WWE Extreme Rules 2021 - Star ratings for every match

WWE Extreme Rules 2021 came in with the least amount of anticipation of any pay-per-view for the promotion since the return of fans. Coming off the heels of the highly successful SummerSlam 2021 event, the company didn't put together a card full of stipulations that Extreme Rules usually holds, instead relying on title matches and new encounters to drive the show.

The headline match for WWE Extreme Rules 2021 featured the best performer in the company and the return of an extremely popular persona. Five titles were at stake on the card. The ladies were well represented with three of the seven matches featuring the women's division.

With a major event now in the books, it is time to see how each match performed and delivered on this night. The performers of WWE always seem to step up and try to give the fans something worthwhile during their pay-per-views. In this article, let's rate every match on the WWE Extreme Rules 2021 card.

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Liv Morgan vs. Carmella - WWE Extreme Rules 2021 Kickoff Show

The Extreme Rules 2021 Kickoff Show had the main show scheduled match with Liv Morgan vs. Carmella. The two women have been feuding on Friday Night SmackDown over the past few months.

Morgan had gotten a series of wins over the former SmackDown Women's Champion and even almost broke her nose. But Mella cost Liv a match against Zelina Vega on this past Friday's SmackDown.

Carmella cut a promo before the Extreme Rules Kickoff Show contest, which caused Liv to attack. Liv Morgan played a decent fiery underdog babyface throughout this bout and had the Columbus crowd in her corner.

Carmella played a good heel foil with her mannerisms, getting the fans more on Liv's side. She talked trash that only rallied Liv for her comeback.

Liv Morgan once again catapulted Carmella, but this time into the announce table before throwing her inside the ring and hitting the ObLIVion for the win. This was a solid bout that was effective in getting over Liv Morgan. Carmella did everything she could to make Liv look good and the crowd invested in Morgan to get things started at Extreme Rules 2021.

Star rating: **3/4

The New Day vs. Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles & Omos - WWE Extreme Rules 2021

An impromptu match was made on the Extreme Rules 2021 Kickoff Show featuring WWE Champion Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston of The New Day against Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles, and Omos. This was a welcome addition to the card and gave the show some much-needed star power.

This started with a lot of energy from the Columbus, Ohio crowd at Extreme Rules 2021. The New Day looked great in their Fugees-inspired gear, while the heels made perfect foil for the popular group.

Lashley, Styles and Omos isolated Kofi Kingston to build up to the hot tag to Xavier Woods. He came out firing on all cylinders.

Lashley, Styles and Omos cut off Woods, which helped to build to another hot tag to the WWE Champion Big E. He came in like a bolt of energy, taking out all three opponents. This led to a very fun finish to the match, with Omos swatting Kofi out of the sky on a dive and miscommunication between Styles and Lashley.

The All Mighty speared AJ Styles by accident, which led to Big E hitting the Big Ending on Lashley for the win. This is exactly what it needs to be and kicked off the Extreme Rules 2021 main card right. It was a very good match that overcame the nature that the contest came about to deliver a strong opener.

Star rating: ***1/2

The Usos vs. Street Profits for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships - WWE Extreme Rules 2021

Our next match at WWE Extreme Rules 2021 was The Usos defending the SmackDown Tag Team Championships against Street Profits. The two teams have been feuding off and on for the past few months.

Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford came close to beating Jimmy and Jey Uso at Madison Square Garden two weeks ago, but Roman Reigns got involved to cause a DQ.

Following Roman beating Montez and planting him through the table on this past week's SmackDown, Ford came into this bout with injured ribs. This target became the story of the match and the focus of The Usos here at Extreme Rules 2021. Jimmy and Jey attacked Montez's ribs repeatedly and tried to isolate him away from Dawkins.

Ford hot tagged Angelo Dawkins who came in and hit all his big moves. There was a flying elbow, a flapjack and spinning corner splashes to both The Usos. Montez Ford blind tagged back in and tried for his signature frog splash, but Jey got his knees up for a nearfall. The Usos attacked Dawkins at ringside, which led to Montez hitting an incredible corner flip dive.

Back in the ring, Ford hit a Frog Splash, but the pin was broken up. Angelo took the bullet for Montez with a double superkick. Ford was then isolated with double superkicks by the Usos, followed by a double Uso Splash for the win at Extreme Rules 2021. This was a very good tag team contest that proved why The Usos are the best tag team in the company and why Street Profits are so good as well.

Star rating: ***3/4

Charlotte Flair vs. Alexa Bliss for the RAW Women's Championship - WWE Extreme Rules 2021

Charlotte Flair faced Alexa Bliss for the RAW Women's Championship next at Extreme Rules 2021. Bliss held a hometown advantage with the event taking place in Columbus, Ohio. Charlotte came out in some Venom-inspired gear, which counteracted Alexa's Carnage-inspired gear herself. This made both women look like stars before the bell even rang.

Flair tried to use her strength advantage to overpower Bliss immediately in this Extreme Rules 2021 bout. Alexa used her resourcefulness to use anything she could to get control. Charlotte caught Bliss on the outside and rammed her into the guardrail to regain control of the contest.

After slipping out of Natural Selection and kicking out of a powerbomb, Alexa went on to make a comeback, hitting Code Red for a nearfall. She tried following with the Twisted Bliss, but Charlotte moved out of the way. Bliss reversed the Figure Eight into an inside cradle for a two. Flair got her leg on the ropes off of the DDT from Alexa.

Charlotte used Lilly to nail a big boot and followed with Natural Selection for the win. After the match, The Queen ripped apart Lilly, which made Alexa distraught and broke down. This RAW Women's Championship bout featured good action and continued a trend of quality wrestling at WWE Extreme Rules 2021.

Star rating: ***1/4

Damian Priest vs. Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy in a Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship - WWE Extreme Rules 2021

Damian Priest made his first defense of the United States Championship on pay-per-view here at WWE Extreme Rules 2021. Priest defeated Sheamus to win the US Title at SummerSlam 2021 last month and has defended the gold several times since. The Archer of Infamy defended the title in a Triple Threat Match against Sheamus and Jeff Hardy here.

The action picked up immediately at the bell, with The Celtic Warrior hitting a pumping knee on Jeff Hardy to take him out of the contest. Priest and Sheamus had a hard-hitting exchange until Hardy came back into play.

Damian hit a nice flip dive to the floor on both men. This bout never let up from the very beginning.

There were big moves from all three participants here at Extreme Rules 2021. The Columbus crowd was heavily in favor of Jeff Hardy winning, and he came close on several occasions. However, Sheamus hit a Brogue Kick on Hardy, knocking him out of the ring, and then Priest rolled up Sheamus to get the win to retain the United States Championship.

This Extreme Rules 2021 contest featured a lot of moving parts and started pretty clunky. However, the United States Championship bout got a nice flow and kept up a quick, non-stop pace for the duration.

All three men looked excellent, with Sheamus being the highlight. Damian Priest added yet another solid encounter to what has become a successful US Title reign so far.

Star rating: ***1/2

Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair for the SmackDown Women's Championship - WWE Extreme Rules 2021

One of the more anticipated encounters on the WWE Extreme Rules 2021 card was Becky Lynch defending the SmackDown Women's Championship against former champion Bianca Belair. At SummerSlam 2021, The Man returned and beat Belair in just 26 seconds in a much maligned moment that was criticized by many fans. It has led to this showdown here.

Both ladies looked incredible and in top form for much of this Extreme Rules 2021 contest. Bianca Belair showed off her extraordinary athleticism and proved why she has remained at the top of the SmackDown women's division for so long. The EST Of WWE was frustrating Lynch early, using her strength to evade the Dis-Arm-Her and keep Becky on her toes.

Becky Lynch hasn't been the most effective heel since her return. Due to how she came back at SummerSlam, The Man has been fighting with the crowd to try to gain heat.

However, she worked well as a foil to Bianca Belair here at Extreme Rules 2021. Her body language and mannerisms helped to contrast what Belair was offering.

The crowd was split between Becky and Bianca, which added quite a bit to this Extreme Rules 2021 encounter. Belair powered out of a final Dis-Arm-Her attempt and looked for the KOD when Sasha Banks returned to cause the disqualification. Banks looked awesome and beat down both ladies to inject herself back into the SmackDown Women's Championship scene.

Star rating: ***1/2

Roman Reigns vs. The Demon Finn Balor in an Extreme Rules Match for the WWE Universal Championship - WWE Extreme Rules 2021

The main event of Extreme Rules 2021 was the only bout that had the titular stipulation attached to it. Roman Reigns defended the WWE Universal Championship against The Demon Finn Balor in the show's closer. The two men have interacted a lot since Balor's return to the main roster back in July.

Finn Balor stepped up to The Tribal Chief and wanted an opportunity at the title he never lost. Balor was about to sign a contract to face Roman at SummerSlam 2021 when Baron Corbin intervened and allowed John Cena to sign the contract himself. Finn beat Corbin and was then attacked by The Bloodline to put him out of action until after SummerSlam.

Following Reigns' victory over John Cena at the Biggest Party Of The Summer in Las Vegas, Finn Balor stepped up again and challenged Roman. The two men faced on the September 3rd episode of SmackDown with The Usos attacking The Prince before the match and Reigns using a low blow to beat Balor. The following week, The Demon returned to set up this Extreme Rules 2021 main event.

Both men carried a superstar aura and brought off unique spots to the Extreme Rules match. Roman pulled out a kendo stick, while Balor counteracted with a Demon-themed bundle of kendo sticks.

They fought in the ring, at ringside and into the crowd. Roman showed tremendous poise, having Paul Heyman hand him a mask before he went into the crowd.

In the crowd, the Demon hit a running crossbody and put Roman through a table. Reigns planted Balor with a Rock Bottom through a table back in the ring. He later connected with the Superman Punch for a two count. Finn hit the Slingblade and looked to hit a Shotgun Dropkick, but Reigns countered with a spear for a nearfall that Balor hit a low blow with in a callback to their SmackDown clash.

The Demon hit the Coup De Grace and looked like he would walk out of Extreme Rules 2021 with the Universal Championship, but The Usos intervened and pulled Balor out of the ring. They brought out a table at ringside. However, the Demon fought them off and powerbombed Jimmy through the announce table. Roman then hit a spear out of nowhere through the guardrail.

Things got weird when the red light hit and Balor's heartbeat intro started. This revived The Demon who made a comeback to beat down Roman Reigns. He hit a shotgun dropkick that put Reigns through the table at ringside. Back in the ring, he looked for the Coup De Grace when the ropes just suddenly broke and Balor fell in the ring.

Roman followed with a spear to win and retain the Universal Championship. This was a great Extreme Rules Match that was severely let down by the ridiculous finish. It is understandable that WWE wanted to protect The Demon in this loss, but there were other ways to do that.

The two men worked extremely well with one another and put together a memorable main event at Extreme Rules 2021 though.

Star rating: ***3/4