WWE Clash in Italy 2026 match predictions, expert picks for Sunday’s action

WWE heads to Europe on Sunday for the promotion’s first annual live event on the continent. This year, that event stays in Turin Conflict in Italy.

This card features five matches, four of which are tournaments. The only non-title match on the card may be the one that draws the most attention, as Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi face off in a rematch from their WrestleMania 42 fight. At WrestleMania, Femi made quick work of Lesnar, resulting in Lesnar exits the ringalthough he is back to attack Femi and plan a rematch.

Sunday night’s headliner sees world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns put his title on the line against his cousin Jacob Fatu in Tribal Combat. Fatu has been hot on the heels of Reigns since Raw after WrestleMania and a loss to the “Tribal Chief” at Backlash wasn’t enough for the “Samoan Werewolf” to relinquish his title claim. Now, they will face each other in an old game of blood family.

Also, WWE champion Cody Rhodes gets a tough challenge in the form of Gunther, who moved to SmackDown after defeating Seth Rollins at WrestleMania. Gunther has become a legendary killer, eliminating Goldberg, John Cena and AJ Styles in the span of six months. Rhodes will also have to keep his eyes open to avoid being distracted by his friend Sami Zayn, who has allowed Gunther to choke him.

With five big matches scheduled for Sunday, let’s take a look at who CBS Sports wrestling experts Brent Brookhouse and Shakiel Mahjouri are picking to get their hands on for the Clash of Italy.

Clash in Italy match predictions

World Heavyweight Championship — Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu (Tribal Combat)

I don’t know that I’m hoping WWE will do something super interesting here and have Fatu win, but it would be a good match. It is impossible to remember the last time Reigns was in a state of true despair, and having his role as “head of the family” taken from him would have put him in a place where his character is interesting and complex, rather than the current way of just renewing Bloodline for another long title reign. It’s unlikely that Reigns will drop the title, but I’m choosing my heart over my head on this one. Pick: Jacob Fatu wins the title — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)

Undisputed WWE Championship — Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Gunther

WWE sees Rhodes as its franchise player. Gunther — while highly respected by the company — is not. This is a new conflict with less smoke. There’s no plausible case for putting the title on Gunther beyond passive-aggressive motion. Gunther will win another world title, but not this weekend. Pick: Cody Rhodes retained the title — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)

Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi

The only reason this match is happening is to get to the SummerSlam rubber match, and the only way to get to that match is for Lesnar to beat Femi. Losing to Lesnar isn’t devastating, even for a redneck like Femi, so he should come out on the other side of this loss well. I would be surprised if this went longer than their WrestleMania match, just with a different result. Pick: Brock Lesnar wins — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)

WWE Women’s Championship — Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Jade Cargill

Ripley is not a reformer. He is a decorated champion and very attractive. What good is Cargill’s presence on the other side of the ring to someone who is equally engaging but better between the ropes? This match is a way to end their feud and, hopefully, move Ripley into a proper feud with Fatal Influence. Pick: Rhea Ripley retains the title — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)

Intercontinental Women’s Championship — Becky Lynch (c) vs. Sol Ruca

Lynch is firmly established as a plug-and-play WWE star who can do things like have a second title run before dropping the belt to a new member of the program and quickly scrapping it. That’s the right move for Sunday as it will establish Ruca as a star, which his eye-catching offense is already doing for him. Pick: Sol Ruca wins the title — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)