WWE Extreme Rules PPV results
May 19, 2013
St. Louis, Mo.
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

First Hour Results

Extreme Rules opened with a video package on Extreme Rules being the one night where are the rules go out the window. The focus was on John Cena vs. Ryback and Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar, as well as Mark Henry whipping Sheamus's back during the TV build-up.

Live in the arena, light pyro shot off and filled a giant "X" hanging across the PPV stage. Michael Cole then introduced the show from St. Louis and claimed 17,000+ in attendance. Pyro then shot off for Chris Jericho's entrance to kick off the PPV with Jericho vs. Fandango. As Jericho walked to the ring, the announcers recapped Fandango upsetting Jericho at WrestleMania in April. Cole stressed that the fun & games are now over for Jericho dealing with Fandango.

Fandango's music then played to bring out Summer Rae on-stage. Summer led the way for Fandango to come out on-stage, then the duo made their way to the ring as Jericho stood in the ring selling boredom. Fandango and Summer took their elaborate introduction into the ring, where they posed beneath a giant Fandango sign. Jericho continued to sell boredom before Rae left the ring and the bell sounded.

1 -- CHRIS JERICHO vs. FANDANGO

Once the bell sounded, Fandango played games trying to gain the upperhand on Jericho, but Jericho elbowed Fandango to the ring apron, then baseball-slide-kicked Fandango to the outside. Jericho followed with a big splash, then stood on the Spanish announce table to draw applause from the crowd.

Back in the ring, Fandango cut off Jericho and began attacking his Mania opponent. Suddenly Jericho snapped at Fandango with kicks and stomps to sell anger. Fandango cut off Jericho again, then applied a chinlock to wear down Jericho. After a miscommunication on a spot, Fandango put the focus back on himself with a slingshot legdrop for a nearfall. Fandango grabbed a headlock, but Jericho broke free and began his comeback.

Jericho tried a top-rope move, but Fandango rolled through, Jericho helped him roll through, and Fandango scored a nearfall. Fandango kicked Jericho in the head, then cockily climbed to the top rope and airballed a top-rope legdrop. Jericho suddenly sprung on Fandango with the Lionsault for a nearfall. Jericho followed with the Walls of Jericho, prompting Summer Rae to freak out. Fandango got the bottom rope, though, for a break.

Fandango then kicked Jericho in the head and climbed to the top rope for a high-risk move, but Jericho intercepted with the Codebreaker, popping the crowd. Jericho then covered Fandango for the pin and the win, giving Johnny Curtis his first televised loss as Fandango.

WINNER: Jericho at 8:34. Strong finish after a clunky first three-fourths of the match. They seemed to be feeling each other out before finding a groove towards the end. (**1/4)

Backstage: Josh Mathews brought in Sheamus for an interview. Mathews asked Sheamus how he plans to beat Mark Henry in a strap match tonight. Sheamus thought it over, then stacked the deck against himself, and gave the audience hope by vowing to go extreme.

Still to come: John Cena vs. Ryback in a Last Man Standing match for the WWE Title. This led to a video package on Ryback attacking Cena's ankle after The Shield softened up Cena Monday night during Raw.

In-ring: Justin Roberts introduced the U.S. Title match up next. First out was U.S. champion Kofi Kingston. The Shield's music then played to bring out Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns in the same section of the arena. Ambrose knocked fists with Reigns and Rollins, then Ambrose hit the ring by himself as Reigns and Rollins disappeared into the crowd.

2 -- U.S. champion KOFI KINGSTON vs. DEAN AMBROSE -- United States Title match

Kingston went for Trouble in Paradise early on, but Ambrose ducked. Ambrose smiled, then attacked Kofi with right hand strikes. Ambrose followed with a clothesline, then right hands to the face. Ambrose followed with a chicken-wing submission center-ring. Kofi tried to escape, then found a way to reach his feet and run Ambrose into the ringpost to escape. Kofi followed with the SOS for a close nearfall.

Kofi climbed to the top rope for a high-flying move, but Ambrose cut him off. Ambrose followed with a double-underhook suplex, but Kofi kicked out of a pin attempt. Ambrose then tried a move from the ring apron, but Kofi smashed him with Trouble in Paradise. Ambrose fell off the apron to the floor, then Kofi dragged Ambrose back into the ring instead of taking a count-out victory. In the ring, Ambrose grabbed the bottom rope to block a pin. Kofi then missed wildly with Trouble in Paradise, allowing Ambrose to deliver a spike DDT center-ring. Ambrose covered

Post-match, Rollins and Reigns hit the ring to celebrate with Ambrose. Lawler said this is an ominous sign for Kane and Daniel Bryan later on tonight. WWE then replayed what JBL called a "stupid mistake" by Kofi not taking the count-out victory when he popped Ambrose with Trouble in Paradise to the outside.

WINNER: Ambrose at 6:48 to capture the U.S. Title. Well, they pulled the trigger on giving Shield a singles title. Very interesting to see how this will play out - short-term or long-term for Ambrose? (**)

Video Package: Sheamus vs. Mark Henry feud.

In-ring: Lilian Garcia announced details of the strap match up. As Lilian did her introductions, WWE focused on two lights in each corner of the ring to indicate when each wrestler has touched the corner. Mark Henry then emerged on-stage, filling up the camera shot, before marching to the ring with his eyes locked on the ring. Sheamus was out next ready to fight. Before the bell sounded, Henry placed the strap around his wrist, then tossed the strap toward Sheamus, who threw it back at him. Sheamus eventually put the strap on and the bell sounded.

3 -- SHEAMUS vs. MARK HENRY -- Strap match

Following up on their TV feud, Sheamus toyed with Henry, then tripped Henry to try to embarrass him. Sheamus eventually touched one corner to light up a green light, but Henry yanked Sheamus into him for a clothesline. The ref then waved off Sheamus's first touch. Henry, angered, hog-tied Sheamus's ankles with the strap, then hit two turnbuckles in succession before Sheamus ducked under the ring apron to break Henry's momentum. So, Henry clotheslined Sheamus to the floor.

Henry brought Sheamus back into the ring, then rolled up the strap in his hand to use it to whip Sheamus's back. Henry put Sheamus on his shoulders, then they did the spot when Henry touched each corner, but Sheamus touched the corner on the way by. Henry realized this after four corners, then slammed Sheamus to reset. Henry sold upper-body pain as the two men reset. Sheamus then hit three corners, but Henry spinebustered him to block the fourth touch. After delivering the move, Henry winced in pain again. Either Henry is injured or he's doing a great job of selling the effects of the match.

On the outside, Sheamus wrapped Henry around the ringpost with the strap, then landed right hand strikes. Back in the ring, Sheamus touched three corners, then Henry stood his ground in-between Sheamus and the fourth corner. Henry went for World's Strongest Slam when Sheamus charged him, but Sheamus slipped out and nailed the Brogue Kick. Sheamus then touched the fourth corner for the win. After the match, the ref checked on Henry, then WWE replayed Sheamus's win. Back live, refs and medics were in the ring checking on Henry, who continued wincing in pain.

WINNER: Sheamus at 7:58. A watered-down, family-friendly version of a previously-dangerous strap match. Basic deal giving Sheamus a PPV win. (**)

Backstage: A.J. Lee was on the phone with Dolph Ziggler. She vowed to "play nurse" when she gets home. Kaitlyn interrupted and wanted to talk to A.J., who had trouble hanging up with Dolph. Kaitlyn and A.J. traded barbs about A.J. dodging a Divas Title shot and Kaitlyn having a secret admirer, then Kaitlyn called A.J. "Looney Tunes." A.J. dared her to say it again, then Kaitlyn quoted Porky Pig and walked off. A.J. called it appropriate that she quoted a pig, which brought back Kaitlyn to fight A.J. They brawled on the floor, drawing over more Divas to survey the scene. Kaitlyn and A.J. were eventually separated.

Announcers: Cole, Lawler, and JBL discussed Dolph Ziggler suffering a concussion a few weeks ago on Smackdown, which led to the World Title match being changed to a #1 contender match between Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio.

Out first for the #1 contender match was Swagger, along with Zeb Colter. As the duo marched to the ring, Zeb talked about America going down the toilet. Zeb cited "very disturbing news" this past week, including the government using the I.R.S. to target individuals such as himself for political gain. Zeb then ranted on the "lame stream media" covering up the story even as the government was monitoring their phones. Zeb asked who's going to be arrested and go to jail. "No one," he said.

Zeb said it's the people's fault that this is happening. He told the crowd to look at what they've done to baseball in this town. (Boos.) He said it shouldn't be the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Caribbean Cardinals. WWE cut to a shot of a fan wearing a Cards jersey. He said the roster is full of Caribbean players who take American money and run home, just like Alberto Del Rio. Zeb said when Del Rio comes out here and the crowd cheers for Del Rio, they will show they have quit on America. Zeb closed by saying Swagger will make Del Rio say I Quit in two languages. He said Swagger's America has begun. Swagger then took the mic and declared, "We The People."

Suddenly, Lilian Garcia spoke Spanish and introduced Ricardo Rodriguez, who walked out on-stage holding his bucket. Ricardo then introduced Alberto Del Rio, who came out on-stage as Cole presented a story about America being built by immigrants. JBL said that has nothing to do with what Zeb said, then asked the announcers if they support the I.R.S. and wire-tapping the AP. Cole ignored the question, then Lawler said it's not about politics tonight, but about saying, I Quit.

SECOND HOUR COVERAGE CONTINUES AT PWTORCH.COM...

===== LIVECAST ALERT ======

We're taking your calls after Extreme Rules on the PPV post-game show at 11:30 p.m. EST on PWTorchLivecast.com.

============

Alerts: Follow live PWTorch Staff tweets during the PPV here - Twitter.com/PWTorch/torch-staff .

After the PPV, we're looking for your Reax, 0-10 score, and Best/Worst Match sent to pwtorch@gmail.com.

Do you have the free PWTorch App? How about the free PWTorch Livecast App? Download both now in your App/Mobile store available for every mobile phone device.

We suggest these recent related articles...

McNEILL's Late Night Deadblog - WWE Night of Champions: Bucklebombs, Light-up Jackets, Poachers, IcoPro, Eddie, more!

KELLER’S WWE NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS PPV REPORT 9/20: Ongoing “virtual time” coverage of event including Sting vs. Seth, Cena vs. Seth, Ryback vs. Owens, mystery partner with Reigns & Ambrose, Divas Title, Tag Title, more

CALDWELL'S WWE NOC PPV REPORT 9/20: Live Night of Champions Coverage from Houston - Seth Rollins's double duty