Welcome to Inside Pulse Wrestling’s Live Coverage of WWE Extreme Rules!
Josh Mathews, Jerry Lawler, and Booker T are on commentary.
MATCH #1: Last Man Standing Match – Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
Punk is accompanied by David Otunga, Mason Ryan, and Michael McGillicutty. But before they can do anything, the anonymous Raw GM bans all members of the New Nexus from ringside. Punk removes one of the turnbuckle pads before even entering the ring. Orton is on fire from the get-go so Punk takes a powder. Unfortunately for him, Orton follows him out and throws him into the barricade. Back in the ring Punk takes control and goes to work. Punk hits a knee drop and they go back to the floor. He grabs a kendo stick and wears Orton out with it. Back in the ring Punk continues using the kendo stick but Orton only stays down for a five-count. Orton tries to use the stick but Punk cuts him off. Punk goes for the springboard lariat but Orton slices him out of the air with a kendo stick and unloads. Orton hits a couple of strikes and the Orton backbreaker. Punk comes back and drives Orton’s face into the exposed turnbuckle. He goes for Go 2 Sleep but Orton reverses it and whips Punk head-first into a chair wedged between the top and middle buckles. Outside the ring Orton hits the powerslam but Punk gets up before the 10-count. THey fight over by the announce table and Orton drops Punk back-first on the barricade. Back in the ring Punk is able to connect with Go 2 Sleep but Orton gets up before 10. Punk hits a Russian Legsweep onto a chair. He tries to follow up but Orton hits an RKO out of nowhere! They go back to the floor and Orton clotheslines Punk over the barricade. Orton goes for the Orton DDT but Punk avoids it and rams Orton’s back into the post. Punk wraps a chair around Orton’s head and hurls him into the ring post! That’s a great spot. Orton actually gets up at 9. Punk takes Orton up to the announce table but Orton recovers and hits another RKO! That’s not enough to keep Punk down. Orton goes for the Punt but Punk avoids it and throws Orton into the steps. Punk grabs another kendo stick. Back in the ring Punk goes up top but Orton knocks him down and hits him a ridiculous number of times with a kendo stick. Orton then hits a Super RKO to finally put Punk down around 21 minutes in.
WINNER – Randy Orton, ***3/4
Tomorrow night on Raw, the Rock will celebrate his 38th birthday. Also, Paper Jamz looks like the dumbest thing ever.
Jerry Lawler heads to the back to get ready as Mathews and Booker talk about Raw adding Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio, Kofi Kingston, and Big Show in the draft. Smackdown got Sheamus, Randy Orton, Sin Cara, and the Great Khali.
Then the show clips of Sheamus beating Kofi Kingston down last Friday on Smackdown. Backstage Sheamus is backstage with Teddy Long, who announces that he will defend the U.S. Title against Kofi Kingston in a tables match. Sheamus is upset that he’s defending the title against a non-US citizen. He wants to see his birth certificate! That’s awesome.
MATCH #2: Tables Match for the United States Championship
They trade punches back and forth a bit and then Kofi gets the first table. Sheamus joins him on ht efloor before the table can get setup, so Kofi throws him into the barricade. Kofi sets Sheamus on the table but can’t put him through it just yet. Sheamus comes back and sets up a table of his own but can’t put Kofi though it. Kofi almost knocks Sheamus off the apron through the table but Sheamus comes back wtih the slingshot shoulderblock. Sheamus throws the table at Kofi, and then stands on top of it to squash the challenger. Kofi fights back but Sheamus avoids the charge in the corner. Sheamus kicks Kofi off the apron, but Kofi wisely jumps over the table to avoid going through it. Back in the ring Sheamus sets up a table and goes for a super powerslam but Kofi avoids it. Kofi hits the Trouble in Paradise to knock Sheamus off the apron. Sheamus uses the table to pull himself up, but Kofi spots the opportunity to jump off the top rope and hit the double legdrop to put Sheamus through the table and win the U.S. Title for the second time around 11 minutes in.
WINNER – Kofi Kingston (NEW U.S. Champion), ***
Backstage R-Truth cuts an awesome promo about how he got cheated out of the main event and there’s a conspiracy to keep him off the show. How crazy is it that R-Truth is the most entertaining guy on the show right now?
MATCH #3: Country Whipping Match – Michael Cole & Jack Swagger vs. Jim Ross & Jerry Lawler
Cole cuts a promo against the Florida crowd just to really get them going before the match. (7:54)Lawler and Swagger start the match. JR gets the first shot with the strap from the apron, and then Lawler unleashes his strap. Cole tags in but he can’t feel the lashes with the bubble wrap on. Lawler wiselety just punches him in the mouth and takes the bubble wrap off! Cole bails right away. Swagger uses a strap to tie Lawler to the middle rope and they beat him down. He unties King and whips him into the corner but misses the Vader Bomb. Lawler fights back with right hands. Cole distracts Lawler and Swagger takes him down and locks on the Ankle Lock. JR whips Swagger from the apron, and Swagger looks more annoyed than anything. It’s enough for Lawler to come back though and hit a DDT. JR tags in and whips Swagger before putting on the Ankle Lock! Swagger powers up and makes the tag. Cole doesn’t want any part of the Boomer Sooner. JR unleashes his offense, including a running clothesline. He whips Cole and puts him in the Ankle Lock. Swagger breaks it and JR hits him in the nuts! Cole then rolls JR up to get the pin at about 7 minutes.
WINNER – Michael Cole & Jack Swagger, *
Over the Limit is coming May 22. Then Cena cuts a promo backstage promising to win the WWE Championship.
MATCH #4: Falls Count Anywhere Match – Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
This has been a really stellar feud. Rhodes comes out with the paper bag handerouters and tells the crowd they need them because they’re so ugly. Rey starts out hot, sending Cody to the floor with a headscissors. Cody fights back with a dropkick for two. They fight up the apron and Rey whips Cody into the entrance set. Rey throws Cody into the pit and hits a seated senton off the entrance platform. Cody rights back as they continue to battle around the arena. They fight into the concourse and Rey takes control. Cody comes back with the springboard (off some furniture) knee to the face for two. Rey comes back with a cross body block off one of the concession stands. They make their way down the steps and through the crowd. Cody hiptosses Rey back to ringside, and then drops his face on the steps. I lose track a bit as I try to fix whatever I’m doing wrong with live coverage. I pick up again just as Rey sprays green mist into Cody’s eyes and then hits the 619 to get the win at about 12 minutes.
WINNER – Rey Mysterio, ***1/4
Backstage the Divas are chatting amongst themselves when Layla walks in and everyone gets quiet. They say they don’t like her but they like Michelle McCool less.
MATCH #5: No Countout, No DQ, Loser Leaves WWE Match – Michelle McCool vs. Layla
McCool cheats to gain the first advantage and beats on Layla in and out of the ring. She tries to make nice but Layla fights up, only to get hit with a belly-to-belly suplex for two. They go back to the floor and fight for a bit. Back in the ring Layla hits Diamond Dust for two. McCool fights back with a kick to the chest for two. She goes for the Faith Breaker but Layla escapes and hits a neckbreaker but McCool gets her leg on the bottom rope. McCool tags Layla with a kick to the head for two. Layla gets a surprise craadle out of nowhere to send McCool packing in about 5 minutes.
WINNER – Layla, **
While McCool cries, KHARMA makes her debut! Kharma hits McCool with the Implant Buster and laughs about it. Backstage the rest of the divas look understandably worried.
MATCH #6: Ladder Match for the vacant World Heavyweight Title – Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio
Del Rio takes the first control. Christian comes back but Del Rio cuts him off and they take it to the floor. Del Rio tries to introduce a ladder but Christian dropkicks it right back into him. Christian tries to climb up for the belt but Del Rio pulls him down to the mat. Del Rio climbs but Christian pushes the ladder over, and Del Rio lands on his feet and hits an enziguiri. They go back to the floor and Del Rio sets a ladder between the apron and the table. Christian goes up top and Del Rio shoves him, but Christian lands with his feet on a ladder and hits him with a cross body block. Back in the ring Del Rio resumes control and leans a ladder in the corner. Del Rio goes for the Cross Armbreaker but Christian avoids it and flapjacks Del Rio onto the ladder! Christian tries to climb but Del Rio finds a small ladder and throws it at him. Del Rio then delivers the armbreaker, which is a cool spot off the baby ladder. Christian recovers and tries climbing again but Del Rio stops him. He then backdrops Del Rio onto a ladder. Del Rio comes back and causes Christian to fall on the ladder. He climbs up but Christian stops him. The next time they climb up Del Rio traps Christian in the ladder just like Jeff Hardy did to Edge in 2009, but Christian slips out. Even so, Del Rio maintains the advantage. Del Rio sets Christian on the ladder between the apron and the table and goes to the top rope but misses a senton! Ow, that looked painful. Back in the ring Christian sets up the ladder and and grabs the bet, but Brodus Clay runs out and moves the ladder and pulls Christian down. Chistian is able to dispose of Clay (bloodying his face badly), and then Del Rio traps Christian with the Cross Armbreaker in the small ladder. Del Rio climbs the ladder but Edge comes out in a jeep to distract Del Rio, and Christian dumps him to the floor. Christian then climbs up and retrieves the belt to win his first World Championship at around 22 minutes. Great moment.
WINNER – Christian (NEW World Heavyweight Champion), ****
The newest WWE Films release, “That’s What I Am,” got to play at the Santa Barbara Film Festival. At 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, it is easily their best reviewed film so far.
Backstage, Alex Riley annoys the Miz, who is upset about defending the title in a triple threat steel cage match.
MATCH #7: Lumberjack Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles – Kane & Big Show vs. Wade Barrett & Ezekiel Jackson
Show and Barrett start it off. Guess who dominates, and then Kane tags in. Barrett recovers and throws Kane to the floor and the lumberjacks have their way with him. Show doesn’t appreciate that so he starts throwing lumberjacks in the ring. In the confusion Barrett tags Jackson, who levels Kane with a clothesline. Jackson works Kane over a bit, and then they clothesline each other and both men are down. Tags are made and Show unloads on Barrett. Show gets tossed to the floor and the lumberjacks expend great effort to get Show back in the ring. Jackson bodyslams Show, and Barrett blind tags himself in. Barrett goes for Wasteland but Show reverses it to the Chokeslam to get the pin at around 6 minutes.
WINNERS – Kane & Big Show, *1/2
Tomorrow night on Raw the Rock celebrates his birthday!
MATCH #8: Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship – John Morrison vs. John Cena vs. The Miz
MATCH #8: Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship – John Morrison vs. John Cena vs. The Miz
Cena and Morrison work together to take Miz out and then go at each other. Miz comes back with a clothesline on Morrison. No one can gain a sustained advantage early on, and with three guys confined to the cage that makes sense. Cena and Miz fight on top of the cage and Cena drives Miz down with a bulldog. Cena builds momentum, taking both Miz and Morrison down. He hits Morrison with the Five Knuckle Shuffle and Miz hits Cena with the Skull Crushing Finale. Morrison almost escapes over the top of the cage but Miz stops him. They trade punches at the top of the cage and Miz almost escapes. Cena joins them up there and they suplex Miz down to the canvas! Morrison tries to escape but Cena joins him. He knocks Cena down and then hits a springboard spin kick on the Miz. He then hits Cena with the one-man standing Spanish Fly for two. Morrison tries to escape but Miz pulls him down and powerbombs him into the cage. Miz hits a running kick to the face. He almost escapes out the door but Cena blocks him and tries to go out himself. Cena is on fire now, but when he whips Morrison into the cage, Morrison jumps up and tries to escape. They trade shots on top of the cage and Miz tries to go out the door but Morrison kicks it back into his face! Morrison then stands on the door and ends up getting crotched a la X-Pac. Miz pulls Morrison into the ring and Morrison kicks him off. Cena hits Morrison with a monkey flip. Miz catches Cena with a short DDT for two. The champion is in control, kicking Cena in the face and rubbing his face into the cage. Morrison climbs up and over and Miz joins him up at the top. Miz gets knocked down so Cena goes up top. Morrison knocks Cena down, and then takes them both out with Starship Pain from the top of the cage! When Morrison tries to escape the cage, R-Truth comes out and knees his head into the steel steps. Truth gets in the cage and beats Morrison down. He hits Cena with the axe kick, and then hits Morrison with Paydirt. All three men are down. While they get up, I read that Osama Bin Laden is dead. About time. Cena and Miz get to the top of the cage and trade right hands. Cena wins that battle and hits Miz with the Super Attitude Adjustment to win the WWE Title for the 500th time at around 20 minutes.
WINNER – John Cena (NEW WWE Champion), ***1/4
Show Over.
