FULL MATCH: Gunther vs. Sheamus | Intercontinental Championship Match: Clash at the Castle 2022

It’s banger time as Gunther and Sheamus clash for the Intercontinental Championship in one of the most lauded matches of 2022 at Clash at the Castle.
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It’s fight night. >> I was waiting for you to say that, Michael. >> Speaker 1: For Sheamus, he has an opportunity tonight
to win the ultimate Grand Slam. There is one title he has not held in WWE,
that’s the Intercontinental Championship. Sheamus has been WWE World Champion,
United States Champion, Tag Team Champion, Money in the Bank, King of the Ring,
Royal Rumble winner, but he has yet to win the prestigious
Intercontinental Title. He could do it tonight. >> Speaker 1: Look at
the career of Sheamus, you’re looking at a future Hall of Famer. Without question, Sheamus has nothing
left to prove in his career, but his competitive spirit is so high, so massive that he wants that accomplishment
to to his incredible resume. He wants to finally be able to call
himself Intercontinental Champion. >> Speaker 1: Tonight with Ridge,
Holland, and Butch on his side, it very well may become a reality for
The Celtic Warrior, Sheamus. A far cry from Irish whip wrestling or
Wales Celtic wrestling, where he cut his teeth here
in the United Kingdom. Tonight, Sheamus sets his sight on
the Intercontinental Championship. >> Speaker 1: I saw Ridge dragging Butch
out of a pub in city center last night, that’s how I knew was in the right place. >> Speaker 1: Ladies and gentlemen, I demand all your gratitude for Giovanni Bitches. >> Imperium. >> And now the leader of Imperium. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Your Intercontinental, The Ring General, Gunther. >> [APPLAUSE] >> I cannot believe my eyes, The Ring General has reassembled Imperium, no doubt to combat the threat
posed by the Brawling Brutes. >> Speaker 1: One last curveball thrown by
the Intercontinental Champion, I’d love to think what’s going through the mind right
now Sheamus and the Brawling Brutes. >> Speaker 1: The puzzle is complete,
Giovanni Vinci flanking the Intercontinental Champion alongside Ludwig Kaiser as Gunther prepares for
battle. >> Speaker 1: Did you saw the look
on the face of Sheamus moments ago. Imperium, one of the most dominant, one of the most intimidating and
fearless groups that we’ve seen. >> Speaker 1: Cole,
as soon as this match was made official, I sent you a text message about how
excited I am to be ringside for what will no doubt be one of the hardest
hitting matchups in WWE history. >> For the Intercontinental Championship,
Gunther and Sheamus face to face. Two of the most physical men
to ever grace the WWE ring. >> There may be 60,000 plus
here in the stadium, but Gunther is only concerned by the 20 by 20. >> Speaker 1: And here we go,
and Ludwig Kaiser, who lost the match to Butch
last night on SmackDown. >> With a stoic champion and
challenger in the center of the ring, unbothered, focused on the task. Butch is lost to the outside. And Butch goes after Holland, and
Gunther and Sheamus have yet to move. Staring at each other much like
what happened a couple of weeks ago on SmackDown. Both men locked and ready to go as
the brawl continues outside the ring. The Gunther, the mat is sacred, and tonight the champion is ready for-
>> Watch, watch, watch. >> And Butch taking out Kaiser and Vinci. >> Speaker 1: Sheamus and
Gunther still have not moved. >> The mat is sacred to Gunther tonight,
he is prepared for a holy war [SOUND] for his Intercontinental Championship,
here we go. >> And now the match is underway,
and Gunther and Sheamus for the Intercontinental title slugging
it out as the bell rings, and this is gonna be a war. >> Speaker 1: I can’t help but
think of Robbie Brookside, Cole, you better grit your teeth, mate. >> Speaker 1: And
Sheamus trying to get the upper hand for the Intercontinental Champion. >> Speaker 1: This one won’t be about
technique, this is about brute force. >> About beating the hell
out of each other. >> Speaker 1: This where you have
the ice bath of the biofreeze, a physical therapist on standby. And a shot by Gunther ringing throughout
Principality Stadium here in Cardiff tonight. >> Speaker 1: But
in a match where the stakes are this high, the mental wounds may never heal. And Sheamus’s chest already beat
red after the chops by Gunther, who floors Sheamus with a big boot, and that 6 foot 4,
250 pound Austrian is in control. Look at Sheamus, already beaten up by
the intercut Continental champion. Sheamus isn’t used to this. Usually it’s Shamer who’s the physical
aggressor in the matchup. Make no mistake, Byron,
Sheamus enjoys this as much as anybody. >> Speaker 1: Suplex by Sheamus. >> Both these men similar trajectories, Gunther becoming Intercontinental Champion
two months into his debut on SmackDown. Sheamus winning the WWE title
his rookie year here in WWE. >> Speaker 1: What they’re talking about, wanna bring prestige
back to the championship. Sheamus whipped across the ring,
Gunther telegraphed it. Sheamus with a kick to the shoulder,
and now a kick right to the midsection. Remember 1979, Pat Patterson,
the late great Hall of Famer, the first ever Intercontinental Champion. And dozens of Hall of Famers have
held the title over the years. It’s been known as
the Workman’s Championship, defended every day across the globe,
like Gunther’s doing here tonight. Sheamus went for
10 beats of the boundary, and Gunther able to drop down to the floor and
out of harm’s way. >> Speaker 1: My God. >> Maybe not. >> Speaker 1: [LAUGH] I was gonna say
good, they’re safe now, but nope. >> Speaker 1: And now Sheamus sending
Gunther into the step shoulder first, and Sheamus is taking control of the champion. Sheamus promised that he was going
to bring Gunther into the belly of the Red Dragon. >> [APPLAUSE]
>> Not often we see Gunther in
a vulnerable position that, but that’s exactly where he is
right now courtesy of Sheamus. >> Speaker 1: Sheamus,
he’s gonna try this one more time. >> Speaker 1: Gunther’s fighting like
hell to avoid it, trying to wrap Gunther’s arms to set him up for
10 beats of the boundary. They’re just too powerful at
this juncture of the match. >> Speaker 1: Sheamus
with a right of his own. Big, heavy forearms from
the Celtic warrior. Now Gunther, so quick,
is well over his size. Did you hear that, David Gunther, who said that he was going to chop
Seamus’s chest into bloody bits. Two boots from the challenger. Takes down the champion. Tremendous upper body strength. Gunther, right there. My goodness. Again, that knocked Seamus
off the ropes to the floor. Listen. My God. This has been. You talk to people who’ve been
in the ring with McCrory. They call him the most physical man
they’ve ever been inside the ring with. We are getting a firsthand look. It doesn’t get any closer than this. WWE fans remembering Gunther’s past. And Gunther now scooping Sheamus up and
slamming him out of the steps. Spine first. And the champion unafraid
to bend the rules. Knowing the champion’s advantage
dictates Sheamus has to pin Gunther or make him submit to become
intercontinental champion. Sheamus trying to drag him
his way back into the ring. The official at a count of seven, has
over 60,000 here at Principality Stadium. Look on in Cardiff. And at a count of nine, Sheamus barely
beats the count back in the ring. Sheamus is battered. Sheamus is weakened. This stadium, the home of
the Wales National Rugby Union team. Sheamus, who played rugby in college,
should feel at home here. Paul’s still fighting back. The ear of Gunther crumbles to the ground after that chop from the Celtic warrior’s chest is starting to look like hamburger. And a kick for good measure in the spine. Gunther right now in total control. The feather in the cap of
Gunther’s career to defeat Sheamus here at Clash at the Castle. How can Sheamus even breathe,
let alone fight back. My God. Don’t they just kick Seamus so
hard I lost the tooth. My God, the brutality. This. This has just been
physicality on overload. Uncomfortable is what it’s been. This is striking at will. For every punched by Sheamus,
there’s another dozen from Gunther. Watch this. Boom. Collapsing the side of
the face of Sheamus. Sheamus, look all out of sorts. I don’t even know how he can breathe. Pull himself back to his feet. Sheamus, you got some determination. Well, there was determination on his face. Or defiance. The ring general demands you fall in line. You do not defy
the intercontinental champion. Now Gunther trying to twist
Sheamus on his belly. Perhaps for a Boston crab
able to do that now locks in. And Sheamus in the middle of
the ring with nowhere to go. And you have to ask if Seamus
is going to tap out or will he make it to the bottom rope? Sheamus is too proud to tap out. I’m not sure how Seamus can
make it to that bottom rope. Doesn’t matter how proud you are. Sometimes the human body can only stand so
much punishment. Now turns things to a cross face. They’re attempting to anyway. And Sheamus looking to block. Sheamus trying to power out of this. Sheamus went with the Knuckle Lock. No sir. With the time writhing in pain but
able to turn things around again. And now a chop to the back of the neck. Right between the shoulder blades. Absolute punishment. I think reality just kicked in for
the Celtic warrior. You could see the look
on the face of Sheamus. The Celtic warrior knows he’s in a fight this match. A real gut check between Sheamus and
Gunther. How does Seamus have anything left? And how is he able to fight back and
try to change the momentum? But maybe not now. Right to the kidneys. Guts, will, instinct, pride. That’s what fueling Sheamus right now. And to try to win the championship. The one championship that he hasn’t been
able to gain in his career here in wwe. My God. How many of these chops
did Sheamus absorb? I can’t believe Sheamus’s
flesh is still intact. And this is the pace that Gunther loves. Look at this. Goodness. From shoulder to shoulder impact. That’s not your typical knife edge chop. That is the bottom half of
the Intercontinental Champion’s arm being swung like a Louisville Slugger
across your chest. And when is the last time you guys have
seen Sheamus dominated in this fashion? I honestly can’t recall
off the top of my head. It has been that long. Sheamus staring daggers into
the Intercontinental Champion. Still with with fight left in his heart. And here comes Seamus fighting back now,
trying to change momentum of the match. How I was going to say,
did Sheamus have anything left? And Gunther able to
bury him in the corner. Was that a last gasp from Sheamus? And now Sheamus dumped out right in
front of us here at the announce table. And Gunther out for the fight as well. And this does not look good, gentlemen. Gunther is lifting Sheamus up and
plants him on the floor. Colossal body slam on
the outside of the ring. And I have a feeling
Gunther’s not finished yet. You’re instincts right. Sheamus ran over the table
into the chair again. Guys, I’ve got to ask the question. Do you ever remember Seamus
being dominated in this manner? I don’t. But I can tell you that as long as there
is breath in the lungs of Sheamus, he will continue to fight. This has been an. And now Seamus trying to turn the tables, bouncing Gunther off the announce
table a couple of times. And now Seamus has Gunther
where he wants him. The wild eyes of the Celtic warrior. Into the chest. And Gunther now trying to escape,
trying to retreat. And a Clothesline. And Sheamus is somehow back in the game. This is remarkable from Seamus. After all the punishment
this man has taken. Goes to show you the type of X
factor the live crowd can play. Fellow European standing behind Sheamus
driving the challenger forward. With every hit Sheamus can
tasty intercontinental title. And Gunther trying to escape
the ten Beats of the Bodhran. An unfamiliar sight,
the ring general in retreat. Sheamus sent over the barricade and
into the WWE fans. And now Sheamus said,
I’m gonna punish you some more. >> Speaker 2: Yeah, why not? >> Speaker 3: 10, 11, 12 and more. >> Speaker 2: And who’s gonna stop him? [NOISE]
>> Speaker 3: Now, it’s Gunner trying to escape. >> Speaker 4: Sheamus forcing
the champion back in inside the ring. >> Speaker 2: Seamus willing
himself to the top rope. >> Speaker 3: The knee to Gunther. And Seamus is feeling it. Could be closing in on
the Intercontinental Championship. >> Speaker 4: Got to be
feeling confident because he. >> Speaker 2: Knows he absorbed
the hardest hitting shots from Gunther. And he’s still got more gas in the tank
as we take another look at Seamus with the boom. [NOISE] >> Speaker 1: And Sheamus now
with Gunther up on his shoulders. Gunther drops behind and
blasts Sheamus in the kidneys. >> Speaker 4: Answers
with a right of his own. Who can hit who harder? >> Speaker 1: Tory, these are the looks
you see on boxers in the 12th round. Trying to dig down deep and put their
opponent away or somehow survive. Sheamus suplexed by Gunther. >> Speaker 4: Seamus tried to mitigate
the impact, maybe managed to do so. >> Speaker 3: And
a big running knee by Sheamus. The champ is down. Falls into the cover for the win. Gunther at two, a near fall for
the challenger. >> Speaker 4: That is the best opportunity
Sheamus has had in this match to actually walk away with the Intercontinental title. >> Speaker 1: Much to the delight
of the over 60,000 here tonight in Cardiff, Wales. >> Speaker 3: It has been a hard hitting
affair as advertised between Gunther and Seamus. >> Speaker 4: Brutality at
its finest between two of. >> Speaker 2: The hardest
hitters in all of wwe. >> Speaker 4: These are two of
the toughest bastards in the business, bar none. >> Speaker 1: And
they’re proving it here tonight. Corey, beyond a doubt. It’s how much the Intercontinental
Championship means to Gunther to retain. How much it means for
Seamus for the very first time. Sleeper by the champion. Sheamus down to a knee in the. >> Speaker 3: Middle of the ring. >> Speaker 4: Seamus still
instinctively trying to swing. But Sheamus starting to fade here, guys. >> Speaker 4: Gunther battling against
the perspiration on his own body. Maybe unable to lock in the sleeper
quite as tight as he would like. Allowing a little wiggle room for
the Celtic warrior. >> Speaker 1: And now trying to
lift Sheamus up for the power bomb. Sheamus able to counter, get Gunther up. Can he deliver? White noise for the win, for
the title for the first time. And a kick out at two and a half. The exhaustion from Sheamus. We see the challenger
driving the champion down. White Noise, two and nine-tenths. >> Speaker 1: But Gunther escapes. Indeed it is awesome. As has been this entire week
here in Cardiff, Wales. Clash at the Castle,
over 60,000 at Principality Stadium looking on as Seamus and
Gunther are beating the living hell out of one another with the Intercontinental
title on the line. [NOISE]
>> Speaker 2: Sheamus feeding off the energy of all
the fans here in Cardiff. >> Speaker 3: And
Sheamus could be setting up Gunther for a bro kick to put the champion away. Gunther back to his feet,
sidesteps Seamus. >> Speaker 1: Sheamus with an elbow,
catches him. >> Speaker 3: And there’s a drop kick,
driving Sheamus into the corner. And now Gunther went for the power bomb. Didn’t get all of it. Cover on Seamus. Hook of the leg, and Seamus [INAUDIBLE]. Gunther didn’t get all that power bomb. >> Speaker 4: Sheamus did
his best to sit upright. Most of the impact was going
to land on Seamus’s tailbone. Definitely agonizing, but not enough to
keep the Celtic warrior down for three. >> Speaker 1: Seamus immediately
reached back to his lower back. >> Speaker 4: Yeah, in moments to come. Not any type of way you want to
land in any scenario, but again, just speaks to the toughness
of both of these competitors. >> Speaker 1: You saw even a little
shock a moment ago on the face of Gunther that Sheamus
was still able to escape. >> Speaker 1: It’s smart. How smart is the ring, General? Now target the tailbone,
the lower back of Sheamus, which suffered the brunt of
the power bomb moments ago. Not even sure if Seamus can stand. This is a frightening sight right here. That’s six foot four, Gunther. Sheamus med him there, though. [NOISE] >> Speaker 3: My God. [NOISE] >> Speaker 1: Strike exchange, Gunther once again all by himself,
looking to attack from the air. >> Speaker 3: And again, Seamus does not
allow Gunther to get to the top rope. >> Speaker 1: Seamus is now
the one who’s been a step. Ahead. >> Speaker 1: And
Seamus setting up Gunther for perhaps the Celtic Cross from way up high. >> Speaker 1: Gunther with nowhere to
go but now Sheamus with an opportunity. Can he get to the cover,
can he make the cover? Sheamus trying to drag himself
to the champion, hooks the leg. >> One, two. >> Speaker 1: Is this it? Sheamus is at the cover, and
a kick out by Gunther at two and a half. >> Speaker 1: You got to be kidding me. >> Speaker 1: Look at Sheamus’s body,
black and blue and red, peeled apart. >> Speaker 1: Sheamus’s eyes
tell the tale of heartbreak after the Celtic Cross connects. Driving the champion neck and
shoulders first. Sheamus with a deep hook of the legs. But the ring General with a little
too much left in the tank for this one to be over just yet. Seamus’s mind has got to be racing. What more do I have to do? What play do I have to call upon
to finally put Gunther away? Seamus again has
the champion in his sights. Drags himself to his feet. Went for the Brogue and the back gave out. The back gave out as he went for
the Brogue, Powerbomb. >> Speaker 1: Even that one was low. The majority of the impact on
the low back of the challenger. We saw it already play a factor. Sheamus unable to deliver a Brogue Kick. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Gunther with a wicked Lariat, and a cover on Sheamus. >> One, two, three. >> Speaker 1: And it’s over. Gunther retains. >> Speaker 1: Here is your winner and still the Intercontinental Champion,
Gunther. >> That was a hell of a fight. This delivered as advertised. My goodness. >> Speaker 1: You can’t get
much old school than that. Sheamus and
Gunther annihilating each other. And then the lariat after two power
bombs would finally end Sheamus’s dream. On this night in Cardiff, Wales, a physically maiming affair
between Gunther and Seamus. But you gotta give credit where credit’s
due, Gunther survived this war. Here tonight, J.C.
giovanni Vinci reunited with Imperium Ludwig Kaiser to
celebrate the ring General. The Intercontinental Champion’s hurting. He’s disappointed, he’s upset. He gave everything he had
in this match tonight. But it was this impact, one of the most hellacious lariats you’ll ever see. The ring General, flanked by Imperium, still reigns as your
Intercontinental Champion. [MUSIC] >> Speaker 1: [APPLAUSE] >> Speaker 1: A tremendous show of
respect for one of the hardest hitters, one of the most physical
men that you’ll ever meet. Seamus left everything on
the line here tonight. He came up just short in his quest for his
first ever Intercontinental Championship.