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The stakes were high for Extreme Rules as some excellent matches were set to take place. The company didn't let down the fans and Extreme Rules was a blockbuster show. Several titles changed hands, and every match was exciting.
The biggest surprise of the night was the cash-in of Brock Lesnar. The Beast Incarnate became a three-time Universal Champion in the main event of Extreme Rules. The WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defended his title successfully against Samoa Joe. Ricochet failed to retain the US Title as AJ Styles won the belt.
Bayley overcame Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss to win the Handicap Match. While Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley offered another stellar match, Aleister Black and Cesaro certainly delivered the best match of the night. The New Day became the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions and the Revival defeated the Usos. Finn Balor lost the Intercontinental Title to Shinsuke Nakamura in the kick-off show.
Extreme Rules was a stupendous pay-per-view and the company obtained significant momentum before SummerSlam. Here we discuss three things WWE made clear at Extreme Rules.
#3 Shane McMahon will be the opponent of Kevin Owens at SummerSlam
Shane McMahon teamed up with Drew McIntyre to fight the Undertaker and Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules. The Tag Team Match was certainly entertaining as the Phenom was at his best. The Deadman pinned Shane after delivering a vicious Tombstone Piledriver. Since the Superstar Shake-Up two months ago, Shane has been having a feud with Reigns and it could have ended at Extreme Rules.
Kevin Owens was the talking point of SmackDown Live last week after an impressive promo. The former Universal Champion had a match with Dolph Ziggler at the Wells Fargo Center as the former pinned the latter within twenty seconds. Following the match, Owens delivered another promo and he called out Shane McMahon.
Considering Owens has been targeting Shane McMahon, they could face each other at SummerSlam. Shane certainly remembers the Stunner from Owens and the Best in the World could be trying to get his revenge soon.
#2 AJ Styles and Ricochet will continue the rivalry
AJ Styles and Ricochet faced each other at the Wells Fargo Center. It was not the first meeting between the two men as they already locked horns twice in the last few weeks. Following a title defense on RAW, it was the second title defense of Ricochet. The US Championship changed hands as AJ Styles won the belt at Extreme Rules.
It has been a spectacular rivalry and WWE is likely to extend the feud. The recent heel turn of Styles has garnered the attention of the WWE Universe. Since Styles is a heel, he took the help of Andrson and Gallows to pin Ricochet at Extreme Rules.
In all honesty, the US Championship match was one of the best matches of Extreme Rules, if not the best. Another match between the two incredible high-flyers could be expected at SummerSlam. We have already seen three regular matches between the two men, hence, it will not be surprising to see the next match with a new stipulation.
#1 Bayley will get a new challenger
Bayley had a mountain to climb at Extreme Rules as she was put in a Handicap Match. The SmackDown Women's Champion defended her title against Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss. Considering two credible opponents fought Bayley, it seemed like an insurmountable task for the Hugger. Bayley overcame the odds and she managed to defeat Bliss and Cross.
The SmackDown Women's Championship match was impressive at Extreme Rules. Bayley proved her mettle and the rivalry is expected to end. While Bliss faced Bayley twice, she failed to capture the most coveted women's prize of the blue brand. Neither Alexa Bliss nor Nikki Cross deserves to get another title shot against Bayley.
The Blue Brand has several talented women and it will be interesting to see the next challenger of the Hugger. Considering Charlotte Flair has not been on TV for the last few weeks, she could return to challenge Bayley at SummerSlam. Moreover, the possibility of Sasha Banks cannot be ruled out.
