Top 4 exhilarating moments from Extreme Rules 2018 

The road to Extreme Rules 2018 was a plain presentation by WWE, as the build-up of the individual programmes were uninteresting, repetitive and boring. Also, taking into consideration the quality of this year's WWE pay-per-view, fans had set their expectations 'extremely' low for this show, and boy did WWE try to make Extreme Rules a pay-per-view to remember.

And while most of you might feel that this event was not the best four hours of wrestling you have watched all year, there were certain decisions made throughout the show that were meant to set up future narratives and rectify some of WWE's previous mistakes.

This article focuses on the best moments from the show that made fans and critics jump with excitement and stare in shock at some of the carnage Extreme Rules pay-per-view caused in the steel city.

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#4 Nakamura gets redeemed

WWE made Nakamura look like a genius.

Shinsuke Nakamura vs Jeff Hardy for the United States Championship was a 'match of the year' candidate according to WWE's kick off panel and its a bit hard to be oblivious to that claim as Nakamura is one of the best in the world on a good day and Jeff Hardy produces magic when his opponent works well with him. So, two men with excellent chemistry, a hot crowd waiting to witness this dream match and United States Title's prestige up for grabs, one would expect a wrestling writer to book a barn burner, but not WWE.

WWE took this entire match and flipped it on its head, as Nakamura did something that makes so much sense for a heel to do to win a match easily, he low-blowed Jeff Hardy before the bell had even rung and then hit him with his finisher to win the match in about five seconds. It was different, it was unique, and it made Nakamura look like a man that genuinely studied every possible outcome and went with easiest, cause why not?

While some fans would complain Hardy got shafted here by losing in such a crazy manner, it fitted his character, an emphatic babyface, which is what made him the most popular babyface in the world back in the day. All things considered Nakamura as United States Champion is a fun booking adventure as the man can flex his comedic chops, badass move set and erratic charisma which WWE was telling their fans he would show for years.

#2 The real Randy Orton is back

Screw babyface Orton, this is the Randy Orton WWE needs.

Honestly, when Randy Orton's music played after Shinsuke Nakamura beat Jeff Hardy in five seconds, there was probably no one who didn't mark out, as Orton has become one of those stars that have transcended the business and is now a solid household name with general and hardcore wrestling fans. Moreover, as Orton walked down to the ring his methodical strut felt more and more akin to his old heel persona, and every glance he gave at Jeff Hardy and Shinsuke Nakamura gave it away, this isn't the same old bland babyface Orton but the head punting badass heel that had returned.

And finally, when Orton had delivered a simple stomp to Jeff Hardy's groin, it cemented him thoroughly as Smackdown Live's next big heel, as that what Orton does best, being himself. Whether from here it's him against Shinsuke Nakamura, Jeff Hardy or AJ Styles, the sky is the limit for Orton and WWE better not screw this long-awaited career revival for Orton.

#3 Rusev's pursuit of happiness

A man that realized his dream vs a man that has a dream

Wrestling is all about dreams, as fans fantasize their favorite wrestlers colliding in a landscape changing dream matches, wrestlers hope one day their hard work would lead to big things and management hope they would one day make Roman Reigns the next John Cena, maybe WWE still dreaming about that last part. But the point is, when Rusev won the right to be called number one contender for the WWE Title, it was a long time coming for a man that made his debut wearing no wrestling boots.

Against AJ Styles Rusev was facing a man that had to work close to two decades to make his dreams come true, so this match was not about heel vs face but a man fighting to keep his dream intact and a man striving to realise his, and boy did these two deliver in what should have been the main event of the night.

And even though Rusev lost, as to why would WWE give him the nod? He still endeared himself to the WWE Universe as he painfully left the ring knowing his loss to AJ Styles was probably the last time he would even get a chance at the Wolrd Title. Well, announcers always reiterate when a wrestler is pushing themselves too hard they should live to fight another day, on that day lets hope is finally Rusev's day.

#4 KO goes old school

Has WWE created a future babyface?

Some might love Kevin Owens for his witty nature, some might hate him for his cowardly behavior but one has to respect the man for the crazy stuff he puts his body through just to entertains the fans, but most of you might be saying why KO? Every wrestler puts their body through hell just so 'we the people' can laugh at their misery, if you are a wrestler that has been getting ragged dolled for over a month, it kind of affords you some sympathy from a human perspective.

And this might be the unpopular opinion but this whole Strowman-Owens storyline has made Strowman look like a 'bully' and KO as the pathos deserving face, and it becomes hard to boo a man that does a Stone Cold Stunner, DX crotch chop and takes a mick foley like bump through a table. Owens might be on a downward spiral in terms credibility but if that man can put himself through that level of punishment to entertain, he deserves a Slammy and that too for OMG moment of the fricking year.

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