WWE Clash At The Castle is stacked with outstanding matchups, but the Intercontinental Championship bout between Sheamus and Gunther might be the most challenging outcome to predict. Both men represent very different things for the company, and given that this is Triple H's first actual premium live event that he's (more or less) pieced together himself, the booking choice is a difficult one. One of these wrestlers should win for a meaningful, sentimental reason, while the other should win because he's a potential future World Champion.
For Sheamus, Clash At The Castle is an opportunity to win the only title in WWE that he's never held. He's become one of the most decorated performers in the company's history, and the sole belt missing from his display case is around Gunther's waist. The road here was winding for Sheamus, and chances such as this one will likely be tougher to come by under Triple H's watch. Rematches were frequent under Vince McMahon, but The Game books things differently. Not only that, but Sheamus is from Ireland and will likely receive a powerful crowd reaction in Cardiff. If he wins, the pop will be enormous.
The thing is, Sheamus is 44, and back in June discussed his desire to continue acting. He said he'd like to do a few months in the ring and then go away for a little while to act. That's perfectly fine, as it's a trail that's been more than blazed by The Rock and John Cena. Sheamus probably isn't going to reach those box office heights, but it's still something he wants to pursue. Bearing that in mind, remember that the legendary Ric Flair doesn't think Triple H will want part-time champions on his weekly television shows. Not only that, but Sheamus' main eventing days are well behind him. His run with the IC Title would primarily be a well-deserved victory lap for an outstanding Grand Slam career. Now might not be the right time for that.
Sheamus Doing The Job For Gunther Would Carry Weight
A triumph for Gunther would indicate that he has Triple H and WWE's full support behind his push. McMahon had soured on Gunther just before retiring but couldn't do any lasting harm to The Ring General's character. Sheamus' epic career would make a victory over him mean so much for the rising star. Big, bruising heels who can put on high-end matches are tough to come by, and Gunther could spend the next several years as one of WWE's top big bad guys.
So this is a fight between a sentimental favorite and a wrestler who "should" go over. It's a tough moment to take away from Sheamus. Yet Gunther winning in Cardiff would be arguably the biggest success of his WWE career. It'd be a footnote for The Celtic Warrior. A significant footnote, mind you, but far from career-defining. It's a matter of legacy versus the future at Clash At The Castle, and calls won't get much more challenging than this for Triple H.