WWE’s “The Horror Show at Extreme Rules” aired tonight on the WWE Network. McIntyre defended the WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler and Braun Strowman battled Bray Wyatt in a non-title Swamp Fight in the main event.
Extreme Rules Results
- Kevin Owens def. Murphy (Kickoff Show)
- Cesaro & Shinsuke Nakamura def. New Day to become SmackDown Tag Team Champions
- Bayley def. Nikki Cross to retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship
- Seth Rollins def. Rey Mysterio in an Eye for Eye Match
- The RAW Women’s Championship match had a controversial ending
- Drew McIntyre def. Dolph Ziggler to retain the WWE Championship
- Bray Wyatt def. Braun Strowman in a non-title Swamp Fight
Here are 6 takeaways from the PPV:
Cesaro & Nakamura Won The SmackDown Tag Titles
New Day defended their SmackDown Tag Team Championships against Nakamura and Cesaro in the first match of the night.
Match Recap: New Day dominated early and beat Cesaro and Shinsuke down outside the ring. Kingston connected with a Dropkick that sent Cesaro into the steel steps. Big E set up a table but got launched into the plexiglass by Cesaro. Nakamura hit Kingston with a Dropkick and then set up a table in the ring.
Kingston knocked Cesaro to the apron and Big E him him with a Spear that sent both superstars out of the ring. New Day set up Cesaro on top of a table on the entrance ramp. Cesaro got down and Kofi went for a Splash but Shinsuke and Cesaro hit him in the face with a table. Kingston battled back and leveled Shinsuke with a Trust Fall.
Big E stomped away on Cesaro in the corner as Kingston stacked two tables on top of each other. Kofi shouted that they brought this on themselves but it allowed Nakamura to get back up. Shinsuke knocked Kingston out of the ring as Cesaro got Big E in the Swing. Nakamura hit Big E with a knee to the face.
Kofi hit Nakamura with a Splash and then delivered a Clothesline to Cesaro. Kofi perched Cesaro up on the top rope and went for a Hurricanrana but Cesaro blocked it. Cesaro then Powerbombed Kofi through the two tables to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championships.
Bayley Retained The SmackDown Women’s Championship
Bayley defended the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross tonight at Extreme Rules. Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks were ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Bayley controlled the action early and mocked Nikki Cross by posing in the ring. Nikki battled back and hit a Tornado DDT and followed it up with a Crossbody for a near fall. Nikki hit another Crossbody off the top rope for a two count.
Bayley rolled out of the ring to regroup but Nikki hit her with another Crossbody off the ring apron. Bayley drove Nikki into the ring apron and bashed her face into the plexiglass. Back in the ring, Bayley applied a Headlock as the crowd got behind Nikki.
The SmackDown Women’s Champion trapped Nikki in the ring skirt and hit her with several punches. Cross escaped under the ring and to the other side. Bayley went for a Baseball Slide but Nikki trapped her in the ring skirt and beat her down.
Back in the ring, Nikki mocked Bayley by doing her old poses before locking in a Crossface in the middle of the ring. Bayley broke free and hit a Bayley to Belly but Cross somehow kicked out at the last moment. Bayley perched Cross on the top turnbuckle and connected with a Superplex for another two count.
Bayley shared a hug with Sasha before going for a Dropkick. Cross blocked it and sent Bayley into the ring post. Nikki followed it up with a Running Bulldog and then made her way to the top rope. Cross hopped down and hit Bayley with a Neckbreaker for another near fall. Nikki went back up to the top rope but Bayley tripped her up.
Bayley connected with a knee to the face and went for a cover but once again Nikki kicked out at two. Bayley charged at Cross but Nikki got out of the way and Bayley crashed into the turnbuckle. Nikki connected with a Neckbreaker off the ring apron and to the floor outside the ring.
Back in the ring, Bayley and Nikki traded Clotheslines. Sasha handed Bayley the Boss ring (brass knuckles) and Bayley hit Nikki in the ribs with them while the referee was distracted. Bayley slammed Nikki to the canvas with the Rose Plant for the victory. Bayley is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Seth Rollins Won & Then Vomited
Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio battled in an Eye for an Eye Match. Rollins brought a pair of pliers to the ring.
Match Recap: Mysterio slammed Rollins into the ring post and took out a tool box from under the ring. Seth grabbed a kendo stick and hit Rey in the back of the neck. Seth followed it up with a Falcon Arrow on the ring apron and Rey crashed to the floor.
Rollins slammed Mysterio into the plexiglass and rolled him back in the ring. Seth grabbed the kendo stick and tried to shove it Rey’s eye but Mysterio blocked it. Rollins sent Mysterio out of the ring and he fell on top of table.
Seth tried to rip Rey’s out but Mysterio broke free and hit Rollins with a steel chair. Back in the ring, Rollins set up the kendo stick by the ring post and tried to slam Rey’s eye into it. Mysterio broke free and sent Rollins to the canvas. Rey connected with a Frog Splash off the top rope and followed it up with a Tornado DDT.
Mysterio sent Rollins out of the ring and Powerbombed him into the barricade. Rey tried to rip Rollins’ eyes out but Seth broke free. Mysterio hit Rollins with the Stomp and shoved his eye into the corner of the steel steps. Rollins hit Rey with a low blow and then a Superkick to the face.
Seth connected with the Stomp and then shoved Rey’s eye into the corner of the steps. The referee called for the bell as Mysterio called for a doctor. Someone shouted “Rey’s eye is sticking out of his head!” as Rollins got disgusted. Seth then vomited on the floor outside the ring to end the segment.
Opinion: Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio did the best they could with this stipulation. I was initially intrigued but it became clear after a few minutes that this was going to be a stupid match. The ending of this match was comically bad. I couldn’t help but laugh when Rollins vomited because of how ridiculous it was. My favorite part of the match was the referee checking to see if someone lost an eye whenever their head was slammed into the turnbuckle or announce table.
The Ending To The RAW Women’s Championship Match Was Ridiculous
Asuka defended the RAW Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks tonight at Extreme Rules. Kairi Sane and Bayley were ringside for the match.
Match Recap: Sasha controlled the action early and locked in the Bank Statement. Asuka broke free and Banks stomped on the champion’s hand. Banks connected with a Meteora and went for the cover but Asuka kicked out at two. Asuka battled back and connected with a Hip Attack. Sasha went for a Sunset Flip but Asuka blocked it by hanging onto the ropes. Asuka dropped Sasha to the floor outside the ring with a knee to the face.
Back in the ring, Asuka connected with a spinning backfist that sent Banks to the corner of the ring. Asuka perched Banks up on the turnbuckle and hit her with a Codebreaker. Asuka went for another Hip Attack but Banks dodged it and brought the champion outside the ring.
Banks Powerbombed Asuka into the plexiglass before rolling her back into the ring. Sasha hit Asuka with a Frog Splash off the top rope and went for the cover but Asuka kicked out at two. Sasha quickly locked in the Bank Statement in the middle of the ring but Asuka was able to get to the bottom rope to break the hold.
Asuka connected with a German Suplex and then a kick to Sasha’s face for a near fall. Asuka hit another German Suplex and then a Hip Attack for a two count. Asuka went for a Dropkick but Banks got out of the way. Sasha hit a running knee to the face and went for the cover but the RAW Women’s Champion kicked out at two.
Asuka went for a German Suplex off the top rope but Sasha landed on her feet. Banks hit a running knee and made her way to the second turnbuckle. Sasha grabbed her knee and fell to the canvas. Banks demanded that the match continue and started trading punches with Asuka. Sasha went for the Bank Statement but Asuka blocked it. Asuka applied the Asuka Lock and Banks tapped out but Bayley distracted the referee. Banks had one of the Women’s Tag Team Championships but the referee ripped it away. Asuka went for green mist but Sasha got out of the way.
Opinion: I have no idea why they decided to turn the ending of this match into a clown show but that is what happened. I’m assuming that Asuka is still the champion because Bayley just putting on the ref’s shirt doesn’t make her a referee. I was really looking forward to this match and the finish was so idiotic that it completely ruined it. Asuka and Banks were well on there way to having a great match too. Sasha grabbing her knee and shouting “I have to be champion!” was a great moment but everything fell apart in the last five minutes.
Drew McIntyre Retained The WWE Championship
Drew McIntyre defended the WWE Championship against Dolph Ziggler tonight. Ziggler announced that the stipulation will be Extreme Rules for him only. If McIntyre gets disqualified, counted out, etc Dolph will be the new champion.
Match Recap: Ziggler brought a chair into the ring but McIntyre ripped it away. If Drew hit Ziggler with the chair he would lose the title so he threw it out of the ring. Dolph set up a table outside the ring and Drew was about to Suplex him through it but thought better of it. McIntyre rolled Ziggler into the ring and hit him with a Powerbomb.
Dolph hit McIntyre with a low blow before bringing more steel chairs in the ring. Ziggler hit McIntyre with a chair several times and went for the cover but Drew kicked out at two. McIntyre rolled out of the ring to regroup and Ziggler went for a Crossbody off the apron. McIntyre caught him and sent Ziggler flying over the announce table.
Ziggler hit McIntyre with a Fameasser off the announce table but Drew battled back and sent Ziggler flying into the plexiglass. Back in the ring, McIntyre set up for the Claymore but Dolph countered with a chair shot. Ziggler planted McIntyre with a Zig Zag and went for the cover but Drew kicked out at two.
The action spilled out of the ring and Ziggler set up McIntyre on the table. Dolph hit an Elbow Drop through the table but McIntyre was able to get back into the ring before the ten count. Ziggler hit a Fameasser, a Zig Zag, and then a Uranage on top of a steel chair but McIntyre kicked out at two. Ziggler set up for a Superkick but McIntyre connected with a Claymore out of nowhere for the pinfall victory. Drew McIntyre is still the WWE Champion.
The Fiend Returned
Strowman and Wyatt battled in a non-title Swamp Fight to end Extreme Rules.
Match Recap: Strowman looked for Wyatt to start it off as stock footage of animals running around was played. Strowman fought off a couple of masked people before he was hit in the back of the head with a pipe. It was revealed that it was Wyatt Family Strowman that hit hit him with the pipe.
Braun woke up and was tied to a chair as Wyatt’s theme played. Bray showed up and said that Braun cannot hurt him because he is already dead. Wyatt stated that the human race is like a bacteria but Strowman is like him. Wyatt claimed that together they can be like gods and society will bow to them. Braun refused to join Wyatt and Bray vowed to destroy the monster Braun has become. Someone brought in a giant snake and it bit Strowman.
Braun woke up again and hit a guy in the face with a shovel. The man then caught on fire and Strowman laughed his ass off. A woman’s voice said “Braun you don’t need to do this”. The voice was a hallucination of Alexa Bliss and added “I know you’ve always wanted to be together”.
Strowman walked towards the Bliss image and Bray popped out and attacked him. Strowman fought back and put Wyatt on a boat that drove away. The boat drove itself back to the dock and Wyatt wasn’t inside. Bray hit Strowman from behind and they both went underwater.
Braun was the first one to swim out of the swamp and climbed up the ladder to the dock. Wyatt showed up again and hit Strowman over and over with a row. Bray shouted “look what you made me do!” as Braun got back up. Strowman booted Bray through the railing and back into the swamp. WWE then did a false finish and had the copyright logo in the bottom corner of the screen. Wyatt popped out of the swamp and dragged Strowman back inside. The Fiend then emerged and said “let me in” to close the show. Wyatt won the match because he was the one who emerged from the swamp.
Opinion: Well, this was certainly no Boneyard Match. The segment where Strowman was chained to the chair with Wyatt was talking about society crumbling and trying to recruit Strowman back to the Wyatt Family was absolutely terrible. There were some cool shots and moments sprinkled in but I didn’t find the Swamp Fight to be captivating at all.
Extreme Rules: The Horror Show was one of the weirdest PPVs I’ve seen in some time. Apollo Crews wasn’t cleared to compete so MVP just declared himself the United States Champion, with the announcers saying that he is not the champion. Sasha Banks left Extreme Rules with the RAW Women’s Championship but isn’t the champion (I think) because Bayley isn’t a referee. I enjoyed the SmackDown Tag Team Championship match the most at Extreme Rules. I didn’t think that was going to be the case but a lot of the matches tonight were convoluted and disappointing.
