Rarely is a Scotsman as excited about being in Cardiff as Drew McIntyre is about headlining the Clash at the Castle when the WWE visits the UK.
The two-time WWE champion is bringing his five-foot fire-shooting sword and expects the atmosphere to offer a heady combination of the best elements of wrestling crowds and the football and rugby audiences the Welsh capital often welcomes.
"I was very nervous because this is something I've dreamt about for my entire life," McIntyre told the promotion ahead of the action on September 3. "I've been pushing heavily for it."
Who's McIntyre up against? Who else is on the bill? The Sporting News has the latest ahead of the momentous occasion.
The journey to #WWECastle continues THIS FRIDAY on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/mTwVg3WYsm
— WWE (@WWE) August 23, 2022
WWE Clash at the Castle lineup
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
McIntyre's win over Sheamus put him in line to become the latest Undisputed WWE Universal Champion challenger to Reigns, who beat Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam.
"It's not just going to be one of the biggest events in WWE history, but also of any kind of show," says McIntyre, predicting fireworks inside and outside the ring.
"The biggest thing is the fans: they're so loud, wild and passionate. The fans in the UK are the best in the world, and I'm not just saying that because I'm from here.
"They're the loudest. When I try to explain it to the Americans, it's like, 'Watch one of the football matches from back home, the energy in the crowd'. It's going to be one of the loudest places in the world."
Liv Morgan vs. Shayna Baszler
After seeing off Ronda Rousey at SummerSlam, Morgan defends her WWE SmackDown Women's Championship title against another ex-MMA fighter.
Shayna Baszler fought twice in the UFC and earned the chance to face Morgan by winning a gauntlet match.
Bianca Belair, Asuka and Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai
Asuka and Bliss have teamed up with champion Bianca Belair following a shoulder injury to Becky Lynch, who Belair beat at SummerSlam to keep the Raw women's title.
Sky, Kai and Bayley combined forces for the first time after that fight.
Seth Rollins vs. Riddle
This much-anticipated match was originally scheduled for SummerSlam but was delayed due to "creative adjustments".
There is animosity between the pair away from wrestling, too — partly ignited by Riddle's wife using a photo of Lynch, who is married to Rollins, in an Instagram post that drew accusations of body shaming.
Gunther vs. Sheamus
Sheamus beat Happy Corbin, Madcap Moss, Ricochet and Sami Zayn in a fight dubbed the 'Fatal Five-Way' to earn this showdown.
The veteran Irishman is now the number one challenger and is gunning for Gunther's WWE Intercontinental Championship title.
When is WWE Clash at the Castle?
The Clash at the Castle takes place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, on Saturday, September 3.
The action starts at 5.30 p.m. BST, with coverage in the US starting at 1 p.m. ET. In Australia, the event will begin at around 8.30 a.m. on September 4.
Tickets for WWE Clash at the Castle
Tickets for the 74,000-capacity stadium are currently listed for resale for around £34 ($40) on Ticketmaster.
The most expensive tickets on sale were available for around £1,200 ($822).
This will be the first major stadium event to be held in the United Kingdom in more than 30 years, since SummerSlam '92 at London's Wembley Stadium.
Has the WWE been in the UK before?
One of the previous incarnations of the WWE, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), held its first event at the London Arena in 1989, when Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage headlined the show.
Clash at the Castle will be the 19th major event held by the promotion in a country where it has a huge number of fans.
When was the last WWE event in the UK?
The most recent event was in Newcastle, north-east England in 2003, when Triple H and Kevin Nash headlined Insurrextion.
