After the controversial ending to their Championship Match at WWE Payback, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and AJ Styles must battle each other one more time at Extreme Rules, and this time, anything goes in an Extreme Rules Match.
The show kicks off with The Club facing The Usos in a Tornado Tag Match. Now given how incredible The Club have been in other promotions and the ability of The Usos to raise their game on PPVs you can’t help but feel that this is a letdown.
The New Day against The Vaudevillains is a fine example of why fans are calling out for a bigger emphasis on Tag Team Wrestling in WWE. It took less than seven minutes for the two teams to have this match, given that The New Day are WWE’s premier Tag Team and are one of the company’s biggest Merchandise sellers you’d expect them to be given longer. The match itself is good, but it’s not something you must see if you’re looking in the history of New Day’s historic Title reign.
Next was the US Championship Match between Kalisto and Rusev. This was a good match with Kalisto playing the underdog but it’s clear that WWE has once again recognised that Rusev and Lana are an excellent pair and going by the build up from JBL in commentary regarding the duo, as well as the sheer dominance he displays in this bout, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Undoubtedly, the match of the card was the Fatal 4-Way for the Intercontinental Championship. Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn all launched themselves at attempting to take The Miz’s Intercontinental Champion away from him. This match was excellent, and on more than one occasion the WWE Universe stood on their feet chanting, “This is awesome” and rightly so. Also, the match benefits after repeated viewing to take in every aspect fully.
WWE’s Asylum Match between Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho sees the two continue their feud within the confines of a Steel Cage with weapons suspended above the cage and a win can only be gained by pinfall or submission. It’s a superb bout in many ways but for a match of this magnitude, between two of WWE’s top stars, you would feel the build up would be better. After rewatching the DVD, it can feel like another match in their feud when it should be something more.
The Women’s Championship Match between Natalya and Champion Charlotte is simply a fight that wouldn’t have gone amiss on RAW. You do feel that this could have been better as fans have seen better matches between the two previously in NXT.
Then it’s the Main Event bout, the WWE Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns facing AJ Styles. This is an excellent match between the two, fought before a lively crowd and thanks to them it heightens the drama. Add in the interference from The Club and The Usos and it helps this match live up to the hype.
And then there’s the aftermath. Welcome back Seth Rollins, a man who makes a statement of his own.
Certainly a mixed bag of a show with the Fatal Four Way and Main Event bouts standing out. The Blu-Ray Extras definitely make a difference in the viewing.
6/10
WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles (Extreme Rules Match)
WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte vs. Natalya (Submission Match; Ric Flair banned from ringside)
Intercontinental Champion The Miz vs. Kevin Owens vs. Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn (Fatal 4-Way Match)
Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho (Asylum Match)
WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day vs. The Vaudevillains
United States Champion Kalisto vs. Rusev
The DVD and Blu-ray Extra:
– No Disqualification Match: Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler (Extreme Rules Kickoff Show)
The Blu-Ray Extras:
– No Disqualification Match: Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler (Extreme Rules Kickoff Show) – Dean Ambrose Destroys Chris Jericho’s $15,000 Jacket on Monday Night RAW on May 9, 2016.
– Sami Zayn & Cesaro vs. The Miz & Kevin Owens SmackDown on May 12, 2016.
– WWE Women’s Championship Contract Signing on Monday Night RAW • May 16, 2016.
– Roman Reigns vs. Luke Gallows SmackDown • May 19, 2016.
Price:
DVD – £14.99.
Blu-Ray – £19.99.