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: Courtesy of Peacock and WWE Network.
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[APPLAUSE] >> With the stoic Champion and challenger in the center of the ring, unbothered, focused on the task. And Butch is launched to the outside. >> And now Vinci 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. >> To Gunther, the mat is sacred. And tonight the Champion is ready. >> Watch Butch, watch Butch. >> And Butch taking out Kaiser and Vinci. >> And Sheamus and Gunther still have not moved. >> The mat is sacred to Gunther tonight. He is prepared for a holy war 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 the bell rings. And this is gonna be a war. >> I can’t help but think of Robbie Brookside, Cole. You better grit your teeth, mate. >> And Sheamus trying to get the upper hand for the Intercontinental Champion. >> This one won’t be about technique, this is about brute force. >> About beating the hell out of each other. >> This is where you have the ice baths, the bio freeze, a physical therapist on standby. >> And a shot by Gunther ringing through Principality Stadium here in Cardiff tonight. >> Well in a match where the stakes are this high, the mental wounds may never heal. >> And Sheamus’ chest already beet red after the chops by Gunther, who floors Sheamus with a big boot. >> And the 6’4" 250 pound Austrian is in control. Look at Sheamus, already beaten up by the Intercontinental Champion. >> Sheamus isn’t used to this, usually it’s Sheamus who’s the physical aggressor in the matchup. >> Make no mistake, Byron. Sheamus enjoys this as much as anybody. >> Suplex by Sheamus. >> [APPLAUSE] >> 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. >> Gunther talking about how to bring prestige back to the Championship. >> [APPLAUSE] >> 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. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Sheamus went for Ten Beats of the Bodhran, and Gunther able to drop down to the floor and out of harm’s way. >> My god. >> Maybe not. >> I was gonna say Gunther’s safe now, but nope. >> And now Sheamus sending Gunther into the steps 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. But that’s exactly where he is right now, courtesy of Sheamus. >> Sheamus, he’s gonna try this one more time. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Gunther fighting like hell to avoid it. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Trying to wrap Gunther’s arms to set him up for Ten Beats of the Bodhran. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Gunther just [INAUDIBLE] through the match. >> Sheamus with a right of his own. >> Heavy forearms from the Celtic Warrior. >> And Gunther so quick as well for his size. Did you hear that? >> [APPLAUSE] >> I believe it was Gunther who said that he was going to chop Sheamus’s chest into bloody bits. >> Two boots from the challenger takes down the Champion. Tremendous upper body strength. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Hit the right there to meet Sheamus again. >> My goodness, a chop that knocks Sheamus off the ropes to the floor. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Listen. >> My god. >> [APPLAUSE] >> When you talk to people who’ve been in the ring with Gunther, Corey, 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. >> [APPLAUSE] >> WWE fans remembering Gunther’s past. >> And Gunther now scooping Sheamus up and slamming him onto 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 his way back into the ring, the official at a count of seven. As 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. >> [APPLAUSE] >> 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. >> He’s still fighting back. >> Right on the ear of Gunther. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Sheamus- >> Just crumbles to the ground after that chop from Gunther. >> And the Celtic Warrior’s chest is starting to look like hamburger. >> [APPLAUSE] >> And a kick for good measure in the spine. Gunther right now in total control. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Imagine 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? >> [APPLAUSE] >> My god. >> Gunther just kicked Sheamus so hard I lost a tooth. >> My god, the brutality. >> [APPLAUSE] >> This has just been physicality on overload. >> Uncomfortable is what it’s been. >> Gunther is striking at will. >> For every punch 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. >> [APPLAUSE] >> I don’t even know how he can breathe. Pull himself back to his feet. [INAUDIBLE]. >> Sheamus, you can actually see the determination. >> Well it was determination on his face, or defiance. >> The Ring General demands you fall in line, you do not defy the Intercontinental Champion. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Now Gunther trying to push Sheamus on his belly, perhaps for a Boston crab. >> Gunther has to [CROSSTALK]. >> 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 Sheamus is gonna tap out, or will he make it to the bottom rope? >> I think Sheamus is too proud to tap out. >> I’m not sure how Sheamus 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. Attempting to anyway, and Sheamus looking to block. Sheamus trying to power out of this one with the knuckle lock. Gunther 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. [NOISE] >> Absolutely 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. >> [APPLAUSE] >> This match, a real gut check between Sheamus and Gunther. How does Sheamus 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 can 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 Champions 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. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Sheamus staring daggers into the Intercontinental Champion still with fight left in his heart. [NOISE] >> And here comes Sheamus fighting back now, trying to change momentum of the match. >> I was gonna 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. >> And now sending Sheamus right over the table, into the chair. [NOISE] >> Again guys, I’ve got to ask the question. Do you ever remember Sheamus being dominated in this manner? >> I don’t, 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 in >> And now Sheamus trying to turn the tables, bouncing Gunther off the announce table a couple of times. And now Sheamus has Gunther where he wants him, the wild eyes of the Celtic Warrior. >> Making a whole 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 Sheamus, after all the punishment this man has taken. >> This goes to show you this type of X factor the live crowd can play, fellow Europeans standing behind Sheamus driving the challenger forward and every hit Sheamus to taste Intercontinental Title. >> And Gunther trying to escape the ten beat to the bodhran. >> An unfamiliar sight, the Ring General in retreat. >> Now Sheamus sent over the barricade into the WWE fans, and now Seamus said, I’m gonna punish you some more. >> Why not? [NOISE] >> 10, 11, 12, and more, who’s gonna stop him? >> [APPLAUSE] >> Now it’s Gunther trying to escape. >> Sheamus forcing the champion back inside the ring. [NOISE] >> Now Sheamus willing himself to the top rope, the knee of Gunther and Sheamus is feeling it could be closing in on the Intercontinental Championship. >> [APPLAUSE] >> Maybe he’s got to be feeling confident because he 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 Sheamus with the boom. [NOISE] >> And Sheamus now with Gunther up on his shoulders, Gunther drops behind and blasts Sheamus in the kidneys. >> Sheamus answers with a right of his own. [NOISE] >> Who can hit who harder? [NOISE] >> Corey, 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. >> German suplex by Gunther. >> Sheamus tried to mitigate the impact, maybe managed to do so. 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. >> That is the best opportunity Sheamus has had in this match to actually walk away with the Intercontinental Title. >> Much to the delight on the over 60,000 here tonight in Cardiff, Wales. It has been a hard hitting affair as advertised, between Gunther and Sheamus. >> And brutality at its finest between two of the hardest hitters in all of WWE. These are two of the toughest bastards in the business, far none. [NOISE] >> 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 Sheamus to win for the very first time. >> The sleeper. >> Sleeper by the champion, Sheamus down to a knee in the middle of the ring. >> And is still instinctively trying to swing but Sheamus starting to fade here, guys. >> But 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. >> And now trying to lift Sheamus up for the powerbomb, Sheamus able to counter get Gunther up, can he deliver? White noise, >> Who’s on the mat? >> For the win, for the title, for the first time, and a kick out at two and a half. [NOISE] >> The exhaustion from Sheamus. [NOISE] >> We’re see the challenger driving the champion down, white noise, two and nine-tenths, but Gunther escapes. >> [APPLAUSE] >> 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 Sheamus and Gunther are beating the living hell out of one another with the intercontinental title on the line. [NOISE] >> Sheamus feeding off the energy of all the fans here in Cardiff. >> And Sheamus could be setting up Gunther for a broke kick to put the champion away. Gunther back to his feet, sidesteps Sheamus. Sheamus with an elbow, catches him. And there’s a drop kick, driving Sheamus into the corner. And now Gunther went for the powerbomb. Didn’t get all of it. Cover on Sheamus. Hook of the leg. And Sheamus kicked out. Gunther didn’t get all that power bomb. >> Sheamus did his best to sit upright. Most of the impact was going to land on Sheamus tailbone. Definitely agonizing, but not enough to keep the celtic warrior down for three. >> Saw Sheamus immediately reach back to his lower back. Yeah, in the 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. You saw even a little shock a moment ago on the face of Gunther that. That Sheamus was straight, still able to escape. 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. >> I’m not even sure if Sheamus could stand. This is a frightening sight right here. Yeah, that’s six foot for Gunther. Sheamus met him there, though. [NOISE]. >> My God. [NOISE]. >> Strike exchange. >> Gunther once again all by himself, looking to attack from the end. >> And again, Sheamus does not allow Gunther to get to the top rope. Sheamus is now the one who’s been a step ahead. [NOISE] >> And Sheamus heading up Gunther for perhaps the celtic cross from way up high. Gunther with nowhere to go but down. Sheamus with an opportunity. Can he get to the cover? Can he make the cover Sheamus trying to drag himself to the champion. Touch the leg. Is this it? Sheamus, that kick out by kills the right two and a half. >> You gotta be kidding me. >> Look at Sheamus’s body. Black and blue and red peeled apart. >> 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. >> Sheamus’ 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. >> Sheamus again has the champion in his sights. Drags himself to his feet. Went for the Brogue but the back gave out. The back gave out as he went for the pro power bomb. >> 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 bro kick [NOISE]. >> Cover with a wicked Lariat and a cover on Sheamus and it’s over. [SOUND] Gunther retains. >> Here is your winner, and still the Intercontinental champion, Gunther. >> That was a hell of a fight. >> This delivered as advertised. My goodness. >> 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’ dream on. This night in Cardiff, Wales. >> A physically maiming affair between Gunther and Sheamus. >> But you gotta give credit where credit’s due. Gunther survived this war here tonight. >> JC Giovanni Vinci reunited with Imperium Ludwig Kaiser. To celebrate the ring general, the intercontinental champion. [MUSIC] >> Sheamus is 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. >> [APPLAUSE]. A tremendous show of respect for one of the hardest hitters, one of the most physical men that you’ll ever meet. Sheamus left everything on the line here tonight. He came up just short in his quest for his first ever Intercontinental championship.