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The "Horror Show" at Extreme Rules lived up to its name - though not always in the way that it would have liked. The in-ring action at the event was strong, but the finishes to many of the matches left the viewer with much to desire. Overall, the direction of the company heading into SummerSlam has become more confused as a result of some of these matches, but there's plenty of time to clear the cobwebs.
Who got the most and least in booking momentum after last night's action at Extreme Rules?
Winners: Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro
Typical of WWE is to put two singles wrestlers that really had nothing to do with each other, but who the company had no plans for, in a makeshift tag team. Such was the case with Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro. Yet, the pairing is working between the ropes, at least, and last night, the company made the surprising decision to crown them the Tag Team Champions at Extreme Rules.
This was a very good tables match and the surprising winners should shake up the SmackDown tag team division. WWE needs to give fans a reason to get behind the Nakamura and Cesaro pairing beyond their ring skills though, so here's hoping the company fleshes out their story in the coming weeks
Winner: Nikki Cross
Nobody expected Nikki Cross to actually win the SmackDown Women's Championship last night at Extreme Rules, but this might have been her best match since coming to the main roster. She looked wily and tough, with the champion Bayley getting increasingly frustrated at her inability to put her opponent away.
Ultimately, she needed the help of Sasha Banks. The friendship theme would repeat later on in the Extreme Rules card.
Where Nikki Cross goes from here is anyone's guess, but her standing has definitely improved over the last few weeks.
Loser: Apollo Crews
Rumor has it that Apollo Crews tested positive for coronavirus and as a result, missed the Extreme Rules show. MVP has been on something of a hot streak lately, so his declaring himself the United States Champion at Extreme Rules by way of forfeit did a good job of keeping the heat around the rivalry, but it's certainly a stroke of misfortune (provided the rumors are true) for Apollo Crews, who was getting the biggest push of his career in WWE to date.
We'll just have to see what happens when Apollo Crews returns to the company after his situation presumably clears up.
Losers: Asuka and Sasha Banks
Everyone, for years, has wanted to see Asuka and Sasha Banks go full blast on pay per view with no commercial interruptions. We finally got our wish at Extreme Rules. The match lived up to the hype. Unfortunately, WWE would deflate it with perhaps the most disappointing finish of 2020.
A misfire with the green mist from Asuka hit the referee, Bayley proclaimed herself the official, and counted for three to make Sasha Banks the "winner" at Extreme Rules. One gets the feeling that's not the case and WWE still lists Asuka as RAW Women's Champion on its website.
If it's meant to cause tension with Sasha and Bayley, it was executed improperly. Asuka looks much worse for wear.
Either way, this was the worst outcome for an otherwise great match.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt has been one of those characters that have shined during WWE's pandemic era. The match types without a live audience have been made for him and the Swamp Match with Braun Strowman at Extreme Rules last night was no exception.
Artfully putting the Universal Champion's history on display, the match reached its apogee with Alexa Bliss appearing as Sister Abigail. Bray Wyatt then emerged as The Fiend once again, and won the night if not the match in actuality. Who really knows who won? The "match" didn't seem to emphasize winners and losers in any case.
The Fiend seemed past his peak as a character ever since the disastrous Hell in a Cell match with Seth Rollins last October, but the potential Sister Abigail angle, if it lasts, adds a new wrinkle. Either way, Bray Wyatt emerged from Extreme Rules with momentum and has kept his rivalry with his former protege fresh.
We'll see what happens on the way to SummerSlam. We can at least credit the company for doing the rivalry a service at Extreme Rules.
