This weekend, wrestling, in the eyes of some, will come home. Glasgow will play host to Clash at the Castle, headlined by Drew McIntyre, the home favourite, going for a world championship.
The event will signpost the company’s first-ever live streamed event to be held in Scotland and its first premium live event, with just a handful of shows filmed there before. Four Scots are advertised for the show, with more potentially featuring and in attendance.
It’s been a a long time coming. From the days in Insane Championship Wrestling to the biggest company in the world, it’s been quite the journey for many, including Dar.
‘It’s unbelievable, mate. It’s huge,’ the NXT star grins, speaking exclusively to Mail Sport. ‘It’s everything, because of that Scottish wrestling scene that developed it from the ground up, it couldn’t have been any more grassroots if they tried.
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Noam Dar has le the praise for WWE’s decision to host a livestreamed show in Scotland for the first time ever
Clash at the Castle will take place in Glasgow on Saturday night, headline by Scot Drew McIntyre (right)
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McIntyre is looking to win a world title for the fourth time in his WWE career on Saturday
‘If you go back and look at the original ICW, McIntyre was on it way before his first WWE run, in front of seven, eight people. When I started wrestling, all I could see was the Scottish independent scene. And then over time, I would go to the UK for shows, then it very quickly flipped where it was like, “Hey, build up in Scotland”.
‘When we were all in ICW – this has been mentioned a bunch between a lot of us – if they were in a position to offer people full time contracts, a lot of people would have taken that at that moment because of how happy and how satisfied we were and how much we believed in it, and that would have changed a trajectory for a lot of things within WWE for a lot of those.
‘At one point it was myself, McIntyre, Alistair Black, Killian Dain, Nikki Cross, Isla [Dawn], Alba Fyre, so many people, we were all in a position of, “Hey, we will do this Scottish wrestling stuff full time”.
‘Now to see that play out, and to see so many Scottish WWE superstars doing so well and really elevating each other – especially McIntyre, you could sing his praises to the end of days, he’s the man beyond the man.’
McIntyre will take on Priest for the world heavyweight championship in Glasgow. If he wins, it would be his fourth world title reign, but he’s still yet to have a ‘proper’ one, of sorts.
After two reigns during Covid with no fans, it seemed the 39-year-old had finally been given his moment at WrestleMania when he dethroned Seth Rollins, but he clashed with long-term rival CM Punk and Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase and he lost the belt within minutes.
It’s possible – perhaps even likely – that the story will come full circle in Glasgow. Whether Punk will be there is yet to be seen, but, normally the hero, he will be the biggest villain of all if he shows up.
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He won the belt at WrestleMania but his rivalry with CM Punk (left), who could appear in Scotland, hit new heights
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Punk, who Dar claimed ‘is not ready’ for Scotland’s reaction, cost McIntyre his title at ‘Mania
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Dar opened up on his Scottish wrestling roots, which he left due to Insane Championship Wrestling not being in the position to offer full time contracts
‘Should there be a scenario where McIntyre and Punk are in front of each other, in front of that hydro audience…’ Dar continues. ‘I know Punk has been in many, many situations, but I don’t think he’s ready to feel that heat, feel that energy standing door to door with a Scottish God like that.’
Dar is working in NXT, still involved somewhat in a bid to win the NXT title from Trick Williams.
A number of stars were promoted to the main roster in the recent WWE draft. But, at 30, time is on the side of ‘The Scottish Supernova’, though he doesn’t want to hang around.
‘I want to go as high as I can go,’ he says. ‘So much of of the last four or five years, transferring to NXT UK, doing everything there, coming back over here, it’s all been part of a bigger plan to make sure that I put myself in a the best position possible I can right now.
‘When these opportunities come, I want to be in the best position possible for them and make sure I’m ready for them.
‘It feels like a new season. I’ve used way too many cliches today, but for one more, when the dust settles, you see what’s happening. It allows people to step up. It allows people to have more room to grow if they’re doing a lot of great stuff right now.
‘It also shows people how quickly your life can change. We went to the draft parties at the Performance Centre, and you’re seeing those genuine, legitimate reactions of people realsising that their dreams are coming true and that their life has changed overnight, instantly.
‘I’m very happy and excited for Ilja Dragunov – I think he’s one of the best right now, if not the best – Lyra [Valkyria] as well. I’m extremely happy for her, Blair Davenport…. There’s definitely a theme right now, and that theme is that NXT UK alumni are starting to take over.’
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Alba Fyre (left) and Isla Dawn (right) will also be returning to Scotland for Saturday’s event
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Dar also discussed his desire to climb the ranks in WWE as he continues to chase the NXT title
At the start of the interview, Dar, speaking from the United States, admits he wishes he was on ‘a nice coastal town in the UK right now with a little bit of sunshine’. The weather forecast is rain for this weekend, so the full wish won’t be granted, but a trip back home may ease the pain.
‘I would love to be there in any capacity, he admits. ‘Obviously, like, like most people would.
‘I know for a fact, if I’m there on a personal level, I’ll be absorbing it all, and I’ll be enjoying watching it, and it will be inspirational. And if I’m there from there in a professional level, then I will make that an unforgettable moment for myself in terms of what it involves and entails.’
