Imperium is back.
At WWE Clash At The Castle, Gunther came out for his Intercontinental Championship match against Sheamus. When Ludwig Kaiser was introducing Gunther, he also mentioned the Imperium faction before introducing Giovanni Vinci, formerly known as Fabian Aichner. This is Vinci's first appearance on the main roster.
Here's how it all went down courtesy of our live coverage:
Giovanni Vinci joined Ludwig Kaiser to introduce IMPERIUM before introducing the Intercontinental Champion Gunther. Butch, Holland, Kaiser & Vinci brawled across the ringside area before Butch hit a moonsault on everyone. The match began with Gunther hitting a chop on Sheamus, but the two then exchanged strikes before Gunther hit an uppercut. The two continued to exchange strikes before Gunther hit three chops on Sheamus followed by a big boot. Gunther went for a suplex, but Sheamus hit a suplex of his own. Gunther placed Gunther on the apron and attempted the 10 beats of the bell, but Gunther dropped off the apron. Outside of the ring, Sheamus tossed Gunther into the stairs. Back in the ring, Sheamus was on the apron, but Gunther caught him with a forearm strike. Gunther placed Sheamus in the corner and hit two vicious chops on Sheamus. Sheamus climbed to the top rope, but Gunther hit a nasty chop on Sheamus to send him outside of the ring. Outside of the ring, Guntherhit a body slam on Sheamus onto the stairs outside of the ring. Sheamus beat the countdown at nine, but Gunther greeted him back in the ring with a strike to the back. Gunther & Sheamus exchanged strikes & chops before Gunther dropped Sheamus to the mat and hit another vicious chop. Gunther hit two more shops, but Sheamus responded with open pal strikes. Gunther hit a chop and a kick to the face of Sheamus. Gunther laid in the vicious chops and strikes on Sheamus before hitting a vicious big boot on Sheamus. Gunther locked in a Boston Crab on Sheamus before quickly transitioning into a bulldog choke, but Sheamus broke the hold by getting Gunther's fist into a knuckle lock. Gunther broke the hold and hit a vicious chop on Sheamus' neck. Sheamus and Gunther exchanged strikes, but Gunther connected a wrist lock chop on Sheamus. Gunther hit a second wrist lock chop on Sheamus, but Sheamus stared daggers on Gunther. Sheamus intercepted a chop from Gunther before laying in strikes on Gunther, but Gunther tossed him to the outside and hit a body slam on Sheamus to the ringside floor. Gunther tossed Sheamus over the broadcast table, but Sheamus bounced Gunther's face into the table. Sheamus hit 5 beats of the bell on Gunther in the broadcast table. Back in the ring, Sheamus hit a lariat on Sheamus before hitting the 10 Beats of the Bell on Gunther before Gunther retreated to the outside of the ring. Sheamus hit 10 more beats of the bell on Gunther on the barricade. Back in the ring, Sheamus climbed to the top rope and hit a top-rope knee drop on Gunther. Sheamus went for a Fireman's carry, but Gunther hit a forearm strike on Sheamus' back. Gunther & Sheamus exchanged strikes before Gunther hit a German Suplex and a chop on Sheamus, but Sheamus caught him with a Brogue Knee to the face. Gunther got Sheamus in a Sleeper Hold, with Sheamus getting on one knee. Gunther went for a powerbomb but Sheamus turned it into a White Noise for a near fall. Sheamus went for a Brogue Kick, but Gunther evaded and hit a Shotgun dropkick on Sheamus before hitting a powerbomb for a near fall. Gunther climbed to the top rope, but Sheamus hit a chop on Gunther and connected a Razor's Edge on Gunther for a near fall. Sheamus went for a Brogue kick, but his back gave out and Gunther connected a powerbomb on Sheamus before connecting a vicious, disgusting, and absolutely devastating lariat on Sheamus for the pinfall win & retain the Intercontinental Championship. Sheamus got a standing ovation from the crowd after the match.
Winners: Gunther retains the Intercontinental Championship
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