WWE Clash in Italy will take place today (Sun., May 31, 2026) from Inalpi Arena in Turin. While there will a “Countdown” pre-show, the premium live event itself begins at 8 p.m. local time, and streams live worldwide — which means 2 p.m. Eastern in the United States. If you’re in Europe or most anywhere else in the world, Clash in Italy is on Netflix. In the U.S. however, the first hour will be on cable network ESPN, while the entire show streams HERE on the ESPN Unlimited service.
The PLE is loaded
with WWE’s biggest names in some intriguing matches, including for both main roster World titles. Cody Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE championship against Gunther, while Roman Reigns puts the World Heavyweight belt on the line against his cousin Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat. We’ll also see a rematch of the WrestleMania 42 shocker between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi, and two huge women’s matches. One of those is another ‘Mania rematch, but with Rhea Ripley now defending the WWE Women’s championship against Jade Cargill, and Sol Ruca getting another shot at Becky Lynch’s Intercontinental belt.
It’s a lot to process. Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
Let’s get to it.
WWE CLASH IN ITALY PREDICTIONS
Tribal Combat for the WWE World Heavyweight championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
NOTE: Several members of our staff wrote their predictions before we got word that Fatu probably was not “okay” after the injury he suffered late last week at the Liverpool house show that kicked off WWE’s overseas tour.
Geno Mrosko: I can’t imagine there’s a world that exists where Jacob Fatu, even with the image rehabilitation they did with him, will be a world champion in WWE. He’s got the talent and charisma for it but it’s hard to imagine the company feeling comfortable relying on him as a drawing card. Pick: Roman Reigns
Sean Rueter: WWE is unlikely to risk shaking up Reigns’ story too much. Plus, the Samoan Werewolf has already been defanged, so I’m not as excited for the idea of a Jacob win as I would have been had you pitched it to me a year or more ago. But I’m still thinking they’ll put him over here to keep us all on our toes, then have OTC1 reclaim the belt and the Ula Fala on the next PLE. I’m sure the Saudis would love to have a rematch PLE at Night of Champions along with those King and Queen of the Ring finals. Pick: Jacob Fatu
Kyle Decker: This one intrigues me. There’s no way Roman loses but how do they use Jacob after this. It really feels like Jacob following Roman around isn’t the best use of him. But that’s kind of the stipulation – that Fatu falls in line and learns from the Tribal Chief. The outcome isn’t in questions, but how they get there and then what comes next will be something to watch. Pick: Roman Reigns
Claire Elizabeth: If WWE are gonna book Roman Reigns in matches where he can lose his crown as Tribal Chief, eventually he’s gonna not be the Tribal Chief anymore. I’m not gonna say for sure that’s what happens this weekend, but y’know what, I think the Samoan Werewolf is a particularly exciting choice to dethrone him so I’m picking with my heart. Pick: Jacob Fatu
Cain A. Knight: I think the idea of Jacob winning the world title and becoming the new Tribal Chief is very interesting, and could perhaps happen if The Usos betray the OTC. Pick: Jacob Fatu
Marcus Benjamin: I’m with Kyle in that the intrigue for me is what happens the next day. Roman isn’t losing this, nor does it serve anyone for Jacob to suddenly morph into another version of Jimmy & Jey. Jacob being a reluctant follower works for me. How does the guy who vows never to fall in line act when he has to do exactly that? How does that affect Roman’s relationships with his cousins? How does anyone, even Roman, keep Jacob under control when Adam Pearce is always this close to giving son his walking papers? What is a king if his servants refuse to serve? Is a sandwich really not a sandwich without Miracle Whip? These questions answered and more as we move into summer. Pick: Roman Reigns
M. G0MEZ: This match was over once Fatu framed it as a win-win. When a loss still counts as a victory, defeat loses its consequences. In real sports, that makes it easier to quit when things get tough. In WWE, it’s an excuse meant to keep Fatu strong as he becomes Reigns’ new heavy. Pick: Roman Reigns
Jon Velez-Jackson: WWE is committed to keeping Roman Reigns as one of their main faces of the company. A Jacob Fatu win would do a lot to rejuvenate the scene, but I don’t think it’s in the cards, at least not yet. Pick: Roman Reigns
Josh Jagler: I recently gave some advice to the WWE creative team on how they can rev up some excitement heading into the summer. Tribal Combat between two of the most ‘over’ stars in the company is a perfect time to take a risk and try something unexpected. With this match main eventing, I really do think there is a non-zero chance that Fatu wins, but I would be surprised (albeit pleasantly) if WWE did anything other than playing it safe here. Pick: Roman Reigns
Undisputed WWE championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther
Geno Mrosko: The way this was thrown together as a pivot due to complications elsewhere makes you wonder if they just stand pat with Rhodes as champion. That wouldn’t be nearly as interesting, of course. GUNTHER as a dominant champion speaks to my wrestling heart, as does his reputation as a guy who tells the hardest of truths and then lives them. That’s worth protecting over everything. Pick: GUNTHER
Sean Rueter: An honest prediction, or just my deepest fanboy/mark wish? I honestly can’t tell with Rhodes any more. That probably means he’s really worked me. Anyway… I think Der Ring General does what he said he was gonna do, just like the last few times he’s made a promise about a big PLE match. Pick: Gunther
Kyle Decker: It feels too soon for this. Gunther just retired John Cena and hasn’t lost since. Cody has recently hot potatoed the championship with Drew – is it too soon to do that again? I’m not picking against Cody this soon into the reign and it’s clear that Gunther is good step or two below Rhodes in the upper tiers of the company. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Claire Elizabeth: I always do these predictions during commercial breaks on the SmackDown before a PPV and I wrote some stuff here originally about how I couldn’t summon up any strong feelings for this one, but then they went and had the promo segment that ended SmackDown and welp, I’m in. I’m in and I think GUNTHER is going to do exactly as he says and he’s going to choke Cody out and drop him like a wet towel. Pick: GUNTHER
Cain A. Knight: Cody Rhodes won’t lose while he’s still trying to establish this corny catchphrase about being easy to find, hard to beat. Pick: Cody Rhodes
Marcus Benjamin: I have no feel for this match other than I’m picking Cody. Echoing conventional wisdom, which really isn’t my thing, it feels too soon to take the belt off of him. Especially with bigger shows on the horizon, despite this match’s ESPN placement. Pick: Cody Rhodes
M. G0MEZ: Though Gunther is hot, the idea of Rhodes dropping the strap in the opener of a PLE outside the Big Four seems absurd. Then again, a world title change taking place on ESPN during the show’s first hour would be historic. Pick: Gunther
Jon Velez-Jackson: Cody chasing the belt always felt more exciting than his actual title reigns. And let’s not forget the career Gunther has ended lately…Plus, Gunther with the championship versus Brock Lesnar with his career on the line at SummerSlam would make for a huge main event. Pick: Gunther
Josh Jagler: G0mez is right. Cody losing the title in the opening bout on a non-big 4 show is absurd. The intrigue for me lies in how they set up another match between the two, likely in Saudi next month. Pick: Cody Rhodes
WWE Women’s championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Jade Cargill
Geno Mrosko: There’s a gap here, and we don’t need to pretend there isn’t. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Sean Rueter: Yeah, not sure what the next move for Jade is. But it would make zero sense for that move to be getting her win back from WrestleMania here. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Kyle Decker: There’s no way Rhea drops the title this soon after WrestleMania, which is unfortunately for Jade because I don’t know what she does next. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Claire Elizabeth: For Jade’s sake Rhea better take care of her here— did you see Charlotte’s tender care and righteous fury about the beating Cargill handed Alexa? I wouldn’t want her mad at me is all I’m saying. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Cain A. Knight: I don’t see the point in Ripley winning the title at WrestleMania only to drop it back to Cargill in a rematch one month later. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Marcus Benjamin: Jade’s doing the press tour right now and getting major looks. All that glamour and glitz won’t be enough to stop Rhea. Pick:Rhea Ripley
M. G0MEZ: WWE has teased several potential matchups involving Rhea, Jade, Charlotte Flair, and Jacy Jayne. I predict a Fatal 4-Way at SummerSlam, with the unpopular Jayne pulling off an upset. To max out the impact, her win needs to come at Rhea’s expense, who must — and will — get past Jade. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Jon Velez-Jackson: Having the title would serve Jade much more than Rhea, who is so over with fans that she doesn’t need a championship. However, I can’t imagine Ripley dropping the belt so soon after WrestleMania. Expect outside interference either way. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Josh Jagler: Rhea winning here seems like the most likely option, but with the pieces set in motion recently, I can see a scenario where Jade wins this one with some help (either Michin/B-Fab, or maybe a screw up by Charlotte). That would set Flair and Ripley up to be chasing Jade for the gold over the summer. Alas, for the same reason I went with Roman above, I’ll stick with Mami here. Pick: Rhea Ripley
Singles match: Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi
Geno Mrosko: I love everything about everything they’ve done with these two in this program, I just fear they really believe a rubber match is the play. This should absolutely be a trilogy but one that ends in a clean sweep in favor of the guy who should be at the top of the card for the next decade. Send Lesnar out as definitively as he came in. Pick: Oba Femi
Sean Rueter: This is set-up for a proper retirement match in Minnesota come August. But what’s the story? Does he come in on a losing streak or with Femi having his number, the aging “retired” gladiator desperate to remind the world of who he was? Or was the ‘Mania loss an aberration, which he’ll prove here before a trilogy bout…or getting goaded into a retirement match by a certain Austrian? I think we all know which one he and WWE are more likely to tell. Pick: Brock Lesnar
Kyle Decker: The moment Lesnar came back, it seemed pretty obvious they’re going with a trilogy here, with Oba getting that final win (and maybe true retirement) of Lesnar in Minnesota. Pick: Brock Lesnar
Claire Elizabeth: Beat his ass, Oba. Pick: Oba Femi
Cain A. Knight: Brock Lesnar gets his win back on Oba Femi before GUNTHER kills his career at SummerSlam. Pick: Brock Lesnar
Marcus Benjamin: This is setting up a trilogy, with the rubber match coming at what WWE calls “the biggest party of the summer.” I don’t expect Brock to dominate Oba like Oba did him at Mania, but I expect something to happen to make a third match worthwhile for both men. Pick:Brock Lesnar
M. G0MEZ: To hell with what the betting sites say. I maintain that this is sports entertainment’s version of Moby-Dick, designed to keep Oba strong and Lesnar still chasing. After failing here, Lesnar’s obsession with beating Oba will worsen, leading to his ultimate demise at SummerSlam. Pick: Oba Femi
Jon Velez-Jackson: This is the hardest prediction for me. Yes, Brock is the odds-on favorite to win, but why have Oba lose after picking up a decisive win at WrestleMania? But would Brock return just to lose again? Maybe he would? I’m flipping a coin. Pick: Brock Lesnar
Josh Jagler: They’re already advertising this match as Femi vs. Lesnar 2, leading me to the obvious assumption that there will be another match to make it a trilogy. Conventional wisdom would have Brock winning this one to set up a rubber match at Summerslam, but as a true Oba Feminist, I just don’t see a reason Femi should be losing anytime soon. Pick: Oba Femi
Women’s Intercontinental championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sol Ruca
Geno Mrosko: I just don’t think Ruca has shown nearly enough on the main roster during her brief run to justify giving her a win in a match like this. The talent is there, and the future is bright, but it should not be the present for her, or us, or even Lynch. Pick: Becky Lynch
Sean Rueter: In-story, what have we seen from Ruca that makes us think she should be able to beat Lynch? I don’t even mean the version of Becky that exists in her current character’s head, either. Just what we’ve all seen The Man do in the last 8-10 years. Which isn’t to say she won’t win the belt for a while. Maxxine Dupri and AJ Lee did. A Sol win might even happen here — although given her recent run of luck, the better move would be to make her earn another shot (which would also give fans more of a chance to connect with her as babyface). But until she decides to take time off or call it a career, I think the IC is basically the Becky belt. Pick: Becky Lynch
Kyle Decker: When it comes to feuding for this title, Becky has actually lost a lot. She lost to Lyra before winning it. She lost to Maxxxine Dupri before winning it back. She lost to AJ Lee before winning it back. This feels like a spot that it would make sense to do that again. Pick: Sol Ruca
Claire Elizabeth: It’s do or die for Sol Ruca and I think she’s gonna pick “do.” Pick: Sol Ruca
Cain A. Knight: Sol Ruca desperately needs to win this match with a non-botched Sol Snatcher. Pick: Sol Ruca
Marcus Benjamin: Becky has to get her comeuppance here. Especially after whatever that was at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Sol is ready for this championship while Becky is ready to pass that Intercontinental torch. Pick: Sol Ruca
M. G0MEZ: Becky Lynch called us a news source that tells the truth for a reason: because that’s what we do. And the truth is this: if Ruca can’t hit her finish properly, what chance does she have of sticking the landing as Women’s I.C. Champ? Pick: Becky Lynch
Jon Velez-Jackson: Sol Ruca’s move to the main roster hasn’t exactly gone the way anyone at WWE had hoped, but pinning Lynch clean on a PLE would certainly go a long way to making her look like a star. Pick: Sol Ruca
Josh Jagler: Before their first match, a lot of us figured Sol would win that match to set up this one. The match last Saturday ending so abruptly and in the bizarre manner that it did gives me pause here, but I truly think WWE views Sol as a future star. Tangling with Liv, Iyo, and Becks within a month on the main roster is evidence of that. I think this could be the only title change of the evening. Pick: Sol Ruca
That’s how we see the evening’s matches playing out. In the comments, tell us where we’re wrong or why you agree, and give us your predictions for WWE Clash in Italy!
