2024 WWE Clash at the Castle Controversy: Ropes issue caused Damian Priest injury scare

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Patrik Walker
and others
• 4 min read
Used With Permission of WWE

In what was nearly a perfect showing by the WWE at their “Clash at the Castle” Premium Live Event in Scotland on Saturday, June 15, there is one issue that raised a drove of eyebrows around the world and that still has everyone discussing it one day later: the glaring problem with the ropes. 

What initially created a dialogue in real time on social media was when “The Storm” Jade Cargill attempted to tag in to help “The EST” Bianca Belair in their Women’s Tag Team Title Match by leaping off of the top rope onto the “Queen of Spades” Shayna Baszler, in the second match on the card. 

Cargill instead fell flat to the mat and it appeared to be a botch. Only, as it turns out, it wasn’t her fault. 

It was an equipment failure on the part of the promotion.

That could also explain the awkward combo suplex over the top rope that both Styles and Rhodes paid for in the opening match. 

As the event rolled on, there were others who also suffered varying degrees of embarrassment when attempting moves that utilized the ropes — WWE Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest nearly suffering a horrendous leg (and head?) injury during his match against Drew Mcintyre. 

Before any action whatsoever got underway in Glasgow, however, the WWE official(s) notified AJ Styles of the issue with the ropes, demonstrating that they seemed more loose than usual — a tidbit that was overlooked (or casually dismissed) initially by PLE viewers; as revealed by footage that has since been posted to social media. 

In reviewing the event on the whole, it was clear it was more than simply Cargill and Priest who lost the battle with the ropes — as did Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn in his title defense against Chad Gable, and even WWE Women’s Champion Bayley called an audible.

What initially appeared to be a move planned from the top rope against Piper Niven turned into Bayley instead deciding to use “Bret’s Rope” (the middle one) to execute the move, and even longtime broadcaster Michael Cole took notice in his commentary. 

The great news is no one was injured due to the issue, that we know of, and you can bet the WWE will look into the matter. That said, Priest did note in his post-match press conference that his leg felt "like trash" and he had a noticeable limp when exiting; and is expected to be evaluated by medical staff to determine his status going forward.

For his part, he says he's still a go, having "beaten [McIntyre] with one leg".

We shall see.

It would’ve been catastrophic for anyone to have been put on the medical shelf, and especially at a PLE, and especially at an international PLE, over something as routine as rope tightness. It’s unclear why it was a problem this time around, though. 

Fingers crossed it will never be again. 

Author(s)
Patrik Walker Photo
Patrik Walker

Patrik [No C] Walker is an accredited, award-winning journalist and podcaster who has worked to become one of the most respected and recognizable forces covering the Dallas Cowboys. Having never lost his lifelong passion for the wrestling, the one-of-a-kind analyst is using his talents to complete a journey that began as a rambunctious kid wearing a championship belt fashioned from cardboard and aluminum foil, to the ranks of covering an industry that's had his heart pinned to the mat for decades now. Follow him on Twitter/X: VoiceOfTheStar.