Extreme Rules
Brand: Raw
Baltimore, MD
Royal Farms Arena
6/4/17
Brand: Raw
Baltimore, MD
Royal Farms Arena
6/4/17
Kickoff Match
Kalisto def Apollo Crews w/ Titus O'Neil via Pinfall
This was a decent opener with Kalisto flying all over the place and being on offense for majority of the match. Apollo has yet to deliver an outstanding performance like I expect him to do and this match was no different as he was just mediocre at best during it. There was two spots on the outside that were really cool the first was Kalisto looked like he was going to springboard off the top rope, but instead he jumps over the top and springboards off the middle and hits a dive to the outside that was something I have never seen before. The other was Kalisto going for a springboard crossbody to the outside, but he gets caught with an enziguri from Crews. After those two spots the highlight of the match was the work Titus O'Neil was doing outside as he was trying to coach Apollo he was great in this role and I actually wouldn't mind seeing him build a stable of guys. The finish comes when Kalisto kicks out after a standing shooting star and Apollo is trying to get advice from Titus on what else he should do and as he is distracted Kalisto is able to come from behind and hit the Salida del Soul for the win. Rating: **1/4
This was a decent opener with Kalisto flying all over the place and being on offense for majority of the match. Apollo has yet to deliver an outstanding performance like I expect him to do and this match was no different as he was just mediocre at best during it. There was two spots on the outside that were really cool the first was Kalisto looked like he was going to springboard off the top rope, but instead he jumps over the top and springboards off the middle and hits a dive to the outside that was something I have never seen before. The other was Kalisto going for a springboard crossbody to the outside, but he gets caught with an enziguri from Crews. After those two spots the highlight of the match was the work Titus O'Neil was doing outside as he was trying to coach Apollo he was great in this role and I actually wouldn't mind seeing him build a stable of guys. The finish comes when Kalisto kicks out after a standing shooting star and Apollo is trying to get advice from Titus on what else he should do and as he is distracted Kalisto is able to come from behind and hit the Salida del Soul for the win. Rating: **1/4
Match #1
The Miz w/ Maryse def Dean Ambrose (c) (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
I haven't enjoyed this feud much at all as I feel both men are in need of new opponents as this feud has essentially been going on since the fall of last year over on Smackdown. This match for the most part was what you would expect from a Dean Ambrose vs Miz match, but the work they did around the stipulation of Ambrose losing the title if he got disqualified was pretty great. The spot where Miz pulled the cover off the turnbuckle without Ambrose knowing and Ambrose almost slamming Miz's head against it was a neat little spot. The finish came when Miz told Maryse to slap him so that it would cause Ambrose to get DQ'd, but instead the referee didn't fall for it and sent Maryse to the back, but as she was going to the back she was arguing with the referee and this allowed Miz to shove Ambrose into the referee to once again try and cause Ambrose to get DQ'd and this time it almost worked as the referee was going over to tell them to ring the bell, but Miz decided for some reason to instead hit the Skull Crushing Finale and get the win via pin. Not sure what the point was of Miz hitting his finisher and pinning Ambrose when he was fixing to win the title anyway. A decent match with a few DQ teases that played up to the stipulation and the crowning of a new Intercontinental Champion is a good way to start off the main card. Rating: ***
The Miz w/ Maryse def Dean Ambrose (c) (WWE Intercontinental Championship)
I haven't enjoyed this feud much at all as I feel both men are in need of new opponents as this feud has essentially been going on since the fall of last year over on Smackdown. This match for the most part was what you would expect from a Dean Ambrose vs Miz match, but the work they did around the stipulation of Ambrose losing the title if he got disqualified was pretty great. The spot where Miz pulled the cover off the turnbuckle without Ambrose knowing and Ambrose almost slamming Miz's head against it was a neat little spot. The finish came when Miz told Maryse to slap him so that it would cause Ambrose to get DQ'd, but instead the referee didn't fall for it and sent Maryse to the back, but as she was going to the back she was arguing with the referee and this allowed Miz to shove Ambrose into the referee to once again try and cause Ambrose to get DQ'd and this time it almost worked as the referee was going over to tell them to ring the bell, but Miz decided for some reason to instead hit the Skull Crushing Finale and get the win via pin. Not sure what the point was of Miz hitting his finisher and pinning Ambrose when he was fixing to win the title anyway. A decent match with a few DQ teases that played up to the stipulation and the crowning of a new Intercontinental Champion is a good way to start off the main card. Rating: ***
Match #2
Rich Swann & Sasha Banks def Noam Dar & Alicia Fox via Pinfall (Mixed Tag Match)
Rich Swann & Sasha Banks def Noam Dar & Alicia Fox via Pinfall (Mixed Tag Match)
It's still weird seeing Sasha mixing it up with the 205 Live talent and feuding with Foxy, but I have to imagine this feud was suppose to be Sasha vs Emma, but due to injury they had to go to the next person in line since they probably didn't want to do another Sasha vs Nia feud.
This match was ok, but there was nothing that stuck out as really special as other than Sasha hitting Dar with the double knees off the top this was nothing more than a match you could see on Raw every week. Not sure where Sasha goes from here, maybe they blow off the Bayley vs Alexa feud tonight and she gets put back in the title picture. The only notable thing is that Rich Swann actually got a win in his hometown so congrats to Swann. After the match Swann & Sasha celebrate by dancing and I have to say Sasha has some moves and looks pretty hot when she is getting her groove on. Rating: **
Before the next match we got serenaded by "The Drifter" Elias Samson and he actually got through the entire song without getting interrupted. Not sure the point of that was other than to fill time.
Match #3
Alexa Bliss (c) def Bayley via Pinfall (Raw Women's Championship - Kendo Stick on a Pole Match)
Alexa Bliss (c) def Bayley via Pinfall (Raw Women's Championship - Kendo Stick on a Pole Match)
This feud hasn't been the best as Bayley has cooled down a lot since she debuted on Raw and a lot of that has to do with how they portray her, they portray her almost as if she is a child which is not the Bayley character at all, she is someone for children to look up to, but she is not a child herself. It almost feels like they are making her out to be like a female Eugene except she is way better in ring. Alexa is on fire right now and although she was apart of the horrible "Bayley This Is Your Life" segment on Raw I can't blame her for that as that was just completely terrible writing and there was nothing Alexa could do to make it any better. I'm ready to see a Alexa vs Sasha feud and hopefully that's where we go after this match.
Yeah so there was absolutely no reason to make this a kendo stick on a pole match as a no DQ match would have served the purpose for what they wanted to do in this match, the whole point of a on a pole match is the struggle throughout the match to be the first to get the weapon, but this one got retrieved less than 5 minutes into the match. The booking for Bayley in this match made zero sense as you would think they would deliver the payoff of having Bayley hit Alexa with the kendo stick, but she never got one shot in on her with it and was beat clean as a sheet in a very dominant performance by Alexa. Glad to see Alexa retain, but pretty quick and forgettable match. Was it just me or was this crowd booing Bayley? Rating: *1/2
Match #4
Cesaro & Sheamus def The Hardy Boyz (c) (Raw Tag Team Championship - Steel Cage Match)
The rules for this match were in order to win both members of the team had to escape the cage either through the door or over the top with both feet touching the floor, with that rule it makes no sense why you would ever stop both members of a team from climbing out as you would want one of them out so you can double team the other. The first part of the match wasn't that great as it was just a lot of one team trying to stop the other from escaping, this would continue until Jeff was the first one to escape for the Hardy Boyz. Once Jeff falls and Matt is by himself the match gets interesting as you are wondering whether Matt will be able to beat the odds and escape the cage. There is a tug of war at one point between Jeff & Cesaro as they both try to pull Matt to their side of the cage. Jeff tries to help again, but is hit with a Brogue Kick through the cage door. Cesaro & Sheamus then hit an assisted White Noise off the top on Matt and this is enough for Jeff as he climbs back up top and takes down both Cesaro & Sheamus with a Whisper in the Wind off the top of the cage. The finish comes when both teams are in a race to have both of their members to hit the floor first as The Hardyz are going through the door while Sheamus & Cesaro go over the top and in a photo finish Sheamus & Cesaro both hit the floor first and are the new Raw Tag Team Champions. This was a pretty good match once Jeff escaped, but I was still wanting a bit more than what we got. Hopefully losing the titles is enough to make Matt go Broken. Rating: ***1/2
Cesaro & Sheamus def The Hardy Boyz (c) (Raw Tag Team Championship - Steel Cage Match)
The rules for this match were in order to win both members of the team had to escape the cage either through the door or over the top with both feet touching the floor, with that rule it makes no sense why you would ever stop both members of a team from climbing out as you would want one of them out so you can double team the other. The first part of the match wasn't that great as it was just a lot of one team trying to stop the other from escaping, this would continue until Jeff was the first one to escape for the Hardy Boyz. Once Jeff falls and Matt is by himself the match gets interesting as you are wondering whether Matt will be able to beat the odds and escape the cage. There is a tug of war at one point between Jeff & Cesaro as they both try to pull Matt to their side of the cage. Jeff tries to help again, but is hit with a Brogue Kick through the cage door. Cesaro & Sheamus then hit an assisted White Noise off the top on Matt and this is enough for Jeff as he climbs back up top and takes down both Cesaro & Sheamus with a Whisper in the Wind off the top of the cage. The finish comes when both teams are in a race to have both of their members to hit the floor first as The Hardyz are going through the door while Sheamus & Cesaro go over the top and in a photo finish Sheamus & Cesaro both hit the floor first and are the new Raw Tag Team Champions. This was a pretty good match once Jeff escaped, but I was still wanting a bit more than what we got. Hopefully losing the titles is enough to make Matt go Broken. Rating: ***1/2
Match #5
Neville (c) def Austin Aries (WWE Cruiserweight Championship - Submission Match)
Best of the Super Juniors this match was not, this was such a slow and boring match and that's not what I want in my cruiserweights. Matches like this give me no reason to want to watch 205 Live as they take all the fun out of what a cruiserweight match should. I will never be able to remember anything about this match other than it was technically decent, oh and I had to restart the match like three times because I kept zoning out. Rating: **1/2
Neville (c) def Austin Aries (WWE Cruiserweight Championship - Submission Match)
Best of the Super Juniors this match was not, this was such a slow and boring match and that's not what I want in my cruiserweights. Matches like this give me no reason to want to watch 205 Live as they take all the fun out of what a cruiserweight match should. I will never be able to remember anything about this match other than it was technically decent, oh and I had to restart the match like three times because I kept zoning out. Rating: **1/2
Match #6
Samoa Joe def Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, & Bray Wyatt (WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender Match)
This match saved this show from being a really bad show and a waste of 3 hours. This was pretty much everything you would expect from a WWE style match like this. I liked the alliance between Joe & Bray as they looked dominant. From the point where Roman spears Joe and Balor through the barricade all the way until the end of the match was really great stuff. I was kind of surprised that they are going ahead and doing the Brock vs Joe match now as I feel this match should be saved for a later date and for a bigger PPV as that truly is a dream match. Rating: ****
Samoa Joe def Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, & Bray Wyatt (WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender Match)
This match saved this show from being a really bad show and a waste of 3 hours. This was pretty much everything you would expect from a WWE style match like this. I liked the alliance between Joe & Bray as they looked dominant. From the point where Roman spears Joe and Balor through the barricade all the way until the end of the match was really great stuff. I was kind of surprised that they are going ahead and doing the Brock vs Joe match now as I feel this match should be saved for a later date and for a bigger PPV as that truly is a dream match. Rating: ****
This was pretty much a one match show and everything else is not worth rewatching. I'll give this show a C-
Extreme Rules 2017 Match Rankings
7. Raw Women's Championship
6. Sasha Banks & Rich Swann vs Noam Dar & Alicia Fox
5. Apollo Crews vs Kalisto
4. WWE Cruiserweight Championship
3. Intercontinental Championship
2. Raw Tag Team Championship
1. Fatal 5 Way
7. Raw Women's Championship
6. Sasha Banks & Rich Swann vs Noam Dar & Alicia Fox
5. Apollo Crews vs Kalisto
4. WWE Cruiserweight Championship
3. Intercontinental Championship
2. Raw Tag Team Championship
1. Fatal 5 Way
I hope you enjoyed my review of Extreme Rules 2017 you can always comment to me on twitter @MTW3589.
I'll be back in two weeks to review Smackdown's next PPV Money in the Bank where for the first time the women will be getting to show what they can do in a ladder match.
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