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WWE Clash of Champions 2020 is just a few days away, and WWE has been working hard to develop some top rivalries for the event. There is a lot of hype for this event as almost all the matches scheduled are for the major Championships.
This year, the WWE Championship, Universal Championship, RAW and SmackDown Women’s Championship, and the three Tag Team Championships will be defended at the event along with the United States and Intercontinental Championships.
Last year's events were a lot of fun for the fans as several main roster titles were on the line. A few titles changed hands during the night, while one non-title match was also held on the event. Most of the winners of the matches from last year’s Clash of Champions are still part of the company and are either preparing to feature during this year’s show or working towards the next major events.
In this article, we will look at the 11 winners from last year’s Clash of Champions, and where they are now.
#11 Drew Gulak (WWE Cruiserweight Champion)
During the WWE Clash of Champions 2019 pre-show, Drew Gulak defended his WWE Cruiserweight Championship against Lince Dorado and Humberto Carrillo in a Triple Threat Match.
While Carrillo had the upper hand in the match and almost won the title by delivering the Aztec press to Dorado, Gulak threw Carrillo into the ring post and pinned Dorado to retain his title at the event.
Gulak later lost the title to Lio Rush on WWE NXT. Since then, Gulak has moved to WWE SmackDown and had a good partnership with Daniel Bryan. He’s also served as a guest commentator on 205 Live.
#10 Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler (WWE RAW Tag Team Champions)
Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler were seen as one of the stronger heel teams in WWE RAW heading into last year's event, as the two took on Universal Champion Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman for the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships at the event.
After some miscommunication between the Champions, the challengers took advantage and Roode hit a Glorious DDT on Rollins to pick up the victory.
Roode, who is a Canadian national, hasn’t been seen in WWE for a long time as he has been hit with travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ziggler, on the other hand, has been able to be involved some major rivalries on WWE RAW and is currently involved in some feuds on RAW Underground.
#9 Sasha Banks (defeated RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch by disqualification)
Sasha Banks set her eyes on the WWE RAW Women’s Championship at Clash of Champions 2019 which was held by Becky Lynch at the time. Banks tried to take advantage by striking Lynch with a steel chair. Lynch accidentally incapacitated the referee with the chair before going after Banks, and the two women were involved in a brawl outside the ring.
The referee called for a disqualification and awarded the match to Banks, even though the title stayed with Lynch.
While Lynch relinquished her title following WWE Money in the Bank, Banks is currently in a rivalry with her former friend Bayley after the two recently lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Banks and Lynch will not be part of any matches during this year’s show.
#8 The Revival (WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions)
Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder challenged the New Day’s Xavier Woods and Big E for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships at WWE Clash of Champions 2019.
The New Day tried their best to keep the titles around their waists, however, The Revival locked Woods in a Figure Four leglock to make him submit and win the titles.
While The Revival held the titles for about two reigns, they lost them to the New Day once again on an episode of SmackDown. Earlier this year, The Revival was released by WWE, and they are now a part of WWE’s rival promotion, All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
#7 Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Intercontinental Champion)
The WWE Intercontinental Championship was also on the line at last year’s Clash of Champions as Shinsuke Nakamura defended his title against The Miz. Sami Zayn accompanied Nakamura to the ring and played a vital role in helping Nakamura defend his title.
Distractions from Zayn allowed Nakamura to recover and hit the Kinshasa to The A-Lister to retain the title.
Nakamura is still on WWE SmackDown, however, he is in a tag team alongside Cesaro now. The two men are the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions, and they will defend their titles against The Lucha House Party at this year’s event.
#6 AJ Styles ( WWE United States Champion)
The second pre-show match of WWE Clash of Champions 2019 saw AJ Styles defend his WWE United States Championship against Cedric Alexander. Alexander stock in WWE was on the rise and had a good chance of winning the title.
However, the Phenomenal One was able to connect with the Phenomenal Forearm to retain his title at the event and allow fellow OC's members, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, to attack Alexander after the match.
Since last year’s event, Styles has worked with several of the newer and upcoming Superstars of WWE. He went on to become the Intercontinental Champion earlier this year and is currently in a rivalry against Jeff Hardy and Sami Zayn for the title on SmackDown.
The three men will compete in a Triple Threat Match for the Intercontinental Championship at this year’s show.
#5 Kofi Kingston (WWE Champion)
Then WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defended his title against Randy Orton during last year’s WWE Clash of Champions. While Orton came close to winning the title after hitting Kingston with an RKO, Kingston managed to get his leg on the bottom rope during the pinfall count.
A frustrated Orton went for the Punt Kick to end things once and for all, but Kingston countered with a Trouble in Paradise to retain the title.
Kingston is currently out with an injury and will not be a part of this year’s Clash of Champions. His teammate, Big E, is currently getting a singles push on the Blue brand and could end up getting a match at the show.
#4 Erick Rowan (No Disqualification Match)
The only non-title match during the 2019 WWE Clash of Champions was between Erick Rowan and Roman Reigns. Rowan was giving a tough time to Reigns on WWE SmackDown and the two decided to compete in a no disqualification match.
While Reigns seemed to have the match in the bag at the event, a returning Luke Harper helped his former Wyatt Family teammate overpower The Big Dog and pick up the victory with an Iron Claw Slam.
Rowan and Harper have both been released from their contracts by WWE. While Harper was released late last year, Rowan was released as part of WWE’s efforts to cut costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s still unknown which promotion Rowan will be joining since he hasn’t signed with anyone yet. Roman Reigns, on the other hand, has turned heel and become the WWE Universal Champion for the second time in his career.
#3 Bayley (WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion)
WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley competed in one of the high-profile matches on WWE Clash of Champions, against Charlotte Flair. With the title on the line, Flair tried her best to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Bayley. However, Bayley threw Flair into an exposed turnbuckle to pin her and retain the title.
Bayley is still holding the SmackDown Women’s Championship, however, her character has transformed drastically since last year. She is one of the top heels on the women’s roster and has managed to hold on to her title for over 330 days.
The Role Model had also won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships with Sasha Banks since last year’s event.
Bayley will be defending her SmackDown Women’s title against Nikki Cross at this year’s show.
#2 Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross (WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Best friends and teammates Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross were the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions walking into the 2019 edition of Clash of Champions. The two defended it against Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville at the event. Cross hit the Swinging Neckbreaker on Rose to retain the titles for her team.
Currently, Bliss and Cross are without any titles and seem to be on the verge of a breakup. Cross is the #1 contender to the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship heading into Clash of Champions 2020, while Bliss seems to be slowly drifting away after her encounters with ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt.
#1 Seth Rollins (WWE Universal Champion)
The main event of the 2019 WWE Clash of Champions was a RAW match as Seth Rollins defended the WWE Universal Championship against Braun Strowman. The two men defended their RAW Tag Team Championships earlier in the night but lost them to Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler.
Rollins tried his best to keep Strowman down with a few Stomps, but The Monster Among Men kept kicking out and coming back for more. Finally, Rollins connected with a Pedigree followed by a fourth Stomp of the match to retain his title.
After the match, Rollins was attacked by ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt. The two men had a long rivalry that saw Wyatt win the WWE Universal Championship. At WrestleMania 36, Strowman defeated Goldberg to become the Universal Champion.
Rollins is currently one of the biggest heels on WWE RAW and is working under The Messiah gimmick where he has led several Superstars such as Akam and Rezar (The Authors of Pain), Austin Theory, and Murphy.
He is currently in a feud with the Mysterio Family and has competed in several matches against Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik Mysterio.
