WWE stars Gunther and Cody Rhodes arrived at The Bash in Berlin on Saturday as champions and left the same way as the company held its first-ever premium live event in Germany.
Gunther, a native of Vienna, was the headliner of the night in a match for his World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton. The 37-year-old titan and the “Legend Killer” put on an entertaining fight in front of a roused crowd that couldn't decide who to root for.
Orton had a strategy of wearing down Gunther's arm throughout the night. The WWE star tried to avoid getting hit in the chest as much as possible. But the Austrian still found a way to knock out “The Viper.” Orton even put Gunther through the announcers' table, but it wasn't enough.
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WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, left, greets Randy Orton after Gunther defeated Orton during The Bash in Berlin on August 31, 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)
Gunther attacked Orton with a sleeper hold and the relentless pursuit was enough to cause Orton to pass out and ultimately lose the match. In the end, Orton and Gunther shook hands and the former greeted the latter with a gesture of respect.
Rhodes began the match with a title defense against Kevin Owens.
Owens seemed to have reservations throughout the match about working on Rhodes' knee, which Owens said he injured on the last SmackDown before Bash in Berlin. When Owens had the opportunity to take out the knee, he hesitated.
Rhodes and Owens battled for several minutes, with both trading multiple finishers against each other. Owens attempted a top rope senton, but Rhodes got his knees in the way to deflect it. “The American Nightmare” then hit Rhodes' three Cross Maneuvers to finally put Owens out of the fight and win the match.
Rhodes and Owens hugged in the ring, although Owens was not happy about losing the match.
WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Cody Rhodes will make his entrance at The Bash in Berlin on August 31, 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)
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CM Punk and Drew McIntyre had the match of the night.
The two battled each other hard in a strap match, adding another chapter to the impressive eight-month rivalry. The two gave everything they had against each other. McIntyre bloodied Punk at one point.
But there were no pinfalls, no countouts and no submissions in the match. The winner had to touch all three corner turnbuckles in succession. It took a while to do so, but in the end, Punk had the upper hand.
Punk performed three Go to Sleep finishers, retrieved the bracelet McIntyre stole that had the names of his wife and dog on it, and completed the walk around the squared circle.
Punk then told Cathy Kelley that he has his sights set on Gunther's title.
“I want the gold, I'm coming for you, you fool,” he said.
Two tag team matches were also scheduled.
In the first tag team match, Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship against Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre.
Cargill and Belair showed off their athletic abilities, somehow overcoming Dawn and Fyre's dominant teamwork, which they displayed throughout the match. Cargill hit a German suplex after a DDT from Belair and pinned Dawn.
Rhea Ripley kneels on WWE Women's World Champion Liv Morgan after Ripley pinned her during Bash in Berlin on August 31, 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)
Cargill and Belair could be crowned tag team champions for the second time.
Finally, the next chapter of the Day of Judgment rift was written.
Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley defeated Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan in a mixed tag team match. Ripley sent WWE fans into a frenzy when she performed a head scissors on Mysterio in the corner, reminiscent of when she first performed the maneuver a few years ago.
Ripley applied the Riptide to Morgan, rolled her into the pretzel pin and her team was declared the winner.
The feuds between the revamped Judgment Day and Priest and Ripley and Morgan appeared to be far from over. Finn Balor, JD McDonagh and Carlito all interfered in the match at one point, while Ripley will surely be seeking the Women's World Championship after losing it at SummerSlam.
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WWE's next premium live event is Bad Blood, scheduled for October 5 in Atlanta.
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