Fox Den Sports

…Because I live in Australia, when WWE travels, the time change can play havoc with my schedule. Instead of my usual cozy evening routines, I’m suddenly navigating midnight feeds, morning tape delays, and dodging spoilers like Neo in The Matrix just to watch some world-class wrestling. But when the European Summer Tour kicks off with a massive historic weekend in Turin, Italy, you pull yourself together, pour an extra-large coffee, and dive headfirst into the chaos.”

The Italian Job: Unpacking the PLE

First up on my sleep-deprived radar was the history-making premium live event…

Opening Match: Gunther facing Cody for the Undisputed Title. “The biggest shock of the night didn’t happen during a match—it happened during an entrance. WWE apparently decided to strip Gunther of his iconic, imposing Ring General coat and send him out in… a baseball warm-up jacket? I’m sorry, but he went from looking like an absolute final boss to looking like he was about to coach third base. Bring back the coat, Triple H!” Cody won; it was an awkward-looking match. The Ref never saw that Gunther’s foot was under the rope as the count began. Gunther is livid to say the least.

“If WWE isn’t careful, this current run at the top is going to fizzle out fast. The WWE Universe is already starting to lose patience with it. We’ve seen what happens when unique, unyielding monsters get watered down into standard, complaining heels, and it rarely ends well. Great wrestling requires evolution, but right now, nothing is changing with Gunther’s in-ring approach. If he doesn’t start adapting three steps ahead like the rest of the main-event scene, that legendary Ring General aura is going to evaporate completely, leaving us with nothing but a regular bully in a baseball jacket.”

**MATCH 2** Jade vs. Rhea: A Powerhouse Dream Match

Next up was the absolute blockbuster rematch between Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill. First of all, we have to talk about the presentation—Rhea stepping out in stunning red gear for this match was an absolute chef’s kiss moment. It gave her an incredible, final-boss visual presence that contrasted beautifully against Jade’s superhero aura.

The match itself was pure physicality. Jade looked phenomenal, even taunting Rhea with push-ups early on, proving she belongs at the very top of the card. But just when it looked like Jade had things won after hitting Jaded, the chaos erupted. With B-Fab and Michin in Jade’s corner and Charlotte Flair shocking everyone by jumping out of the crowd to back up Rhea, the outside interference completely flipped the script. Charlotte saving Rhea by putting her foot on the bottom rope was a massive turning point, allowing Mami to recover, land a headbutt, and secure the win with a devastating Riptide. A chaotic, high-stakes masterpiece that keeps this rivalry white-hot.

“To be completely honest, the chaotic finish didn’t surprise me one bit. WWE found themselves in a classic booking corner: they couldn’t afford to have Jade lose clean during this massive powerhouse push, but they also weren’t ready to strip Mami of her crown. Enter Charlotte Flair. Having Charlotte jump the barricade to even the odds against B-Fab and Michin was the ultimate protective shield for Jade, while keeping the title exactly where it belongs. It’s predictable, sure, but highly effective storytelling that keeps both women looking like absolute stars.”

“While Jade ultimately fell short, she tried her absolute heart out and proved she can hang in a big-match environment. But the real story here is the fallout. By having Charlotte cost Jade the match, WWE has planted the seeds for what promises to be a massive summer feud. A Charlotte Flair vs. Jade Cargill rivalry is pure box-office money. It gives Jade a legendary veteran to work with to sharpen her in-ring psychology, and it gives the fans a true clash of titans while keeping Rhea Ripley free to dominate the rest of the division.

**Match 3**: The surprise return of Brock Lesnar facing Oba Femi. Hope the ring is reinforced.

Because this wasn’t just a wrestling match—it was a literal demolition derby. After Oba shocked the world by defeating Lesnar at WrestleMania, The Beast arrived in Turin laser-focused on absolute vengeance. It took an unbelievable, jaw-dropping seven F5S to keep the unstoppable “Ruler” down for a three-count. But the absolute highlight of the destruction was a brutal F5 sent straight through Michael Cole and Corey Graves’ announce desk. That poor desk completely gave its life in the name of Oba, leaving the commentary team scrambling in the wreckage. Femi looked like an absolute force of nature even in defeat, absorbing a level of punishment that would have ended anyone else’s night. With the score now officially tied at 1-1, the highway leads straight to a catastrophic rubber match at SummerSlam in Brock’s backyard.

**MATCH 4**: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sol Ruca — Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

**Match 4** brought a total jaw-dropper to the card as Becky Lynch defended her title against the rising prodigy, Sol Ruca. For most of the encounter, “The Man” wrestled a textbook veteran match. She systematically grounded Sol, keeping her high-flying athleticism at bay and landing precise, heavy-handed strikes to keep total control. But the story of the match was one critical error. Becky made a split-second mistake, and Sol Ruca’s eagle eye caught it instantly. In a comeback for the ages, Ruca caught Lynch completely off guard, took her down, and scored the pinfall to become the NEW Women’s Intercontinental Champion! An unbelievable, history-making moment that completely elevates the rookie to the stratosphere.

**MAIN EVENT**: The Grand Finale: Tribal Combat for the World Heavyweight Championship 🩸☝️ Roman Reigns (c) defeated Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat to retain the World Heavyweight Championship and his spot as Tribal Chief.

“What an absolute masterpiece of storytelling and pure, unadulterated violence. Tribal Combat lived up to the hype and then some, with Roman and Fatu tearing the Inalpi Arena apart—from crowd brawls involving concession snacks to tables and toolboxes. Fatu looked like an absolutely unkillable monster, even standing up first after taking a spear through a table, forcing Roman to dig deeper than ever to hit a second spear for the win. The real story, though, is the psychological fallout. Fatu is now bound by the laws of the family to serve and obey Roman. With Solo Sikoa watching like a hawk from the crowd and an official acknowledgment ceremony set for RAW, the Bloodline lore just reached a whole new level of drama.”

The post-match storytelling was masterful. Jimmy and Jey Uso hit the ring to officially present Roman with the traditional Ula Fala, cementing his status as the true Head of the Table. Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Talla Tonga could only watch intently from the crowd as their powerhouse was forced to fall in line. Jey had to direct a very hesitant, defeated Fatu to leave the ringside area with them.

Letting the Story Speak 🤫📖

By grounding the match in pure narrative—Roman fighting desperately to protect his legacy and Fatu proving he is an unkillable force who had to be broken to be tamed—the violence meant so much more. It makes the final image of Fatu being forced to fall under Roman’s banner feel incredibly heavy. WWE creative set up an amazing layer of future tension where Fatu is now essentially a bound, ticking time bomb within the group.