Image: WWE Network |
Using the patented "Pedigree" to finally dispatch of Randy Orton in a fatal-4-way match that involved tables breaking, security cronies, and last but not least, Kane, the Architect eventually found his way back to the gold.
Getting the ring weathered were R-Truth and Stardust in a match which the panel described as a "bonus"—although the more aware members of the WWE Universe saw it as much less, maybe resembling a snippet of the Superstars show.
Serenaded by the fans to "Cody, Cody, Cody", a more glamorous outfit sported by the delusional Rhodes was just a subplot in his ruthlessness. A dynamic of athleticism and aggression presented was absorbed by the lyricial R-Truth, before frustration settled in for Stardust allowing the former to finish and take the victory.
Most tuning in would have thought they were still in the Golden Age, or the 80s of wrestling. "Would have" is the catch—had they not been the Ascension and a team of Curtis Axel and Damien Sandow, rather than the Mega Powers and Legion of Doom. A tag-team match which left fans wondering what the purpose was and what was going on ended with some underhand tactics from the Ascension leading to their victory.
As the transition was made to the main card, Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus slugged it out once more in an attempt to put an end to their spewing rivalry. Carrying that attitude was the Show-Off, who took the fight to his Irish counterpart early, ranging from some vicious blows to an ambitious crossbody from the top rope.
Overcoming a tightly-viced Cloverleaf submission hold, it looked like the pin was about to roll in the favour of Ziggler, but through a headbutt that left the American busted wide open and dazed, Sheamus landed the Brogue Kick to dispatch his rival.
Right on cue, The New Day, Kidd and Cesaro fabricated yet another demonstration of the progress made by the blossoming tag-team division, this time through the marvellous vehicle of a 2 out of 3 falls match.
Once again, the ever-positive minded tag-team champions proved their worth on a prime spot on the pay-per-view, as they squared off in a truly wonderful battle with the former champions.
Cesaro wasn't hesitant to show the World his brute strength, catching Big E midair at ease, before perfecting a gut-wrench suplex to send his fellow powerhouse hurling uncontrolably through the air. The New Day, ironically, were thrown by the new approach of their opponents, and as the swing was in motion, Kidd landed the dropkick to score the first fall in favour of Kidd him and his teammate.
There was still plenty of work to be done, though—considering that they targeted the Swiss Superman to gain a foothold and eventually score the second fall. Big E dealt with the problem; spearing him off the apron before New Day would end up tag-teaming for to pin Kidd and level out the falls.
Something special was occurring, and the raucous fans inside Baltimore's Royal Farms Arena knew it as Cesaro went into a rampage. Surging from corner to corner in the ring, delivering uppercut after uppercut, it appeared that they were closing in on recapturing the titles, but, when further underhand tactics shook things up, Xavier Woods capitalised—a man who wasn't even in the match—as he rolled up Kidd behind the referee's back to keep the titles in the New Day's corner.
After weeks of mind games, Bray Wyatt finally came face-to-face with Ryback, and the match surprisingly exceeded expectations. A ruthless brawl soon evolved into a callous demonstration from Bray Wyatt, first delivering a DDT off the apron, and then jumping on it and crushing the torso of the Human Wrecking Machine.
Titled the "final chapter" in the Rusev and John Cena saga, and with the United States Championship hanging in the balance, the Bulgarian Brute and the CeNation leader fought tooth and nail, but at the end of it all, the final words wouldn't be "I Quit", they would be those words in a different language.
In what could be described as one of the best US title matches in history, the two just refused to quit and put themselves through unbelievable amounts of pain. As expected, John Cena rejected the choice to opt-out early and quit before a punch was even thrown, but he may have been regretting that early as he was roughed up in the ring by the challenger.
Mike Chioda's voice was beginning to tire within the opening minutes due to the volume of requests by the Bulgarian Brute to ask if the champion wanted to quit. Steel steps were soon involved top, and they'd have a nice introduction with Cena's skull, but then the tide would turn.
We saw a more ruthless side of John Cena, one that told Rusev of his fate if he turned down the latest in a catalog of opportunities to throw in the towel. He did, and he was sanctioned, crashing through the barricade following the charge.
Sadistic thoughts soon came into Rusev's head, and they were targeting the fireworks equipment. But in a sudden turn of events, he would find himself crashing through the pyrotechnics through an Attitude Adjustment, was that it? Nope. Shockingly, he was able to move on, but undoing the rope would lead to his eventual demise.
With the main event looming, there was a bit of time for a Divas tag match which saw Naomi and Tamina capitalise on the Bella's mislocated thoughts, before Barrett escaped the wrath of Neville through a countout, but would still suffer the Red Arrow afterwards.
Chaos was guaranteed in the fatal-four-way, and after all four occupied the corners of the ring with the gold on the line, things quickly spilled to the outside, but it wouldn't be too long until Kane showed his true colours as he attempted to take out the competititon.
J&J security also tried to influence things, but they suffered the same eventual fate as the Big Red Monster. Ambrose and Reigns then teamed up with a common goal, clearing the competition until it was a one-on-one inside the ring.
Fast-paced, back-and-forth, and the outcome would be a Roman Reigns spear to Dean Ambrose. But just as he prepared to make the oh-so-crucial fall, Seth Rollins was revived to break it up again.
But the match was far from done. With Randy Orton once again asserted in the mix, RKOs were flying left, right, and centre, with Ambrose and Reigns cleared away in exhaust after their battle and the work done. With Orton preoccupied by Kane, landing an RKO, he would turn into a Pedigree of all moves, as Seth Rollins used the master of the Authority's finisher to keep his titles in tact.
We'll have more reaction shortly.
More: Extreme Rules review
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Serenaded by the fans to "Cody, Cody, Cody", a more glamorous outfit sported by the delusional Rhodes was just a subplot in his ruthlessness. A dynamic of athleticism and aggression presented was absorbed by the lyricial R-Truth, before frustration settled in for Stardust allowing the former to finish and take the victory.
Image: WWE.com |
As the transition was made to the main card, Dolph Ziggler and Sheamus slugged it out once more in an attempt to put an end to their spewing rivalry. Carrying that attitude was the Show-Off, who took the fight to his Irish counterpart early, ranging from some vicious blows to an ambitious crossbody from the top rope.
.@HEELZiggler received 10 stitches tonight at #WWEPayback. Check http://t.co/wNpELtByip later for full coverage! pic.twitter.com/h7PP3dmoz8
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2015
But, as the Celtic Warrior adapted, he would stride to implement his very own gameplan. Moving the shift of the match from a clinic to an all-out brawl wasn't easy, and at the times he did lose control, he would even be humiliated when his face unwillingly made contact with his opponents' derrière. Overcoming a tightly-viced Cloverleaf submission hold, it looked like the pin was about to roll in the favour of Ziggler, but through a headbutt that left the American busted wide open and dazed, Sheamus landed the Brogue Kick to dispatch his rival.
Image: WWE.com |
Once again, the ever-positive minded tag-team champions proved their worth on a prime spot on the pay-per-view, as they squared off in a truly wonderful battle with the former champions.
Cesaro wasn't hesitant to show the World his brute strength, catching Big E midair at ease, before perfecting a gut-wrench suplex to send his fellow powerhouse hurling uncontrolably through the air. The New Day, ironically, were thrown by the new approach of their opponents, and as the swing was in motion, Kidd landed the dropkick to score the first fall in favour of Kidd him and his teammate.
Image: WWE.com |
Something special was occurring, and the raucous fans inside Baltimore's Royal Farms Arena knew it as Cesaro went into a rampage. Surging from corner to corner in the ring, delivering uppercut after uppercut, it appeared that they were closing in on recapturing the titles, but, when further underhand tactics shook things up, Xavier Woods capitalised—a man who wasn't even in the match—as he rolled up Kidd behind the referee's back to keep the titles in the New Day's corner.
Image: WWE.com |
The Big Guy @Ryback22 flies high at #WWEPayback! http://t.co/5A3gq2WTrz
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2015
Maybe it was only fitting that brains came into it, after all this had all been in the head. As Ryback stabilised himself, he hoisted the Eater of Worlds on his shoulders, but as they moved to a corner, some ingenuity from Wyatt saw him take off the turnbuckle pad, before escaping the hold of his opponent and shoving him straight into it. The New Face of Fear added Ryback to his collection of wins when he hit the Sister Abigal on his dazed counterpart to finish the job.Titled the "final chapter" in the Rusev and John Cena saga, and with the United States Championship hanging in the balance, the Bulgarian Brute and the CeNation leader fought tooth and nail, but at the end of it all, the final words wouldn't be "I Quit", they would be those words in a different language.
In what could be described as one of the best US title matches in history, the two just refused to quit and put themselves through unbelievable amounts of pain. As expected, John Cena rejected the choice to opt-out early and quit before a punch was even thrown, but he may have been regretting that early as he was roughed up in the ring by the challenger.
Mike Chioda's voice was beginning to tire within the opening minutes due to the volume of requests by the Bulgarian Brute to ask if the champion wanted to quit. Steel steps were soon involved top, and they'd have a nice introduction with Cena's skull, but then the tide would turn.
We saw a more ruthless side of John Cena, one that told Rusev of his fate if he turned down the latest in a catalog of opportunities to throw in the towel. He did, and he was sanctioned, crashing through the barricade following the charge.
He warned him! @JohnCena tackles @RusevBUL through a wall at #WWEPayback! #IQuit @WWENetwork http://t.co/kpSzTf6roO
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2015
Not even the outside vicinity of the ring was enough, they made their way through the seating area and to the technical setups, where monitors and a MacBook was used—let's hope it was a MacBook Air, for Rusev's sake. Grimacing, he still wouldn't be put away, and then found his way back into an advantage, with an Alabama Slam through the pre-set-up table.Sadistic thoughts soon came into Rusev's head, and they were targeting the fireworks equipment. But in a sudden turn of events, he would find himself crashing through the pyrotechnics through an Attitude Adjustment, was that it? Nope. Shockingly, he was able to move on, but undoing the rope would lead to his eventual demise.
In any language, @JohnCena retains the #USTitle! #IQuit @RusevBUL @LanaWWE #WWEPayback http://t.co/IWsThnkn38
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2015
Unhooking the rope, he had Cena locked in the Accolade, and even made the United States Champion pass out. It wasn't over, but when Cena was able to use the STF and the rope, a struggling Rusev gave up in Russian, confirmed by Lana. Through an incredible battle, John Cena remained champion.Image: WWE.com |
Image: WWE.com |
Chaos was guaranteed in the fatal-four-way, and after all four occupied the corners of the ring with the gold on the line, things quickly spilled to the outside, but it wouldn't be too long until Kane showed his true colours as he attempted to take out the competititon.
J&J security also tried to influence things, but they suffered the same eventual fate as the Big Red Monster. Ambrose and Reigns then teamed up with a common goal, clearing the competition until it was a one-on-one inside the ring.
Did @TheShieldWWE reunite at #WWEPayback?
Not so fast @WWERollins... http://t.co/2PCuFuU37G
— WWE (@WWE) May 18, 2015
Fast-paced, back-and-forth, and the outcome would be a Roman Reigns spear to Dean Ambrose. But just as he prepared to make the oh-so-crucial fall, Seth Rollins was revived to break it up again.
But the match was far from done. With Randy Orton once again asserted in the mix, RKOs were flying left, right, and centre, with Ambrose and Reigns cleared away in exhaust after their battle and the work done. With Orton preoccupied by Kane, landing an RKO, he would turn into a Pedigree of all moves, as Seth Rollins used the master of the Authority's finisher to keep his titles in tact.
Image: WWE Network |
More: Extreme Rules review
Latest articles: View the latest from Nisar Khan
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