World
Scottish wrestling fans set for WWE Clash at the Castle – BBC News
- Author, Ashleigh Keenan-Bryce
- Role, BBC Scotland News
Scottish fans are gearing up for a weekend of wrestling entertainment as WWE hosts its first premium live event in Scotland
Glasgow’s OVO Hydro will see 13,000 wrestling fans gather for Friday night Smackdown followed by Clash at the Castle on Saturday.
The weekend is a proud homecoming for Scottish wrestlers Drew McIntyre, Piper Niven, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
Born and raised in Ayr, WWE champion McIntyre said hosting the event in his home country was “beyond dreams”.
He added: “When I was a kid, the dream was to make it to the WWE and Wrestlemania and I’ve been able to do that.
“There were never any premium live events in Scotland at the time.
“Having an event like Clash at the Castle here it’s not even something I could’ve dreamt about.”
Ayrshire born Piper Niven will also feature at the event, facing Bayley for the WWE women’s championship.
Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn will then compete in a women’s tag team championship match.
Two pop up shops in the city’s St Enoch centre have been set up for WWE merchandise and the Scottish exhibition centre (SEC) will also have a fan zone.
‘Save your voice’
Football fan McIntyre said sport fans would get a “double dose of Scottish action” as Scotland take on Germany in the Euros, followed by McIntyre’s WWE match on Saturday.
He said he hopes Scotland fans will be able to “save their voice” after the Euros match to celebrate at WWE’s event.
He said: “We’ve got to be as loud as we can so we can show the world the Scots are the craziest people on earth.”
Meanwhile, Drew McIntyre was honoured for his contribution to Scottish wrestling by being inducted into the professional wrestling hall of fame for Scotland.
A life-long Rangers fan, the ceremony at Ibrox was attended by fellow Scottish wrestler Piper Niven and close friend and world’s strongest man, Tom Stoltman.
Former Rangers players Lee McCulloch and Mark Hateley also attended.
McIntyre was welcomed onto the pitch as Simply the Best played and “Welcome Home Drew” was shown on screens around the pitch.
Accepting the honour, McIntyre said: “It’s been 17 years I’ve been away from home and I always really miss it.
“I’m very proud of everything I’ve been able to achieve in my career but even more proud to be Scottish.”