Dean Ambrose (c) vs. The Miz – Intercontinental Championship match

Background: This feud goes back to both me being on Smackdown. Dean Ambrose beat The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship back in January and Miz has made it his goal to get the title back and tie the record for most Intercontinental Championship reigns. He says Dean Ambrose is a “rassler” and not what a sports entertainer should be.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Extreme Rules Record: Dean Ambrose is 4-0 at Extreme Rules, The Miz is 1-2.

Match: If Dean Ambrose gets disqualified in this match then he will lose his Intercontinental Championship. Dean Ambrose takes an early advantage, out-wrestling Miz and then taking him down with a shoulder charge. Ambrose starts to lose his cool at times and the referee reminds him that if he gets disqualified then he’ll lose his title. Dean hits a suicide dive which always looks risky by the announce desk. Ambrose picks up a chair but has to be reminded by the referee again. Maryse distracts the referee and Miz picks up the chair but Ambrose wrestles it off him. Miz hits a DDT on the apron. Miz dominates for a while, frustrating the IC champion as his wife Maryse cheers him on from the outside. He hits his trademark clothesline in the corner and then heads to the top but Ambrose kicks him on the way down. Ambrose knocks Miz out of the ring and then goes up top and flies off with his vertical elbow drop. Ambrose fires up now with a clothesline and fishermans suplex.

Miz locks on a figure four but Ambrose gets out of it. Ambrose looks for a powerbomb and Miz pulls off the top turnbuckle. Dean nearly throws Miz into the exposed metal but realises it’ll cost him a DQ so stops which allows Miz to hit a running knee. Ambrose locks on a figure four but Miz gets to the bottom rope. Ambrose hits his pendulum clothesline Maryse gets up on the apron which distracts both men for a second. Miz then tells Maryse to slap him and she does! Is that a disqualification? The referee doesn’t buy it and sends Maryse to the back! The Miz throws Ambrose into the referee who thinks about disqualifying Ambrose! Ambrose testifies his innocence and Miz hits him from behind with the skull-crushing finale! He hooks the leg and gets the 3!

Result: The Miz wins by pinfall.

Review: I really enjoyed this match. A great way to kick off the show. These two have a lot of chemistry. And the psychology was great. I really liked Miz’s tactics in this match trying to get Ambrose disqualified. A really good match between these two and a feud that may just continue.

Rating: 7.5/10

Rich Swann & Sasha Banks vs. Noam Dar & Alicia Fox – Mixed tag team match

Background: This started when Sasha Banks defeated Alicia Fox. The boyfriend of Fox, Noam Dar would get in Sasha’s face which led to Alicia attacking Sasha. Sasha would find a partner in Rich Swann and the mixed tag team match was made.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two teams.

Extreme Rules Record: All four competitors in this match make their Extreme Rules debut tonight.

Match: This is a pay per view debut for Noam Dar who has been a staple in the Cruiserweight division. Sasha and Alicia start the match and Alicia quickly tags out to Dar. Rich Swann picks up the pace in his hometown. Swann hits a nice hurricanrana off the top and then looks for the phoenix splash but Noam tags out to Alicia. Sasha looks for the Banks Statement but Noam pulls Alicia to the bottom rope. Alicia Fox hits an impressive big boot. Banks makes the hot tag to Rich Swann and he hits a spinning fame-asser which was nice. All hell soon breaks lose with all four superstars going at it. Banks hits a double knees to the outside on Dar and then Swann hits the phoenix splash for the three!

Result: Sasha Banks and Rich Swann win by pinfall.

Review: This was a decent match. Rich Swann in particular was really impressive. But it was a good showing from all. Swann gets the by win in his hometown.

Rating: 5.75/10

Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Bayley – Kendo stick on a pole match for the Raw Women’s Championship

Background: Alexa Bliss beat Bayley at Payback to win the Raw Women’s Championship. Since then the rivalry has continued which included a terrible “this is your life” promo from Bliss. Bayley invoked her rematch for Extreme Rules and Bliss attacked her with a kendo stick. Alexa then made the match a kendo stick on a pole match where the first woman to get the kendo stick off the pole can use it.

Previous PPV matches: Alexa Bliss beat Bayley in their only previous PPV match.

Extreme Rules Record: Both girls wrestle at Extreme Rules for the first time.

Match: Alexa Bliss takes the early advantage and should really get the kendo stick, Bayley is a little slow going after her. I think they’ve gone for the kendo stick too quickly to be honest. Bayley pulls it down and then both women fall out of the ring. The two girls go at it on the outside of the ring and Bayley rams Bliss into the barricade. Bayley grabs the kendo stick and chases Alexa around the ring but Alexa takes her down and then leather her challenger with the kendo stick! Bayley hits a Bayley to belly out of nowhere but then sells her back. Alexa hits Bayley with the kendo stick again and then hits a DDT for the three! That finish came out of nowhere.

Result: Alexa Bliss wins by pinfall.

Review: Well this was short and sweet. I thought this would go on a bit longer. The story was that Bayley couldn’t bring herself to use the kendo stick and Alexa took advantage. It was ok, not a memorable match and there wasn’t enough drama with the kendo stick, they took it down straight away. They should’ve dragged that out longer.

Rating: 3.75/10

The Hardy Boys (Matt & Jeff) (c) vs. Sheamus & Cesaro – Steel Cage match for the Raw Tag Team Championships

Background: The Hardy Boys defeated Sheamus and Cesaro at Payback and after the match Sheamus and Cesaro attacked The Hardy Boys. Since then the two teams have continued to go at it and Matt defeated Cesaro to name the stipulation for Extreme Rules. He would name a steel cage match.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two teams, The Hardy Boys beat Sheamus and Cesaro at Payback.

Extreme Rules Record: The Hardy Boys are 0-1 at this event, Sheamus is 3-2 and Cesaro is 1-2.

Match: The bell rings and Sheamus and Cesaro immediately climb the cage but get pulled down. There’s a very different camera angle to show Cesaro climbing out of the cage. It’s very rare they shoot the opposite way. The challengers take the advantage and throws The Hardy Boys into the side of the cage. There are lots of attempts to get out of the cage from all four men which is good to see. Sheamus powerbombs Jeff Hardy and Cesaro at the same time at one point. Both members of a tag team have to get out of the cage to win the match. Jeff Hardy nearly gets out but it would have left his brother in a 2 on 1 situation. Both Hardy Boys get to the top of the cage and Jeff manages to get over and out! But Matt Hardy has now got to take on both Sheamus and Cesaro. He hits side effect on both men and climbs the cage and we get a tug of war with Jeff pulling his brother out but Sheamus and Cesaro pull Matt back into the ring. Matt stops Sheamus from escaping the cage and hits a twist of fate. Sheamus hits white noise on Matt off the top rope. Jeff Hardy climbs back up the cage and hits whisper in the wind on both Sheamus and Cesaro! It’s then a race between the four men to get out of the cage and it’s Sheamus and Cesaro that escape first!

Result: Sheamus and Cesaro win the Raw Tag Team Championships.

Review: This match was a lot of fun. You don’t see many matches like this these days but it was really good. I feel like Hell In A Cell matches are so overdone that it was nice to see a classic cage match between four good workers. I’m a little surprised to see new champions but maybe this feud will continue.

Rating: 8/10

Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries – Submissions match for the Cruiserweight Championship

Background: Neville lost to Austin Aries at Payback by disqualification which entitled Aries to another shot at the Cruiserweight Championship. Neville attacked Aries and injured his leg but since then Austin has made Neville tap out to the last chancery.

Previous PPV matches: This is the second proper PPV match between these two men, Austin Aries actually beat Neville by disqualification at Payback.

Extreme Rules Record: Both men wrestle at Extreme Rules for the first time.

Match: Austin Aries takes the early advantage and really out-wrestles Neville. It’s a quick pace to the match and it’s all Aries. The fight goes to the outside where Austin throws Neville into the barricade a couple of times. Aries comes off the top and takes out Neville on the outside but Austin sells an injured left knee. Neville takes the advantage as he targets the left leg of his challenger. Aries attempts a comeback but Neville dropkicks him off the apron which injures Austins shoulder. The pace of the match has slowed right down now. Neville goes to the top but Austin counters and locks on a figure four. Neville gets to the bottom rope to break the hold. Aries hits a neckbreaker across the second rope and then heads to the top but Neville avoids the missile dropkick and locks on the Rings Of Saturn! Aries manages to get to the bottom, rope to break the hold. Neville looks for the hold again but Aries counters and locks the Rings Of Saturn on himself. Neville grabs the referee like he did at Payback but Aries talks the referee out of disqualifying Neville.

Aries hits a sunset flip powerbomb and then locks on the last chancery but Neville gets to the bottom rope. The two men roll out of the ring with the hold still in tact and Neville taps out but you can’t win by submission on the outside. Neville drops Aries on the top rope and then hits the discus five arm to knock Neville to the outside. Neville avoids a suicide dive and then rolls Aries back in the ring and hits him with the red arrow to the back. Neville locks on the Rings Of Saturn and Aries taps out!

Result: Neville wins by submission.

Review: This was a decent enough match. It was lacking something but I’m not sure what. A decent match but not spectacular. I thought Austin Aries would win this one but Neville’s reign as Cruiserweight Champion continues.

Rating: 6/10

Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Samoa Joe – Extreme Rules Fatal five way match to determine number one contender to the Universal Championship

Background: This match ushers in a new era for Raw. Five of the top stars meet in a fatal five way with the winner going on to face Brock Lesnar at Great Balls Of Fire.

Previous PPV matches: It’s a first time fatal five way between these five men.

Extreme Rules Record: Roman Reigns is 4-0, Seth Rollins is 3-0, Bray Wyatt is 1-0 and both Finn Balor and Samoa Joe make their Extreme Rules debut tonight.

Match: This has a big fight feel. Seth Rollins and Samoa Joe go at it as do Bray Wyatt and Finn Balor. Roman Reigns is left on his own until Bray Wyatt gets back into the ring. One by one Roman Reigns picks everyone off. It’s not long until Bray Wyatt and Samoa Joe form an alliance to double team the other three men in the match. Lots of the action in this match takes place outside of the ring. Bray Wyatt introduces a chair and smashes Finn Balor with it before doing the same to Roman Reigns to cheers from the crowd. Reigns has his turn to fire up and lays into Balor, Joe and Wyatt. Rollins hits a double blockbuster on Joe and Wyatt. Each man has their own time to take the advantage but nobody can finish the job. Wyatt hits Sister Abigail on Rollins for a near fall. Samoa Joe was the man to break up the cover and and it finally means that Wyatt and Joe go at it. Joe counters Sister Abigail and looks on the coquina clutch which Finn Balor breaks up with a chair. Reigns spears Joe and Balor through a barricade and Rollins then hits a frog splash on Bray Wyatt through the announce desk.

Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are the only two men left standing. Reigns hits a superman punch on Rollins in the middle of the ring for a near fall. Rollins hits a frog splash on Reigns for a near fall. Roman fires up and clears the ring of Seth Rollins before hitting Finn Balor with a superman punch. Balor hits a slingblade on Reigns and then hits the cu de gras but Samoa Joe breaks up the pinfall! Joe locks the coquina clutch on Balor who passes out!

Result: Samoa Joe wins by submission.

Review: This was a great match. They were given a lot of time and the five men unsurprisingly delivered. It’s always difficult to keep multi-man matches interesting as there’s so much going on. But this was great and I can’t wait to see Joe and Lesnar at Great Balls Of Fire.

Rating: 8/10