Extreme Rules, Results & Recap

Extreme Rules is the pay-per-view that gives fans everything that we used to see on the regular in WWE. Stipulations feel long forgotten and a thing of the past, until this event rolls around. Extreme Rules 2018 boasts matches featuring Tables, a Steel Cage, a 30-minute Iron Man match and James Ellsworth in a Shark Cage...obviously!


#1 Kickoff show: Andrade “Cien” Almas vs Sin Cara

WWE seem to be taking their time with Almas and I think a feud with Sin Cara was the right choice. Whilst I would love a former NXT Champion to be thrust into the main event for SmackDown, it's just never likely. The pre-show's are very rarely entertaining these days. I don't want to say the pre-show is a "demotion" for Superstars but I think it was a good spot for Almas to build himself up for the time being before moving onto bigger things. Almas oozes charisma, he's great in the ring and with Zelina Vega by his side, you would be mad not to watch the pre-show.

Sin Cara looked to be in control for most of the match until Zelina Vega caused a distraction when Almas looked hurt after being hit with a frog splash. Almas then hit Sin Cara with a double knee strike into the corner and sealing the win with a Hammerlock DDT.

The match was as exciting as it could be. The match didn't deliver as well as it has done previously on SmackDown LIVE but they performed to a decent enough standard. The question is, where will Almas go next?


#2 Kickoff show: SAnitY vs The New Day (Tables Match)

I was very surprised that SAnitY would be debuting on the main roster pay-per-view on the pre-show. It's been weird with SAnitY coming up to SmackDown. It was announced they were coming but their debut was put on hold for some time. They made a thunderous impact a few weeks ago when they attacked The New Day and left the former tag team champions in debris after putting them through tables.

This match was never dull in terms of action and I think most fans would have expected some impressive spots, which they delivered on. Considering it was on the pre-show, the match felt rushed. It felt as if this match had a lot more to give. It was definitely extreme but if they had more time it could have been such a stronger bout. It was a victory SAnitY needed after a few early main roster defeats.


#3 The B-Team vs The Deleters of Worlds (RAW Tag Team Championships)

I can't hate on The B-Team, even if I wanted to. They're hilarious. I think a lot of people did actually expect The B-Team to bag the win at Extreme Rules. Dallas & Axel have plenty of experience when it comes to professional wrestling. They have been loyal servants to the WWE and have agreed to portray whatever the company has asked of them. No matter how ridiculous or humiliating it has been. This win proves that hard work and dedication does pay off.

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt dominated for the opening minutes of the match. Reminding everybody why they are the RAW tag team champions. It was interesting when a hot tag to Bray was made as the Eater of Worlds came face-to-face in the ring with his real-life brother, Bo Dallas. Wyatt planted Bo with a Uranage slam.

Miscommunication later in the match between The Deleters of Worlds led Matt to crash into Bray. Dallas took advantage of a stunned Hardy and finished him with a twisting neckbreaker to score the upset victory, keep The B-Team undefeated and snatch the RAW Tag Team Championships.


#4 Finn Balor vs Baron Corbin

I'm not sure how I feel about the new Constable of Monday Night RAW. I do like Baron Corbin and I feel he had a great image prior to this new gimmick we're seeing. He had to shave his head, that was a given. Wrestling in a waistcoat and trousers though? I'm not really sure about that. Stephanie McMahon's personally appointed man sought to prove he was bigger, better and more of a deal than former Universal Champion Finn Balor in a match that has been building for weeks.

A ruthless, frustrated Baron Corbin used his strength and size to assert dominance manhandling the smaller Finn Balor. We saw a series of clotheslines and a submission as he looked to wear Balor down and try to keep the more faster and agile man grounded. We saw a few near falls from a chokeslam-backbreaker from Corbin. Balor then caught Corbin with a sling blade, only for Corbin to answer with a thunderous Deep Six. Yet another near fall.

Finn Balor attempted the Coup de Grace only for Corbin to try and thwart his efforts. Corbin then fell victim to a small package roll up from Balor to secure the win.

It wasn't a bad match. It feels like both Balor and Corbin are in a tough spot right now. They performed well together and it almost looked telepathic at times. They knew exactly what the other one was going to do before it happened. It was poetry in motion. The match was a lot better than people thought it would be.

Balor needed this win. Finn has been on the losing end of some high profile matches in recent months. Corbin's new role as Constable and on-screen associate of the McMahon's will still generate heat and a loss for him was to be expected. That being said the feud looks poised to continue and with Finn not getting close to the Universal Championship any time soon. It can't be that bad a thing, right?


#5 Carmella vs Asuka (SmackDown Women’s Championship with James Ellsworth in a shark cage)

It was poor, first and foremost. It really is a contender for one of the worst title matches of the year. The only real thing we have to go on in this match is that it made sense from a story point of view. It feels like we've seen too much of the shark cage in the last two years. This, Enzo and Chris Jericho. I just don't really understand it. However, I do understand that Ellsworth is key to Carmella and undeniably adds to her character. I don't mind Carmella portraying the coward and winning by any means necessary. I think it can be a great angle. It worked with Seth Rollins during his first big title run.

However, there will come a point where WWE will have to cut Ellsworth loose again. People talk about a Women's Revolution that is currently being overshadowed by a loser. It devalues the competition and it devalues the title they are competing for. There shouldn't be any longevity with this and the fact it's happening with Asuka is a sad story.

The match had one focus and that was Ellsworth. The sole focus was him escaping the cage and getting his ass kicked by Asuka. The title wasn't even in the equation. Nobody was thinking about it. Everybody was thinking about "What's Ellsworth going to do?" "How is he going to escape?". The title isn't a bit-part player. Things drastically need to change.


#6 Shinsuke Nakamura vs Jeff Hardy (United States Championship)

Jeff has spent most of his title reign as the United States Champion issuing open challenges but he finally met his match when he came up against Shinsuke Nakamura. Before the bell had even rang, Nakamura hit Hardy with a vintage low-blow. As the champion recovered and the bell finally rang. Shinsuke hit Jeff with a Kinshasa and a few seconds later, he's the new United States Champion.

Before Shinsuke had a chance to celebrate. Randy Orton's theme played and The Viper made his return down to the ring as he and Nakamura had a tense staredown. Am I shocked? Yes. Am I happy? Yes! This is all story-line development and that is what wrestling is all about. Ask any of them. They tell stories. Shinsuke Nakamura finally winning a title is the right move. A lot of people have accused Shinsuke of being a flop since his debut to the main roster. I wouldn't say he's a flop. I would say he's been booked poorly. Nakamura was stale. Shinsuke has always delivered in the ring and a heel turn injected some new life into him. The return of Orton is a welcome one and it's very exciting to see where things are going to go.


#7 Kevin Owens vs Braun Strowman (Steel Cage match)

If we're talking about stories, this one was great. KO took the fight to the monster, Strowman. When that didn't work he resorted to cheap tactics such as handcuffs. His arrogance got the better of him as he fell victim and wound up in the grasp of arguably the most dangerous man in the WWE right now and paid the price.

The result says that Kevin Owens won but at what cost? Strowman got the last laugh. I think Owens winning was necessary given the way the story was unfolding on the flagship show. Losing would have hurt Owens, who like Balor has been on a bit of a losing streak in high-profile matches. This was booked perfectly because Strowman is protected. His unbridled fury and strength in full flow as he sacrificed victory to hurt Kevin Owens in the worst way.

It's no surprise that this match went down a storm. Everything was executed perfectly. Kevin Owens lives for matches like these and it's really what sets him apart from any other superstar in WWE right now. Massive credit to him for taking a huge fall on his second pay-per-view in a row.

#8 The Bludgeon Brothers vs Team Hell No (SmackDown Tag Team Championships)

This was pretty disappointing. I was a big fan of Team Hell No the first time around and I was really excited when they unexpectedly reunited. WWE are looking at building the Bludgeon Brothers into a force to be reckoned with but they've missed a real opportunity here. Team Hell No have always been massively over. Anything Daniel Bryan related will be massively over. This was the chance to strike while the iron is hot and push the babyfaces.

Daniel Bryan's in-ring return is just getting more sour by the bit. The anticipation to see Daniel Bryan at the top of the mountain again or in a match that actually has meaning and excitement is looking bleaker than ever.


#9 Bobby Lashley vs Roman Reigns

I've gotta just nip this in the bud, quickly. Roman Reigns lost. He is human after all.

Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns looked to settle their issues at Extreme Rules in a match that seemed destined to be the main event, given Roman's track record. It instead took place three matches from the top of the card.

Reigns dominated early but Lashley fought through the relentless onslaught to deliver a huge powerslam to Reigns. A cross-body levelled Roman as Lashley scaled the ropes and delivered a double axe handle to flatten The Big Dog. Reigns powered out of a Suplex from Lashley and tossed him over the top rope. Lashley then delivered a huge spinebuster and followed up with his impressive, I'm going to call it a signature from now on, delayed-vertical suplex. A close near fall followed by another from a Superman Punch from Reigns. The match ended with Reigns looking to put Lashley away with a spear, only for Lashley to intercept Reigns with a spear of his own to pick up the victory.

I loved a lot of things about this match. The ending, most of all. Lashley using the spear is a great move and they made two great decisions. First, having Lashley use it to put Reigns away and secondly, Lashley going over in this match. Bobby Lashley needed to announce, remind and possibly introduce everybody to who he is and that he IS a big deal. Some fans may not remember him or have even forgotten about him. Beating the top star in the company is a great way to establish some credibility and legitimacy and put Lashley in the driving seat for a match with Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship.

A defeat doesn't hurt Roman Reigns. Reigns is bulletproof. Losing a match like this is what pro wrestling is all about. Doing favours, elevating people. This is what people wanted from John Cena and it never happened. For that I say, give Roman a break, for now at least.


#10 Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax (Raw Women’s Championship Extreme Rules match, with Ronda Rousey in the front row)

The rivalry between Bliss and Jax continued at Extreme Rules as they once again went to war for the RAW Women's Championship in an Extreme Rules match. Mickie James accompanied Bliss to the ring, whilst Natalya with Jax. Rousey watched on from the front row as a paying customer as she continued to serve her 30-day suspension.

Jax overwhelmed Bliss as to be expected. Utilising kendo sticks and trash cans to punish the women's champion. Natalya attacked Mickie and as the heel turned the tables, Rousey hopped the guardrail and beat the hell out of Mickie James, sending her over the announce table. Alexa attempted to escape the clutches of Rousey but found herself in the grip of the Baddest Woman on the Planet. Mickie recovered and hit the former UFC star with a kendo stick.

An assault with steel chairs byBliss and James onto Jax left her prone to a DDT by the champion as Bliss picked up the win.

The match had a few awkward moments. This didn't need to be a great match though.This match was about planting the seeds for something special. This was a tease. Jax and Bliss didn't need to put on a blockbuster match. This was all about Rousey jumping the guardrail and getting her hands on Alexa Bliss and their inevitable one-on-one showdown for the RAW Women's Championship. If you take that into consideration as the foundations of this match and what it was looking to achieve, it was a total success.


#11 AJ Styles vs Rusev (WWE Championship)

What a great match.

AJ Styles and Rusev took a disinterested crowd and had them buying into the excitement and late-match, near-falls that this title match showcased. I've talked about stories a lot in this article but that is a true testament to storytelling and the talent of these performers.

It was obvious before the match begun that AJ Styles would be retaining but both guys did a fantastic job to make it seem like Rusev could actually walk away with the title on a couple of occasions. The superstars selling their own injuries to a point where they couldn't even execute their signatures was unreal. AJ Styles is the cream of the crop, he continues to mesmerise us but Rusev deserves a lot of credit, he was top class.

It was a back and forth match that looked to lean Rusev's way after he connected with a Machka kick following a distraction from Aiden English. English proved to be more of a hindrance as his decision to remove a turnbuckle led to Rusev's demise as he was thrown into it. Moments later, Styles landed a top-rope 450 splash and a Phenomenal Forearm to retain his title.

For both of these stars looking forward, AJ Styles will be looking for a formidable opponent for SummerSlam. Meanwhile it looks that Rusev and Aiden English may go their separate ways.


#12 Dolph Ziggler vs Seth Rollins (Intercontinental Championship 30-minute Iron Man match)


I never thought I'd ever see the day. For the first time since SummerSlam 1992, the Intercontinental Championship was defended in a singles main event of a WWE pay-per-view.

This match was a bit hit and miss. It was a 30 minute match but both competitors looked out of it way too early. Then suddenly bursts of energy, sprints, high spots and near-falls aplenty. It was hard to take seriously at times. Along with the crowd that was intolerable as the fans in attendance mocked the clock, directing attention away from the superstars and putting it on themselves. It's hard to call the match great when things like that happen. Fans pay a lot of money to be in attendance at pay-per-views so they have the right to count from 10 to 1 every single minute of a 30-minute Iron Man Match if they want to but, their shenanigans definitely ruined a well executed main event for the people watching at home.

Credit to WWE for closing the show with this match. Would they have preferred Reigns/Lashley in hindsight? Most likely.