The Undertaker & Roman Reigns vs. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre – Tag Team No Holds Barred match

Background: At Super ShowDown, Shane McMahon defeated Roman Reigns thanks to interference from Drew McIntyre. This led to a match between Reigns and McIntyre at Stomping Grounds that Reigns won, despite Shane’s multiple attempts to distract Reigns. On the following Raw, Shane and McIntyre dominated wild card guest Reigns in a handicap match until The Undertaker appeared and attacked both Shane and McIntyre. A tag team match featuring Reigns and Undertaker against Shane and McIntyre was then scheduled for Extreme Rules, which was made a No Holds Barred match the following week.

Previous PPV matches: This ia a first tim tag team match involving these four men.

Extreme Rules Record: Roman Reigns is 4-2, the other three men wrestle at Extreme Rules for the first time tonight.

Match: Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre kick off the match and it isn’t long before McIntyre takes the advantage and tags in Shane McMahon. Reigns takes control and tags in The Undertaker. Undertaker hits old school on Shane. Undertaker and MCintyre then go at it with Undertaker hitting his trademark legdrop on the apron. Some double teaming form McIntyre and McMahon allow them to take the advantage against Roman Reigns. Undertaker makes a hot tag and picks up the pace. Undertaker looks to hit a last ride on Shane McMahon through the announce desk but Elias appears out of nowhere and hits Undertaker with a guitar. McIntyre hits Undertaker and Reigns with claymore kicks on the outside. Drew and Elias set Undertaker up on the annoiunce desk, Shane heads to the top rope and hits an elbow drop on Undertaker through the announce desk! Drew and Elias set Undertaker up for coast to coast and Shane hits it! Undertaker sits up and hits chokeslams on Shane and Elias, Reigns spears McIntyre, Undertaker hits a tombstone on Shane and that’s e nough for the three!

Result: The Undertaker and Roman Reigns win by pinfall.

Review: This was a fun way to kick off the match. I didn’t expect this match to kick things off but it was a good one. A bit of an attitude era throwback. There could only be on winner though and that was the team of Undertaker and Roman Reigns. I enjoyed this one.

Rating: 7/10

The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) (c) vs. The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) – Raw Tag Team Championship match

Background: On the Super ShowDown Kickoff pre-show, The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) defeated The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder). On the following episode of Raw, The Revival defeated former champions Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder and The Usos to win the Raw Tag Team Championship. After more feuding on subsequent episodes, The Revival were scheduled to defend the title against The Usos at Extreme Rules.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first 2 on 2 PPV match between these two tag teams.

Extreme Rules Record: The Usos are 0-1, The Revival wrestle at this event for the first time.

Match: It’s a fast paced start to the match with The Usos taking the early advantage. Both teams try to double team but can’t keep the advantage. The Usos hit dives to the outside. The Revival take control on the outside, double teaming Jey, and then keep control with quick tags and double team moves. Jey makes a hot tag to Jimmy but it was behind the referees back so the tag isn’t legal. There’s an awkward fall as Scott Dawson and Jey Uso fall of the top rope. Jey then makes the hot tag to Jimmy. The Usos pick up the pace with Jimmy hitting a corkscrew on both opponents. Jey then hits a pop-up Samoan drop on Dawson. The Revival hit the old Power & Glory superplex/splash combo for a near fall. Revival hit the shatter machine on Jey Uso and that’s enough for the three!

Result: The Revival retain the Raw Tag Team Championships by pinfall.

Review: This was a really good tag team match. I’m a fan of tag team wrestling when it’s done properly and this was right up my street. The Revival win the match and retain their titles in a match between two of the best tag teams on the roster.

Rating: 7.5/10

Aleister Black vs. Cesaro

Background: Since being drafted to SmackDown during the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up in April, Aleister Black began appearing in ominous backstage promos in a dark room, awaiting a challenger. On the June 25 episode of SmackDown, there was a knock on Black’s door, indicating that someone had accepted his challenge. The following week, however, Black stated that no one was at his door when he answered and said he would be waiting for them at Extreme Rules. On the July 9 episode, Raw’s Cesaro was revealed as the mystery challenger.

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

Extreme Rules Record: Cesaro is 2-2, Aleister Black wrestles at this event for the first time.

Match: Black attempts Black Mass right out of the gate but Cesaro avoids it. Cesaro then looks for the neutreliser but Cesaro lands on his feet and then sits cross-legged. Black hits a moonsault to the outside, very nice. Black dominates for a while but Cesaro gets back into it and hits a springboard uppercut for a two count. This is a hard-hitting match. Black hits a lovely springboard moonsault and then looks for double knees off the middle rope but Cesaro catches him, throws him up in the air and hits an uppercut for a near fall. Aleister hits some nice strikes, using his legs as weapons wheras Cesaro is all about the arms. There’s an exchange of submissions but neither man taps out. Black counters the neutraliser and then hits Black Mass out of nowhere for the three.

Result: Aleister Black wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match. It was hard-hitting and you felt like both men had freedom to do as they please. It was a very good match technically and the psychology was good too. Aleister Black wins the match in a match you felt that he would win.

Rating: 6.75/10

Bayley (c) vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross – Handicap match for the Smackdown Women’s Championship

Background: At Stomping Grounds, Bayley retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Raw’s Alexa Bliss. Nikki Cross, who was in Bliss’ corner, felt it was her fault that Bliss lost as she tried attacking Bayley during the match. On the following SmackDown, wild card guest Cross defeated Bayley, thus earning Bliss a rematch for the title at Extreme Rules. On the July 8 episode of Raw, Cross and wild card guest Bayley both competed in a Beat the Clock challenge with the winner deciding the stipulation of Bayley and Bliss’ championship match. Cross won and decided that the championship match would be a handicap match with Cross teaming with Bliss against Bayley.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time handicap match involving these three ladies.

Extreme Rules Record: Alexa Bliss is 2-0, Bayley is 0-1 and Cross wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Alexa and Nikki will have to tag in and out of this match, it’s Nikki that kicks off the match against Bayley before quickly tagging out. Alexa beat Bayley at Extreme Rules two years ago. Bayley does well to start with but the numbers become too much and the challengers take control. Nikki and Alexa make quick tags to keep the advantage. Bayley starts a comeback, taking down Alexa and then hitting a suicide dive on Cross. Bayley then applies a leglock to Nikki Cross and a crossface to Bliss but Alexa bites her way out of it. Cross hits a tornado DDT for a near fall. Bayley counters Twister Bliss and then hits Cross with a knee. Bayley heads to the top and hits a flying elbw drop for the three!

Result: Bayley wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was decent enough. It told a good story but in the end Bayley won this match cleanly. You knew that Cross would be the one to take the fall. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Bliss and Cross.

Rating: 6/10

Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley – last man standing match

Background: At Super ShowDown, Braun Strowman defeated Bobby Lashley. On the June 17 episode of Raw, Strowman eliminated Lashley from a fatal five-way elimination match for an opportunity at the United States Championship; Lashley in turn helped in Strowman’s elimination. The following week, Lashley attacked Strowman after losing a tug of war match. A falls count anywhere match on the July 1 episode ended in a no contest after Strowman tackled Lashley through the LED video wall of the entrance and both were taken to a local medical facility. A Last Man Standing match between the two was then scheduled for Extreme Rules.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two men. Braun previously beat Bobby at Super ShowDown 2019.

Extreme Rules Record: Braun Strowman is 0-1, Bobby Lashley is 1-0.

Match: Strowman pulls Lashley out of the ring before the bell even rings and then throws Bobby into the barricade a few times. The bell finally rings and it’s all Strowman who hits a shoulder charge on the outside. Braun looks for a second but Lashley drops him with a spear. Lashley keeps the advantage by using the ring steps and the two men then fight into the crowd, through the crown and into the mezzanine area with Lashley laying into Strowman. They fight back to ringside where Lashley spears Strowman through the barricade. Bobby then spears Braun over the announce desk before tipping the desk over onto Braun but the big man beats the count back to his feet. The two men go back into the crowd where Strowman throws Lashley into the international announce desk. They fight up the stairs in the arena where a fan seems to get involved. Braun then hits a powerslam off a balcony and through a weird box. The refereee counts both men down but Strowman breaks through the box! The referee continues his count, counting Bobby Lashley out!

Result: Braun Strowman wins.

Review: This was a fun match. I’m all for a match going through the crowd and into the bar areas. Braun Strowman wins tonight in what I can only assume is the end of this rivalry. I would have quite liked to see Bobby Lashley win because I think he’s an under-utilised talent. Strowman wins though and maybe it puts him in line for a title opportunity.

Rating: 6.5/10

Daniel Bryan & Rowan (c) vs. The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) vs. Heavy Machinery (Otis & Tucker) – Triple threat match for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships

Background: At Stomping Grounds, Daniel Bryan and Rowan retained the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against Heavy Machinery (Otis and Tucker). On the following SmackDown, The New Day’s Big E and Xavier Woods defeated Bryan and Rowan in a non-title match, thus earning a title match at Extreme Rules. The following week, Heavy Machinery were added to the title match after defeating the team of Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler, thus changing the title match into a triple threat tag team match.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time triple threat match between these three teams.

Extreme Rules Record: Daniel Bryan is 1-3, Rowan is 1-0, Big E is 2-1, Xavier Woods is 1-1 and Heavy Machinery wrestle at this event for the first time.

Match: Xavier Woods and Daniel Bryan kick off the match in quick fashion. Tucker is in before long and shows off some of his agility. Woods takes some offence from Tucker and then Rowan, the latter of which slows down the pace. Daniel Bryan attacks Big E on the outside throwing him into the steps. Otis tags in to a big pop and hits Daniel Bryan with a spinning powerslam and a t-bone suplex before hitting the caterpillar. Big E finally tags in and picks the pace up against Tucker. It breaks down with all six men getting involved. Heavy Machinery hit dives to the outside and then the compactor on Big E. Big E hits a superplex on Rowan but Daniel Bryan had made a blind tag and dives off the top with a headbutt to Big E before locking on the LeBell lock. Big E fights out of it, Bryan attempts a moonsault but Big E catches him, tags in Xavier Woods and they hit the midnight hour for the three!

Result: The New Day win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships by pinfall.

Review: This was another fun match. I really liked the finish with Big E, he comes out of this match the MVP. New Day win the titles again and it’s nice to see Xavier Woods involved in the decision, it looked like it meant a lot to him. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Daniel Bryan focusing back on his singles career now.

Rating: 7/10

Ricochet (c) vs. AJ Styles – United States Championship match

Background: After Ricochet won the United States Championship at Stomping Grounds, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and AJ Styles interrupted a photoshoot, congratulating the new champion. The following night on Raw, Styles defeated Ricochet in a non-title match, and following the match, Styles and Ricochet showed mutual respect to each other. In a title match the following week, Ricochet retained against Styles. After the match, Gallows and Anderson attempted to enter the ring and taunted Styles, who held them off, only to attack Ricochet himself, turning heel. Gallows and Anderson also joined in on the attack, reuniting The Club, and another title match between Ricochet and Styles was scheduled for Extreme Rules.

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

Extreme Rules Record: AJ Styles is 1-1, Ricochet wrestles at Extreme Rules for the first time tonight.

Match: AJ Styles is joined by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and they attack Ricochet as he makes his entrance. It’s a fin start to the match, Ricochet is so smooth with his fast-paced offence. Styles soon takes the advantage, throwing Ricochet into the ringpost. It’s all Styles for much of this match as Gallows & Anderson watch on from the outside. Ricochet regains the advantage and also dives to the outside, taking out Gallows and Anderson. They have given these guys plenty of time to tell a story tonight which is something that Ricochet probably isn’t used to in WWE. Ricochet ducks a phenomenal forearm and counters a Styles clash with a hurricanrana. Ricochet hits a springboard shooting star press for a near fall. Ricochet kicks Karl Anderson and heads to the top which distracts the referee and allows Gallows to crotch Ricochet on the top rope. Styles then hits a Styles Class off the middle rope for the win!

Result: AJ Styles wins the United States Championship by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match. There was a real nice pace to it. Both men are great wrestlers and two I really enjoy watching. AJ Styles win which was a little surprised because Ricochet had only just won the title but hopefully it leads to a llengthy feud between the two with Ricochet eventually coming out with the title.

Rating: 7.5/10

Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler

Background: On the June 24 episode of Raw, after WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defeated both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in consecutive singles matches (both Kingston and Owens appearing via the wild card rule), Kingston was randomly attacked by Samoa Joe, who performed an uranage on Kingston. As referees tended to Kingston, Joe returned and applied the Coquina Clutch on him. Kingston was subsequently scheduled to defend the WWE Championship against Joe at Extreme Rules. On the following SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler, whom Kingston defeated to retain the title at Stomping Grounds, faced Kingston in a two out of three falls match in which if Ziggler won, he would have been added to the championship match, however, he was unsuccessful.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two men. Kevin Owens previuously beat Dolph Ziggler at Fastlane 2016.

Extreme Rules Record: Dolph Ziggler is 2-1, Kevin Owens is 1-1.

Match: The bell rings and Dolph Ziggler slaps Kevin Owens! Owens then hits a stunner on Ziggler and pins him for the three!

Result: Kevin Owens wins by pinfall.

Review: This was short and sweet. It was a slap and a stunner. This was all about Kevin Owens getting a victory and he definitely did that. Ziggler doesn’t come out of it looking good.

Rating: N/A

Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Samoa Joe – WWE Championship match

Background: On the June 24 episode of Raw, after WWE Champion Kofi Kingston defeated both Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in consecutive singles matches (both Kingston and Owens appearing via the wild card rule), Kingston was randomly attacked by Samoa Joe, who performed an uranage on Kingston. As referees tended to Kingston, Joe returned and applied the Coquina Clutch on him. Kingston was subsequently scheduled to defend the WWE Championship against Joe at Extreme Rules. On the following SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler, whom Kingston defeated to retain the title at Stomping Grounds, faced Kingston in a two out of three falls match in which if Ziggler won, he would have been added to the championship match, however, he was unsuccessful.

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

Extreme Rules Record: Samoa Joe is 1-0, Kofi Kingston is 3-1.

Match: Samoa Joe takes the early advantage in the match, using his power to keep Kofi grounded. It’s all Joe as he fights off any comeback Kingston tries to make. Joe traps Kofi’s fingers in the ring steps and stomps on them. Joe looks on a crossface but Kofi breaks it by getting to the bottom rope. Kofi hits SOS for a near fall but can’t keep the advantage. Kofi hits trouble in paradise out of nowhere and hooks the leg for the three!

Result: Kofi Kingston wins by pinfall.

Review: This just came across like a fluke win for Kofi. He hits trouble in paradise out of nowhere and gets the victory. This match was all about Samoa Joe. It was an ok match, something didn’t click. Kofi wins cleanly, fluke or not.

Rating: 5.5/10

Seth Rollins (c) & Becky Lynch (c) vs. Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans – Mixed Tag Team Extreme Rules match for the Universal and Raw Women’s Championship

Background: At Stomping Grounds, Becky Lynch retained the Raw Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans, and later that night, Seth Rollins defended the Universal Championship against Baron Corbin with a special guest referee of Corbin’s choice. Corbin chose Evans, who changed the ongoing match to a no countout, no disqualification match and Evans eventually attacked Rollins, prompting Lynch to come to his aid. Rollins subsequently retained his title. The following night on Raw, Corbin and Evans brawled with Rollins and Lynch and challenged them to a mixed tag team match. Rollins and Lynch agreed as long as it would mean the end of their respective feuds, while Corbin and Evans insisted that their opponents put their respective titles on the line. As a result, a last chance winners take all mixed tag team match for both the Universal and Raw Women’s championships was scheduled for Extreme Rules, with an extreme rules stipulation added the following week.

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

Extreme Rules Record: Seth Rollins is 3-2, Corbin is 0-1 and both Becky Lynch and Lacey Evans makes their Extreme Rules debut tonight.

Match: Lacey Evans has “Seth” on the arse. She and Becky Lynch start the match and Becky doesn’t pull any punches. Lacey tags out to Corbin which means Seth Rollins comes in too. Seth lays into Corbin and Lacey looks to make the save so Rollins and Lynch lay into their opponents with kendo sticks! Corbin brings a chair into the match and smashes Seth with it to counter a suicide dive. Becky lays into Lacey with the help of chairs, hitting a Bexploder onto chairs and then a middle rope legdrop for a two count. There’s an impressive leg sweep and elbow drop from Evans and then a springboard moonsault for a near fall. Becky avoids a woman’s right and hits a reverse DDT. Rollins and Lynch then set up two tables on the outside but they’re too slow and their opponents attack them before the tables can be used. The challengers hit chokeslams for near falls. Rollins and Becky take the advantage and put Corbin and Evans through tables! Corbin hits deep six on Rollins for a near fall and then end of days on Becky! Rollins fires up with a kendo stick and then a chair on Corbin! Rollins hits the stomp as Lacey backs up the entrance ramp. Seth hits two more stomps and thne pins Corbin for the three!

Result: Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch retain their championships by pinfall.

Review: This was decent enough. The stipulation helped it a lot, as I don’t think it would have been much good without it. Seth and Becky retain the titles which was predictable really but the right result.

Rating: 6.75/10

Seth Rollins (c) vs. Brock Lesnar – Universal Championship match

Background: Brock Lesnar won Money In The Bank and tonight he is cashing it in!

Previous PPV matches: These two men have fought in PPV singles matches twice before and they both hold a victory over one another.

Extreme Rules Record: Seth Rollins is 4-2, Brock Lesnar is 1-1.

Match: Brock Lesnar hits an F5, hooks the leg and gets the three!

Result: Brock Lesnar wins the Universal Championship by pinfall.

Review: Well this was quick. Brock Lesnar cashes in his contract and becomes a three time Universal Champion!

Rating: N/A