Sheamus looks back at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022 bout. At WWE Clash at the Castle 2022, Sheamus challenged Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Gunther was three months into what would become a 666 day reign, and Sheamus was going after the one WWE championship that has eluded him. The WWE superstar and former multi-time world champion recently appeared on the Pat McAfee Show to discuss his prestigious career. During the chat, Sheamus revealed that his classic feud against GUNTHER, specifically at Clash at the Castle 2022 for the Intercontinental Title, was an idea that he pitched to Triple H at the time. He says that he was originally not scheduled for the show and that The Game eventually booked the match.
“The Gunther match to me is very special. That match wasn’t even supposed to happen. (WWE) was going to Wales, and at the time I wasn’t doing anything. I talked to Hunter about it, we spitballed back and forth, and then he went and made the match. I pitched that match in Wales. Fair play to him, he made it happen.”
Despite putting up a fantastic effort GUNTHER would defeat Sheamus to retain the title on that night. The Intercontinental Championship remains the one belt that has alluded the Celtic Warrior in his lengthy WWE run.
Sheamus will appear on the first episode of College GameDay this season. He spoke on The Pat McAfee Show to discuss this and his current role in WWE. Sheamus discussed training with Gunther and his excellent match against Pete Dunne on WWE Raw this past Monday:
“The Gunther matches to me were special. That match wasn’t even supposed to happen. At the time, I don’t think I was doing anything. I talked to Hunter about it and spitballed back and forth and he made the match. I pitched that match in Wales and he made it happen. The matches I had with Drew, him, Daniel Bryan back in the day, and then obviously Cesaro, I just love that aspect. Pete (Dunn) the other night too, I think when other talent gets in with me, I think they realize they don’t have to worry about the other guy complaining or moaning about it. They know they can go full-tilt. For example, Pete Dunne the other night, he went in there and brought an intensity we haven’t seen from him before. That’s what made the match. I told Regal this the other day. One of the things that re-set me off in my career after I’ve gone through John Cena and Randy and Hunter and all them. I went in with Daniel Bryan, Bryan Danielson and it was great. I see the same traits in Pete Dunne because he has a great, creative mind, but he’s also aggressive. He just needs to let go and he let go on Monday night and it was awesome.”
While The Celtic Warrior has achieved just about every accolade there is to achieve in WWE, the Intercontinental Championship remains the final piece of the puzzle to slot into place. In 2022, the company held its first stadium show in the UK in 30 years as Clash at the Castle took place in Cardiff, Wales. With a packed crowd wanting to see the former World Champion finally win the title, there was a feeling that it might finally happen that night.
Unfortunately for Sheamus, the wrestler standing in his way was the most formidable Intercontinental Champion in history, The Ring General Gunther. Following a hard-hitting contest that many expected, Gunther ultimately emerged victorious while The Celtic Warrior received a sizeable ovation from the Cardiff crowd despite coming up short that night.
The match was incredibly well-received by critics and by fans, with many believing it was the best match of the whole year. However, despite the praise, it nearly didn’t happen at all.
Discussing the match on The Pat McAfee Show, the former World Champion admitted that there were no plans for him to fight Gunther until he went to Triple H and suggested it:
“The Gunther match to me is very special. That match wasn’t even supposed to happen. (WWE) was going to Wales, and at the time I wasn’t doing anything. I talked to Hunter about it, we spitballed back and forth, and then he went and made the match. I pitched that match in Wales. Fair play to him, he made it happen,”
Known for having very physical matches throughout his career, the former World Champion is also happy to receive the same punishment in return. In a follow-up match against Gunther in May 2024, Sheamus showed off the brutal aftermath.
Gunther is on the verge of creating a Hall Of Fame career for himself, if he hasn't already. He is the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in the company's history and has won the King of the Ring tournament. Most recently, he won the World Heavyweight Championship from Damian Priest at SummerSlam and is on his way to defend the title against Randy Orton at Bash in Berlin.
“The Gunther match to me is very special. That match wasn’t even supposed to happen. (WWE) was going to Wales, and at the time I wasn’t doing anything. I talked to Hunter about it, we spitballed back and forth, and then he went and made the match. I pitched that match in Wales. Fair play to him, he made it happen.”
Randy Orton stepped up to Gunther as his first challenger since the latter won the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. It was surprising to see The Viper move from SmackDown to RAW for the challenge but the WWE Universe seems excited for their upcoming bout.
During a recent interview, The Apex Predator drew parallels between his and his opponent's run as World Heavyweight Champions. He remembered how a veteran such as Shawn Michaels had stepped up against him as his first challenger and now he is in Michaels' shoes.
Gunther has a win over Randy Orton when the two met in the finals of the King of the Ring Tournament a few months ago. While the victory was controversial, The Ring General will be looking to prove his haters wrong by beating a legend such as Orton clean next weekend.
