Here we are at WWE Extreme Rules 2019 in Philadelphia PA, an honorable Wrestling city with rich history and very passionate fans. 

We have a very important card tonight with a ton of possible title changes and a lot of potential big moments that can shake the foundation coming up before a major PPV at SummerSlam.  Heyman and Bischoff at the helm of Raw and SmackDown and all of the new things WWE is trying out as of late could make for huge events tonight on what could normally be called a worthless PPV.  Will we see success or will be have the fans crying foul after another let down?  Let’s get down to ringside! 

GOOD

WWE Intercontinental Championship Title Match- Kickoff

Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Finn Balor (C)

Wow, there are going to be a lot of people upset if they aren’t watching the Kickoff.  This is criminally insane to be a Kickoff Match.  Two of the best in WWE, period.  As expected we saw a ton of Good things here.  This had it all!  Strikes, high risk, and a ton of amazing quality Pro Wrestling.  Of course though WWE wasted screen-time on promos for the PPV we are already watching.  As usual when it comes to Balor/Nakamura anyone could take the victory.  Shinsuke hit a well placed “Kinshasa” for the win, and is your new WWE Intercontinental Champion.  Whatever this was it was Good, and I can’t wait to see what is next!

WWE Cruiserweight Title Match- Kickoff

Drew Gulak (C) vs. Tony Nese

205 Live is consistently Good, and consistently overlooked.  They don’t care though, it hasn’t stopped them from clawing and fighting their hearts out every chance they are given.  Gulak was having a homecoming and of course got a hero’s welcome.  This one was red hot, and had a sick energy the entire time.  This is one of the best Kickoff Shows I’ve ever seen and could and should be recognized as elite Professional Wrestling.  The unsung heroes put it all out there, with complete chaos and immense precision in all they do.  I cringed a little when they advertised the Shane match during this.  Back to the match though, nothing slowed them down, it was just all Good.  You never know what you will see with 205 Live.  Masterful match, again, either one could win, Gulak then got a rare moment and hit a Cyclone Crash for the victory, retaining the Cruiserweight Championship! 

No Holds Barred Match

The Undertaker & Roman Reigns vs. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre

Although it is always a great experience seeing the Undertaker I don’t know many who are thrilled about this one.  McIntyre is in a position to have a torch passed on by the big man.  If he takes down Taker, that means he is in line for a major push.  Early on it was very enjoyable, everything was coming on strong.  McIntyre dominating, then Roman dominating, a great dosage of Undertaker.  Taker and McIntyre were more than substantial and great content as was Roman/McIntyre!  We saw some life in the Deadman.  He was going full steam without hesitation, it was amazing to watch!  As it looked over for Shane McMahon, Elias came out of nowhere with a well placed guitar for the save.  Roman dealing with Elias got kicked off the screen by McIntyre.  The numbers were the Undertaker’s demise as Elias, Shane and McIntyre teamed up beating down the Deadman.  Shane put a nail in the coffin hitting Taker with a huge elbow off the top through the announce table.  Then for more carnage Shane hit a Coast to Coast with a garbage can, but Take would not stay down.  The Undertaker sat up, hit a choke-slam on Shane, then Elias.  McIntyre came in hot but was speared by Reigns.  Undertaker then his a match ending Tombstone for the victory.  This was surprisingly a very solid, and a very entertaining, hot match.  Huge opening, and very successful.          

Cesaro vs. Aleister Black

I can’t wait for this one.  We have a winner here.  Watching Aleister Black come out, how soon can we get him vs McIntyre going?  Anyway, just wow here!  This is awesome!  The strikes, the variety and the energy were what WWE needs to be all the time.  We had constant, consistently great action.  Near falls and both guys showing true grit, Aleister Black slammed Cesaro with a perfectly executed Black Mass across the face for the well fought, victory.  This is and was what we need to see, well done WWE. 

WWE Smackdown Women’s Title Handicap Match

Bayley (C) vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross

As expected we had a 1 sided double team on the Champ, nothing much to write home about but constant action.  Bliss and Cross just dismantled Bayley.  Of course a hero like Bayley doesn’t give up and fought back taking it to both Bliss and Cross and started gaining momentum.  She got Cross and Bliss in a double submission but was bitten by Alexa Bilss to escape.  She then made the save helping Cross escape her hold.  After an ill timed Twisted Bliss Bayley got a break and got Cross down for a huge elbow drop for the win, retaining her SmackDown Women’s Title!  Good showing by a ton of talent! 

Last Man Standing Match

Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley

These guys are freaks of nature.  Pure athletic phenomena and mega powers.  Where’s the beef?  Right here.  As expected this was brutal.  It went all over the place, which is always awesome to watch.  Lashley really looked solid in this match, completely malicious with every move.  Strowman didn’t hold back at all either and the crowd was on fire for it!  Twisted metal and multiple collisions throughout the arena, this was one hell of a fight.  Strowman hit a devastating powerslam through a stage area and bursted out of the wall, as the Winner and the Last Man Standing.  Hell of a showing by two amazing athletes!  Still flying high in this one.     

WWE Smackdown Tag Team Triple Threat Title Match

Daniel Bryan & Rowan (C) vs. Big E & Xavier Woods vs. Heavy Machinery

Right off the bat, great call letting Bryan and Woods open.  Can’t do it better than that.  Woods was just being destroyed by Rowan and Bryan but got a much needed tag to Otis who danced and kicked ass.  Otis is one entertaining big guy and didn’t disappoint a loud Philly crowd.  Even Big E had issues with the big duo.  Everyone went crazy spilling to the outside, taking turns diving on to the pile of bodies, even both members of Heavy Machinery crashed in.  This was all over the place and could have been anyone’s match.  New Day riding off the beast mode of Big E, slammed The New Daniel Bryan with an Up Up Down Down and are the 6 time Tag Team Champions!  New Day Rocks and this match rocked!

WWE United States Title Match

Ricochet (C) vs. AJ Styles

We don’t deserve this match but I’m happy we got it. Those of you who don’t like to give WWE the proper respect, and that is your right, don’t realize this is the level that is incomparable.  The club got in their licks before the bell even rang which showed the clear lines of heel and face.  We saw precision and mastery of the craft, an actual clinic here.  Ricochet did some unreal moves and just surprises me more and more.  These are two tough guys and just put it all out there every single time.  It just doesn’t get old, this is a fight forever type of deal.  All things must come to an end, AJ Styles hits an impressive Styles Clash off the second turnbuckle and with the help of Anderson and Gallows is your new WWE United States Champion.  This was a great match!  This was another level!  Standing ovation.    

Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler

Kevin Owens is simply blazing hot right now.  Ziggler needs this type of fued and a fire Owens possess’ to make an impact.  K.O. isn’t having any of that though, with a Stunner out of no-where, we had an equally quick 3 count for the win.  K.O. went on to drop some more knowledge on his opinions of the distaste of the roster and audience on the normal WWE experience.  K.O is awesome and his firebrand experience is gaining momentum and interest.  This will be Good and I can’t wait to see more.  

WWE Title Match

Kofi Kingston (C) vs. Samoa Joe

Right from the start things didn’t look good for Kofi Kingston.  Joe was precise, vicious and methodical.  He had an answer for every attempt the Champ had.  Joe was unforgiving and brutal to Kofi.  Anything can happen in the WWE and even with all of the cards stacked against the Champ Kofi Kingston shocked everyone and won retaining his title and surviving a severe one sided ass kicking.  Another Good one!  By the way, No Beast in the Bank in sight. 

Winner Take All Mixed Tag Team Match

Seth Rollins (C) & Becky Lynch (C) vs. Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans

When The Man comes around I’m watching.  Also Lacey Evans tonight, Wow!  This match with the winner take all is definitely interesting as so many things can happen here.  Not to mention, is Lesnar here?  So much uncertainty going in.  The tandem offense of Lynch and Rollins was Good stuff, and besides some of the early on misfires it rolled pretty smoothly.  Becky Lynch came out hot after Rollins took a ton of punishment and went nuts on Evans.  Lacey Evans is one tough lady.  This had some really Good stuff in it, and gave everyone a hell of a show.  Things looked lost for the Champs, but fought back hitting two huge moves off the ropes through tables onto their opponents.  Corbin still came back almost finishing Rollins off.  Lynch made the save but later was hit with an End of Days by Corbin.  Rollins then snapped on Corbin going crazy hitting him with everything he had.  Rollins wasn’t satisfied with just winning hitting 3 Stomps for the victory!  Out comes Brock Lesnar.

WWE Universal Championship Match- Money In the Bank Cash In

Seth Rollins (C) vs. Brock Lesnar

Lesnar took complete control and dominated Rollins, cashing in the MITB.   F5, Lesnar Wins the Universal Championship!   

BAD

WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match

The Revival (C) vs. The Usos

As far as tag team matches go, this had so much potential going in to be a classic.  The problem is it also had potential to be boring.  We saw a lot of the same old stuff here that we always see, and if any logic exist, this would have been better on the Kickoff show.  Everyone is extremely talented but this just was flat.  Obviously it had some Good moments as guys at this level are bound to do, but nothing special.  Jimmy Uso got the hot tag and took out both members Tag Team Champs, but was Power-bombed by Wilder but came back again.  This was a toss-up, and still super slow and uncoordinated.  The Revival hit a well-timed Shatter Machine, to retain.  Honestly, it was safe, and slow, and the first of the night in the Bad column.  Too Bad.     

UGLY- No!

FINAL

Good- 12

Bad- 1

Ugly- 0

OVERALL- GOOD! Very Good!  This was an extremely successful night for the WWE Brands.  What a show, and a lot to talk about for the future.  This was a solid show almost flawless.  It was fun, and had a ton of variety.  If they can continue this, we have a lot to look forward to in coming weeks. 

Hell of a night for the WWE Universe.  We had ourselves a very satisfying event with a ton to talk about.  This was amazing, and with a lot coming up before a huge event like SummerSlam, I expect WWE programming to be jam packed, NXT included!  Until next time folks, hope you enjoyed!  See you next time only on thechairshot.com.