4:03 pm | July 15, 2018 | Go to Source | Author:
It’s not exactly as if anything goes at Extreme Rules, as is the promotional tagline, but this pay-per-view will certainly be as unconventional as it gets.
Tables, cages, kendo sticks and an ironman match are just a portion of what we’ll see Sunday night.
Matt Wilansky and Matt Wills cover the action throughout the night, with assistance from ESPN Stats & Info’s Sean Coyle.
SmackDown women’s championship
(James Ellsworth suspended in a shark cage)
Recap to come…
ATTENTION: @HeymanHustle#RAW GM @RealKurtAngle has just given YOUR CLIENT #UniversalChampion @BrockLesnar an ultimatum regarding the #UniversalTitle!!! #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/g4K2QEMiSk
– WWE (@WWE) July 15, 2018
A focus on backstage action has brought about two major moments already at Extreme Rules. Kurt Angle laid out an ultimatum, telling Brock Lesnar that he had one of three options — showing up on Raw this coming Monday night, coming to terms on a Universal championship match or getting stripped of the title.
Then, ahead of their scheduled SmackDown tag team title match at Extreme Rules, The Bludgeon Brothers attacked and laid out Kane and Daniel Bryan.
Finn Balor def. Baron Corbin
While it’s good to see both Balor and Corbin on the Extreme Rules card, the build to this bout left a lot to be desired. Outside of some comedic banter between the two, both in the ring and on Twitter, there hasn’t been much substance here.
SAnitY and The New Day closed out the Extreme Rules kickoff show with a fun, spot-heavy match. A double powerbomb/double stomp from New Day was the highlight of the match, with SAnitY pulling off a few big spots of their own – including the combo suspension elbow that Eric Young and Alexander Wolfe used to put Kofi Kingston through a table to win the match.
Having said that, Balor is a fantastic performer and Corbin continues to improve week after week, so regardless of the buildup, there’s no reason they couldn’t put forth a solid match, right?
Corbin was overpowering early on, using his size to his advantage as the pace progressed slowly, and when the initial Balor comeback began, Corbin put an end to it by way of his patented chokeslam backbreaker. Balor attempted a slingblade, but Corbin immediately responded with his Deep Six slam.
The story in this match though was Balor’s continued comeback efforts, and despite not being able to nail many of his big time moves, Balor snuck in a small package to pick up a sudden pinfall victory.
Based on Corbin’s dominance throughout much of this match and the suddenness of it’s conclusion, it would seem this rivalry has more legs to it. We’ll likely find out more on RAW.
Raw tag team championships
Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel def. Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy (c)
It came as little surprise that Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt, the collective calling themselves the “Deleters of Worlds” kicked off the Extreme Rules pay-per-view. They’re one of the most popular acts on Raw, and with a grudge to settle, it was a good way to get fans engaged right off the bat.
In the opening match of the WWE Extreme Rules Kickoff show, Sin Cara and Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas went full bore in a short match that saw a number of crazy spots including a hurricanrana on the ring apron. A Zelina Vega distraction, double knees and a hammerlock DDT earned Almas the victory.
It seemed as though it would be time for Hardy and Wyatt to get revenge for weeks upon weeks of shock wins by Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas, but therein lies the shock of what was to come. The B-Team, who has caught on in recent weeks as the lovable losers, were making a major step up just by vying for the Raw tag team titles on a pay-per-view.
Needless to say, the Pittsburgh crowd was ready to roll, including Ronda Rousey, who was shown in the front row acknowledging the crowd. Though the “Ronda Rousey” chants were a bit distracting to start, the crowd quickly settled into the match. The pace and the tone were familiar, and the match seemed to be going according to plan.
But then, just as it seemed the distractions that have become common and familiar in recent weeks in this series of matches were going to be thwarted for the first time, Dallas caught Hardy in a top rope suspended swinging DDT, and got the three-count.
Wait, what?
Yes, you read that right. The B-Team, where the “B” stands for best, are your new Raw tag team titles. How’s that for a strong way to kick off the pay-per-view.
Kickoff Show
Tables match
SAnitY def. The New Day
Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas def. Sin Cara
Still to come:
WWE championship: AJ Styles vs. Rusev
Intercontinental championship (30-minute iron man match): Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins
United States championship: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Raw women’s championship (Extreme Rules match): Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax
SmackDown women’s championship: Carmella (c) vs. Asuka
SmackDown tag team championship: Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. Team Hell No
Kevin Owens vs. Braun Strowman
Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley
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