[instrumental music]
[exciting music playing]
[Michael] Tonight, WWE superstars take it to the max.
Tonight, they go extreme.
Anything goes. There are no rules.
It's Extreme Rules.
Two massive egos,
both men wanting to run the show.
Team Hell No is back.
How much do they have left
for the prestigious Intercontinental Championship?
Styles will defend the WWE title.
[Rusev] It's gonna be a great Rusev Day.
[Michael] Lashley didn't come back
to be a member of the roster,
he wants to be at the top.
[Bobby Lashley] I'm a man around here.
I'm The Big Dog who runs this yard.
[woman] It's gonna be Carmella
defending her Smack Down Women's Championship
against Asuka.
[Corey] Ellsworth will now be suspended above the ring in a shark cage.
[screams]
[Bray] You reek of fear.
I invited Braun because you keep running from him.
[Michael] Owens is running out of the arena.
[Bray] Where'd Kevin Owens go?
[man] The two of you will be in a steel cage.
[Owens] No, no, no.
[Carmella] I shocked the entire world
when I cashed in.
From this moment on,
it's just about me.
[woman] This needs to end.
With Ronda Rousey sitting ringside,
it will.
[exciting music ends]
[Michael] The WWE Universe
is about to get extreme.
Oh, my god.
[Coach] Look out.
[Corey] Anything goes.
It's a big fight feel.
[Coach] These two might destroy each other.
[Michael] There will be chaos, I assure you.
[Coach] Oh, no.
You've got to be kidding me.
[man] And now, Tapout Athletic Wear
presents Extreme Rules.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] For the 10th time in WWE history
WWE goes extreme.
You are looking live at the PPG Paints Arena
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This is WWE Extreme Rules.
[glass breaks]
[man vocalizes]
-[crowd cheering] -[piano music playing]
I will delete you.
[battery sound]
[rewind sound]
-[crowd cheering] -[exciting music playing]
[Michael] The fireflies are out
in Pittsburgh to greet The Tag Team
known as the Deleter of Worlds,
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt,
The Raw Tag Team Champions.
[piano music playing]
[Michael] After Wrestlemania this year,
The Raw Tag Team titles were vacated
when Braun Strowman won the gold
with a ten-year-old kid.
At the greatest Royal Rumble event
in Saudi Arabia,
Bray and Matt battled The Bar
to win the vacant Raw Tag Team titles.
[Coach] We've had a lot of fun,
they've had a lot of fun the last few weeks.
But boys, tonight, all that fun,
you got to throw it out
because when you put your Raw Tag Team titles on the line,
it's business.
And business tonight is all that matters.
[Corey] I spoke to Matt Hardy today
and he guaranteed me a successful championship defense
in the Municipality of Steel.
[Michael] Hardy hasn't fared well in one-on-one action
over the past three weeks
on Monday Night Raw against Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas.
But as a tag team,
Hardy and Wyatt are undefeated
since joining up as a team a number of months ago.
[Coach] Yeah. This is the city that knows all about great teams,
great dynasties, great championships.
You don't always have to be on the same page,
you just have to be going in the same direction.
And these two, as hard as it is to believe,
have absolutely been going in the right direction
for a couple of months.
[Michael] Why is it hard to believe?
It's woken wisdom.
They're united by being woken.
It's a powerful force
that drives everyone that believes.
I wouldn't expect an obsolete mule like you to understand.
[Coach] I guess I just remember when Matt threw Bray into a lake.
[Michael] The lake of reincarnation, Jonathan [laughs] .
[man singing]
-[man] Wonderful. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Matt Hardy said in a tweet
earlier in the week
that change is inevitable.
[crowd cheering]
[exciting music playing]
[Michael] The woken movement alive and well here in Pittsburgh.
[rock music playing]
[bell ringing]
[woman] The following contest is scheduled for one fall,
and it is for The Raw Tag Team Championship.
Making their way to the ring,
Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas,
the B-Team.
[Michael] The B-Team also undefeated as a team
since The Miz Left for Smack Down Live
and the Miztourage was disbanded
here on Monday Night Raw.
So the Raw Tag Team titles
hang in the balance in this match
to kick off WWE Extreme Rules,
of course, a dual-branded pay-per-view event.
We represent Monday Night Raw
but also joining us at ringside tonight,
the Spanish Announce Team of Carlos Cabrera and Marcelo Rodríguez.
[Speaking in Spanish]
[speaking in Spanish]
[Michael] And our German Announce Team
of Calvin Knie, Carsten Schaefer, and Tim Haber.
[Speaking in German]
Here in Pittsburgh, it's extreme.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Capacity crowd here
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
And joining the WWE fans here
at ringside, Ronda Rousey,
who has been suspended
from Monday Night Raw.
That suspension is lifted come Wednesday.
Tonight, she bought a ticket. She's in the front row
-for Extreme Rules. -Yeah! Front row.
[Coach] It certainly looks like she is excited to be here.
I wonder if Nia and Alexa
will feel the same way.
[rock music playing]
[crowd chatter]
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Now the B-Team
against Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy.
And a momentum really on,
perhaps, the side of the B-Team, Corey,
considering singles victories over the past weeks.
[Corey] I agree with you.
Both members of the B-Team at separate points,
picking up victories over Matt Hardy
in Bray Wyatt's absence.
Tonight, the Deleter of Worlds
need to right the ship
or give up their Tag Team Championships.
[Coach] The B-Team
has been experiencing unprecedented success.
And I don't think there's two competitors
on the bill tonight
that have more to gain than the B-Team does
with a victory.
[Michael] Whipped into the corner is Bo Dallas
as Matt Hardy starts things off against Dallas.
Dallas knocking off Hardy last week
in one-on-one action.
[Corey] The primal fighting style of Hardy
just unleashed on Bo Dallas.
[Michael] Hardy has been embarrassed
the past number of weeks in singles action.
Defeated by Axel and Dallas. Cover here on Bo, kick-out at two.
So Matt believing
he has something to prove here tonight.
[Corey] Smart move by Bo Dallas.
[man] You all right. Take him out.
[Michael] Now looking to regroup.
Axel and Dallas at ringside.
[Coach] It'll be interesting to see how they handle
the big stage of an Extreme Rules pay-per-view
and a chance to become the Raw Tag Team Champions
for the very first time.
And sometimes, it starts to speed up,
how you handle it
is important at the beginning of the match.
[Michae] Earlier today on WWE now live,
Bo Dallas said that, "tonight is our night.
We've had some opportunities
-and now, we try to win the titles." -[crowd cheering]
[Coach] Whoa, look at Bray.
Give me a piece.
[Michael] And Bray Wyatt
will enter the matchup.
Bray Wyatt said earlier,
-"a great general never underestimates." -You think I'm scared of you?
[Michael] "I live to die, I died to live."
That is what Bray faces here
tonight in this matchup with Bo Dallas.
[man] Eat him.
Eat him. Eat him.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] The test is whether the B-Team
can handle the mind games of Bray and Hardy.
-Right off the bat, -[crowd jeering]
Dallas answering some mind games of his own,
-trying to psyche out The Eater of Worlds. -[Bray shouts]
[Coach] We've seen these two celebrate
at length,
victories.
If they win tonight what their celebration will look like.
[Michael] Up and down Carson street.
They'll be in Mario's.
It'll be like a Stanley Cup victory for the penguins here.
-[Coach] No doubt. -[Corey] Oh.
[Michael] Man. Bray…
[Coach] Well, Bray is all business fast.
[groans]
[Michael] And Bray Wyatt now,
delivering forearms to the back of the neck of Curtis Axel.
[Bray laughs]
[Michael laughs] The demented laughter
from Bray Wyatt.
Okay. How many times you've seen it,
you never get used to it,
a superstar so unusual as Bray Wyatt.
[Michael] Boom. And a headbutt to the chest.
[Coach] Like a battering ram.
[Michael] And Wyatt dropping Axel
and now stomping on the fingers of Curtis Axel.
[Coach] So unorthodox.
[crowd clapping]
[Michael] I think you could say the same for both teams, Coach.
Unorthodox offensive style
for both the B-Team and Tag Team Champions.
Bray got caught
as Axel sidestepped,
Curtis planting the boots
to the midsection of Bray Wyatt.
[Coach] I was interested to see the line-up tonight
because I thought with B-Team, they didn't wanna sit around.
They didn't wanna sit and get in their heads.
-I think it's an advantage. -[Corey] Oh.
[Michael] Tell me again, Coach.
[Coach] Maybe not.
[Michael] Here's Hardy.
Matt Hardy with the forearm
to the jaw of Curtis Axel
and big right hand by Hardy.
[Curtis shouts]
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] A very strange Matt Hardy
taking control of this match.
[Coach] Woken, Cole, not strange.
There's nothing strange or unusual when you understand the wisdom.
[Matt shouts]
-Delete. -[Michael] I don't understand it.
[Coach] Yeah, Michael, I want to.
-[Michael] Matt Hardy follows up with… -Delete.
[Michael] …a clothesline as he looks to delete Curtis Axel.
[Matt shouts]
[Michael] Is this pace what you expected in the start of this matchup?
[Corey] It's far from what I expected.
The B-Team's done a pretty good job
of holding their own, though, to this point.
[Michael] Hardy caught Axel in the face, up to the second rope.
-[Matt shouts] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And Hardy delivers the elbow
to the chest of Axel.
Is it enough to retain the gold?
Hooks the leg and a kick-out by Axel at two.
[Corey] I'll be honest, I think the pace is faster than what I expected.
I think what Bray and Matt are trying to do
is really punch these two in the mouth
and get them off their game.
[Michael] Come out and…
[Corey] Yeah. -[Michael] …a deletion.
[wrestlers groan and shout]
[Michael] Looking for the side effect and Axel able to counter.
[Axel shouts]
[Michael] The aggression Axel needs
but got to be careful not to get himself disqualified.
-Oh. -[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Cowboy boot on Matt Hardy's face.
[Corey] The B-Team looking to
somehow take over this match
and win the Raw Tag Team titles.
And what story that would be,
as Dallas comes in off the tag, now the double-team.
[Coach] Who'd have thought Miz going to Smack Down Live
would open up literally a career, a path, a journey
for the B-Team.
[Michael] Bo Dallas said they're getting their opportunity.
Felt like in some ways Miz helped them,
and he held them back.
And now, for the B-Team, a chance to win.
Cover, hook to the leg.
And a kick-out by Hardy.
[Corey] It sounds ungrateful coming from Dallas or Axel.
The Miz was nothing but altruistic on both of these individuals.
Helped their career exponentially.
-[Coach] What? [laughs] -[man] Let's go, Matt Hardy.
[Coach] Miz would agree with you.
-[Corey] He paid them to watch his back. -[man] Let's go.
[Michael] That's how the economy starts. You get a job and money
-and then, you spend it and everyone wins. -[wrestler groans]
[Michael] Bo Dallas backing Hardy
into the corner and the B-Team doing a great job,
keeping Hardy isolated.
And Axel in off the tag.
[wrestlers shout]
[Coach] I guarantee you, if you would have asked these two, a month ago--
-[Michael] Oh. -[Coach] …did it--
[Michael] Hardy, for the titles.
Almost had him and a near-fall.
[Coach] If you'd have asked these two if they'd have a chance
at the Tag Team titles at Extreme Rules,
I think if they were being honest with you and with us,
they would have told you, "absolutely not."
It's unprecedented what we're seeing.
[Michael] Axel burying the knee in the spine and now torturing Matt Hardy.
[Michael] Curtis Axel was once a Tag Team Champion
-all the way back in 2011. -[crowd clapping]
-[Michael] Seven years ago. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] He hopes to reclaim the gold tonight.
Axel a former Intercontinental Champion.
Hardy, a former USA Champion
-in one of the great Tag Teams-- [Coach] There it is.
[Michael] …side effect connecting. Create space.
Can he make a tag now to Bray Wyatt?
Come on, Matt. Come on, Matt.
[crowd clapping]
[Coach] Bray Wyatt doing his best to tally the woken warrior.
Here comes Wyatt.
[Corey] And Bo Dallas legal as well.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Bray
picking up the pace as he backs Bo into the corner.
[man laughs]
-[Corey] Uh-oh. -[Michael] Wyatt--
-[Coach] Uh-oh. -[man] Boom.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Bo Dallas to meet…
Went for sister Abigail and Axel…
broke that up momentarily.
Bo back to his feet, misses wildly.
And now he plants Bo.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] Boy, Bray looks fresh
and demented all at the same time.
-[Michael] Bray came to play. -[Coach] Yeah.
-[crowd cheering] -[Matt] One more!
[Michael] Tag.
[referee] C'mon, get up.
[Michael] Matt Hardy's legal. Bray's gonna set
Bo Dallas up,
looking to put him away here.
[Coach] Here comes Axel back in the fray momentarily.
Oh, no.
[Michael] Bray blasted out of the ring.
-Bo Dallas now. -[crowd cheering]
-[crowd] Oh! -[Michael] The neckbreaker
off the top rope.
Cover by Bo. Hook of the leg.
-Got him! -[bell ringing]
-[Michael] The B-Team are the champions. -[rock music playing]
[woman] Your winners
and the new Raw Tag Team Champions,
the B-Team.
[Michael] It was Matt Hardy earlier tonight
who said that change is inevitable.
Indeed it is, because the B-Team
are Tag Team Champions.
[Coach] Did that just happen?
This looks like a Cinderella story.
[Michael] That's like the pirates over the weekend sweep.
The B-Team are the Tag Team Champions.
Can you believe it?
Did anyone ever see this day coming?
[Coach] They have gone from backup dancers
in the shadows
to front and center Tag Team Champions.
-It's amazing. -[Corey] We remember following
the immaculate reception with Franco Harris.
This is right up there. This is miraculous [laughs] .
-[rock music playing] -Yeah!
[Coach] Boy, look at the smiles, the reaction.
We did it.
[Coach] You got to feel great for those two guys.
[Michael] What a win, what a win for the B-Team.
[woman] Gentlemen, wow.
You went from never winning a match
to winning the Raw Tag Team Championship together.
[crowd cheering]
How does that feel?
[crowd cheering]
[Bray sighs]
[sighs] How do you think we feel?
Well, how does a rainbow feel?
How did Stretch Armstrong feel
when he landed on the moon?
-This is unbelievable. -[crowd cheering]
B-Team!
We proved that the "B"
in B-Team stands for best.
B-Team!
-[crowd] B-Team! -B-Team!
-[Michael] Sure how Bray will do this. -[Coach] I'll do it. B-Team!
B-Team!
Wow! Heads up, baby.
[Michael] Let's be glad we paid respects to the astronaut,
-Stretch Armstrong. -[Coach] I was thinking the same thing!
[Michael ] Coach, that chant suits you.
B-Team!
[Coach] That's hilarious.
That's what I'm talking about.
Joining me now,
Raw's General Manager, Kurt Angle.
[crowd cheering]
[woman] Kurt, you have requested this interview
because you have information
regarding the Universal Championship?
Yes, I do.
I recently reopened negotiations
with Paul Heyman and the rest of Brock Lesnar's team
of when his next title defense would be.
Unfortunately, Paul Heyman
informed me Brock is not interested in returning
at this time.
I'm tired of it.
I know the WWE Universe is tired of it.
Brock refused to face the winner of a multi-man matchup
put together a few weeks ago,
and I had to cancel that match.
Brock refuses to face any opponent here in the WWE,
but yet shows up at UFC
and gets in the face of their champion.
So I'm issuing Brock Lesnar an ultimatum.
He either shows up tomorrow night on Raw
or he could come to terms of an agreement
of when his next title defense would be
or I'm gonna strip Brock Lesnar of the Universal Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] So Kurt Angle with the news.
Lesnar and Heyman,
have some thinking to do over the next 24 hours.
I respect what Angle is trying to do
as general manager,
but he kind of just threatened Brock.
You don't want an angry beast incarnate.
Okay. That is if Brock Lesnar shows up
and is angry.
But let's think about this.
Did you hear the reaction?
No more Universal Champion
unless he comes to terms.
Again, two things have to happen.
One has to happen,
Brock shows up on Raw tomorrow,
or agrees to terms for his next title opportunity
or he's stripped of the Universal Championship.
-[crowd cheering] -[rock music playing]
[Michael] Bálor Club
has come to Pittsburgh.
-[crowd cheering] -[exciting music playing]
[bell ringing]
[woman] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Bray,
County Wicklow, Ireland,
Finn Bálor.
[Michael] Corey,
Bálor's one of those athletes that really fit in to the Steel City
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
That blue-collar attitude,
never-say-die,
big heart, lots of guts.
-That's what Bálor's made of. -[Corey] Right.
The Irish blood that flows through Bálor
represents all of the same qualities.
Strong Irish community in Pittsburgh. The Rooneys, from the Steelers,
very, very big important members of the community.
Finn Bálor wildly popular in the Iron City.
[Coach] It's gonna be interesting here tonight,
you can say all you want about Bálor.
Let's be honest. He let the Constable get to him.
He's let the Constable get underneath his skin.
And whether you like to admit it or not,
he is the underdog out here tonight.
[Michael] He may be the underdog
but I look at things the other way.
I think it's Finn Bálor
who has gotten under the skin
of "Constable" Corbin.
[Coach] I can verify it.
And since Finn Bálor arrived in WWE,
he's been under the skin of Baron Corbin.
Baron feels like
the hype was not warranted.
That Bálor doesn't deserve the spot
because he's too small.
[exciting music playing]
[Corey] On the other hand, Bálor doesn't have much respect for how Corbin
got to where he's at, being appointed by Stephanie McMahon.
[rock music playing]
[Coach] Ever since he became the Constable,
I feel like he fitted to a role
that not only he is comfortable with,
but now he is starting to be dominant in real life
his potential, talking about Baron Corbin.
[Michael] What does the Constable do?
He was appointed by Stephanie McMahon, the commissioner of Monday Night Raw.
And basically, he, well, helps
the checks and balances,
makes sure General Manager Kurt Angle
-does the job he was appointed to do. -[Coach] Guess what?
Angle's been doing a better job
since Baron Corbin showed up.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Interesting to hear what the Constable or Stephanie McMahon
have to think about the ultimatum
handed out by Kurt Angle
toward the Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar
a few moments ago.
Nonetheless, this battle here
between Corbin and Finn Bálor
is really been about who is the
"bigger man."
[rock music playing]
[woman] His opponent, from Kansas City,
weighing 285 pounds,
-"Constable" Baron Corbin. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Stephanie McMahon's personally appointed Constable
of Monday Night Raw, Baron Corbin.
[rock music playing]
[Coach] Jojo should be sassing the Constable?
[woman] Ladies and gentlemen, his opponent
Stephanie McMahon has personally appointed Constable of Raw,
-Baron Corbin. -[crowd jeering]
[Coach] Oh, there's about, I don't know, 18,000 people
that need to be reminded of things from time to time.
[Michael] For the first time ever,
Bálor and Corbin go one-on-one
here tonight at Extreme Rules.
They've had a number of tag team encounters over the years.
-The matchup is underway. -[bell ringing]
[Michael] Corbin said, "I'm so talented,
I can pretty much do anything possible."
[wrestlers groan]
[Coach] Bálor refers to himself
as the extraordinary man who does extraordinary things.
Pound-for-pound the best around.
All sorts of clever monikers. Corbin wants to knock him out.
[Corey] I will say this, that Finn
has shown us, specifically the last four to six months
that, yes, he is undersized
but no matter who he's in there with,
he's always in the match.
He's always ultra-competitive.
[Michael] You know --
[Coach] Bálor's fearless, sometimes to a fault,
to his own detriment.
[Michael] Bálor was a guest of our all-star panel
on the Extreme Rules kick-off show,
which, airs an hour before the--
all of our dual-branded pay-per-view events.
Bálor said that, "listen,
hey, I may be half as big
as Corbin but twice as good.
I've spent my entire career
battling men bigger than me.
I'm not gonna sweat 'Constable' Corbin tonight."
[Coach] Is that somebody
who's saying it to make himself
-believe it? -[Michael] No.
-[Coach] Does he believes it? -[Michael] No, and Baron…
[Corey] When it comes to technique, absolutely.
If you're talking about in-ring maneuvers,
-agility, Finn Bálor-- -[punch sound]
-[Corey] …yes, probably has a step or two on Corbin.
He's traveled the globe and learned this for years.
That's why there are weight classes
in combat sports many times
because one right hand
for Corbin can totally turn your lights out,
no matter how good the technique.
[Michael] Corbin taking it
-to Bálor in the corner. -[Corey] Ruthless.
[Coach] It's clear that the game plan is being physical
and as dominant early
as Baron Corbin could possibly be.
-He's too small. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Again with the,
"he's too small,"
pointed toward Finn Bálor. -Come on.
[Michael] Constable Corbin, of course, a former mister Money in the Bank.
Although… I wanna do it.
[Coach] Don't do it.
[Michael] One of a few who have--
failed to cash in the contract--
[Coach] Keep reminding people of that, there's gonna be repercussions.
[man] Come on, Finn.
[Michael] Many would say that's just made Corbin
a hungrier competitor.
[Corey] I'd agree.
[Michael] Corbin will admit that
but you keep reminding people he came up short.
The Constable doesn't like that.
[Coach] There's no way he can hear, Michael,
-from this far. -[Michael] We don't have on-demand
on the WWE network, right? [laughs]
[Corey] Now wrestling Corbin--
wrestling Finn Bálor back to the mat again
and continues to control the left arm of Finn Bálor.
Bálor, first ever
Universal Champion.
Won the title a number of years ago
and had to relinquish 24 hours later due to his shoulder injury.
[Coach] I think that, ultimately, is what gets Finn,
is that-- Oh, because of injury.
He had to relinquish
and it's taken him years now
-to get back to this. -[Corbin shouts]
[Coach] He doesn't like to be reminded of that.
[Michael] Corbin never short on confidence,
-careful. -[Corey] Look.
[Coach] Unbelievable.
[Michael] And Bálor paid.
Cover by the Constable.
Both legs hooked and a kick-out at two.
[Corey] Finn Bálor
probably has the speed advantage on Corbin,
that doesn't mean Corbin
does not possess freaky speed of his own.
An unreal athlete.
[Coach] An incredible athlete, Corey.
Golden Gloves Champion, a former NFL player,
-Corbin with all the physical tools. -[Finn groans]
[Coach] Anybody will tell you whether you're talking NBA superstar,
NFL player, or WWE superstar,
the difference between everybody else and them
size, quickness.
That's what we saw from Corbin.
[Michael] The other thing about Corbin is he's home-grown.
He learned his skills in WWE
at the Performance Center.
[Corey] You're right.
That's like being drafted
right into the major leagues.
-You learn to swim or you sink. -Wanna get off the game?
-[crowd chatter] -[Corbin] No.
[Michael] And Corbin continuing to trash-talk Finn Bálor
as he has been dominating this matchup.
Though Bálor out to the apron, uses his quickness, buries a shoulder
-into the gut of Constable-- Oh, my god.
What a right by Corbin.
Bálor may be out.
[crowd chatter]
-[Corey] Night, night. -[Coach] It's over.
[Michael] Here's the cover to put Bálor away
and a nonchalant cover,
and Bálor kicked out.
[Coach] This is where I criticize Corbin.
I like the trash-talk
but you can't be lax
and you can't take Finn Bálor for granted
-because if you do… -[Michael] You're right.
Let's take another look-- Boom. What a forearm.
[Corey] Absolutely, deadly right
from the Constable.
I am amazed that Bálor escaped this one.
[Michael] Back to work on the left arm, the neck,
the shoulder of Finn Bálor
by the much larger "Constable" Corbin.
[Coach] You swag before the match,
you swag after,
but when you're in the match,
you take everybody like
they're the absolute world champ.
[Michael] A great strategy and I agree,
especially when it comes to a superstar the caliber of Finn Bálor.
[Michael] This isn't some run-of-the-mill superstar
who's on a hot streak business.
Bálor, the first Universal Champion
and accolades a mile long.
[Coach] Absolutely.
-[crowd cheering] -[groans]
[Michael] Look at Finn, tremendous heart as he fights back to the match
just shoved into the corner by Corbin.
Bálor caught him in the face with a double boot.
[punch sounds]
Now, Finn looking to pick up the pace
as he drops Corbin.
Bálor's got to quicken the pace
in this match to have a chance.
[Coach] But every time Finn
has attempted to speed up,
the Constable slows it right back down.
[Corey] Step-up enzuigiri caught--
-[Michael] Bad place for Corbin. -[Corey] …on the jaw.
[Michael] This is in Bálor's drop zone.
Finn gonna head up to the top rope.
-[Coach] Took too long. -[Michael] Corbin back to his feet.
-On Finn. Oh, no. -[crowd yelling]
[Coach] From the top rope. Bálor in trouble.
-Oh! -[Michael] That chokeslam backbreaker.
Cover, hook to the leg
and a kick-out by Bálor at two and a half.
Near-fall and the Constable's livid.
-[Coach] He's got to watch it. -Got the shoulder up.
[Coach] Can't lay your hands on the referee
or get that close.
Focus on Finn.
[groans]
[Michael] I think Corbin's frustrated
over the fact that Bálor was able to kick out of this.
-[Corbin groans] -[Michael] Look at the height.
Bálor's spine bending backwards
across the knee of Corbin.
But once again, the Irishman
toughs his way out of that one.
[Corey] The irate Corbin
right in referee John Cone's face
and now, looking to take his frustration out
on his opponent here.
[Coach] If we're being objective,
I think this is as good
as Baron Corbin has looked
maybe in his career.
[Michael] So far, so good for "Constable" Corbin.
In fact, Ronda Rousey
watching this matchup, has been impressed.
She's been instagramming throughout,
as Corbin misses wildly
and-- Oh! The sling blade by Bálor.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] Now, what does he got?
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Guts, determination, and deep six.
[Michael] Is it enough to put Bálor away?
Cover, shoulders down.
-Again, Bálor kicks out. -[Corbin groans]
[Michael] Give Bálor credit
to hang in this match.
[Coach] Every count
is getting a little bit longer.
There's only gonna be so much
-that Bálor's gonna be able to take. [Michael] Right.
Only so much punishment the human body can withstand.
I don't care how tough you are.
It seems that
just as tough as Finn Bálor is,
Corbin seems to have punishment to dish out.
[Coach] As frustrated as Baron has been the last minutes,
I think he's thoroughly enjoying
the performance, and yes,
it's a performance that he's putting on
in front of these good fans here
in Pittsburgh tonight.
[Corey] Look at these brutal 12-6 elbows
right between the shoulder blades of Bálor.
[crowd chatter]
[Corbin grunts]
[Michael] Finn might be out.
[crowd chatter]
-Deadweight now. -[Corbin grunts]
[Michael] Uh-oh. Bálor though.
[crowd cheering]
-[Coach] Nice. -[Corey] Stomp right to the chest.
[Coach] He's got to keep Corbin off
his feet.
[Michael] But Corbin, possessed,
instinctively getting back up
to his feet but Bálor--
[Coach] Oh!
[Michael] Corbin to the corner.
-Bálor now with Corbin there. -[crowd cheering]
[Coach] The only way you keep it even.
[Michael] Bálor looking to go up top,
looking for the coup de grâce.
Finn Bálor looking to put this matchup away.
Can he do it here?
-And again, Corbin. -[Coach] Oh.
Bálor at this point needs a Hail Mary.
That wasn't the answer.
[punch sound]
-[Coach] Playing-- -[Corey] Looking for the End of Days.
However, Finn Bálor…
[commentators] Inside cradle.
-[Michael] Shoulders down. -[Coach] Oh.
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Bálor got him.
[rock music playing]
[woman] Here is your winner,
Finn Bálor.
[Corey] Corbin is beside himself
with good reason.
Talk about
as close to a surefire victory as you can have.
Corbin let it slip through his fingers.
[Coach] As good as he looks and as good as he was,
you can see the look on Baron Corbin's face.
He understands all that matters
is the end game, the W, the finish.
And Finn Bálor is the man
with his hands in the air.
[Michael] What an incredible performance by Bálor here tonight.
Every time he went for the coup de grâce,
Corbin able to counter.
But in the end, as Corbin went
for End of Days,
Finn Bálor turns it into an inside cradle
and picks up a massive win here tonight.
[Corey] Corbin looking to put the final nail
in the coffin,
but Bálor just a hair too quick,
-able to apply an inside cradle, -[bell ringing]
[Corey] and shock the Constable
and pick up a big time victory
in Pittsburgh.
[Coach] You know I'm better
better than the rest of us but
it's gonna be about 24 hours.
And the Constable is gonna have
to figure out what does he do
with Finn Bálor or is it just a respect thing,
and says, "you know what? You beat me, fair and square."
[Corey] This isn't about respect.
The Constable's got it out
even worse for Finn Bálor.
[rock music playing]
[exciting music playing]
And that's right, the next time WWE comes to you
on pay-per-view will be five weeks away
from tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
It's the biggest event of the summer,
Summer Slam.
Such an exciting night already here at Extreme Rules.
Now, we'll talk about the upcoming
Smack Down Women's Championship match
here between Carmella and Asuka.
We understand James Ellsworth
will be suspended above the ring.
And we're being told right now
a camera's been dispatched to a situation
that's going on backstage, and we're gonna…
-[wrestlers shout] -[Michael] My god.
[Corey] The Bludgeon Brothers and…
-[Coach] Team Hell No. -[groans]
-[Corey] Supposed to be a Smack Down Tag Team title match tonight
between these teams.
[groans]
[wrestlers shout]
-[wrestlers shout] -Yeah.
[grunts]
-[Michael] Gonna be destruction…
-[Corey] No! -[Michael] Don't. With the mallet.
[groans]
[woman] Kane. Get here. Go on.
Get some people.
We need medical attention, ASAP.
[groans]
[woman] Derek, go get medical attention…
[referee] Hey, hey.
[Corey] We knew that physicality
was gonna be next level in this Tag Team Matchup
but the Bludgeon didn't wanna wait.
You got to ask what kind of condition is Daniel Bryan
and what kind of condition is Kane in.
He might have a broken ankle and leg.
Ridiculous shot with the mallet.
Paige was on the scene.
We're gonna keep an eye on this
as the Smack Down Tag Team titles
are scheduled to be
defended later on tonight
by the Bludgeon Brothers against Team Hell No.
But coming up here in a moment,
Smack Down's Women's Championship
will be defended as
Asuka has another opportunity as
Carmella defends her title.
Her insurance policy,
James Ellsworth will be suspended
above the ring in a shark cage.
Can Asuka capture the title
and reverse the events of last month
at Money in the Bank?
[exciting music playing]
[man] The following contest scheduled for one for all
is for the Smack Down Women's Championship.
[yells]
[Michael] It's all about the title tonight for Asuka.
[Coach] Carmella's in a bad way right now.
[Corey] The championship is in danger.
We're gonna have a new champion.
-[Coach] What the-- -[Corey] What?
[intriguing music playing]
-[crowd cheering] -[Coach] Oh!
It's Ellsworth!
[Corey] Got to be kidding me.
[Michael] Oh, a kick from Carmella.
[bell ringing]
-♪ Let's go ♪ -[Coach] Mella is Money
and James Ellsworth is back.
[Carmella] I did the unthinkable.
[rock music playing]
I beat Asuka.
[rock music playing]
You're better than Asuka.
[Coach] Uh-oh.
[Michael] The Empress's making a beeline towards the ring.
-[Coach] Oh. -[Michael laughs]
[Michael] Oh, and Carmella.
[Coach] Carmella escapes.
Ellsworth paid dividends once again.
[rock music playing]
[Corey] Brace yourself for a battle
of the sexes.
[man] Women might not be ready for Asuka but I'm all man.
Tonight, the battle of the sexes ends.
[rock music playing]
[Corey] Oh, and here comes Asuka
right out of the gate.
[Michael] Ellsworth is hightailing it out of here.
[Michael] Oh, Asuka has finally tracked down Ellsworth.
Oh, and Carmella.
-[Corey] Of course. -[Coach] Genius.
[exciting music playing]
[Carmella] James,
you're not able to run away until next week
because you and Asuka have yourself
a lumberjack match.
[man] I know this must be tempting.
But please, ladies,
try to show some restraint tonight.
[woman speaking indistinctly]
You are not ready for Asuka.
[Michael] If Asuka could take out Ellsworth,
the men might not be an issue.
[Coach] My god. Asuka lock.
Ellsworth taps out to Asuka.
[Michael] Oh, and now Carmella after the fact here.
Ooh, and Asuka's not gonna stand for it.
[Corey] Oh. [laughs]
Here's your preview for Sunday, Carmella.
-[spray sound] -[Corey] Oh, what the--
[Coach] Right in the eyes.
-[kick sound] -[Michael] Oh, Carmella.
[Carmella] And James, make sure you don't interfere at Extreme Rules.
You are gonna be suspended
above the ring in a shark cage.
[Corey] Bad news for James Ellsworth.
[Michael] And a harsh reality for Carmella.
[exciting music playing]
[crowd clapping]
[Michael] And there is the shark cage
that will house James Ellsworth
suspended above the ring
so he cannot interfere in this match
like he did at Money in the Bank.
[Coach] Wouldn't happen to a better human being.
[Michael] Great decision by Paige.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] In the words of the Empress,
"no matter who I face,
they all feel the pain."
[rock music playing]
[bell ringing]
[man] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the Smack Down Women's Championship.
In this match, James Ellsworth
will be suspended above the ring
in a shark cage.
Introducing the challenger,
from Osaka, Japan,
Asuka.
[Corey] One thing absolutely undeniable
about Asuka,
is that she has not bought into the hype train
that Mella is Money.
Asuka still supremely confident
in her abilities inside the ring.
Carmella had better be prepared
for the fight of her career tonight.
[Byron] That confidence's sky-high,
because she doesn't have to worry about the old boy toy.
She doesn't have to worry about Ellsworth.
She can put every ounce
of her focus on Carmella.
[Corey] Don't know. Ellsworth is pretty irresistible.
Knowing that he's dangling up there
at the top in the shark cage,
that's gotta be a distraction.
[Byron] Did you say Ellsworth is irresistible?
[Corey] I'd let my little sister
come to the arena for that reason.
-[Byron] God. -[Michael] What a disturbed human.
[Michael] A smile on the face of Asuka,
another opportunity
at the Smack Down Women's Championship.
The world is watching here tonight
live on the WWE network.
And we check in
with our world announcers.
First off, in Portuguese,
Marco Alfaro and Roberto Figueroa.
[Speaking in Portuguese]
[Michael] In Russian, Moti Margolin and Zhan Pomerantsev.
[Speaking in Russian]
[Michael] In Japanese, Shun Yamaguchi,
and Smack Down's number one announcer, Funaki.
[Speaking in Japanese]
[Michael] In Hindi, Obaid Kadwani and Shez Sardar.
[Speaking in Hindi]
Extreme Rules.
[Michael] Our French team, Ray Rougeau
and Jean Brassard.
[Speaking in French]
[Michael] And finally in Mandarin, Meng Ai and Sean Deng.
[Speaking in Mandarin]
[Michael] Byron, Meng said you're old to live with your parents.
[Byron] Not what I heard.
[exciting music]
[man] And her opponent,
accompanied by James Ellsworth
from Staten Island,
she is the Smack Down Women's Champion,
Carmella.
[Michael] WWE Universe, say it with me,
Mella is Money.
[Byron] I'll say something.
As confident as Carmella
is exuding here tonight,
there's got to be some nerves.
Because half of your game plan
is trapped inside of a shark cage.
[Phillips] Well, Carmella
is well aware of the value that James Ellsworth
brings to her career.
They take along well in a personal manner.
It'd be like going to Christmas dinner and see grandma
stuck at the top of the tree. It's unsettling.
[Byron] What kind of dinners?
[Michael] So after a myriad of battles of the sexes,
James Ellsworth couldn't really get anywhere
near Asuka but nonetheless,
Carmella looks extraordinarily confident
knowing that her lackey
-is in a shark cage. -[Phillips] Great.
[Byron] You can show confidence,
you can have a great catchphrase
and claim you're money,
but are you going to back it up with substance
once that bell rings?
[Phillips] Don't you see the title Carmella
is carrying with her?
That she's been carrying for months?
The Smack Down Women's Championship?
[Byron laughs] The moment I've been waiting for.
[exciting music playing]
[Michael] So they are prepping the shark cage
so that James Ellsworth can be locked inside
for this match and suspended above the ring.
[Byron] My only regret is I didn't bring
a big supersized bowl of popcorn
to enjoy the festivities.
[Michael] You go get the popcorn.
We'll call the action.
This won't last long.
Carmella's gonna dispatch of Asuka in short order.
It's a shame Ellsworth has to watch it
from the cheap seats.
[exciting music playing]
[Byron] Maybe he can do soul-searching,
maybe some DDP yoga.
[Phillips] It's not safe to do yoga
breathing at that altitude, Saxton.
[Byron] Yeah, it's a high concern.
[Phillips] I know Ellsworth
has a debilitating fear of heights.
This is inhumane.
[Byron] I think it's funny.
[Phillips] It's hilarious.
[Michael] It's about the Smack Down Women's Championship.
Carmella won the title back
in April by cashing in her money
in the bank contract on Charlotte Flair,
spent the last 96 days
as champion.
Could this be the last day? As Ellsworth--
[Phillips] There he goes.
[Michael] …begins his ascent.
[Ellsworth] Get me down.
Get me down.
[woman yells]
[Michael] This is not right.
[Byron] Oh my god.
-[Phillips] A shark cage cam. -[metal sound]
-[Byron] Awesome. -[Phillips] Great.
It's like shark week comes early.
[Michael] So Ellsworth
is locked in
and we are locked in and ready to go.
-[bell ringing] -[Byron] The Smack Down Women's title
at stake. Asuka one-on-one with Carmella.
[Carmella yells]
[Michael] Last time these two went at it
at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view last month,
Carmella had a lot of trouble with this,
the striking ability of Asuka.
[Phillips] Oh, man.
[Michael] But Mella can learn from past experiences, past mistakes.
Hiccup in the early goings.
[groans]
[Byron] I call it Asuka being prepared.
[Phillips] See?
[Asuka] James, James, James.
-[Michael] What? -[Phillips] What?
-[Asuka] James. -[Phillips] What?
-[Byron] Yeah. -[Phillips] What?
-[Byron] Ellsworth's prepared. -[Phillips] Chain?
[Michael] Oh, and Asuka.
[Byron] I don't think so.
[Phillips] Did no one frisk Ellsworth?
[Byron] He's not a criminal, Phillips.
[Phillips] He might be. He's behind bars.
[Asuka and referee yell]
[Asuka] Oh, no.
-[Byron] Oh my god. -[crowd] Ooh.
[Byron] The cover to win the title here
and Carmella able to kick out.
[Michael] Asuka should be thankful she didn't get herself disqualified
for the chain.
-[Byron] Ellsworth introduced it. -[Michael] The referee saw Asuka.
Not about who introduced it, it's who gets caught.
[Byron] How about--
[Michael] It's about who does the time.
-[Phillips] Oh. -[Michael] Watch the staircase.
[Byron] You're watching for something else.
-[Phillips] Oh. -[Michael] A boot right to the back.
Asuka onto the bottom rope. And…
-[Byron] Where's she going? -[Michael] The chain.
[Byron] For the chain and--
[Michae] Make sure Asuka doesn't use it.
[Byron] Oh, stop.
[woman yells]
-[Ellsworth] Hey. -[Carmella yells]
-[Ellsworth] Come. -[Phillips] What--
-[Byron] What? -[Phillips] What now?
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] What is it now?
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] What does Carmella--
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] The bottle from the lumberjack match.
-[Phillips] The spray. -[Byron] Oh.
[Michael] Not again. [Phillips] Back fist on the mark.
[Michael] A striking boot for you, Carmella.
Oh, Asuka hitting every part of Carmella
-and there's a dropkick. -[Carmella yells]
[Michael] Look at that spray bottle,
was instrumental at the end of the Lumberjack Match
this past week between Asuka
and James Ellsworth.
[Byron] It just proves my point.
It proves the lack of confidence Carmella had
coming into this match
-and she could win it on her own. -[Phillips] Great hip attack.
-No, new champion. -[Byron] Glancing blow.
Here's the cover and a kick out.
I don't know if Asuka got all of it and Carmella able to kick out.
[Michael] The champion is woozy right now.
Ellsworth petrified.
[Byron] Well, two of her plans have backfired so far.
[punch and metal sounds]
[Michael] The shortcuts she's looking for.
[Phillips] She tried to tear Carmella's arm off.
[Michael] Bringing Carmella down to the canvas,
thinking about the Asuka lock perhaps.
-If she can get her down to the mat. -[Phillips] Oh.
-[Michael] Carmella's in danger. -[Phillips] Asuka trying to lock her in.
Locking in on the champion here.
Carmella's gonna break up the submission.
[referee] You two put on the rope.
[Michael] This is the reality Carmella's tried to avoid.
[Ellsworth] Back it off.
[Michael] One-on-one.
-[Ellsworth] Back it off. -[Michael] No distractions with Asuka.
[crowd chatter]
[Phillips] What the?
-Can you explain what's happening now? -[Byron] Ellsworth,
expert locksmith.
[crowd yelling]
[Byron] Is the stipulation
not to be locked inside the shark cage?
[Phillips] Nobody said he couldn't escape.
[Michael] Oh, and a suplex on the outside.
Remember, champion's advantage
still does exist in this matchup for Carmella.
[Phillips] This is why you need good attorneys, Paige.
You need to check the verbiage in the contract.
[Michael] Title can change hands by pinfall or submission inside the ring,
[crowd yelling]
[Michael] but Asuka uses the environment
-to inflict punishment on Carmella. -[crowd cheering]
-[Phillips] He's free. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] What the… You have got to be kidding me.
-[Phillips] What? -[Byron] No.
-What is… -[Phillips] Is he caught?
His foot…
[crowd cheering]
[Phillips] There's decorative… Oh.
[Michael] Nice job, Ellsworth.
[crowd cheering]
-[Byron] Oh. -[Phillips] This shmuck
is caught in a shark cage.
I like this. Good.
[Byron] No, Phillips. He's suspended from one.
[Phillips] Whatever.
[Byron] Upside down and the Empress of tomorrow
is stalking him.
[Michael] Asuka's gonna take Ellsworth home.
[crowd yelling]
[Phillips] It's like a piñata. [laughs]
[Byron] Like a heavy bag.
This is ridiculous.
[crowd yells]
[Michael] The things coming out of his jacket,
might as well be-- oh!
…a piñata.
And there's a dropkick.
And Ellsworth…
[Phillips] Does he have a flak jacket?
What's… hanging on the…
[Byron] Is he wearing spanks?
Get him down. Get him down.
[Phillips] Wait, no, stop. Don't raise it up.
[Michael] They have to put him back inside the cage.
-That's the rule. -[Phillips] No.
[crowd jeering]
[Phillips] This is terribly unsafe.
[Byron] It was unsafe to try to escape in the first place.
[Michael] I thought it was rather valiant.
[Byron] And Asuka's competent to being here
-to get after James Ellsworth. -[Phillips] Oh, no.
Boy, that was…
[Michael] The process was taking too long.
[Byron] Asuka isn't gonna have any of it.
Ellsworth is still all caught up.
-[Phillips] Get you some, Asuka. -[Byron] Oh, no.
[crowd cheering]
[groans]
-[Phillips] Asuka, the match's with Carmella, not Ellsworth.
[Byron] Well, I see Ellsworth.
I'll strike him.
[Michael] All the derogatory things that Ellsworth's said
over the last few weeks against Asuka,
we knew this was coming.
[crowd cheering]
[Phillips] Uh-oh, look out from behind.
[Byron] Oh, wait. The Princess of Staten Island
is back in the fight.
[commentators] Oh.
[Phillips] Face first off of the cage.
Carmella, the cover.
The official, the count.
Carmella has beaten Asuka again.
[exciting music playing]
[man] Here is your winner, and still…
the Smack Down Women's Champion
Carmella.
Get my title.
[Michael] Asuka is asleep
and Mella is Money.
And still…
Smack Down Women's Champion.
[Byron] How sad and pathetic
was this defense from Carmella?
Every shortcoming…
[Michael] Does Carmella look sad to you, Saxton?
I don't know but I see a million dollar grin
-and a-- -[Byron] The situation is sad.
[crowd cheering]
[Phillips] What's sad about it?
Mine!
[Byron] Because she had no confidence
in her ability. That's sad.
[Phillips] What were you just watching?
What are you looking at?
I'm seeing the Princess of Staten Island
grinning from ear to ear
still holding her cover at Smack Down Women's Championship.
My god, all I see are dollar signs, Byron.
[Byron] Because not only is she champion,
she managed to escape in one piece,
that's why she's grinning.
[Michael] The truth is winners find a way.
Meanwhile, Ellsworth
was suspended from the cage.
And Asuka--Asuka is furious here inside the ring,
she's taking out our crew.
[Byron] I don't condone this
but I get it.
Asuka had this thing won.
[Asuka yells]
[Phillips] Oh.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Cover up, Jimmy.
Oh, no.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] This is the second time
that Ellsworth has gotten Asuka's business
regarding the title.
The Empress isn't gonna have any more of it.
[Byron] I've got no sympathy for James Ellsworth.
[Asuka yells]
-[Michael] Oh. -[Ellsworth groans]
[Michael] Ellsworth got German suplexed by the Empress of Tomorrow.
And she isn't done yet.
[Byron] This is just pure frustration
from Asuka.
[Phillips] Oh.
[crowd yelling]
[Michael] And Asuka is not done yet.
[crowd yelling]
[Byron] She shouldn't be.
-[Michael] Asuka. -[Phillips] Yeah.
[Michael] The Asuka lock on Ellsworth.
Tapping out.
[Phillips] I wonder if his lack of chin
made him immune to this submission but obviously not.
[groans]
[Michael] Ellsworth can tap out all he wants.
Asuka is gonna hold on
to the Asuka lock here.
[Byron] That's as close as you can get to a victory for Asuka,
who understandably heartbroken and frustrated
over how things went down.
[exciting music playing]
[Byron] Asuka fought a big fight
but the fact is,
at the end of the day,
the Empress of Tomorrow simply got outthought
by the Princess of Staten Island.
[Michael] Look back,
Ellsworth was caught up
suspended from the cage itself,
and Asuka, again, like a heavy bag
would just assault him.
[Ellsworth groans]
[Michael] But Carmella,
ever the opportunist,
recognized the opening,
shoved Asuka face first
into the steel shark cage.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] And the celebration is underway for Carmella.
After the match, no celebrating for Ellsworth
because he was victim
to the Empress of Tomorrow.
[Phillips] Asuka didn't believe
she was gonna have to worry about Ellsworth
in this match.
Ellsworth, again, a factor,
and again, the reason
Asuka did not leave extreme rules
as the new Smack Down Women's Champion.
[Byron] Asuka, this is weeks and weeks
of frustration,
all the horrible things that Ellsworth has said about her,
-but nonetheless… -[Phillips] Say it with me, Saxton.
Mella is Money.
[Byron] You're on your own there.
[rock music playing]
[man] Ladies and gentleman, earlier on tonight,
an amazing tables match
-featuring Sanity and The New Day. -[crowd cheering]
[Phillips] Sanity promised chaos when they arrived on Smack Down Live.
And they certainly didn't disappoint
tonight at Extreme Rules.
[crowd] Ooh!
[Phillips] Young would drive Kingston
through the table
thus securing a victory
for the chaotic trio.
[Michael] Let's take you back to earlier on
in the Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
You would never thought
we would hear this announcement before
the WWE Universe.
[woman] And the new World Tag Team Champions
the B-Team.
[Phillips] And the celebration was on
new World Tag Team Champions,
I can't believe I'm seeing it, the B-Team,
Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel.
[Byron] Miracles can happen, Tom.
[Michael] In a different matchup,
Finn Bálor
called this a great way to get out of a bad situation,
nearly caught in the End of Days,
and knocked off "Constable" Baron Corbin, the other night.
-[woman] Here is your winner, Finn Bálor. -[Michael] This won't
sit well with the Constable
and Bálor might rue the day.
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] You know what's Extreme Rules,
so how about one of the original members
of Team Xtreme?
Ready for action.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Jeff Hardy arrived on Smack Down Live
from the superstar shake-up
as United States Champion
and has fought proudly to keep the title
since the beginning,
holding numerous open challenges
in a battle of WWE.
Jeff Hardy is ready to defend his title
against Shinsuke Nakamura.
-[rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And WWE Extreme Rules
is presented by Tapout,
available at Aeropostale and tapout.com.
[rock music playing]
[Byron] Jeff Hardy would tell you just being United States Champion
for the first time in his career
has injected new life,
new enthusiasm
to every single time he competes inside the ring.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Jeff Hardy never afraid to express himself
or take a risk in the process,
but standing across the ring from him tonight
is an artist just as dangerous,
just as charismatic,
and maybe a little more sadistic
in Shinsuke Nakamura.
[crowd cheering]
[hiss noise]
[tuning noise]
[battery sticks sound]
[exciting music playing]
[Michael] Two weeks ago,
Shinsuke Nakamura was initially supposed
to challenge for the USA title
on Smack Down Live.
Due to an injury,
Nakamura was not medically cleared to compete,
and our manager, Paige,
then granted Nakamura his original opportunity
for tonight at Extreme Rules.
[rock music playing]
[Byron] The Shinsuke Nakamura we've seen over the last few months,
not only talented in the ring, but a man who has engaged
in more mind games,
more suspense to try to insert himself
into his opponent's mindset.
[Michael] The true Shinsuke Nakamura,
the real Shinsuke Nakamura.
And in many people's opinions, mine included,
the very best Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Byron] There was a War of Words
before the Money in the Bank pay-per-view on social media,
Jeff Hardy predicting the outcome of the last man standing match
for the WWE title
between Styles and Nakamura,
saying he believes Styles would come out
on the other side victorious.
When Nakamura and Hardy
went one-on-one,
Nakamura would hit one of his signature low blows in the matchup
before the Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
[Phillips] Nakamura is a renowned striker,
one of the best in the business,
but since freeing himself
of the weight of the WWE Universe,
Nakamura has somehow become
even more dangerous and more focused.
[bell ringing]
The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the United States Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger,
from Kyoto, Japan,
[man] weighing in at 220 pounds,
he is the artist known as
Shinsuke Nakamura.
[crowd clapping]
And his opponent,
from Cameron, North Carolina,
[man] weighing in at 225 pounds,
he is the United States Champion,
Jeff Hardy.
[crowd cheering and clapping]
[Michael] It is about the 43 years of history
behind the United States Championship.
First held by the Hall of Famer, Harley Race,
other Hall of Famers like Sergeant Slaughter,
Ric Flair, our own Booker T who's in the building here tonight.
-It's Nakamura and… -[Phillips] Oh, holy,
-oh my god, a low blow by Nakamura. -[Michael] Are you serious?
[Byron] The referee didn't see a thing.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And the bell has not rung yet
on this United States title match.
[crowd jeering]
[Byron] Shinsuke Nakamura
couldn't even wait for this match to start.
[crowd yelling]
[Michael] We know he's an artist, a rock star,
you got to admit,
Nakamura's a freaking genius.
[Byron] In the words of AJ Styles, Nakamura
is a con-artist.
[Jeff groans]
[Byron] Absolutely not the way Hardy
-expected to start this. -Can we continue?
-Yeah. -Okay.
You got look at me, closer,
-Are you sure? -Go, yeah.
-Sure? -Yes.
-[Michael] Calling for the bell. -[bell ringing]
-[Phillips] Kinshasa! -[Michael] Not like this.
-[Phillips] Cover, cover. -[crowd] One, two, three.
[Michael] Shinsuke Nakamura
is United States Champion.
[man] Here is your winner, and the new United States Champion,
Shinsuke Nakamura.
-[crowd cheering] -[Michael] You have got to be kidding me.
[Byron] I'm in shock now.
I'm in absolute shock over what just happened.
[Michael] Open your eyes, pinch yourself,
stare at it, because it's the truth.
Shinsuke Nakamura
is the United States Champion.
[Phillips] This boom,
this low blow hit Jeff Hardy, again,
it was before the bell rang
and the official did not see
the low blow from Nakamura.
Hardy would tell the official to go--
bam! There's the bell and the Kinshasa.
And just like that,
a new United States Champion.
-[bell ringing] -[Byron] Jeff can pay the pride,
came in to play,
but Jeff started this match debilitated
and Nakamura
just picked up the pieces.
[rock music playing]
[Phillips] Shinsuke Nakamura
captures his first championship…
-[rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[crowd cheering]
[Phillips] Oh.
[Michael] Oh, my god.
[Phillips] He's back,
The Viper.
Randy Orton is here
at Extreme Rules.
-[rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Phillips] We haven't seen Randy
in two months.
-[rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] The Viper does
what The Viper wants,
but what does The Viper want here?
[Byron] I don't think Nakamura's anxious
to find out what Randy Orton wants.
[rock music playing]
-[rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] What a tense moment as the new United States Champion
locked into the icy gaze of Randy Orton.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Orton now turning his attention
to Jeff Hardy.
Oh, what the…
[crowd chatter]
[Phillips] Oh, my god.
-[crowd yelling] -[Jeff groans and coughs]
[crowd chatter and yelling]
[Michael] What?
[Phillips] I don't get this at all.
-[crowd chatter] -[Jeff groans]
[crowd chatter and yelling]
[exciting music playing]
[narrator] They are global entertainers.
Professional trained athletes.
WWE superstars,
but they are not invincible.
They take real risks
and endure unimaginable pain.
Broken bones, torn muscles,
dislocations, separations.
Be smart, be safe.
Don't try this at home.
[exciting music playing]
[Michael] Ladies and gentlemen, the torture of Kevin Owens continues
at the hands of Braun Strowman.
Both men will be locked inside the steel cage.
You win the matchup via pin fall,
submission, or escape
when both feet hit the floor.
Imagine, gentlemen,
what Braun Strowman will be capable of tonight
inside a steel cage.
[Corey] I shudder to think what the Monster in the Bank
is gonna be capable of.
He's terrorized Kevin Owens for weeks.
I actually feel a lot of sympathy
for Kevin Owens.
Yeah, so far for Braun Strowman,
it's been a lot of fun, laughter, smiles.
For him, it becomes all business,
it becomes serious
because now Kevin Owens
will be locked inside that steel cage,
nowhere to run, gentlemen,
nowhere to hide.
[Michael] Strowman
versus Owens inside a steel cage.
Coach had mentioned fun and games for Strowman,
been anything but fun and games for Owens
as Braun Strowman has forced KO
to a breaking point.
Look, you have to do something about Braun Strowman.
[Michael] "The Monster in the Bank" Strowman
has flattened KO
over and over.
[Coach] Strowman's done nothing but destroy Kevin for weeks.
[Corey] Strowman's dragging Owens to the top of the ladder.
Oh, my god.
[fall sound]
He flipped my rental car upside down.
Hey, where's my keys?
-Give me my keys. -I don't have them.
-What do you mean? -[keys sound]
[Strowman] I hope you got insurance.
[sighs]
[Strowman laughs]
You can't have somebody running around doing stuff like that.
You got to do something.
-Please. -You know?
You convinced me.
There's only one way to settle it.
You'll be facing Braun Strowman
tonight.
[Michael] What could Strowman possibly
have in store for Kevin Owens?
[Coach] Owens has shown up for this fight.
What kind of mental condition
he's in is another story.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] KO just wants to regroup,
get his mind right, refocus.
[Michael] He's running away.
Owens is running out of the arena.
The referee is in the count of seven.
Kevin Owens has been counted out of this match.
[bell ringing]
[Michael] Braun Strowman now in pursuit.
[Strowman] Where did Kevin Owens go?
-[Corey] A porta potty. -[Strowman] Where'd Owens go?
[suspenseful music playing]
[crowd cheering]
Anybody in there?
[Owens] Yeah, go away.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Owens] No, no, no. No, please.
-[Owens] Hey! -I told you I'd find you.
[Owens] No. Stop. What are you doing?
No. No.
[Michael] He's coming out here.
Strowman's coming out here.
[exciting music playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[Coach] No. -[Michael] No. No.
-No, Braun. -[Coach] Don't do this.
[Corey] Don't do this, Braun.
-[Coach] No. -[Corey] God.
[commentators] No, no, no.
[exciting music playing]
[Michael] Kevin Owens was inside that porta, John.
[Strowman] I told you I'd find you.
[narrator] But last month…
Oh, hey, hey.
Keep him away from me.
[Angle] Relax.
Not gonna put you in the ring with him. I'm gonna save it for this Sunday.
-What? -I invited Braun in here
because you keep running from him.
[Angle] So, this Sunday at Extreme Rules,
the two of you will be in a steel cage match.
What?
[Strowman laughs]
[Michael] Owens and Strowman in a steel cage
at Extreme Rules.
[Strowman] I told you I'd find you.
[echo sound]
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Am I the only one
that feels a certain impending doom right now?
[Coach] It is kind of a very,
very weird feeling here at the building now.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] "The Monster in the Bank"
Braun Strowman.
[rock music playing]
[shouts]
-[bell ringing] -Let's go.
[woman] The following contest is a Steel Cage match.
The only way to win is by pinfall,
submission,
or by escaping the cage with both feet
touching the floor.
Introducing first,
weighing in at 385 pounds,
"Mr. Monster in the Bank"
-Braun Strowman. -[Michael] A lot of irony here.
Earlier tonight you heard general manager, Angle
give his ultimatum to Universal Champion Brock Lesnar
come to some sort of agreement
on your next title defense, he will be stripped of the championship.
Steel cage had so much play
on the Lesnar-Reigns match
at the greatest Royal Rumble,
Reigns believing he is the uncrowned champion.
And now Strowman,
as Mr. Money in the Bank, he could cash in
on the Universal Champion
whenever he wants.
[Corey] Terrifying if you're the Universal Champion.
I don't think Lesnar fears anyone on earth,
but he has to think twice looking over his shoulder Strowman.
[crowd chatter]
[rock music playing]
[Coach] I can't help…
I feel like we're at Jurassic Park
and about to watch the T-Rex get fed,
like that poor little goat.
[rock music playing]
[woman] His opponent,
from Marieville, Quebec, Canada,
weighing 266 pounds,
Kevin Owens.
[Coach] I'm quite sure that
Kevin Owens still is not pleased
of the fact that Angle has put him in this match.
You know what? That's neither here nor there.
The fact is he's got to walk in, gentlemen,
to that steel cage
against that man standing in the middle of it.
What is the game plan
going to be to try to survive and win?
[Michael] Owens
slowly making his way to the ring,
and perhaps echoing in his mind some words
from Strowman from earlier
in the week where he said,
"Owens has nowhere to run.
He has nowhere to hide.
That porta potty
will look like a theme park ride
compared to what happens tonight."
[Corey] Instead of neither here nor there, Coach,
I think it is here and there
why general manager Kurt Angle
has such a problem with Kevin Owens.
I don't know why Owens deserves this,
he's wanted to be friends with Braun
and then he's tried to avoid Braun.
[Michael] Owens keeps running to Stephanie McMahon to protect him,
to watch his back every time Kurt Angle
puts him in a situation hat Owens doesn't like.
[Coach] That's right.
I think Angle got sick and tired
of making matches,
making big matches
and then KO not following through on it.
This is the only way
that Angle, the general manager,
feels like we could have a legitimate match
between these two.
[Michael] So it's Strowman and Owens
inside a steel cage.
You win via the traditional way
of pinfall or submission,
or by escaping over the top or through the door
where both feet must hit the floor.
Owens ready to escape
from the get-go, and Strowman
will not allow that to happen.
Owens now goes to the other side.
[Corey] I bet Angle's in the back watching this with a smile on his face.
[Coach] It feels like
when the steel cage match was invented that
that face of Braun Strowman
-was invented with it. -[Michael] Owens looking to escape,
tunning Braun Strowman, climbing to the top.
And Strowman now with one arm.
-[Coach] What? -[Michael] Owens back into the ring.
Trying to make it out the door.
[Coach] Made for this. -Fight me.
You should fight, Owens. Fight.
You're a coward.
-Fight me. -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Now Strowman
begging Owens to fight him.
I don't blame Owens
wanting to escape.
[crowd yelling]
-[Coach] But don't you fight? -[Braun] You can't run.
Fight me.
[crowd chatter]
[Braun grunts]
[Michael] Like being at the zoo and locked
-in there with a lion. -[Braun grunts]
[Michael] A shove away now,
the power of Strowman.
And Owens side steps Braun,
and catches him with a shot to the neck,
and another one.
Kevin Owens, a former Universal Champion
in his own right.
Big boot by Strowman.
[crowd yelling]
[Corey] Strowman kicked Owens in the soul.
My god, what a boot.
[Michael] How much soul Owens has?
Oh, Strowman bounces off the steel,
and now Kevin Owens may have his opportunity.
-Superkick right to the jaw. -[Coach] Down goes Braun.
-Keep him down. -[Corey] Clear the deck.
[Michael] Owens in cannonball.
Braun's in trouble, and Owens may have his opportunity.
Owens out through the apron,
what's he going to do here?
Gonna climb up to the top rope. Strowman's in trouble.
KO for the top rope with a frog splash.
Here's the cover, can he beat Strowman? A kick out at one.
[Coach] I love it. KO actually wants to fight.
Oh my god. [sighs]
[Michael] Didn't have a choice.
[Coach] That's the thing.
He may not have a choice, but maybe he's surprising himself.
-[Michael] A master strategist. -[Corey] Owens crawling to the door.
The officials opened it, and Strowman, just like that, so quick,
diving across the ring
and intercepting Owens before he make it out the door.
[crowd chatter]
[wrestlers grunt]
[Michael] We've seen what Braun
is capable of inside a steel cage.
Just ask the big show.
Please, please, please,
Please, that's enough.
Please.
That's enough.
Please that's enough.
[Michael] Owens trying to beg
-or talk out of this. -[Coach] Uh-oh.
-[commentators] Boom! -Oh!
[Michael] Primal concrete
sledge right through the heart of Kevin Owens.
[Owens sighs]
[Coach] Yeah. How different is this Braun
than the Braun that we've seen
the last three or four weeks.
[Michael] Not very.
[Coach] Well, I mean…
[Michael] He still destroyed Owens.
[Coach] But there's no laughing,
there's no showing us how much
he enjoys it, even though we know that he does.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] And the WWE fans chanting,
"one more time"
as they enjoyed Braun Strowman
unleashing his fury on KO,
once again,
bounces off the steel.
Braun Strowman, so dangerous,
even more dangerous now
that he has a contract for Universal Championship opportunity
whenever he wants it
in his back pocket.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] I think, Owens
is again, going to feel the wrath
for a third time.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] I feel like a cheese grater down your body.
Kevin Owens is finding out first hand,
the steel mesh just raking at your flesh.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] The steel cage has become a torture chamber…
[Owens groans]
[Michael] …for Owens.
[Coach] So far-- I think everybody
expected it, been a one-way show.
But looking at it from KO's perspective--no!
[Corey] Face first off the steel.
[Owens groans]
[Coach] What can you possibly do
to change the teeter of this match,
change the direction,
and somehow, maybe get the upper hand.
[Michael] Escape?
[Coach] Well…
[Michael] Run out the door
when Strowman falls down. I don't know.
Kevin Owens is being dominated
by this monster.
[Coach] Braun may have called him a coward.
But I don't think
that Owens is a quitter.
[crowd cheering]
I think that face with a fight,
he's gonna stand and fight.
[Michael] Only one thing left to do
if you're Kevin Owens,
poke him in the eye.
[crowd cheering]
-[Corey] Illegal in the steel cage. -[Michael] Right.
And Strowman, once again,
with Kevin Owens up on his shoulder.
Owens with a boot to the face of Strowman
and stunning Strowman.
Kevin Owens, once again,
-a stunner on Strowman. -[Coach] A stunner.
[Michael] To Strowman.
[Coach] Whatever it takes.
[Michael] An opportunity.
Kevin Owens seizes opportunity,
crawling toward the door.
-[Corey] Go, Kev. -[Michael] Making the official open.
[Coach] What a win this would be.
[Michael] Again, Strowman
with that big bear paw…
[Owens groans]
[Michael] …trying to drag Owens back into the ring.
And Kevin, created some separation,
trying to crawl out,
but the monster's back up.
Not so fast, KO.
-[Corey] Oh, no. -[Michael] The door
slammed down the face of Owens.
[Owens sighs]
[Michael] Kevin's tried everything.
[Corey] Oh, no.
[Michael] And now, Braun, the dirt, like a big old bull.
-[Braun yells] -[Coach] Oh.
[Michael] Owens sidesteps as Strowman hit hard.
Hit the turnbuckle hard. Another superkick to the jaw.
And Owens doing what he can to try to,
somehow, get back into this match.
He struck Strowman to a knee.
[Coach] KO's using the thing he's got the upper hand on,
and that is quickness.
Getting out of the way at the right time.
[Corey] Oh.
-Handcuffs. -[Coach] How smart is this?
[Corey] Brilliant.
[Michael] How smart was that by Kevin Owens?
And it is legal,
there are no disqualifications inside a cage.
Braun Strowman has been handcuffed
to the top rope.
[Coach] Nothing he can do.
And KO, if smart, just goes
-up over the top. -[Braun groans]
-[Michael] KO wants to punish Strowman. -[Coach] Yes.
[Corey] This is about retribution.
[Michael] KO's remembered he get tossed off the top of the ladder.
-That's what you get. -[Coach] Takes time.
[Michael] Getting dumped inside a port-a-John.
[Coach] Coming back to him.
[Michael] Remember his rent-a-car.
That's what you get.
[crowd yelling]
-[Michael] Turned over. -What are you gonna do now?
-[Owens] What you… Oh! -[Michael] Uh-oh.
Owens got a little too close. Chokeslam with one arm.
[Coach] And a one-handed chokeslam.
[Michael] Strowman trying to get out
of his handcuff situation.
But I'm not even sure if Braun Strowman
can break free of these handcuffs, guys.
[Coach] How long do you stay in there, and punish Braun,
and how long he'd say enough.
[Corey] Perfect time to leave.
[Michael] Kevin might wanna just exit the cage.
[Coach] Agree.
[Michael] Somehow, get up over the top.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Strowman, struggled.
-Hey, Braun. Braun, suck it. -[crowd] Ooh!
[Michael] And now just a complete
disrespect to Strowman.
As Kevin Owens
seemingly has the perfect game plan tonight.
He's handcuffed the monster
to the top rope.
He blows Strowman a kiss,
and he's saying, "goodbye.
Time to exit the cage
and win this--" Oh, my god!
-[Coach] Uh-oh. -[Corey] No.
-[Michael] God. -[Coach] Go, Kevin.
[Michael] Strowman broke the handcuff.
-Broke his handcuff. -[Corey] Did he just--
-[Michael] Oh, my god. -[Coach] Oh.
[Michael] Strowman and KO.
-On top of the cage. -[Coach] Oh, No.
-Oh, god. -[Michael] Oh, my god.
[Michael] Strowman and KO on top of the cage.
Strowman broke the handcuff.
-He's got Owens. -[Coach] No.
[Michael] Strowman with Kevin Owens on top of the steel cage.
[crowd yelling]
[Michael] My god. Don't do it, Braun.
Don't do it.
Oh, my god. No!
-[Coach] Oh! -[crowd yelling]
-[bell ringing] -[Michael] Oh, my god.
Kevin Owens.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Braun Strowman with a chokeslam
off Kevin Owens
through our table.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] Oh, my god.
[crowd yelling]
[Coach] He's got to be 15 feet,
20 feet in the air.
[Corey] But, guys--
…but, guys.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Kevin Owens was sent through--
…was sent through our announce table,
off a chokeslam by Braun Strowman.
The officials are calling for help here.
[speaking indistinctly]
[Corey] The EMTs now,
bringing stretchers out.
[Michael] Kevin Owens has not moved.
Just wait a moment.
[Coach] He hasn't moved.
He went
incredibly, incredibly hard as you can imagine,
coming from all the way on the
top of the steel cage.
-Look at this. -[crowd yelling]
-[Coach] The velocity… -[bell ringing]
-[Coach] …the impact.
[crowd yelling]
[Michael] I mean, I would imagine,
as hard as it is to believe Kevin Owens is victorious now.
[Corey] And Strowman now,
-stalking his way over here. -[Michael] Braun…
[Coach] There's got to be somebody get in his way.
[man] Oh.
[Coach] Look at that.
[man] Oh.
[Michael] This was absolutely disastrous.
[MET] Stand here, I got you, I got you.
[Michael] Kevin Owens,
the emergency personnel, now here at ringside,
have placed a neck brace on Owens,
they're trying to move him to his body board.
[Corey] Someone get Strowman out of here.
[Coach] Yes, somebody get in his way.
[Strowman] And the winner, Kevin Owens! [laughs]
[Michael] Strowman laughing about the fact that
he threw a man off the top of the cage through a table.
[Coach] He doesn't care if he hurt the man.
The steel cage, it's dangerous, yes.
[Michael] Well, Braun Strowman just said,
"you're a winner, Kevin Owens."
And Strowman's right,
Kevin Owens, technically,
won this match because his feet
hit the floor first
after escaping the cage.
[Corey] At what cost?
[Coach] Well, Corey, I believe you said it.
What was Braun Strowman willing to do
inside of a steel cage?
What we saw what he was willing to do
on top of the steel cage.
[Michael] Owens, who has been tortured
for weeks and weeks
by Braun Strowman,
but it has now lead to this.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Kevin Owens sent crashing,
flying off the top of a steel cage,
some 20 feet to our announce table below.
And listen to this hideous crash
through the table by Owens.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] Braun Strowman,
promised bad things would happen
to Kevin Owens tonight,
and he wasn't kidding.
Kevin Owens may be seriously hurt.
[Corey] I hope Angle's happy with this decision.
I hope Kurt's smiling in the back right now.
[Coach] I can't wait to hear the reaction
that Kurt Angle has
because, yes, was that legal?
There's no question
-it was legal. [Michael] It was. Owens won the match…
[Corey] Technically, you could use a chainsaw, Coach.
That doesn't--this is ridiculous.
[Coach] I agree. I agree.
I mean, I can't see that enough.
[Corey] I don't wanna watch this replay anymore.
Kevin Owens could be seriously injured.
[Owens groans]
[Coach] Everything Kevin Owens
has been through the last month,
-culminated in that. -We're not gonna let you fall.
[Coach] That was incredibly dangerous.
[Owens groans]
[Michael] While the WWE is heading down under,
the newest headlines around the world,
the WWE Super Showdown on October 6
will be the largest WWE live event
in the history of Australia.
Superstars of past and present
will fill the world-renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground or MCG
with over 70,000 WWE fans
for what will be a global pay-per-view event,
airing live on the WWE network.
One match is already announced,
the last chapter
in one of WWE's most storied rivalries.
the Undertaker meets
Triple H, one final time.
Also, due to be here,
16-time champion, John Cena,
AJ styles, and Ronda Rousey.
It's the WWE Super Showdown
from Melbourne, Australia
on October 6.
A global pay-per-view event live
on the WWE network.
And back here at ringside,
here at Extreme Rules, it is pure carnage.
I mean, I still can't fathom what I just watched.
Kevin Owens from--
…fell like 15, 20 feet in the air,
crashed through our table, hasn't moved.
I get that it's exciting
to watch Strowman do incredible things, but it was too much.
Look, I agree with you, Corey,
who knows what condition Owens is in.
I mean, that was just horrid
to have to sit on the sideline
and watch, let alone be at ringside.
That's something terrible there between Owens and Strowman.
Meanwhile, a twist earlier tonight
many of us didn't see coming.
Back to the United States Championship match
[Michael] here on the Smack Down Live.
It was Jeff Hardy set to defend the title
against Shinsuke Nakamura,
but it was a low blow
before the match even got started,
that would be the true
turning point of this match.
[Corey] Nakamura would deliver
a lights out Kinshasa,
right as the bell rang.
Three seconds later,
brand new United States Champion,
Shinsuke Nakamura.
[Michael] This was the curious part after the fact that
Shinsuke Nakamura would celebrate
of his USA Championship victory,
it was Randy Orton,
a superstar we've not seen in some two months,
returning here to WWE.
[Corey] But one shocking moment
to another, Shinsuke Nakamura,
the new USA Champion,
but then digesting
the reappearance, the return
of Randy Orton.
[Michael] The question on the WWE's mind,
what the hell was Randy Orton thinking
when he did this to Jeff Hardy?
[Corey] We always say Orton does
what he wants,
when he wants, but why? Who knows.
[Michael] We can tell you Jeff
is in the trainers' room now.
However, he has requested
his United States Championship rematch
for this Tuesday night on Smack Down.
However, Paige has yet to sanction that matchup.
We'll keep you updated on the status surrounding Jeff Hardy
and the United States Championship
throughout the night.
But another developing story we saw earlier
on the Smack Down Tag Team Championship match
is in limbo,
as earlier on tonight, it was
the Bludgeon Brothers who would attack Team Hell No
[Michael] in backstage.
Again, look at this, it's Harper and Rowan,
Daniel Bryan and Kane
battling out in Pittsburgh,
the match haven't even begun.
[Coach] This match
was gonna be incredibly physical, brutal.
But Harper and Rowan
looking for a leg up,
pun intended,
snapping Kane's leg
possibly inside the door
with the mallet strike,
what are these two capable of?
[Michael] Harper and Rowan dismantling Team Hell No.
The question is, can the newly reunited Daniel Bryan and Kane
somehow gather things up
and challenge the one of those
dominant Smack Down Tag Team Champions
we've ever seen,
Harper, Rowan, the Bludgeon Brothers.
[exciting music playing]
[Corey] We have new
Smack Down Tag Team Champions.
[Coach] The era of the Bludgeon Brothers
has begun.
[Michael] Harper and Rowan are proof
that nightmares are real.
[man 1] This world is a horrible place.
[man 2] We're here to make it worse.
[man 1] Harper.
[man 2] Rowan.
[Michael] Doomsday has officially descended
upon the Smack Down
Tag Team division.
Bludgeon Brothers.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Gauntlet Match
is about to be underway,
but certainly a tense moment,
as Daniel Bryan makes his way
to the ring for another big time opportunity.
Wise move, keep on moving Daniel.
[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Daniel Bryan advances.
What heart displayed by Daniel Bryan.
[Corey] Daniel Bryan found a way.
[suspenseful music] -[Michael] Oh, god.
[man] You just never learn,
do you Daniel?
[Corey] Harper and Rowan are back.
[man] Well, you're gonna tonight.
[Coach] The Bludgeon Brothers
interjecting themselves into this matchup.
[Michael] Now, the Smack Down Tag Team Champions
looking to dismantle
Daniel Bryan.
[Coach] We are witnessing a bludgeoning.
[exciting music playing]
[Corey] Marching straight
from the mouth of hell,
the devil's favorite demon
has returned,
face-to-face with the Bludgeon Brothers.
[Michael] And the Big Red Machine
to Harper and Rowan.
Bryan to Harper and Rowan.
Daniel with the knee.
Kane,
chokeslam.
[exciting music playing]
[crowd cheering]
-[instrumental music playing] -[crowd cheering]
Hell No.
[Daniel] Hell No.
-[Daniel yells] -I am the Tag Team Champions.
[Daniel yells] I'm the Tag Team Champions.
[exciting music playing]
[crowd cheering]
We watch each other's back,
[Daniel] Team Hell No style.
-[exciting music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] They're hugging it out.
Team Hell No
is hugging it out.
[exciting music playing]
[Corey] For the first time in 5 years,
Team Hell No is back
in WWE.
[exciting music playing]
[man] Let the bludgeoning
begin.
[man 2] We are well-aware
of what the Bludgeon Brothers
are capable of.
They're barbaric,
they're unafraid,
but let me tell you
what they are not.
They are not Team Hell No.
[exciting music playing]
[crowd cheering]
["Flight of the Valkyries" playing]
[Byron] And as we get set
for their Smack Down Tag Team title match,
only one-half of Team Hell No
has emerged.
[Phillips] And it's quite clearly less than 100%,
you could see Daniel Bryan favoring his ribs already
from the pre-match attack from the Bludgeons.
[Corey] That's a bad sign heading into this matchup.
[man] The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the Smack Down
Tag Team
Championship.
Introducing first from Aberdeen, Washington,
weighing in at 210 pounds,
Daniel Bryan.
[Byron] It's unknown the extent of the damage done
to Daniel Bryan's Tag Team partner, with Kane.
Again, the massive mallet,
striking the door against the ankle of Kane
earlier tonight in the backstage area.
[rock music playing]
[Byron] We gonna ask guys,
is Daniel Bryan about to go it alone
-against the Bludgeon Brothers? -[Corey] I seriously hope not.
[rock music playing]
[man] Making their way to the ring
at a combined weight of 590 pounds,
they are the Smack Down Tag Team Champions,
Harper, Rowan,
the Bludgeon Brothers.
[Byron] Guys, this rivalry all began
with what was a happy reunion
between Team Hell No.
So much nostalgia for the WWE Universe.
But one can't help but think
that Harper and Rowan took
tremendous disrespected that,
that Daniel Bryan came out
and upstaged the-- a Smack Down Tag Team title defense
they had some weeks ago.
This is a message
to the rest of Smack Down Live
from the Bludgeon Brothers.
[Corey] It's still surprisingly, for a team
that has been so dominant and destructive like the Bludgeon Brothers
that they would seek out that excellent advantage
over Bryan and Kane earlier on tonight.
[Byron] Ladies and gentlemen,
we have an Extreme Rules Post Show tonight,
only on the WWE network,
immediately following the Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
The Smack Down Women's Champion,
Carmella, will be the first guest
on the Extreme Rules Post Show.
Of course Carmella, again, with a distraction
caused by James Ellsworth,
-able to retain against Asuka. -[bell ringing]
[Phillips] This Post Show might be followed up by Bryan's funeral
live on the WWE network.
No way Bryan's escaping this one in one piece.
[Byron] Bryan is challenging
for the Tag Team titles,
one on two here in Extreme Rules. [Corey] Yeah, I…
-[Byron] Go ahead. -[Corey] I respect the heart,
I respect the pride of Daniel Bryan
but this is not wise,
this is not a good decision for Bryan.
[Byron] A smile on Rowan's face,
at one point, had himself a--
…Bryan between him and Harper.
This could be a matter of time.
Harper trying to calm down Rowan.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] WWE Universe at Pittsburgh,
doing their best to will on Daniel Bryan, but--
[wrestlers yell]
[Corey] Listen, if you think back
to what brought Kane
back to Smack Down,
it was the fact that Bryan was willing
to fight the Bludgeon Brothers on his own.
[Byron] Kane would watch Bryan's back,
knew how his temper could put Daniel
in some bad situations,
and the Big Red Machine wanting to watch his friend's back.
[Corey] There's no Big Red Machine.
There are only Harper and Rowan,
-stomping a hole in Bryan. -[referee speaking indistinctly]
[Byron] Graves, how, if at all, does Daniel Bryan
win this match,
how do you withstand these two titans?
[Corey] Pray.
I don't think you'll withstand
-I think you could-- -[Byron] Wait.
-[Corey] …survive. -[Byron] Rowan escapes,
Harper on the second rope
and a dropkick. Harper stunned for a moment.
-[Harper yells] -[Byron] Now Rowan
sent to the outside face first off of the apron.
[Corey] Bryan trying to use his quickness to fend off this,
some would say, unstoppable onslaught.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Oh, and Harper
sent for a ride off from the top.
[Corey] Uh-oh, wait, incoming.
[Byron] Daniel Bryan with a dropkick through the ropes.
Went for that discus clothesline,
now Daniel Bryan
trying to setup for the yes lock.
-[Corey] Kidding me? -[Byron] What?
-[Corey] It's in. -[Byron] Setup the yes lock,
it's cinched in, and Rowan
saving--oh, saving the matchup.
[Phillips] For a split second, it seemed Daniel Bryan might,
might have been able to pull-up the impossible.
[Byron] A tag is made,
I believe Rowan is up legal once again.
Oh, and Daniel Bryan shoulder first on the post,
Bryan's got no one to tag.
[Phillips] This is what--
-[Byron] God. -[Corey] Oh, no.
-Good lord. -[Byron] Holy hell.
[Phillips] We've accustomed to seeing this from the Bludgeons.
-[referee] Go in the ring. -[Byron] Unrestrained attack.
[Corey] Now, Rowan, back inside here.
Look at Rowan with some speed
and a splash from the 300 plus pounder to retain the titles,
and a kick out by Daniel.
[Byron] Bryan was favoring those ribs, heading into this matchup,
that splash would do Daniel Bryan no favors.
[Phillips] Tag made, in comes Harper,
and it's this endless barrage
that the Bludgeon Brothers can throw
at Bryan here in this match
because it's one versus two.
[Corey] We've seen this against
Tag Teams that are a 100%, Tom, so, yeah.
This is the worst case scenario for Daniel Bryan.
[Phillips] Harper and Rowan are having a field day, teeing off,
not only they have champions advantage,
but Bryan has to beat them.
It's a two-on-one
handicap beat down now.
[Byron] Tag, Rowan back in,
legal, at what point does Daniel Bryan
think about his career, his family?
Thinking about tomorrow.
[Corey] Bryan should have been thinking about those things earlier
before this match,
before he came out without the Big Red Machine.
And now, his family and life
are probably flashing before his very eyes.
[Byron] There's no way Bryan
could have foreseen what was gonna happen, Corey,
-and-- -[Corey] What?
[Byron] Wait a minute. Cover on Bryan
and a kick out.
-[Corey] Stevie Wonder saw this coming. -[Byron] Earlier,
he had to make a split decision, "do I compete or not?"
Daniel Bryan's not gonna give up
an opportunity like this.
Remember, he's only been back in-ring competition
since his return, being cleared to compete
for a few months.
Daniel Bryan's in a mindset
where he's not gonna pass
on any opportunity for a championship.
Cover here by Harper,
and a kick-out.
[Phillips] For some competitors
like Bryan,
sometimes there is honor in
going down swinging.
[referee] The hair.
[Phillips] Between Owens coming off the cage,
and whatever's left of Bryan's,
can be a busy night at Mercy Hospital.
-[wrestlers] Oh. -[Byron] Not to mention Jeff Hardy.
A shot to the midsection,
Daniel Bryan is in a world of hurt,
as Harper and Rowan
continue to make frequent tags.
-[wrestlers speaking indistinctly] -[crowd cheering]
-[Corey] Bryan hanging onto the top rope. -[Byron] Rowan
goes over the top,
and Harper in pursuit,
Daniel Bryan with an opportunity here.
[Phillips] This is Bryan's best chance,
he's got Harper isolated.
-[Bryan groans] -[Byron] Oh.
And a big knee there by Harper, will slow down Bryan.
[Phillips] Uh-oh.
[Byron] Off the top turnbuckle, Bryan starting to feel it,
-through the ropes, caught by Rowan. -[Corey] Oh.
[Phillips] Sorry.
Here we go.
[Byron] Oh, my god, no.
Harper…
[Corey] Oh, man.
[Byron] Harper hit Rowan instead.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Bryan still hurt.
[wrestlers speaking indistinctly]
[Byron] A costly miscalculation for the Bludgeon Brothers,
Harper just took out his own--whoa.
[Phillips] Uh-oh.
[crowd cheering]
[exciting music playing]
[Byron] Oh, my god, it's Kane.
[Corey] On one good leg.
[Phillips] I can't believe he's standing.
[Corey] Believe it Tom, that is a wounded Kane,
and into a treacherous situation here.
[Byron] His leg was between the wall
and a steel door was smashed
with one of those enormous mallets of the Bludgeon Brothers.
[Phillips] He can barely walk.
[Byron] And Kane--and Kane is trying to stick up here
and help out his friend, Daniel Bryan.
[Corey] This is gutsy, but big Kane
might have better stay in one of the circles of hell,
rather than experiencing it firsthand.
[Byron] Daniel came to fight
on behalf of Team Hell No,
and Kane's not gonna let him stand on his own.
[Phillips] Kane's loyal to the cause, loyal to Bryan.
Gonna do what he can.
[Byron] Now, Bryan,
remember, Kane scheduled a legal part of this matchup,
he can't tag in.
Bryan is trying to reach his Tag Team partner,
Harper repelled, and there's a tag.
[Corey] We'll find out.
[Phillips] You're looking at about a 70% Big Red Machine at best.
[Byron] That 70% Big Red Machine
is taking down Harper.
[Corey] Oh. Still deliver those
big right hands to Harper.
In comes Rowan.
-[Phillips] Oh. -[Corey] No way.
[Byron] How about chokeslam to Rowan,
and Harper's caught up,
and Harper goes for the ride.
[Phillips] I can't believe Kane's legs standing up under his immense weight.
[Corey] This is an unbelievable display by Kane.
[Byron] Oh, and Kane is calling
-for a tombstone piledriver. -[Phillips] I don't know
-if he can pull it off. -[Corey] Ain't happening.
[Byron] Trying to set up Harper, again the left leg.
Oh, and a shot by Harper to the leg.
And now, Bryan, Bryan's made a tag.
[Corey] This came by Bryan temporarily reprieve.
[Byron] Oh, and a missile dropkick.
Yeah!
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Bryan trying to give his team a chance,
Bryan headed to the zone.
[crowd cheering]
-[Phillips] Oh. -[Byron] The yes kicks
completed with authority.
[Corey] Oh, but Rowan's back on the apron.
[Byron] Tag made by Rowan.
[Phillips] Rowan is legal.
[Corey] I'm not sure Bryan knows that.
[Phillips] I don't know if he does.
[Corey] Oh, either way.
[Byron] Wait for the running knee,
Rowan able to catch up Bryan--
-…oh, no, collided with Kane. -[Corey] Oh, man.
[Byron] A big spin kick from Rowan.
[Phillips] Like Rowan swinging a sequoia tree,
cut Bryan right in the face.
[Byron] Tremendous athleticism from Rowan, now Harper has made the tag,
the Bludgeon Brothers setting up Bryan,
from the top, oh!
[Phillips] Oh, my god.
[Byron] Harper, cover, hooked to both legs
and the Bludgeon Brothers
shuts down Team Hell No.
[man] Here are your winners,
the Smack Down Tag Team Champions,
the Bludgeon Brothers.
[Byron] You got to think
what could have been. If this has been a straight up match,
-no attack to backstage. -[Phillips] Or ask yourself
what could have been, but the fact is, we witnessed
what was,
and it was inevitable.
There was no way Daniel Bryan was gonna single handedly
topple the Bludgeons.
And even when you add in a 50%,
60% Kane, into the equation,
it's not enough for the most dominant force
in the Tag Team division.
[Corey] It's hard to beat the Bludgeons
when you're the walking wounded as was the case
tonight with Bryan
and Kane,
they had little to no chance
of coming out the victors.
[Byron] The Bludgeon Brothers, victorious,
they remain undefeated as champions
here in Extreme Rules.
[crowd cheering]
[man] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's him.
If we can do it, you can do it, Roman.
Yeah.
Tonight, you can be part of the B-Team, too.
All you got to do
is beat Bobby.
Yes, yes,
and then we could--we could all celebrate
together! yeah.
-Huh? -Huh?
-Okay. -Okay.
-[Roman] B-Team. -[men] B-team. [laughs]
[man] B-Team, B-Team.
Not sure Roman wants to be on the B-Team,
but he has an interest in beating,
B as in Bobby Lashley tonight.
Interesting. A true battle for pride,
a battle for supremacy,
two of the biggest bulls in the yard clashing,
fantastic.
Before that matchup, got a business to take care of.
-Yeah. -[Michael] Music.
Send a special thank you out
to Dead Sara for "Heaven's Got a Door",
the official theme of WWE Extreme Rules.
"Heaven's Got a Back Door," they wrote the notes wrong.
Available now on iTunes and Spotify.
[Coach] Sure it has a door.
[Michael] Coming up next,
"The Big Dog" Roman Reigns
looks to protect his yard tonight.
It is a battle of egos,
Reigns and Bobby Lashley. An important night for Roman.
These two big bulls clashing,
but whose yard is it?
For Roman Reigns, a lot to prove in his mind tonight.
[Roman] I should be the Universal Champion,
but I'm not.
Yet.
[Roman] And a lot of you doubted me,
a lot of people lost faith in me.
But the fact is I will never lose faith in myself.
[Michael] The Big Dog guts.
[Roman] This is my yard.
I'm the guy.
[Bobby] Oh, you're the guy, huh?
[Michael] Bobby Lashley.
[Coach] One of the great athletes ever.
[Corey] A physical specimen second to none.
Roman, you don't have what it takes to finish the job.
[Coach] Lashley, the new
ECW Champion.
[Michael] Lashley wins the United States Championship.
"The Dominator" Bobby Lashley,
an elite athlete.
So, it's time for you to just move on, Roman.
-[crowd] Ooh! -[Bobby] Move on.
Move on, kind of like you did ten years ago?
Some of you may not know this,
but about ten years ago,
Bobby was in the Main Event of Wrestlemania.
[Corey] Bobby Lashley,
and what an ovation from the 80,000 plus.
And then what he'd do,
he moved on.
You left, you quit. Why?
[Roman] You wanted to be a big superstar in the MMA,
and how'd that work out?
You made a real big impact.
Don't you try to downplay my background, Roman.
[Michael] Bobby Lashley is a dangerous,
dangerous human being.
[Bobby] I'm the only one here
that has legit tools.
And I'll prove that at Extreme Rules against you.
[Michael] Two massive egos, both wanting to run the show
here on Monday Night Raw.
[Coach] Both men demanded this match,
"The Big Dog" Roman Reigns
meets the powerhouse Bobby Lashley.
It's all about bragging rights
at Extreme Rules.
[exciting music playing]
[Rowan] Bobby Lashley,
get your ass out here
because I am calling you out.
[Bobby] I'm not coming to talk,
I'm coming to tear you apart.
[Rowan] I don't like Bob.
[Bobby] I don't like you.
-[Coach] Uh-oh. -[Michael] Here we go,
Reigns and Lashley, they both want to win.
-[exciting music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] It's about stepping up,
and becoming the man.
Lashley not backing down.
[Corey] Reigns and Lashley are intent on destroying one another.
[Michael] Lashley again, now Lashley and Reigns,
and Reigns just knocked down
right into the floor by Lashley.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Michael] Momentary order restored.
Oh, wait a minute,
look out.
-[exciting music playing] -[crowd cheering]
-[rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michael] Here comes The Big Dog.
[rock music playing]
[Michael] The most polarizing superstar
in WWE today.
[rock music playing]
[bell ringing]
[woman] The following contest is scheduled for one fall.
Introducing first from Pensacola, Florida,
weighing 265 pounds,
Roman Reigns.
[Michael] Roman sent out an interesting tweet
which said, "I punch through
and flown over the entire roster
just to get to you, Bobby Lashley.
Tonight, no one here
to stop me or save you."
[rock music playing]
[Michael] And tonight, WWE Extreme Rules
is presented by Tapout,
available at Aeropostale and tapout.com.
[Coach] Think about this,
with the announcement Kurt Angle made earlier tonight,
this match
has taken on so much more importance
than it had before.
Tell us, Michael.
[Michael] As Angle gave an ultimatum
to our Universal Champion Brock Lesnar,
which we will review at the end of this matchup,
but to Coach's point, Corey,
Roman Reigns claims he is the uncrowned Universal Champion
because of what happened at the greatest Royal Rumble in April.
[Corey] Roman makes those claims
and they're actually hard to argue with,
the footage we've seen in the days since,
the referee made a mistake,
Roman could well be Universal Champion right now,
but he's not,
Brock Lesnar is.
This is about The Big Dog defending his yard
where Bobby Lashley wants to claim supreme.
[Michael] Coach, what are these men
could be in a position down the road for a title opportunity?
[Coach] Yeah, there is no question that this is about positioning
for the future.
What's the reality?
What's the perception of these two
as we head after tonight down that road?
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[woman] His opponent
from Denver, Colorado.
weighing 260 pounds,
Bobby Lashley.
[Michael] I did some research for this match.
It came out unique?
No, it was back in 2007
where Bobby Lashley actually competed
at WWE One Night Stand Extreme Rules.
And on that night,
Bobby Lashley
was in a street fight
where he defeated Vince McMahon
for the ECW Championship.
Bobby Lashley now finds himself in a match against Roman Reigns.
[Coach] I will never forget that night,
we walked in and for a lot of us,
we didn't think we were going to walk out.
But for Bobby Lashley, I think you can argue
that this is the biggest night that he's had
in 10 plus years.
[Michael] I agree, Coach.
For Bobby Lashley,
Roman has made a big point of it
that Lashley walked out on WWE
a decade ago,
didn't wanna be the man
didn't wanna have the responsibility of carrying that crown.
Walked out, pursued interest in other sports.
Roman Reigns makes the argument
that, "I'm here day in, day out.
It's my yard now."
And tonight these massive egos collide.
[Corey] Roman makes valid points but it's not like Lashley walked out
to take up something completely different.
We're talking he had success in mixed martial arts.
Bobby Lashley is a high level athlete,
wanted to test himself somewhere else,
now he's back better than before,
and determined to take Roman Reigns' spot.
[Coach] But there is leaving to go try other things,
and there's being the top guy.
Not everybody is made to be the top guy.
It's a unique make-up
inside of you as an elite athlete.
[Michael] Lashley backing Reigns toward the corner,
Reigns looks for a reversal.
Lashley goes six-three, two-sixty
as he looks to overpower Roman Reigns here tonight.
Roman Reigns
a three-time WWE World Champion,
he's held the United States title, the Intercontinental title,
the Tag Team title, he's won a Royal Rumble.
Bobby Lashley, two-time ECW Champion,
one-time United States Champion.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] Tie-up center of the ring.
Corey, how do you see the strategy for Reigns being here tonight?
[Corey] I think some standard Roman Reigns fare--
-[Roman] Oh. -[Corey] …he's gonna keep the pace slow,
somewhat methodical until it's time to kick in…
[Michael] Look at Lashley. Not gonna outwrestle Lashley.
Roman's got to look for his go-tos, the Superman punch or the spear.
[Corey] It'd be a great point, Lashley, a tremendous amateur wrestler
back in college.
Missouri Valley College,
three straight years an NAIA,
National Wrestling Champion.
[Coach] That's what Bobby needs to do on the flipside,
use that power, the quickness.
And I think he needs to push the pace
which would serve him well.
[Michael] Bobby served in the US army
with continuing wrestling there,
he was part of the World-Class Athlete Program,
-and Armed Forces gold medal. -[Coach] Oh.
[Michael] Great suplex by Lashley
who was putting on a clinic here
in the early going.
[Coach] We talk about use the term "dog" when talk about Roman Reigns.
I think that if Bobby Lashley
would be served well to fight his inner dog
here tonight and be kind of little nastier
than what we are normally used to seeing from him.
[Michael] But you don't wanna get caught in a firefight with The Big Dog.
When it comes to throwing hands, case in point,
Roman Reigns is one of the most dangerous in the game.
[Corey] Roman's saying, "get that out of here,"
as takes out Lashley with a right hand.
Again, who's the man here on Monday Night Raw?
Whose yard is it?
These men battling for that distinction.
[Corey] I don't think it is a disputable fact,
it is absolutely Roman Reigns' yard,
but if Bobby Lashley wants to make claim to that,
what better way than knocking off the guy?
[Coach] Bobby needs to start stacking up
not just wins, guys, but big time wins
as he moves forward in--
…a second chapter of his WWE career.
[Michael] Bounced off the top turnbuckle again by Roman
who looks to set another example here of Lashley.
Been a lot of people that have challenged Roman Reigns
in his spot at the top of the food chain.
[crowd] Ooh!
[Michael] Lashley whipped across the ring, elbow…
…catches Lashley down,
cover, and a kick-out.
[Corey] Just a one-count Lashley.
[crowd chatter]
[Michael] And Roman now…
…discussing something with the official.
It looked like that elbow stunned Bobby, guys.
[wrestlers groan]
[Michael] And now a very aggressive Roman.
-[referee] …five, Roman… -[Michael] Roman--
…gonna get himself disqualified.
[Corey] Closing in an Extreme Rules match.
[Michael] The official
gave him some leeway as Bobby's out of it, guys,
ever since the elbow by Roman
and there's a fly-by.
And Roman Reigns now
to cover on Lashley,
hooks the leg, and a kick-out by Bobby at two.
[Coach] Bobby needs to time,
he needs to figure out a way
without the match ending
to catch his wits about him, clear his head, and get back into it.
[Michael] Bobby might be out on his feet right now.
[Coach] He's been all out of sorts since the elbow
just a bit ago.
[Corey] It's all it takes sometimes.
[Michael] Roman with the chinlock
has Lashley backed down to one knee,
as Roman looks to continue to dominate.
You see the smile now crossing the face of The Big Dog.
He has Lashley right where he wants him.
[Corey] This is the pace we expected from Roman,
slow, methodical,
just grinding, wearing down Bobby Lashley.
[Coach] Yeah. Using that entire body,
they're both really, really strong
but it's a different kind of strength
between Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley.
[Michael] Bobby is more of an explosive, quick,
one at a time, boom.
[Corey] Oh, what a right by Roman.
[Michael] Roman's proven he has got that sustained drive.
[Michaell] And just dumps Lashley outside the ring.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] This is the pace I believe Roman wants.
[Corey] You know? We might watch this match tomorrow
and can pinpoint to that moment,
that elbow that Roman
delivered to Bobby Lashley,
the true turning point.
Lashley's not been the same since.
[Michaell] He hasn't recovered, his wits are all out of sort here.
[Roman yells]
[Micahel] Trying to make it to his feet
as Reigns continues the assault outside the ring.
[Coach] I hate to go back six days but I will--
we openly wondered last Monday night with the brawl
what these two got into for a sustained period of time.
-[Corey] Look out. -[Michaell] Into the barricade again.
Roman now looks like he is trying to make a point,
-make a statement. -[Coach] Yeah.
We wondered how would that affect them here tonight
and I think the pace
set by Roman Reigns is showing that.
[Michaell] Roman breaking the count back outside
to continue the attack on Bobby Lashley.
[Corey] Roman Reigns in absolutely no hurry right now.
[Michaell] Slowly, methodically
picking apart Lashley,
showing some nightlife now is Bobby.
Kick to the midsection now.
-Reversal, Lashley. -[Coach] Wow.
[Michaell] Great agility as he lands on steps.
[Corey] But Reigns from behind
blasting Lashley to the floor.
[Coach] Great reaction from Roman Reigns.
[crowd yelling]
[Corey] The one-upmanship from both superstars
has been the name of the game.
Roman again breaking the referee's count,
continuing to do work on the outside.
[Coach] I think Roman's athleticism
-is so much underrated. -[crowd] Ooh!
[Michaell] Now, Bobby Lashley driven into the steps.
And Roman Reigns has been dominating.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] More of a one-sided fight than I expected to see.
I thought we'd see two pit bulls
going at it, a real dog fight in the ring.
It's been all Roman.
[Michaell] What we've been talking about since the get-go, that elbow
that caught Lashley.
[Coach] Lashley can't get his feet underneath him.
[Michaell] Roman with the steel steps in hand.
Lashley's trying to defend himself
and they're able to block.
[Coach] The power game we were talking about.
[Michaell] And now, looking to outpower Roman.
And he does so.
And now Bobby Lashley with a clothesline.
[Corey] Maybe Bobby got his wits about him just enough
definitely to defend himself
and flatten The Big Dog
with a massive clothesline.
[Michaell] Trying to fight back into this is Bobby Lashley.
-[crowd chatter] -[referee speaking indistinctly]
[Corey] Lashley picking up the pace.
[crowd chatter]
-[Coach] Uh-oh. -[Michaell] A belly-the-belly throw
by Lashley. That is in Lashley's wheelhouse.
[Coach] Yeah. That quick power.
[crowd] Ooh!
[Coach] Doesn't matter how big the other guy is--oh,
he can toss him with the best of him.
[Michaell] Lashley, another head of steam.
Reigns gets a boot up just in the nick of time.
[crowd yelling]
[Corey] Roman with a clothesline
as Lashley's knocked down.
[Coach] Every time that Roman
impacts Bobby Lashley,
he hits the right side, the ribs.
Something seriously wrong with the right side of Roman.
[Michaell] Roman has been fighting rib issues
throughout spring and summer here in WWE,
perhaps just flaring up on them here tonight
as he continues the attack
on Bobby Lashley.
[referee] Come on, get him out. Come on.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] Roman now
steps on the gas…
[Michaell] Lashley with the powerslam.
[Corey] Cover. Is it enough to put Roman away?
Forces him to kick out at two and a half.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] That won't help the ribs.
[Corey] Just when Roman looked to push the pace,
step things up, step up the speed,
Lashley reminded The Big Dog,
"I got you on this one."
Big time powerslam by Lashley but not enough to keep Roman down.
[Coach] Catching 260 mid-air
is amazing.
And then getting him all the way back around.
[Michaell] Roman with the forearm to the jaw,
and caught him a second time,
a third time to Lashley, and a fourth.
-Roman teeing off on Lashley. -[Coach] Lashley's rocked again.
[Corey] Oh, Bobby with a crossbody.
What a collision.
And I think it hurt Bobby just as much.
[Coach] Where's he going?
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] I can't believe we are seeing this but Bobby…
[Corey] Lashley to the top rope.
[Coach] This is nuts. I don't know.
[Michaell] Bobby Lashley from the top rope,
waiting for Reigns to make it back to his feet.
Lashley down on top of Reigns.
[Corey] Double axe handle flattens The Big Dog.
Bobby Lashley starting to feel it.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] I think what was ever-- whatever was affecting him before,
I think it's gone now.
[Michaell] He gonna be closing in on putting Roman Reigns away.
What a victory this would be
for Bobby Lashley tonight?
[Coach] Oh, big time.
[Corey] Reigns fighting out.
Lashley's thinking about a suplex.
-A Samoan drop? -[Michaell] Roman with power
of his own but Bobby
making it to the top rope hanging on.
Reigns trying to create separation.
-[Bobby] No! [Michaell] He dumps Lashley over.
And Bobby hit hard
and I'm not sure if the back of his neck caught the apron on the way down.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] I couldn't see that
but Lashley hit hard
as he went over the top rope.
The official now begins the count.
Let's watch this again.
And watch Bobby Lashley
dumped over the top rope by Roman
and just misses the apron but hits hard.
[Coach] I mean, all 280 of him…
[Corey] The entire left side of Bobby Lashley
just colliding on the outside.
I can't believe Bobby's moving.
-[Coach] Yeah. -[Michaell] The official's at eight.
Lashley back up to the apron
and slowly makes his way in the ring
and a big leg drop by Reigns.
-Cover by Roman. -[Coach] Gonna be it.
[Michaell] Hooks the leg on Lashley.
And Lashley powers at two.
[Coach] He kicked out there but he could have a separated shoulder,
ribs, elbow, hip,
-you name it. -[Corey] Hip. I agree.
That was one of the roughest landings I've seen in a long time.
[Michaell] Watch this again. He hit the floor like a ton of bricks.
Watch this.
[Coach] Oh.
How tough was he?
[Michaell] As he tried to make it back,
Roman Reigns hit him with a vicious leg drop.
[Coach] The look on Roman's face is like, "what do I have to do
to make you stay down?"
[Corey] Yeah. Bobby's still in this as he kicked out.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] It's like the reaction…
-[Corey] Oh. -[Coach] …from this crowd fires him up.
[Michaell] Roman locked and loaded,
he's got Bobby Lashley in his sights.
-[Roman] Boom! -[Michaell] Caught.
Oh, Lashley, the spinebuster.
[Coach] This is amazing, that--
that Bobby at least for right now is in one piece.
-[Corey] Bobby averted disaster. [Michaell] The vertical suplex
by Bobby Lashley.
Look at the power of Lashley,
vertical suplex to Reigns.
Cover by Lashley,
hooks the leg, and he-- oh, no!
Reigns kicked at two and a half.
[Corey] It doesn't get closer than that without the bell ringing.
[Coach] If I'm Bobby, I'm upset.
[Michaell] We saw that smile, a smile of almost
disbelief break out
on the face of Lashley
when Reigns kicked at two and a half.
[Coach] He's thinking, "give me a quicker three."
[Corey] That's a textbook picture-perfect vertical suplex
delivered by Lashley.
You can see Reigns' body
rock as it made impact.
But now, Bobby Lashley in position,
maybe to seal the deal.
[Coach] It's gonna take one more thing.
One more for the win.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Could Lashley sizing up Roman
for a spear?
Lashley in position,
the three-point stance, Lashley--
-[Coach] Oh. -[Michaell] Superman punch
right on the button.
Cover by Reigns,
hook of the leg.
Lashley kicks out again.
[Coach] And now Roman can't believe it.
[Corey] Notice how Lashley rolled out of the ring
after the near fall.
Look at this.
-[Corey] This was… -[Coach] Boom.
[Corey] …a clean connection from Roman Reigns on Lashley's jaw.
[Coach] If nothing else,
these two men
are gonna walk out of here
with each other's respect.
[Michaell] Bobby crawling around outside the ring, Reigns inside the ring,
can't believe that he didn't put Lashley away
after the Superman punch.
The official now…
[Corey] Lashley now staggering,
trying to get his wits about him once again.
Roman Reigns on the other side of the ring
trying to formulate a plan.
[crowd cheering]
Uh!
[Michaell] What the hell is Roman Reigns got planned here?
Oh, my god. Look out.
Roman Reigns full head of steam.
-[Coach] Wait. -[Corey] Bobby caught him.
[Michaell] What a suplex,
thrown over the German announce table.
[Coach] The back of Roman's neck just bounced
across the German announce table.
[Michaell] Bobby Lashley just sent Roman Reigns
-flying with a massive suplex… -Ah!
[Michaell] …off the table down to the floor.
[Corey] Roman had a full head of steam, two sides of the ring worth,
and Lashley dead stopped it.
[Michaell] And now, Bobby gets Reigns
back into the ring.
And what is Bobby Lashley doing now?
Roman Reigns in trouble.
Does Lashley go to the top rope again?
[Coach] Bobby looking for the home run,
something that keeps The Big Dog down.
-[Coach] Oh. -[Michaell] Superman punch, top rope.
[Coach] Top rope.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] Down goes Lashley.
Roman Reigns could be closing in on the win.
My yard.
[Coach] He just said, "my yard."
Uh!
-[Corey] Here comes Reigns. -[Coach] Lashley with the spear.
-Lashley with the spear. -[Coach] He did it.
[Corey] Intercepted Reigns,
-Lashley wins. -[bell ringing]
[rock music playing]
[woman] Here is your winner,
Bobby Lashley.
[Corey] I thought that was gonna be a mistake
that would come back to hunt Bobby Lashley.
Instead he played a little possum
and it paid off and then what a win for Bobby Lashley.
[Michaell] No doubt his victory here tonight
is one of the biggest of Bobby Lashley's career.
[Corey] His entire career, absolutely.
You--you've learned through history,
it's hard to bet against Roman Reigns,
even when you got an elite talent
like Bobby Lashley in the ring.
But Lashley just defied a lot of the odds,
silenced a lot of doubters,
and just put his stake right in the middle of The Big Dog's yard.
[Coach] I think whatever self-doubt
he may have had in himself,
even though we talked about the ego,
I think he's gonna be not only proud
but respect what he put himself through…
-[Corey] And survived. -[Coach] That's exactly…
-right. [Corey] Lashley locked to the outside.
Here comes Roman
but Lashley stops him and sends him for a vacation
through the German side of things.
[Michaell] That turned things around.
And then, Roman Reigns, however,
with a massive Superman punch
that drops Lashley off the top of the rope.
And right here, we all believe it was over.
But somehow Lashley
would intercept Roman Reigns
with a massive spear of his own.
[Corey] I think Roman Reigns got a little too confident
taking that extra moment
to declare "my yard" to Bobby Lashley.
Gave Bobby just the time he needed to recover
and deliver a spear
to put down The Big Dog.
[Coach] Corey, sometimes all it takes
is a moment.
And that's a moment in time
for Bobby Lashley.
[Michaell] Roman and Bobby
with a hell of a battle tonight
at Extreme Rules.
But Lashley with a monumental victory.
[rock music playing]
[man] According to the government, we don't exist,
a ghost
who were real.
[man 2] We live in a new world. There are evil people out there.
[man 2] People sleep peacefully because rough men
stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
[groans]
[man] If we fail, there is no backup plan.
We are Overwatch.
But we get things done.
[man 3] Mile 22, August 17th.
So, if you're Bobby, you've got to be in the conversation
for perhaps being a challenger
for the Universal Championship.
But Lashley just defeated the uncrowned,
unofficial Universal Champion, Roman.
Where do we stand with the Universal Championship
and the champion, Brock Lesnar?
Earlier tonight, Raw General Manager, Kurt Angle
addressed this situation.
Brock Lesnar refused to face the winner of a multi-man matchup
put together a few weeks ago, and I had to cancel that match.
Brock refuses to face any opponent here in the WWE,
but yet shows up at the UFC
and gets in the face of their champion.
So, I'm issuing Brock Lesnar an ultimatum.
He either shows up tomorrow night on Raw
or he could come to terms of an agreement
of when his next title defense will be
or I'm gonna strip Brock Lesnar of the Universal Championship.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] What happens tomorrow when Monday Night Raw comes to New York?
We are going to find out. We know one person who will not be
at Monday Night Raw.
That is Ronda Rousey,
because her 30-day suspension from Raw
is not lifted until Wednesday.
However, Ronda's here tonight at Extreme Rules
because she bought a ticket
to be in the front row
for our next matchup.
It is for the Raw Women's Championship.
[Michaell] Bliss who cashed in her Money in the Bank contract
to win the title from Nia Jax last month
in Nia's match with Ronda Rousey.
Well, for Alexa Bliss,
it is all about getting ready for this match
after making history at Money in the Bank.
[Corey] Of course, it's Ronda Rousey's first championship opportunity.
[Michaell] We're going to find out how ready Ronda Rousey
is tonight.
Nia Jax, perhaps, the most powerful force
the Women's Division has ever seen.
[Coach] Oh, my god.
[Michaell] Ronda moved out of the way and may have her opening.
[Coach] It's a Hail Mary.
[Michaell] Oh, and the armbar.
[Corey] Ronda is prying at the champion's arm.
[shouts]
[Michaell] Ronda, a fingertip away.
[shouts]
[Coach] Wait!
-[Corey] Alexa Bliss. The match is over. -[bell ringing]
[Michaell] Alexa earlier tonight
won the Money in the Bank contract.
Now with the briefcase in hand,
she's assaulting Rousey
and the champion.
She's cashing in.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Alexa Bliss is champion.
[Coach] Not only is Nia Jax gonna be curious,
but Ronda Rousey just got screwed out of a chance
at that title right there.
[Alexa] Last night, I showed what it looks like
to be a bully in Nia Jax
and someone who is just as much of a bully,
Ronda Rousey.
[Michaell] There she is,
the baddest woman on the planet.
[Alexa] Did you come out here to show me all the bruises and welts
that I left all over your body?
Still hurts, doesn't it?
And if you ever
want a championship opportunity,
you better get in the back of the line, you overhyped rookie.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Michaell] Oh, and Rousey takes down Bliss.
-[Coach] Wait! -[Corey] Rousey took out
the general manager.
[Coach] Ronda has completely gone berserk.
This is inexcusable.
[suspenseful music playing]
[commentators] Oh, my god.
[Corey] Bliss on the table.
Rousey put Bliss through a table.
[Angle] I'm sorry.
You're gonna be suspended for 30 days.
You might have ruined your chance of being the Raw Women's Champion.
[Ronda] He can suspend me for 30 days.
Save your good luck wishes for Alexa Bliss,
'cause after these 30 days,
I don't care if she's champion or not,
I'm gonna be back here kicking her pink-haired ass.
[Alexa] The fact is
I'm the one who's standing here tonight.
Ronda is suspended for 30 days. Bye-bye.
And I'm here as your Raw Women's Champion.
-[exciting music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Nia Jax] Alexa,
I was with Kurt Angle backstage
and he just informed me
that our Raw Women's Championship match
will be…
an Extreme Rules match.
[Michaell] Rules go out the window. You can do anything.
[Ronda] Even though I'm suspended from Raw,
I'm not suspended from Extreme Rules.
And then I'll be buying a ticket.
A front row ticket.
[Nia Jax] This needs to end
and at Extreme Rules, it will.
[Michaell] Here's the cover and Nia
in a--oh, wait a minute.
Bliss with a kendo stick.
[Coach] This Sunday, perfectly legal.
[Nia] Alexa will try anything
to wear me down, but won't work.
She cannot break me.
But I can break her.
[crowd cheering]
[commentators] Oh, my god.
[exciting music playing]
[Michaell] Nia Jax has some backup tonight.
[pop music playing]
[bell ringing]
[woman] The following contest is an Extreme Rules match
for the Raw Women's Championship.
Introducing first, accompanied by Natalya,
from San Diego, California,
weighing 217 pounds,
Nia Jax.
[Michaell] Let's remind everyone why Ronda's here.
Back at Money in the Bank last month,
it was Nia versus Ronda
for the Raw Women's Championship.
It looked like Ronda was closing on a victory to win the title
when Bliss cashed in her Money in the Bank contract
to win the championship, and she also assaulted Ronda Rousey.
[Coach] Well, she did.
But I wonder,
did Nia bring Natalya out here to get on Ronda's good side?
We know they're good friends.
-I think she did. -[Corey] I think Nia brought Natalya here
because there's not enough security between her and Ronda.
[Michaell] She knew Alexa'll bring Mickie.
[woman] Her opponent,
accompanied by Mickie James, from Columbus, Ohio,
she is the Raw Women's Champion,
Alexa Bliss.
[Michaell] Nia said to Alexa,
you're not extreme,
you're a liar, you're a cheater,
and your days as champion are numbered.
[Coach] I really believe Nia would like--
this could be the perfect scenario.
She beats Alexa Bliss tonight
and then Ronda Rousey is waiting in the wing.
Nia wants another shot at Ronda.
-She does. -[Michaell] Coach,
stop blabbing your mouth for a second.
[Michaell] I guarantee you, Ronda
has not forgotten what Alexa did to her at Money in the Bank.
[Corey] I wanna know how Ronda is not incarcerated.
[Michaell] The reason Ronda was suspended from Raw
is because of her assault, not only on Bliss, but our manager Angle
the night after that happened.
[Corey] 30 days is a pretty light sentence if you ask me.
[Michaell] That suspension is up on Wednesday.
Rousey bought a ticket to be here
at Extreme Rules.
[Coach] And I love what Ronda Rousey said,
"hey, when that 30 days is over,
I'm gonna come back and kick her pink-haired you-know-what."
I can't wait
to see if she does back up that threat.
[Michaell] For the first time in Women's Division history,
the matchup will be contested
under Extreme Rules.
That means anything goes
for the Raw Women's title.
-Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss… -[bell ringing]
[Michaell] …for the championship.
And a story about two former best friends,
now bitter enemies
battling for a title.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] Meanwhile…
[crowd yelling]
[Corey] Bliss trying to keep away.
-on paper, Nia… -[Michaell] You see in the background
that kendo stick floating around,
that's being held by Mickie James
who was trying to offer it to Alexa Bliss.
[Coach] That might not have been the best decision
that Alexa ever made.
-[Corey] Yes. -[Coach] Maybe it's all a plan, a plot,
an ingenious strategy.
[Michaell] Kendo stick to Nia.
-[Corey] See? -[Michaell] Legal under Extreme Rules.
And again, Nia Jax, shredding the kendo stick.
[Coach] I like she started quick with it but now that she doesn't have it…
[Michaell] Now, Mickie James, sending a trashcan toward Bliss.
-[Coach] Natalya… -[Michaell] Out with a chair.
[Coach] …is bad at being a corner person.
[Michaell] Natalya watching this…
-[Corey] Great, Nattie. -[Michaell] …on the other side.
[Coach] Nia's doing fine on her own.
[Michaell] Natalya is enjoying this.
As every time a weapon is introduced,
Nia Jax just grabs it and tosses it
-back into the ring. [Coach] How much is under the ring?
[Corey] They keep kendo sticks there in case of ninjas.
[Michaell] Alexa Bliss trying desperately
to run away from Nia Jax,
-finally caught by the challenger. -[Coach] Oh, man.
[Michaell] And blasted by Nia.
[crowd clapping]
[Michaell] Extreme Rules, folks.
[Coach] Anything goes.
[Michaell] For the Raw Women's title.
As Bliss is sent back into the ring,
Nia Jax up on the apron.
[Corey] I wanna know where you find trashcan lids
that don't have handles on them.
[Michaell] Nia splashing Bliss in the corner
as again, Natalya looks on,
very good friends with Nia, really good friends with Ronda,
who is at ringside tonight.
And now a biel sends Bliss
-onto the steel chair. -[Corey] Into a trash can,
-that would have been a travesty. -[Michaell] But the chair's well.
[Coach] Those are hard edges. Dangerous.
[crowd yelling]
-[Michaell] What are hard edges? -[Coach] Of the trash can.
[Corey] Uh-oh.
[Michaell] Oh, just tearing the chair away from Bliss.
-Alexa doesn't know what to do. -[Corey] It's Extreme Rules.
This would a perfect opportunity to get yourself disqualified
and keep your championship,
or counted out
which I strongly recommend Bliss try.
[Michaell] But that won't happen. It's Extreme Rules.
[Corey] Pinfall or submission ends this.
[Michaell] And now Nia Jax with Bliss up on her shoulder.
[crowd cheering]
-[Coach] Uh-oh. -[Michaell] Look at that power of Nia.
[Corey] Jax looking almost…
-[Michaell] Oh, my god. -[Coach] Oh no.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Ronda's loving it at ringside.
[Mickie speaking indistinctly]
[Michaell] Nia may be closing on on yet a--
closing in on another championship reign.
[Coach] She definitely wants that title back in the worse way
and if you can instill this punishment in the process,
boy, that's a-- that's a great night for Nia Jax.
[Michaell] She must get Bliss back into the ring,
that's where the pinfall or submission must take place.
Alexa Bliss the champion
almost looked like she was crying for a moment.
[Mickie] Watch out, watch out.
[Michaell] Some debris in her eyes.
[unintelligible]
[Michaell] Using the trash can lid to bring Nia down
to both knees.
-[Alexa shouts] -[Michaell] Now right across the back.
-[Alexa shouts] -[Michaell] And again.
[Coach] And now, Bliss showing her mean streak.
[Corey] It's good for unfamiliar territory
when Alexa Bliss--oh, using a trash can.
You don't think a goddess actually handles trash, do you?
[Ronda] Nia, get up.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Speechless.
-[Corey] Well, it's about time. -[commentators laugh]
[Michaell] As Bliss sets a steel chair
up now in the corner.
[Coach] It does seem to me Alexa has…
-[Michaell] She's cagey. -[Coach] …adapted to…
[Michaell] Cover by the champ and a kick-out.
[Coach] …to Extreme Rules…
-[Alexa] You cannot be serioues! -[Coach] …faster than Nia.
-[referee] Push. -[Michaell] She has history of cheating,
she can use these things
legally tonight.
[Alexa shouts]
[Michaell] Uh-oh.
-Oh my! -[Coach] Oh, what a shot.
[Corey] Nia just uncorked the right hand
and Bliss now attempting
to maybe reposition the steel chair.
[Michaell] And a headbutt drives Bliss down again.
[Michaell] Nia Jax is-- oh, my god,
shoulder-first into the steel chair.
[Coach] Alexa just barely
was able to get out of the way.
[woman speaking indistinctly]
[Michaell] What does Bliss do?
-The challenger's in trouble. -[Coach] Cover.
-[Michaell] Mickie… -[Corey] Natalya wants to play.
[Michaell] Natalya gets involved and Mickie's gonna pay.
-[Coach] Whoa. -[Michaell] Nattie unloading on James.
[Coach] Picking spots.
[Corey] It was an act of cowardice by Natalya.
[Michaell] Bliss attacking Natalya.
[Corey] Mickie had her back to Natalya.
It was a real sneaky move by Natalya.
[Michaell] And Natalya driven into the barricade.
[referee] Ladies!
[Coach] What is more important, the women's title…
[Corey] Look at Mickie James.
[Michaell] Ronda's had enough. Ronda!
Ronda Rousey going right after Mickie James
and Mickie now whipped into the barricade.
Again, Ronda Rousey,
Ronda Rousey's lost it.
Sending Mickie into the apron,
-back into the ring. -[Corey] Security!
Ronda's not allowed on this side of the barricade.
[Michaell] Rousey with Mickie up high.
[Coach] You go tell her, Corey.
[Michaell] Ronda Rousey. Oh, my god!
Rousey's unleashed on James.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Sending Mickie into the German announce table.
Ronda Rousey's lost it.
Look at her face.
Look at the look in the eyes of Rousey.
[Coach] Those eyes have turned.
[Corey] Run Bliss, run.
[Coach] She's looking right at Alexa.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] And Alexa Bliss realizes what's happening here.
And Ronda Rousey's making a beeline,
a beeline for the champion.
Bliss trying to make it over the barricade.
And Rousey's got Bliss,
and now James from behind with a kendo stick
and again, Mickie James.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Ronda Rousey taken out
as Mickie James used a kendo stick
and now, Bliss, going up to the top rope.
[Corey] It's all within the rules.
-[Michaell] Caught by Nia. -[Coach] Look at the power.
[crowd yelling]
-[Michaell] Nia. -[Coach] Looking for the Samoan drop--
[Corey] Mickie with a steel chair, completely legal
under Extreme Rules.
[referee] Get out of here, Mickie. Come on.
[Michaell] And now, Bliss with a chair of her own.
[referee] C'mon ladies!
[Michaell] Alexa unloading on Nia Jax.
[referee] Get out.
[Coach] And there's nothing
that Nia Jax can do about it.
[Corey] DDT out of the chair by Bliss.
-[referee] One, two, three. -[Michaell] Cover by Alexa.
-[bell ringing] -[Michaell] Bliss retains.
[exciting music playing]
[Coach] Oh! Rousey's back in the ring.
[Corey] But Mickie James and Alexa Bliss limp.
[woman] Here is your winner and still the Raw Women's Champion,
Alexa Bliss.
[Corey] If you're Angle, you've got to suspend Rousey
for more than 30 days now.
There's got to be repercussions. Rousey bought a ticket.
That doesn't give you permission to get inside the ring during a contest.
[Michaell] I agree with you on that point, Corey.
But remember Extreme Rules, anything goes,
no disqualification.
Rousey was provoked.
[Corey] I guess the guy in the fourth row should jump in then too?
[Coach] It's got to get under Rousey's skin
incredibly deep,
that she got in the mix.
At the end of the day, who walked away with the title?
[Michaell] Ronda's friend, Natalya, was being assaulted.
She was being double-teamed
by Bliss and James, and Ronda had had enough.
She completely lost it here
and Ronda Rousey
just torn Mickie James apart.
[Coach] I think we agree and understand,
coming to the aid of a good friend.
But at the end of the day, if I'm Nia Jax,
I got to think,
"did you really come in and did that even help?
Because the answer is no.
No, it didn't at all."
[Michaell] And now, with the kendo stick from behind,
Mickie James
took out the Ronda Rousey threat momentarily
and then James again would get involved.
Steel chair,
completely legal,
no disqualification.
Alexa Bliss with a chair of her own,
and Alexa Bliss, with the help of Mickie James,
would retain her Raw Women's Championship.
[Coach] I hate to admit it, but Alexa Bliss,
she looked at home
in an Extreme Rules match.
And as she says, it's all about her,
and tonight, it certainly was.
[Michaell] Yeah, but Ronda Rousey has not forgotten.
[exciting music playing]
[Michaell] Coming up in a matter of moments,
AJ styles set to defend.
He has claimed today is like any other day for him
as WWE Champion.
Can he be phenomenal once again
as he defends against The Super Athlete, Rusev,
who believes today is his day.
[man vocalizing]
[man] Ladies and gentlemen,
what day is today?
[Rusev] I am a super athlete.
[Michaell] This ridiculous display of power.
[Rusev] What day is today?
[man 2] I proclaim today Rusev Day.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Michaell] How do you stop The Lion of Bulgaria?
[Rusev] What day is today?
[Michaell] Machka kick,
accolade.
Rusev has a WWE title opportunity.
[Rusev] AJ, I'm coming…
Because today…
…I'm breaking the door down to your house.
…and every day…
[Rusev] I'm taking that title
and it's gonna be a great Rusev Day.
[man singing] It's Rusev Day.
♪ I get down to business ♪
[AJ] At Extreme Rules,
I will defend my championship
against the man who is bigger
and stronger than me.
But what else is new?
I like proving people wrong.
♪ I get down to business ♪
[AJ] Having the match of my life
is what I do.
They don't call me phenomenal for nothing.
♪ I get down, get down ♪
[AJ] This right here is the house
that AJ Styles built.
♪ I get down to business ♪
[Corey] AJ Styles is the WWE Champion.
[Byron] AJ Styles,
the longest reigning WWE Champion
in five years,
a mastermind of offensive innovation.
[AJ] Rusev is a super athlete,
but he's not phenomenal.
[Rusev] AJ,
I don't care how phenomenal you think you are.
You have never faced this Rusev
who, for the first time ever,
has a WWE title opportunity.
[Michaell] Styles and English one-on-one.
[Byron] Rusev hoping that English
softens up AJ Styles.
[Michaell] Is English gonna tap out to the champion?
Yes, he does.
Rusev from behind.
[Rusev] I'm coming to break down that door
throw you out on the street,
and take that title.
[suspenseful music playing]
[Rusev] I'm coming to destroy the house
that AJ Styles built.
And it's gonna be a great Rusev Day.
[crowd cheering]
[vocalizes]
♪ We're all gathered here today ♪
♪ In the Steel City ashtray ♪
♪ To make, listen, and make way ♪
♪ For a never-ending holiday ♪
♪ Tonight, the house that AJ built ♪
♪ Will get crushed ♪
♪ In a pile of rubble and dust ♪
♪ We'll all look back, remember, and say ♪
♪ That we saw history today ♪
♪ Because today is ♪
[crowd] Rusev Day!
♪ Rusev Day ♪
[man] Rusev putria, Rusev mashka.
[exciting music playing]
[Byron] And it is "The Bulgarian Brute", Rusev,
his first ever one-on-one opportunity
for the WWE Championship here tonight
at Extreme Rules.
[Corey] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the city where Rusev debuted
in WWE as part of the Royal Rumble match.
Tonight, the opportunity at hand
could define his career.
[Michaell] Watch your favorite TV shows and movies
online with Hulu
and get next day unlimited instant streaming access
to all of WWE's weekly programs, including Raw,
Smack Down, Main Event, and NXT.
Visit hulu.com for a free trial
and start watching your favorite WWE shows today.
[Corey] I spoke with local politicians through my sources in the past days
and I have it on good authority
that if Rusev wins the WWE Championship tonight,
the city of Pittsburgh
will rename the Clemente Bridge,
the Rusev Bridge.
[Byron] You and your sources.
[crowd] Rusev Day! Rusev Day!
[exciting music playing]
[rap music playing]
[Michaell] He is the longest reigning WWE Champion
in five years.
Two-hundred and fifty days
with the WWE title.
And just over two years as a part of WWE,
Styles has become a mainstay.
Two-time United States Champion,
two-time WWE Champion.
Soon to be cover superstar
of WWE 2k19, the videogame.
Oh, and by the way, Smack Down Live
is the house that AJ Styles built.
[Byron] They say experience is the best teacher.
And in the case of AJ Styles,
he has been a virtual honor student.
He has grown accustomed to this stage,
the scrutiny, and the pressure
of being a champion.
[Michaell] If you talk about experience, you can't forget that AJ Styles
has experienced firsthand the agony
of Rusev's accolade submission.
We could well see it again tonight.
[Byron] He's trapped in it two weeks ago. This is a battle-tested WWE Champion.
Can AJ Styles withstand the onslaught
of The Super Athlete tonight
at Extreme Rules?
[bell ringing]
The following contest scheduled for one fall
is for the WWE Championship.
[crowd cheering]
Introducing the challenger,
accompanied by Aiden English,
[man] weighing in at 138 kilos,
The Bulgarian Brute,
Rusev.
-[crowd cheering] -[referee speaking indistinctly]
And his opponent, from Gainesville, Georgia,
weighing in at 218 pounds,
he is the WWE Champion,
The Phenomenal,
AJ Styles.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] It is the championship that dates back to 1963,
since the days of Hall of Famer, Buddy Rogers
to Pittsburgh's own,
the late great Hall of Famer, Bruno Sammartino.
Tonight, Styles clashes with Rusev.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] Rusev appears laser-focused
and incredibly relaxed
as we enter the opening of this matchup.
-[bell ringing] -[Michaell] The bell, here we go.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] The preparation,
not a problem for Rusev.
I understand he went under a three-week training camp
specifically aimed at being prepared
for this match
and this moment.
Number one trend worldwide, #ExtremeRules
because of #WWEChampionship.
[Corey] This is a great strategy here by AJ Styles, attacking the leg of Rusev.
Rusev's power is one of the tenets of his game.
To take that away would be huge for styles.
[Michaell] Oh! And a shot to the left knee
of Rusev who's trying to get back up to his feet,
shot to the hamstring. Oh!
[Byron] You mentioned the three-week training camp Rusev went under.
Don't discredit the preparation that the champion has done.
[Michaell] Oh, trying to unload with those kicks.
Now, Rusev-- oh, a big clubbing blow.
Rusev to win the title and a kick out at one.
[crowd] Rusev Day!
[Michaell] Rusev won a Gauntlet Match last month, involving Big E-- oh,
Daniel Bryan, The Miz, and Samoa Joe
to win this opportunity.
[Byron] To Rusev's credit, the last couple weeks,
the last few months on Smack Down Live,
he's been knocking on the door of greatness,
coming so close.
[Corey] Knocking on the door of the house AJ Styles built.
-Tonight, he's gonna kick it in. -[Michaell] Styles continues the attack,
a bevy of strikes here.
But again, he's gone after the legs of Rusev early on.
And now, Styles
trying to show off his power, but this might be trouble.
[Corey] AJ, you are not gonna overpower The Lion of Bulgaria,
but again, right back to the leg of Rusev,
great strategy by the champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Uh, Rusev caught him up and…
-[Corey] So quick. -[Michaell] …dumped him into the canvas.
Here's the cover, hook to the leg, out at one.
[Byron] Rusev has said this is going to be his strategy,
overpowering AJ Styles.
[Corey] With the effects of those leg kicks
already being felt by the challenger,
Rusev gonna fight through the pain.
Big suplex.
[AJ sighs]
[Michaell] Rusev trying to shake things off.
The left leg bothering him after the early attack here
from Styles, but the suplex, nonetheless,
a powerful base from Rusev,
albeit with one possibly injured leg.
Oh!
Off the elbow drop,
for the title, here's the cover, out at one.
[AJ sighs]
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Rusev, again, grabbing at that hamstring.
Graves, despite the power
of Rusev as this match wears on,
does that favor AJ Styles down the stretch?
[Corey] It could.
The fact is, Rusev possesses the kind of power
that can shut the game down in a hurry.
That's what Rusev needs to do.
The longer this goes, oh--
…the more it benefits the champion, Styles.
[Byron] We know how resilient AJ Styles is,
but you have to look at experience,
the experience of being in a high-profile match
for the WWE Championship.
Styles has the edge.
[Michaell] More and more strikes to the left hamstring
and, oh--
big back body drop from Rusev.
[Corey] AJ was launched into the lights here in the PPG Paints Arena.
My goodness.
[Michaell] And Rusev, again,
these kicks have done damage.
They've hit their mark.
[AJ sighs]
[AJ groans]
-[Michaell] Oh. -[Rusev speaking indistinctly]
[Michaell] Shot to the lower back.
Remember what the accolade is capable of,
that pressure cranking, pulling back on the neck
Rusev's weight on the lower back.
This is what Rusev wants to set up later.
[Corey] Love Rusev to set up for the accolade. That said,
attacking the core
of any superstar is so, so effective.
It doesn't only soften them for the accolade…
[Michaell] Cover. Forearm in the face and a kick out.
[Corey] …it hampers AJ's ability
to deliver basically any offense.
Everything starts with your core.
[Byron] Rusev, just in pure stalk mode right now.
[referee] Hey. Rusev!
[Michaell] Byron, can you blame a man like Rusev? Oh--
I thoroughly expect Rusev to be merciless
in this match in his first-ever WWE title opportunity.
[Byron] You don't know when this is gonna come again.
For many superstars, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity
just to get a shot at the WWE Championship.
So, of course, Rusev has to make the most of it.
[Michaell] A smart move by Rusev,
just wearing down Styles like a constrictor.
Every time AJ exhales,
Rusev's grip gets a little bit tighter.
[Rusev] What do you say, AJ?
[Michaell] Oh.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Now, AJ Styles, oh--
side to the face of Rusev,
trying to create a little bit of breathing room
between him and his challenger. Oh--
[crowd chatter]
[referee] Rusev, get him down.
-[Corey] Man. -[Byron] Rusev, with something--
perhaps hazardous in mind here for Styles
-[Michaell] Oh, my god. -[Corey] Oh, no.
Get him down.
[Michaell] Styles has gotta be careful here.
Doesn't have an option with Rusev in pursuit here
at the top turnbuckle.
[crowd] Rusev!
C'mon Rusev!
[Michaell] Look at AJ. AJ might be a little bit shook
after that strike there.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Now Rusev,
Rusev's trying to whip AJ off at the top turnbuckle
-and Styles again. -[Corey] Wow.
[Michaell] Shot to the left leg
and Rusev outside the ring in some pain.
[Corey] Rusev crashed down hard
all the way from the top.
-[Byron] This is… -[Corey] Pivotal moment for AJ.
-It's yours. -[Aiden] C'mon, c'mon, c'mon.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] What can Styles do?
What can Styles do with this opening?
[Aiden] Come on, Ruse. Finish this up.
Get in.
[crowd clapping]
[Michaell] Aiden with some encouragement.
Remember, guys, champion's advantage.
Rusev cannot win the title…
-[Corey] Oh. -[Michaell] Hold on.
And a forearm shot on the outside.
And I was about to say, Rusev
cannot win the title through a disqualification or a count out.
He's got to pin or submit AJ Styles inside the ring.
[Corey] Rusev's body is racked with pain.
Take a look at the phenomenal forearm to the outside,
just leveling The Lion of Bulgaria.
You could see it in Rusev's face.
He is in pain right now.
[Byron] Oh.
[Michaell] Rusev climbs back in the ring and breaks up the count.
[crowd chatter]
[Byron] Styles with that feisty
Georgia bulldog mentality
to keep being the aggressor here against Rusev.
-[Corey] Look at all these strikes. -[Michaell] A big clothesline fells Rusev.
[crowd jeering]
[Corey] Styles looking to pick up the pace again.
[Michaell] Flies in with a forearm and Rusev is in trouble,
but again, the lower back of AJ Styles giving him some trouble.
[Byron] Styles trying to power through.
[Corey] Rusev in this fight with basically one functional leg.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] And AJ splashes down in the corner.
Shot across the collarbone-- oh, man.
Look at the power of Styles,
but again, Rusev just too big.
[Corey] Back to the core attacked by the challenger throughout the match.
[Byron] Oh, wait. What--oh.
[Corey] Reverse DDT by Styles.
[Michaell] Styles to retain his title
and a kick out by Rusev.
[Byron] So many forms of attack
in the offensive repertoire
of AJ Styles.
We just saw another example of that.
[groans]
[man] C'mon.
[Michaell] And again, look-- and look at Styles
just trying to stand upright right now.
[crowd] Rusev Day! Rusev Day!
[Byron] Styles understanding…
-[Corey] Oh. -[Michaell] Wait.
Could be setting up for the Styles clash.
[Corey] I don't know if Styles is gonna be able to power up.
-[Byron] Oh. -[Michaell] Trying to set up
for the Styles clash and Rusev saw it coming,
and backs Styles into the corner.
[Byron] Uh-oh.
[Corey] AJ wants the calf crusher but Rusev hanging on.
[Michaell] Trying to hook the left leg
that Styles has been targeting this whole match.
[referee] C'mon.
-[Byron] What is Rusev doing? -[Corey] This is just raw power.
[Michaell] And Rusev plants Styles on the top
and a shot with the right.
[Corey] Like swinging a cinderblock.
[Michaell] Rusev connected and down goes the champion.
[referee speaking indistinctly]
[Corey] Rusev realizes he isn't gonna win the title by count out.
This is a valuable few moments trying to let that feeling
get back, get the blood flowing again.
[referee] Two…
[Byron] Trying to psyche himself up
as the champion, outside the ring.
-[Michaell] Oh. -[Corey] I don't know Rusev.
-[Byron] Whoa, whoa. -[Corey] Oh.
[Michaell] Rusev caught in the ropes with a forearm blast.
[Byron] Rusev gave AJ Styles
too much recovery time
and Styles responded.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] Rusev was looking to do damage on the champion
outside the ring and it backfired.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Styles trying to climb his way
back inside. Oh!
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Oh, enzuigiri on the side of the face.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] A WWE Champion,
every breath has got to be agonizing.
[Byron] This is--this is the true testament.
The true test of what it takes to hold on to that championship.
[Michaell] Could be thinking about the phenomenal forearm
set up here on the outside going to the top.
No. Wait, thought about the 450.
[Byron] Styles roll through.
[Corey] I can't believe the agility of the champion,
rolling through that springboard 450,
-averting disaster. -[Michaell] Oh, wait.
Now, caught the left leg, oh! Went for the calf crusher.
-[Byron] Uh-oh. -[Corey] Rusev had the leg.
[Michaell] Rusev wanted the accolade and now Styles,
Styles trying to grab hold of the ankle.
-[Byron] Oh. -[Corey laughs]
AJ, fierce kicks once again.
Going to the boot right to the kneecap
and, oh!
and caught in midair by Rusev.
[Byron] My goodness.
[Michaell] Styles went for one of those flying forearm shots
and Rusev countered in midair.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Watch this again. Styles…
meeting…
[Michaell] Oh.
[Byron] …the kick on the mark from Rusev.
[Michaell] Rusev's boot into the cheekbone of the champion.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Now Rusev, going back to the strength game.
Oh, thought about the fallaway slam,
now AJ trying to turn it around.
-Can he do it? -[Byron] Will the third time be the charm?
[Michaell] Calf crusher on the injured left leg of Rusev.
[Corey] Rusev, fighting with his powerful legs,
trying to survive.
[Michaell] Can Rusev get to the bottom rope?
Can he break up the submission
or will he tap out here tonight to Styles?
[Byron] Styles knew he can apply it.
Rusev in extreme danger of tapping out.
[Corey] The pain has to be unbearable
for the challenger now.
-But Rusev… -[Byron] Oh.
[Michaell] Wait. Aiden English
is trying to push the bottom rope.
The official's looking at Rusev
and Aiden, a little help there to the Bulgarian Brute.
[crowd cheering]
This guy pushed the ropes.
[referee speaking indistinctly]
[man] He got to the ropes.
I wouldn't know.
[man] He got to the ropes.
[unintelligible]
[Michaell] Styles now
focusing on Aiden English.
[crowd chatter]
[unintelligible]
[Michaell] Wait a minute. Aiden English…
[Corey] Aiden knows what he's doing.
A perfect diversion.
[Michaell] He stuck his nose in his business too many.
Oh, and Rusev…
Overhead belly-to-belly
outside the ring.
[Corey] Get him back, Rusev.
[Michaell] Rusev trying to scramble.
He's got to pin or submit Styles inside the ring for the WWE title.
Rusev has Styles where he wants him.
-[Corey] Oh. -[Michaell] Machka kick.
-[Corey] This is it. -[Michaell] Cover.
[crowd] One, two.
[Michaell] Kick out by Styles.
[crowd cheering]
[Corey] The look of agony
and heartbreak on the face of The Lion of Bulgaria,
the agony in his left leg just too much.
Take another look at this.
Boom, machka kick.
Could have been the best chance
Rusev will have to win the title.
[Michaell] Think about the cost of the machka kick.
Rusev had to plant on the injured left leg in order to connect with that.
That could have been a last-ditch effort from Rusev.
-[Rusev] C'mon. -[man] Take his head off.
[Byron] In the meantime, Styles can't even stand.
I mean, Styles is hurt.
Rusev is on his feet.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Prone for the attack
of the Bulgarian Brute.
[Corey] Styles is back up,
went for another machka kick
and a Pelé kick.
[Byron] Rusev still--oh, now down to one knee.
[Corey] Rusev trying to compose himself.
His vision is a little blurry,
a little hazy right now.
[Michaell] Styles, oh!
Knee to the midsection. What a kick,
cracking the jaw.
Here's the cover for the title.
-[Byron] Oh, no. -[Michaell] A kick out by AJ.
[Corey] Rusev kicked his foot on the gas.
-Here we go. -[Michaell] Rusev
on the elbow and tried to go for the accolade.
[Corey] Rusev can't plant.
Too much damage has been done to the challenger's left leg.
Rusev cannot apply the accolade.
[Byron] Rusev seemingly was seconds away
from winning the WWE Championship,
but again, the left knee
serving as a blockade
-to that task. -[Corey] All the damage done
to the left leg of Rusev.
-[Byron] Oh. -[Corey] And still,
this is still incredibly painful.
[Michaell] Caught in the accolade here
while being halfway
and Styles is trying to break his arm free
to get to the bottom rope.
[Byron] Desperation mode for the champion.
[Michaell] Rusev pulling back on the neck but still Styles gets to the ropes.
[Corey] You could see the frustration on the face of Rusev,
so close yet so far.
[Byron] What the--what the?
[Corey] Aiden pulled the cover off of the top turnbuckle.
[Michaell] The official has no idea.
He's been tending to Styles and Rusev opposite side of the ring.
[Corey] And it's exposed steel
on the top rope.
-Rusev… -[Speaking in foreign language]
[Corey] …trying his best to fire himself back up.
-[Michaell] He knows this might be his… -Rusev, champion!
[Michaell] …one and only opportunity
for immortality looking for the accolade.
-[Corey] Styles slips through. -[Michaell] Styles evades
now to the corner.
-[Corey] Oh, no. -[Michaell] Rusev
face first in the exposed turnbuckle.
[Byron] Aiden English's plan just backfired.
[Aiden] No, no, no.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] And Aiden understands
what he may have just cost Rusev here.
[Byron] Look at styles. Styles is in position.
[Michaell] Styles up top.
Springboard 450. Cover.
[crowd] One, two.
-[Corey] Oh. -[Michaell] Rusev kicked out.
[Corey] Unbelievable.
[crowd clapping]
[Michaell] What a match.
[crowd clapping]
[Byron] We talked about best chance opportunities for Rusev.
That was the best chance in this match
that AJ Styles just had to win it.
[crowd] Rusev Day! Rusev Day!
[Corey] English understandably beside himself.
[Michaell] Oh, now, Styles dispatching Aiden English,
has had enough of Rusev's crony.
[Byron] We know what AJ Styles is thinking.
[crowd cheering]
[Byron] Looking to put the finishing touches
on the challenger.
[Michaell] Styles is calling for it.
The WWE Universe is primed and ready for it.
The eyes of the champion
from the top, phenomenal forearm.
[Byron] On the mark.
-[Michaell] Cover. -[crowd] One, two, three.
-[Michaell] Styles has beaten Rusev. -[bell ringing]
-[crowd cheering] -[exciting music playing]
[man] Here is your winner
and still the WWE Champion,
The Phenomenal,
AJ Styles.
[Byron] AJ Styles
fending off the distractions of that man,
Aiden English,
fending off the brutal attack of Rusev,
and AJ Styles
can proudly call himself still WWE Champion.
[Corey] Rusev certainly brought the big fight
to the champion tonight.
But in the end, maybe it was championship experience.
Maybe it was a sound game plan.
But AJ Styles kept kicking,
kept fighting,
and stopped The Lion of Bulgaria.
[Michaell] The battle, hard and phenomenal.
WWE Champion, AJ Styles
victorious here at Extreme Rules.
Take nothing away from Rusev,
a once in a lifetime opportunity he had here tonight
and he brought an incredible fight.
[Byron] The tried-and-true motto.
-[rap music playing] -[Aiden speaking indistinctly]
[Corey] Aiden English trying to explain what just happened.
[Michaell] Look back here at what happened in this matchup.
Rusev went for the accolade numerous times,
the left leg wouldn't support it but again, bam!
Face first into the exposed turnbuckle
because of the actions of Aiden English.
[Corey] Aiden English was looking to help out his pal, Rusev,
but it opened the door for Styles
to deliver a breathtaking springboard 450 splash
but this would not be enough to stop Rusev.
[Michaell] The match would continue here in Pittsburgh
and AJ Styles had had enough
of Aiden English getting involved in this rivalry,
getting involved in this match, and said
it's ready to end it.
The phenomenal forearm,
boom!
Dropping the challenger.
[Corey] If you wanna knock at the door of the house AJ Styles built
you have to be more than great.
You have to be more than ready,
you have to be more than dominant.
You must be phenomenal.
[rap music playing]
[Byron] A proud moment for that man right there, AJ Styles.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Certainly, a Rusev Day to remember
but for AJ Styles,
it is just another day
as WWE Champion.
[rap music playing]
-[man] Quiet on the set. -[man 2] Quiet.
[woman] Ronda, let's get this started.
-Ready? -[man] Jeff, ready to share your story?
Okay. I'm ready, man.
[Jeff] Ask me anything.
How does this work?
[man] AJ, in three…
[woman] …two, one.
-[man 3] Let's go. -[Ronda] Are you rolling?
[man 4] This is gonna make history.
I'm ready, are you?
[exciting music playing]
-[laughs] -Hell, yeah.
[exciting music playing]
[man] Raw and Smack Down Live coming together for every pay-per-view
every month.
[man 2] Plus WWE will be making history in Australia.
[exciting music playing]
Yeah.
[growls]
[laughs]
[exciting music playing]
Your boy got the griddle.
-We're gonna get to cook it. -No.
-We're back. -Where is it, tickle pants?
He went there.
You took our stars…
-No. -…and put them
-on your show. -You stole our talent.
We didn't.
You did.
I've never held a venomous snake before.
I just got bit by a rattlesnake and then I'm like--
[censoring sound]
[exciting music playing]
[man] It's just going so fast,
sometimes I have to stop
and try to enjoy what's going on around me.
[Ronda] I feel like this is what I'm meant to do.
Everything I've done in my life up to this point has led me here.
[man] This incredible, this is NXT.
[man 2] This is huge.
[man 3] You will find the greatest performers
from around the globe, bring them together,
and light the world on fire.
[Elias] Hello, I am Elias.
And you're gonna remember this forever.
[man] A lot of people were looking sideways at the rock
because he was getting so popular so fast.
[exciting music playing]
[Michaell] And there is Seth Rollins set for the Iron Man Match
-for the intercontinental-- -Hey, excuse me, Seth.
You are about to go one-on-one with Dolph Ziggler
in a 30-minute Iron Man Match
for the Intercontinental Championship.
Now, due to his victory over you last week on Raw,
Drew McIntyre will be at ringside, meaning the odds…
Look, I got to cut you off right there.
I know I've got three opponents tonight.
I've got Dolph Ziggler,
I've got Drew on the outside,
and I've got the clock.
This isn't a normal match. This is an Iron Man Match.
You got to prepare different because you can't go out there,
throw caution to the wind.
I don't know how many falls it's gonna take, could be five,
could be ten, fifteen, a hundred, a thousand. I don't know. All I know,
I'm gonna go out there tonight,
leave it all in that ring
and I'm gonna walk out your new Intercontinental Champion.
[crowd cheering]
With that said, it's Steel City.
There's only one thing left to do
and that's burn
it
down.
[crowd cheering]
[rock music playing]
[man] Here comes the kingslayer.
[rock music playing]
-[rock music playing] -[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Ladies and gentlemen, the Iron Man Match
can make your career in many ways,
when you look back through history, you see
those who have won the Iron Man matches,
the likes of Shawn Michaells,
and Triple H,
and Brock Lesnar,
and John Cena,
Charlotte, Bayley, among others.
That is what Seth Rollins hopes to do tonight.
Join this elite group
and in turn, win the Intercontinental Championship.
[Coach] And it-- and it seems like to me that Seth understands what he is in for.
This is a moment in time,
the next 30 minutes doesn't matter to anybody
except for Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler.
And I cannot wait.
I cannot wait to see what they have in store
for all of us.
[Michaell] I'd disagree strongly.
The next 30 minutes are very important just about everyone in the WWE Universe.
At the end, we're gonna have a--
possibly a new Intercontinental Champion
or an undisputed reigning Intercontinental Champion.
[Coach] These are two of the greatest athletes
in the world today.
Different strengths,
different pluses, different minuses.
Cannot wait to see how they decide
to pick each other apart.
-[crowd cheering] -[microphone sound]
[exciting music playing]
[Michaell] The sixth time Intercontinental Champion, Dolph Ziggler,
accompanied by Drew McIntyre
who has been such an important force
in Dolph's latest championship reign.
The reason Zig was champion today
is in part because of Drew McIntyre.
And let's not forget what happened on Raw this past Monday night.
McIntyre beat Rollins,
meaning McIntyre can accompany Ziggler
to the ring here tonight.
[Coach] And these are two of the hottest superstars
not just on Raw, but in the WWE.
They not only want to get the job done,
it's important to both, Dolph and Drew,
how they look getting the job done.
They wanna be dominant.
[Michaell] Dolph told the kick-off panel earlier
in the Extreme Rules Kickoff Show
that it's not about being a showoff anymore.
It's a about being the champion.
[rock music playing]
[Coach] I'll tell you what, these two guys are
in the best shape of their career.
They look amazing,
focused,
ready to go.
[bell ringing]
The following contest is a 30-minute Iron Man Match
for the Intercontinental Championship.
[woman] The superstar who scores the most pinfalls or submissions
after 30 minutes will be declared the winner
and Intercontinental Champion.
Introducing first the challenger,
from Davenport, Iowa,
weighing 217 pounds,
Seth Rollins.
[crowd cheering]
[woman] His opponent, accompanied by Drew McIntyre,
residing in Hollywood, Florida,
weighing 218 pounds.
He is the Intercontinental Champion,
Dolph Ziggler.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] So here we go, 30-minute Iron Man Match
for the Intercontinental Championship,
Ziggler versus Rollins.
You see the scoreboard
on the bottom left-hand portion of your screen
up top the clock
which will countdown from 30
when this match gets underway.
[Corey] I was talking to Seth earlier, his strategy
is to score the first fall.
That is the utmost priority he's got
because then your opponent is fighting from underneath.
Your opponent has to capture you and then clips you,
the first fall is so essential in an Iron Man Match.
[Coach] You got to wonder what pace,
how quick, how fast?
[Corey] I've seen Seth warming up
literally all day long.
He started stretching sometime around 2:30 today.
It's just been a constant process
-geared toward endurance tonight. -[man] Yes!
[Michaell] Rollins and Ziggler underway,
Drew McIntyre at ringside.
Keep in mind for those of you who think that may be an advantage
for Dolph Ziggler, perhaps it won't be
because remember a disqualification or a count-out
also counts as a fall in this match.
So, Drew has to be very careful
if he tries to participate here.
So again Rollins and Ziggler,
we're just about a minute gone in this 30-minute Iron Man Match,
the feeling out process is underway.
Ziggler with a tremendous amateur background,
one of the great college wrestlers of all time,
had a record with the most victories
in the history of Kent State University.
[Coach] It is such a thrill to watch two of the best we have today.
feel each other out,
understand how great the other one is.
It can take a moment and you could have a pinfall,
you could have a submission.
[referee] Three. Let go of him.
[Michaell] Rollins staring down at McIntyre
again Drew's so important and the reason that
Dolph is a champion today.
Tremendous resumes for both of these men.
Dolph, a two-time World Champion, six-time Intercontinental Champion,
two-time United States Champion,
twice was a Sole Survivor at Survivor Series,
pinning combination and a kickout by Ziggler.
For Seth Rollins, he's a two-time WWE Champion,
he's won the Intercontinental title, the USA title,
the Tag Team Championship,
and of course the Money in the Bank back in 2014
which he cashed in at Wrestlemania
and one of the most memorable cash-ins in history.
Ziggler now rolling up Rollins
who rolls through.
-[Coach] You wonder… -[Michaell] The back slide by Seth,
shoulders down.
[Coach] You know how much energy it takes when they got that anxiety
and the anticipation.
They've had to sit around the entire day and the entire show,
you love being the show,
you love being the main event
but now we're going on, you know, three plus hours,
they've had to sit and wait for their opportunity.
[Michaell] You're talking about two of the elite WWE superstars.
There's no anxiety, there's anticipation.
Rolls him up, shoulders down again, Ziggler at two.
[Corey] When it comes to cardiovascular ability,
I challenge you to find two better in the WWE.
[Michaell] Went for the sunset flip, able to stack him up
as Rollins kickout at two by the champ.
[Coach] Two absolute machines right now.
[Michaell] Snapmare takedown. Flows through,
here's the pinning combination again,
a near fall and Ziggler's gonna take a breather.
[Coach] I don't think either is worried about the cardiovascular,
it's about the preparation, it's about strategy.
[crowd clapping]
[Michaell] Seth Rollins on WWE Now, earlier today,
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] did an interview where you learned about Seth
and Seth said that,
"if I win the championship tonight,
I am going to go back to open challenges
for the Intercontinental title as early as tomorrow night
on Monday Night Raw."
That says so much about Rollins
because he lost his title in an open challenge.
[Coach] I don't know what it says to you
but it tells me that he forgot how he got to this place
and the reason he's not the Intercontinental Champion.
[Michaell] Rollins keeping an eye on Drew.
[Coach] He didn't forget.
Seth is on a run of his career,
the #AllHeart fighting champion.
[Michaell] Cover by Rollins, kickout by Ziggler.
[Coach] Seth was functioning on such a high-level and then,
he got caught, he got beat once by Dolph, I don't think he'll let it happen again.
[Michaell] Cover by Rollins, hooks the leg on Dolph, and a kickout.
Interesting stat for Dolph Ziggler.
He has never competed
in a match of 30 or more minutes
one-on-one in his career.
He's been in Survivor Series, Royal Rumble matches for longer than that,
but never the match of longer than 30 minutes.
Seth Rollins we know
just a few months ago lasted over an hour in a match.
Rollins up and over to the outside, great balance,
Ziggler comes underneath as Rollins goes up over the top,
caught him with a right, Seth stopped,
and Ziggler made him pay.
You see the clock in the background,
closing in on 25 minutes left, no falls yet in this match.
[Coach] I love the quote you gave us earlier, Michaell,
and I think it's gonna serve Dolph well.
[Michaell] Uh-oh, wait. Seth
looking for the buckle bomb and connecting.
-[Coach] There it is. -[Michaell] Gets in trouble, Rollins.
[Coach] The maestro cradle.
-[Michaell] Shoulders down for a fall. -[commentators] Got him.
[Michaell] Rollins is up one nothing.
[woman] Seth Rollins has scored a fall.
[Michaell] So at the 25:20 mark, Rollins
just up one nothing,
Corey, this is well now for the architect.
[Corey] Absolutely.
Now, for all intents and purposes, Rollins
can go on the defense
which is easier said than done, oh--
elbow right to the bridge of the nose,
but Seth definitely can't rest on his laurels.
He can't put in cruise control yet
but he can take a step back because he has that…
-[Coach] Oh. -[Corey] …first fall.
[Coach] I think you keep the foot on the gas pedal.
[Michaell] There was an Iron Man Match
that ended one nothing,
the classic Shawn Michaells-Bret Hart Iron Man Match
-at Wrestlemania XII. -[referee] Go back inside.
[Michaell] One nothing now, 25 minutes left,
and there's Rollins up over the top, takes the champ out.
[Coach] Yeah, how it changes careers,
I was there in attendance,
John Cena and Shawn Michaells, and I don't think either one of those guys
was ever the same after that Iron Man Match.
[Michaell] Ziggler drifted on the barricade.
Now remember, the ref's counting,
because count-outs are a fall in Iron Man Match here tonight.
[referee] Five.
[Michaell] Count of five as Rollins
continues the attack, count of six,
-little smile for Drew McIntyre. -Seven.
[Michaell] How sweet it would be for Rollins if he can knock off Ziggler
with Drew out at the ringside.
Dolph hammering away with a right hand to Rollins.
[Corey] I think that the momentum that Drew and Dolph had been on
if they don't walk out with the title tonight
would really be a huge setback as they head forward
-and we get ready for Summer Slam. -[Michaell] Neck breaker
by Ziggler, cover, hook in the leg, now on Rollins, kick out.
But, Corey, you noticed the impact that Drew had,
just staring at Rollins moments ago,
and Rollins looking back at him allowed Dolph…
to take over of this match.
Cover and a kickout.
[Corey] You're right, the ominous presence
of Drew McIntyre is palpable.
Seth Rollins is well aware Drew's out there
and realizes he's got to keep a third eye
on Drew if possible.
[Coach] He's got to understand if Drew does anything, a point for him.
[Michaell] Drew gets caught.
[Coach] There you go.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Rollins lands on his feet as Dolph went for the suplex,
caught him with a big chop.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Seth looks so confident tonight.
[Coach] I think getting the first pinfall helped Seth
with the confidence factor
no doubt. -[crowd] One!
[Michaell] The WWE fans
counting down with the clock,
we're under 23 minutes left,
as Ziggler is whipped across the ring.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Rollins followed it up with a forearm to the face,
Ziggler right to the knee.
And Seth, a long history of knee problems in his career.
[Corey] Dolph Ziggler is very well aware of that.
A lot of homework done before this match,
A great deal of scouting by both.
[Michaell] Went for the famouser, Rollins able to dock underneath,
rolls up, Dolph stacks him up, shoulders down.
Dolph rolls through. Does Dolph have the tights? Perhaps.
Rollins able to kick out at a two.
And now Rollins… The power of Seth.
[crowd yelling]
[Corey] And Ziggler though.
-[Coach] Great counter by Dolph, stomp! -[Corey] Stomp by…
-[Michaell] Seth cover on Ziggler. -[Coach] He can get two.
[Michaell] Hooks the inside leg, Rollins is up two nothing.
-[Coach] Put it in the books. -[woman] Seth Rollins has scored a fall.
[Coach] Now, Corey,
if I'm Seth Rollins, I'm completely on defense.
[Michaell] At a 22:02 mark,
Rollins hit the stomp
to go up two nothing
in this Iron Man Match
and Rollins is completely in the driver seat.
[Coach] And Dolph is in deep, deep water.
[Corey] Seth Rollins now just--
he just need to keep wearing down Dolph, grab a hold
just--don't get pinned,
don't do anything stupid,
don't make any mistakes.
[Coach] Don't do this.
He's getting cocky,
the smile, the playing to the crowd,
-playing to the fans. What? -[Michaell] He's not getting cocky.
-He's looking to take out Ziggler. -[Coach] Looking for insurance.
-[Michaell] Wait, McIntyre. -[Coach] What?
[Michaell] The official has to call for the bell.
Call for the bell,
he's got to disqualified McIntyre
for attacking Rollins.
[Corey] McIntyre just laying waste to Seth Rollins.
-[crowd yelling] -Don't touch me.
You're disqualified.
That's another fall, another fall, right?
That's a fall from Rollins. It's by DQ.
Rollins gets a win by DQ.
[woman] Seth Rollins has scored a fall via disqualification.
[Michaell] Seth is up three nothing
after the assault by McIntyre.
-What is McIntyre… -[Coach] What's he thinking?
[Michaell] He's going after Rollins again.
Drew McIntyre has completely lost it.
[crowd yelling]
[Corey] Into the apron goes Rollins,
McIntyre is tearing Seth Rollins apart.
[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] Now he sends Seth back into the ring
and McIntyre is not done with the-- of his assault yet.
The official has to get this under control,
he's got to get McIntyre out of the ring.
[Coach] This is awful strategy, oh! Now he does, now he did.
[referee] Get out of here. I'm in charge, all right?
You got to go.
[Michaell] The official is kicking McIntyre out of the ringside.
-[Coach] I can tell [unintelligible] -[referee] Leave.
-Okay. -[referee] Get out of here. Let's go.
[Michaell] The claymore kick.
Rollins is down and out,
the clock continues, 20 minutes left,
Ziggler hasn't moved,
McIntyre's done damage,
now the question is,
can Ziggler capitalize on this attempt?
[Coach] Ziggler needs to capitalize
but, the fact remains Drew McIntyre caused Dolph a fall,
it's 3-0 Seth Rollins right now
-in part thanks to McIntyre. -[Michaell] Ziggler
crawling to the cover
hooks the leg on Rollins, shoulders are down,
and Ziggler has picked up a fall.
It's now 3-1.
[woman] Dolph Ziggler has scored a fall.
[Coach] The only way that that was worth it
is if Dolph Ziggler gets two falls
because now we're even.
The one he cost him, the one he got.
-[Michaell] Seth's up 3-1. -[Coach] Seth…
…you're absolutely right. Seth is ahead by two falls right now.
[Michaell] But Seth has been beaten to hell
at the hands of Drew McIntyre,
Ziggler had some time to recover,
with 19 minutes left,
Ziggler's looking to pull another fall.
[Coach] You wonder if that was the game plan the entire time
or if Drew wanted to do business for himself.
-[Michaell] Ziggler with a superkick. -[Coach] Oh!
[Michaell] Here's the cover, hooks the inside leg,
and it's now 3-2.
And to answer your question, Coach.
[woman] Dolph Ziggler has scored a fall.
[Michaell] Yes, it was worth it if you're Ziggler.
-[Coach] One hundred percent. -[crowd yelling]
[Michaell] In a span of a minute, Dolph Ziggler has cut the deficit
from 3-0 to 3-2 in this Iron Man Match.
[Coach] I'm wondering if in the back pocket,
he told you, "hey, if I get down early,
-this is what we're gonna do." -[crowd jeering]
[Michaell] And Rollins again just trying to struggle to his feet.
Dolph Ziggler measuring Rollins.
-[Coach] He… -[Michaell] Tuning up the band in his way.
Went for the superkick, Rollins scoops, shoulders down now.
Ziggler at two able to kick out.
Dolph caught him with an uppercut.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] And now Rollins sent in the post by Ziggler.
-[Coach] It's one thing to be down. -[Michaell] The zig zag,
to tie things up.
Ziggler cover, hooks the leg on Rollins.
We are tied at three a piece
with 17:50 left.
[Coach] That quick.
[woman] Dolph Ziggler has scored a fall.
[Michaell] In less than two minutes,
Dolph Ziggler has tied this up.
Dolph with three falls
in less than two minutes.
[Coach] I think the entire game plan
for both guys have got to change now.
I know we're even.
But now we got to say, "hey, we're under 18 minutes,
no Drew McIntyre,
and both of us are beat up, especially Seth Rollins."
[Michaell] No McIntyre but, man,
did he ever pay off for Dolph Ziggler.
[Corey] Big time.
Drew McIntyre deserves all the credit right now.
Sure, Dolph Ziggler is gonna thank him.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Going for the zig zag again, Rollins able to hang out to the top rope.
Ziggler into the corner face first off the top turnbuckle.
[Coach] Man, doesn't that 2-0 lead seem a lifetime ago.
[Michaell] It was actually a 3-0 lead, Coach, at one point.
-[Coach] Right. -[Corey] Completely evaporated.
We are back at zero.
Back at square one.
[Michaell] Hook to the face, under 17 minutes to play in the match.
Rollins up to the second rope,
Ziggler to his feet.
Rollins leap frog over the top, lands on his feet,
and he catches him with a sling blade.
And now Rollins looking to fire up.
Can he regain the momentum he had when he…
raised out to an early lead in this match?
[crowd] Three, two, one! [cheering]
[Michaell] Now Seth Rollins back to his feet,
sending Ziggler over the top rope
into the floor below.
-[Rollins] Let's go. -[referee] Get in the ring.
-[crowd chatter] -[referee] Ziggler get back inside.
[Coach] I think…
[Michaell] He's trying to help himself up.
[crowd cheering]
[Coach] I don't know if this is the right strategy but Seth…
thinking about getting crazy.
[Michaell] And a suicide dive and Ziggler caught him with a forearm.
-[Coach] Wait. -[Corey] Wants to lead.
Feet on the ropes and Ziggler with an unfair advantage.
The official didn't see it.
[woman] Ziggler as scored a fall.
[Michaell] It is 4-3 Ziggler with 15:45 to play.
[Coach] Well, just like Corey said,
only if you see it.
And the referee clearly did not see it.
[Michaell] The official made a great call earlier
by kicking Drew McIntyre out of the arena
but he block-- he blew it here.
[Coach] There you see Dolph with a palm strike
right to the face of Rollins.
Feet on the ropes, a little extra leverage,
and the Intercontinental Champion is ahead four matches to three.
[Coach] This is the equivalent
of a football team jumping out through a 21 to nothing lead
and then watching it go away,
and beat down by a touchdown.
Seth Rollins has to figure things out and quick.
[Michaell] Incredible, in the span of five minutes,
this match has gone on the 3-0 lead for Rollins,
to a 4-3 lead for Ziggler.
[Coach] This is the equivalent of Atlanta Falcons collapse
in the Super Bowl now.
[Michaell] Ziggler continues to put the pressure on Rollins,
works on the left arm and shoulder.
Now, slips the arm underneath the chin,
submission move perhaps on Rollins.
Seth tries to get back to a vertical base.
We're now under halfway through this match with 14:40 to go.
Ziggler in control.
[Coach] And as the champ,
how much offense does Dolph Ziggler now
need to put out?
[Michaell] Now the front facelock and Ziggler just looking
to wear Rollins down.
Now, you can use your amateur skills,
-and wear down the kingslayer. -[Coach] Right.
But if the first 15 minutes taught us anything
is that no lead apparently is safe.
Seth Rollins is up three falls to zero
-and he's now down by one. -[unintelligible]
[Corey] Seth Rollins doesn't have a McIntyre in his corner,
but these are two elite, incredibly talented,
top-tier competitors.
[Coach] We wondered on Monday night,
how much that match would factor into tonight.
And I think we can…
say that it factored it a great deal, a huge deal.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Seth
is trying to fight his way out of this front facelock from Ziggler.
[crowd chatter]
[man] Rollins.
[Michaell] Match spaces low down.
[Coach] These two are so evenly matched.
[Corey] Ziggler lands on his feet to the sleeper in the center of the ring.
[Michaell] If Seth Rollins passes out here,
Ziggler can take a two fall lead.
[Coach] With 13 minutes and being the champ,
that would be insurmountable.
[Michaell] A fantastic move by Dolph
conserving his own energy while wearing Rollins down.
[referee] How bad would you say, Seth?
-[unintelligible] -[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Seth Rollins in deep trouble,
Ziggler has him down on the mat
in the sleeper hold with nowhere to go.
-[unintelligible] -[Seth] No.
No, no.
[crowd] Five, four, three, two, one.
[Michaell] We're now down to 13 minutes remaining
in the Iron Man Match.
[Coach] And you wonder how much
Seth Rollins will start to press
when he looks at the clock, he understands where he's at.
And realizes he needs to get a pinfall or submission.
And then another one,
essentially he's down 2-0.
[Michaell] Rollins hanging in there.
But if this continues,
you have to believe Rollins is gonna fade away.
[referee] Come back Rollins.
[groans]
[Michaell] Seth trying to fight,
but how much will this take out of Rollins
to break this hold here with less than 12 and a half to go.
Back to a vertical base, Seth, can he--
can he fight out?
Ziggler again, full body weight on the back of Rollins.
Seth back him into the corner to try to force to break
and does momentarily,
but Ziggler back into the hold.
[Coach] I think you can say as far as game plans go,
that Dolph Ziggler's game plan here tonight
has been put to perfection
so far in the first 18 minutes.
[Michaell] How much more can Seth take
as he drives Ziggler shoulder first into the corner?
[Corey] Seth bought himself a few seconds to recover,
but he spent a lot of time in the sleeper hold.
[sighs]
[Michaell] He did spend a lot of time in the sleeper hold but he held on.
And he didn't submit
and he's still only down by one fall 4-3,
eleven and a half to go.
[Coach] Any great athlete player no matter what understands where he's at
doesn't press, understand what part of the game he is in.
Right now, essentially,
they're in the third quarter.
[Corey] Oh, Rollins sends Ziggler back to the outside.
Seth in a familiar predicament.
[Michaell] Seth's gonna try this again.
Seth is gonna go for the suicide dive,
this time connecting,
and he takes Ziggler outside the ring.
[Coach] If smart, he throws him back in and gets a cover.
[Michaell] He's gonna try to.
Trying to capture the momentum yet again.
Wise. Ziggler.
[Coach] Brilliant.
-[Michaell] Wise move. -[crowd] Four, three, two, one.
[Coach] Oh, Rollins gonna give chase again.
Look at that.
[Michaell] Suicide dive again and down goes Ziggler.
[Coach] See Seth start to press now.
He understands,
"I need to get a pinfall or submission quick."
I say before the eight-minute mark,
he needs one to really be even, though.
[Michaell] But, Coach, it's not panic time yet.
[Coach] No, but I think that's the time I believe he needs to be even.
[Michaell] Seth Rollins has plenty of time.
[man] Boom!
[Michaell] A third to this match remaining and he's only down a fall.
[Corey] Rollins to the apron.
Top rope, down goes Ziggler.
[Coach] Beautiful.
[Michaell] Seth gonna drag himself to the cover.
Hooks the leg on the champion, can he tie things up?
Dolph kicks out at two.
[crowd chatter]
[Coach] We mentioned how great of shape both of these two men are in
cardiovascular-wise
and now we're going to see that.
We're into the bottom third of this match
and we're gonna see what both men have left in the tank.
[Michaell] Seven falls in an Iron Man Match were a lot.
Only three times in history of it there had been more falls.
Eleven in the all-time record both Triple H
when he beat The Rock 6-5
and John Cena when he beat Randy Orton 6-5. Now…
[Coach] Rollins perch on the middlerope. Blockbuster.
[Michaell] And a blockbuster to Ziggler.
Is this enough…
to tie things up?
Kick out by Dolph
at two.
We're under 10 to go.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] You saw Seth look up at the clock.
He realizes
that he's moving into crunch time now.
[Coach] Nine minutes may seem a lot of time,
it's almost one-third to this matchup,
but now in a high pressure situation…
[Michaell] Ziggler with a dropkick, dropped Seth off the top rope.
He hit hard right here in front of us
with nine minutes left.
Ziggler still up for three
and you see-- you guys couldn't see it,
but Ziggler was just--
he was motioning the official to start the count
after delivering that to Rollins.
[Coach] I'll say this.
We are seeing so many smart moves from Dolph right now.
He's had-- despite what he's gone through
is completely still in the game.
[Corey] Rollins trying to compose himself.
The referee's count at seven.
[Michaell] Rollins up. He's in trouble, a count of eight now.
-[Coach] I don't know if he knows it. -[Michaell] Count of nine.
and Rollins barely beats the count.
[Coach] That would've been it.
[Michaell] Ziggler looking for the DDT and Rollins able to separate.
Kick now to the face of Dolph Ziggler.
[Corey] Seth Rollins now…
-[Coach] Ripcord knee. -[Corey] There it is.
-[Coach] Cover. -[Michaell] Connecting on Dolph.
Is it enough to tie things and for a piece?
And a kick out by Ziggler.
Now, Rollins has got to begin thinking,
"what do I need to do to tie this up with eight minutes to go?"
[Coach] The eight minute mark is so important.
The look in his eyes. He understands,
-"I need to get one right now." -[Michaell] He's gonna go up.
Rollins is gonna go to the top rope. We're under eight minutes to go.
Rollins top rope, can he take out Ziggler here?
And again, Dolph cuts him off
before he's allowed to deliver the big offensive move.
[Coach] Dolph doing a great job of countering
right before Seth can pull off the big move.
[Corey] Great defense by Ziggler.
He's not gonna exert a great deal of energy,
just stop Rollins from doing what he's doing.
[Michaell] We're seeing one of the reasons
that Dolph is considered one of the most talented men
to ever step in the ring here at WWE.
[Corey] Dolph's been around a long time, a veteran, great instincts,
and we're seeing that right now.
[Michaell] What's Dolph gonna plan to do?
High-risk maneuvers.
[Coach] Wait. I'm not sure this is Dolph's decision.
[unintelligible]
[Corey] …Trying to muscle Dolph up to the top rope.
[Michaell] Perhaps.
[Coach] Dolph trying to fight his way out.
[crowd] Eight, seven, six, five…
[Michaell] Right hands by Ziggler to Rollins.
He's now perched up on the second rope.
Seven minute mark here.
Ziggler still up by a fall.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] And Seth with a headbutt.
Down goes Dolph.
It's Seth, however, that has to start taking some risks now.
[Coach] He keeps looking at the clock.
You take too big of a risk. If it doesn't pay off,
you could put yourself in even bigger hole.
[Michaell] Frog splash.
[Coach] Perfect timing.
[Michaell] Cover. Can he tie things up?
-Ziggler kicks out at two. -[Coach] No!
The champion stays up for three.
[Coach] Two times now, he nearly evened it up,
couldn't get the job done.
Dolph's doing a great job of what you say, Corey, defense.
To me, kicking out is a part of that defense.
[Corey] Rollins connected. Got every ounce of the frog splash.
Picture perfect, let's take another look at it.
Soaring through the skies,
incredible impact on the Intercontinental Champion,
but Dolph had a little bit too much left in the tank.
And Ziggler is still up by one fall.
[Coach] This is like a LeBron James or a Steph Curry,
we're getting down to the end of the 4th quarter.
Who's gonna make the big shot? Who's gonna make the big play?
[Corey] This is just KG.
This is a veteran move by Ziggler,
wearing down the clock.
[Michaell] Oh, my goodness.
And Ziggler driven out of the ring again by Seth Rollins.
[Coach] Ziggler now is making Seth Rollins beat him.
That's exactly what Dolph has to do.
[Michaell] Five and half to go.
The burn it down chants from the WWE fans here in Pittsburgh.
Rollins looking to tie this Iron Man Match at four a piece.
[Coach] It's been the first 25 minutes,
positioning yourself the last five minutes,
winning it.
[Corey] These guys have been in positions since the first opening minutes, Coach.
Seth Rollins at one point at a 3-0 lead in the first ten minutes.
[Michaell] Yeah, it's pretty amazing. All seven falls in this match
took place over a ten-minute span
between the 25-minute mark and the 15-minute mark.
And now we're at less than five to go, and its 4-3, Ziggler.
[Coach] I just can't-- oh, my god.
Look at this cat-like agility by Rollins.
-From the top, superplex. -[Corey] Wow.
[Coach] Rollins!
-he rolled right up. -[Michaell] The falcon arrow
onto Ziggler to tie things up.
-Hook on the leg, and Ziggler… -[Coach] Oh!
-[Michaell] …catch that again. -[Coach] Wow.
[Michaell] Now Rollins has to decide what do I got to do
to take out the champ?
[Corey] You don't have to be a fan of Ziggler or his attitude,
but you have no choice
but to respect the Intercontinental Champion right now.
[Coach] What-- with those two moves,
it's gonna take at least another 20 or 30 seconds
for them to get back up. We're gonna be under four minutes.
[Corey] This is my point about taking risks.
If they pay off, great,
but if they don't,
you just exerted a great deal of punishment to your opponent
and yourself. -[Coach] Great point.
[Michaell] Seth looks back at the clock again.
He's got four minutes to tie this thing.
He's done everything he can, everything in his ability.
And still can't pick up a fall
-on the champion. -[Coach] Seth doesn't wanna tie it.
He wants to tie it and win it.
[Michaell] He's gonna tie it first.
-[Coach] But he's taking two falls. -[Michaell] He's thinking to get one now.
He's gonna tie this damn thing
or else he's gonna lose it. He's got 3:35 to do it.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Rollins perhaps looking for the stomp.
He used it effectively earlier on the match-up.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] A kick right to the mid-section.
Rollins looking to stop Ziggler.
-Dolph evades. -[Coach] Right to the knee.
-[Corey] Brilliant. -[Coach] Ziggler, great, cradle.
[Michaell] Shoulders down.
Rollins kick-out, Ziggler almost put this at a harm's way.
[Coach] It'd be game over.
[Corey] Slingshot.
[Michaell] Dolph locks it off. Shoulders down.
Rollins caught him.
-[Coach] He got him. -[Michaell] He got him at 3:08.
We tied it at four a piece.
[woman] Rollins has scored a fall.
[Corey] Unbelievable. We are back and even,
the final three minutes ticking away.
[Coach] Buckle up.
[Michaell] Less than three to go.
We are tied at four a piece.
[Coach] It's time to dig deep.
[Crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Critical moment now.
[Coach] This two have given us everything they have and then some.
[Michaell] But they got to continue. We got 2:30 to play.
We're tied at four a piece.
Rollins and Ziggler, and it's come down to this.
[unintelligible] McIntyre.
[Michaell] Two of the best in-ring tacticians of our generation
going at it. Four a piece.
[Coach] Nothing technical about this.
-[Michaell] A fight. -[Coach] Seth said, "you can't beat me."
[Corey] Seth looking for a sharpshooter.
-Rolls him over. -[Coach] Whoa.
[Corey] What's Dolph gonna do?
Is Dolph gonna tap?
Is Seth gonna take the lead?
[unintelligible]
[Coach] There's no way Ziggler hangs on for two more minutes.
This is a brilliant idea by the architect.
[Michaell] Ziggler has nowhere to go, trying to drag himself to the bottom rope.
Remember the rope will force a break
in Iron Man Match rules.
Can Dolph make it there?
Can Dolph force the break?
Is he gonna tap out?
[Corey] Rollins, though, now going for crossface perhaps.
[Coach] Smart.
[Corey] Dolph [unintelligible] , neck crossface applied.
[Michaell] A submission move by Rollins.
A minute forty three, the clock continues to count.
Ziggler in the middle of the ring, nowhere to go.
Is Dolph gonna be able to hang on?
[Coach] Rollins focused on the clock, watching--
the seconds tick away.
[Michaell] Is Dolph gonna tap out, is he gonna tap?
Ziggler trying to drag himself to the bottom rope,
under a minute and a half left.
-Tied at four a piece. -C'mon.
[Coach] But, Cole, he's nowhere near the ropes.
[Michaell] And Seth Rollins now.
-[Corey] Seth looking for stomp. -[Michaell] Stomp.
Ziggler rolled through and rolled out of the ring.
[Coach] Great.
I'm not mad at that decision at all.
[Michaell] Rollins has to get him back inside.
[Coach] He realized he wants a submission.
[Michaell] Ziggler's trying to escape.
I guess, Ziggler figures,
"hey, if I tie, I live with my championship.
Let me run out of this arena.
I'll take the tie,
I'll keep my title."
-[Corey] Famouser by Ziggler. -[Coach] Oh, no.
-[Michaell] Ziggler to take the lead. -[Coach] That's it.
[Michaell] Hook to the leg on Rollins. Rollins kicks out,
with 45 seconds left.
[Coach] But does Rollins know that we're under 45 seconds?
[Michaell] We are tied at four a piece.
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] Are we headed for a draw perhaps
in the Intercontinental Championship match?
[Coach] Under 30.
[crowd chatter]
[Corey] This is it. In the bottom of the night,
base is loaded.
[Michaell] And Ziggler looking for the walk off homer.
Can he put Rollins away?
Tuning up the band in the corner
with 15 seconds left.
[Michaell] Rollins caught him.
[Coach and Michaell] Seth caught him.
[Michaell] Looking for the stomp.
-The stomp. -[Corey] Seven seconds cover him, Seth.
-Cover him. -[Coach] Cover.
[Michaell] Come on, Seth.
Seth into the cover,
-the time's run out. -[buzzler]
[crowd cheering]
[Michaell] The time has run out on Rollins.
[Coach] He needed five more seconds.
[crowd chatter]
[Michaell] Rollins cannot believe it.
Four a piece.
-[Coach] He needed five more seconds. -[Michaell] As time runs out.
-[Coach] A heart break. -[Michaell] Incredible match.
[Coach] Heart break for Seth Rollins.
[crowd chatter]
[woman] Ladies and gentlemen, the 30 minute-time limit has expired.
Therefore, this match has been ruled a draw.
In the case of a tie,
the champion retains his title.
[Michaell] Dolph Ziggler survived tonight.
[Corey] You got take your hat off and give respect to Ziggler.
He went out here and hung for 30 minutes.
Sure, the last few seconds
almost put Seth Rollins away. But…
[Michaell] He was down three nothing at one point and he came back.
[Corey] You're right.
What a performance by a deserving Intercontinental Champion.
[Coach] And Seth Rollins is gonna be playing the what-if game
-for the next… -[Michaell] Wait, wait.
[exciting music playing]
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Hold it up, Dolph, hold it up.
Incredible match, both of you,
incredible match,
but nothing is settled.
I know that WWE Universe
does not want to see a tie.
[crowd cheering]
I know that my hometown, Pittsburgh, PA
does not wanna see a tie.
[crowd cheering]
So, Dolph get back in that ring,
because we are gonna get to sudden death overtime.
[Coach] Yeah!
Next fall wins.
Ring the bell.
[Michaell] Great call by our general manager Kurt Angle.
-[Corey] Ridiculous. -[Michaell] Sudden death overtime.
We'll do a little bit of research as Rollins and Dolph
get set to go to sudden death, for a first fall
-will determine who the champion is. -[bell ringing]
[Michaell] We are underway.
And guys, I'm looking this is--
-one, two. -[Corey] Wait.
[Coach] What's McIntyre doing?
-[Michaell] McIntyre! -[Coach] No!
[Michaell] What the hell is McIntyre-- He was bad, here is Ziggler.
-You got to be kidding me! -[bell ringing]
[Michaell] Wait a minute.
[exciting music playing]
[woman] Here is your winner, and still
the Intercontinental Champion, Dolph
-Ziggler. -[Corey] The match was restarted.
I got no problem with it.
[Michaell] C'mon, Corey.
[Coach] I've got big time problem with it.
I wanted it fair and square.
I wanna see another 10 or 15 minutes.
[Michaell] After what these two men went off for 30 minutes.
You got to take that as your victory?
[Corey] Yes. The match should not have been restarted.
It was an arbitrary,
nonsensical decision by Kurt Angle
trying to pander to the WWE Universe.
-[Coach] Hear the crowd? -[Corey] Yeah.
-[Coach] They love it. -[Corey] You know what?
None could go 30 minutes.
[rock music playing]
[Corey] I love Rollins as much as the next guy.
But Dolph Ziggler earned his victory twice tonight.
[Michaell] This is disgusting.
[Corey] It's disgusting and Angle is drunk with power.
[Michaell] It's disgusting that McIntyre was bad for the match,
was able to get involved again,
and it allowed Ziggler to win like that.
-[Corey] No. -[Michaell] In sudden death overtime.
-[Corey] If you… -[Michaell] 5-4.
[Corey] If you wanna get arbitrary like Angle,
it's a new match.
He restarted it.
It's sudden death, maybe Drew wasn't bad for that part.
[Coach] I will say this,
that Dolph Ziggler did for a second upset Seth.
Then said, "We got to do what we gonna do."
And I'll give the champion credit
for doing what he had to do
to walk out the champ.
[Michaell] Give McIntyre credit. That's the reason Ziggler
is Intercontinental Champion.
[Coach] Look at that face.
[rock music playing]
Subtitle translation by: Camila Vicente the reason Ziggler