We see Roman Reigns walking backstage when he runs into The B-Team, who are still celebrating. They tell him he can join them if he beats Lashley tonight. Reigns just stares at them until they leave. The fans boo Reigns for not joining the boys. This match is up next, which makes me wonder what the main event is. I assume it will be Rollins Vs. Ziggler but I hope it’s Styles Vs. Rusev, it makes SmackDown look bad if Raw’s mid-card title main events.
Reigns is out first to the standard chorus of boos. I can’t tell if the fans are starting to like Lashley, or if he’s just more popular by default.
The #BigDog @WWERomanReigns is ready for a fight tonight in Pittsburgh. #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/EKjpotXaQr
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Roman Reigns Vs. Bobby Lashley
The bell rings and they stare at each other before locking-up. Reigns forces Lashley to the corner where the ref calls for the break. They lock-up again and this time Lashley uses his amateur wrestling background to outmanoeuvre Reigns and slam him to the mat. Again they tie-up and Lashley suplexes him, amateur-style. Lashley takes Romans back and eats an elbow for it. Lashley leap-frogs Roman and turns around into an uppercut.
Reigns takes Bobby to the corner and punches him, then takes him to another corner and hits him. Reins slows things down considerably, hitting a back elbow off of a whip for a one count. The fans start booing. Reigns chokes Bobby on the ropes, then runs around and hits a Drive-By Kick for a two-count. Reigns grounds Lashley with a headlock and the fans are seemingly chanting “We The People” and “CM Punk”. Lashley starts to fight back but Roman throws him from the ring.
Whose yard will it be tonight? #ExtremeRules@fightbobby @WWERomanReigns pic.twitter.com/aFxtB6dV16
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 16, 2018
Roman grabs Lashley and tosses him into the barricade, then another part of the barricade. Reigns slides back into the ring to stop the referee’s count and the fans are now chanting “Rusev Day”. Lashley eats an uppercut and Reigns throws him to the steps but Bobby jumps on top of them, only for Reigns to knock him off to the floor. Reigns then throws him into the steel steps for real this time. Back inside the ring, Lashley tries to up the momentum with a belly-to-belly and a corner splash but Reigns replies with a big boot. Reigns unleashes lariats in the corner until the referee forces the break. Roman hits the ropes and Lashley catches him in mid-air with a powerslam for a two-count. The fans are so disinterested in this, it’s a good job it wasn’t the main event.
Lashley lands a running crossbody on Reigns, then takes to the top rope and hits a double axe handle. Reigns reverses Lashley and looks for a Samoan drop but Bobby grabs the top rope. Roman tries to wriggle him free but gives up and tosses Lashley over the top rope to the floor for a nasty bump. Lashley gets back into the ring for 9 but as he was climbing in, Reigns caught him with a leg drop across the ropes. Reigns takes to the corner as the fans tell him he sucks, and looks for a Superman punch but Lashley catches him with a spinebuster. Lashley lifts Reigns up and hits the stalling vertical suplex for a very near two count.
.@fightbobby sent for a brutal ride over the top rope! @WWERomanReigns #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/J0gPaPsmuj
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Lashley goes to the corner and waits for Reigns to get to his feet. He looks for a spear but eats a Superman punch from Reigns for a two count! Both men roll from the ring. Reigns does his roar and runs around the ring, looking to spear Bobby but the marine grabs him and hits a belly-to-belly onto the announce table. Back inside the ring, Lashley goes to the top rope but Roman comes from nowhere with another Superman to knock him off. Roman talks trash to Bobby before roaring again and running for a spear but Lashley catches Reigns with the spear out of nowhere and wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Reigns is furious after the match while Lashley celebrates up the ramp. The announcers say Lashley must be number one contender now, then they show the replay of Angle talking about Lesnar earlier tonight.
We see Ronda Rousey at ringside with her husband Travis Browne. Alexa and Mickie James are out first, followed by Nia Jax and Natalya.
How quickly the smile of @RondaRousey fades when @AlexaBliss_WWE shows up…#ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/tkAE4SqlbJ
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Raw Women’s Championship
Extreme Rules Match
(C) Alexa Bliss W/Mickie James Vs. Nia Jax W/Natalya
The bell rings, and Bliss tries to run away but Jax stops her, so Bliss slaps her. Bliss then looks worried and gets out of the ring. Mickie James gives Bliss a kendo stick. Bliss hits her once, but the second shot is blocked and broken over her knee. Bliss starts pulling out garbage cans and chairs, but each weapon is taken away by Jax and thrown into the ring. Jax floors her and puts her back in the ring.
Jax avalanches Bliss in the corner and then slams her onto the steel chair. Bliss tries to hit her with the chair in desperation, but Jax takes it away from her. Jax sets up the garbage can and press slams Bliss onto it. Ronda Rousey is enjoying this from ringside. Jax grabs her, but Bliss hits her a few times with the garbage can lid. Bliss throws the remnants of the garbage can onto Jax as well. Bliss wedges a chair in the corner and attacks Bliss. Jax charges, but Bliss moves, causing Jax to hit the chair headfirst. James gets on the apron, but Natalya pulls her off and hits her with a garbage can lid. Bliss attacks Natalya and sends her into the barricade. Rousey looks furious at ringside, her blood pressure is rising.
.@NiaJaxWWE makes it look easy. #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/bQmahCOYZO
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 16, 2018
James and Bliss double-team Nia on the floor. Rousey has had enough and she jumps over the barricade and grabs James before sending her into the barricade twice. Rousey gets her in the ring and lifts her up for a modified Samoan Drop – that was awesome. Rousey then sends James outside, chases her like a phenom around the ring, and sends her over the table. A loud “Ronda Rousey” chant picks up. Bliss tries to run away, but Rousey catches her. James then cracks Rousey with the kendo stick twice in the back. Jax catches Bliss coming off the top rope and goes for a Samoan Drop, but James hits her with the chair. Bliss gives Jax a DDT onto the chair for the win and they high-tail it out of the ring.
Winners: Alexa Bliss
Rousey storms the ring after the match but Bliss and James retreat up the ramp. The announcers say there will be repercussions for Ronda’s actions here tonight.
Aiden English is out first, and he sings a song that insult the Pittsburgh fans. He is followed by Rusev, then the Champ. We get ring introductions for both men.
#ExtremeRules just got #PHENOMENAL. @AJStylesOrg#WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/gcPpe7bchs
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 16, 2018
WWE Championship Match
(C) AJ Styles Vs. Rusev W/Aiden English
The bell rings and Rusev forces Styles to the corner. Styles avoids Rusev in the corner and hits a few kicks to the leg. The Champion takes the challenger down with a dropkick to the knee, but Rusev returns the favor with a hip toss. He knocks AJ down with a stiff shot for a one count. Styles chops at the big man with more kicks to the leg. The Bulgarian Brute plants him with a spinebuster for a near fall. He slows down the pace a bit as he hits Styles with a sidewalk slam.
Rusev controls the pace as the crowd chants for both men. AJ manages to regain some momentum by kicking Rusev’s leg out from under him while he is on the middle rope to knock him down to the floor. Styles sticks him with a Phenomenal Forearm from the ring. After a few counters, Styles drops the Bulgarian Brute with a reverse DDT for a quick two count. The Bulgarian holds onto the ropes to avoid a Calf Crusher. AJ ends up on the apron and hits an enziguiri. He goes for a springboard 450, but Rusev rolls out of the way. He counters the Calf Crusher into The Accolade but Styles escapes it as well. Stalemate.
Styles counters the fallaway slam, rolls through, and locks in the Calf Crusher. English helps Rusev reach the ropes to break the hold. AJ tells the ref but to no avail. Rusev rolls to the ring, where AJ follows him. Rusev catches AJ with a belly to belly on the floor and rolls him back in the ring for a Machka Kick. Styles finds a way to kick out at two and Rusev can’t believe it. He holds his injured left leg as AJ tries to recover. Rusev lines up for another Machka Kick, but AJ ducks and nails him with the Pele Kick. Rusev gets back to his feet, lifts AJ up and hits a roundhouse to the face for a close two count. His leg is too injured to apply the Accolade when he tries the first time, but he locks it in halfway and Styles struggles until he reaches the bottom rope.
That rope is getting suspiciously closer to @RusevBUL‘s grasp…@WWEDramaKing #ExtremeRules #WWEChampionship pic.twitter.com/29FFn5gmSC
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 16, 2018
Aiden English pulls the cover off the top turnbuckle while the ref isn’t looking. Rusev stomps on him to go for his submission one more time. AJ escapes and Rusev charges at him. Styles moves and Rusev hits the exposed turnbuckle. Styles takes to the apron and hits the springboard 450, but Rusev kicks-out at two! AJ drills English with a dropkick through the ropes to send him flying. He sets up for the Phenomenal Forearm to Rusev, leaps and lands it for the big win!
Winner: AJ Styles
It was not to be Rusev’s day. AJ celebrates with the title after the win while English explains to Rusev that he tried to help with the exposed turnbuckle.
#AndStill ✅@AJStylesOrg #WWEChampionship #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/lSPLERqXFp
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Immediately following Extreme Rules, you can see the post-show on the WWE Network, which will feature Bobby Lashley and Carmella.
It’s main event time. We see Seth Rollins walking backstage and Charly Caruso stops him for an interview. Rollins stops her and says he knows he has to face three opponents tonight: Dolph, Drew, and the clock. He says he doesn’t know how many falls it will take, you can’t treat this like a normal match and throw caution to the wind. What he does know is that he will leave tonight as the new Intercontinental Champion.
Seth makes his entrance to a big reaction. Drew and Dolph are out second – who would have guessed Ziggler would be main-eventing a PPV in 2018? He and Drew are becoming the breakout act of the year. We get ring introductions for both men.
30 minutes on the ⏱.#ICTitle on the line.@HEELZiggler vs. @WWERollins
Are you ready? #IronMan #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/xgSJ5pw4m7
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Intercontinental Championship
30-Minute Iron Man Match
(C) Dolph Ziggler W/ Drew McIntyre Vs. Seth Rollins
The bell rings and they circle each other before locking-up. Rollins takes the arm but Dolph grabs the rope to force the break. Rollins attempts to engage Dolph in amateur wrestling and Ziggler again grabs the rope. Rollins looks to grab the first fall with a roll-up but Ziggler kicks out. Ziggler then looks for a roll-up of his own but Seth reverses it into a backslide pin for a two-count. Rollins looks for a backdrop, Dolph jumps over for a sunset flip pin, but Seth sits down for a pin attempt. Dolph escapes and leaves the ring to regroup, while Rollins does jumping jacks.
Ziggler gets back in and Seth hits him with a running back elbow. Seth chops him in the chest, then leaps over Dolph but eats a punch to the head. Michael Cole points out that Dolph has never went 30 minutes in a singles match in his career, whereas Rollins did over an hour recently in the gauntlet match on Raw. Rollins lifts Ziggler and hits the buckle bomb, then grabs Dolph wraps his arm around his leg and rolls Dolph up and scores a fall!
1-0 Seth Rollins
Ziggler again leaves the ring to regroup but Rollins hits a tope to take him out. Rollins stares at McIntyre who walks around the ring. Rollins whips Dolph into the barricade, then hits his head of of the apron. McIntyre is watching very closely as Rollins tosses Dolph back inside. Ziggler uses the slight distraction to leap on Rollins and unleash a fury of punches. Ziggler grabs Rollins for a suplex but Rollins lands on his feet and chops the chest of Dolph. He throws him to the corner and hits a running forearm, then looks for another but Seth catches him with a dropkick to the knee. The fans keep chanting the numbers as the clock ticks down the last 10 seconds of each minute, like at the Royal Rumble. Ziggler looks for a roll-up but Seth rolled through and lifted him up for a powerbomb. Dolph rolled down the back of Seth, who escapes the pin attempt and catches the downed Ziggler with The Stomp for the second fall!
2-0 Seth Rollins
2-0, @WWERollins. 21:58 to go! #IronMan #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/vnVs9waqqA
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Rollins is beginning to look cocky and he goes to the ropes and starts stomping for a second Stomp. Just then, Drew McIntyre storms the ring and beats Seth down to a pulp in the ring. He beats on him over and over until the referee pulls him off and gives a DQ fall to Rollins.
3-0 Seth Rollins
Drew doesn’t stop there though, he clotheslines Seth over the top rope. He punches him on the outside, then lifts him up like for a spinebuster and slams him into the ring, then the barricade multiple times. He throws him back inside and the referee tells McIntyre he has to leave the ring and go to the back. McIntyre acts as though he’s done, then runs and hits a Claymore on Rollins! McIntyre leaves, Dolph crawls over and pins Rollins.
3-1 Seth Rollins
We have 19 minutes left. Ziggler gets to his feet slowly, then stands in the corner and waits for Rollins to get to his. Ziggler catches Dolph with a superkick and scores another fall!
3-2 Seth Rollins
Dolph is beginning to look smug. He stands in the corner again and starts stomping up the band. He looks for a superkick but Rollins avoids it. Dolph catches him with a back elbow, then hits a Zig-Zag and ties the score at three-apiece with just over 17 minutes left.
3-3 Draw
And JUST LIKE THAT we’re ALL TIED UP!@HEELZiggler @WWERollins #ExtremeRules #IronMan pic.twitter.com/LNlhNTF3LW
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Rollins avoids a Ziggler splash in the corner. Ziggler runs at Seth in the corner again but eats a big boot. Rollins leaps over Dolph and catches him with a sling blade. Rollins clotheslines Ziggler over the top rope, then hits the ropes for a big suicide dive but Ziggler hits him before he can come through the ropes. Ziggler slides in and pins Rollins with his feet on the ropes!
4-3 Dolph Ziggler
This is a fun match and the fans couldn’t be less interested. They’re doing the Rumble countdown whenever they please now and it’s seriously annoying. Ziggler grabs Rollins in a chicken-wing. Rollins fights to his feet and tries to fight out but Dolph grounds him again with a front facelock.
Dolph reverses Rollins to apply a sleeper hold. I understand these guys have a plan for the match but seeing as the fans are hijacking the match, they should call an audible and try to shut them up, rather than slow things to a halt. Rollins fights to his feet and backs Ziggler to the corner to try and force the break. Ziggler holds on, so Seth runs him into the turnbuckles and this time it works. Both men are down with just under 12 minutes to go.
Rollins sends Dolph to the outside with a clothesline then hits a suicide dive. Seth throws him back inside to try and capitalise on the momentum but Dolph rolls right back out the other side. Rollins wastes no time and hits another suicide dive out the other side. Seth takes to the apron and hits a springboard clothesline to Ziggler for a near fall. Rollins hits a blockbuster to Dolph for another two count, meanwhile the fans started cheering loudly about something, it might have been the 10 minute mark. Seth takes to the top rope but Dolph hits him with a dropkick and he falls to the floor.
#TheArchitect has found new life in this #IronMan Match! @WWERollins #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/ZhIlLrayoU
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Rollins just beats the ref’s count at 9 and Dolph looks for a snap DDT but Rollins throws him off. Rollins grabs him for the ripcord knee but Dolph kicks out. Rollins takes to the top rope but Dolph again cuts him off and hits the ropes to crotch him. Seth grabs Dolph and drags him up the ropes. He looks for a superplex but Dolph punches him away, then Seth headbutts him to the mat. Rollins lands a huge frog splash but Ziggler kicks out. Both men are down and there’s jut over six minutes left!
Rollins dropkicks Ziggler in the back and out of the ring. Rollins brings him back inside and sets him on the top rope. Rollins fights Ziggler atop the ropes and hits the superplex, then the falcon’s arrow and… two count! Rollins stares at the clock and can’t figure out what to do. He climbs to his feet and looks for The Stomp. He hits the superkick to Dolph, then misses The Stomp. Rollins and Dolph trade reversals until Rollins hits a sunset-flip roll-up and gets a fall!!
4-4 Draw
They get to their feet, stare at each other, then start brawling. Seth tips Dolph onto his back, then applies a Sharpshooter. Ziggler can’t reach the ropes but he releases it anyway and applies a crossface in the centre of the ring instead. Ziggler can’t even see the ropes and Rollins is cranking it in with just over a minute left. Rollins released the hold and looks for The Stomp but Ziggler rolls from the ring. Ziggler tries to escape over the barricade but Seth pulls him back into the ring. Ziggler catches him with a Fame-Asser for a near-fall!
Ziggler goes to the corner and lines-up a superkick but Seth catches him with one, then hits The Stomp. 6 seconds left and Seth crals to make the cover but the buzzer rings! The time limit has expired.
Winner Via Draw: Dolph Ziggler
Time’s up. ⌛#ExtremeRules #IronMan pic.twitter.com/QTCmxXSVQz
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
Ziggler starts to leave but out comes Kurt Angle. He says that was an incredible match but their feud isn’t settled. He says the fans don’t want to see a tie. He says his hometown does not want to see a tie and the fans freak-out. He tells Dolph to get back into the ring because we’re going to sudden death. First fall wins!
Intercontinental Championship
Iron man Match
SUDDEN DEATH
(C) DOLPH ZIGGLER Vs. Seth Rollins
The referee calls for the bell to restart the match. Dolph comes back towards the ring. From nowhere, Drew McIntyre scales the apron and Seth knocks him down. Ziggler runs into the ring and hits Seth with the Zig-Zag for the 123!
Winner: Dolph Ziggler
Ziggler and McIntyre retreat with the Intercontinental Championship, while Seth Rollins gets to a knee and looks pissed as all hell. That was a great main event, ruined thanks to a ridiculous crowd. I imagine this feud will continue but I’m glad to see Dolph retain.
It’s all said and done… and @HEELZiggler is STILL your #ICChampion!@DMcIntyreWWE #ExtremeRules #IronMan pic.twitter.com/k6eu3DPJ8a
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
That’s it for Extreme Rules 2018. Let us know what you thought of the matches and I will see you here tomorrow night for all of the fallout on Raw! Until then, safe travels!
