Sean Ross Sapp Extreme Rules Podcast Notes, Match Ratings, More!

Kickoff

  • Holy Shit, Nia Jax is so generic and bad and hokey and cliche. Then she buries the kendo stick.
  • The Hardy Boyz were orange. 
  • Otunga and Sam Roberts were miserable on the pre-show. That being said, Charly Caruso has become fantastic at her job. 
  • Imagine how bad the commentary will be if they replace Booker with Otunga.
WWE SmackDown (11/22) Records Big Bump In Viewership, Key Demo Rating Also Up

Kalisto defeated Apollo Crews (w/ Titus O'Neil)
7/10

  • I love Titus as a manager, and Apollo as his protege. I also like Kalisto being inserted into the angle.
  • I won't pretend to know the name of the awesome move Kalisto did to Apollo Crews.
  • There were a few too many false finishes for my liking in the opening match, but this was a really fun watch.
  • The ending was kind of cutesy and predictable, but still got a good reaction.
  • I hope the Titus/Apollo partnership isn't ended.

Intercontinental Championship
If Ambrose gets DQ'd he loses the title
The Miz (w/ Maryse) defeated Dean Ambrose (c)
7/10

  • Dean Ambrose did a new move!!
  • This match heats up, they know each other so well.
  • How doesn't Miz have a move named "Mizery?"
  • Kickouts are so often lazy in WWE.
  • The spot with the turnbuckle padding and teasing Ambrose using it was great.
  • Holy shit at The Miz's vertical. Jesus Howard
  • Miz tries to get Maryse to slap him for the DQ, then pushes Ambrose into the ref as Maryse gets ejected. 
  • Skull Crushing Finale! Miz wins.
  • This would have been 8/10 if the ref wasn't a moron.

Backstage crappenings

  • Bayley has a good promo backstage that doesn't have anything to do with her growing up a fan or not belonging there. Shocker.
  • The Drifter performs. That's something.
  • MLB player Adam Jones is ringside dressed as Virgil.

Rich Swann & Sasha Banks defeated Alicia Fox and Noam Dar
5.25/10

  • Great ovation for Rich Swann.....once he's announced from Baltimore.
  • I've really enjoyed Fox and Banks' work together.
  • Kalisto and Rich Swann have both hit great spinning wheel kicks tonight. Aliester Black needs those protected
  • Sasha with tope double knees to Dar!!
  • Don't let the rating fool you. This was an enjoyable watch, just short. 
  • Phoenix Splash gets the win for Swann!

Raw Women's Championship Match
Kendo Stick on a pole match
Alexa Bliss (c) defeated Bayley
1/10

  • The pole cam is cool.
  • Bayley gets a mixed reaction, Alexa Bliss cheered big time.
  • Bayley gets the cane, but Bliss steals it, beats her up, DDT, pin.
  • Wasn't good.

Raw Tag Team Championship
Steel Cage Match
Sheamus & Cesaro defeated The Hardy Boyz (c)
5.5/10

  • WWE has a nice camera angle up on a wire somewhere.
  • WWE should bring back the blue bar cage as a one-off.
  • Cesaro was holding Jeff Hardy's whole weight dead over the cage. 
  • Psychologically, leaving the cage first in a tag match is MORONIC. 
  • Double Celtic Cross on Matt!
  • Jeff came back in with a beautiful Whisper in the Wind. A lot safer than the Swanton, too.
  • Matt can't pull Jeff out of the cage in time and they lose!
  • I've always hated the ability to escape through the cage door. 

WWE Cruiserweight Championship
Submission Match
Neville (c) defeated Austin Aries
5.75/10

  • I'm not sure why the ref is counting these two out.
  • Aries really works over the leg of Neville.
  • Neville sells hilariously.
  • Bret Hart and The 1-2-3 Kid, that wasn't.
  • We have the old ring posts for this show.
  • Aries should have maybe used a submission that wasn't done by two other guys earlier in the night. 
  • Aries applies the Rings of Saturn, and Neville grabs the ref trying to get DQ'd.
  • Why is there a DQ in this match?
  • Even though the unclear rules are abundant to the viewer, Neville is taking advantage of them well.
  • Neville wins. I'm all for a dominant Cruiserweight Champion. Make someone special beat Neville.

Number One Contender's Match
Samoa Joe defeated Finn Balor, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Bray Wyatt
7.75/10

  • Brock Lesnar is at home on the edge of his seat. Just kidding, he probably doesn't know there's a show tonight.
  • Shouldn't they add a second ref for 5-person matches?
  • A lot of fast paced action early. These kinds of matches can be spotfests and they're fine. 
  • Joe intercepting the Drive By. Good stuff.
  • If this for some reason leads to a Bray/Joe team, I'm cool with that. 
  • Reigns throws the best strikes of anyone in this match and it's not even close. Outside of those terrible clotheslines. 
  • Rollins scores a NICE double Blockbuster.
  • How does a running front dropkick outside the ring make ANY sense?
  • Spot time: Reigns spears Balor and Joe through the barricade. Rollins frog splash through a table on Wyatt!
  • Great series between Wyatt, Reigns, Rollins.
  • Balor sold the heeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllll out of that Superman Punch
  • Balor hits the Coup De Grace, but gets choked out by Joe! WOW
  • Brock vs. Joe. 
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