It’s time for another WWE PPV/Network Special. This month it’s Extreme Rules, which has very few gimmick matches for a show billed as “Extreme”, but does look like a good show on paper.
The usual panel of Renee Young, Booker T, Sam Roberts, and David Otunga hosted the pre-show. Charlie Caruso mentioned that Hulk Hogan was back with the company, and was backstage. I can’t imagine they would tease that without having an appearance from The Hulkster. I suspect he’ll show up the same time Ronda Rousey does.
Finn Balor did an interview at the pre-show table saying the you have to make enemies to be successful. He then referred to Baron Corbin as “My Enemy”.
Pre-Show: Andrade “Cien” Almas (w/Zelina Vega) p. Sin Cara with a Hammerlock DDT. Basically a glorified squash, which is perfectly fine.
The panel tried to interview Shinsuke Nakamura, who acted like he couldn’t hear them. It was played up like he could hear and was just trolling them
A highlight reel aired of Kurt Angle throwing out the first pitch at a Pirates game. This Cub fan is thankful for the Pirates beating The Brewers twice. #FlyTheDamnW
The panel talked about Seth Rollins vs. Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler interrupted wearing aviator sunglasses from 1985 and cut a heel promo. Drew McIntyre also mentioned Rollins recently losing matchs. I’m glad McIntyre is getting to talk more since his return. He really is a good talker.
Pre-Show Tables Match: Sanity (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, & Killian Dane) b. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, & Xavier Woods when Eric Young put Kofi through a table. Killian Dane did a dive through the ropes. All three New Day Members did a Tower Of Doom spot with Young and Wolfe. The finish was pretty impressive with Eric Young legdropping Kofi through a table at ringside.
Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt cut promos backstage on The B-Team predicting victory in their match, which would be up next.
The panel recapped the card again before signing off for the main show.
The B-Team (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) b. The Deleters Of Worlds (Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt) when Dallas pinned Hardy with an Elevated DDT. I can’t help but point out that brothers are on apposing teams. Hardy and Wyatt had control early on until the heels cut off Hardy. They got the heat on Hardy which lead to a hot tag to Wyatt, who ran wild. Bray tagged Matt back in and set up Dallas for a finisher. Axel got on the apron. Wyatt knocked Axel to the floor. Dallas capitalized and threw Hardy into Wyatt, who fell to the floor. Dallas hit Hardy with an elevated DDT too score the pin.
Charlie Caruso interviewed The B-Team afterward. Axel compared winning the championship to when “Stretch Armstrong” set foot on The Moon.
Backstage, Renee Young interviewed Raw General Manager Kurt Angle. He said that Brock Lesnar has been refusing to defend his title. Angle laid down the ultimatum that Lesnar will either show up at Raw and negotiate a title defense, or Lesnar will be stripped of the championship. I didn’t know talent could just refuse to defend titles. Maybe that’s something exclusive to Lesnar.
Finn Balor p. Constable Baron Corbin with a small package. Corbin dominated early, saying Balor was too small. Balor refused to stay down and kept kicking out of Corbin’s power moves. The finish was Corbin going for The End Of Days, but Balor countered with a small package for a quick victory.
Backstage, The Bludgeon Bros. attacked Daniel Bryan and Kane with their foam mallets.
Carmella p. Asuka by smashing her into the cage. As expected, James Ellsworth dropped a chain from the shark cage. However, Asuka stopped Carmella from grabbing it. The referee went to remove the chain from the ring when Ellsworth dropped a spray can from the cage. Asuka dodged that and scored some near falls. Carmella escaped the Asuka Lock with the ropes. Ellsworth managed to pick his way out of the cage, but caught his leg in the bottom of the cage and hung helplessly from it. Asuka, like a complete moron, took this opportunity to hit Ellsworth with several kicks. Officials tried to free Ellsworth until Asuka chased them off. Carmella shoved Asuka into the cage from behind and score the pin.
After the match, Asuka laid Ellsworth to waste. Corey Graves stated he had no sympathy for Asuka. You know what? He’s right. Asuka was a complete idiot for getting distracted when all she needed to do was win a match.
Shinsuke Nakamura p. United States Champion Jeff Hardy with a Kinshasa to win the title. The match was literally just a low blow and a Kinshasa. I can only think that Jeff must be hurt. The match introductions were longer than the match itself.
After the match, Randy Orton’s music hit and he came to the ring. Nakamura left the ring with the belt. Orton stood in the ring as Hardy made his way to his feet. Orton tripped Hardy and gave him another low blow. Apparently a heel turn.
A recap package aired of the Braun Strowman/Kevin Owens feud, which was capped off with Strowman knocking over a porta-potty with Owens inside. 2 Billion Doller TV Deal, folks. This is why the programming won’t change anytime soon.
Kevin Owens b. Braun Strowman in a Steel Cage Match by being thrown off the cage. Owens tried to escape the cage right off the bat, but Strowman stopped him. Owens got a quick flurry of offense but still couldn’t escape the cage. Strowman flung Owens repeatedly around the cage. Owens managed to handcuff Strowman to a turnbuckle. Instead of escaping the cage, Owens toyed with Strowman. He waved goodbye to Strowman an started climbing the cage. Strowman tore through the handcuffs and met Owens at the top of the cage. In what had to be one of the scariest looking bumps in a long time, Strowman threw Owens off the top of the cage through a table. This awarded the match to Owens since he technically left the cage first. Apparently trying to kill people instead of winning matches is babyface material. Also I can’t help but think Owens will show up on Raw almost fully recovered, when he should be out for months.
The Bludgeon Bros. (Harper & Rowan) b. Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan & Mayoral candidate Kane) when Rowan pinned Bryan with an assisted Powerbomb. Bryan came to the ring alone, selling the beating Kane took earlier in the night. The match began as 2 on 1. Bryan had some shine early in the match before getting caught. The heels beat on Bryan for a few minutes until Kane limped to the ring in a walking cast. Kane got the hot tag and chokelsammed both Bros. Harper escaped a Tombstone attempt and hit Kane in his injured foot. Bryan tagged back in and hit several Yes Kicks on Harper. Rowan got the tag, and the Bludgeon Bros. hit their assisted powerbomb finisher on Bryan for the win.
Bobby Lashley p. Roman Reigns with a Spear. Reigns controlled the match in the early going. Lashley got backdropped out of the ring to the floor. Roman countered a spear by Lashley with a Superman Punch for a near fall. Roman hit another Superman Punch as Lashley was on the ropes, which sent Lashley to the mat. Roman went for another Punch, only for Lashley to counter with a Spear of his own, which lead to the three count.
Ronda Rousey was shown at ringside for the Raw Womens Championship Match.
Alexa Bliss p. Nia Jax in an Extreme Rules Match with a DDT onto a chair. Jax came to the ring accompanied by Natalya, and Bliss was accompanied by Mickie James. Bliss tried to hit Jax with a kendo stick, but didn’t faze her. Bliss then went for more weapons, but Jax kept intercepting them and tossing them into the ring. Jax dominated early until Bliss finally started using the weapons to her advantage. Natalya and Mickie got into a fight at ringside. Bliss and James double teamed Natalya on the floor until Ronda Rousey hopped the railing and made the save. Ronda chased Bliss at ringside until Mickie hit Ronda with the kendo stick. The heels then got Jax back into the ring where Bliss finished her off with a DDT onto a chair.
A video package aired recapping Rusev’s #1 Contendership. I guess this means the Iron Man IC Title is going on last.
WWE Champion AJ Styles p. Rusev with a Phenomenal Forearm to retain the championship. Back and forth action in the early going. Styles escaped a superplex, kicked Rusev to the outside, and landed a flying forearm on the floor. Back in the ring, Styles landed a Reverse DDT for a near fall. Rusev escaped a 450 and went for the Accolade, which Styles dodged. AJ put Rusev in the Calf Crusher. Aiden English assisted Rusev by pushing the ropes, allowing Rusev to make the rope break. Styles chased English around the ring and ran straight into Rusev. Back in the ring, Rusev hit the Machka Kick for a two count. AJ countered another Machka Kick with a Pele. While Rusev had AJ in a half-Accolade, English removed a turnbuckle pad. Styles dodged a corner splash, which caused Rusev to smash headfirst into the exposed turnbuckle. AJ hit a 450 for another near fall. English got on the apron, but was knocked to the floor. Styles hit the Phenominal Forearm to get the pinfall.
Backstage Charlie Caruso interviewed Seth Rollins, who said he had three opponents tonight: Ziggler, McIntyre, & The Clock. But he vowed to win the championship tonight.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler b. Seth Rollins in an Iron Man Match 5 falls to 4 in Overtime. Rollins got an early fall with a rollup at approximately 4:30. Rollins scored another fall with a Curb Stomp at 8:00. Drew McIntyre hit the ring and attacked Rollins for another fall via DQ. McIntyre continued his assault, smashing Rollins into the railing and ringposts. The referee ejected McIntyre from ringside. It seemed the plan was to injure Rollins making it easier for Ziggler to score pins. McIntyre hit a Claymore Kick before leaving. Ziggler covered Rollins for his first fall at 9:00. Ziggler scored another fall with a superkick at 11:00. Rollins blocked another Superkick and rolled up Ziggler for a near fall. Ziggler evened up the count with a ZigZag at 12:00. Dolph got the lead with a pinfall while his feet were on the ropes at 14:00. Rollins hit a pair of dives to the outside, and scored a few near falls. Ziggler dropkicked Rollins to the outside, and almost got a countout fall. A Frogsplash got another two count for Rollins. The two battled at the top of the turnbuckles, with Rollins landing a superplex followed immediately with a Falcon Arrow. Ziggler still kicked out. Rollins catapulted Ziggler to the ring post and finally evened the score at 4. Seth put Dolph in a Sharpshooter ate 28:00. When Ziggler tried to get to the ropes, Rollins turned it into a Crossface. Ziggler dodged another stomp by rolling out of the ring. Rollins chased Ziggler and tossed him back in the ring. Ziggler hit a Famouser for a close near fall. Rollins hit a superkick, followed by a Stomp, but the time ran out before he could finish the cover.
Kurt Angle came out after the match and said there will be no tie, and it’s now Sudden Death Overtime. It’s WrestleMania 12 all over again. Before the match truly got restarted, McIntyre ran out and distracted Rollins. Ziggler hit another ZigZag to score the final fall. Not a bad match at all, but I don’t think it’s going to be a match anybody remembers in a few weeks.
Overall, this show was just kind of there. Nothing great, but nothing terribly bad either. I believe I went 9-3 in my predictions. Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you on the board and on The Wrestling Brethren Podcast.
