Extreme Rules: Horror Show

Kickoff show

Buddy Murphy vs Kevin Owens

I know it’s just the kickoff show but I wish that match was a lot longer. Kevin Owens wins with a Stunner in what could have been something that stole the show but they went easy on each other. I really wanna see this match again but who knows what’s next.

Main card

Tables match

New Day [c] vs Cesaro & Nakamura

No tag, just bodies hitting the floor. There was no slowing down at all, maybe to set up a table. 

New champs ba be! Cesaro made sure to tell Michael Cole that actions speak louder than words. Big E was salty but didn’t go check on Kofi while the new champs celebrated. I like the move, it’s about time and I think the New Day need some time to retool their act, allow it some room to evolve.

Bayley [c] vs Nikki Cross

A couple of unique spots moved the match along nicely. This match was too good for Cole and Graves to call, this one should have been handled by Mauro Ranallo. The “boss knuckles” and a quick distraction lead to an extended title reign from Bayley. Really cool story told in that ring with top athletes in a top division. Bayley probably should have dropped the title until the next PPV but we’ll just have to see who steps up to challenge the reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion.

Eye for and eye

Pliers?! Seth ain’t playing, neither was Rey who snuck in from behind on Rollins. Things were heated the entire match, everyone was on edge. Lots of things were pulled out to try ans extract an eye, pens, chair legs, all kinds of stuff! The ending was as expected but the match was damn good however, that was also as expected.

Asuka [c] vs Sasha Banks [c]

Clunky at times, lots of tomfoolery. The match had some big spots but there was quite a lot they were trying to pull off. Basically Sasha and Bayley stole the Raw Women’s title. If you thought the eye for an eye ending was crap, this will make you wonder why there is no authority backstage. 

Drew McIntyre [c] vs Dolph Ziggler

So the stipulation in this match actually made a ton of sense and wasn’t overbooked like the others. Dolph came about as close as anyone else to winning the title but no one has really come that close. Drew needs some fresh opponents, by fresh I mean someone “called up” from developmental.

Down in the swamp

Braun [c] vs Bray

One of the more cinematic, cinematic matches… I found it to be done really well but kind of dead in spots because of the story that was actually being told and the production/director’s vision. In the end, I thought that Braun won but as fate would have it, the Fiend rose from the murky deep after Braun was pulled in by Bray Wyatt. The best part of all of it besides the ending, was the special appearance of Alexa Bliss adta sister Abigail type character to entice Braun.

Honorable mentions

1. Bray pokes fun at the karaoke segment.

2. MVP crowns himself United States Champion. Apollo didn’t pass a physical, sounds more like he didn’t pass a COVID-19 test. 

Final take

I’ve seen things be overbooked but this was a masterclass in overbooking. As bad as things got, especially in the RAW Women’s Championship match, the wrestling on the show was very solid, let no man fool you on that.

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