WWE Extreme Rules 2015 Coverage: Same Old Song

There’s one night a year when the WWE goes extreme- or at least tries to. The 2015 WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view opened up with an electric crowd at the All State Arena in Chicago. The crowd was verbal and electric adding to the energy of each wrestler on the card. Even Big Show had a little extra hop in his step.

Eden Stiles opens the show with the announcement of the Chicago Street Fight featuring Dean

Ambrose and Luke Harper.

Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper: Dean Ambrose received a huge pop as he made his way out. Luke Harper also received a sound ovation from the Chicago crowd, Ambrose wasted little time and rabidly attacks him. The referee tries to restore order enough, and does, long enough to ring the bell.

Yet within a minute it developed into an uncontainable brawl. Chairs, chair shots, kendo sticks, kendo stick shots and plenty of hardcore action filled the early minutes.

Ambrose landed a tornado DDT, but Harper pushes him off and shoves him face-first into a steel chair wedged between the bottom and middle ropes. The brawl continued, spilling all of the way back into the backstage area, with each competitor using every weapon in sight even a 24 pack of Poland Spring Water. Finally, the guys fight and brawl their way off the screen as the two get into a car and leave with Scott Armstrong running behind.

Backstage a quick Authority promo

Triple H, Kane & Seth Rollins

As the un-seen Ambrose-Harper action continues off-screen, the fans chant “CM Punk” loud as hell as we shoot to a backstage segment with Kane and Seth Rollins. HHH tells both guys that Rollins is making his first pay-per-view defense tonight. He asks both guys to put aside their differences. The Chicago crowd starts chanting “Boring! Boring!” louder than you can imagine. Kane assures both HHH and Rollins that tonight; he will do what’s best for business.

Kiss My Arse Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus: Dolph Ziggler makes his way out to the ring as the crowd pops hard for him. In a surprising move the announcers acknowledge all of Ziggler’s controversial tweets about this match.

Sheamus comes out next to a chorus of boos. As the match begins it doesn’t take long before Sheamus starts dominating the action. Sheamus gets outside of the ring and with Ziggler dominated, tells him he’s going to kiss his “arse” tonight. Sheamus has literally dominated this entire match. Ziggler has sold for the majority of the match.

Ziggler eventually builds an offense teasing the comeback, but Sheamus regains control quickly playing to the Chicago fans who boo the hell out of him.

Sheamus bangs his chest calling for the Brogue Kick, but Ziggler avoids it scoring a roll up on Sheamus. Sheamus kicks out at two and goes back to dealing out a beating. However, Ziggler gets the school boy roll and scores the three counts. Sheamus shocked tries to run away swinging his arms and playing the crowd. He finally kneels and takes Ziggler out with a low blow followed by a Brogue Kick. While Ziggler is unconscious, Sheamus grabs him and puts his face in his “arse” — trunks up — no lips — but it happened.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler, kind of.

The New Day, Kofi Kingston and Big E. Langston w/Xavier Woods vs. WWE Tag Team Champions vs. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd w/Natalya Neidhart: The New Day make their way to the ring to an unbelievable amount of boo’s that is overshadowed by the ovation that Tyson Kidd and Cesaro received. Once Cesaro’s theme hits, the crowd in Chicago went ballistic.

Once the bell sounds, Kofi Kingston Kidd start off the match. The action continues until Cesaro and Big E. tag in. Big E. gets in some offense until out of nowhere; Cesaro catches Big E a sight to behold in mid-air and hits him with a big slam. The crowd ate it up the announcers went nuts over it.

The New Day eventually manages to get in some offense, although the wheels come off soon after. Once it does, bodies are lying everywhere. Kingston(Yes, Kingston!) pulls on the tights during a roll up giving us new Tag Team Champions and a dual face heel turn.

Winners and NEW WWE Tag-Team Champions: The New Day

Backstage: Renee Young, The New Day segment

Backstage Renee Young is interviewing the new champs when the car with Ambrose and Harper rolls in knocking down some staged boxes. To which Xavier Woods pokes fun at a tumbling Harper about getting his ass kicked.

Chicago Street Fight: Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper (Part Two): Ambrose flies of the roof of the vehicle which Harper moves narrowly avoids causing Ambrose to take out the New Day.

Harper stumbles into the arena to be kneed by a flying Ambrose. The action continues and they brawl their way back to the ring. Once in the ring, Harper establishes a cavalcade chairs get involved.

Harper tries to put away Ambrose with the chairs, but Ambrose hangs on. Ambrose works his way back up. Within seconds, he nails Harper with his “Dirty Deeds” finisher on a chair.

Winner: Dean Ambrose

Russian Chain Match: WWE United States Champion John Cena vs. Rusev: Hands off to WWE production for the video packages on this show- they were tremendous. Cena looks like the fighting champion they want him to be. However, Lana and Rusev come out in what is essentially a strap match with a chain and sensors on the turnbuckles.

John Cena comes out to his usual mixed reaction.

The match starts with a tug-of-war. Rusev sends Cena to the corner and splashes him igniting the green light. Rusev immediately touches the second corner but Cena takes him out. Cena tags three turnbuckles, but it’s waved off as Rusev cuts his momentum off. Rusev works over Cena and tags two turnbuckles but Cena cuts him off. Rusev sends Cena over the top rope and uses the chain to pull Cena up by his arm.

Rusev comes back in and suplexes Rusev blocks an Attitude Adjustment and beats Cena down. Cena goes under the bottom rope to the floor preventing the brute from hitting the turnbuckle. Cena comes back in the ring with Rusev appearing to be out.. Cena hits the first two turnbuckles but can’t drag Rusev to get to the third. Rusev holds onto the chain and Cena goes back to work on him. Rusev with a big heel kick off the ropes in a somewhat impressive offense.

Cena wraps the chain and clotheslines Rusev. Cena tags two corners but Rusev misses a clothesline. Fans chant for Lana and she gets on the apron to a pop. Lana acknowledges the chants and Rusev gets upset. He orders her to the back as fans boo. Cena ducks a chain shot and slams Rusev. Cena calls for the Five Knuckle Shuffle and nails it. Cena goes for the AA again but it’s blocked. Rusev catches Cena with an Alabama Slam. Rusev stomps Cena in the back and he’s out. Rusev goes for The Accolade but Cena counters with the STF. Cena tags three corners but Rusev goes to the floor to stop the fourth. Cena brings him back in and goes for another AA but Rusev slides out and hits a kick. Rusev with another stomp to the spine. He locks in The Accolade now.

Cena stands up and walks with Rusev still on his back with The Accolade. Cena thinks he’s tagging the corners but Rusev gets credit for them. Cena realizes Rusev is about to win and hits the AA. The lights are all cleared back out. Rusev and Cena both tag one corner each. Cena tags a second as does Rusev. Cena hits a third corner as does Rusev. They turn and face each other now. Rusev goes for a corner but Cena pulls him in with the chain and nails the Attitude Adjustment. Cena manages now to get to all four corners. It’s over. Cena wins.

Winner and STILL WWE United States Champion: John Cena

WWE Divas Champion Nikki Bella vs. Naomi: The Bella Twins come out a big pop. However, the freshly minted heel Naomi comes out to new music and light up shoes. Nikki works on the arm and applies an armbar. Naomi turns it around and keeps Nikki down. They get back up and Naomi drops Nikki for a 2 count. Naomi takes control as Brie cheers Nikki on. Naomi grabs Nikki by her hair and bulldogs her into the turnbuckle for a 2 count.

The match is solid and fundamentally good. These women can wrestle and the story they are telling is better than what has been on TV in a while.

Nikki blocks Naomi’s Rear View but after a brief exchange Naomi drops Nikki with it. Naomi mounts Nikki with shots now. Nikki ends up on the floor and Brie checks on her. Naomi comes out and kicks Brie then brings Nikki back in. Nikki hits a corner clothesline and an Alabama Slam for a 2 count. Naomi blocks Nikki’s forearm and drops Nikki for a 2 count. Nikki dodges a split-legged moonsault and drops her with a knee for a 2 count. Nikki goes for the Rack Attack but Naomi fights out and hits her finisher for a 2 count. Nikki hits a springboard kick to the face for another close near fall.

The referee gets distracted giving Brie the chance to kick Naomi’s face, which sets up the finish. Nikki picks Naomi up, hits her Rack Attack finisher.

Winner and STILL WWE Divas Champion: Nikki Bella

Last Man Standing Match: Roman Reigns vs. Big Show: Roman Reigns and Big Show make their way to the ring. The fans aren’t into either guy as the boos and cheers are mixed. The bell sounds and it doesn’t take long at all for these two big dudes to go after it.

Show and Reigns trade blows with Big Show taking control early on. Fans chant “you sold out” at him. Reigns fights back and clotheslines Reigns brings a table from under the ring and fans cheer. Show cuts him off and puts the table back under the ring. Reigns blocks a move and shoves Show into the ring post. The referee counts on Big Show as Reigns brings the table back from under the ring. Show gets back up at the 5 count and sends Reigns flying into the barrier. Show breaks the table in half this time so it can’t be used.

Reigns grabs a kendo stick and unloads on Show until Show shoves him into the ring post. Reigns makes it back up at the 6 count and Show pushes him in the ring. Reigns fights back and unloads on Show into the corner. He comes off the second rope and Show just knocks him out of the air. Reigns gets to his feet and rolls to the floor. Reigns grabs a steel chair and brings it in the ring. Reigns unloads on him with it and the referee counts. Show makes it back up as Reigns brings a table from under the ring. Reigns brings another table in but walks right into a knockout punch. The referee starts counting.

Reigns goes back down after a big spear. He gets up at 8 and Show goes back to work on him. Show nails a Vader Bomb and the referee starts counting. Reigns gets up as Show goes to the top. Reigns crotches him. Show screams out in pain and everyone laughs. Reigns brings two more tables from under the ring. He sets them both up side by side on the floor. Reigns climbs up to the top where Show is still sitting. Show shoves him to the mat. Show climbs up but Reigns catches him and throws him to the mat. The referee starts counting again.

They both get up and Reigns nails a Superman punch. Reigns hits a second one but Show is still on his feet. He goes for a third Superman punch but Show blocks it. Show grabs Reigns by the throat and choke slams him from the ring to the two tables that were set up on the floor. Reigns somehow gets to his feet right before the 10 count and Big Show can’t believe it. Show goes to the floor and grabs the pieces of the steel steps. He builds the steps in between the barrier and the announce table. Show charges with a spear but Reigns moves and Show crashes through it. The referee counts as they’re both down now.

They both get up and Reigns hits a spear. Show rolls to his feet on the floor. Reigns runs around the ring and spears Show through the barrier to a big pop. The referee counts with both men down now. Reigns gets up at 7 as does Show. Show stumbles around the debris. Reigns steps up on the announce table. Show grabs him by the throat and climbs up with him. Reigns fights Show off with elbows. Show sends him off the announce table and into the apron. Reigns runs back up the steel steps that were put there earlier and spears Show from the announce table through the Spanish announce table. A justifiable and loud “holy shit” chant starts.

Reigns gets up first. Show makes it up next. The situation ends up with Big Show trapped under an announce table. Reigns makes sure things stay that way as the referee finally counts all the way to ten. Reigns wins!

Winner: Roman Reigns

Steel Cage Match (RKO is Banned) WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton: The steel cage descends ominously from the rafters as the crowd builds for the main event. As both competitors enter the ring the crowd is mixed. Once the bell sounds Rollins instantly starts climbing up the cage only to get dragged down by Orton. Rollins blocks a shot into the cage wall and fires back with strikes. Rollins beats Orton down in the corner. Orton comes out of another corner with a clothesline. Rollins tries to escape again but Orton grabs his leg and pulls him to the mat. Orton keeps control as we get dueling chants. Orton and Kane stare each other down as Orton goes back to stomping on Rollins. Orton catapults Rollins into the cage but he hangs on and tries to escape. Orton stops him again and works him over in the corner.

Rollins comes back and goes for a pin on Orton. Rollins tells Kane to open the door and he has to. Rollins tries to walk out but Orton hits him from behind. Rollins counters and sends Orton face first into the cage wall. Rollins scores a 2 count. Rollins sends Orton into the cage again and talks some trash. Rollins drives Orton into the cage again and mounts him with right hands. Orton comes back with an uppercut but Rollins counters for another 2 count. Rollins hits a splash in the corner and Orton goes down.

Rollins makes another comeback and climbs the cage. Orton follows. Rollins gets one leg over but Orton brings him back down to the top rope. They trade shots and Rollins knocks Orton to the mat with a face shot into the cage. Rollins lands a flying knee to the face for a 2 count.

Rollins climbs the cage again and makes it to the top before Orton gets to his feet. Orton stops him and climbs up. They both sit on top of the cage and trade shots now. They come back down to the top rope. Rollins knocks Orton to the mat. Rollins leaps off the top rope but Orton catches him in mid-air with a power slam for a 2 count. Orton takes Rollins to the rope for the DDT but Rollins counters. Rollins connects with a super kick to the face for a close 2 count. Rollins climbs up to the top of the cage and Orton chases him. Rollins tries to drop to the floor but Orton grabs his hair. J&J Security come down to assist but Orton pulls Rollins back over the top of the cage and hits a huge superplex for a 2 count.

In a sick twist of fate Kane interferes only to get a face full of RKO. Rollins ever the opportunist hits Orton with an RKO seconds later for the three count. The announcers and the crowd are confused. Lawler argues, “I thought the RKO was banned” only to have the heel announcer JBL say, “nope, only for Orton.”