Overall, this was the first Extreme Rules in a long time where all the matches had stipulations and that was absolutely delivered upon. The Brawling Brutes and Imperium delivered an incredible opening match that was extremely difficult to follow. While Rousey and Morgan’s title match was as physical of an encounter as we’ve seen from them, it was clear the crowd was less invested than in the opener. Drew McIntyre was defeated by Karrion Kross in their strap match that included significant interference from Scarlett and was overall an extremely entertaining match, pun intended. Bianca Belair retained the Raw Women's Championship in a barnburner of a ladder match against Bayley. There have been so many great ladder matches over the years but both women deserve a special shoutout for the innovation they displayed in this one. After that, Edge quit in his I Quit match with Finn Balor but it took the threat of more harm to his wife, Beth Phoenix, for him to do so. Unfortunately, in the end that harm was caused anyway, in the form of multiple chair shots from Rhea Ripley but that's not the point. In the main event Rollins wore ring gear to honor RVD, performed a frog splash, and yelled at Daniel Cormier a lot. Eventually Riddle was able to lock in a Triangle Choke and pick up one of the biggest wins of his career. Oh yeah, He’s here. *Puts out Lantern*
WWE Finally gives us an Extreme Rules event that is more than likely going to live up to the name, Extreme. We have all matches having unique stipulations including the Donnybrook match, an I Quit Match and a Strap Match. The Main roster debut of both the Fight Pit and Daniel Cormier and both women’s championships are on the line!
MUST WATCH The Brawling Brutes Vs Imperium – Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook Match:
The match opens with all six men in the ring and chaos kicks the match off. Gunther and sheamus brawlin with Kaiser and Ridge in the ring. Vinci and Butch on the outside with Butch entering the ring and getting a dropkick to the fact of Kaiser. The overall setup is being destroyed with the barrels and even a part of the barricage coming off.
The makeshift bar top has Sheamus held against it as Gunther chops him multiple times. The Brutes are in a 2 on 3 situation with imperium in the ring. Ridge was able to get a double back drop on the two members of imperium before Gunther gives a big boot. They then hit the imperium bomb on Ridge on the outside with Butch now being in a big handicap situation. Imperium dismantle Butch with a triple team move in the corner.
Donnybrook Cont.
Sheamus gets the big pop by getting up by the announce table. Sheamus gets Vinci and Kaiser out before going head to head with Gunther in the ring. The Crowd serenading Sheamus to hype of the 10 beats of the bodhran as Ridge and Butch join him in pummeling him. Vinci hits a splash to break up the pin on the brogue kick. After a great sequence, Sheamus is so close to getting Gunther to tap but Kaiser breaks a sheleighleigh over the back of Sheamus. Ridge and Butch break up the pin.
All men get into a striking fit except for Gunther and Sheamus as they are literally crawling to their feet together. This is wild and madness and hard to do play by play. Butch gets a moonsault off of the barrels and Sheamus kicks out of a sheleighleigh assisted lariat. The Brawling Brutes were able to use the sheleighlies to take advantage with Sheamus getting the Celtic cross through the table. Sheamus brogue kicks Vinci with the crowd chanting brogue for the victory.
Results: Sheamus by Pinfall via Brogue Kick on Vinci.
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
GOOD Liv Morgan Vs Ronda Rousey – Smackdown Women’s Championship Extreme Rules Match:
The former champion Rousey enters first wearing a Pink Gi, with a black belt. Morgan enters next carrying the championship to a mixed reception from the crowd. This extreme rules match doesn’t start with a lock up, but Liv is quickly locked in a kneebar/armbar combo and then briefly a triangle choke.
Morgan tries to use a baseball bat but Rousey quickly removes it from her hands and locks in an ankle lock. Liv works out of the ankle lock and rolls to the outside but Ronda has the bat and she hits Morgan with that bat multiple times outside of the ring. Somehow Morgan temporarily gets the bat but it’s too late, Rousey hooks her to the ring post with a strap and goes to work. The former UFC champion lays in shots and then even sets up a table in the corner.
Ronda chases Morgan outside the ring and Liv is able to use a steel chair to even the odds. The action heads back in the ring and Morgan tucks the chair between the top and middle turnbuckle. Liv sends Rousey into the corner face first on the chair and then hits the Code Red with a steel chair. She hits a senton that sends Ronda Rousey through the table but Rousey kicks out at 2.
Ronda locks up a triangle choke but Morgan powers out. Rousey continues to chase the submission and wins the match with an Inverted Triangle Choke. After the match Ronda stands over Morgan who was actually smiling as she passed out in the submission and celebrates.
Results: Ronda Rousey by Technical Submission via Inverted Triangle Choke
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
GREAT Drew McIntyre Vs Karrion Kross with Scarlett – Strap Match:
Drew McIntyre gets the entrance first before Karrion Kross which is definitely interesting. Drew puts the strap on first but Kross chooses not too. Kross gets advantage by first starting the attack while not officially being strapped. They brawl through the crowd before Drew gets a side slam off of the steps onto the apron. Drew attaches the cuff on Kross’ wrist before using the strap to whip him. Scarlett is the momentum changer as Kross gets control using the post to target the shoulder of Drew. Kross brings Drew back into the ring and trash talks him by saying this is what you wanted, Chosen One.
Karrion continues the attack on Drew and his shoulder before starting to pummel Drew on the outside with Scarlett cheering him on. Drew started to tank some of the shots with the strap before fighting back on Kross. After they engage in a sequence of punches Drew gets a future shock DDT. Drew sets up with the crown chanting the 3…2…1… before Scarlett enters the ring and gets in the way. Scarlett ends up pepper spraying Drew as Kross gets the Kross Hammer for the victory. Kross carries Scarlett away holding her on his shoulder.
Results: Karrion Kross by Pinfall via Kross Hammer Forearm Shot
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 3.50 Stars
AMAZING Bayley Vs Bianca Belair – Raw Women’s Championship Ladder Match:
Bayley is out here alone and without Damage Ctrl. The match starts quickly with a back and forth exchange. Belair and Bayley immediately get the ladders involved and this is a really fun pay per view. The innovation in this match is off the charts. Bayley hits an elbow drop on a propped up ladder that is incredible. Later in the match she pulls out one of the hinges of her own knee brace and she attempts to use it against Bianca. Belair is able to hit the KOD however and she climbs to the top of the ladder.
Damage Ctrl hits the scene and they take Belair off the ladder and then beat her down. Iyo Sky tries for a moonsault but Bianca catches her up on top of the top rope and hits a double KOD on both Dakota Kai and Iyo. Bayley is then able to pin Bianca under the ladder momentarily but the EST Belair powers out and dumps Bayley into the ropes. They recover nearly at the same time and climb the ladder. Bayley is able to use Biancia’s braid to momentarily extract her from the ladder but Bianca responds using the briad as a weapon.
Bianca hits a KOD on the ladder and the EST is able to retain the title, she is still the champion, in a very creative match, that delivered in a way others tonight simply did not.
Results: Bianca Belair via Retrieval Of The Raw Women’s Championship
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 stars
MUST WATCH Edge Vs Finn Balor – I Quit Match:
Edge gets the first entrance and Metalingus does not get old. Finn Balor makes his entrance with a black spiked mask and I have no clue who told him to wear it. Finn removes it before the match starts. Edge starts off hot going after Finn in the corner before getting an elbow then getting a flapjack. Edge is attacking the face as Finn groans into the mic. Finn gets control and starts to work on the leg of Edge, hitting a chop on Edge. Balor uses the middle rope to stretch the leg of Edge. Finn uses a figure four with Edge groaning out into the mic. They trade control of the figure four before it is broken. Balor uses an apron to attack Edge on the outside, stomping on Edge.
Edge gets his head slammed into the table by Finn as Edge says no. Balor gets a slingblade on the outside as Edge counters it with a carrying spear through the barricade in the timekeepers area. Edge and Finn go out into the crowd as Edge gets a suplex outside. Finn groans out never as Edge grabs a hockey stick before hitting a clothesline like move. On the preshow stage Edge uses the Glasgow smile with the hockey stick. They continue to brawl through the arena as Edge throws Finn into the wall of the arena. Edge goes crotch first into the railing of stairs as they go back down. Finn uses the metal railing as a method to stretch Edge.
I Quit Cont
Finn uses the chair to the midsection of Edge; he continues to chase after him back to ringside. Using a chair to the midsection as Finn continues using the edge of the chair to attack Edge. Edge says screw you finn into the mic before getting hit with the chair multiple times. Saying I Don’t quit after the shots as Finn props a chair between the top and middle rope. Finn chops Edge in the corner, as Edge blocks the irish whip, Finn counters it into a russian leg sweep.
Finn uses multiple submissions to try to get Edge to tap. Edge counters by throwing Finn into the propped chair. Attempting to use the educator, Priest and Dominik run down. Edge hits a spear to the outside through the ropes onto Dom and Priest. Rhea Ripley handcuffs Edge to the top rope as judgment day has the numbers advantage beating up Edge. Finn grabs two kendo sticks as he uses the kendo stick on Edge’s prone body. Rey Mysterio runs down to the ring and almost evens the odds as Dominik gets control of Rey. Stomping a mud hole into the face of Rey as Edge and Finn are in the one on one position. Finn continues to use the kendo as Beth Phoenix makes the save.
I Quit Cont
Taking the kendo away from Finn and evening the odds. Rhea and Beth come face to face in the ring as the crowd are chanting yes yes yes for their eventual brawl. Beth gets a nice spear on Rhea as she has the key for Edges cuffs. Beth ends up releasing Edge from the cuffs as Edge spears Priest. Dominik tries to shake Edge’s hand before getting hit with a punt to the balls. Balor gets a sling blade but Edge gets multiple spears on Finn. Beth grabs a chair for Edge, grabbing the metal ladder piece. Rhea uses brass knuckles to knock out Rhea as Judgment Day helps edge hit three coup de graces. Edge still doesn’t quit as Rhea shows the limp body of Beth. Rhea grabs two chairs as Rhea is setting up Beth for a conchairto. Edge quits to save Beth from the conchairto but Rhea still hits it.
Results: Finn Balor via Edge saying I Quit.
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.50 Stars
AMAZING Matt Riddle Vs Seth Freakin Rollins – Fight Pit, Special Guest Referee Daniel Cormier:
Riddle enters first after a video package featuring the history of his rivalry with Seth Rollins. Seth enters next and he’s greeted with a loud cheer from the local crowd. They follow that by chanting his theme song as the fight pit is lowered over the ring. There are no ropes but there is a platform above the top of the cage. The match can only be won by Submission or Knockout. The match starts with both of them in kickboxing stances and there is no lock up. Riddle hits a clean double leg takedown and follows with a kick but when he tries to land some ground and pound on Rollins he bumps Daniel Cormier. DC throws Riddle off of Rollins and that allows Seth to gain the momentum. Rollins is able to take advantage with a series of superkicks.
Throughout the beginning stages of the match the crowd clearly chants, “we want Wyatt,” in reference to Bray Wyatt. Seth climbs the cage and lands a Rob Van Dam-esque frog splash while twisting off the top of the cage. Rollins screams at Riddle that he is a loser, and he also calls himself the king of the fight pit. Riddle hits an RKO and for the first time since the start he’s seemingly back in this match. After an extremely physical striking exchange Riddle misses on a second RKO attempt but Rollins connects with a Stomp. For some reason Cormier does not immediately count and Riddle rises to his feet at the count of 8. Rollins climbs up to the platform but Riddle chases after him. Riddle locks up a rear naked choke around the chain, and that to me was the spot of the night.
Fight Pit Con’t
Until the next one, Riddle is buckle bombed into the corner of the upper platform of the Fight Pit Cormier begs them to come back into the ring. Rollins scores with a Pedigree on the platform and screams at Cormier to count him, but the count can’t be made up on the platform. The brief distraction allows Riddle to hit an RKO and it causes Rollins to roll off of the platform back into the ring. Daniel Cormier begins to count but Riddle is poised for a floating bro.. He connects and there is your spot of the night! At the end of the match Matt Riddle grabs onto a triangle choke and despite a valiant effort to powerbomb out of it, Riddle is the winner via submission. This was a brutal Fight Pit match, and at the end of it, we finally got what we needed. Bray Wyatt, The Fiend, is back.
Results: Matt Riddle by Triangle Choke via Submission at 16:38
Clark Taylor and Coby Galenzoski WR Star Rating – 4.00 Stars
Overall:
This was the first Extreme Rules in a long time where all the matches had stipulations and that was absolutely delivered upon. The Brawling Brutes and Imperium delivered an incredible opening match that was extremely difficult to follow. While Rousey and Morgan’s title match was as physical of an encounter as we’ve seen from them, it was clear the crowd was less invested than in the opener.
Drew McIntyre was defeated by Karrion Kross in their strap match that included significant interference from Scarlett and was overall an extremely entertaining match, pun intended. Bianca Belair retained the Raw Women’s Championship in a barnburner of a ladder match against Bayley. There have been so many great ladder matches over the years but both women deserve a special shoutout for the innovation they displayed in this one.
After that, Edge quit in his I Quit match with Finn Balor but it took the threat of more harm to his wife, Beth Phoenix, for him to do so. Unfortunately, in the end that harm was caused anyway, in the form of multiple chair shots from Rhea Ripley but that’s not the point. In the main event Rollins wore ring gear to honor RVD, performed a frog splash, and yelled at Daniel Cormier a lot. Eventually Riddle was able to lock in a Triangle Choke and pick up one of the biggest wins of his career. Oh yeah, He’s here. *Puts out Lantern*
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 1/1 Stars
Atmosphere…: 1/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 1/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 4.50/5 Stars
Photo Credit: WWE.com
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
