That’s it for the Kick-Off Show, not let the main card commence!
Extreme Rules 2018 opens with a video package before going live to the arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The WWE Tag Team Champions are out first to a muted reaction, but get a nice “DELETE” chant when they get to the ring. The B-Team are out second. We see Ronda Rousey at ringside, holding her ticket!
The #DeletersOfWorlds are HERE! @WWEBrayWyatt @MATTHARDYBRAND #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/RO14pgImL3
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 15, 2018
Raw Tag Team Championship Match
(C) Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy Vs. The B-Team
Matt Hardy and Bo Dallas start the match for their teams. Matt takes an early lead with punches and headbutts to Dallas. Hardy whips Dallas to the corner and then climbs the first rope and unloads some rights and lefts. Matt knocks Bo to the floor and lands a leg drop for a quick one count. Bo rolls from the ring, where he and Axel regroup.
Axel tags in and chokes Hardy against the middle rope with his boot before bringing Dallas back in. Bo grounds Matt with a headlock for a while. Hardy tries to fight back but Dallas backs him to the corner so he can tag Axel for a double team move. Axel knees Matt in the back before applying a submission.
Hardy fights to his feet after a minute and catches Axel with a Side Effect and makes the tag to the Eater of Worlds – Axel also makes a tag. Bray goes to work on his brother with some of his big signature moves. He slams him with a urinagi and does his back bend in the corner. Hardy tags in and they set up for their finisher. Axel causes a distraction and Dallas is able to hit a suspended neckbreaker on Hardy to get the pin and the win!
Winners and new tag team champions: The B-Team
Read it and weep. #AndNew@TheBoDallas @RealCurtisAxel #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/zfhMt0yRK5
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 15, 2018
Dallas and Axel celebrate like crazy after the match. They walk up the ramp with their titles where Charly Caruso interviews them. She asks how they feel and Axel rhetorically asks “how does a rainbow feel?! How did Stretch Armstrong feel when he landed on the moon?!” They say it feels amazing and they’ve proven that the B stands for “best”.
We go backstage for an interview with Renee Young and Kurt Angle. Young says Angle called for this interview. Angle says he did because he has an update on the Universal Championship. He says he negotiated with Paul Heyman, who informed him that Lesnar has no desire to return right now. He says he is tired of it and the fans are also, which led him to cancelling a match. And yet he turned up at UFC and stood face-to-face with their Champion. Angle says Lesnar can come to Raw tomorrow night and negotiate a title defence, or he will strip him of the Universal Championship. That announcement led to a massive cheer and Yes! chant from the crowd in Pittsburgh.
Finn Balor makes his entrance to a great reaction. Corbin is out second – I don’t understand why authority figures in WWE wrestle in suits, what is the possible logic behind that?
#BalorClub, REPRESENT! @FinnBalor #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/0w64JM74Ii
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 15, 2018
Finn Balor Vs. Constable Corbin
Both men circle the ring and lock-up Balor applies a waistlock, but Corbin uses his power to force Finn to the corner. The referee forces a break, so Corbin elbows him Finn the face. Corbin continues to elbow away at him before punching him in the midsection. The Constable stands on his neck for a few moments before getting him to his feet. Corbin then connects with a knee to the midsection. Balor reverses a whip and rolls through a sunset flip to dropkick him in the face. Corbin quickly lifts him up and powers him to the corner before hitting some stiff clotheslines and throwing him down. Corbin shouts insults at Balor.
Corbin applies a head and arm lock. Balor fights up, but the Constable takes him down. Balor makes a mini-comeback, but Corbin slides out of the ring, runs around and slides back in to clothesline him down for a two count. Corbin stomps him and talks some trash. The Constable knocks him off the top turnbuckle and continues talking trash. Corbin then shoves him to the corner. Balor avoids an avalanche and shoulders Corbin in the midsection, then goes for a slingshot move, but Corbin dodges and punches him. Corbin reapplies the head and arm lock. Balor fights up, but Corbin stops him.
Things are NOT looking good for @FinnBalor early on in this matchup. #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/4lN0sCe2Zj
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 15, 2018
Corbin goes to the middle rope, but Balor kicks him. Balor goes to the top rope, but Corbin grabs him and hits a chokeslam onto his knee for a near fall. Corbin gets in the referee’s face. Balor avoids a clothesline and connects with the Sling Blade. Balor tries to follow-up, but Corbin stuns him with the Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin is frustrated and starts elbowing Balor repeatedly. Corbin lifts Balor onto his shoulder, but Finngets out, sweeps the feet, and double stomps him. Balor quickly dropkicks him into the corner and heads to the top rope. Corbin gets up and crotches him atop the turnbuckles. Corbin brings him down and looks for the End of Days, but Balor counters into an inside cradle for the win!
Winner: Finn Balor
Balor scrambles from the ring while Corbin is livid as soon as the bell rings. Corbin argues with the referee and puts his hands on top of his head. Not the best match but at least it was quick.
The camera’s cut backstage where we find the Bludgeon Brothers beating the holy hell out of Team Hell No. Kane is on the ground, being stomped, while Bryan is tossed into the garage door. Rowan uses the mallet to smash Kane’s foot! The Champions walk off and Paige runs up with some referee’s to help.
We return to the arena and out comes Asuka. Carmella is second, accompanied by Ellsworth. Before the match begins, officials come into the ring and open the shark cage door for Ellsworth to get in. Saxton says Ellsworth can do some DDP Yoga up there to pass the time but Graves says it’s dangerous to do yoga at that altitude. Ellsworth starts freaking out as soon as the cage begins lifting. The cage is only lifted to ten feet or so, I think Jericho was a lot higher up.
The #SharkCage is on the move. ?⬆
See ya later, @realellsworth. #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/8oFvQTvtMo
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 15, 2018
SmackDown Women’s Championship
JAMES ELLSWORTH IS SUSPENDED IN A SHARK CAGE
(C) Carmella Vs. Asuka
Asuka immediately takes control with a few knees to the stomach and a kick to the back. Carmella counters a suplex and drops Asuka on her back. The referee checks on Asuka, meanwhile Carmella motions for Ellsworth to give her something. Ellsworth drops a chain down to her, but Asuka steps on it and shows it to the ref, who confiscates the chain. Asuka kicks Carmella in the face for a near fall. Carmella tries to get the chain again after knocking Asuka down with a kick to the head, but the ref stops her.
While the ref is throwing it from the ring, Ellsworth drops a spray bottle down to her. Carmella readies to use it, like Ellsworth did on SmackDown, but Asuka blocks it and knocks it from her hands. The Empress of Tomorrow applies the Asukalock, but Carmella gets her feet on the ropes to force a break. Ellsworth tries to pick the lock. The action spills to the outside, where Asuka hits a suplex on the floor. Ellsworth manages to free himself, but he somehow gets caught by his foot and hangs upside down in the ring.
How worried is @WWEAsuka after seeing @realellsworth escape the #SharkCage?
Wait for it…#ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/8b9iyyKLvZ
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 15, 2018
Asuka smiles and starts nailing him with kicks to the head and body. The ring crew brings the cage down so he can be unhooked. Asuka takes out the ring crew, leaving just one guy who turns tail and runs. She starts beating on Ellsworth again. Carmella sneaks in behind her and runs her head into the low hanging cage. She makes the cover and gets the pin!
Winner: Carmella
Carmella wins again! Asuka is furious and attacks the production crew again before attacking Ellsworth again. Asuka kicks him in the head and gives him a German Suplex. Asuka is livid. Mella is money but where does Asuka go from here? Let us know your thoughts!
#USChampion @JEFFHARDYBRAND defends his gold against @ShinsukeN RIGHT NOW at #ExtremeRules! pic.twitter.com/6rWlVMWbC5
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) July 15, 2018
Jeff Hardy is out first to a great reception, followed by Nakamura. We get ring introductions for both Champion and challenger. Before the bell can ring however, Nakamura low-blows Hardy! The ref checks on Jeff, who says he’s good to go.
United States Championship
(C) Jeff Hardy Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The referee rings the bell and Nakamura runs across the ring, hits a hard Kinshasha and wins!
Winner and New U.S Champion: Shinsuke Nakamura
Wow. Didn’t see that coming but it lends credence to Jeff being hurt. Nakamura is celebrating with the title when, out of nowhere, comes Randy Orton! The Viper has been injured for months but here he comes., stalking towards the ring but Nakamura slides out and stands atop the announce table. Orton climbs into the ring and stares at Shinsuke. Hardy gets back to his feet and Orton flips him onto his back, then stomps on his crotch! Poor Jeff. The fans start to boo as Orton leaves the ring. Orton walks off and Nakamura looks puzzled.
A wild VIPER has emerged! @RandyOrton #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/wNpwbOxSeT
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
We get a video package for the Strowman/Owens feud. Braun is out first, followed by the terrified Kevin owens.
