Kick-Off Show
The Extreme Rules Kick-Off show begins with the panel of Renee Young, Sam Roberts, and David Otunga. The panel talk about the level of violence we will see tonight, saying it won’t be for the faint of heart.
We cut to Charly Caruso in the Social Media Lounge, before taking a look at the Intercontinental Championship match between Dean Ambrose and The Miz. Sam Roberts says The Miz isn’t mad at Ambrose, or pulling a trick, he’s simply here to win the IC title. Otunga says that The Miz isn’t the fastest, strongest, the best-looking, or even the biggest movie star in WWE, so he has to do the smart thing and he’s great at finding new ways to win. Renee asks if Ambrose has been a good IC Champion and Roberts says it depends on tonight. They quickly talk about how important Maryse has been in revitalising the career of Miz. Renee predicts that Dean Ambrose will beat The Miz tonight, undoubtedly. Otunga says he just wants to see Ambrose go crazy, regardless of the outcome. Roberts calls The Miz the most strategic man on the roster, and he thinks he’ll outsmart Dean.
The #ALister has NOT been impressed with the way #ICChampion @TheDeanAmbrose represents @WWE Superstars… @mikethemiz #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/hhf9xbnZwy
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 4, 2017
Still to come, Kalisto Vs. Apollo Crews. Next we take a look at Bayley Vs. Alexa Bliss for the Women’s Championship.
After the video package, Nia Jax has joined the panel. Nia is fairly non-kayfabe, as she smiles and jokes, and even calls Alexa her best friend. She says it would take a miracle for Bayley to win tonight. Roberts says it was extreme when Alexa used the Kendo Stick on Bayley but Nia says that wasn’t extreme to her or Alexa. Nia says that we’re so over the whole, Bayley’s dreams thing. Roberts mentions the Raw segment last week, to which Jax says it proved that Alexa already has Bayley beaten. Nia says that she wants Alexa to win, also because she will be next in line. No matter who wins, they’re just holding that title warm for her.
.@DavidOtunga: What would it take for @itsBayleyWWE to win the match?@NiaJaxWWE: A MIRACLE! #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/jaxuAKtYWk
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 4, 2017
The next match is Austin Aries Vs. Neville for the Cruiserweight Championship. David Otunga says that Neville has proven again and again why he is The King and tonight will be Austin Aries’ Last Chancery, to win the title. Roberts says that as awesome as 205 Live is, we focus entirely on the jumping but never on the submissions. The WWE Universe knows that the cruiserweights are capable of both. Roberts says he wants Aries to win but he doesn’t think it’s possible, Otunga agrees.
The panel start discussing the mixed tag team match. Sam Roberts questions why Sasha Banks has involved herself in all of this when she should be up there with Alexa and Bayley. David Otunga jokes that Noam Dar and Alicia Fox have no chance whatsoever of winning and Sam agrees, referring to Sasha and Rich as the “La La Land” of WWE. They all laugh and joker about Alicia and Noam’s relationship before moving on.
Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy have joined Charly Caruso in the Social Media Lounge. Charly says that it’s fitting she has Team Extreme in the media lounge tonight. She asks how they’re feeling and Matt says they are ready, cage matches are serious but they’re good to go. The first question asks why they came back to WWE, to which Matt says the timing was right. He says they were at the right place in their lives and they done everything. Jeff says he promised fans he would be back in 2009 and here he is, ready to finish things where they began. The second question asks why they went for a cage match, to which Matt says they’ve already beaten them in a ladder match and a regular match, so tonight is the end. Jeff says cages are fun and we might see a big Swanton Bomb! The final question asks them to send a message to Sheamus and Ceasaro, to which Matt reiterates that this will be the end of the feud. Jeff jokes that he hopes to leave with all his teeth.
“We’re the most EXHILARATING tag team in history! @MATTHARDYBRAND @JEFFHARDYBRAND #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/toAVmTIKw4
— WWE (@WWE) June 4, 2017
David Otunga says he thinks The Hardy Boyz have a plan in place, otherwise they wouldn’t have chosen a cage match. Sam Roberts says that The Hardy Boyz have not lost a match since returning to WWE and so the time is nigh. Otunga disagrees and says Matt and Jeff have a plan, which Renee agrees with. Time for some action!
Kalisto Vs. Apollo Crews W/Titus O’Neil
The bell rings and Apollo goes behind Kalisto with a waistlock takedown. Kalisto reverses to a wristlock but Crews shoots him off and Kalisto hits a wheelbarrow arm drag. Crews falls out of the ring and starts to confer with Titus O’Neil at ringside. Back inside the ring, they lock-up again and Kalisto goes behind this time, Apollo reverses with a headlock takeover but the Luchador slips out of the headlock.
Is this a sign that @KalistoWWE can send The #TitusBrand into bankruptcy?! @ApolloCrews @TitusONeilWWE #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/HmRDnZoYEo
— WWE (@WWE) June 4, 2017
Kalisto grabs a headlock but Apollo throws him off. Kalisto does a handstand walk and flips into a headscissors, follows it up with a tilt-a-whirl headscissor and a springboard Senton Atomico! Kalisto charges into a Gallon Throw but springboards off the ropes, only for Crews to catch him with a kick on the way down and lay him out as we take a break.
We return to see Kalisto in a delayed vertical suplex. Apollo poses with Titus after the impressive move. Apollo grinds Kalisto down with a front facelock. Kalisto slowly fights to his feet, avoids a body slam and looks for the schoolboy but Crews kicks-out! Apollo clobbers him with a lariat for a nearfall of his own! Back to the grounded front facelock, the luchador makes his feet, hamstring kicks, sunset flip gets two and Apollo runs him over with a back elbow for a nearfall as Titus barks instructions.
Picking him up, Kalisto responds with more kicks, jawbreaker, duck a lariat, tornillo! Matrix backflip, crescent kick, HEADSCISSORS DRIVER! NOT ENOUGH! Lying in wait, Crews blocks the Salida del Sol, Kalisto looks for a moonsault, gets caught and Apollo looks for a suplex, Kalisto reverses to a small package but only a near-fall.
.@KalistoWWE is definitely FIRED UP! @ApolloCrews #ExtremeRules @TitusONeilWWE pic.twitter.com/WEXDji3jw8
— WWE (@WWE) June 4, 2017
More kicks from Kalisto, then he hits the ropes and lands a huge tilt-a-whirl DDT for a near-fall! Kalisto to the apron and a springboard crossbody but Crews catches him into a Samoan drop! Rolls him over, standing shooting star press from Apollo but he kicks out! Titus on the apron shouting, Crews comes over to tell him he did what he asked, what else does he want? Kalisto comes from behind, grabs Apollo, runs up Titus and hits Salida del Sol for the win!
Winner: Kalisto
That was easily the best match these two have had so far, really solid stuff. Titus and Apollo might actually be working!
We reconvene with the panel to discuss the main event, Fatal 5-Way and Kurt Angle has joined the team. Angle talks about how incredible the roster is right now, and how insane it is that we have 5-6 top guys who could all be legit contenders to Brock. Angle then talks about the Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar, and says he is by far the most dominant man he’s ever stepped in the ring with. Angle predicts that Samoa Joe will walk out as the new number one contender tonight, because he thinks Joe is amazing and his time is now.
#RAW GM @RealKurtAngle says he has a VERY strict “prove it in the ring” philosophy toward #RedBrand Superstars! #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/mQUi8iu26y
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) June 4, 2017
That’s it for the Kick-Off show, it’s time to go live with Extreme Rules 2017!
