Five stars who can step up to challenge Roman Reigns at WWE Clash in Italy if Jacob Fatu pulls out due to injury
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Jacob Fatu is dealing with an injury after the WWE event in Liverpool.
According to reports, Jacob Fatu is dealing with an injury ahead of the Clash in Italy, after the WWE Live Event in Liverpool, England, where he took on Solo Sikoa in a street fight. The injury is believed to be related to his back.
WWE is working under the assumption that Fatu will be fine by Sunday, and in case he’s unable to compete, the promotion is looking into potential backup plans. If the main event of WWE‘s first PLE in Italy falls through, it would be a disaster for the promotion.
Here we will take a look at five such WWE names that could step up to challenge Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight title on Sunday if Fatu is unable to get medical clearance and has to pull out of the match due to the injury.
5. Solo Sikoa
The title rematch at Clash in Italy is a Tribal Combat match, a match that features members of the Bloodline, and if the promotion wants to keep the stipulation, they need to replace Fatu with someone from the Bloodline. Solo Sikoa already has a long history with Reigns; in fact, the last Tribal Combat match featured Solo putting the Ula Fala on the line against Roman at the Raw Netflix debut.
Sikoa lost the Ula Fala and the title of the Tribal Chief; however, a rematch would give him a chance to regain it all back, including the World Heavyweight title, a task which he can accomplish with the help of his MFTs (Talla Tonga & Tama Tonga).
Also Read: WWE Clash in Italy: Match card, start time & where to watch
4. Finn Balor
Finn Balor turned face with much fanfare ahead of WrestleMania 42, even bringing back the Demon persona, and fans immediately demanded a major push for him. Since his unfortunate injury in 2016, when he had to relinquish the title immediately after capturing it at SummerSlam against Seth Rollins, Balor has been unable to regain the title.
A major stage at Clash in Italy and in front of a loud European crowd, Balor can capitalize on the opportunity, dethroning Roman Reigns to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
3. LA Knight
It is a well-known fact that WWE refuses to push LA Knight, despite him being over with the crowd. Knight has expressed his dissatisfaction with The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso) rekindling their relationship with Roman and has warned them of consequences if the Bloodline starts their shenanigans once again.
Roman will likely take issue with Knight’s comments in recent weeks, and the promotion can use this angle to set up the match. Although the lack of time will definitely hurt the build, Knight and Roman can still deliver an incredible main event and continue their feud after Sunday, likely leading into a rematch down the line.
2. Jey Uso
Another prospect of the promotion keeping the Tribal Combat match stipulation will be to replace Fatu with Jey Uso, someone who has held the World Heavyweight title and has expressed his desire to do so again. While a match with Roman will likely lead to a heel turn for Jey, something he has been teasing in recent times.
Jey and Roman already have battled in the Tribal Combat match back at SummerSlam 2023; in fact, it was the first Tribal Combat match in WWE. The replacement angle can also be used to revive the drama between Reigns and the Usos, with Roman forcing Jimmy’s hand to once again turn on Jey.
1. CM Punk
One of the most intriguing propositions for the replacement against Roman Reigns is undoubtedly CM Punk. The two stars collided in the main event of WrestleMania 42 last month, where Reigns came out victorious, capturing the World Heavyweight title. Since the loss, Punk has been absent from WWE programming, barring a single appearance after the PLE.
While Punk is off television only due to a planned schedule time-off, what better way to bring him back than in a rematch against Reigns? Now, ideally, WWE would like to book a rematch of this magnitude with months of build-up and hype; however, if Fatu is unable to compete, the promotion can decide to bank on the Second City Saint.
When and where will Clash in Italy take place?
Inalpi Arena in Turin, Piedmont Region, Italy, will host the upcoming edition of the Clash in Italy PLE on May 31.
Where can fans tune in to catch the action live?
Fans in the United States can watch on ESPN’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, while international fans can tune into Netflix in most markets. SuperSport will carry the event in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Abema will air it in Japan.
What matches have been announced for the PLE?
• Cody Rhodes (c) vs Gunther – Undisputed WWE title match• Roman Reigns (c) vs Jacob Fatu – Tribal Combat for the World Heavyweight title & the title of the Tribal Chief• Rhea Ripley (c) vs Jade Cargill – WWE Women’s title match• Becky Lynch (c) vs Sol Ruca – Women’s Intercontinental title match• Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar 2
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.