Extreme Rules probably should’ve been called Ordinary Rules this year, with none of the matches really reaching that next level in terms of violence. While that’s to be expected given the PG nature of the current product, the last few years have managed to produce some headline-making moments – and it feels as if we didn’t really get that with the 2017 edition.
Still, there were some brutal moments to be seen throughout the course of the three-hour extravaganza, and we’re here to pinpoint five of the best. A lot of these may be seen as everyday spots that are quite casual, but in the grand scheme of the pay per view, they just about allowed the event to somewhat live up to its namesake.
We aren’t saying that Extreme Rules should definitely continue for another year, but if it does, we hope that alterations will be made. It’s not like we’re looking for a string of blood-soaked encounters, but the occasional thumb tack here or there certainly wouldn’t go a miss. Still, who doesn’t love a good old fashioned ‘if he gets disqualified, he loses the belt’ stipulation, right?
With that being said, here are the five most brutal spots from Extreme Rules.
#1 Sasha’s double knees
The mixed tag team match wasn’t exactly one of the most anticipated matches of the night at Extreme Rules, with many fans thinking it was just ‘thrown together’ without much thought. While that’s true to an extent, all four individuals certainly brought their A-game and proved why they should be at the top of their respective divisions.
Sasha, in particular, ceased her moment, pulling off her trademark double knee move from the top rope to the outside on Noam Dar. It was clean, crisp and it looked about as effective as you can get for a move like that. Sure it may not have done the Scottish Supernova many favours, but he’s still young enough to bounce back.
Oh, Alexa...
Also read: Best and Worst of WWE Extreme Rules 2017
#2 Bliss breaks Bayley
Heading into the Raw Women’s Championship match between Alexa Bliss and Bayley, many fans were concerned over the booking of The Huggable One. Alas, their concerns were well placed as Bayley was made to look like a fool in the match – hesitating when she had the opportunity to strike Alexa with the kendo stick.
Bliss turned the tables, however, systematically breaking Bayley with four or five vicious shots to her back. A lot of people from the outside looking in tend to see pro wrestling as ‘fake’, but with things like this, there’s just no way on this planet that you can hide how painful that truly was.
Think of your family, Jeff!
#3 Whisper in the Wind
Saying that Jeff Hardy is going to do something reckless is like saying the sun will come up tomorrow – it’s a certainty. The Charismatic Enigma has an entire career of highlight reels, and yet during his Steel Cage Tag title match in Baltimore, he felt the need to try and add one more to his resume.
Jeff, having already climbed out of the cage, got back on the top of the structure and delivered a Whisper in the Wind that unfortunately cost him and brother Matt the titles and the match. It was definitely a cool moment, but in the grand scheme of things perhaps Brother Nero should’ve kept that move in his back pocket where it belonged.
The Greatest Man That Ever Lived.
#4 Suicide dive
A lot of people were a tad apprehensive over the prospect of Neville and Aries going at it for the third time, but the result did shut up a lot of the doubters. The King of the Cruiserweights defeated Austin Aries once again, probably sending him out of the cruiserweight title picture once and for all.
During the match, however, it seemed like things might be turning in Austin’s favour – until the suicide dive happened. Aries risked it all for the sake of the purple belt, only for the Geordie to move out of the way which sent Austin straight into the barricade head first. Concussion city – population one.
Fly Rollins fly.
#5 Frog Splash
There’s a reason why Seth Rollins is one of the leaders of the new generation: he’s good. Really good. The Architect has been on fire ever since the build up to his WrestleMania 33 showdown with Triple H, and the match itself certainly tipped Seth over the edge in terms of making him look like a star.
Then we had Extreme Rules, where Rollins once again shone brighter than anyone could’ve imagined. Following some great psychology throughout the fatal five-way, Rollins threw himself off the top rope and delivered a monstrous frog splash to former WWE Champion Bray Wyatt.
Sure Extreme Rules wasn’t what it once was, but it can still pop up with a few surprising moments here and there.
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