In a match that had fans biting their nails and crossing their fingers, Damian Priest proved once again why he’s the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. During the Clash at the Castle event in Glasgow on June 15, Priest defended his title against Drew McIntyre in a bout that nearly ended in disaster. Attempting a daring springboard dive off the middle rope, Priest’s ankle got caught between the top and middle ropes, sending shockwaves of concern through the audience.
Priest, ever the warrior, assured fans post-match that he was “banged up” but nothing to worry about. Wrestling insider Dave Meltzer echoed this sentiment on “Wrestling Observer Radio,” revealing that WWE sources reported Priest is doing okay.
“I actually heard from them and the preliminary news wasn’t bad,” Meltzer said. “They were actually saying it’s like a miracle, but it’s not — that could change Monday. It wasn’t as bad as feared, but nothing is conclusive. It’s not like, ‘Oh he needs surgery, can’t say that, we can’t say that he’s fine, we don’t know.’ I do know as time went on from what I understand there was a hope…kind of a hope that he’s okay.”
Despite the scare, the plan for Priest to retain his title remained unchanged. Showing no signs of serious injury, Priest completed the match as scripted, much to the relief of everyone watching. Should Priest continue to recover without any setbacks, he’s set to defend his title next at WWE Money in the Bank on July 6 in Toronto.