On Saturday, the WWE is hosting one of its latest premium live events, Bash in Berlin. This marks the company’s first-ever pay-per-view in Germany.

The event features a light schedule of just five matches, three of which hold championship titles. Notably, there is the Undisputed WWE Championship bout between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens, along with Gunther challenging the legendary Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. Plus, the women’s tag team titles are also being defended, showcasing two major rivalries in wrestling. Given the electric atmosphere provided by European audiences this year, a similarly vibrant crowd is expected here.

Stay tuned to YSL News Sports for updates and highlights from the action in Berlin:

Drew McIntyre vs. CM Punk strap match

The match intensified before it even officially began. During CM Punk’s entrance, McIntyre seized the moment when Punk turned his back, launching an attack before they were even strapped together.

Once McIntyre hurled Punk back into the ring, he attached the strap to his own arm and urged the referee to signal the start of the match. However, the referee declined, forcing McIntyre to strap Punk solo. The match finally kicked off, with McIntyre dominating early on, even managing to touch one corner.

Punk managed to flip the match around, choosing to focus on inflicting pain on McIntyre rather than hitting the turnbuckles. Even when McIntyre appeared down and vulnerable, Punk resisted touching any corners.

For several minutes, the action occurred outside the ring, with Punk flipping McIntyre onto the commentator’s table and McIntyre retaliating with a headbutt. The fight eventually returned to the ring with Punk bleeding from a cut on his forehead.

As the match progressed, both competitors landed heavy hits. McIntyre delivered a crushing Claymore kick, while Punk maneuvered McIntyre into a corner chair he had previously set up. Each fighter managed to tap three corners, yet neither achieved the fourth to claim victory. The closest McIntyre came was after he slammed Punk into a table and was carrying him around the ring, but Punk masterfully tapped all three remaining corners while McIntyre did the same, leaving both wrestlers chasing after the last corner without success.

After taking some hard hits, McIntyre became overconfident and donned a bracelet with the names of Punk’s wife and dog—an item that had previously troubled Punk. This misstep added fuel to Punk’s determination. Following another Claymore kick, as McIntyre was on the verge of touching the corners, Punk retaliated with a series of GTS moves, hitting one before each corner to clinch the victory, stripping McIntyre of that bothersome bracelet before the end.

Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair vs. Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn

The following match showcased two of WWE’s biggest names—Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill—teaming up for the women’s tag team championship against the duo known as the Unholy Union, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.

Belair and Cargill wasted no time demonstrating their dominance, landing significant hits on Alba Fyre. It was only through Isla Dawn’s interference that Fyre managed to strike Belair, grappling her by the hair and throwing her out of the ring before attacking Cargill.

This shift allowed Fyre and Dawn to take control, consistently targeting Belair and preventing her from tagging Cargill. Fyre executed a DDT on Belair following a counter that not only neutralized Belair’s grip but also knocked Cargill off the ring apron with a kick to the face.

After delivering a suplex to Isla Dawn, Belair finally tagged Cargill back in. Fresh off the bench, Cargill dominated Dawn, but Dawn stubbornly refused to be pinned.

Cargill appeared to have the advantage but tagged Belair sooner than expected, unintentionally handing Fyre and Dawn a chance. The duo executed a powerful double-team move on Belair, almost sealing the match, if not for Cargill diving in to break up the cover.

Both teams had their shot at victory afterward, but ultimately it was Belair and Cargill who prevailed. After they teamed up to neutralize Fyre, Dawn found herself overwhelmed by the relentless assault from her opponents. Cargill secured the pinfall, making them the new women’s tag team champions!

Kevin Owens vs. Cody Rhodes for the Universal Championship

The enthusiastic crowd in Berlin welcomed WWE immediately. As Universal Champion Cody Rhodes made his entrance, the audience joined together to sing his theme song.

Even as the match commenced, Owens and Rhodes took their time before launching at each other, strategically waiting for a moment of stillness in the arena’s cheering. Eventually, Owens struck first, sending Rhodes crashing to the mat with a powerful shoulder attack after making contact with the ropes.

At the start, Owens seemed to have the advantage over Rhodes. Whenever Rhodes tried to set up a Crossrhodes, Owens would manage to wriggle free and attempt his own counters. When Rhodes attempted to springboard onto Owens, he was caught, resulting in Owens landing a solid hit.

Despite this, Rhodes was the first to score a cover. Although Owens had no trouble kicking out, Rhodes quickly transitioned into a leglock hoping to force him to tap out, but Owens was never seriously threatened.

This entire exchange was a showcase of Rhodes’ skills, as he maintained constant pressure. However, Owens demonstrated impressive resilience, pushing Rhodes into a striking battle, where Owens clearly excelled.

The competition continued to oscillate between the two wrestlers for an extended period. While Rhodes connected with more strikes and had several chances to win—including a cody cutter from the ropes—Owens remained steadfast. Rhodes consistently landed punches, yet when Owens struck back, it was impactful. Notably, a neckbreaker severely incapacitated Rhodes for almost a minute.

The back-and-forth persisted. Rhodes executed a crossrhodes, followed by Owens delivering a corner slam, and both wrestlers exchanged superkicks. Each maneuver from one competitor was swiftly countered by the other. This back-and-forth finally shifted when Rhodes’ previously injured knee buckled while trying to leap off the corner. Owens chose not to exploit Rhodes’ injury, despite having multiple chances to attack him, opting instead for a more honorable victory.

Eventually, Owens managed to hit a stunner after Rhodes assured him he was fine, but Rhodes kicked out. Following that he attempted two swift crossrhodes. As Rhodes aimed for a third, Owens countered and executed yet another stunner, but this only delayed the inevitable. Owens showed leniency, which proved to be a mistake. Cody Rhodes clinched victory by countering a swanton with his knees, a pivotal moment that led him to triumph.

When is Bash in Berlin 2024? Start time

The Bash in Berlin event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 31, starting at 1 p.m. ET, which is 7 p.m. locally.

Where is Bash in Berlin 2024?

The event will be held at Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany.

How to watch Bash in Berlin 2024: TV channel, streaming

You can stream the event on Peacock, but a premium or premium-plus subscription is required. For international viewers, it will also be available on WWE Network.

Catch all the WWE action with a Peacock subscription

How to watch Bash in Berlin preshow:

Fans in the United States can view the Bash in Berlin preshow on Peacock or YouTube, as both platforms will stream it live.

What happened during the Bash in Berlin Kickoff show?

The kickoff show was streamed live on YouTube on August 30, prepping audiences for both Friday Night Smackdown and Bash in Berlin. Michael Cole started the show to loud cheers, introducing The Miz as his first guest. However, their interaction was brief before The Miz handed it off to CM Punk.

Punk received roaring applause and cheers. He and Cole discussed Punk’s dispute with Drew McIntyre and his victories in strap matches over the years. Punk engaged with the crowd, even crediting them as his greatest advantage in his bout against McIntyre that night.

Transitioning sharply, the crowd shifted from cheers to boos when Drew McIntyre took the stage. McIntyre turned the crowd back to his favor, noting that he has remained loyal to WWE while Punk pursued other ventures. The audience didn’t take kindly to this, heckling McIntyre as an “a**hole.” Michael Cole dryly commented, “That’s English, Drew.” No translation needed.

Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio then made an appearance. This duo, known for their defiance in the face of boos, faced a very unsupportive Berlin crowd – much more enthusiastic about Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley, the Terror Twins, who reminded everyone of Dom’s poor choice in choosing Morgan over Ripley.

As the show wrapped up, attention turned to the star many Germans are rallying behind: the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther. Having held a title for most of his WWE career, he is certainly the crowd favorite to win that evening. A defeat to Randy Orton would surely let down fans in Germany.

Bash in Berlin 2024 match card

Matches listed are not in any specific order

• Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
• World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) vs. Randy Orton
• Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn (c) vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill
• Mixed tag team match: The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan) vs. The Terror Twins (Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley)
• Strap match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre

Bash in Berlin 2024 predictions

• Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) to defeat Kevin Owens
• World Heavyweight Championship match: Gunther (c) to defeat Randy Orton
• Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill to defeat Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
• Mixed tag team match: The Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan) to defeat The Terror Twins (Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley)
• Strap match: CM Punk to defeat Drew McIntyre

What is a strap match?

In a strap match, competitors CM Punk and Drew McIntyre elevate their feud. In this match type, both wrestlers are bound together at opposite ends of a leather strap, keeping them in close proximity throughout.

The strap can be used as a weapon; however, a unique rule dictates that pinfall, submission, or count-out will not determine the outcome. Only one competitor To win a strap match, a competitor must tap the top of all four turnbuckles one after another without any breaks, which requires them to pull their opponent along during the process.

Punk’s Track Record in Strap Matches

Punk has participated in two strap matches in WWE and has come out victorious in both. The first match took place in 2006 against Brent Albright for the OVW Heavyweight Championship. The second was against Umaga at Extreme Rules in 2009. Punk triumphed in both instances, demonstrating exceptional skill, especially in the latter where he nearly faced defeat after touching three corners.

WWE International Pay-Per-Views This Year

This year, WWE has been hosting premium live events globally, with Bash in Berlin being the sixth event held outside the United States. Here are the international shows scheduled so far:

• WWE SmackDown New Year’s Revolution – January 5 in Vancouver, Canada
• Elimination Chamber – February 24 in Perth, Australia
• WWE Backlash – May 4 in Lyon-Decines, France
• King and Queen of the Ring – May 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Clash at the Castle – June 15 in Glasgow, Scotland
• WWE Money in the Bank – July 6 in Toronto, Canada
• WWE NXT Heatwave – July 7 in Toronto, Canada
• Bash in Berlin – August 31 in Berlin, Germany
• Crown Jewel – November 2 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Survivor Series: WarGames – November 30 in Vancouver, Canada

Current Champions in WWE

• Undisputed WWE Universal Champion: Cody Rhodes
• World Heavyweight Champion: Gunther
• WWE Women’s Champion: Nia Jax
• Women’s World Champion: Liv Morgan
• Intercontinental Champion: Bron Breakker
• United States Champion: LA Knight
• Women’s Tag Team Champions: The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn)
• WWE Tag Team Champions: The Bloodline (Tonga Loa & Tama Tonga)
• World Tag Team Champions: The Judgment Day (Finn Balor & JD McDonagh)
• WWE Speed Champion: Andrade

Kevin Owens’ Path to a Title Match

Essentially, Owens hasn’t done anything to genuinely earn his title match, which is a key element of the narrative for this event. Even though Owens has played a crucial role in assisting Cody Rhodes in keeping his Universal Championship after defeating Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, he hasn’t claimed many victories in his individual matches since. Owens is aware of this fact.

Before the event began, WWE aired a brief interview featuring Owens and Rhodes. During this interview, Owens expressed his desire to have earned this opportunity in a more legitimate fashion. Whether through a tournament or a bout against someone Rhodes had previously defended against, the specifics were unimportant. While Owens is appreciative of the chance and desires the title, he is not satisfied with his recent performance.