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Extreme Rules is the one night of the year where WWE gets extreme and where better to do that than in the home of ECW itself, Philadelphia. In a night of great moments where we saw title changes, mixed tags and a Deadman rise, some performers just about stood out above the rest.
This event will go down as one of the WWE’s best for 2019. In a time where many are questioning whether they can stay on top amidst competition, the company produced a stellar pay-per-view. With SummerSlam just around the corner, many superstars used this show as an opportunity to justify their place on the upcoming card. Although the biggest party of the summer is often a long PPV, not everyone gets their shine at the event. These stand out performers certainly showed the world why they deserve top billing in Toronto next month.
Here are the top 5 performers from Extreme Rules 2019.
#5 Cesaro
Many seem to forget that the Swiss Superman is a veteran in the wrestling world. The man has been a professional wrestler for over 19 years. Even though his time as a main-event Superstar may have passed, his worth in terms of putting over young talents and bolstering the mid-card is there for all to see. He showcased all that wisdom and worth during his match with Aleister Black, a match that the neutrals hope to see turn into a prolonged series.
Although this match was all about the return of Aleister Black, Cesaro played his role perfectly. He was unselfish in his performance, knowing full well this match wasn’t about him. In spite of that, he still showcased enough offence to push the Dark Destroyer to his absolute limits. Cesaro put over Black in the most credible way possible, presenting the Dutchman as a man to be feared.
#4 Samoa Joe
In an extremely rare co-main event spot for Samoa Joe, the submission specialist put in a performance to match. In recent years the WWE has lacked in monster heels that are as conniving as they are destructive. Samoa Joe is finally the perfect blend of those two needed qualities.
In a match for the WWE Championship, Joe completely dominated the beloved champion by giving us a clinic in wrestling dominance. There’s an art to heel antics, a gift that not many can express as well as the Samoan.
Joe slowed down the pace of the match, completely throwing Kingston off his game, thus limiting his explosive offence. Joe did enough to suggest that a title change could happen, without forcing Kofi to oversell an unrealistic win. Although the challenger suffered another loss on a PPV, Joe’s fans could rest assured knowing the WWE still highly value the submission specialist.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura
Having spent months in the wrestling wilderness, Shinsuke Nakamura responded with a performance of the highest quality. The Japanese superstar reminded the WWE Universe why his arrival in America was such a big deal initially.
Nakamura had enough time in this match to showcase his wide range of wrestling moves with an international flavour. It’s not easy to spend months on the outskirts to then return to the level you were performing at before, but Nakamura took to it like a duck in water.
Kudos must also go to Finn Balor who sold like a dream for the King of Strong Style. Neither of these two men took working on the pre-show as a demotion or a chance to put in a sub-par performance, they gave their all, making it a memorable Intercontinental Title match. The WWE trusted Nakamura with his first title belt and his performance certainly lived up to that bill.
#2 Lacey Evans
In her first PPV main event as a wrestler, Lacey Evans showed the WWE Universe why Vince McMahon has so much faith in her. The Sassy southern belle was mean, vindictive, aggressive and totally dislikeable, everything she was meant to be. She entered that match with three other superstars who are used to the limelight and stood her own ground, not looking out of place for a second.
Many have called Evans ‘green’ in her first months on the roster, however, in Philadelphia, the southerner even pulled a moonsault off the top rope like a seasoned performer.
Lacey Evans carries herself as a star and Sunday night acted as her arrival in the main event scene. She’s one for the coming generation, a superstar that could finally rival Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch for the top spot. With this performance, Evans firmly established herself as the number one heel in the women’s division.
#1 The Undertaker
After a night to forget in Jeddah, the Undertaker responded with a commanding performance at WWE’s Extreme Rules. The Deadman looked his old self, giving us a showreel of all the moves that initially made him famous. Undertaker was in a match with two of WWE’s top athletes and didn’t for a second look behind the pace.
In fact, at times, especially when he hit the big boot, he looked like he was 20 years old. Not only did he produce perfectly executed signature moves, but he also took several major bumps in the process.
Reigns and Taker showed great chemistry and impeccable timing with their power moves and mannerisms to send the crowd crazy. It’s this kind of fast-paced performances that will let the fans know the Phenom still has a few years left in the tank. This match on a whole was an excellent way to open the PPV with a bang.
