On Saturday, August 31st, 2024, WWE presents Bash in Berlin from the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany. The event will be the first-ever WWE PLE to emanate from Germany.
While only five matches are advertised for the event, that doesn’t mean its ramifications won’t be felt moving on. Who will be the winners and losers coming out of Berlin?
WWE presents Bash in Berlin
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
The Unholy Union (c) vs. Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair
Since Clash at the Castle a few months back, fans witnessed the hometown challengers walk away as the new women’s tag team champions.
Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre have worked to earn the respect deserved by two women who starred in the UK and have now become champions. But will all their work and effort be enough to get them past Cargill and Belair?
Will the former WWE Women’s tag team champions once again recapture the championships or will the current champions retaining going into Bad Blood?
WWE presents Bash in Berlin
Mixed Tag Team Match
Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan
In one night, Judgment Day had imploded. We went from having the WWE World Champion and arguably the most dominant woman on the Raw roster ousted from the group.
Liv said she would take everything from Rhea, and true to her word, she took things and an environment that mattered. But the question is now, despite how intense or intimidating the ‘Terror Twins’ are, they still face a numbers game in the new Judgment Day.
It doesn’t matter how we slice it on paper. It may be a two-on-two matchup, but to think Finn Balor, JD McDonaugh, and Carlito won’t get involved would be silly.
It will be interesting to see whether those who had issues with Judgment Day previously show their respect for them now.
On more than one occasion, we have heard Jey Uso say that he wants to get the tag titles back from the Judgment Day and team with Sami Zayn to do so.
Damian Priest has said he had respect for Jey leading up to their first championship match against one another. Could Uso and Zayn become the proverbial enemy of my enemy, allies to Priest and Ripley?
WWE presents Bash in Berlin
WWE Undisputed Championship
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
After what happened at SummerSlam, the question of who would be Cody’s next challenger was up for discussion, what initially began as one friend thinking another friend deserved a title shot, was also met with some resistance.
Now, there are two trains of thought here. Do you deny yourself an opportunity because you feel you don’t deserve it? Or do you take it because of your commitment to those who believe in you?
This is where we are with this mindset. Kevin Owens doesn’t need to betray his friendship to get a title opportunity.
His competitiveness should be enough to guide him in this match. But will it be enough? When push comes to shove, will Owens’ competitiveness force him to cost his friendship with Cody?
WWE presents Bash in Berlin
Strap Match
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
After not competing in one-on-one action (on camera) since his return in November 2023, CM Punk will compete in his second match in the same month. His opponent will be none other than the adversary with whom he has been developing a story with, in Drew McIntyre.
Whether it’s for something as simple as being over a friendship bracelet or not, Punk’s argument is all the same. It’s about the principle of having something that represents those closest to him in the possession of someone else.
The one hope is that this match will have more competition between them. Punk has returned, appearing stronger and more developed in areas that were injured previously.
With no Seth Rollins involved in this match, the inclusion of a strap while is a different nuance between them to really see both men battle with tons of near falls would be a hope going into this match.
WWE presents Bash in Berlin
WWE World Championship
GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton
It wasn’t surprising that GUNTHER made his address after capturing the WWE World Championship at SummerSlam. What was surprising was that he was met with the appearance and interruption of 14-time former world champion Randy Orton.
While some questioned the reasoning for why a Smackdown competitor would challenge for the Raw title, it was made clear by Triple H, with the promise that he would get a rematch against GUNTHER, who defeated him in the King of the Ring finals.
It was a controversial finish as it would be Orton whose shoulder was up as the referee counted three but couldn’t see it based on his angle. Therefore, we have a match that will lend itself a reason to have a rematch between them.
Leading into this match, it has become quite personal, and with that, it has led to GUNTHER digging deep and trying to hit Orton where it hurts. His legacy.
Will Orton become a 15-time champion, or will he be the first of GUNTHER’s many unsuccessful challengers?
