Hits and Misses: WWE Extreme Rules 2015
ROLLINS RETAINS. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins sneaks in a victory at Extreme Rules. Photo from WWE.com
The RKO was banned only for Randy Orton, right?
Ever the wily one, Seth Rollins took advantage of the match stipulation and hit Orton with an RKO of his own – in the aftermath of "gatekeeper" Kane's rampage – to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship inside a steel cage.
All that and more in last Sunday's WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view, where everyone kicked ass while one unfortunately kissed some butt despite winning the match.
Pre-show: Neville defeated Bad News Barrett
The scheduled Intercontinental Title match between champion Daniel Bryan and Barrett was cancelled due to Bryan’s injury.
Nissi: WWE did the best move possible to make up for it by not scrapping the match entirely. Also, Daniel Bryan's injury became a great opportunity for Neville. He and Bad News Barrett had a fast-paced and high-energy match that kicked off the show on a positive note, spinning a bad situation into a good segment.
Neville's unique brand of high-flying offense and stiff strikes sets him apart from everyone else on the roster. It was a very solid wrestling match that introduced Neville to the big stage and resulted in the biggest win of his young career.
Chicago Street Fight Match: Dean Ambrose def. Luke Harper
Joe: I like PG hardcore matches because, given the right mix of competitors, they can be a lot of fun without having to be cringe-worthy on the blood and the spots. This match was the near-perfect standard for hardcore in a family-friendly setting: hard-hitting, but logical.
You always watch [insert place here] Street Fights, or Street Fights in general, but why don’t they ever fight in an actual street? Is the ring being cluttered with random wrestling-related flotsam and jetsam supposed to recreate the urban atmosphere? Which city street do I have to walk to see steel chairs, ladders, tables, and a cookie sheet? Ambrose and Harper legitimately taking it outside was intellectually-satisfying to see.
But I say that it’s the near-perfect standard because the one thing that would’ve completely solidified this match as a show-stealer was if we did see Ambrose and Harper brawl in the actual streets. Instead, it’s only implied that they fought in the streets of Chicago. Subtleties are nice, but this is one occasion that warrants skimping on subtlety.
Nissi: This match was not anywhere close to the best hardcore matches in WWE history, but the pieces were in place for a show-stealing performance. Luke Harper and Dean Ambrose are on a different level than everyone else. Nobody on the roster personifies the concept of "extreme" more than them, especially in the PG era.
Both men know exactly what their characters represent, and are willing to take the necessary risks to make their insanity seem legitimate. In addition, Ambrose finally getting his first pay-per-view win was the right move.
“Kiss Me Arse” Match: Dolph Ziggler def. Sheamus
Joe: I don’t know about you, but Ziggler looked like he was really taking it to Sheamus out there. Is it real? This line-blurring between stiff and work is what brings out the best in pro wrestling. (I’m also glad that no actual arse-kissing occurred.)
Nissi: Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus have fought each other countless times in the past and probably could have wrestled the contest blindfolded, proving just how in sync are they with each other's strengths and weaknesses. Although Ziggler’s win was unexpected and could be considered as a cause of celebration, the post-match antics of Sheamus made him a much more despicable heel.
WWE Tag Team Championship: The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) def. Tyson Kidd and Cesaro to win the titles
Nissi: It turned out to be a fun match due to the stockpile of athletic skills in the ring. All 4 men performed at a very high level, and Natalya and Xavier Woods added to the drama outside the ring.
With just under ten minutes of ring time, both teams packed a ton of work within a short window, never slowing down or allowing fans to catch their breath. Cesaro wowed the audience with his power-based offense, while Tyson Kidd brought agility to the table.
On the other hand, Big E and Kofi Kingston were evenly balanced and were at par with their counterparts. However, the title change could have had more impact if there had been a good build-up before this.
Joe: I could watch these guys take it to each other all day, I’m telling you. Throw in the Lucha Dragons to make it a three-way feud, pepper in the occasional appearances by guys like the Prime Time Players and, I don’t know, Los Matadores, and we’re all set for the summer. These three might very well be the this year’s Hardy Boyz/Dudleys/E&C triumvirate (even though PTP is actually E&C).
As for the actual wisdom of the New Day winning the championships, bias aside, I think it was the right call. At this point, the New Day are more fleshed out as characters (even though that’s not saying that much), and Tyson Kidd and Cesaro will need to evolve more. You can’t get over by just being good workers. Chasing the championships again will be the catalyst for character growth.
United States Championship - Russian Chain Match: John Cena def. Rusev to retain his title
Joe: Here’s the thing - as good as Rusev and Cena can get, you can’t get a strap match over unless you have the great formula of having as good a dynamic as Eddie Guerrero and JBL, plus blood (in their classic Texas Bullrope match at the 2004 Great American Bash). Finishes that don’t involve a pinfall, submission, ladder grab, or cage escape just aren’t that climactic.
That said, this would’ve been a great opportunity for Rusev to win. The finish is made for a heel to maximize.
Nissi: I was disappointed with how this match played out. The bout didn't maximize the stipulation as it didn't have the intensity and drama that every WWE fan would expect from a third installment of a trilogy like this. The finish saw Cena deliver another Attitude Adjustment to his opponent before nonchalantly tapping the fourth corner and picking up the victory to retain the United States championship. It was that simple, folks!
Divas Championship: Nikki Bella def. Naomi to retain her title
Joe: If you didn’t believe Naomi was underrated yet (despite being solid in her entire run in the WWE, ever since NXT), here’s your proof now. It’s just a matter of time. I just didn’t agree with that finish because it doesn’t clarify what alignment the Bella Twins fall under; no matter what people say, what Brie did for Nikki was still dirty.
Nissi: In this match, Naomi was determined to prove she belongs in the hunt for the Divas title, which resulted in a much better performance as a heel than she was a babyface. Dominating the bout for so long made Naomi look strong going forward. She thrived in the big moment, looking like a star.
On the other hand, I was surprised with Nikki Bella’s springboard kick and how she sells the strong near-falls. Honestly, Naomi and Nikki Bella helped prove that things still can improve going forward in the Divas division.
Last Man Standing Match: Roman Reigns def. The Big Show
Nissi: There is no denying that Big Show's character has lost a lot of steam in recent years, but he did a good job of putting Roman Reigns over. It was hard-fought, brutal, and violent that featured Reigns shaking off all of the suffering he endured to emerge victorious.
Some particular highlights were the chokeslam onto two tables outside the ring and the spear from Reigns on Big Show through the Spanish announce table. Reigns came out looking strong, legitimizing this win in a lot of ways.
Joe: It went as well as you’d expect a hardcore match between Roman Reigns and Big Show to be, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Like I keep saying, these two have some underrated chemistry with each other, even if their match-up has long been played out. The Chicago crowd was surprisingly into it (considering who was in it) so that must mean it wasn’t terrible. It’s just not for everyone.
The finish, however, was something Reigns needed as a character. He needs those Cena and Hogan-esque feats of strength, those “WOW” spots, in order to be taken seriously. There could’ve been a better trick in the bag, but it will do for now.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship - Steel Cage Match: Seth Rollins def. Randy Orton to retain his title
Joe: This match was HILARIOUS. It’s not going down as the best cage match of all time, but the storytelling was top-notch.
Orton and Rollins wrestled well, as usual, but Kane brought a compelling wrinkle to the match in its last few minutes. Some wrestling fans will want a more serious, brutal match, but the shenanigans, while funny, weren’t truly shenanigans, that is to say shenanigans for the sake of. They were shenanigans that made sense. And the ultimate shenanigan of all – Rollins stealing the RKO to beat Orton – was a perfect heel move. Good job, Mr. Rollins.
Nissi: The main event turned out to be quite entertaining due to a couple of nice twists in the match, including Randy Orton hitting Seth Rollins with Triple H’s signature Pedigree while the latter executing his opponent’s RKO finisher to get the win.
With how things went inside the steel cage, the story between Kane and Rollins is far from over, and it can be assumed that Orton is not through with the champion either. – Rappler.com
