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

Second Hour Results

4 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO -- #1 contender match to the World Title -- I Quit match

Swagger quickly attacked Del Rio, prompting the referee to ask Del Rio if he wanted to quit. Del Rio quietly said no, then offered a more enthusiastic "no" the next time he was asked. Swagger was given two opportunities to quit moments later, but he refused. Swagger then kendo-sticked Del Rio before wrapping him around the ringpost. Del Rio refused to quit, which ref Mike Chioda announced to the crowd. It's worth noting that several fans were randomly seated ringside with a close look at the action. Was this one of the auction prizes?

Swagger then hung up Del Rio in the ropes and smashed Del Rio's mid-section with the Kendo Stick. Del Rio refused to give up, though, so Swagger retrieved a steel chair, but he was slow re-entering the ring. This allowed Del Rio to pop Swagger in the side of the head with a kick. Del Rio followed with a standing sidekick, but Swagger did not want to quit. Del Rio teased the cross arm-breaker, but Swagger blocked and suplexed Del Rio to the mat.

Swagger followed with a Swagger Bomb, then the ref asked Del Rio if he wanted to quit. Del Rio did not answer, then he whispered "no," which Cole noted wasn't exactly a strong response. Swagger delivered a second Swagger Bomb, but Del Rio refused to quit again. Swagger then applied the Anklelock, but Del Rio refused to quit. Ricardo then held out a white towel, but Del Rio told him not to throw it. Zeb then grabbed the towel and threw it, making it look like Ricardo threw in the towel. So, ref Chioda awarded the match to Swagger.

WINNER: Swagger at 10:31. Or not...

Post-match, another ref hit the ring and told Chioda that Zeb threw in the towel, not Ricardo. Chioda didn't believe him, then went to the timekeeper for a look at the replay monitor. WWE rolled footage of Colter throwing in the towel to make it look like Ricardo threw in the towel. Suddenly, there's instant replay in WWE? JBL drew attention to WWE suddenly implementing instant replay, then ref Chioda asked Del Rio if he could continue the match. Del Rio nodded yes, so the match re-started.

4 -- JACK SWAGGER vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO -- #1 contender match to the World Title -- I Quit match

Swagger immediately attacked Del Rio's injured ankle, but Del Rio responded with the cross arm-breaker. Swagger tried to counter into the anklelock, but Del Rio blocked and maintained the cross arm-breaker. Swagger then muttered, "I Quit," as a cut formed on his right shoulder. Cole called it a courageous victory for Del Rio, who hobbled across the ring. JBL said he disagreed with the ref's decision, calling it a horrible precedent to set.

WINNER: Del Rio at 11:18 to become #1 contender to the World Title. The crowd was lukewarm for Del Rio, who continues to struggle in the face role. The over-complicated booking and Del Rio's weak refusals to give up didn't help, either. Overall, this seemed like more of a deal to protect Swagger than strengthen Del Rio by giving Swagger a lot of offense and new reasons for Zeb to complain in follow-up promos. (**1/4)

Backstage: Josh Mathews brought in Ryback for an interview. Ryback said he should have been WWE champion six months ago, but other people played by different rules, delaying his title victory. Tonight, Ryback Rules.

In-ring: Kane's pyro shot off to bring out Kane and Daniel Bryan to defend the Tag Titles. From the crowd, Shield members Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns emerged to challenge for the belts as Cole plugged WWE's next PPV, Payback, in June.

5 -- WWE tag champions KANE & DANIEL BRYAN vs. THE SHIELD (SETH ROLLINS & ROMAN REIGNS) -- WWE Tag Title match -- Texas Tornado Rules

The tag champs dominated early on before Reigns and Rollins made a comeback on D-Bryan. They wanted a top-rope double powerbomb on Bryan, but Bryan countered with a huracanrana. Kane then clotheslined both Shield opponents over the top rope. Bryan followed right up with a suicide dive taking out both men, then the tag champs stood tall on the outside.

Back in the ring, Bryan Yes! Kicked Rollins before switching to Reigns. A double sidewalk slam put Reigns down, then Bryan power-slammed Rollins. The action broke down with bodies going everywhere until all four men were on the mat. Included was Reigns landing a spear, then Reigns sold a left arm/shoulder injury. "You trying to break my arm?! I'm going to break your face!" Reigns shouted in Bryan's face. Reigns continued to favor his arm, then he walked into a chokeslam, but Rollins came off the top with a kick to the head.

Reigns speared Kane center-ring, then covered, but Bryan broke up the pin. Bryan then fired himself up and landed kick strikes to Reigns's chest. But, Reigns blocked a final blow and lifted Bryan into the air for a combination top-rope leg kick and bodyslam. Reigns covered Bryan, Rollins kicked Kane out of the ring, and Reigns scored the pin for the win. Post-match, new U.S. champion Ambrose hit the ring to celebrate with the new tag champs. The trio then stood tall in the ring holding all of their new gold as Lawler called this scary.

WINNERS: Shield at 7:23 to capture the Tag Titles. And, WWE pulled the trigger on a clean sweep for The Shield. Also, will this be the start of the end for Kane & Bryan? Interesting to see where this is going.

Earlier Tonight: The Miz beat Cody Rhodes on the Extreme Rules pre-show.

Arena Studio: Renee Young brought in the pre-show panel of Wade Barrett (with an upgraded wardrobe), Titus O'Neil, and Mick Foley to discuss the PPV half-way through. Titus said he and Darren Young are going after The Shield now. Renee signed off and plugged the post-PPV show.

In-ring: Lilian Garcia introduced the Extreme Rules match up next. Out first was Big Show. After a pause, Randy Orton's music played to a huge reaction in Orton's hometown. Lilian introduced Orton from St. Louis, increasing the roar from the crowd. Orton smiled half-way down the entrance ramp, then hit the ring and posed to a loud reaction.

6 -- RANDY ORTON vs. BIG SHOW -- Extreme Rules match

As the bell sounded, Cole noted it's basically anything goes in this match. The crowd started a "Randy, Randy" chant as Orton took it to Big Show early on, but Big Show eventually knocked down Orton. Orton rolled to the outside to recover, drawing Big Show to the floor. On the floor, Orton retrieved a kendo stick and hit Show with it, but Show blocked a third shot and broke the stick over his leg. Show then blasted Orton across the ringside area. Orton found another stick, but Show broke it, too.

Show wanted to end Orton with a ringpost shot, but Orton blocked and shoved Show into the post. Orton then busted out a ladder from under the ring, but Show kicked the ladder into Orton's face. The match then returned to the ring, where Show smashed Orton with a right hand, but it wasn't the WMD, so Orton kicked out. Show then rolled to the floor and decided to grab the ladder to use as a weapon back in the ring. Next, Show pulled out two chairs to add to the available weapons in the ring.

After setting up his weapons, Show headbutted Orton, then sidewalk-slammed him for a two count. Show then placed Orton on the ladder, which was held up by the two chairs. Show wanted a Vader Bomb, causing the crowd to freak out, but Orton moved and Show ate the ladder stomach-first. Orton then followed up with a trademark second-rope DDT before firing up the hometown crowd for a potential RKO. Orton positioned himself for the RKO, and he surprised the crowd by connecting with no counter. Orton covered, but Show kicked out, stunning the crowd again. JBL said Orton thought he hit the home-run.

At 10:00, Show rolled away from Orton, who then went under the ring to retrieve another chair. On the outside, Orton popped Show across the back with the chair. And a second shot. And a third, which sent Show reeling back into the ring. Orton then nailed Show with a chair shot to the injured stomach. Orton tried another shot, but Show speared him. Both men sold on the mat as the crowd tried to rally behind Orton.

Orton was the first to his feet after the reset, then he RKO'ed Show onto the chair, popping the crowd again. But, Orton couldn't make a cover.

Suddenly, Orton started thinking about other things. Orton shook his head no, but the crowd starting feeling a Punt. Orton then slowly walked over to Big Show before backing up to the opposite corner, popping the crowd. Orton measured Show for the Punt and connected (while still protecting Show). Orton freaked out and celebrated, then covered Show and it was good for the pin and the win. Post-match, a fired-up Orton celebrated in the ring as Show sold being loopy from The Punt as he left the ring.

WINNER: Orton at 13:01. And the Extreme Rules PPV is officially live. Maybe it was only one night and only because it was in St. Louis, but Orton looked more inspired than he has in months, if not a year. Overall, easily the best match of the night thus far. (***1/2)

Video Package: John Cena vs. Ryback, which means the WWE Title match will not be going on-last. WWE is either admitting that Cena-Ryback hype was supbar, they felt like Lesnar-Triple H blew away a Cena title match feud, or they have a finish that requires Cena-Ryback to be placed at this point in the PPV.

In-ring: Justin Roberts introduced the WWE Title Last Man Standing match. After a pause, Ryback's music played to a mixed reaction. Ryback quickly marched out on-stage, then marched down to the ring as Cole called this the most-important match of Ryback's career. JBL said this could be Ryback's night tonight because Cena is hurt.

After a pause, John Cena's music played to loud cheers from the pro-Cena fans. Cena then emerged on-stage and declared that he is back in St. Louis again. Cena, still selling the ankle injury, ran to the ring holding up the WWE Title belt as Cole noted it's Cena's first title defense since defeating The Rock at WrestleMania. Cena then bounced the ropes as Cole drew attention to Cena's heavily-taped ankle. Once Cena posed in the ring, Justin Roberts handled formal ring introductions. Ryback was heavily booed, then Cena received mainly cheers mixed with boos.

THIRD HOUR COVERAGE OF CENA-RYBACK AND TRIPLE H-LESNAR CONTINUES AT PWTORCH.COM...

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