TV Show Review 038 WWE Extreme Rules 2017

WWE Extreme Rules in Baltimore, Maryland 060417 4/5

0.  Kalisto  vs  Apollo Crews  with Titus O'neil [Pre-Show]

+ an adequate match between two talented capable wrestlers and a clash between the Lucha style and  athleticism.
? not even in contention with the middle carder's title, they're lost in limbo currently ... with the possibility of Kalisto going to 205 Live and Apollo with Titus reluctantly teaming up together or push for the title, they shouldn't overstay their welcome with this storyline?
- no stake at all and could only add so much to the most basic of a storyline.

(Kalisto won by pin fall [Salida del Sol], Rating = 3/5, Duration = 9m 40s)

> Running Thread: WWE  Intercontinental Championship 

1. the Miz vs Dean Ambrose /Intercontinental Champion\

+ since they've some experience with each other in the ring, they gave their all to uproarious cheers and jeers by the engaged crowd ... suffice to say, they'd done their jobs between the lovable babyface against the best heel people love to hate,
+ playing against the convention of the PPV itself, having the stipulation to avoid doing the 'extreme' is smart in and of itself and both of them played well to that particular rules (exposing of the turnbuckle and the stop before the bump on the exposed steel, teasing of the slap and finally the execution, the steel chair, the push of Ambrose towards the referee).
? letting the Miz starting on another go with the title rivaling his previous run that gives it a lot more credential and putting it on at least at the same level with the WWE Title again and putting on more bodies to fight for it and make it matter considering its history.
- no matter how much different the circumstances and stipulation their encounters are, it could be excessive repetition that's too much too soon since their latest feud in SmackDown! but hopefully it's to ensure they did it all for the new audience so that they would never look back (in the foreseeable future) and move on to fresh feuds with different wrestlers.

(the Miz won by pin fall [Skull-Crushing Finale], Rating = 4/5, Duration = 20m)

> Running Thread: Trying to give 205 Live a boost

2. Noam Dar & Alicia Fox ... vs Rich Swan & Sasha Banks

+ an entertaining bunch that the crowd responded well to and they put on the good show (that double knee drop though ... ouch!),

+ being the first mixed tag team match in a while, this is I hope the first step in trying to equal or at least make the standing between the male and female wrestlers a lot closer and not just 'use' them for their looks but instead their performances in the ring.

? how much adding a recognized name such as Sasha Banks would help 205 Live? Despite their amazing performances day in day out, the lethargic viewers of the SmackDown! taping would never be an ideal crowd for them ... a setting similar to NXT would be the best!

- letting Sasha moved away from the title contention is something different at least ... but did you notice how far it's gone down?

(Rich Swan won by pin-fall [Phoenix Splash], R = 3/5, Duration = 6m 20s)

} In the Ring +. (+1 for building up the heat for the heel Elias Sampson)

> Running Thread:  WWE RAW Women Championship [Stick on a Pole Match]

3. Bailey vs Alexa Bliss /RAW Women Champion\

+ well ... it had a promising start. that's about it.

? where could the division go after this? after the height of Sasha vs Charlotte feud, their misuse of the talents are downright criminal.

- well ... since the buildup was not the best work of the writer team especially after shooting themselves in the foot with the 'This is your Life' segment, it would only be appropriate for them to make her looked as weak as possible since their approach on the loveable character that is Bayley did not do her the wrestler justice at all. she even got some boos!
- the short duration didn't help the character progression at all and handicap the wrestlers a lot since they had limited time frame to work in ... a longer duration would at least let the characters have more room to be more sympathetic and effective in the storytelling.

(Alexa Bliss won by p/f [DDT], Rating = 2.5/5, Duration = 5m 10s)

> Running Thread:  WWE RAW Tag Team Championship 

4. [Sheamus & Cesaro vs  Hardy Boyz ][Cage Match]

+ as expected from the grizzled veterans, the Hardy Boyz showcased what they're known for throughout their career here and that's putting their bodies on the line every time they performed extreme stunts and spots and with the capable talents of Sheamus and Cesaro to bounce off of, they used every possible inch of the steel Cage as a prime example of how to book this kind of match,
+ a couple of top spots (top-rope White Noise and top-cage Whisper in the Wind) and to the surprise of everybody (maybe except the die-hard fans) having been booked the strongest coming into the PPV without any loss to their names yet since coming back,

? for the fans in the know, the sky high buildup of the Hardys then to be knocked down piece by piece started with this loss of the belt could hopefully lead to them being 'Broken' (the legalities of it still up in the air and the current negotiations haven't been finalised yet).

- making the most out of their situation, Sheamus and Cesaro is now the leading force in the Tag Team division and with the veterans possibly would be less pushed than before, the other tag teams being pushed out of contention would finally be put in the limelight i.e. the Club or Enzo and Big Cass (although their current storyline would possibly divert them somewhere else with the Revival).

(Sheamus & Cesaro won by going out both first, Rating = 4/5, Duration = 15m)

> Running Thread: Submission Match for  WWE Cruiserweight Championship 

5. Austin Aries vs Neville /Cruiserweight Champion\

+ being the top talents of the 205 division, they put on a wrestling clinic by showing their agility and technical prowess on the mat and off the mat, focusing more than most on the ground instead of the usual in-the-air antics + Neville is definitely on a whole another level ... who would match him?

? again Austin Aries lost a championship match although the buildup of the feud and their personalities shone through each and every time ... while putting over the Champion makes the championship that much more credible and him as the Champion that much more stronger, where would this put Aries? what's up with that smile, though?! [Spoiler news: he would take time off to rest his body from niggling injuries ... it would be for the best if he returned as a heel! he's much better as the bad guy.]

- it's unfortunate their own show didn't receive the attention from consumers that they deserved ... it's being economic to put it right after SmackDown! but it would always be handicapped by the lethargic fans. when would they learned?!.

(Neville won by p/f [Rings of Saturn off of Red Arrow], Rating = 4/5, Duration = 17m 35s)

> Running Thread:  WWE Universal Championship  #1 Contender

6. Bray Wyatt vs  Seth Rollins vs  Samoa Joe vs Finn Balor vs Roman Reigns

+ now that's a Main Event! One of the best RAW PPV match yet with each of the wrestlers were given time to shine and put in the spotlight as they effectively took turn to dominate the others and getting close calls and near falls just to add to the tension + with so many bodies on the line, the writers manage them well i.e. with spots of two wrestlers staring each other down (Roman vs Seth), Seth coming to Roman's aid, heels of Joe and Bray teaming up (that steel steps and chair combo though) and the eventual betrayal, top spots such as double Spear by Reigns and Frog Splash on the announcer's table + that swerve in the end though! Balor's path to win seemed to well on its way, that was until the always opportunistic Samoa Joe sneaked in a Coquina Clutch to set up a dream match with Brock Lesnar!

? again the superior booking of Roman by him having the most time dominating and not selling other wrestler's moves well enough ... at least he didn't win here. ? I could only hope Joe would not be squashed by Lesnar but instead both would put out strong performances in Great Ball of Fire (yup, that's the name of the next RAW PPV).

- everyone was booked strongly ... unfortunately Finn had to take the fall but he's the second best.

(Samoa Joe won by submission [Coquina Clutch], R = 4/5, Duration = 29m 15s)

- wiki - official -

"A great reinterpretation of the particular rules of the Pay-Per-View with the Disqualification and Submission Match adding much needed diversity ... despite a couple of underwhelming and downright terrible matches, the Main Event makes sure it ended on a high as all of the wrestlers gave their all in the ring and made the Universal title meant so much more."

(WWE Channel, Rating - TV-PG, Founded 02211980, Episodes >>, Founders Vince & Linda McMahon, Duration - 2 hrs 15+ mnts, Genre - Wrestling, Action, Drama, Comedy, WWE Universe, Violence)