Laracuente Ledger Podcast Pro Wrestling

WWE Extreme Rules Recap

Posted on Author Jeremy Laracuente Comment(0)

WWE Extreme Rules emanated from the land of EXTREME, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And there were some matchups that were highly anticipated while others were not as much. But let’s not waste any time and recap WWE Extreme Rules.

Kickoff

Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Finn Balor

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 3.25/5
Predicted Winner: Finn Balor
Actual Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura

The opening moments would see an even fast-paced exchange between the competitors. Finn Balor would dominate much of the early part of the contest. Nakamura would then take control and surprise everyone by picking up the victory.

Cruiserweight Championship: Tony Nese vs. Drew Gulak.

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 4/5
Predicted Winner: Drew Gulak
Actual Winner: Drew Gulak

The contrasting styles of these two men are a perfect blend of what wrestling can be at it’s best. The high-flying power blend of Tony Nese mixed with the technical prowess of Drew Gulak that brings out the best in each other. These two men would know each other so well. Nese and Gulak would have counters to each other’s counters. But in the end, Gulak would retain his WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

Main Card

No Holds Barred Tag Team: Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns & The Undertaker

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 3.5/5
Predicted Winner: Roman Reigns & The Undertaker
Actual Winner: Roman Reigns & The Undertaker

Reigns and McIntyre would begin the match, and it would start with some extra stiff shots. When Shane McMahon and the Undertaker would enter the match, the Undertaker would look incredible. When compared to his performance against Goldberg. And while the Undertaker and Reigns would hold a bit of the control, the tide would shift to McMahon and McIntyre. The movements of the Undertaker were something akin to over a decade ago. And if this was the final contest for the Undertaker, it was a much better end to a “PHENOM-enal” career. Now because of the no holds barred stipulation Elias would get involved in the contest. Drew McIntyre would take out Roman Reigns and the Undertaker with a pair of Claymores. Shane McMahon would also deliver a diving elbow drop from the top turnbuckle onto aproned Undertaker on the announce table. As well as a Coast to Coast into a trash can into the face of the Undertaker. Undertaker would sit up and deliver chokeslams to Shane and Elias. And then a Tombstone to Shane for the victory.

Raw Tag Team Championships: Revival vs. Usos

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 3/5
Predicted Winners: The Revival
Actual Winners: The Revival

These two teams have faced off multiple times already, and yet the matchup hasn’t felt stale. The tag team continuity of both teams was on display from the opening moments. Dash and Dawson have that old school tag team pace while the Usos like to speed it up. Once the Usos picked up the pace, the crowd got into the match more. But ultimately, the Revival would hit a Shatter Machine and pick up the win.

Cesaro vs. Aleister Black

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 4.5/5
Predicted Winner: Aleister Black
Actual Winner: Aleister Black

Aleister Black and Cesaro are two of the most underrated talents in WWE. And specifically, Cesaro is criminally disrespected. The striking game advantage goes to Aleister Black, but the power advantage clearly sides with Cesaro. Cesaro would dominate a great deal of this matchup. Anyone that may have forgotten about the insane ability of Cesaro got a wide-eyed reminder in this match. The smooth transitions by both Cesaro and Black are just more proof of their immense talents.

Smackdown Women’s Championship 2-on-1 Handicap: Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 2/5
Predicted Winner: Bayley
Actual Winner/s: Bayley

Nikki Cross and Bayley would start the match. But Alexa would quickly enter the match. Bliss and Cross would work like a well-oiled machine. And Bliss and Cross would dominate the matchup. Every time Bayley would attempt to separate and conquer, she would be met with the other partner. Bayley would begin mounting her comeback and while Bliss and Cross would try to stop her, Bayley would come out victorious.

Last Man Standing: Bobby Lashley vs. Braun Strowman

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 3.25/5
Predicted Winner: Braun Strowman
Actual Winner: Braun Strowman

This match would start fast and stiff. And the premise of the last man standing match is to take down your opponent long enough for a ten count. From the opening moments, this match was broke down. Strowman and Lashley would make their way all through the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Bobby Lashley would control much of battle throughout the arena. Braun would mount his comeback as they made their way back towards the ringside area. The exchanges between both men would be intense and vicious. Lashley would push over the German announce table at ringside. Strowman would get up and counter Lashley and tossed him onto announcers row. We would even have an ECW style close to this match.

Smackdown Tag Team Championship 3 Way: New Day vs. Heavy Machinery vs. Daniel Bryan & Rowan

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 3/5
Predicted Winners: Daniel Bryan & Rowan
Actual Winners: New Day

Daniel Bryan and Xavier Woods would begin the match and prove a wonderful opening exchange. Each man in the match would receive an opportunity to shine. Xavier Woods would be on the receiving end of quite the beating early on in the match. Each team would have a few near falls as well as some big moments. None bigger than New Day hitting the Midnight Hour to retain the Tag Team Championships.

United States Championship Match: AJ Styles vs. Ricochet

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 4.5/5
Predicted Winner Ricochet
Actual Winner: AJ Styles

Before the bell would even ring the Club would attack Ricochet. The incredible talent that is Ricochet is always impressive. The Club would continue to distract Ricochet, and AJ Styles would capitalize. As one would expect based on the Club’s presence, AJ Styles would be commanding most of the matchup. The athleticism of AJ Styles is awesome. But there is a reason that Ricochet is called the one and only. But in the end, a middle rope Styles Clash would deliver the victory to styles.

Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 5/5
Actual Winner: Kevin Owens

Timpromptuteu match was incredibly quick but awesome. A smack by Ziggler leads to a boot and a stunner by Owens and one, two, three for the win.

WWE Championship: Samoa Joe vs. Kofi Kingston

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 4/5
Predicted Winner: Samoa Joe
Actual Winner: Kofi Kingston

Kofi would start quick but would be stopped quickly by Samoa Joe. Samoa Joe is an incredible blend of may skills and style types. And Joe would dominate Kofi for a very large portion of this match. Samoa Joe would essentially demolish Kofi Kingston the entire matchup. But Kofi would retain the WWE Championship.

Winners Take All Universal & Raw Women’s Championship

Laracuente Ledger Rating: 4.5/5
Predicted Winners: Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch
Actual Winners: Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans would start the match, and Becky would gain the offensive advantage. Leading Lacey to tag out and Corbin and Seth Rollins enter the fray. And quickly the mixed tag team extreme rules match would get extreme. Becky and Seth would work very well together. Baron would take control after a flurry by Rollins. And Corbin would start using steel chairs. Once Becky tagged herself back into the match, she would set the pace on fire. This matchup would be the best that we have seen from Lacey Evans. The back and forth exchanges between the two teams was much better than the individual matches we’ve seen. And the duel tables spot was something absolutely epic. Baron Corbin hit the End of Days to Becky Lynch would incense Seth Rollins. Seth would then hit three Curb Stomps onto Corbin for the win.

Following the match, Brock Lesnar would come out and cash in his money in the bank briefcase. Brock Lesnar is the new Universal champion.

Extreme Rules Overall Rating: 3.71/5

Overall, Extreme Rules was a solid show. WWE has had to step their game up because of the interest shown in AEW. And that is forcing WWE’s hand creatively, and we as wrestling fans are the real winners.

Jeremy Laracuente

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