Welcome to our coverage of the WWE’s Extreme Rules event from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Wai Ting and I will be doing a LIVE Extreme Rules POST Show tonight at 11 pm Eastern for Double Double, Iced Capp & Espresso members of the POST Wrestling Café.
They have announced that Roman Reigns & The Undertaker vs. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre will open the main show at 7 pm Eastern.
QUICK RESULTS:
*Shinsuke Nakamura over Finn Balor to win the Intercontinental title at 7:35
*Drew Gulak over Tony Nese in 7:26 to retain the Cruiserweight title
*The Undertaker & Roman Reigns over Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre in 16:56
*The Revival over The Usos in 12:33 to retain the Raw tag titles
*Aleister Black over Cesaro in 9:44
*Bayley over Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross in 10:22 to retain the SmackDown women’s title
*Braun Strowman over Bobby Lashley in a Last Man Standing match in 17:29
*Big E. & Xavier Woods over Daniel Bryan & Rowan and Heavy Machinery in 13:59 to win the SmackDown tag titles
*AJ Styles over Ricochet in 16:30 to win the United States title
*Kevin Owens over Dolph Ziggler in 0:17
*Kofi Kingston over Samoa Joe in 9:47 to retain the WWE title
*Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch over Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans in 19:56 to retain the Universal & Raw women’s titles
*Brock Lesnar over Seth Rollins in 0:16 to win the Universal title
The kickoff show began with Jonathan Coachman, Beth Phoenix, Charly Caruso & Sam Roberts.
Kevin Owens was interviewed by Kayla Braxton and informed her of his match with Dolph Ziggler.
Baron Corbin was wearing a hideous shirt backstage with Lacey Evans in their dressing room. Evans said they were home wreckers that would end Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch’s title reigns and relationship.
FINN BALOR VS SHINSUKE NAKAMURA FOR THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE
Balor hit a tope con giro early in the match and threw Nakamura in the barricade. In the ring, Nakamura tried to apply an armbar and Balor quickly grabbed the rope. Balor landed a seated dropkick to the left knee. Balor’s John Woo dropkick was stopped by a kick from Nakamura.
Balor stopped the Kinshasa with a jumping foot stomp, dropkicked Nakamura into the corner and missed the coupe de grace. Nakamura hit the Kinshasa to the back of the neck and hit the proper version and pinned Balor.
WINNER: Shinsuke Nakamura at 7:35 to win the Intercontinental title
The match was similar to their match on television this past week but with the surprise of the title change. Despite the heel winning, it wasn’t done in an underhanded way with Nakamura winning as clean as possible.
Charly interviewed New Day about their title matches tonight. Big E. said pressure bursts pipes, and no one is going to burst theirs.
DREW GULAK VS TONY NESE FOR THE CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE
The audience was chanting for Gulak at the start. He took Nese down with a clothesline from the apron to the floor. Gulak grabbed control of the wrist to deliver kicks but was stopped with a German suplex into the turnbuckle.
Gulak was draped on the middle rope as Nese kicked off the corner for a moonsault on the edge of the apron. Nese followed up with a 450-splash and got a two-count. The replay showed the knees of Nese landing on Gulak.
Gulak stopped a sunset bomb and countered with a snap powerbomb and the Cyclone Crash for the win.
WINNER: Drew Gulak at 7:26
They had a good match but were hurt by the lack of time and placement on the card, but they did their best with the spot given. Gulak won without any controversy to solidify himself as the rightful champion by pinning the former champion.
ROMAN REIGNS & THE UNDERTAKER VS SHANE McMAHON & DREW McINTYRE
The Undertaker came out last and received a massive reaction.
Reigns and Undertaker took turns with McMahon at the beginning. The crowd was solidly behind ‘Taker and he was working hard. He hit McIntyre with a leg drop on the edge of the apron. He chased McMahon up the ramp with a chair while McIntyre sent Reigns into the steps. This led to McIntyre having the advantage inside the ring for a while.
‘Taker received the hot tag and hit McMahon with snake eyes and a running boot. ‘Taker cleared the announcer’s desk and teased the Last Ride onto McMahon when Elias struck ‘Taker with a guitar over his back. McIntyre took out Reigns with the Claymore kick on the floor. ‘Taker grabbed Elias for a chokeslam and was hit with a Claymore, as well.
‘Taker was placed onto the desk, McMahon climbed and put him through with a flying elbow drop. He was dragged into the ring in the corner and set up for a coast-to-coast dropkick with a trash can placed in front that McMahon landed after doing the throat slash gesture.
Reigns came back with a Superman Punch to Elias and ‘Taker sat up in front of McMahon and hit him with a chokeslam. He followed with a chokeslam onto Elias He did the throat slash as McIntyre emerged from behind but was hit with a spear by Reigns. McMahon was hit with the tombstone and pinned him.
WINNERS: The Undertaker (pinned Shane McMahon) & Roman Reigns at 16:56
This was put together very well, the audience loved it, and it was the best The Undertaker has looked in the longest time. ‘Taker has his limitations but worked extra hard and the audience wanted the match to get over, and it did.
Sarah Schreiber interviewed Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins. Rollins talked about the two of them walking around the city, he mentioned the crack in the Liberty Bell and putting a crack in Baron Corbin’s dome.
The promoted a big Raw Reunion featuring stars from the past on Monday, July 22nd from Tampa, Florida. Those show in the promo spot included Steve Austin, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Christian, The Boogeyman, Ted DiBiase, Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Shane Helms, Scott Hall, Jimmy Hart, Jerry Lawler, D-Von Dudley, and Eric Bischoff. They are promoting it as the ‘largest reunion in Raw history’, so I’d expect dozens of names showing up.
THE REVIVAL VS THE USOS FOR THE RAW TAG TITLES
The Revival cut off the ring and got the advantage on Jey and prevented him from getting close to Jimmy.
Jey and Dawson fought on the top turnbuckle and Dawson took a bad fall landing on the top rope and bouncing onto the mat. Jey proceeded to make the tag to Jimmy.
Dawson and Wilder hit the Power & Glory superplex and splash combo but Jey broke it up coming off the top.
Jimmy was sent to the floor as Jey was the legal man and The Revival managed to hit the Shatter Machine and Wilder pinned him.
WINNERS: The Revival at 12:33 to retain the Raw tag titles
It was a good match and had more time than I expected on this show.
CESARO VS ALEISTER BLACK
Black threw Black Mass immediately and didn’t connect. Cesaro attempted the Neutralizer and took a back-body drop. Black connected with a moonsault off the second turnbuckle onto Cesaro on the floor.
Black landed a head kick for a two-count. Cesaro shoved him over the top from the middle rope and then Cesaro hit a springboard uppercut off the middle rope. Black came back with a quebrada and followed with kicks to the chest. Cesaro caught him going for the double knees, pressed Black into the air and landed a European uppercut that looked fantastic.
Cesaro came off the middle rope for another springboard uppercut and Black landed a flying knee. Cesaro tweaked his knee when he attempted to press Black up. Black rolled for a kneebar, which Cesaro countered into the sharpshooter and then to a crossface.
They traded strikes, Black hit leg kicks and then landed Black Mass for the victory.
WINNER: Aleister Black at 9:44
This was phenomenal and was such a different match from a typical WWE presentation. Black has enormous potential as a top star with this company and its mind-boggling Cesaro has been on the main roster for seven years and hasn’t gotten past a certain level. This was excellent.
R-Truth was searching for Drake Maverick and ran into Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. Bliss lied and said Maverick was in the bathroom. Bliss gave Cross a present prior to their handicap match and The Street Profits walked in and asked where the party was after they win. Dawkins wants to party with Cross, who yelled at the Profits that they would become co-champions.
BAYLEY VS ALEXA BLISS & NIKKI CROSS IN A 2-ON-1 HANDICAP MATCH FOR THE SMACKDOWN WOMEN’S TITLE
Corey Graves mentioned that Bayley once had a friend ‘that abandoned her’.
Bliss and Cross kept tagging in and out and working over Bayley in their corner. Cross placed her in the tree of woe and stomped away. Bayley tried to fight them off and couldn’t overcome the disadvantage.
Bayley attacked Bliss with strikes and mounted a comeback followed by a suicide dive onto Cross. It was a challenge getting the audience into it.
Bayley applied an Indian Death Lock onto Cross and Bliss tried to break it up and was caught in a simultaneous crossface for the double submission. Bliss bit Bayley’s hand to escape.
Bayley got her knees up for Twisted Bliss and then caught Cross coming off the top. Bayley came off the top and hit Cross with an elbow and pinned Cross.
WINNER: Bayley at 10:22 to retain the SmackDown women’s title
It wasn’t the outcome I was expecting but the work was fine. The audience wasn’t that hot, but they hit a high for The Undertaker and it’s been a struggle since then. In theory, the story is that Cross cost Bliss the title but inserting herself into the match and instead of Cross being an advantage, turned into a disadvantage for Bliss.
BOBBY LASHLEY VS BRAUN STROWMAN IN A LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
Lashley hit Strowman with a spear on the floor and proceeded to attack him with the steps and a chair as they fought up the steps in the crowd. Lashley beat down Strowman in the lobby until Strowman stopped a suplex and sent Lashley into the merchandise stand.
They returned to the arena and Strowman was on the offensive and nailed Lashley with a running shoulder tackle. Lashley recovered and speared Strowman through the barricade to the ringside area. Lashley sent Strowman over the announcer’s desk and tipped the desk on top of him as the referee started the count. Strowman dragged himself out and got to his feet. Lashley leaped over the barricade, Strowman caught him and tossed Lashley onto the area where the international announcers are stationed in the audience. The audience was into this and chanting ‘this is awesome’.
They fought up the stairs again and onto a raised platform where Strowman leaped off by delivering a powerslam to Lashley. Referee John Cone counted as the audience chanted ‘ECW’. Strowman punched through the wall where they were trapped, he emerged as the last man standing and won.
WINNER: Braun Strowman at 17:29
This got over great and the was the second-hottest reaction to a match behind the opening with The Undertaker. The two have strong chemistry together and was Strowman’s best match in months. This was well-done.
New Day celebrated backstage as Paul Heyman snuck by them and entered the arena. Heyman said, ‘I am Philadelphia’ and he is the entire concept of extreme and will be damned if he leaves Philadelphia tonight without being part of history. He says your spoiler is that Brock Lesnar will cash in the Money in the Bank contract tonight. He asked if he’s telling the truth or is he Paul Heyman?
RICOCHET VS AJ STYLES FOR THE UNITED STATES TITLE
As Ricochet did his flip off the ropes during his ring entrance, Anderson & Gallows jumped him before the bell rang.
Ricochet flipped onto the apron and landed a shooting star clothesline onto Styles on the floor.
Ricochet was in control in the ring, he scaled to the top and took out Anderson & Gallows with a crossbody to the floor. He returned to the ring and landed a moonsault onto Styles. Styles caught him on the shoulders from a springboard attempt and hit the Ushigoroshi and suplexed Ricochet into the corner with a snap vertical. Styles kept going for the cover, but the audience was quiet.
Styles teased the Styles Clash and Ricochet turned it into a hurcanrana. Styles hit a Pele kick and hit the Bloody Sunday for a two-count.
Ricochet scaled to the top and hit a shooting star press, but Styles got his foot under the bottom rope that Anderson & Gallows pointed out. Behind the referee’s back, Gallows yanked Ricochet off balance from the top turnbuckle. Styles capitalized with a Styles Clash from the second turnbuckle as he jumped backward and pinned Ricochet.
WINNER: AJ Styles at 16:30 to win the United States title
Technically, it was the best match on the show, so far. The audience was worn out and this was in the position of going long when everyone knows there are still several more matches to come. They got into the big moves but, the crowd brought this one down for me. I still enjoyed the actual match.
KEVIN OWENS VS DOLPH ZIGGLER
Ziggler slapped Owens and he came back with a stunner and pinned Ziggler.
WINNER: Kevin Owens at 0:17
Owens cut a promo on Shane McMahon taking up valuable television time from other people. He expected to get suspended or fired tonight and if Shane wasn’t in the ring with The Undertaker tonight, that probably would have happened. He said Shane McMahon can kiss his ass and go to hell and he speaks for everyone.
Samoa Joe spoke to Charly before he walked out for the title match. Joe is here to end the ‘unexceptional reign’ of Kofi Kingston and wants to stop all the New Day members from leaving as champions tonight.
KOFI KINGSTON VS SAMOA JOE FOR THE WWE TITLE
Joe hit a violent sweep connecting with Kingston’s left knee and overpowering Kingston at the start of the match.
He placed Kingston’s finger in between the steps on the floor and stomped the steps.
Kingston finally fights back and hits a top rope crossbody. Joe landed a powerbomb and applies the STF and transitions to the crossface but Kingston got to the rope. Moments later, he goes for the Coquina Clutch, Kingston tried to kick off the turnbuckle and was dropped by Joe and hits with a senton.
Joe was attacking with punches, ran at Kingston, bounced off the ropes and was hit with the Trouble in Paradise for the pin out of nowhere.
WINNER: Kofi Kingston at 9:47 to retain the WWE title
The match was 90% Samoa Joe and then Kingston caught Joe with the idea he escaped rather than soundly defeated Joe, so this one could continue.
SETH ROLLINS & BECKY LYNCH VS BARON CORBIN & LACEY EVANS IN A WINNERS TAKE ALL MATCH FOR THE UNIVERSAL & RAW WOMEN’S TITLE
Evans had the word ‘Seth’ embroidered on the back of her trunks.
Evans brought a kendo stick in, she was stopped by Rollins and she pulled herself toward him and led to Lynch attacking Evans with another kendo stick.
Corbin attacked Rollins with a chair and had Evans toss in more chairs. Evans and Lynch fought on the floor with Lynch attacking with several chair shots. Rollins handed a chair to Corbin and Lynch came off the top with a missile dropkick into the chair.
Evans hit the twisting moonsault off the top onto Lynch. Lynch ducked the Woman’s Right and hit an inverted DDT.
Rollins brought a table out and the place finally reacted loudly to something.
Corbin and Evans worked together and hit double chokeslams, but both kicked out.
On the floor, Corbin and Evans took a double vertical suplex onto the ramp by Rollins and Lynch. It led to a double table spot with Lynch putting Evans through one with a leg drop to the floor and Rollins with a splash to the floor.
The big spot say Corbin hit Lynch with End of Days and the place went nuts. Rollins fired up with kendo stick shots, chair shots and then hit three stomps.
WINNERS: Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch at 19:56
As soon as the match ended, Brock Lesnar’s music hit and he walked out with Paul Heyman.
Lesnar hit a German suplex and announced he was cashing in.
SETH ROLLINS VS BROCK LESNAR FOR THE UNIVERSAL TITLE
Lesnar hit the F5 and won the match.
WINNER: Brock Lesnar in 16 seconds
