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WWE’s The Horror Show at Extreme Rules was a decent PPV – for the lack of a better word. While the matches on the card were good, it was the finish to a few of them that gained a mixed response from the WWE Universe. In total, we saw two titles change hands, at least technically.
Firstly, Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated The New Day in a Tables match to become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Following that, Bayley donned the referee’s shirt to help her best friend Sasha Banks pin Asuka. However, as of this writing, WWE still have Asuka as the RAW Women’s Champion in their official list of title-holders.
Drew McIntyre and Bayley successfully defended their WWE Championship and SmackDown Championship respectively. In addition, Seth Rollins defeated Rey Mysterio by attacking the latter’s eye. Finally, the main event of Extreme Rules saw Bray Wyatt defeating Braun Strowman in the Wyatt Swamp Fight.
In this article, we will take a look at five WWE Superstars who managed to impress the fans at Extreme Rules. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
#5 Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura (ended The New Day’s 8th title reign at Extreme Rules)
WWE SmackDown Superstars Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura defeated Kofi Kingston and Big E at Extreme Rules to become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions. This match was intense and very well balanced between both the teams. Throughout the match, Cesaro and Nakamura were shown fighting to gain control over the match.
Big E and Kofi Kingston were at their usual best during the match. However, they did not appear to be as aggressive as Cesaro and Nakamura. The heel duo of the Blue brand had spent the last few weeks targeting the tag team gold on SmackDown. In fact, they even got to pick the stipulation for their title match at Extreme Rules, and they decided that the winner will have to put the opponent through a table.
Kofi Kingston and Big E came close to putting the challengers right through the table on several occasions. But Cesaro and Nakamura were strategic in their battles on the ringside. Finally, they managed to separate Big and Kofi Kingston and decided to take out the muscle first. After that, Cesaro powerbombed Kofi Kingston through the tables to seal the match in his favor.
Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura are expected to bring something fresh on SmackDown following their incredible win at Extreme Rules. WWE have a great opportunity to book several good matches involving other talented Superstars on the SmackDown roster. Hopefully, they will have an engaging title reign on the Blue brand.
#4 Buddy Murphy (Faced Kevin Owens in Extreme Rules Kickoff show)
WWE confirmed a match between Buddy Murphy and Kevin Owens with a last-minute announcement. Both Superstars locked horns in a singles match that was featured on the pre-show of The Horror Show at Extreme Rules. Kevin Owens and Buddy Murphy’s brief history in the last few weeks kept them motivated throughout the encounter.
Even though Buddy Murphy was up against Kevin Owens, he was equally dominant inside the ring. Both Superstars continuously battled for the control of the match. On several occasions, Murphy managed to shock Owens with his maneuvers. Unfortunately for him, a well-timed superkick followed by a deadly stunner helped Kevin Owens pick a victory at Extreme Rules.
Nevertheless, Buddy Murphy deserves credit for the performance that he delivered at Extreme Rules. Both Kevin Owens and Buddy Murphy are linked to a bigger feud on RAW due to their alliance with Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins respectively. That said, the Extreme Rules match between Kevin Owens and Buddy Murphy showed that the latter deserves to be used more on the red brand. Hopefully, WWE will book Murphy in similar matches following the Extreme Rules PPV.
#3 Seth Rollins (Repeated history at Extreme Rules)
It should be common knowledge by now that WWE Superstar Seth Rollins is better at portraying a heel than he is at playing a babyface. The Monday Night Messiah proved that once again at Extreme Rules during his brutal match against Rey Mysterio. Even though Rey Mysterio didn’t get to avenge the previous beatdown, the finish to the match didn’t seem undeserving.
Both Superstars looked great inside the ring. Seth Rollins looked sharp and dangerous during his match and asserted dominance on several occasions. There was a spot during which we saw Rey Mysterio brutalising Rollins against the staircase, intending to damage the latter’s eye and seek his revenge. However, Rollins fought back and quickly turned the tables.
He viciously attacked Mysterio and ended up pressing his eye against the corner of the steep steps on the ringside. Mysterio fell on the floor while screaming in agony and Rollins was declared as the winner. The masked Superstar was then rushed to the hospital while Rollins to the backstage. It will be interesting to see what WWE has in store for the Monday Night Messiah after Extreme Rules.
#2 Drew McIntyre (Defended his WWE Championship against all odds at Extreme Rules)
WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre was in for a huge surprise at Extreme Rules. He had allowed his opponent Dolph Ziggler to pick the stipulation for their WWE Championship match. The latter ensured that he made the best use of the opportunity. Ahead of the match, Dolph Ziggler revealed the stipulation of this match as ‘Extreme Rules’ but with the catch. Ziggler stacked all the odds against the champion when he said that the rule of the stipulation will only be applicable for Ziggler.
Ziggler’s idea basically applied that Drew McIntyre will have to abide by the rules of a normal match whereas his opponent could use all sorts of weapons and moves. Throughout this Championship match at Extreme Rules, Ziggler tried to gain dominance by exploiting his advantage. He beat McIntyre with a chair, left him on the ringside for a countout, and even used a low blow.
However, McIntyre sustained against the brutal attack laid on him. He managed to get up every time and finally hit a deadly Claymore to end the match. After Extreme Rules, it is easy to see that WWE are booking McIntyre as a monster now. It will be interesting to see who will challenge him next as his next feud could lead to a big match at SummerSlam.
#1 Sasha Banks (Defeated Asuka for RAW Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules)
WWE Superstar Sasha Banks is undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers in WWE today. At Extreme Rules, she challenged Asuka for the RAW Women’s Championship and won. Her 'victory' is not the reason why I have included her in this list. The finish of this title match was bizarre, but it is Sasha Banks’ performance at the PPV that had the WWE Universe in awe.
Sasha Banks and Asuka’s match was well-balanced between both the Superstars. The challenger was cornered on several occasions, but she managed to fight back every single time. There was also a spot which saw Banks slam Asuka against the glass. Their Extreme Rules encounter was indeed brutal, but it was its ending which left a sour taste in the mouth of fans.
Sasha Banks had tapped out to the Asuka Lock, but the referee didn’t see that. Soon, Asuka tried to attack Sasha Banks with the green mist, but the latter moved at the last moment. The plan backfired at Asuka as she ended up taking out the referee instead. Bayley then seized the opportunity and hit Asuka with the title. She then wore the referee’s shirt and did the countdown for the pinfall, helping Banks in becoming the new RAW Women’s Champion.
It would be difficult to guess why WWE thought this finish of an Extreme Rules title match would be a good idea, but they clearly have a plan in place. Regardless, nothing can take away the fact that Sasha Banks looked like an absolute workhorse at Extreme Rules tonight. If anything, she just reminded the WWE Universe why she deserves to be booked in title matches more often.
Not to forget, she helped Bayley in retaining her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross at Extreme rules. Earlier in the night, Bayley was close to losing her title, but Banks helped her best friend by giving her the ‘boss ring’ that Bayley used to illegally hit Cross.
