| Clash in Paris | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Promotion | WWE | ||
| Brand(s) | Raw SmackDown | ||
| Date | August 31, 2025 | ||
| City | Nanterre, France | ||
| Venue | Paris La Défense Arena | ||
| Attendance | 30,343 | ||
| WWE event chronology | |||
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| WWE in Europe chronology | |||
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Clash in Paris was a 2025professional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV) andlivestreamingevent produced by the American companyWWE. It took place on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at theParis La Défense Arena inNanterre,France, and was held for wrestlers from the promotion'sRaw andSmackDownbrand divisions. It marked WWE's second PPV and livestreaming event held in France afterBacklash in May 2024, and the first in theParis metropolitan area.
The event featuredJohn Cena's first and only appearance at a PPV and livestreaming event in France as an in-ring performer due to his retirement from professional wrestling at the end of 2025. The event was also the last WWE main roster PPV and livestreaming event to air onPeacock in the United States, as these events began airing onESPN'sdirect-to-consumer streaming service with September'sWrestlepalooza.
Six matches were contested at the event. In the main event,Seth Rollins defeatedCM Punk,LA Knight, andJey Uso in afatal four-way match to retain Raw'sWorld Heavyweight Championship. In other prominent matches, John Cena defeatedLogan Paul and in the opening bout,Roman Reigns defeatedBronson Reed.
Following the critical and commercial success of the Americanprofessional wrestling promotionWWE's eventBacklash in 2024, which was their firstpay-per-view (PPV) andlivestreaming event held inFrance,[1][2] WWE PresidentNick Khan announced at a January 16, 2025, event inLas Vegas, Nevada that the company would be returning to France for another PPV and livestreaming event sometime later that year.[3] On January 29, WWE officially announced through theirYouTube channel and website that they would return to France on Sunday, August 31, 2025, for an event titled Clash in Paris, held inLa Défense, Nanterre at theParis La Défense Arena, marking the company's first event in theParis metropolitan area. It was also announced that the September 1 episode ofMonday Night Raw would emanate from the same venue.[4] An additional five nights ofWWE Live shows in Europe and three televised broadcasts of WWE's weekly showsRaw andFriday Night SmackDown preceding Clash in Paris and Monday'sRaw, were also scheduled as part of the "Road to Clash in Paris" tour, concluding with theRaw after Clash in Paris.[5] Clash in Paris was held for wrestlers from theRaw andSmackDownbrands.[4]
In addition to airing on traditional PPV worldwide, it was available to livestream onPeacock in the United States,Netflix in most international markets, and theWWE Network in any remaining countries that had not yet transferred to Netflix due to pre-existing contracts.[6] This was WWE's last main roster PPV and livestreaming event to air on Peacock, asESPN'sdirect-to-consumer streaming service began broadcasting these events in the United States starting withWrestlepalooza on September 20, 2025. This changeover had originally been slated to begin withWrestleMania 42 in April 2026 upon the expiration of WWE's contract with Peacock in March, but as WWE had done some extra events, including each WrestleMania on Peacock since 2021 being two nights,Evolution in July 2025, and making the2025 SummerSlam two nights, this fulfilled WWE's obligations to Peacock early for the main roster PPV and livestreaming events, allowing them to switch to ESPN sooner; Peacock will still airNXT's livestreaming events until at least March 2026, and will maintain other content, such asSaturday Night's Main Event, for the next several years.[7][8]
The event included six matches that resulted from scripted storylines. Results were predetermined by WWE's writers on the Raw and SmackDown brands,[9][10] while storylines were produced on WWE's weekly television shows,Monday Night Raw andFriday Night SmackDown.[11]
AtMoney in the Bank on June 7, avillainousJohn Cena andLogan Paul teamed together in a losing effort.[12] On the August 8 episode ofSmackDown, after turning face the previous week, a nowheroic Cena reflected over his career and subsequently issued an open challenge, which was answered by Paul. After an exchange of words, Cena wanted to face Paul on that night's episode, which Paul refused, instead challenging Cena to a match at Clash in Paris, which Cena accepted.[13]
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In June,Seth Rollins began feuding withLA Knight, with both competing in theMoney in the Bank ladder match at the eponymous event, where Rollins won the briefcase after Rollins's stablematesBron Breakker andBronson Reed interfered.[12] Knight and Rollins continued feuding, leading to a match atSaturday Night's Main Event XL, where Knight won after Rollins seemingly injured his knee.[14] After that, Breakker competed in a number one contender'sgauntlet match for aWorld Heavyweight Championship match at SummerSlam. During the match, Breakker eliminated all competitors, including Knight andJey Uso, who also had his own problems with Rollins's group since afterWrestleMania 41, and also wanted to win back the World Heavyweight Championship he had lost back on June. However, Breakker was eliminated by Rollins's rivalCM Punk, who earned the title match.[15] On Night 1 of SummerSlam, Uso teamed with hiscousinRoman Reigns to defeat Breakker and Reed in atag team match, while later that night in the main event, Punk won the World Heavyweight Championship, only for Rollins to appear and reveal he had feigned his knee injury and subsequently cashed-in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Punk to win the championship.[16] On the following episode ofRaw, Rollins's group name was revealed asThe Vision, and later that evening, Knight faced Rollins for the championship with Breakker and Reed banned from ringside, but it ended in a disqualification win for Rollins after Punk attacked him. The Vision subsequently got the upper hand on Punk and Knight.[17] The following episode, Punk and Knight defeated Breakker and Reed by disqualification after Rollins attacked Punk. Uso then appeared to help Knight and Punk, brawling with The Vision. Raw General ManagerAdam Pearce then announced that Rollins would defend the championship against Punk, Knight, and Uso in afatal four-way match at Clash in Paris.[18]
On the May 26 episode ofRaw, afterRusev defeatedAkira Tozawa, Rusev continued to attack Tozawa, withSheamus making the save.[19] Three weeks later, both Rusev and Sheamus competed in aKing of the Ring tournamentfatal-four way qualifying match, but neither won.[20] They subsequently faced each other on the June 30 episode, where Rusev won,[21] with a rematch taking place on the July 21 episode, where Sheamus won.[22] A third match between both men took place on the August 4 episode, which ended in a double countout.[17] On the August 18 episode, after several confrontations, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that Sheamus and Rusev would face each other in aGood Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook match at Clash in Paris.[23]
AtSurvivor Series: WarGames in November 2024, Roman Reigns and Bronson Reed were both apart of the men'sWarGames match, where Reigns' team defeatedReed's team.[24] Reed would take a hiatus due to an injury he sustained during the match, whilst Reigns would go on to main event Night 1 of WrestleMania 41 in April 2025, where Reigns was defeated by Seth Rollins in atriple threat match also involving CM Punk afterPaul Heyman betrayed Reigns and Punk.[25] Two nights later onRaw, Bron Breakker joined Rollins and Heyman's alliance and attacked Reigns, taking him out indefinitely.[26] During this time, atSaturday Night's Main Event XXXIX, Reed was also recruited into Rollins' group. Reigns would return on the July 14 episode ofRaw, saving Punk and his cousin Jey Uso from a post-match assault by Reed and Breakker. Reigns and Uso subsequently defeated both Reed and Breakker in a tag team match at Night 1 of SummerSlam.[16] Two nights later onRaw, Reigns was viciously attacked by Rollins' group, now known as The Vision, with Reed stealing Reigns' shoes after the assault, something Reed had also done a few weeks ago.[17] Two weeks later on the August 18 episode, Reed and Rollins attempted to interfere in anExtreme Rules match between Uso and Breakker, only for Reigns to come out and thwart them, helping Uso defeat Breakker. After that, Reigns challenged Reed to a match at Clash in Paris, which Reed accepted.[23] The match was subsequently made official by Raw General Manager Adam Pearce.[27]
On the August 4 episode ofRaw,Becky Lynch gloated over her successful defense of theWWE Women's Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam, before being interrupted byNikki Bella, who called Lynch a disappointment. After some exchange of words, Lynch punched Bella.[17] Two weeks later, Lynch successfully defended the title againstNatalya, who had taken issues with Lynch after her disrespect of Bella. After the match, Lynch attacked Natalya, but Bella appeared to make the save.[23] On the next episode, Bella and Lynch engaged in another verbal confrontation, with Bella challenging Lynch for a match with the title on the line, which Lynch initially refused; however, she eventually agreed to defend the title against Bella at Clash in Paris.[28]
On the July 11 episode ofSmackDown,The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis andJoe Gacy) defeatedThe Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins andMontez Ford) to win theWWE Tag Team Championship.[29] After that, The Street Profits vowed to regain the championship, and they competed in aSix-PackTables, Ladders, and Chairs match for the title at Night 2 of SummerSlam, where The Wyatt Sicks retained.[30] On the subsequent episodes ofSmackDown, both Melo Don't Miz (Carmelo Hayes andThe Miz) and The Street Profits won their respective tag team matches;[31][32] this led to a match between them on the August 29 episode in which the winning team would earn a WWE Tag Team Championship match. There, The Wyatt Sicks (Lumis, Gacy,Uncle Howdy,Erick Rowan, andNikki Cross) distracted Miz, allowing The Street Profits to win the match and challenge Lumis and Gacy for the championship at Clash in Paris.[33]
At the all-women's eventEvolution, Raw'sStephanie Vaquer won theEvolution Battle Royal to earn awomen's world championship match at Clash in Paris.[34][35] The next night onRaw, it was confirmed that the match would be for Raw'sWomen's World Championship.[15] Subsequently at SummerSlam the following month,Naomi retained the title, thus confirming that Naomi would defend the Women's World Championship against Vaquer at Clash in Paris.[30] However, on the August 18 episode ofRaw, Naomi had to relinquish the title due tomaternity leave as Naomi announced she was pregnant with her first child.[23] The following week, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that there would not be a match for the vacant Women's World Championship at Clash in Paris, and instead, Vaquer would challenge ato be announced opponent at a later date to determine the new champion.[28] Vaquer's opponent was confirmed asIyo Sky with the title match taking place at Wrestlepalooza on September 20.[36]
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| English commentators | Michael Cole |
| Wade Barrett | |
| Spanish commentators | Marcelo Rodríguez |
| Jerry Soto | |
| French commentators | Christophe Agius |
| Philippe Chéreau | |
| Ring announcer | Alicia Taylor |
| Referees | Danilo Anfibio |
| Shawn Bennett | |
| Jessika Carr | |
| Daphanie LaShaunn | |
| Chad Patton | |
| Interviewer | Cathy Kelley |
| Pre-show panel | Michael Cole |
| Wade Barrett | |
| Jackie Redmond | |
| Big E | |
| Peter Rosenberg |
The event began with Roman Reigns taking on Bronson Reed (accompanied by Paul Heyman). During the match, Reigns attempted a Samoan Drop on Reed only to collapse under Reed's weight. Reed slammed Reigns onto the announce table. Reigns responded by spamming Reed onto the ring post. Reed performed a slam on Reigns inside the ring for a near fall. Reed applied a chokehold on Reigns managed to escape only for Reed to perform a Samoan drop on Reigns for a nearfall. Reigns performed a clothesline on Reed sending him over the top rope and out of the ring and sent Reed into the ring post and steel steps. Back in the ring, As Reigns attempted a Superman Punch, Reed countered into an uranage senton combo for a nearfall. Reigns attempted another Superman Punch on Reed only to counter into the Death Valley Driver for a nearfall. Reigns eventually performed a Superman Punch on Reed for a nearfall. Reed performed a suicide dive on Reigns who was outside the ring. Reed countered a spear from Reigns into a powerbomb for a nearfall. In the end, as Reed climbed to the top rope, Reigns performed a Superman Punch and followed up with a second-rope Samoan Drop on Reed. Reigns then performed a spear on Reed to win the match. Following the match, Heyman acknowledged Reigns and handed the shoes back to him. Reigns responded by applying a Guillotine Choke on Heyman. Reigns then stood on an announce table, signed his shoes and tossed it into the crowd only for Bron Breakker to intercept Reigns with a spear through the announce table. Security personnel assisted Reigns to his feet while Breaker assisted Reed and Heyman in the ring. Breakker then performed another Spear on Reigns. Reed threw Reigns back into the ring and perform a Tsunami on Reigns. As medical personnel strapped Reigns onto a stretcher, Reed performed another Tsunami on Reigns. Jey Uso appeared, performed superkicks on Reed and Breakker, and tended to Reigns, after which, Breakker performed a Spear on Uso. Reed then performed a third Tsunami on Reigns.[37]
In a backstage segment, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce banned Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed from ringside during the World Heavyweight Championship match and if they showed up, they would be suspended indefinitely.[37]
In the second match, The Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy, accompanied by Erick Rowan, Uncle Howdy, and Nikki Cross) defended SmackDown's WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford, accompanied byB-Fab). In the end, while the referee was distracted, Howdy performed Sister Abigail on Ford at ringside. Lumis threw Ford back into the ring and he and Gacy performed The Plague on Ford to retain the title.[37]
After that, Becky Lynch defended Raw's Women's Intercontinental Championship against Nikki Bella. During the match, Bella applied the Fearless Lock on Lynch, who managed to reach the ropes to void the submission. At ringside, Lynch sent Bella into the steel steps. Bella then performed the Bella Buster on Lynch onto the steel steps. Inside the ring, Bella performed the Manhandle Slam on Lynch for a nearfall. In the end, as Bella attempted the Dis-arm-Lynch, Lynch countered into a backslide on Bella to retain the title.[37]
In the fourth match, Rusev took on Sheamus in a Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook Match. During the match, Rusev and Sheamus attacked each other with shillelaghs, chairs, kendo sticks, steel stairs, and whiskey barrels. Sheamus performed the Ten Beats of the Bodhran on Rusev while Rusev was laying on a whiskey barrel. Rusev attempted to escape into the crowd, however, Sheamus intercepted Rusev with a shillelagh and performed the Ten Beats of the Bodhran on Rusev again. Rusev attacked Sheamus with the steel steps and performed a bodyslam on Sheamus through a bar cabinet. While both combatants were perched atop some whiskey barrels, Rusev applied the Accolade on Sheamus who countered into a White Noise on Rusev off a whiskey barrel through tables. Inside the ring, Sheamus performed a Brogue Kick on Rusev for a nearfall. Rusev performed a Matchka Kick on Sheamus and struck Sheamus' back with a shillelagh for a nearfall. In the closing moments, Rusev applied the Accolade on Sheamus while wedging a shillelagh between Sheamus' teeth, forcing Sheamus to submit.[37]
In the penultimate match, John Cena took on Logan Paul. During the match, Paul performed a pop-up European Uppercut on Cena. As Cena attempted an Attitude Adjustment on Paul, Paul countered into a buckshot lariat on Cena for a nearfall. Cena performed a Tornado DDT on Paul for a nearfall. Paul performed a Zig-Zag on Cena for a nearfall. Paul performed a swanton and a standing moonsault on Cena for nearfall. As Paul attempted Cena's "five moves of doom", Cena performed an Attitude Adjustment on Paul for a nearfall. Paul performed a Knockout Punch on Cena for a nearfall and Paul performed a Paul from Grace on Cena, for yet another nearfall. Cena performed a Styles Clash on Paul for a nearfall. In the end, Paul performed a middle-rope crossbody on Cena, who rolled through and performed the two more Attitude Adjustment on Paul to win the match.[37]
In the main event, Seth Rollins defended Raw's World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk, LA Knight, and Jey Uso in a fatal four-way match. As Rollins attempted a Phoenix Splash, Uso moved out of the way and performed a superkick and an Uso Splash on Rollins. Punk broke up the pin and performed the GTS on Uso. Rollins broke it up with a stomp, but Punk kicked out. Rollins then performed stomps on Uso and Knight outside the ring. The ending came when Punk countered a stomp by Rollins through a chair and performed the GTS on Rollins but as he attempted a second GTS, Becky Lynch, Rollins' real-life wife,ran in to perform a low blow on Punk. Rollins pinned Punk following the Stomp onto a chair to retain the title.[37]
With the attendance record of 30,343, WWE claims that Clash in Paris has set the single event gate in this arena beating outTaylor Swift'sThe Eras Tour in 2024 although the exact gate figures are unclear.[38]
Writing for theWrestling Observer Newsletter,Dave Meltzer rated the opening bout 3.5 stars, the WWE Tag Team Championship match 2.75 stars, the Women's Intercontinental Championship match 2 stars, the Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook match 4.25 stars, John Cena vs. Logan Paul 4.5 stars, and the World Heavyweight Championship fatal four-way main event 4.25 stars.[39]
On the following episode ofRaw, it was announced that Roman Reigns would be out of action indefinitely with multiple fractured ribs, while Paul Heyman suffered a larynx contusion (in reality, Reigns' "injury" was used to write him off television which allowed him to take time off to filmStreet Fighter).[40][41] Reigns would return on the September 29 episode ofRaw,[42] and a rematch with Bronson Reed, contested as anAustralian Street Fight, was later scheduled forCrown Jewel.[43]
Also onRaw, CM Punk wanted another shot at World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins for revenge. Punk was confronted by Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. Lynch gloated about Rollins' accomplishments and what she and Rollins did to get WWE to where it was now. Rollins then appeared, inviting Punk to say whatever he had to say to him. Lynch then slapped Punk multiple times before mockingly wishing him well.[40]
Jey Uso and LA Knight addressed their failure to win the World Heavyweight Championship when The Vision (Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker) interrupted. Breakker then scheduled a tag team match featuring himself and Reed against Uso and Knight for that episode's main event, which The Vision won. Following the match, Reed and Breakker attacked Jey which prompted his own twin brother,Jimmy Uso, to come out and aid Jey.[40] The following week, it was confirmed thatThe Usos would face Reed and Breakker at Wrestlepalooza.[44]
On the followingSmackDown, which emanated from Chicago, CM Punk's hometown, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins introduced Women's Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch in the crowd. Lynch taunted the Chicago crowd, until Punk himself interrupted. Lynch slapped Punk again before Punk brought in his wifeAJ Lee, making her return to WWE after over 10 years. Lee attacked Lynch before embracing Punk.[45] Three days later onRaw, amixed tag team match featuring Rollins and Lynch against Punk and Lee was scheduled for Wrestlepalooza.[44]
| No. | Results | Stipulations | Times[37] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roman Reigns defeatedBronson Reed (withPaul Heyman) bypinfall | Singles match[46] | 22:05 | ||
| 2 | The Wyatt Sicks (Joe Gacy andDexter Lumis) (c) (withUncle Howdy,Erick Rowan, andNikki Cross) defeatedThe Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins andMontez Ford) (withB-Fab) bypinfall | Tag team match for theWWE Tag Team Championship[46] | 13:10 | ||
| 3 | Becky Lynch (c) defeatedNikki Bella bypinfall | Singles match for theWWE Women's Intercontinental Championship[46] | 13:07 | ||
| 4 | Rusev defeatedSheamus bysubmission | Good Ol' Fashioned Donnybrook match[46] | 20:08 | ||
| 5 | John Cena defeatedLogan Paul bypinfall | Singles match[46] | 26:20 | ||
| 6 | Seth Rollins (c) defeatedCM Punk,Jey Uso, andLA Knight bypinfall | Fatal four-way match for theWorld Heavyweight Championship[46] | 24:29 | ||
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Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena will make his final WWE appearances in Dublin, Lyon and Paris as part of his 2025 Farewell tour.