What a distinction a 12 months makes. In July 2020, Excessive Guidelines was labeled a “Horror Present,” largely came about within the WWE Efficiency Heart with no followers and featured each an “eye for a watch” match during which an opponent was meant to pluck their opponent’s eye out and a cinematic match in a swamp.
Fourteen months later, Excessive Guidelines is about to happen in entrance of a capability crowd at Nationwide Enviornment in Columbus, Ohio. Outdoors of an Excessive Guidelines match for the Common championship between Roman Reigns and Finn Balor, there are no stipulations to talk of. Becky Lynch is about to (most likely) have her first televised match that goes past 26 seconds since returning, as she defends her SmackDown girls’s championship towards former champ Bianca Belair.
Two of essentially the most prolific Uncooked girls’s champions in that title’s historical past sq. off as nicely, as Charlotte Aptitude appears to be like to fend off Alexa Bliss. The USA championship and SmackDown tag group titles will even be on the road Sunday night time.
Comply with alongside all through the night time as we break down the motion, match by match.
Match in progress:
Smackdown girls’s championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair
Outcomes:
Uncooked girls’s championship: Charlotte Aptitude (c) def. Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss has leaned into the supernatural over the past 12 months, following entanglements with “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt. However after her unsuccessful problem for Charlotte Aptitude’s Uncooked girls’s championship at Excessive Guidelines, and the aftermath, she appears more likely to turn out to be fully unhinged.
Bliss fought valiantly in a powerful effort, however her demonic doll Lily was finally her downfall on Sunday. Aptitude plucked the doll from the nook, tossed it to Bliss and, within the confusion, linked on a giant boot that despatched Bliss flying. That led on to Aptitude connecting with a Pure Choice, adopted by a pinfall victory.
Bliss needed to scramble for each inch of benefit all through the match, and handle to frustrate Aptitude when she could not keep the sting. A pair of headshots into the nook and a basement dropkick despatched Aptitude to the skin, however identical to most of Bliss’ different optimistic moments on this match, it would not final lengthy. Aptitude turned a operating Headscissors try right into a Powerbomb place, after which drove Bliss head-first into the ring barrier.
A Aptitude high rope moonsault missed, however a standing moonsault rapidly adopted. Aptitude’s first try at a Pure Choice noticed Bliss slip out, however after buying and selling roll-up makes an attempt, a one-armed Powerbomb from Aptitude earned a two-count.
One other missed moonsault despatched Aptitude right into a grounded Bliss’ boot. Bliss instantly positioned herself for a Code Purple Flipping Powerbomb, however that, too, was solely value a two-count.
A Twisted Bliss try from Bliss and a Determine Eight try from Aptitude went nowhere, however a Bliss DDT appeared as if it may tilt issues in her favor, till Aptitude’s foot on the ropes broke the referee’s depend.
Shortly thereafter, Aptitude grabbed Lily, and triggered Bliss’ downfall. Within the aftermath, Aptitude kicked Bliss out of the ring, after which grabbed Lily. She tore Lily’s arm off after which tore the remainder of the doll limb from limb, ripped the stuffing out, after which held each the title and the deflated doll aloft.
Bliss attacked Aptitude with chaotic urgency. Aptitude tossed Bliss over the commentary desk and into the Uncooked announce group. As Aptitude stumbled away, Bliss pulled her personal hair out as she seen the wreckage of Lily and picked up the stuffing to attempt to put it again in. She collapsed into tears and screams as cradled the doll.
Profitable wasn’t sufficient for @MsCharlotteWWE…
SHE WANTS TO END LILLY. #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/bpaNH0igMu
— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2021
What’s subsequent: The post-match fracas factors to a different chapter on this rivalry, and with how this match performed out, it would not seem to be a foul concept for both girl. Uncooked and SmackDown’s girls’s rosters will look very in a different way over the following couple of weeks, however this looks like a battle that might simply carry by means of at the least yet one more match.
The New Day def. Bobby Lashley, AJ Types and Omos
The six-man tag group match was added to the cardboard on the final minute, due to a handy backstage scuffle on the Kickoff Present. However the swiftly put collectively match delivered — each by way of the in-ring motion from bell-to-bell, and a shocking ending.
Large E scored one other pinfall victory over Bobby Lashley, albeit within the midst of some confusion, and solid at the least a bit of little bit of doubt as as to if or not Lashley will discover his option to a rematch for the WWE championship because the upcoming WWE draft looms.
With 4 world champions within the combine, in addition to some sturdy group dynamics throughout, there was hardly ever a boring second. Followers acquired notably loud early on when Types and Large E lined up reverse each other, teasing an fascinating potential future match that might carry one thing particular.
After Xavier Woods needed to scramble out of an early Calf Crusher try, New Day took management early, till Kingston acquired blindsided by Lashley and turned the tide. Neither facet gave the impression to be particularly peril till Woods acquired caught spinning in mid-air and Lashley turned it right into a powerslam.
Woods ultimately fought out of the nook and tagged Large E in. He confirmed off great energy in what may’ve been a harmful miss within the nook, after which basically deadlifted Types with one arm for a Uranage.
Types prevented Large E’s patented spear by means of the ropes, Kingston blind tagged himself in and the New Day linked on a mix double stomp and Large E powerbomb. Lashley interrupted, broke up the pinfall after which dragged Types by one arm again to his nook to tag again in.
A Lashley Dominator on Kingston earned his group a two-count, however Lashley then missed a spear and spilled to the skin. Kingston tossed Types excessive rope, too, however as Large E launched Kofi excessive to assault each Types and Lashley, Omos interrupted that thought with a giant slap to Kingston’s chest.
Lashley’s flatliner to Large E whereas the opposite members of New Day had been incapacitated appeared to spell doom, however as Lashley lined up a spear, Types blind tagged in. As Types seemed for Phenomenal Forearm, Lashley blind tagged himself again in, and within the chaos, Lashley by chance speared Types. Large E hit the Large Ending on Lashley, and that was all she wrote.
What’s subsequent: This match was seemingly a pit cease on the best way to a Large E-Lashley rematch for the WWE championship, and with Lashley requesting that match for Monday’s version of Uncooked later within the night time on Excessive Guidelines, it appears the remaining runway for this story appears quick. Large E has already pinned Lashley twice, and except there’s an sudden title swap, with the draft forthcoming, it may very well be an opportunity for each males to rapidly transfer on to one thing else.
Triple risk match for the US championship: Damian Priest (c) def. Jeff Hardy and Sheamus
After a flurry of ending strikes on the finish of the match it was the champion getting the roll-up pin on a shocked Shamus. Full recap to come back.
Sheamus Hardy.#ExtremeRules @WWESheamus pic.twitter.com/Jd4Er480MH
— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2021
SmackDown tag group championships: The Usos (c) def. The Road Income
The Road Income have been doing sturdy work since shifting over to SmackDown as tag group champions, however their quest to regain these titles as soon as once more fell quick towards The Usos.
After a match on SmackDown that solely went the mistaken approach due to Roman Reigns interjecting himself, The Usos gained this matchup truthful and sq., regardless of the perfect efforts of The Road Income in a match that basically picked up within the ultimate minutes.
Angelo Dawkins began to drive that power up with a mix Suplerplex from the highest rope that he became a twisting double-underhook neckbreaker to Jimmy Uso. Montez Ford adopted that up with a Blockbuster from the highest rope, however as Ford began to point out indicators of a rib damage suffered by the hands of Reigns and The Usos, the momentum slowed.
The Road Income did get the primary shut name, although, as Ford blind tagged himself in, as Dawkins landed his signature anointment to Jey Uso. However an try at a frog splash from Ford was countered as Jey acquired his knees up.
Dawkins discovered himself in hassle after consuming a Superkick from Jey and a high rope splash from Jimmy, however kicked out at two. The Usos missed a blind tag as they dragged Dawkins out of the ring, and seemed up simply in time to note Ford get a operating begin and launch himself over the turnbuckles and instantly onto their heads.
Ford rapidly tossed Jey again into the ring and linked on his frog splash, however the injury to his personal torso makes him gradual to cowl, permitting Jimmy simply sufficient time to interrupt up the depend.
Dawkins saved Ford by shoving him out of the best way and absorbing a double Superkick, however after a roll-up by Ford solely drew a two-count, all the things spiraled. A kick to Ford’s torso was adopted by a double Superkick and a stereo high rope Uso Splash. Jimmy coated Ford for the three-count, and The Usos retained.
MONTEZ OUTTA NOWHERE!!!#ExtremeRules @MontezFordWWE pic.twitter.com/AWXACVn1Md
— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2021
What’s subsequent: The Road Income want a recent begin, and Uncooked desperately wants tag groups. The answer with the draft arising subsequent week is straightforward. The Usos will seemingly play a giant half at Roman Reigns’ facet as he turns towards Brock Lesnar in October, so they could not instantly have new challengers.
Liv Morgan def. Carmella
WATCH HER.@YaOnlyLivvOnce will NOT be disrespected! #ExtremeRules @CarmellaWWE
? https://t.co/5FC5w1zamA
? https://t.co/aEwGYUp0uE pic.twitter.com/2yLDLdrUgl— WWE (@WWE) September 26, 2021
Liv Morgan debuted on SmackDown in November 2017, alongside Riott Squad compatriots Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan. The group carried momentum and appreciable fan help, each initially and when Riott and Morgan rejoined forces a number of years later, however they had been by no means capable of break by means of. As a singles performer, Morgan has languished with out a lot in the best way of alternative, however the longtime fan favourite would possibly lastly be getting her probability to shine.
In simply her second profession 1-on-1 match on a pay-per-view occasion, Morgan began the motion at Excessive Guidelines with a victory over Carmella. All through the match, Morgan showcased an more and more deep reservoir of strikes to drag from, together with a step-up Enzuigiri, a nook double foot stomp and inventive variations of facebreakers and backbreakers. Within the closing moments, Morgan grabbed each of Carmella’s arms from behind her, fell to the bottom together with her boot in Carmella’s again and drove that foot ahead, sending Carmella face-first into the commentary desk.
They rolled again into the ring, and together with her center rope suspended Flatliner, Morgan picked up the victory.
What’s subsequent: Even with the draft arising subsequent week, Morgan’s lastly beginning to get her ft beneath her on SmackDown. There’s more likely to be some lingering stress with Carmella and Zelina Vega to be cleaned up, or she may face a recent face at present on the Uncooked roster.
Nonetheless to come back:
WWE Common championship match: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Finn Balor