PWP Nation’s Caden Moran returns with “Personal Opinions” to discuss WWE Extreme Rules and how the event was one of WWE’s finest.
With Extreme Rules 2019 in the books, I can positively say it was one of WWE’s finest events in recent memory.
From the stellar in-ring performances to *that* ending, the final stop before SummerSlam delivered from top to bottom. The event was simply an example of WWE at their best.
To start, the action we saw in the ring was nothing short of entertaining. For me, most of the matches were fun to watch and easy to pay attention to. Compared to Stomping Grounds, which grew more weak as the show went on, Extreme Rules rarely had a dull moment.
To start off, we saw an incredible performance from The Undertaker. Following a dismal match with Goldberg at WWE Super ShowDown, professional wrestling’s G.O.A.T redeemed himself and his legacy with his best performance in a long time.
Putting someone like The Undertaker in matches with guys fresher and younger than him is the way things should be now.
The final moment where Undertaker told Roman Reigns “this is your yard” was a great way to start the show.
WWE appears to be making tag-team wrestling more of a focus as well. From the Raw Tag Team Championship match to the blue brand’s tag team title match, it was a fun night for WWE’s duos.
For instance, Heavy Machinery have done an incredible job with the opportunity they’ve been given. The mighty duo are not only entertaining in terms of microphone work, but they are becoming a solid in-ring unit.
Hopefully Otis & Tucker get a major match this summer and come away with a career-making victory.
Outside of the Smackdown Women’s title match, I feel every match had something special to it. When WWE is able to give that feeling, they have done a great job.
We saw AJ Styles become a three-time United States Champion in a phenomenal (no pun intended) match against Ricochet. Even though the numbers game is a simple and basic tactic in storytelling, it worked due to how popular and talented both competitors are.
Ricochet is clearly seen as a future world champion, as this program with Styles has shown. Whether or not that happens is up in the air, however, I feel the match was the start of a long-term babyface chase to the top.
The WWE Championship match between Samoa Joe and Kofi Kingston was a fun one. Not only was their the legitimate threat to Kingston’s reign, but there was the lurking threat of Brock Lesnar who I believed would cash in following this match.
WWE clearly has bigger plans in mind for the run of Kofi and for whoever is capable of dethroning him.
The biggest surprise match of the night was Braun Strowman versus Bobby Lashley in a Last Man Standing match. Never did I think those two men could put on a classic together.
For once, I finally believed in Lashley as a legitimate threat and contender. This was just a straight up fight and was a proper LMS match that did wonders for both competitors who have been struggling.
Strowman picked up a huge win, and for the first time in a very long time, he looked like a true monster. If the rumors are true about Paul Heyman wanting to push Strowman, he did a great job at starting that process.
In the main event, Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch retained their titles against Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans.
I truly believe this was a fun match and the heels put on a great performance.
I can’t even begin to explain my reaction to Corbin hitting Lynch with an End of Days. He really is a great heel and a solid performer.
However, immediately following the win, Brock Lesnar cashed in the Money in the Bank contract and instantly became WWE Universal Champion once again.
I’m not mad at this decision as Rollins’ reign was admittedly boring and there was too much focus on his relationship with Lynch. I feel this is the kickstart to seeing a side of Seth we haven’t seen in a long time.
He needs a change and maybe his road back to Lesnar will be that change.
Regardless of what you think about the main event and the decision making, I feel this will help WWE in the long run.
Extreme Rules was a fantastic event and could be WWE’s best show of the year. The match quality, simple storytelling and surprise ending was an example of Vince McMahon and company at their best.
If they keep putting on shows like this and making things feel important, there will be no stopping them.
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