'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Extreme Rules turned out to be a fun pay-per-view that, unfortunately, ended in a way a lot of fans may not have wanted it to. With Brock Lesnar walking out as the new Universal Champion, fans are left with many questions as to where WWE is going with the championship and whether Seth Rollins will get a rematch for the title or not.
While Rollins was one of the few unlucky superstars during a night filled with shocking moments and surprises, there were a few superstars who benefited from the pay-per-view and will hopefully see better booking going forward.
While WWE committed many mistakes throughout the night, there were some very good spots which kept the ball rolling until the end. These may have very well given the fans some more faces to cheer for in the coming weeks.
With that in mind, we will look at the four superstars who benefited the most from the event, regardless of which way the result of their matches went.
#4 Bobby Lashley
Extreme Rules 2019 wouldn’t have been half as extreme if Bobby Lashley hadn't been a part of it. When the Last Man Standing match between Braun Strowman and Lashley was announced, not many were thrilled. However, the two men put on arguably the best match of the night, which was not only explosive but also well scripted.
Even though the Monster Among Men emerged as the winner, it was Bobby Lashley who delivered his best match performance since his return to WWE last year.
Lashley was lost in the mid-card due to average performances, but he managed to do extremely well this time around and made the match better than it could have been. Lashley showcased the great power and athleticism he's capable of, and did so against WWE’s largest superstar in Strowman. Not only that, he took a ton of bumps to ensure Strowman looked like the superior monster whenever required, and carried the match throughout extremely well.
A loss to Strowman should not hurt The Almighty, who will definitely return stronger and better soon.
#3 Cesaro
As soon as Cesaro was revealed as Aleister Black’s opponent for Extreme Rules, fans were thrilled as they geared up to watch two of the most complete wrestlers in the world today face off.
While Black is relatively new to the main roster, Cesaro is now a veteran who has impressed every single person he has come across with his strength, skills, and talent. This was Cesaro’s first single’s pay-per-view match since Clash of Champions 2016, and he managed to do extremely well with it.
The Swiss Superman was one of the best performers on Sunday night, and even though he lost the match, he provided some of it - and the night's - best moments.
Cesaro’s athleticism is unparalleled. He used that effectively to play the superior heel who controlled the action for most of the match before taking a Black Mass out of nowhere.
The match highlighted why exactly fans have been wanting WWE to give Cesaro a chance at a top championship and even a WWE Championship or Universal Championship run.
#2 The Undertaker
The return of The Undertaker has usually been welcomed by the WWE Universe, but after a few botches at WWE Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia, fans had been calling for his retirement for his own and his opponents’ betterment.
Fast forward to SmackDown a couple of weeks ago and The Phenom unexpectedly returned to help Roman Reigns even the odds against Drew McIntyre and Shane McMahon. The two teamed up to take on the heel team in a match where The Undertaker benefited by delivering a very good performance.
Even at his age, he was able to take several major bumps and even took a Claymore kick, a Coast to Coast (boosted by a metal trash can), and went through the announce table, only to get back in the match and finish it with a tombstone. The match lasted for seventeen minutes and he was on top of his game for over 90% of it.
The Deadman was able to lay waste to all speculation regarding his health and ability to wrestle at his age, and delivered a performance that had the fans up on their feet.
#1 Shinsuke Nakamura
If you’re one of the few people who skipeped the kick-off show, then you probably missed one of the best matches of the night.
Shinsuke Nakamura returned to action after some time on SmackDown, and immediately got a shot at Finn Balor’s Intercontinental Championship, after defeating him the Tuesday before.
The two locked horns and while Balor was extremely vengeful, the match was less about Balor and more about the culmination of Nakamura's story.
The former United States Champion walked into Extreme Rules empty-handed and left with the Intercontinental Championship.
Nakamura arguably benefited the most from the pay-per-view, which gifted him his second main roster championship. The man who was struggling just a few months ago during his US Championship reign - and after it when he joined forces with Rusev - has now once again been catapulted to the very near the top of the roster.
Who else do you think walked out of Extreme Rules with their stock rising? Head on down to the comments section and let us know!
For more WWE coverage, keep it right here - same Sportskeeda time, same Sportskeeda WWE channel!
