fine letting Solo just go and do his own thing. Solo's not claiming the bloodline. He's not claiming he built mft. He built his own family tree, which are the tongans that he has with him now. But the question is, is Solo appearing there? Is. So is it maybe Roman? Has he grown weary of Solo having his own family tree, his own subsection over here? Does Roman want this thing that even though it's not a branched off version of the bloodline, it still feels connected?

[Megan Moran]

It definitely feels connected.

[Sam Roberts]

Maybe Roman doesn't want that anymore. Maybe Roman wants to start eliminating threats before they build. I'm sure when Roman won the world heavyweight championship, the last thing that he thought was, 24 hours later, Jacob is going to confront me. Maybe like he said to Jacob throughout this whole build, and he said to the USO's, if we don't have his respect, we're not going to have their respect. We need to have the respect of the people in this family before we have the respect of the people in the locker room. And maybe he's looking at Solo and going like, hey, dude, you're next.

[Megan Moran]

You're part of that family, right?

[Sam Roberts]

You can exist on your own. Because like Roman said in the match, I'm not here, you know, trying to make you guys fight my battles. We don't all. But ultimately we're doing business together. And I'm the CEO.

[Megan Moran]

I wonder if Solo was there for the purpose of getting to Jacob or for the purpose of getting to Roman

[Sam Roberts]

or for the purpose of wherever opportunity may lie.

[Megan Moran]

It's a good point.

[Sam Roberts]

You know, that's Solo. I think Solo is pretty good at recognizing where those spots are to get in. But I mean, the idea of. And that's why it's never. It's never over. No, that's what we're still in the third inning all those years ago meant. It's never over. There is no three acts. There's no beginning, middle, end. There's volumes of books. It's not even chapters. It's volumes of books in this story that can go. And I think that that was Roman's plan from the beginning with this bloodline thing, is to create this thing. That's how you make it generational.

[Megan Moran]

That's why he's not just trying to put food on his family's table.

[Sam Roberts]

He's trying to set up generation after generation after generation. And so this story that we're so used to, before the bloodline, it was all like a wrestling storyline that would go, here's the beginning, here's the middle. Here's the end. But that's not what this is. This is a different.

[Megan Moran]

And then we start a new book, right?

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, there's a different thing entirely. And so maybe part of that sort of generational thing is to just make this forever, make the bloodline forever. And as long as everybody's out there, you never know when, to your point, the past is gonna kind of come back on itself. And I think that that's what we saw at the end of the show tonight.

[Megan Moran]

I think it's very. It's gonna be very interesting to see where solo fits in all of this. If Jacob acknowledges Roman on Monday Night Raw, to me, he has no other option but to do so.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, he left with roman and the Usos. He ultimately walked down that aisle with them. And it did feel like, you know, after Backlash, he had a different look in his eyes, of course, than after Clash in Italy.

[Megan Moran]

He wasn't following anybody up the ramp at Backlash.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I don't think we're going tomorrow night to Raw and seeing, you know, somebody who's out of control, seeing somebody who's calling people out, I mean, you know, and that's kind of, what are you going to do at this point? The match was exactly what the match was advertised to be, and Roman Reigns won. No ifs, ands or buts. You can't get around and go like, whoa, this and that. I mean, they didn't just rip off a turnbuckle. They. Roman Reigns, he ripped off all three without untying anything. He ripped off all three. He speared Jacob Fatu through the barricade and not the part of the barricade that always gets speared through the other part of the barricade.

[Megan Moran]

I felt bad for those poor security guards.

[Sam Roberts]

They got run over.

[Megan Moran]

They were just doing their job. I know they're trying to manage the chaos, make sure everybody's staying in their seat.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, can you imagine? You're sitting there because they have to sit there with their backs, you know, they have to sit there with their backs to the action, and all of a sudden there's just a barricade and two giant Samoans on top of them. Like, I mean, my life would have flashed before my eyes.

[Megan Moran]

I feel sorry for them. I know they just showed up to work today. They did not deserve that.

[Sam Roberts]

You know what they thought they were going to do? Just tell parents not to put their kids on their shoulders. Get the kid down, get the kid. And all of a sudden they're flat on this concrete with two of the greatest Samoans to ever compete in this great sport. On top of them, it's not good news. No. If you're a security guard, I mean, I don't know, maybe they get time and a half. I don't know how that all works out.

[Megan Moran]

They do.

[Sam Roberts]

And on a Sunday of old days, you know, there's so many things to do in Turin. Not getting steamrolled by Samoans. That's. That's the bottom of the list. I mean, they were fighting, you know, I don't know who's going to foot the bill. At one point, they were in the concessions. It looked like spring stampede or uncensored 94 between Harlem Heat and the nasty boys. For a second, like, they were out in the concessions. I don't remember which show it was. They were in the concessions, and Roman was just throwing snacks out to the crowd.

[Megan Moran]

He's putting food in people's mouths. Putting food on people's tables.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. He's like bringing.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, there wasn't like, theoretically a table, but you get the point. That's what our tribal chief does.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, yeah. You catch the food you put on the table when you get home. Absolutely. Out in the crowd on those stairs. Such a unique looking arena as well,

[Megan Moran]

with those massive staircases.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, absolutely. That. Yeah. Roman and Jacob decided to go up. I mean, Roman pulling out all those superman punches and Jacob just whatever. Whatever adrenaline courses through that dude's body, whatever just gets him to defy what puts down. It really is like a rabid animal.

[Megan Moran]

I was wincing in pain when Roman pulled out the toolbox and just kept going to Jacob's hand because Roman couldn't stop the Tongan death grip. So he said, I'm just going to destroy Jacob Fatu's hand.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I'm gonna cremate this hand.

[Megan Moran]

That's exactly what he did with the toolbox.

[Sam Roberts]

And it was effective.

[Megan Moran]

Over and over again. And then took the steel steps and did it once more.

[Sam Roberts]

Right, right. It was effective. I mean, listen, maybe they start using plastic toolboxes or something like that. These toolboxes are not. You know what I mean? Use some kind of, like, rubbermaid or something like that to put the two. Maybe like a. Like a very strong tubberware or something like that. Yeah, something like that, you know, but unfortunately not in Italy and not tonight. You know, as his hand just got shattered under there. I mean, it was. It was an incredible, incredible thing to see. I thought that seeing Roman and again, almost going through like, a greatest hits scenario, like understanding that this Roman is so different from the Roman that started the bloodline in 2020. But realistically, all of those things put together are what creates who you are today.

[Megan Moran]

Are you talking about the low blow?

[Sam Roberts]

It's my favorite kick out of all time. When? The first time I saw it, maybe that was when I really realized I'm bloodline for life the first time I saw it. Because I believe he might have used that low blow kick out as early as in his matches with Jey Uso back in 2020. But, like, it's the most genius thing I've ever seen. And I don't remember seeing it before Roman was doing it. And it's just amazing.

[Megan Moran]

Not only am I going to kick out, but I'm going to make sure you feel that one.

[Sol Ruka]

Ye.

[Sam Roberts]

And it's like you can't call me on the low blow or just kick it out. Boom.

[Megan Moran]

Oops.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. I thought it was genius and we haven't seen it in a very long time.

[Megan Moran]

It's a low blow that you have to kind of tip your cap to and respect it.

[Sam Roberts]

You have to. And it's just about knowing it's innovative. It's innovative, crafty, knowing your surroundings. It's slick is what it is. It's very, very slick. I think. I think. Yeah. I mean, Jacob getting speared at the end or Superman punch or whatever it was, and then getting right up only to get caught again. It really is. It's like when. When you see an animal get hit with a tranquilizer dart, but it keeps coming and you're like, oh, no, I'm cooked. And thank God, right before it sinks its teeth in you, that tranquilizer finally takes effect. But it's that moment between the dart hitting and the thing taking effect. That period of time, I feel like that's where Jacob lives.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah. Because, I mean, he is this Samoan werewolf with a broken hand. Right. I assume. Looked like it had to be broken.

[Sol Ruka]

Pretty messed up.

[Megan Moran]

So many toolboxes to it. He's still going for that tongue and death grip. I mean, Jacob could not be. I mean, at least like Roman ultimately was the one who walked away victorious. Jacob kept fighting and fighting and fighting no matter what.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you think that Roman can stand on this now? Right. We've now seen the end of the. I would presume the end of this, you know, series of two matches with Jacob Fetu.

[Megan Moran]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

We watched him beat CM Punk for the championship at WrestleMania.

[Megan Moran]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

Do you think we can sit there and end the conversation about Roman always needed help? Roman always Needs help. Roman needs to win by interference. Roman needs to do this. Roman needs to do that. Is that conversation done?

[Megan Moran]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay. We've also seen Roman nonstop since before

[Megan Moran]

wrestlemania, the vacation conversation.

[Sam Roberts]

Can that stop?

[Megan Moran]

That? That can stop.

[Sam Roberts]

That's. But that's Roman, right? That's how dangerous it is. Like. Like the only things you could hold against him were always completely in his control. I'm choosing to take days off. I'm choosing for interference. The minute that I stop, what are you gonna say then? What are you gonna say about me now?

[Megan Moran]

And you're like, people really have to grasp at the straws.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. Because then you're like, oh, no, there's nothing. He really was. He was just giving this to us. He's decided, and now I take it away. Yeah. I can't wait to see how this is dealt with on Monday night Raw tomorrow.

[Megan Moran]

I know you said going in you were. I'll support whoever is the tribal chief, but let's be real. You were rooting for Roman, right?

[Sam Roberts]

I was rooting for the tribal chief. That's who I'm always rooting for. And my loyalty as the real honorary OOs, as was declared by Jacob Fatu, who absolutely has the power to declare that as an honorary oos, I would absolutely follow the rules of tribal combat. That's what it is. I love my tribal chief. I love Jacob. I love Jimmy and Jay. I love you solo. I'm very fond of the Tongans as well, quite frankly.

[Megan Moran]

Very nice political answer by you, Sam Roberts. Very nice. It wasn't political.

[Sam Roberts]

It wasn't political. It was right. Listen, you know, recently on Raw recap and on WrestleMania recap, if I'm not mistaken.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, yeah, that's great.

[Sam Roberts]

We celebrated the juice breaks that you guys take every day. You know, everybody needs a little juice break. We talked about the trade offs, the sleep you give up, the social awkwardness that you endure and the grind that you push through just to get those small victories.

[Megan Moran]

But tonight, the stakes are on a different level. Where? At clash in Italy, where the trade offs aren't just about laundry or meetings. They're about legacy. On the grandest stage of them all. Every superstar has to decide what they're willing to sacrifice to bring the juice and walk out a champion.

[Sam Roberts]

I'm sorry. I was just taking a juice break. I just.

[Grainger Announcer]

Let me.

[Sam Roberts]

Let me. Let me. Let me get back to. I was bringing the juice for a moment. Let me. If I could stop myself from bringing the juice. I will tell you. Like Cody Rhodes, for example, right? Cody. He was putting it all on the line again to remain the undisputed champion. He knows the trade off of risking his title to continue to solidify his era. He didn't tap out on his vision. No. He said, and this is what he said, I'm gonna bring the juice. And that is a win worth cheering for.

[Megan Moran]

Exactly. Or in the match tonight between Rio Ripley and Jade Cargill. For a while there, it looked like it was total Jade Cargill domination.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, she was bringing the juice for a little bit.

[Megan Moran]

She was, yeah. But not on Rhea Ripley's watch. Rhea Ripley can not tap out to the Juice. Whether it's a superstar in the ring or you navigating a chaotic Monday morning, Minute Maid and WWE are the ultimate tag team partners.

[Sam Roberts]

It's amazing that that Rhea Ripley was able to bring the juice without taking a juice break at all.

[Megan Moran]

No break.

[Sam Roberts]

She's incredible. We celebrate all of those choices. We celebrate the trade off and most importantly, we celebrate the boost of positivity that keeps you in the fight.

[Megan Moran]

So remember, when life tries to put you in a submission hole, don't tap out.

[Sam Roberts]

Never tap out on taste. Bring the juice.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, that was nailed, that one.

[Sam Roberts]

I figured if I did it quicker, it would be tougher for you to do it in unison. That was not helpful.

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[Sam Roberts]

But I will say that's a good one.

[Megan Moran]

I'm just glad you didn't get embarrassed this time.

[Sam Roberts]

Why would I get embarrassed? Oh, well, I bring stuff up. You know, we had a huge rematch on Clash in Italy tonight. Brock Lesnar versus Oba Femi. And the question was asked by Brock Lesnar, can overtake an ass whooping? That's what Brock Lesnar asked. Brock Lesnar said he took one. He took one so much that his emotions took over and he got. He was feeling it in the moment, and he decided to leave his boots in the ring after Obafemi took him out. However career he did, he did. And then he changed his mind, held

[Megan Moran]

up the X and everything.

[Sam Roberts]

He did, he did. And he was in his socks. He changed his mind. And it's like, I love that thing. Like, first of all, we're acting like there's never been a wrestler that changed his mind before on retirement. Like, John Cena is literally the only wrestler that's ever actually retired. And I guess aj, the only wrestlers that have ever retired, got retired by Gunther. Everybody else comes back for at least something.

[Megan Moran]

It's crazy.

[Sam Roberts]

But Brock Lesnar coming back and that statistic that Michael Cole gave us, that it's been 24 years since Brock Lesnar wrestled in Europe. I mean, that's. And it's not shocking because of that, that when that music hit, that ovation was so loud for him.

[Megan Moran]

Well, it's also. We talked about this, you know, heading into, Heading into this Brock Obama. A lot of people said, if that's it for Brock Lesnar, if WrestleMania was his retirement moment, I'm at peace with how Brock retired. I think it was absolutely done perfect. And I think that adds something extra as well. So, yeah, it was 24 years, but this is a guy just six weeks ago, you thought maybe you were never going to get to see make an entrance again.

[Sam Roberts]

That's true. Everybody there was like, we've never seen him live, and we're never going to see him live because he retired at WrestleMania. Paul Heyman made them take him out of the now and put him in the forever on the cold open. Like, it's pretty significant. But Brock. I loved the aggression in Brock Lesnar tonight. He attacks Obafemi before the bell rings and then hits him with 4F5. And then Obafemi kicks out.

[Megan Moran]

I thought that was it.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I really did. I was like, oh, we're going back to. We're going back to rare form with Brock Lesnar. You know, we're going back to the, to, to. To the smackdown Fox premiere. I think it was with Brock Lesnar, where he's just, just, just annihilating people within seconds.

[Megan Moran]

And you talk about the ovation for Brock Lesnar, but I have to point out that the cameras were literally shaking

[Sam Roberts]

during Oba's entrance, shaking Sam and they all in unison. But, you know, it didn't help. It didn't help when Oba was eating those four F5s. But he kicks out and then you hear Paul Heyman on the outside of the ring. Yeah. Like, kamora, kamora. Put him in the kamora. So he's like, okay. And he put him in the kimura. But watching obafemi, and this is why I tell you, other than pro wrestling, shot put is the greatest sport in the world. Like, who can throw the furthest is always going to be the most impressive thing that anybody could do. Or, you know, running the most is also. Honestly, it is also on that sort of bare bones, basic human essentials.

[Megan Moran]

Thank you.

[Sam Roberts]

So I respect it. But throwing the furthest, it's like, way cooler. I mean, it goes back to your

[Megan Moran]

roots, and it's more exciting to watch.

[Sam Roberts]

When you're a kid, you go, like, how do you know who's stronger? Well, he threw way further. Okay, yeah, that's it.

[Megan Moran]

I'm throwing. I'll do it right now.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, there's a kid in my neighborhood who could throw all the way down the street. No.

[Megan Moran]

And the thing about Brock, though, when he has this kimura locked in, is he somebody you go, oh, he actually will break Oba's arm.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. Remember he broke Cody's arm? He broke Sean Michael's arm. So he's got that kimora locked in. Except over his arm is hard to break because it's like a. It's a beefy arm.

[Megan Moran]

You know, it's the size of most people's entire body.

[Sam Roberts]

That's right. That's right. I mean, I took that picture with. With oba, Saturday night's main event, and it really did look like, oh, that's one of his limbs.

[Megan Moran]

You were like, I can't wear that tank top today. Gotta wear the flannel.

[Sam Roberts]

That's what it was. But you see the look on Brock Lesnar's face when oboe one handed is using. And it's. It's. It's not only those, Those shoulders, those shot put in shoulders, but just those insane quads, those insane legs that Obafemi has on him that allows him to. While Brock is wrapped on him, putting on that Camorra lift. Brock Lesnar. Brock Lesnar up in the air and slam him down. Surviving the Camorra. I mean, insane. An insane visual. Then we get a fifth F5. We get a sixth F5 outside the ring, through a table. And I was going, oh, man. I got to be honest. I go, I go, I'm not trying to see this ending. A count out. Are we doing a count out right now? I mean, I guess that would mean that Brock went, But are we really

[Megan Moran]

doing a Countdown, half a dozen F5s.

[Sam Roberts]

How does anybody get up through a table, Right?

[Megan Moran]

Yes.

[Sam Roberts]

And I was like, okay, I guess we're going to do a count out, like, whatever.

[Megan Moran]

Well, when it didn't end after the fourth F5, I said, it's definitely right here, the count out. That's where it's happening.

[Sam Roberts]

And then the referee gets to like seven or eight and Opa just pops up like Michael Myers. I was like, what? And he gets back in the ring. They go back and forth. But ultimately he had Brock up for the power bomb. Brock was able to get out of

[Megan Moran]

it, which is amazing that he has Brock Lesnar, of all people, up for the power bomb after his arm was locked in the Kimura.

[Sam Roberts]

Absolutely, absolutely.

[Megan Moran]

Like, that arm was beaten and damaged,

[Sam Roberts]

but Brock gets out of it, hits that seventh F5. 1, 2, 3. Obafemi suffers his first pinfall loss on the main roster. Brock Lesnar beats Oba Femi. It was definitely something that I think people realized was a possibility. I think there were a lot of people that were ready for Oba to have a Goldberg, like, streak where he just beats everybody for a while and then becomes the champion. It was literally that old story. I got an idea. How about I beat everybody and then I get the belt? That was Oba. That was the plan. You know what I mean? That's where we saw it going.

[Megan Moran]

And with someone like Oba, you go, okay, exactly.

[Sam Roberts]

That's what I want to see. That sounds great. I buy a ticket for that.

[Megan Moran]

Of course.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. But Brock goes, no, I don't think it's going to be that easy. Brock Lesnar beating Obafemi. So we talked about, like, turning on Raw tomorrow and, you know, seeing what's going on with the bloodline, what do you think Oba is going to have to say? Like, how does Oba readdress kind of the WWE and the fans and the locker room with us now seeing, like, the idea that Oba Femi is unbeatable has proven to be a fallacy.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah. Just by, you know, the most accomplished man in all of combat sports, Brock Lesnar. Right. I mean, I think the biggest question heading into this was, can Oba respond to an ass beating? And I think despite not coming away with the win, to me, Oba showed that he can respond to it by getting pinned. He did get pinned, but, I mean, Sam, there was multiple situations where you said, oh, call the match right now.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, but then there was fourth F5.

[Megan Moran]

There was, oh, now the six F5 through the announce table just end it right here in the.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, but then there was one where I was like, yeah, end it right here. And they did, and it was Oba losing and Brock winning. Oh, if Oba comes. If Oba shows up and goes like, well, hey, I hung in there pretty good, huh, guys? Get out of here, Oba. What are you talking about? Tell your story walking, Oba, that doesn't work for me. I mean, this is. This is not one of those things. If we're going to put Oba on a pedestal for the wins, then we got to keep that same energy on the losses. And I'm not saying that. I'm not saying Oba doesn't deserve any credit because Oba was incredible tonight. But that's kind of Oba's thing being incredible. And he lost. So the question is not how did he survive in that match. The question is how does he face us? How does he face the show? How does he face Paul Heyman? Knowing that we have seen him lose? It's a different thing. That is what I want to know.

[Megan Moran]

We've never seen Oba coming off a loss.

[Sam Roberts]

Right, Right. Opus said he was going to kill Brock Lesnar. That's what he said. I'm not coming to be. I'm coming to kill you.

[Megan Moran]

Definitely didn't kill him.

[Sam Roberts]

Brock Lesnar's alive. Brock Lesnar hit him with the 1 and 1. Right. So he said, we're evening out. He was sitting there smiling right at him. Brock felt good about himself. One plus one, he said, standing in the aisle way, looking at Oba, realizing that he had. Whether it was just coming at him with that level of aggression, whatever it is, he had cracked a code and that he had won. You know what I would do if I was Brock Lesnar now? I retire. I would retire now. Maybe that's. I don't know, maybe that's just the type of person that I am. But I feel like if I didn't feel that great after retiring, after the loss, I would definitely. I'd retire.

[Megan Moran]

Retire now, retire on the way and go out on top.

[Sam Roberts]

You know what I mean? Yeah, it was a pretty great win, too. Amazing win, you know, And I saw there were a lot of people on my. On my discord that were like, I didn't think the match was going to go that long. Like, this is. This is a pretty impressive victory. Seven F fives, too. Okay. You know, let Oba build back up. In the meantime, I'll be in Saskatchewan.

[Megan Moran]

How does it get better than that from Brock Plesner?

[Sam Roberts]

You know, yeah. Yeah. Now, I don't know if that Brock Lesnar will actually do that, but I think it would. I think. I would imagine it's going to be tougher to get Brock Lesnar to come back. I mean, I think that Brock is back in the position where he doesn't have anything to prove.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, there was a moment during the match where Brock Lesnar had that look in his eye that we saw on the way to WrestleMania, and it was when Obafemi, after getting fied through the announce table and everybody, you and me included, thought that oboe was done, finished, and getting counted out. And when he sprung up and got into the ring, the look in Brock Lesnar's eye.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

Expressed fear for a slight moment. Yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

And then he pinned him.

[Megan Moran]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

So, I mean, it doesn't. You know what I mean? He could. He could be expressing whatever he wants. He won. You know, you. You can't sit there and go like, well, you know, if you're. If you're the Cleveland Cavs, you. I mean, I guess they didn't have any good quarters the whole series, but if they had. Let's say, you. If it's a basketball game, you can't go like, yeah, but we really dominated you in the first quarter. Oh, good for you. Yeah. You know. You know, I don't. I don't think carries that weight. I think oba's got to rebuild. But if I'm Oba, I'm going to try to get my dub back.

[Megan Moran]

You're coming for Brock. But if you're Brock. Are you. Are you taking that on?

[Sam Roberts]

No.

[Megan Moran]

Are you taking over on if you're Brock?

[Sam Roberts]

No. Nope.

[Megan Moran]

After what happened at WrestleMania, I put you away now.

[Sam Roberts]

No. After what happened in Italy, I'm done with you. I'm done. I did it. I did it. Like, if I won the lottery, I'm not playing anymore.

[Megan Moran]

That's it.

[Sam Roberts]

I'm not spending my lotto winnings on more tickets. That's not the type of guy I am. A lot of people will get the

[Megan Moran]

scratch off, and Paul Heyman is a pretty smart guy.

[Sam Roberts]

Pretty smart guy.

[Megan Moran]

You think he's gonna let Brock walk into another mat?

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, you ever meet a guy who wins $100 on a scratch off and then buys a hundred scratch offs? What are we doing, guy? We were ahead. We beat the house already. What are we doing? I guess we'll see. I do wanna tell you that the action may be over in terms of in the ring, but the superstars. The superstars are still bringing the heat. You can relive the biggest moments from WWE Clash in Italy and shop official Superstar tees from your favorite competitors now at WWE Shop and Fanatics. All the Oba stuff, all the Roman stuff, everything you need or and you can bring home a piece of history. You can celebrate WWE Clash in Italy with the official replica championship belt crafted for the most passionate members of the WWE Universe. Get yours now at WWE Shop and Fanatics.

[Megan Moran]

I like that you said or and cause or was a little negative.

[Sam Roberts]

You can also and and might as well get while you got it. You got yourself a nice new shirt. Get yourself a championship. Feel like a real winner. Speaking of champions and winners, we got a new Intercontinental Champion beautiful moment tonight at Clash in Italy. And I believe on that note, we have our first guest. Please welcome the new Women's Intercontinental Champion. Saul Ruka is here. Saul, is that the first time that you've been officially introduced as the Women's Intercontinental Champion?

[Sol Ruka]

Yes, it is. It sounds like it belongs there.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, have you taken a beat? Like this has been a whirlwind for you? I feel like it was what, six weeks ago? It was. It was the Monday after WrestleMania. The last time we spoke and you were literally looking at us and saying, yeah, I don't know. They just told me they needed me for Raw. I don't know what this means for next week. I don't. I don't know what brand I'm on at the moment. And since then you've been in the ring with some of the best women on the roster. You're a RAW Superstar now. You're in Italy on a five match ple wrestling and beating Becky lynch and becoming the Intercontinental Champion. How are you?

[Sol Ruka]

I am a mess in a good way, though. I'm just like emotional mess, physically. A mess in the best way possible. You know, I had a moment as soon as the bell rang, as soon as I hit my finish on Becky where I just kind of got a little bit emotional, was a bit just like shocked and just like, oh my God, like, I did it. Like, this is my, like, defining moment. This is the start of, you know, my, my next chapter, in a sense. And yeah, just the overwhelming love and acceptance from the fans tonight was absolutely incredible. Especially being so far away from home, like knowing that these people know who I am, care about me, care about my story, care about what I do. It's just absolutely incredible. I still feel like I have a lot more things to just like decompress and feel out, but it has been like Go, go, go. Ever since I got back from the curtain. But, yeah, I'm feeling good.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean. I mean, congratulations would certainly be an understatement for you. Do you feel. Did you think about this when you were in nxt for as long as you were in nxt, I'm sure, you know, everybody there has this goal. Everybody there wants to be in the position that you're in right now. Did you. Did you think about that and what it would feel like and what it would look like while you were down there? And is it the same? Is it. Is it different? Are there. Are there surprises?

[Sol Ruka]

So I feel like I would try not to get, like, I guess, like, my hopes up or try and I guess, like, daydream about it too much because this world, this universe is so, like, it changes so frequently. You know, things happen, injuries happen. It just changes so much that it's hard to really have, like, a set idea of what it's going to look like when you get called up. And I kind of made it my goal to just take it day by day, step by step. And, you know, whenever they think I'm ready, that means that I'm ready. Instead of being, like, anticipating, like, oh, I want to be up on the main roster by this time, or, oh, I want to, you know, only be in NXT for this long. I kind of just, like, took in as much as I could in nxt, and then once I got the call up, I was like, okay, this means that I am ready. And I kind of took that and ran with it.

[Megan Moran]

Congratulations, Soul, on becoming the Intercontinental Champion. I know, you know, Sam has said a lot of loving things about you. I'm very happy to see that your main roster. Your main roster time is just, you know, you've. You've skyrocketed. But I do have to ask about the match tonight and your thoughts on the officiating, because there were a few moments that got a little questionable out there for both you and Becky. I mean, Jessica Carr did knock you. You off the top rope.

[Sol Ruka]

Yes. You know, this is, you know, something that Becky typically tends to do. She'll do whatever it takes, whatever means necessary to, you know, get that. That victory. We saw that happen where she, you know, pushed Jessica Carr into my finish. Luckily, I had a glimpse of her as soon as I went up and was able to not flip all the way through. I ended up still hitting her, but it was just like, damn, like, she's really willing to do whatever it takes to. To keep this. And, you know, I kind of knew something like that was going today. Unfortunately, it did. She did, you know, give me that superplex on the top, but I eventually, you know, countered it. There was some other moments with a roll up where she pushed Jessica the car out to the outside. I ended up backfiring on her. But, you know, that's just the name of the game and you just have to be ready for anything.

[Sam Roberts]

Did you feel like. I mean, I feel like. Like this was a huge moment for you for a lot of reasons. But I also. And you can kind of hear it in Megan's tone a little bit with the way that question was worded in. In a more hostile than I would have thought. But it feels like, and this is my observation, that when you were in NXT and even before that, as you were coming up, there was a lot of rooting for Soul. Rooting for Soul, rooting for Soul. And it feels like ever since you've been on the main roster, there are a lot of people that are kind of watching your every move, ready to pounce on anything that might go even slightly wrong and go, oh, what about this? What about that? It feels like the. The level of hypercriticism has gone up. Is that something that you have to kind of actively just push out to. To make sure you have a performance like you did tonight?

[Sol Ruka]

Yeah, 100. I mean, even in NXT, we get people that are, you know, watching every move and we get people that are, you know, leaving hate comments and all this negativity. And, you know, essentially being up on the main roster, you have more eyes, which means more hate, but also means more love. So it is something that I've had to kind of navigate because I wasn't really. It wasn't something that I thought of when I got signed that it was going to be like, oh, this means that there's going to be more eyes or more people, you know, trying to nitpick everything. But at the end of the day, especially with people on social media, that's such a small percentage of our fan base. And as long as the crowd in person is happy and, you know, everyone backstage is happy with what I do, then that's fine with me.

[Sam Roberts]

How does it feel to know that not only are you the intercontinental champion, but the way you got that title was by beating Becky lynch for it. It's not to take anything away from anybody else, but Becky lynch is. Is somebody who I think has not only defined that intercontinental championship, but is one of the original four horsewomen, is one of the. The pillars of what this division is, and, and. And I. And I feel like one of those kind of models that this whole thing, she. She was among those first women that it said, okay, this is. This is the process. This is what we do. This is the beginning of what this evolution is. For you to have beaten Becky for the intercontinental title, does it make it that much sweeter?

[Sol Ruka]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, yes. She pretty much, like, founded what we see today within women's wrestling, and she's, you know, absolutely incredible. And I totally get her perspective of, like, you know, these newcomers coming in and, like, getting these opportunities where she's been doing this and been putting in the work and whatnot. But, you know, times are changing with how NXT is bringing up people, and, I mean, she is one of the greatest, and I'm honored to be in the ring with her. I have, you know, no hard feelings towards her. I know she was a bit hostile towards me, but, I mean, I get it. She's got her own perspective, and that's totally fine. But at the end of the day, I came out victorious, and I'm thankful that she even agreed to have this. This match with me. Somewhat agreed. I mean, there was a little bit of pushback from her, but essentially we got the match, so I'm thankful for that.

[Megan Moran]

So there was a lot of people questioning, not just Becky, but a lot of the fans as well, questioning if you were ready for this moment. Your first ple in Europe, your first. You know, there's five matches on the show, and you're in one of them for the Intercontinental Championship. Do you think tonight, your performance, not only did you prove that you're ready, but that this is just the beginning?

[Sol Ruka]

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I definitely heard people saying that stuff. You know, Becky made sure to tell me that she thought I wasn't ready, and it definitely for sure got to me a little bit. But, you know, again, at the end of the day, I'm here for a reason, and I trust myself. I trust the process that I was brought up in, and I just, you know, had to lock in and just do my best and see what happens and, you know, proved everyone wrong that I am ready and I'm your new Women's Intercontinental Champion.

[Megan Moran]

It did get you for a second. So were you nervous out there?

[Sol Ruka]

Oh, absolutely, totally. I mean, I try. I try not to get nervous up until I'm backstage about to go out, and then as soon as my music hits, my nerves kind of go away because, you know, it's go time. I have, you know, no time to be nervous. But with how the arena is, that ramp is so long, and you're standing out there and watching Becky come out, watching her take her time all the way down, I'm like, all right, getting a little nervous now, but, you know, as soon as the bell rings, it's go time.

[Sam Roberts]

So, I mean, I. Is. Do you feel like the more things go right in a match like that, the kind of easier it gets to get to the next thing? Like, for example, there was so much going on, and there were so many moments throughout that match that I think people are going to have to go back and. And kind of look through. But, I mean, I'm thinking about that moment where you had to. You had to hook your legs into the top rope while you dangled on the outside and kind of crunch up so Becky could hit the. And then Becky hits the post. I mean, in order for that to be effective, there are so many tiny little steps that would have to go right just to make this one moment. When is that how your brain works with it? Do you go like, okay, that worked. Now I got the confidence to move on to the next thing. To move on to the next thing, or are you just truly in the moment?

[Sol Ruka]

Absolutely. I think especially, like, the first thing in the match, I feel like once I do, like, the first bump or the first, you know, if I'm on top, the first clothesline, whatever it is, once that happens, I'm like, okay, I got this. Like, we're in it. It's go time. And then from then on, I try and just, yeah, like, be in the moment as much as I can. I mean, I do still, you know, have those moments of hesitation or, you know, getting nervous, but essentially, yeah, the first. The first thing, once that's out of the way, it's go time. Same with, like, promos. As soon as I say the first line, I'm chilling.

[Sam Roberts]

It's probably. Probably too early to even ask, but have you thought at all about what you want the Intercontinental Championship to look like with it around your waist? What do you want this reign to kind of look like with you as champion?

[Sol Ruka]

I mean, I definitely want to be a fighting champion. I want to defend this thing as many times as I physically possibly can. You know, I was a double champion on NXT with the Women's Speed Championship and the North American Championship, and I feel like my reigns were not up to par with how I feel like I can be a champion. So I'm wanting to kind of prove myself a little bit more as a champion this time. I want to, you know, give championship opportunities to literally whoever comes and whoever's ready. I don't want to be the person that doesn't, you know, that says, like, you're not ready to be here. Shots at Becky lynch for, you know, doing that to me. But, you know, I want to be the person that's, you know, open and, you know, potentially bringing some girls from NXT to defend this title.

[Sam Roberts]

I love it. I love it. Well, Soul, I mean, I. Congratulations again. What a night. What an amazing moment for you. I hope you, you. You soak it all in and take a moment to reflect on tonight and the last several weeks and. And because, you know, tomorrow is Monday night Raw and everything is going to be move, move, move after that. So congrats. Thank you so much.

[Megan Moran]

Thank you, Saul.

[Sol Ruka]

Thank you, guys.

[Sam Roberts]

Big thanks to the new intercontinental champion, Sol Ruka. Clash in Italy. You know, that's where she won the title. Clash in Italy brings WWE spectacle to the heart of Torino with one of the boldest and most visually ambitious Slam releases ever created. Inspired by the grandeur, fashion, art, architecture, and energy of Italy, this box features an unforgettable lineup of cards such as Renaissance Base Marble, Signature postcards from Italy, Grapplers of Wrath, and much more. Clash in Italy blends WWE intensity with timeless European style for a truly one of a kind collecting experience. Start collecting these cards and more in WWE Slam by tops now. How you doing?

[Megan Moran]

There's an officiating problem with in the wwe.

[Sam Roberts]

What? They're so distracting that champions can't concentrate on their matches.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, just Kakar getting out of the ring.

[Sam Roberts]

Kakar, Kakar, Kakar, Kakar.

[Megan Moran]

I'm just filled with so many emotions.

[Sam Roberts]

Go ahead.

[Megan Moran]

Just bothers me. She's there to do her job, right? She goes to get out of harm's way to look out for who? Number one, herself. Becky had Soul pinned for. I was counting. It was at least five seconds on my count.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, well, you.

[Megan Moran]

But Jessica couldn't get in there. And then for Sol to even say, hey, I think the officiating was okay. Like, Sol was impacted by it as well.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, she won, so obviously she was won.

[Megan Moran]

But she was impacted. She was on top of the rope. And then because Jessica hit the ropes, it knocked Soul off.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, Becky put her hands on an

[Megan Moran]

official, but who knocked her off?

[Sam Roberts]

Becky. By using Jessica Carr's body.

[Megan Moran]

I didn't see that. I didn't see the Becky.

[Sam Roberts]

That'd be like if I threw this water bottle at the rope and I Was like, I can't believe that water.

[Megan Moran]

I didn't see Becky. I didn't see her do that.

[Sam Roberts]

Also, if Jessica Carr had just stayed still, she would have gotten knocked down and wouldn't have been able to count at all.

[Megan Moran]

Get in the right spot. Isn't that part of the job?

[Sam Roberts]

I suppose. But I mean. I mean, to get out of that spot is necessary.

[Megan Moran]

I don't know. It just seems like these types of things only happen to Jessica Carr.

[Sam Roberts]

Why is it that Becky decided to literally start the match arguing with Jessica Carr?

[Megan Moran]

Because it's like, for Christ's sakes, how many times is this woman going to interfere in my matches? And again, she didn't.

[Sam Roberts]

The match literally had just started.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah, but there's a history there. We all know that there's a history.

[Sol Ruka]

Oh.

[Sam Roberts]

And she thought the best way to avoid that would be to go like, okay, let me start a conflict immediately.

[Megan Moran]

Well, let me get in your face and lay down the law and let you know what tonight's gonna be like.

[Sam Roberts]

And you're gonna do it to the official.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah. She's got to explain it to her.

[Sam Roberts]

What would happen in any sport if you did that to the referee or umpire?

[Megan Moran]

They have a history, right? They have a history. Everybody knows it.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

A lot of people have been in Becky's situation across all sports. When you get to the level where you're considered the greatest of all time. And it's not just me saying it.

[Sam Roberts]

Who else?

[Megan Moran]

Other people are saying it.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, right.

[Megan Moran]

Sports Illustrated says it.

[Sam Roberts]

Really?

[Megan Moran]

The BLE report says it. But when you get to that level, when you're considered the goat, a lot of times you get calls.

[Sam Roberts]

They consider her the goat.

[Megan Moran]

You get calls. Patrick Mahomes, he always gets calls. Right?

[Sam Roberts]

Right.

[Megan Moran]

Becky doesn't. The cookie doesn't crumble that way.

[Sam Roberts]

That's. That's the old. The old saying.

[Megan Moran]

It doesn't crumble.

[Sam Roberts]

Doesn't crumble that way.

[Megan Moran]

So when all is said and done, we're going to remember that Becky had to do it the hard way.

[Sam Roberts]

Do what? Lose.

[Megan Moran]

Come on.

[Sam Roberts]

Oh, sorry. Sorry.

[Megan Moran]

You lost tonight.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I know. I saw it. Saw Ruka won the intercontinental championship. Was great.

[Megan Moran]

I don't know about grade. We'll see. We'll see.

[Sam Roberts]

Awesome.

[Megan Moran]

You're already saying it's great.

[Sam Roberts]

We'll see Soul Snatcher. Boom. Later out something fierce.

[Megan Moran]

It's just disappointing that after all this, we're. We're talking about the officials.

[Sam Roberts]

You are. I'm not.

[Megan Moran]

It's the story.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, I mean, you literally we had the champion on the show, and you were talking about the officiating.

[Megan Moran]

Soul was impacted by it.

[Sam Roberts]

She knocked off the top, but you're

[Megan Moran]

the one who's knocked off the top rope.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, I tell you, Terrible. I will.

[Megan Moran]

It could have been dangerous, too. Thankfully, nobody got hurt.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, Becky got hurt enough that she was down for the three count. That was Solvo that did that. Soul Snatcher doesn't feel good. Ask Becky next time you talk to her. I will say, speaking of not feeling good, I would imagine physically not great. Emotionally, probably awesome. Last night on Noche de Los Grandes, I mean, if you. I would just say this. If anybody listening or watching has not seen no Te de los Grande, the AAA show that went down on Saturday night, Do everything in your power. It's on YouTube. Watch it. Grande Americano versus original Grande Americano was maybe the. My favorite match I've seen all year. It was so incredible. Such incredible storytelling throughout. Just. Just such passion. The audience in Monterey was. Was unbelievable. And in the end, seeing OG Americano forced to be unmasked, revealing, of course, Chad Gable was under there, but both of them, you know, as I believe Rey Mysterio said, it's not mascara. Contra mascara. Sin Sangre. Blood, tears, sweat, Violence. Comedians love Love with Andrea Bazarte. Oh, my God. Everything about it, so Pimpinella. Everything about it was so great. So, I mean, did you feel the same way?

[Megan Moran]

I loved every second.

[Sam Roberts]

It was amazing.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, my favorite match maybe ever.

[Sam Roberts]

It was everything that makes wrestling awesome, especially. And. And I'll find a podcast where I can, like, spend real time. But, like, even considering where El Grande Americano started as kind of a character and then where the new Grande Americano went and, like, how this evolved into one of the great wrestling stories of the year is that has the entire audience of. Of AAA just transfixed.

[Megan Moran]

Mexico is captivated by El Grande Americano. Yeah, there were murals of this guy, of course.

[Sam Roberts]

Of course. Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

It's amazing. From the entrances to the unmasking and everything in between. Fantastic.

[Sam Roberts]

Unbelievable. Make sure that you guys go out and see it. Speaking of officials, I think we could both agree that Dan Angler blew it tonight.

[Megan Moran]

Of course.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, Like, Dan Engler really blew it. Blew it in the. In the WWE Championship match between Cody and Gunther. And we were talking all week about, like, this is a something's got to give scenario. I can't picture Cody, the great hero of all heroes, losing the WWE Championship after beating Randy Orton at WrestleMania. But I can't picture Gunther after Everything that he's done. Losing this match at Clash in Italy, then Dan Angler was there to blow it.

[Megan Moran]

And we saw it right away. We said, his foot's out. His foot's out.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah. So, I mean, it was a great match, seeing them both just, like, leave it all out there. I mean, at one point, you know,

[Megan Moran]

home game for Cody, we didn't know.

[Sam Roberts]

No, no, no, no, no, no.

[Megan Moran]

Heading into this match, that was the big question, Especially because it's in Italy. Guenther's from Austria. People in Europe love to see Gunter.

[Sam Roberts]

And I found that they were happy to see Gunther. They were thrilled to see Cody Rhodes.

[Megan Moran]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

They were singing his song. They were cheering for him. They were buying what Cody was selling, and I love to see that. We saw Cody kick out of the powerbomb. We saw Gunther kick out of a crossroads. We saw Cody have to survive that sleeper hold.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, the sleeper holds were just. I mean, there was a moment during the match where no matter what Cody did to escape a sleeper hold by Gunter, Gunter just had another one.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes, exactly.

[Megan Moran]

And another one ready for him.

[Sam Roberts]

Exactly. Right? I mean, yeah, there was that one moment where he completely broke it. And then Gunther just, like, sat right up, like, almost snapped up and just locked Cody again.

[Sol Ruka]

Again.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, it was. It was. And you could see, too, at points in the match when that sleeper hold would get broken, not just the energy that was getting zapped out of Cody's body, but the energy that was getting zapped out of Gunther's body as well, that he was putting every bit of force that he could into that lock. So it was really, really great. And then we see Cody hit a crossroads. He goes for the COVID Gunther's foot is clearly outside the ropes. One, two, three. Cody wins. I cannot for the life of me imagine that, that this was the way Cody would want to win a WWE Championship. I mean, look, I. Like, his knee is barely in the ring.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, Cody's such an honorable man and really takes pride in doing things the right way. I mean, you even see when he's making his way to the ring, stopping to shake everybody's hand. I mean, Cody wants to have a win that's honorable.

[Sam Roberts]

I mean, forget about honorable. There may be more of Gunther's body outside the ring than inside the ring. Looking at this visual, it's insane.

[Megan Moran]

Gunter cannot be happy with what transpired in Italy. And Cody probably isn't so happy to call that a win.

[Sam Roberts]

No, I wouldn't imagine. I know that he did apparently go on the post show and say that he would give Gunther a rematch anytime Gunther wanted it, which I think is definitely called for. I don't think that that's one of those things. I know that the. The sort of automatic. The days of the automatic rematch are gone, but I would say that this one for sure calls for a rematch. It's something that I want to see because I want to. I. At this point, when you have a WWE where you have all these entities now that coexist, right there are all these forces. We saw it with Jacob and Roman. Both forces have to exist. We have to find out who's better.

[Megan Moran]

We saw it with Brock and Oba.

[Sam Roberts]

Brock and Oba. I would put Cody and Gunther right there with it where it's like, okay, Gaunt there. If you're going to be the career killer, if you're going to destroy everybody, you have to be able to beat Cody. And Cody, if you're going to be QB1, you have to be able to beat the career Killer. So I think, I think that it's necessary. I think as. As much as Gunther should have, like a fair title match, I think it's just as important for Cody to prove that he can beat Gunther with Gunther's full body inside the ring.

[Megan Moran]

Absolutely. And that's why I said I don't think Cody is walking away tonight thinking, oh, yay, I won.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, mission accomplished. No, I don't think so. I don't think so. But we'll see. I guess we'll see on. On Friday on smackdown, if not before. And then of course, somebody else that. I mean, here's the thing, and I noticed this in, in Spain as well. On smackdown, they are ready to boo Jade Cargill in Europe.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, yeah, they are. I mean, and they love their mommy all over.

[Sam Roberts]

They love Rhea Ripley. What's not to love? Before we get into it, before we get into it, I do want to tell you that Tops now is capturing major milestones and viral moments from the biggest WWE events. As they always do before ples Tops put out a Clash in Italy poster card featuring none other than the man himself, Cody Rhodes. Collectors who buy the poster cards have a chance at receiving rainbow foil short prints and gold super short prints. Limited to just 26 copies each, these poster cards are available only until Monday, June 1st. As always, make sure you're following ops on social and sign up for notifications on Topps.com for the biggest moment cards from Clash in Italy this weekend. And tune into Raw recap for more card info and graphics. Beautiful Card with Cody out there in front of Italy. So I think that this Ria Ripley Jade Cargill match, probably my favorite Jade Cargill match I've ever seen.

[Megan Moran]

You and I are lockstep there and

[Sam Roberts]

pretty high up on my list of Rhea Ripley matches as well. Seeing the heavy booze for Jade, the big cheers for Rhea Ripley. I mean, like Jade Cargill just coming in aggressive.

[Megan Moran]

It was a one sided affair for a while.

[Sam Roberts]

She was. There was chain links that were just like raining off of her attire.

[Megan Moran]

I mean, she was working Rhea Ripley's back.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, she looked like she was in agonizing pain.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes.

[Megan Moran]

You know Rhea, she keeps fighting back.

[Sam Roberts]

She won't stop. We had. We saw B. Fab and me Chin make their appearance known at one point. They stopped Jade Car. They stopped Rhea Ripley from getting a pin on Jade Cargill by putting Jade's bfab, putting Jade's foot on the rope. Of course, the referee caught her and sent them away. But before they could get sent away, Charlotte Flair comes out to kind of even the odds.

[Megan Moran]

Which is just such a wild thought.

[Sol Ruka]

Right.

[Megan Moran]

Charlotte Flair is there. Obviously after watching the last couple weeks, it's. We understand where, where Charlotte and Ria's relationship is.

[Sam Roberts]

Well, you hate when women are friends with each other, so how do you feel?

[Megan Moran]

It's not true at all.

[Sam Roberts]

It just is what you've put out.

[Megan Moran]

No, it's not true at all. I'm just talking back to, you know that sit down interview that was very tense before Survivor series. And you, Mr. Everything counts. Everything always like to remind people of that. I don't forget about the tension between Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair. And although they're operating on the same page right now, it's just wild to see that right now. You didn't see that given their history.

[Sam Roberts]

You didn't say that about EOS guy and Rhea Ripley.

[Megan Moran]

I pointed it out, yes. I just like to. I like to point out the past of people. All right, sue me.

[Sam Roberts]

I'm not gonna sue you. I'm not gonna sue you.

[Megan Moran]

I remember things.

[Sam Roberts]

I'm not gonna file a lawsuit. I'm glad.

[Megan Moran]

Nothing to do with women being friends.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay, all right, then I misread. I misread.

[Megan Moran]

Thank you.

[Sam Roberts]

Sue me.

[Megan Moran]

I don't think you're giving off tank top energy. All right. That's why I wore my tank top. I gotta hold it down for the fort.

[Sam Roberts]

Maybe, maybe it's a good, good energy. But Charlotte, absolutely on Rhea Ripley side, absolutely there to have Ria's back. And part of that is probably because Alexa Bliss got taken out by Jade on smackdown. So it's like, okay, now there is still, like, this thing is. Is unifying to an extent. I think Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair. But Ria returning the favor by putting Rhea. I'm sorry, Charlotte returning the favor by putting Ria's foot on the rope, interrupting a pinfall attempt. That way, the odds were evened. And eventually you do get that Rip Tide that allows Ria Ripley to retain the WWE Women's Championship. I felt like I don't think this is over, but I also felt like the way things kind of canceled each other out with the feet being put on the ropes. It's a pretty clear cut. Rhea Ripley has now beaten Jade Cargill twice.

[Megan Moran]

That's right.

[Sam Roberts]

And she beat your matches.

[Megan Moran]

There were a couple of really exciting moments, I thought during this match you pointed out as your favorite Jade Cargill match. I'm right there in lockstep with you. I thought, like, when Jade Cargill found her way out of the riptide and hit a ddt, that was a moment where I said, oh, my gosh, this is just amazing. Also, she went up for a powerbomb shortly thereafter.

[Sam Roberts]

That, and there were moments in the match like those moments specifically that were not smooth in the best possible way because it really gave the impression of two people that did not like each other, that were fighting each other. Fights don't look smooth. And I thought that that translated really, really well in this match.

[Megan Moran]

Yeah. But to your point, Rhea Ripley now has beaten Jade Cargill twice.

[Sam Roberts]

Yes. Yeah. Two, please. Two championship matches. I mean, you know, I don't know

[Megan Moran]

how Jade goes barking back up Ria's tree again.

[Sam Roberts]

Yeah, I mean, I think. Who. I don't know. I haven't seen the. The. The brackets yet. I don't know if Jade Cargill is involved in Queen of the Ring. Maybe that's a possibility.

[Megan Moran]

I'm sure Jade's not too happy with Charlotte.

[Sam Roberts]

Okay. She is.

[Megan Moran]

So, okay.

[Sam Roberts]

If. If. And that could be a case, right, If Jade Cargill is not going to necessarily be granted a rematch right away. If she's able to get that Queen of the Ring crown, she goes to SummerSlam. And assuming Rhea Ripley is still the champion gets that championship match. So maybe that's the plan. But I, you know, there's. I think probably a lot of other women on that roster that are going to try to make sure Jade Cargill does not win Queen of the Ring because they would like to win Queen of the Ring. But I tell you King of the ring and queen of the ring matches. Tournament matches start tomorrow night.

[Megan Moran]

Bracketology, baby. Let's go.

[Sam Roberts]

You know, I love brackets.

[Megan Moran]

Oh, yeah.

[Sam Roberts]

Love brackets.

[Megan Moran]

Love a tournament.

[Sam Roberts]

That tournament kicks off tomorrow night on Monday Night Raw. I cannot wait to see what that begins to look like, as well as what is going on with everybody. Whether it's Oba, whether it's the bloodline, whether it's Becky and Sol Ruka, where they all stand. We will find out tomorrow on Monday Night Raw. And then Megan, you and I will be here to recap all of it on the WWE Now Raw recap. So make sure you're subscribed across all audio platforms, hitting like and leaving comments on the YouTube video. We'll see you tomorrow.