411’s WWE Extreme Rules 2017 Report

Welcome to 411’s WWE Extreme Rules 2017 Report. We are LIVE in beautiful Baltimore, Maryland.

Tonight’s Kickoff Show panel is Renee Young, Sam Roberts, and David Otunga. Charly Caruso is in the Social Media Lounge, and the Hardy Boyz will be her guest later in the show. We start off with a video package for Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz. Young picks Ambrose, but Roberts and Otunga pick Miz. We move on to a video package for Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley. Nia Jax joins the panel to preview the match. Jax is sure that Bliss will easily defeat Bayley, because Bayley simply doesn’t have what it takes to get extreme.

Next up is a video package for Neville vs. Austin Aries. Roberts and Otunga both pick Neville. We stay with the 205 Live theme and head to a video package for Rich Swann & Sasha Banks vs. Noam Dar & Alicia Fox. Roberts pick Swann & Banks while Otunga ponders Roberts comparing Swann & Banks to La La Land.

The Hardy Boyz join Charly Caruso in the Social Media Lounge. Matt says that they came back to WWE because the timing was finally right. Jeff says that they want to end it where it began, right here in WWE. Matt says that they chose the steel cage stipulation for tonight’s match so that they could beat Cesaro & Sheamus and finally move on to new challengers. Jeff wants to tell Cesaro & Sheamus that this is their last chance at the titles. Matt says that they’re going to end it tonight and cement their legacy as the greatest tag team in time and space.

Kickoff Show Match
Kalisto vs. Apollo Crews w/ Titus O’Neil

Crews takes control quickly with a rear waist lock takedown. Kalisto fights back to his feet, hits the ropes, and hits an arm drag takedown. Kalisto catches Crews in a rear waist lock, but Crews gets a standing switch and a head lock takedown. Crews applies an arm wringer and connects with a standing drop kick. Crews goes back to the rear waist lock takedown, but Kalisto creates distance and levels Crews with a head scissors takedown. Crews rolls to the outside, but Kalisto hits a sweet springboard somersault senton. Kalisto goes for a moonsault, but Crews catches him with a spinning kick to the back in mid-air as we head to a commercial. We return from the break with Crews firmly in control of Kalisto in the middle of the ring. Crews goes for a scoop slam, but Kalisto counters into a sunset flip for a two count. Crews levels Kalisto with a clothesline and gets a two count of his own. Crews locks in a front chancery on the mat, but Kalisto breaks free and hits the ropes into a sunset flip for another two count. Kalisto connects with two legs kick, and jaw breaker, and a springboard corkscrew shoulder block for a two count. Kalisto goes for another moonsault, but Crews catches him in mid-air. Kalisto tries to lock in a dragon sleeper, but Crews blocks, so Kalisto rolls him up with a small package for two count. Kalisto catches Crews with a sick tornado DDT for yet another two count. Kalisto goes for a springboard crossbody, but Crews catches him in mid-air and counters into a Samoan Drop. Crews hits the standing shooting star press, but Kalisto manages to kick out at two. O’Neil gets up on the ring apron to coach Crews, but the distraction allows Kalisto to hit Salida del Sol for the three count.

Match Result: Kalisto defeats Apollo Crews with Salida del Sol.
Match Length: 9:29
Slimmer’s Rating: **¼

We finish up the Kickoff Show with Kurt Angle joining the panel to preview Reigns vs. Rollins vs. Balor vs. Wyatt vs. Joe. Angle picks Joe, Roberts picks Rollins, and Otunga picks Wyatt.

Intercontinental Championship Match
Dean Ambrose (Champion) vs. The Miz w/ Maryse

Ambrose and Miz lock up to start, and Ambrose takes Miz to the mat with a side head lock takedown. Ambrose follows up with a shoulder tackle before trading hammer locks and standing switches with Miz. Miz pie faces Ambrose in an effort to make Ambrose lose control, but Ambrose backs off before getting disqualified. Ambrose goes to work with a volley of chops and a spinning elbow shot. Ambrose dumps Miz to the outside and follows up with a suicide dive. Ambrose whips Miz into the barricade and then slams him back-first into the ring apron. Ambrose rolls in and out of the ring to reset the referees count before grabbing a steel chair. The referee takes the chair from Ambrose and reminds him that he will lose the title by disqualification. Ambrose lands two forearm shots to the face and rolls Miz back into the ring. Miz hits a DDT onto the ring apron and rolls Ambrose to the middle of the ring for a two count. Miz locks in a rear chin lock, but Ambrose fights back to his feet. Ambrose and Miz slug it out in the middle of the ring, but Miz catches Ambrose with his trademark back breaker / neck breaker combo for a two count. Ambrose head butts Miz, but Miz retaliates with a boot to the face for another two count. Miz lands a few more punches to the face and locks in a bow-and-arrow. Miz rolls Ambrose to his back and goes to work with mounted punches. Miz connects with a trio of running drop kicks in the corner and follows up with his trademark corner clothesline. Miz heads up top and goes for a double ax handle from the top, but Ambrose catches him with a boot to the gut in mid-air. Miz heads back up top, but Ambrose knocks him to the outside. Ambrose heads up top and connects with a diving elbow shot from the top. Ambrose rolls Miz back into the ring and levels him with a clothesline. Ambrose hits a fisherman’s suplex and bridges for a two count. Ambrose ducks a boot to the face and rolls up Miz for another two count. Ambrose heads up top, but Miz charges toward the corner, so Ambrose leaps down to the mat. Ambrose tweaks his knee on the landing, so Miz goes right after the potentially injured knee. Miz locks in the Figure Four Leg Lock in the middle of the ring, but Ambrose makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Miz tries for the Figure Four a second time, but Ambrose rolls him up for a two count. Ambrose heads up top, but Miz hits the ropes to crotch Ambrose on the top turnbuckle. Miz heads up top with Ambrose, but Ambrose drops between his legs. Ambrose goes for a running powerbomb, but Miz pulls the turnbuckle pad off the top turnbuckle. Ambrose almost whips Miz into the exposed turnbuckle, but he puts on the brakes at the last second to avoid disqualification. Miz regains the advantage with a series of Yes! kicks, but Ambrose catches the final kick and counters into a Figure Four Leg Lock of his own. Miz seems precariously close to tapping, but he makes it to the ropes to break the hold. Ambrose lands the Lunatic Lariat and narrowly avoids running into Maryse on the apron. Miz tells Maryse to slap him to get Ambrose disqualified, but the referee sees through their plan and sends Maryse to the back. Miz whips Ambrose into the referee while he’s preoccupied with Maryse, so the referee seriously considers disqualifying Ambrose. Ambrose begs the referee to let the match continue, but the distraction allows Miz to hit Ambrose with the Skull Crushing Finale for the three count.

Match Result: The Miz defeats Dean Ambrose with the Skull Crushing Finale.
Match Length: 20:02
Slimmer’s Rating: **¾

Mixed Tag Team Match
Rich Swann & Sasha Banks vs. Noam Dar & Alicia Fox

Banks and Fox start the match, but Fox quickly makes the tag to Dar to avoid Banks’ fury. Swann slams Dar’s face into the top turnbuckle but eats a boot to the face. Swann heads up top, but Dar makes the tag to Fox to avoid whatever Swann had planned. Banks and Fox brawl in the middle of the ring, but Banks hits the ropes and connects with a head scissors takedown into the Bank Statement. Dar pulls Fox’ foot onto the ropes to force the break, and Fox follows up by choking Banks across the second rope. Fox hits a back breaker and gets a two count. Banks leaps toward the corner and goes for the tag, but Fox catches her in mid-air and slams her into the corner. The men finally get the tags, and Swann connects with a somersault leg drop to the back of the neck. Swann and Dar slug it out in the middle of the ring. Swann goes for a backslide pin, but Dar rolls through. Banks and Fox charge into the ring and brawl to the outside. Swann and Dar head to the outside as well, and Dar slams Swann’s head into the barricade. Banks heads up top and sets her sight on Fox on the outside. Dar pulls Fox out of danger, so Banks hits Dar with diving double knees from the top. Swann rolls Dar back into the ring, heads up top, and lands the Phoenix Splash for the three count.

Match Result: Rich Swann defeats Noam Dar with the Phoenix Splash.
Match Length: 6:20
Slimmer’s Rating: **

Elias Samson heads down to the ring to serenade the Baltimore with a less than flattering ode to their fair city. As with any Elias Samson appearance, the highlight of the segment is Corey Graves professing his absolute disgust with the entire ordeal.

Kendo Stick on a Pole Match for the Raw Women’s Championship
Alexa Bliss (Champion) vs. Bayley

Bliss stares down Bayley to start and invites her to try to climb the pole. Bayley heads for the pole, but Bliss whips her down to the mat. Bayley gets back to her feet and hits a scoop slam for a two count. Bliss knocks Bayley out of the ring and climbs the pole, but her short height is definitely a disadvantage in this situation. Bayley climbs alongside Bliss and grabs the kendo stick, but Bayley drops the kendo stick in the ring as both women fall from the top to the outside. Bayley hits a belly-to-back suplex on the outside and rolls back into the ring to grab the stick. Bayley chases Bliss around ringside with the stick and finally corners her in the ring. Bayley swings the stick, but Bliss connects with a spear and makes Bayley drop the stick. Bliss grabs the stick and goes to work on Bayley’s back. Bayley ducks a shot from the stick and hits Bayley-to-Belly. Bayley heads for the stick, but Bliss shoves Bayley shoulder-first into the stick. Bliss goes back to work with kendo stick shots and hits the snap DDT for the three count. With all that Bayley talked about Tommy Dreamer going into this match, it’s rather fitting that she lost to a DDT just like Dreamer did at the hands of Raven so many times.

Match Result: Alexa Bliss defeats Bayley with the snap DDT.
Match Length: 5:12
Slimmer’s Rating: *¼ (This was precariously close to being a squash.)

Steel Cage Match for the Raw Tag Team Championship
The Hardy Boyz (Champions) vs. Cesaro & Sheamus

Pinfalls and submissions do NOT count in this match. The match can only be won by both members of a team escaping the cage. Cesaro and Sheamus look to escape the cage as soon as the bell rings, but the Hardys quickly pull them back down to the mat. Sheamus whips Jeff to the ropes and goes for a scoop slam, but Jeff floats over and hits his trademark leg drop to Sheamus’… lower abdomen. Cesaro and Sheamus again climb the cage, but the Hardys again pull them back down to the mat. Sheamus and Matt climb opposite sides of the cage, so Jeff and Cesaro play defense. Matt crotches Cesaro on the top rope as Jeff does the same to Sheamus. Matt bounces the back of Cesaro’s head off the cage before the Hardys hit stereo basement drop kicks against the cage to Cesaro and Sheamus. Jeff hits Poetry in Motion to both opponents, and the Hardys climb. Cesaro and Sheamus halt the Hardys’ progress. Matt makes it all the way up top, but Cesaro grabs his leg and pulls him back into the cage. Cesaro tosses Matt onto Sheamus’ shoulders, and Sheamus follows up with a rolling fireman’s carry slam. Cesaro tries to launch Jeff into the cage, but Jeff grabs the cage and climbs. Cesaro climbs alongside Jeff and pulls him back into the cage. Cesaro makes it up top, but Jeff grabs the leg. Sheamus levels Matt with a back elbow shot, but Jeff ducks a Brogue Kick from Sheamus. Jeff kicks Sheamus into a tornado DDT from Matt, and now all four men are down in the ring. Matt and Jeff climb, but Sheamus and Cesaro quickly follow them up top. Cesaro holds Jeff by one arm, but Jeff frees himself and drops to the outside. Matt is now along with Cesaro and Sheamus. He tries to climb, but Cesaro grabs a leg. Sheamus grabs the other leg as Jeff tries to pull Matt out from the outside. Cesaro knocks Jeff of the cage, and Matt eats a double Razor’s Edge from Cesaro and Sheamus. Cesaro heads for the door, but Jeff slams it in his face. Sheamus slams the door back into Jeff as Matt keeps Sheamus from escaping. Matt his Sheamus with the Twist of Fate and then flips Cesaro off the top rope. Matt climbs, but Cesaro once again catches him. Cesaro lands a European uppercut on the top of the cage, and Sheamus follows up with White Noise from the top turnbuckle. Jeff knows he has to help Matt, so head climbs back up to the top of the cage. WHISPER IN THE WIND FROM THE TOP OF THE CAGE TO CESARO AND SHEAMUS! Cesaro and Sheamus climb the cage as Matt drags Jeff to the door. Matt makes it to the outside and keeps dragging Jeff, but Cesaro and Sheamus drop to the floor on the other side of the ring just before Matt can get Jeff out of the cage.

Match Result: Cesaro and Sheamus escape the cage to win the match.
Match Length: 15:02
Slimmer’s Rating: ***¼

Submission Match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Neville (Champion) vs. Austin Aries

Neville and Aries lock up to start, and Neville muscles Aries to the ropes. Neville kicks Aries’ injured knee and locks in an arm bar. Neville and Aries trade arm wringers, but Aries locks in a hammer lock and rolls into a hammer lock stretch submission. Neville gets to the ropes, and Aries breaks the hold. Aries leaps into a guillotine, but Neville carries him to the corner to force the break. Aries boxes the ears and connects with a slingshot senton into the Last Chancery. Neville quickly rolls out of the ring to break the hold, but Aries chases him and whips him into the barricade. Aries carries Neville around the ring and drops him face-first onto the ring apron. Aries rolls back into the ring and sets up for a Heat Seeking Missile, but Neville moves out of range, so Aries heads up top and dives as Neville with a double ax handle. Aries looks to have tweaked the injured knee on the landing, so Neville rolls him back into the ring and follows up with a dragon screw. Neville heads up top, but Aries hits the ropes to send him to the outside. Neville heads back into the ring, but Aries catches him with a chop to the chest. Aries delivers three shin breakers and a belly-to-back suplex. Aries goes for the Discus Fivearm, but Neville gets a boot up to counter, so Aries hits a dragon screw of his own. Aries rolls to the apron and Neville lands a low drop kick. Aries falls off the apron and hits his shoulder awkwardly on the way down. Neville rolls Aries back into the ring and goes for a drop kick from the top, but Aries catches the legs and counters into the Figure Four Leg Lock. Neville rolls to reverse the pressure, but Aries uses the momentum to keep rolling and put the pressure back on Neville. Neville finally makes it to the ropes and tosses Aries out to the ring apron. Aries heads up top and completely misses a diving drop kick from the top. Neville locks in the Rings of Saturn, but Aries counters into a modified Rings of Saturn of his own. Neville breaks the hold and levels Aries with a super kick. Neville and Aries head up top, but Aries locks in a guillotine. Aries releases the guillotine and hits sick sunset flip powerbomb into the Last Chancery, but Neville pulls Aries out of the ring with the Last Chancery still applied. Neville taps on the outside, but that doesn’t end the match. Aries rolls Neville back into the ring, but Neville drops Aries shoulder first onto the top rope. Aries hits the Discus Fivearm to knock Neville off the apron. Aries goes for the Heat Seeking Missile but totally misses and slams into the barricade. Neville rolls Aries back into the ring, heads up top, and hits the Red Arrow to Aries’ back. Neville locks in the Rings of Saturn, and this time Aries has no choice but to tap.

Match Result: Neville defeats Austin Aries with the Red Arrow.
Match Length: 17:28
Slimmer’s Rating: ***½

Extreme Rules Fatal 5-Way Universal Title No. 1 Contender’s Match
Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Bálor vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Samoa Joe

Balor is not in Demon mode tonight. The bell rings, and Balor goes after Wyatt as Rollins goes after Joe. Balor, Wyatt, Rollins, and Joe brawl on the outside as Reigns maintains the high ground in the middle of the ring. Wyatt heads back into the ring and slugs it out with Reigns. Reigns hits a Samoan Drop, turns to see Joe, and delivers a Samoan Drop to Joe as well. Reigns goes for a Samoan Drop on Balor, but Balor floats over. Reigns blocks a kick from Balor and levels him on the apron. Reigns squares off with Rollins, but Wyatt and Joe rush the ring to double team Reigns. Rollins pulls Joe to the corner as Balor again goes after Wyatt. Rollins connects with a suicide dive to Joe as Balor lands a drop kick to the side of Wyatt’s head. Balor stomps on Wyatt, Rollins, and Joe before diving onto all three men on the outside. Reigns picks the scraps and whips Balor into the barricade. Reigns set up for the Drive By to Wyatt, but Joe swats him out of the air. Wyatt and Joe double team Reigns and whip him into the ring steps. Wyatt and Joe pick up the steps and slam them into Rollins and then Balor and then Reigns. Joe holds Balor as Wyatt kicks him in the chest. Wyatt kicks Rollins in the side of the head as Joe rolls Balor back into the ring. Wyatt and Joe work over Balor in the corner and beat him down to the mat. Rollins charges into the ring and evens the odds. Rollins dumps Joe face-first into the middle turnbuckle, but Wyatt pulls Rollins out of the ring and hits a DDT onto the ring steps. Joe locks in the Coquina Clutch on Balor, but Balor counters into a double stomp. Wyatt levels Balor with a chair shot and sets the chair on Balor’s chest to set up the running senton from Joe. Wyatt hits a running senton of his own onto the chair and Balor before wedging the chair in the corner. Joe charges Balor in the corner, but Balor side steps and whips Joe into the chair. Balor levels Wyatt and inadvertently sets up a Drive By from Reigns. Reigns levels Joe with a clothesline and works over Wyatt with a volley of clotheslines in the corner. Reigns drops Joe with a big boot and levels Wyatt with a stiff clothesline. Reigns sets up for the Superman Punch to Wyatt, but Joe pulls Reigns out of the ring. Wyatt hits Reigns with a uranage onto the announce table, but the table doesn’t break. Rollins heads into the ring and faces off with Wyatt and Joe. Rollins heads up top and hits Wyatt and Joe with a double blockbuster. Rollins connects with a suicide dive to Joe and goes for a second suicide dive to Wyatt, but Wyatt shoves Joe in front of him. Rollins hits Wyatt with the Falcon Arrow in the middle of the ring but only gets a two count. Rollins springboards towards Wyatt, but Wyatt catches him and hits Sister Abigail. Joe heads back into the ring and goes after Wyatt. Joe works over Wyatt in the corner and covers for a two count. Wyatt goes for Sister Abigail, but Joe counters into the Coquina Clutch, but Balor takes out both men with chair shots. Balor levels Reigns with a running kick from the apron and then kicks Wyatt and Joe into the barricade. Balor repeatedly slams Wyatt’s head into the announce table and then rolls him onto the announce table. Balor looks to head up top, but Joe pulls him away with the Coquina Clutch. Reigns comes out of nowhere and spears both Joe and Balor through the barricade. Rollins heads up top and hits a frog splash to Wyatt through the announce table. Rollins hit his leg on the front edge of the table and may have done some damage. Reigns and Rollins limp back into the ring and slug it out in the middle of the ring. Reigns catches Rollins with a Superman Punch but only gets a two count. Reigns goes for the spear, but Rollins counters into a roll-up for a two count of his own. Rollins heads up top and connects with a frog splash for a looong two count. Rollins is selling damage to the lower leg and unlaces his boot. Rollins heads up top and goes for the Phoenix Splash, but Reigns rolls out of the way. Wyatt comes back to life and goes for Sister Abigail on Reigns, but Reigns counters into a spear. Rollins buckle bombs Reigns, but Reigns fights back with a Superman Punch to Balor. Reigns goes for the spear, but Balor counters with the Sling Blade. Balor hits the Coup de Grâce to Reigns, but Joe pulls him off the cover and locks in the Coquina Clutch. Balor never taps, but he passes out, so the referee has no choice but to call for the bell.

Match Result: Samoa Joe defeats Finn Balor with the Coquina Clutch.
Match Length: 29:08
Slimmer’s Rating: ****¼