WWE Extreme Rules 2014 took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey and had a pretty solid card for being one of WWE’s “B” PPVs. Daniel Bryan defended his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Kane in an Extreme Rules main event and The Shield and Evolution produced a masterful performance that we’ll be talking about for quite some time.
There were a total of eight matches that took place at the IZOD Center. I have expressed my thoughts and given each bout a grade as well. Extreme Rules was an above average PPV that had two memorable matches and respectable action in every bout on the card.
Please feel free to leave a comment letting me know your overall thoughts on the Extreme Rules PPV. I’ll be sure to respond to as mant comments as I can.
El Torito vs. Hornswoggle (Kickoff WeeLC Match)
Match: El Torito flew around the ring and hit Hornswoggle with some athletic moves early on, but Hornswoggle showcased his power game and was a valiant foe from the opening bell.
El Torito successfully hit a Huricanrana earlier in the match and attempted another one, but Hornswoggle reversed it by catching the bull and executing a massive Power Bomb. The biggest spot of match saw Jinder Mahal and Los Matadores crash through a contraption consisting of both ladders and tables.
In the end, El Torito reigned victorious after hitting a Rey Mysterio-esque Springboard Seated Senton onto Hornswoggle through a table.
Reaction: I knew from the start that El Torito vs. Hornswoggle was either going to be dreadful or entertaining as hell, and I’m happy to say that it was the latter. I have to admit, this match was both entertaining and hilarious. There was a midget ring announcer, referee, and three commentary announcers dressed and acting as Michael Cole (Micro Cole), Jerry Lawler (Jerry Smaller) and JBL (JBeLf).
The crowd seemed to love the action that was going on inside the squared circle and there were some genuinely funny spots. Both 3MB and Los Matadores got involved, but that only enhanced the action as 3MB members crashed through tables and were hit by chairs as well. No joke, this was one of the most extreme matches I have witnessed in quite some time. Hell, the match even garnered a “this is awesome” chant.
Grade: B-
RVD vs. Jack Swagger vs. Cesaro (Elimination Match)
Match: The first five minutes of the match showcased each competitor’s strengths. RVD hit a Sunset Flip to Cesaro from the ring apron to the outside of the ring, which looked pretty brutal. Cesaro was taken out of action for some time and Swagger and RVD fought it out in the ring with Swagger getting the upper hand.
Once Cesaro recovered, he hit Swagger with an impressive Super Plex from the ring apron and as Cesaro was resting/catching a breath, RVD executed a Five Star Frog Splash and pinned Jack Swagger, which eliminated him from the match. It was now down to RVD and Cesaro.
Cesaro hit three Gutwrench Suplexes, Eddie Guerrero Suplex style, and the crowd loved it. Van Dam went for a kick, but Cesaro reversed it into a German Suplex and got a near-fall. The match turned extreme after RVD brought a trash can into the mix.
RVD used the trash can to his advantage as he kicked it into Cesaro’s face. RVD then laid the trash can on top of him. Van Dam attempted a Five Star Frog Splash, but Cesaro moved out of the way and RVD smashed his face against the edge of the trash can, which busted him open. Seconds later, Cesaro nailed Van Dam with the Neutralizer (on top of the trash can) and picked an impressive victory.
Reaction: RVD and Cesaro worked very well with one another and they seemed to love the match they were having. RVD hit his signature stuff and got plenty of near-falls on Cesaro, but the Swiss Superman kicked out of everything Van Dam threw (and kicked) at him. Cesaro won the match cleanly, which was the right move.
It’s nice to see that Cesaro is the type of wrestler who doesn’t need his manager’s help in order to win matches. Paul Heyman was at ringside motivating his client from start to finish, that’s it. Cesaro will move onto bigger and better things and I for one would pay good money to see a Cesaro vs. Bad News Barrett rivalry.
Grade: B+
Alexander Rusev vs. R-Truth & Xavier Woods (Handicap Match)
Match: Lana came out to introduce her client and she said that she is dedicating the match to the most powerful man in the world, Vladimir Putin. I mean wow, talk about controversial. I wonder if that was Vince’s idea. Had to be.
Anyways, before the match even started, Rusev attacked both R-Truth and Xavier Woods. He pretty much destroyed Woods, rendering him unable to compete once the bell officially rung. Instead of a handicap match, it was just Truth vs. Rusev.
Rusev dominated the entire match, but Truth hit some good offensive moves and even got the Bulgarian Brute down on the mat. Truth hit Rusev with a Scissor Kick, but the he kicked out just before three.
In the end, Rusev applied the accolade on Truth and made him tap out. Before the submission hold, Rusev hit a running heel kick onto Truth, which was impressive as hell. You could tell that the fans were impressed as I could hear gasps coming from my TV screen.
Reaction: This was Rusev’s most competitive match yet, but that’s not saying much. The Bulgarian who now resides in Russia, according to Lana, put forth his best performance and was undoubtedly impressive. There was never any question as to who would win this match, but Rusev beating down Woods proves that he and Lana are not only powerful, but smart, and that’s a dangerous combination. It was a little better than your average squash match.
Grade: C
Big E (c) vs. Wade Barrett (Intercontinental Championship)
Match: After some back and forth, evenly matched action, Big E hit Barrett with a Spear through the ropes and both men crashed onto the floor. From out of nowhere, Barrett nailed Big E with his beautiful Winds of Change signature maneuver and got a near-fall. Barrett journeyed back to his Nexus days and performed his used-to-be-finisher, Wasteland, but Big E kicked out.
Barrett motioned for the Bull Hammer, but Big E reversed it with a Samoa Joe/Rock Bottom type corner move, but Barrett kicked out. Big E hit a running splash and then pulled down his singlet straps, indicating that it was time for the Big Ending.
However, Barrett wiggled out of the move, bounced off the ropes and hit Big E with a running Bull Hammer. Bad News Barrett won the match via pin-fall and is the new Intercontinental champion.
Reaction: Big E was booed before and during the match, but that’s what happens when your Intercontinental champion is booked poorly. The fans were chanting Barrett’s name throughout and booed whenever Big E hit an offensive maneuver. Barrett is finally over with the crowd and has been putting forth top notch performances ever since he beat Rey Mysterio about a month ago.
I have always been high on Barrett and credit to the performer for taking gimmick destined to fail and making it one of the hottest acts in WWE today. As for the match itself, Big E and Barrett seemed to have a bit of chemistry and had an above-average contest. Barrett is now on the rise and Big E, and his character, needs to be involved in something important in order for fans to care.
Grade: B-
The Shield vs. Evolution
Match: Before the bell rang, the Shield and Evolution scrapped in the ring. The crowd went wild as the Shield stood their ground and cleared the ring, winning the first battle of the night. Once the bell rang, all hell broke loose.
Rollins and Triple H started the match and Rollins really took it to the Game. He hit punch after punch, but the Cerebral Assassin eventually gained the upper hand. Evolution showcased some classic heel tag team wrestling, which was refreshing to see. Every time the referee’s back was turned, they were doing something illegal.
All three members of the Shield attacked Rollins for a good ten minutes. The Architect of the Shield desperately tried to tag Reigns or Ambrose into the match, but Evolution made sure that wasn’t possible. After a long beat-down, Rollins jumped in the air and kicked Orton in the back of the skull and created much needed separation.
Rollins made a hot tag Dean Ambrose and he cleared house. Ambrose duked it out with Triple H and Ambrose’s selling was out of this world. After being systematically picked apart by all three members of Evolution, Ambrose nailed the Game with an Impaler DDT and made a super-hot tag to Roman Reigns, who went on an absolute tear, taking out all three members of Evolution.
Reigns, along with Ambrose and Rollins, isolated Batista in the ring and hit him with a Triple Power Bomb. Just as Reigns made the cover and just before the referee counted to three, Orton broke up the count. Shortly after, Triple H hit Reigns with a Pedigree and Batista, who was the legal man, recovered from the Triple Power Bomb and made the pin, but Reigns kicked out. Just as Reigns recovered from the Pedigree, Orton slithered into the ring and hit him with an RKO. Batista crawled and made the cover, but Rollins unexpectedly saved his friend from being pinned. The crowd went ballistic.
Batista and Reigns were both in the ring injured while Ambrose/Rollins and Triple H/Orton were scrapping outside. Ambrose wowed the crowd as he ran across both announce tables and took out Triple H and Orton who were outside of the ring beating up Rollins. All four competitors brawled outside of the ring and into the stands.
Ambrose was being annihilated by Orton and Triple H, but that was until Seth Rollins made the save. Rollins, from out of nowhere, climbed up high in the stands and took a leap of faith in order to save his friend. Rollins beautifully soared through the air and landed on Triple H, Orton and Ambrose. All four men were taken out as the WWE Universe witnessed a truly extreme and memorable moment.
Back inside the ring, Reigns and Batista recovered from their injuries. Batista nailed Reigns with a Spine Buster and then called for the Batista Bomb. However, Reigns reversed the finisher, hit a Superman Punch and went to the corner. Reigns Speared Batista in half and picked up the win for his team.
Reaction: The Shield vs. Evolution was a dream match that exceeded its massive expectations. With the brawling in the crowd and all the crazy spots, this seemed like an Attitude Era tag team match. And as DDP would say, that’s a good thing.
This was arguably the best match of the year and a proving point that the Shield is here to stay and they belong nowhere else but at the top of WWE. All six men involved in the match played their roles to perfection, but Seth Rollins was the standout as he tore the roof off the IZOD Center after jumping from the stands, soaring through the air and landing on both Triple H and Randy Orton.
The Hounds of Justice are now certified stars. They just beat one of the greatest factions in professional wrestling history and are incredibly over with the crowd. Evolution did a great job making the Shield look like respectable opponents. Orton, Triple H and Batista dominated the match for the most part, but the booking and action that took place will make this six man bout one of the greatest in recent memory.
Quick question – what do all you guys think of Batista wrestling is Jordan’s? I’m not so sure how I feel about that. Seems kind of ridiculous and Cena-esque, no?
Grade: A+
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt (Steel Cage Match)
Match: Bray Wyatt took it to Cena early on in the bout, hitting his head into the steel and trying to unleash the demon inside him. After being beat-down, Cena mounted a comeback and smashed Bray’s head off the steel cage. Cena tried to escape by climbing out, but Harper and Rowan blocked his way down.
After catching Cena climbing the cage a second time, Wyatt danced with the leader of the Cenation and then dropped him with that powerful Rock Bottom type maneuver. Bray got on all fours and did his spider walk in order to escape the cage, but Cena stopped him.
Throughout the match, Cena tried to escape the cage on four or five occasions, but was met by either Luke Harper or Erick Rowan, who prevented him from escaping. Eventually, Cena threw Harper inside the steel cage and had Rowan injured on top of the cage. Cena worked up enough strength and hit Bray an awesome Attitude Adjustment from the top rope, but Harper broke up the count.
At that point in time, all three members of the Wyatt Family were knocked out. Cena had a clear path to walk out of the ring and just before his feet touched the floor, the lights went out. In the dark, a chilling voice started singing “He’s got the Whole World” and when the lights came back on; the singer was revealed to be a little kid dressed in a black cloak. The child couldn’t have been older than 10 years old and Cena was absolutely stunned.
Cena backed away, but by that time Bray recovered and hit Cena with Sister Abigail. Bray, with his eyes wide open, stared at the kid who distracted Cena and embraced him. Bray didn’t pin Cena, he instead walked out of the cage and won the match that way.
Reaction: The crowd was firmly behind Bray Wyatt from start to finish, but after witnessing that Shield vs. Evolution match, they cooled off quite a bit and didn’t make as much noise as expected. Overall, the match was pretty long, but it was good. It told a phenomenal story.
Now, I’m not one of these guys who hates on Cena. I think he is a great wrestler, yes, a great wrestler, and one of the best talkers in the game today. I understand the hate Cena receives, but I don’t agree with it for the most part. However, I think Cena was way too protected in this cage match. He had Bray beat on four or five occasions, but Harper and Rowan stepped in and prevented Cena from winning. I’m okay with that happening once or twice, but four or five times is too much.
Plus, Bray hit Sister Abigail to Cena and had a chance to pin him in the ring. Instead, he opted to walk out of the cage. I know it may not sound like a big deal, but after everything that happened in the match, Bray pinning Cena would have been ideal and the right move. Instead, Bray walked out of the cage, which made him look even weaker than he already looked.
I understand WWE protecting Cena. They need to protect him because he is the face of the WWE and the number one guy. But, unfortunately, WWE took it a bit too far and protected him so much that it made Bray Wyatt look weak.
Grade: B
Paige (c) vs. Tamina Snuka (Divas Title)
Match: When the bell rang, Paige wrestled smart. She hit Tamina with some innovative moves and dodged every attack Tamina threw at her. However, Tamina turned the tables by planting Paige with a Super Kick.
Towards the end of the bout, Paige hit Tamina with a kind of botched Sunset Flip Power Bomb and looked to have gotten a three count, but the referee said it was two. Paige locked in the Scorpion Cross Lock, which forced Tamina to tap out.
Reaction: Even though Tamina noticeably yelled out spots and botched a few moves along with Paige, this was one of the better Divas bouts we have seen in quite some time. The match lasted longer than six minutes, which has to Divas singles match PPV record.
Paige hit some innovative moves and did her best working a match with Tamina, but the Samoan just isn’t that great in the ring and it’s obvious to see that. Fans are aching for a Paige and AJ Lee feud, so give it to us, WWE!
Grade: C+ (for a Divas match)
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kane (WWE World Heavyweight Title)
Match: Bryan didn’t waste any time as he attacked Kane as soon as the match started. Bryan wanted to get revenge after the Big Red Machine put his hands on his new wife, Brie. Bryan hit Kane with a kendo stick, but a swift uppercut from Kane stopped Bryan’s momentum.
Kane grabbed a chair and hit Bryan multiple times. He set up the former vegan for a Choke Slam, but Bryan wiggled out. Half-way through the bout, Kane had Bryan lying on top of the announce table. Bryan worked up the courage to fight him off and delivered an impressive Tornado DDT off the announce table.
The fight moved backstage and into the parking lot. After using some props like a car and fire extinguisher, Bryan found a crow bar and nailed Kane across the head with it. The Devil’s Favorite Demon was knocked out cold, but Bryan couldn’t drag his body back to the ring in order to pin him.
Bryan put on his thinking cap, found a forklift, and drove the forklift with Kane on the vehicle back to the arena. The crowd didn’t seem like they were too into the match, but after Bryan dumped Kane back into the ring and he started the Yes chant, the crowd was finally alive. Bryan jumped from the top of the forklift and executed a beautiful diving head-butt to Kane, but only got a near-fall.
After gaining the upper hand and Choke Slamming Bryan through the announce table (not the Spanish announce table, surprisingly), Kane pulled out a table, gasoline and a lighter. Kane lit the table on fire and was about to do dastardly things to Bryan. However, Bryan fought Kane off, kicked him in the groin, and pushed him into the flaming table.
WWE officials had fire extinguishers in hand and sprayed Kane so that he was not on fire anymore. As Kane got back into the ring, Bryan nailed him with his running knee finisher and picked up the win. Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Title.
Reaction: Daniel Bryan vs. Kane was a respectable main event. It was arguably the second best match on the card and both competitors definitely made use of the “Extreme Rules” rules. The crowd wasn’t as loud as they usually are for Bryan, but once he stood on top of that fork lift and started a “YES” chant, they woke up.
Bryan driving the fork lift was a bit corny. It didn’t get a big reaction and fans have seen this kind of shenanigans plenty times before. However, Bryan’s flying head-butt off the lift was pretty special. Kane going through a table lit on fire was cool, but it didn’t have that Joey Styles “oh my god” feel to it. Mick Foley vs. Edge at WrestleMania had a much more impactful table-on-fire spot and that’s what I think was missing from this bout. In my opinion, everything happened too fast.
A Daniel Bryan vs. Kane feud may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’d like to see Stephanie McMahon and Brie play a bigger role. Kane clearly isn’t done with the Dragon and if they want to make things interesting, bring in the hot women!
Grade: B+
Extreme Rules 2014 Quick Results (winners in bold):
El Torito vs. Hornswoggle
RVD vs. Jack Swagger vs. Cesaro
Alexander Rusev vs. R-Truth & Xavier Woods
Big E (c) vs. Bad News Barrett (Intercontinental Title)
The Shield vs. Evolution
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt (Steel Cage Match)
Paige (c) vs. Tamina Snuka (Divas Title)
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kane (WWE World Heavyweight Title)