WWE Extreme Rules 2021 Flops and Hits: Blunder in Roman Reigns vs. Finn Balor, 6-time champion makes a surprise return (27th September 2021)

WWE Extreme Rules 2021 was a decent show that ended in controversial fashion. The show featured five title matches, but none of the championships changed hands. The show witnessed a former champion's epic return as well as multiple memorable performances. However, the pay-per-view also had its fair share of drawbacks – one of which will prove to be detrimental in its overall rating.

Here, we look at some of the biggest flops and hits from WWE Extreme Rules 2021. So, without further ado, let's begin.

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#1. Flop at WWE Extreme Rules 2021: Finish to Roman Reigns vs. Finn Balor

Before we dive into the criticism, it is important to acknowledge that the Extreme Rules main event started off on a great note. In fact, Roman Reigns and Finn Balor were brilliant until the final moments of the match. They had the crowd rallying behind them throughout their battle. The subtleties of their story-telling were intriguing for most of the Universal Championship match at Extreme Rules.

The difference in their respective kendo sticks and The Usos' expected interference played out very well. Even when Finn Balor hit Reigns with a low blow, it accounted for a deafening pop.

Although everyone was aware that WWE wants Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship next month, Balor did well in convincing people that he still has a shot at prevailing in the Extreme Rules main event. That alone speaks volumes about both Superstars and their narrative skills. But in this case, the bad outweighs the good

If you've watched Game of Thrones, this analogy might help. Remember when the Night King was built as the biggest villain for seven seasons? The piercing blue eyes gazed into the souls of the most prominent protagonists, warning them of their impending doom.

He was the person to defeat, and while we knew he was going to lose, at least people looked forward to an epic sword fight. That was the whole point of scripting a clash between two polar opposite characters who had just one thing in common – they were incredible warriors with unbeatable swordsmanship. But what happened next?

The one in frosty skin who could summon the sharp winds of winter and raise men from the dead melted like an ice cube kept on a concrete pavement at midday. That's exactly what WWE did with "Demon" Finn Balor at Extreme Rules.

We all knew he would not win the championship, but the ending could have still been a lot more dignified than we saw. The hype around his resurrection, the thumping sound of heartbeat, the red lights, and the smoke -- all of it was embarrassingly ignored.

Even we give them the benefit of the doubt and buy into the "the rope snap turned him back into Finn Balor" angle; it doesn't make sense. He fought as the "Demon" throughout the match, but his alter-ego left him right when he needed it the most?

The entire narrative could have been one of the best fairy tales ever crafted in WWE and arguably all of pro-wrestling. However, it met with a shambolic end where a rope did more to stop the challenger at Extreme Rules than the Champion Roman Reigns himself.

All of Roman Reigns and "Demon" Finn Balor's hard work up to the final moments of their match was nullified by this preposterous finish. WWE should do better while booking their Superstars who carry supernatural gimmicks. If not, the alter-ego concept is reduced to a joke.

Unfortunately, they are running out of time. It will be interesting to see what's in store for both Reigns and Balor following their Extreme Rules match. The Tribal Chief might now get unnecessary heat while Balor is bound to consider his future outside of the promotion, which will someday prove to be a massive blow for WWE.

#2. Hit at WWE Extreme Rules 2021: Becky Lynch and Bianca Belair have an epic match, Sasha Banks returns

One of the best matches at WWE Extreme Rules 2021 saw Becky Lynch put her SmackDown Women’s Championship on the line against Bianca Belair. The latter had an opportunity to redeem herself against “The Man,” and she did a great job portraying a smart babyface across from an arrogant heel. Lynch also deserves a lot of credit for nailing her heel persona ever since her return.

There were several engaging spots in the match that saw both Superstars mock each other’s in-ring prowess. Throughout their battle, they looked equally dominant, with Lynch and Belair taking turns to gain the upper hand.

Although the build-up to their match at Extreme Rules was not as intense as one would imagine, Lynch and Belair did more than enough to establish that their feud would be one for the ages.

The Man’s reaction made it look like she was genuinely taken aback by Belair’s brute strength while the latter acknowledged Becky Lynch’s in-ring abilities on multiple occasions. The crowd was divided in their support and chanted throughout the match, adding much more to the title bout. Unfortunately, the match ended in disqualification owing to Sasha Bank’s epic return.

The Boss missed SummerSlam, where she was originally scheduled to challenge Belair for the title, and it was her absence that allowed Lynch to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship in the first place. It was an excellent way to bring Banks back into the equation at Extreme Rules, as the creative team can now push towards a triple-threat match in the coming weeks.

#3. Flop at WWE Extreme Rules 2021: Alexa Bliss loses the RAW Women’s Championship match

Tonight, at Extreme Rules 2021, Alexa Bliss challenged Charlotte Flair for the RAW Women’s Championship in a disappointing encounter. The match started off on a slow note and never really picked up. Neither of them looked particularly bad, but it was an underwhelming match that ended with the Queen successfully retaining her title at the pay-per-view.

There were a couple of good moments, including Bliss’ sneaky moves and Charlotte’s vicious attacks at ringside. But the intensity barely translated into their in-ring work. The excessive number of near-pinfalls didn’t help their case either. The match ended with the champion using Natural Selection to pick up a victory and retain her gold at Extreme Rules.

Following the match, Charlotte took Lilly and ripped it into pieces. Bliss was clearly distraught over the horror and mourned the loss of her friend. The crowd also burst into “Thank you Lilly” chants which was arguably the best part about the entire segment.

Could this mean that Bliss will now bid farewell to her gimmick that was inspired by “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt? She has enough reason to continue her feud with Charlotte, and we hope that she will continue to remain in the title picture despite her loss at Extreme Rules.

#4 Hit at WWE Extreme Rules 2021: The Usos retain the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships

At Extreme Rules 2021, The Usos put their SmackDown Tag Team Championships on the line against the Street Profits. Both teams once again brought their A-game inside the ring and deservingly earned fans' "This is Awesome" chants. The Usos and Street Profits took turns to dominate their in-ring bout, but in the end, the Champions prevailed.

All four superstars played to their respective strengths and worked well to keep the crowd invested throughout the match. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins were particularly impressive in their attempt to lock horns with one of the best tag teams in WWE history and look just as good.

Jey and Jimmy Uso also put in a lot of effort to put over their challengers while ensuring that they maintained the Bloodline's dominance at Extreme Rules.

Despite the commendable effort, Street Profits fell short in the match's final moments. The champions used a Double Uso Splash on Ford to seal their victory at Extreme Rules. It was a clean finish that added a lot of credibility to their reign, especially after the last time when Roman Reigns' timely interference saved them.

Both teams looked strong and delivered a solid match, and we hope that they will continue to redeem the WWE Tag Team division that has been quite stagnant lately.

#5 Honourable mention: Big E stuns Bobby Lashley at WWE Extreme Rules 2021

The opening match of Extreme Rules pay-per-view saw a six-man tag team match as The New Day took on the team of Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, and Omos. It was one of the most entertaining bouts of the night despite zero build-up ahead of the show. In fact, this match was added an hour before the show kicked off, but all six superstars deserve a lot of credit for an engaging in-ring narration.

AJ Styles mocking the New Day members, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods poking fun at Styles’ arrogance, Lashley and Big E charging at each other like bulls, and Omos’ immaculate vibes guarantee entrainment at Extreme Rules.

The match’s closing moments saw Lashley accidentally deliver a Spear to the Phenomenal One. Big E took advantage of the situation and used Big Ending to pin the former world champion.

Later in the night, an agitated Lashley demanded another shot at the WWE Championship, accusing Big E of unfairly winning the title. The New Day member accepted the challenge, and the two are now scheduled for a title rematch on tomorrow night’s RAW. This Extreme Rules match could also lead to another feud between The New Day and the team of AJ Styles and Omos.