By Jason Powell, Prowrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Extreme Rules 2018
Aired live on July 15, 2018 on WWE Network and pay-per-view
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at PPG Paints Arena
Extreme Rules opened with a video package playing up the “anything goes” aspect of the pay-per-view concept (even though there are several standard rules matches this time around)…
1. Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt vs. Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas for the Raw Tag Titles. The Raw team of Michael Cole, Corey Graves, and Jonathan Coachman were on the call. The Spanish and German broadcast teams were introduced prior to the opening bell. Ronda Rousey and her husband Travis Browne were shown in the crowd. Rousey looked excited and held up her ticket.
Wyatt tagged in a couple of minutes into the match to face his brother Dallas. There were some cheers. Dallas teased locking up and then tagged out. Wyatt tagged out a short time later and the B-Team isolated Hardy for a stretch. Hardy made a hot tag just as Axel tagged out, leaving Wyatt and Dallas in the ring together. Wyatt set up for his finisher, but Axel broke it up. Wyatt performed a uranage on Dallas. Wyatt leaned upside down in his conrer. Hardy tagged himself in. Dallas shoved Hardy into Wyatt, then hit his draping neckbreaker on Hardy and pinned him…
Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas defeated Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt to win the Raw Tag Titles in 8:00.
After the match, Charly Caruso came out and interviewed Axel and Dallas how it felt to win the tag titles. Axel asked how a rainbow feels. Dallas tried to lead the crowd in a B-Team chant, but their music played almost immediately…
Powell’s POV: A brief match with the tease for Wyatt and Dallas sharing the ring not really leading to anything. It’s hard not to feel good for Axel and Dallas considering the undercard roles they’ve played for so long. It’s just too bad that their feud with Hardy and Wyatt has been confusing in terms of which team the company wanted fans to rally behind. It was a fun way to open the show, but it would have packed more of a punch with fans if the duo had beaten a definitive heel team.
Renee Young interviewed Kurt Angle, who received a big hometown reaction. Angle said he reopened negotiations with Paul Heyman, but Brock Lesnar is not interested in returning at this time. Angle said Lesnar could either show up at Raw on Monday, come to terms on when his next title defense will be, or he’ll be stripped of the WWE Universal Championship. The fans popped big and a brief “yes” chant broke out…
Powell’s POV: So it’s a tease for Lesnar showing up on Raw or tuning into see if he’s agreed to terms or if he’ll be stripped of the championship. It makes sense to provide a hook for Raw given the lousy numbers last week and with the MLB Home Run Derby airing opposite tomorrow’s show.
2. Finn Balor vs. Baron Corbin. Corbin made ring announcer JoJo re-introduce him as “Stephanie McMahon’s personally appointed constable of Raw.” Corbin caught Balor springboarding and hit him with a punch. Balor covered him for a two count at 4:00. Balor came back and went up top, but Corbin grabbed him by the throat. Corbin brought him back into the ring and then performed a chokeslam backbreaker onto his knee and got another two count. Balor performed a sling blade clothesline. He set up for another, but Corbin performed a sidewalk slam for another two count.
Balor performed a double stomp on Corbin at 7:40. Balor followed up with a dropkick into the corner and then went up top for his finisher. Corbin recovered and tripped him up. Corbin set up for his finisher, but Balor countered into an inside cradle for the win…
Finn Balor defeated Baron Corbin in 8:20.
Powell’s POV: A decent match that felt like it just as easily could have aired on Raw. Graves tried to frame it as Corbin being upset because he controlled the majority of the match and still lost. The broadcast team also spoke about Corbin looking for revenge on Raw, so this won’t be the end of their program.
The Smackdown broadcast team of Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton checked in from ringside. They threw it backstage where the Bludgeon Brothers attacked Kane and Daniel Bryan. They ended up hitting Kane’s knee with one of their giant F’n Thor hammers. The Bludgeon Brothers left, then Paige showed up. They went back to the broadcast team, which set up a video package on the Smackdown Women’s Championship match…
3. Carmella vs. Asuka for the Smackdown Women’s Championship with James Ellsworth in a shark cage. Greg Hamilton was the ring announcer for the Smackdown matches. Asuka made her entrance first and then the international broadcast teams checked in. Carmella and Ellsworth were out next. Carmella mocked Asuka by taunting her with the title belt. A group of crew members entered the ring and prepped the shark cage before Ellsworth entered without incident, then threw a fit as he was being raised into the air. Graves claimed Ellsworth had a fear of heights.
Asuka applied the Asuka Lock at 2:30, but Carmella reached the ropes with her foot to break it. Ellsworth tried to pick the lock of the shark cage as Asuka suplexed Carmella at ringside. Ellsworth escaped the cage at 3:30, but somehow hung himself upside down from the cage. Asuka spotted him and smiled, then entered the ring and kicked him several times.
The production crew members entered the ring as the shark cage was lowered. Asuka roughed up the production crew and cleared them from the ring, then went back to kicking Ellsworth repeatedly. Carmella returned to the ring and shoved Asuka face first into the bottom of the shark cage and then pinned her.
Carmella defeated Asuka to retain the Smackdown Women’s Championship in 5:25.
After the match, Asuka worked over the production crew members again after they let Ellsworth down. She then worked over Ellsworth and gave him a couple of German suplexes and a kick before applying the Asuka Lock. Asuka received a minor pop when she released the hold and played to the crowd…
Powell’s POV: This was bad. Yes, I chuckled over Ellsworth hanging from the shark cage, but that’s about the best I can say about it. Finishes like these are designed to protect Asuka while putting heat on Carmella, but they don’t seem to be accomplishing either goal, particularly when it comes to protecting the now cold Asuka character. What a shame.
The broadcast team recapped Sanity beating New Day in a tables match on the Kickoff Show (Andrade Almas beat Sin Cara in the first match). They also recapped the B-Team winning the Raw Tag Titles in the opening match of the pay-per-view…
4. Jeff Hardy vs. Shinsuke Nakamura for the U.S. Championship. Hamilton delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. As the referee was handing off the title belt to someone at ringside, Nakamura low-blowed Hardy. The broadcast team said the ref didn’t see it and it occurred before the bell. The ref checked on Hardy, who assured him twice that he was ready even though he was still selling. The bell rang and Nakamura raced over and blasted Hardy with a Kinshasa and then pinned him…
Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Jeff Hardy to win the U.S. Championship in 0:06.
After the match, Randy Orton’s entrance music played and he walked to the ring. Nakamura went to ringside and stood on one of the broadcast tables and the two glared at one another. Hardy struggled to get to his feet as Orton turned and watched him. Orton took Hardy down, split his legs open, and then stomped him below the belt. Nakamura looked surprised as he watched from the table with his mouth hanging open. Orton left the ring without saying anything…
Powell’s POV: Papa John had a better weekend than Jeff Hardy’s testicles. Anyway, I applaud the outcome, but I was looking forward to a full length match between Hardy and Nakamura. They helped make up for some of that with the live crowd thanks to the surprise return of Orton, who is back from knee surgery in May. My guess is that Orton explains that if he’ll do that to Hardy even though they’ve had a friendship, imagine what he’ll do to Nakamura. It was a strange angle that presumably leads to a Triple Threat at SummerSlam.
The cage lowered and they cut to a video on the Braun Strowman and Kevin Owens saga…
5. Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens in a cage match. Owens performed a cannonball 90 seconds in and followed up with a frogsplash for a one count. Owens tried to escape the cage. Strowman caught him and pulled him back to mid-ring. Strowman took over offensively until he ran into a boot from Owens, who tried to leave again, but Strowman stopped him. Strowman stood on the leg of Owens and pulled the cage door into his face.
Owens dodged a charging Strowman and then superkicked him a couple times. Owens handcuffed Strowman to the top rope. One of the broadcast team members said it was legal because there are no disqualifications in a cage match. Owens worked over Strowman with punches and then gloated. Strowman reached out with his free arm and chokeslammed him at 6:40.
Cole said he didn’t know if even Braun Strowman could break free from handcuffs. Um, sure. Owens stood on the opposite side of the ring and gave Strowman a crotch chop while telling him to suck it. Owens climbed to the ropes, stopped, and blew Owens a kiss. Strowman broke free from the handcuffs at 7:30 and met Owens at the top of the cage. Strowman basically chokeslammed Owens off the top of the cage and through the English broadcast table below, giving Owens the win…
Kevin Owens defeated Braun Strowman in a cage match in 8:05.
After the match, EMTs brought a stretcher out and tended to Owens. Strowman went to ringside and said, “Your winner, Kevin Owens,” and then laughed before heading to the back…
Powell’s POV: I can’t believe we saw that insane bump on a WWE show in 2018. I’ve become mostly numb to seeing the boss’s son do ridiculous stunts, but I’m surprised they actually approved of Owens doing this. Is it really worth the risk? From a storyline standpoint, this continues to be a bizarre feud in that Strowman keeps doing horrible things to Owens even though Owens really hasn’t done anything to justify Strowman actions. Is this leading to a double turn? This is so strange.
The Smackdown broadcast team touted the Australian stadium show for October. They also recapped some of the previous matches and the Bludgeon Brothers and Team Hell No angle while presumably the crew took the cage down…
6. “Bludgeon Brothers” Luke Harper and Erick Rowan vs. Daniel Bryan and Kane for the Smackdown Tag Titles. Kane didn’t come out with Bryan, who worked solo to start. Bryan got off to a good start by working over Harper and Rowan. He applied the Yes Lock on Harper at 2:00, but Rowan pulled him to ringside to break it up. Rowan ran Bryan into ring steps and then back inside the ring. The champs worked over Bryan for a bit, but he came back with a suicide dive.
Kane’s music played and he came out in a walking boot at 5:30. Bryan tagged in Kane, who chokeslammed both opponents. Harper clipped Kane’s bad leg. Kane tagged out, Bryan performed a missile dropkick on Harper. The fans rallied behind Bryan as he threw the Yes kicks. He even connected with the big finale kick. Bryan set up for a running knee, but Rowan cut him off. Rowan shoved Bryan into Kane in the corner and then with a big boot. The Bludgeon Brothers performed a Doomsday Device on Bryan and Harper pinned him…
Bludgeon Brothers defeated Daniel Bryan and Kane to retain the Smackdown Tag Titles in 8:20.
Powell’s POV: This was disappointing. It’s understandable though since Kane appeared to be legitimately injured coming into the match. I hope Bryan is moving on to a feud with The Miz
Roman Reigns was shown walking backstage and the fans booed. Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas entered the picture and were still celebrating their win. Axel said if they could do it then he could do it to. They said if he beat Bobby Lashley then they could all celebrate together. Reigns left them hanging like the dick that his character is…
Cole said the Reigns vs. Lashley match was coming up next, then he set up the video package for their match…
7. Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley. Reigns was booed during his entrance, so we got the usual line from Cole about how Reigns is the most polarizing superstar in WWE today. Lashley received some cheers, but he didn’t get the big star reaction. Lashley performed a nice suplex at 1:45. Reigns dropped Lashley with a punch about 30 seconds later. Around 6:00, what sounded like adult male fans chanted “Rusev Day” as they fought to ringside and Reigns ran Lashley into the barricade.
Lashley caught Reigns with a nice suplex around 7:00. In the ring, Lashley suplexed Reigns. Roman came back with a clothesline at 7:40. Lashley performed a powerslam for a two count at 8:20. Lashley caught Reigns with a cross body block in the ring at 9:00. Lashley went to the top rope and performed a double ax-handle. Lashley played to the crowd and received some light applause.
Reigns hoisted up Lashley, who grabbed the top rope, so Reigns tossed him over to ringside, which drew some gasps from the fans around 10:00. The replay showed Lashley land hard on his left hip. Lashley beat the ref’s count only to take a leg drop from Reigns as he was coming through the ropes. Reigns covered him for two. The women and kids chanted “Let’s Go Roman” while men chanted “Roman Sucks.” Reigns set up for a Superman Punch, but Lashley caught him and perfomred a spinebuster. Lashley performed a vertical suplex for a near fall just before 12:00.
Lashley got up and Reigns blasted him with a Superman Punch for a near fall. They went to ringside where Lashley suplexed onto the German broadcast table, which did not break. Lashley rolled him back inside the ring and then went back to the top rope. Reigns ran over and Superman Punched him and knocked him down. Reigns started jawing about it being his yard, then let out his big war cry. Reigns ran the ropes and ran into a spear from Lashley, who pinned him clean…
Bobby Lashley pinned Roman Reigns in 14:50.
Powell’s POV: Hard work from both men even though it was the usual adult male fan rejection of Reigns. The outcome alone made this match more tolerable. A Reigns win wouldn’t have done much for him and yet Reigns losing the match gives a big boost to Lashley.
The broadcast team set up a replay of Angle laying out the three scenarios for Brock Lesnar…
Ronda Rousey and Travis Browne were shown in the crowd. The fans cheered. Cole said that Rousey will not appear on Raw because her suspension runs through Wednesday, but she bought a ticket to be at this show (even though they said she wasn’t suspended from the pay-per-view). A video package set up the Raw Women’s Championship match…
8. Alexa Bliss (w/Mickie James) vs. Nia Jax (w/Natalya) in an Extreme Rules match for the Raw Women’s Championship. Natalya came out with Jax, and Rousey applauded them from the front row. Jax chased Bliss to ringside where Bliss hit her with a kendo stick. Jax shook it off. James handed several weapons to Bliss, who tried to use them on Jax, who simply tossed them inside the ring.
Graves asked the best question of the night when he asked where they find trashcans without handles. In the ring, Jax pressed Bliss over her head and dropped her onto a trashcan. At 4:40. Jax charged Bliss, who moved, causing Jax to crash into a trashcan and a chair in the corner. Natalya went after Mickie at ringside. Bliss joined in and helped James run Natalya into the barricade.
Ronda Rousey hopped the barricade and worked over James. Rousey brought her into the ring and performed a move on her, then took her to ringside and ran her into the German broadcast table. Rousey turned her attention to Bliss. The fans chanted for Rousey. Bliss tried to flee, but Rousey caught her. James returned and hit Rousey from behind with a kendo stick twice. In the ring, Jax had Bliss on her shoulders when James hit Jax with a chair. Bliss hit Jax a couple more times with a chair and then DDT’d her for the win. Graves said Angle should suspend Rousey for more time because she jumped the barricade…
Alexa Bliss defeated Nia Jax in an Extreme Rules match to retain the Raw Women’s Championship in 7:30.
Powell’s POV: A silly and hokey match with lots of weapons and interference. The crowd came to life for Rousey, but they were pretty quiet otherwise. In fairness, other aspects of the show seem to have taken a lot of the wind out of the crowd’s sail.
The Smackdown broadcast team spoke about SummerSlam. Graves announced Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Jeff Hardy for the U.S. Championship for Tuesday’s Smackdown…
A video package set up the WWE Championship match, meaning the Intercontinental Title match will close the show…
9. AJ Styles vs. Rusev (w/Aiden English) for the WWE Championship. English delivered the singing introduction for Rusev. The fans did the “Rusev Day” ending, but gave him a ho-hum response when he walked out. There were more Rusev Day chants once he was in the ring. Styles received a favorable reaction. Hamilton delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. There were dueling chants before the bell.
Styles targeted the left leg of Rusev with early kicks. Rusev performed a back body drop at 3:05 and then hit Styles with forearms to the lower back while Phillips spoke about how he was setting up his Accolade finisher. Styles sent Rusev to ringside where he limped. Styles went up and over with a flying forearm on the floor at 6:00. Back inside the ring, Styles hit a series of strikes that knocked Rusev down and then performed a running forearm. Styles hoisted up Rusev, but Rusev elbowed his way down. Styles performed a reverse DDT for a two count at 7:00.
Rusev avoided a Styles Clash attempt. Styles attempted a Calf Crusher, but Rusev avoided that, set him on the top rope, and hit him with a forearm. With Styles at ringside, Rusev went for a suicide dive only to have Styles hit him with a forearm from the floor. Styles knocked Rusev down and went for a springboard 450, but Rusev avoided it and Styles rolled through. Moments later, Rusev went for the Accolade and Styles managed to avoid it. Styles ran the ropes and went for a running forearm on a seated Rusev, who caught him with a kick on the way down.
At 10:15, Styles rolled Rusev into a Calf Crusher. Rusev crawled toward the rope. English pushed the rope forward unbeknownst to the referee. Styles questioned if English pushed it forward and then chased English around the ring. Rusev went to ringside, caught Styles, and performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. Back in the ring, Rusev connected with a Machka Kick for a nice near fall. Rusev went back to selling his left leg.
Rusev got to his feet and set up for another Machka Kick, but Styles caught him with a Pele Kick. Rusev picked up another near fall and then set up for his Accolade finishing hold. Rusev let it go and sold his left leg again. Graves said Rusev couldn’t plant on that bad knee. Rusev kneeled on the bad knee while applying the hold. Styles reached out and grabbed the ropes to break it. English removed one of the top turnbuckle pads. Rusev got up and started hitting his bad leg and then stomped the back of Styles. Rusev went for his finisher. Styles slipped away. It looked like Styles may have gone to the wrong corner because he then scrambled over to the corner with the exposed turnbuckle. Rusev charged and Styles moved. Rusev hit the exposed turnbuckle. Styles performed a springboard 450 splash for a two count. Styles took out English with a kick and then set up for his finisher and connected. Styles covered Rusev for the win…
AJ Styles defeated Rusev to retain the WWE Championship in 15:35.
Powell’s POV: A solid match that would have been more enjoyable if Rusev had been built up in a bigger way going into the match. It was just hard to buy into the possibility of Rusev winning and thus his near falls seemed hollow. Phillips kept referring to it as a once in a lifetime opportunity for Rusev, which seems to indicate that he won’t be staying in the main event picture. They did blame English for the turnbuckle spot so perhaps this will lead to their breakup.
A WWE Network commercial aired and focussed on some of the original programming, the Australian Super Show-Down stadium show, a Table For 3 involving Eric Bischoff and Bruce Prichard, documentaries on AJ Styles and Ronda Rousey, the Mae Young Classic, Elias Unplugged, Something Else To Wrestle With, and more… Cole hyped Lashley and Carmella for the Extreme Rules post show with hosts Renee Young and Sam Roberts…
Seth Rollins was shown walking backstage. Charly Caruso stuck a mic in his face and brought up Drew McIntyre being in the corner of Dolph Ziggler. Rollins said he had three opponents in Ziggler, McIntyre, and the clock. Rollins said he would throw caution to the wind, leave it all in the ring, and walk out the new IC Champion. He told the Pittsburgh fans that the only thing left to do was burn it down…
Rollins made his entrance first, then Ziggler and McIntyre made their entrance to Ziggler’s atrocious theme song. Ziggler wore red, white, and blue tights with “EVIL” in yellow on his backside…
10. Dolph Ziggler (w/Drew McIntyre) vs. Seth Rollins in a 30-minute Iron Man match for the Intercontinental Championship. JoJo delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Cole reminded viewers that a disqualification or a count-out both count as falls in an iron man match. Cole reminded viewers that a disqualification or a count-out both count as falls in an iron man match. Rollins performed a buckle bomb and then rolled Ziggler into a pin for an early three count. Rollins went up up 1-0 at 4:35.
Rollins went for another Buckle Bomb, but Ziggler escaped it. Rollins came right back with a Stomp and pinned him. Rollins went up 2-0 at 8:00.
Rollins played to the crowd and tuned up the band, but McIntyre hit the ring and attacked Rollins. The referee awarded a fall to Rollins by DQ. Rollins went up 3-0 at 11:00.
McIntyre dumped Rollins to ringside and ran him into the barricade and edge of the ring several times before tossing him back inside the ring. McIntyre acted like he was going to leave and instead hit a Claymore Kick on Rollins. McIntyre was ejected, but Ziggler covered Rollins and pinned him at 10:25 to make it 3-1 Rollins.
Ziggler blasted Rollins with a superkick and pinned him. Rollins led 3-2 at 12:10. Ziggler tuned up the band and went for a superkick, but Rollins rolled him up for a two count. Ziggler ran Rollins through the ropes and into the post, then hit him with the Zigzag and pinned him at 12:20. Ziggler and Rollins were tied 3-3.
Rollins set up for a suicide dive. Ziggler hit him with a forearm from the floor. Ziggler returned to the ring ended up scoring a pin with his foot on the ropes at 14:20, so Ziggler was up 4-3.
The fans amused themselves by counting down at the end of every minute in Royal Rumble style. Ziggler applied a sleeper. Rollins broke it by running Ziggler into the corner. Rollins performed a suicide dive on Ziggler at 19:10. Rollins performed a Blockbuster for a two count. The fans erupted with a Yes chant for some reason. Rollins went up top, but Ziggler superkicked him to the floor. Ziggler motioned to the ref to start the count-out, but Rollins returned to the ring to beat the count at 21:25. Rollins caught Ziggler with a knee to the face and got a two count at 21:50.
Ziggler crotched Rollins on the top rope. Rollins reached down and grabbed Ziggler by the tights and pulled him up on the ropes with him. Rollins headbutted Ziggler off the ropes and then performed a big frogsplash for another near fall at 23:30. A short time later, Rollins ran up the ropes and superplexed Ziggler, then performed the falcon arrow for another good near fall at 25:40.
Rollins tuned up the band and hit Ziggler with a superkick to the gut. Ziggler avoided a Stomp. Rollints catapulted Ziggler over the top rope and into the post, then rolled him up and pinned him at 26:55. Rollins and Ziggler were tied 4-4 with only a few minutes remaining in the match.
Rollins applied a Sharpshooter. He released the hold and ended up applying a crossface with 1:45 remaining. Rollins released it and went for a Stomp. Ziggler rolled out of the way and then rolled to ringside. Ziggler tried to roll over the barricade, but Rollins caught him and rolled him back inside the ring. Rollins followed and ate a Fameasser for a two count. Ziggler tuned up the band and went for a superkick, but Rollins beat him to the punch and then hit the Stomp. Rollins crawled over and covered Ziggler with one second remaining. The time expired to end the match…
Kurt Angle came out as Ziggler was leaving with the title. Angle said he and his hometown fans didn’t want to see a tie. He ordered Ziggler back to the ring and called for sudden death overtime. McIntyre ran out. Rollins saw McIntyre coming and hit him with a high knee to knock him off the apron. Ziggler hit a Zigzag on Rollins and pinned him to win the match 5-4 in overtime…
Dolph Ziggler pinned Seth Rolilns in 0:10 in overtime to retain the Intercontinental Championship.
Powell’s POV: I’ll take the overtime finish over the draw. They went against the grain by booking a lot of falls in the match. I prefer a low fall back and forth style match. It seemed a bit odd to have Ziggler lose two quick falls when they have been doing a good job of rehabilitating him. This was still the best match of the night on what was a disappointing show overall. The crowd’s countdown gimmick was fun the first few times and then felt silly and disrespectful as it continued to happen. I will have more to say in the members’ exclusive audio review with Jake Barnett later tonight. Check out Prowrestling.net Live hosted by Will Pruett and I on Monday at 3CT/4ET at PWAudio.net.
Join me next Sunday for live coverage of Impact Wrestling Slammiversary and check out my interview with Josh Mathews below from the latest Pro Wrestling Boom Podcast with Jason Powell.
The only thing special about Extreme Rules so far is that it’s been extremely boring. Two matches have been absolute garbage. The program must have been written by the clown who thought Lashley’s sisters was a good idea.
Mella is money!
I’m glad they kept the title on Carmella. She’s been a fun champion, and I liked the antics in this match. Of all the things that could’ve happened, I didn’t see Ellsworth getting caught on the cage. Lol
Reigns seems to be working a little more of a heelish style tonight. I wonder if that’s by design, or if it’s just coming off that way because he’s trying to be more intense?
The nutshots are getting ridiculous… For god sakes everybody wear a damn metal cup… BTW I’m convinced that creative hates Asuka…
It’s always refreshing to see the Featherweight with the large beard get pinned.
hmmm…with PPV’s like this it makes the g1 climax look like the superbowl of wrestling.
Outside of the thirty minute iron man match (which come on is stupid to begin with considering it should be 60 minutes)the matches were all too short in length which made them less compelling to begin with. I found it hard to get invested in the product they put out there tonight at any point which is extremely rare for me.