Sunday night marked the latest installment of the WWE annual Extreme Rules Pay Per View. The television show turned out to be a shocker on most fronts, with all the major titles changing hands. Here is a match by match recap of Extreme Rules:
Jeff Hardy Beats Edge; CM Punk cashes in Money in the Bank to become new World Heavyweight Champion - This match was one of the more exciting ones of the night. This was largely due to the fact that Jeff Hardy and Edge mixed with ladders means high risk. They delivered on that front in a big way. Jeff Hardy beat the Rated R Superstar, and then moments later lost the newly won World Championship to Money in the Bank winner C.M. Punk. I am not sure what the WWE is thinking here, but I am guessing that a CM Punk/Jeff Hardy feud is on the way.
Batista Beats Randy Orton in Steel Cage Match (New WWE Champion)- This match simply makes me sick. I am not a fan of Batista, and the WWE just ruined what they had been building for months with Randy Orton’s character. Orton was made to look like a fool for much of the match, and not the unbeateable superstar that he was going into the match. Hopefully, they will have the belt back on Orton before Raw is over with. Batista is not a WWE Champion in my opinion.
Tommy Dreamer Beats Christian & Jack Swagger in Triple Threat Hardcore Rules Match (New ECW Champion)- In a really cool move by the WWE, Tommy Dreamer was allowed the win in this championship match up. I am really hoping for a great feud with Christian here, but I have a feeling that Dreamer will instead feud with Swagger. Christian may be moving on to the big show. We will see.
Chris Jericho Beats Rey Mysterio in No Holds Barred Match (New Intercontinental Champion)- In a match that saw Jericho’s hateful character finally get gold again, Mysterio was simply a pawn. Anyone that follows wrestling knew this was coming, especially after Mysterio’s victory over Jericho at Judgement Day. This should make for a great heel run for the Intercontinental title, and it is good for the WWE and Smackdown in particular.
John Cena Beats Big Show (Submission Match)- In yet another rediculous win, Cena is made to look like superman. This storyline was old, and I hope it is over.
CM Punk Beats Umaga (Samoan Strap Match)- CM Punk knocks out the Samoan Bulldozer with a go-to-sleep as a prelude to his huge win later in the night. This was a very entertaining match up.
Santina Marella Beats Vickie Guerrero in Hog Pen Match (New Miss WrestleMania)- See John Cena above. Hopefully the WWE will put this stupid storyline to sleep now.
United States Champion Kofi Kingston wins Fatal Four Way Match - In what was the best match of the night, Kofi Kingston keeps the US Title. Kofi Kingston has deserved a push for a year now, and hopefully this is the beginning of a youth movement in the WWE. It is time for Kofi, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and others to finally step into the spotlight.
