Obviously, this event has since been overshadowed by a pretty groundbreaking world event, but let's give credit where credit is due. For the second year in a row, Extreme Rules as a show was a rousing success.
After mixed reviews on Wrestlemania, it was quite important for the WWE to deliver a top notch show. Though the build in my opinion lacked a little bit, the key to the night was going to be match quality and solid booking. On both fronts, this was evident for the most part.
As with any show, there is always something you aren't going to like, but with this show, the positives greatly outweigh the negatives. We had quality matches, title changes, a debut, and a defining moment in one man's career. On top of all that, the show ended for those in attendance with the shocking world announcement, so that if the fans weren't going home happy already, surely that would put them over the top.
With all that in mind, let's go in depth with the booking for Extreme Rules 2011:
Last Man Standing: Randy Orton vs. CM Punk - My first thought on this match was "will Orton be really mad at the spot on the card?" Given he was for Wrestlemania, I feared that he'd lose it and we'd be reading about an altercation backstage the next day. Then I realized that going on first is actually a good thing for this match. It's last man standing and the WWE was saying "take your time" so that if other matches have to get cut, it's better than cutting any time off of this match. In retrospect, I'm glad it was where it was on the card because it was a fun contest with a lot of 9 counts where you thought the match would be over. Solid storytelling and even though I got this pick right, I feel for CM Punk. He's right there with the top heels in the business, but he never seems to get a major victory. In fact, I think the last time he got one on PPV was last year at this event over Rey Mysterio. Maybe WWE is preparing for his possible departure, but it's a shame that he never has gotten that win. Still, well booked match and great way to start a show.
United States Championship Tables Match: Sheamus(c) vs. Kofi Kingston - This match was added spur of the moment, but it made a lot of sense to do so. The precedent was set on Smackdown and one of the midcard titles had to make its way back to Raw. Kofi is just fine to hold the United States Title as he's basically established himself as the go-to babyface for transitional reigns. Some may poo-poo that idea, but there are far worse jobs to have than that. As far as the match, it was entertaining and the fact that it's a tables match means that Sheamus can lose without being pinned, thus allowing him to not lose momentum and move on to greater things on Smackdown. Great call on making this a tables match and a very welcome addition to the pay per view.
Country Whipping Match: Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross vs. Michael Cole and Jack Swagger - My feelings on this one are mixed. On one hand, this match was oodles better than the singles encounter at Wrestlemania. In no way was this going to be anything more than middle aged men trying to whip each other, but that is infinitely more entertaining than watching Michael Cole try to wrestle. This works for guys that aren't trained wrestlers and in that sense it was much better that Wrestlemania. I also understand the booking as it allows for Cole to continue his heel antics until the big payoff, hopefully next month. On the other hand, these non wrestlers continue to take a spot on the card than could go to a ton of midcarders that would put on a better show in the ring. In that sense, I was hoping the feud would end here with the faces going over because it's getting quite old. The way I feel about this is the way I feel about the Angle/Jarrett feud in TNA. DO SOMETHING ELSE!! The only logical thing you can do now is a "loser leaves commentary" match where Lawler wins and Cole becomes Swagger's full-time manager. That would be new and exciting. This feud is neither of those things anymore and it needs to end. Hell, it needed to end at Wrestlemania, but there's nothing we can do about it now. At least this match was better than the atrocity they put on at the big show.
Falls Count Anywhere Match: Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes - I have loved this feud but this is the end as Rey switches over to the red brand. It was obvious from the get-go that Mysterio would get his victory and revenge in this one, but that didn't mean we wouldn't have some fun with it. The match almost had an Attitude-era type feel to it as the two men fought all the way to the concession stands. However, that's the one problem I had with it. This was a falls count anywhere match and there were some near falls throughout the contest. Why then would you bring the match back to the ring? Every other match on the card was going to end between the ropes, why not do something different with this one? End it on the stage, on the ramp, anywhere but the ring! I get that Rey likes to hit his 619 and West Coast Pop to end it, but you could book a different ending that still makes Rey look cool. Had they done that, this would have been even better. It was great as it was, even if the booking was obvious. Rey goes off to Raw while Cody will find a new target on Smackdown. This feud was booked beautifully and I really hope that creative continues to give Cody Rhodes the opportunity to perform and succeed.
No Count-out, No DQ "Loser Leaves WWE" Match: Layla vs. Michelle McCool - If you are the type that gets news and rumors on the internet, you knew who would win this going in. If you weren't privy to that information, this result must have come as a total shock. For the past few years, Michelle McCool has undoubtedly been the top heel diva on the roster. This storyline would have actually established her as an even bigger heel. However, it seems she was ready for some time off, maybe even permanently, and we got this match. For a Divas match (I hate saying this but the way they have been booked in no way matches their talent level usually), this was pretty solid. Layla looked about as good as she ever has in terms of wrestling while Michelle looked as dominant as ever. It would have been stupid to have Layla hit a finisher and pin Michelle, so the rollup victory made a ton of sense and was a solid booking decision. I thought this match did a great job and was certainly not the extreme low point of the show that other Divas matches have been in the past. Perhaps the high point came after the match though. As Ms. McCool was sulking in defeat, Kharma made her debut and hit a nice Implant Buster on the unemployed McCool. Quite the debut for a female competitor as I can't remember the last time one debuted on a such a grand scale. The WWE obviously has big plans for Kharma and I believe this was the perfect way to debut her. It felt important and may just inject some life into this Divas division.
World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match: Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian - I'm a big fan of the unpredictability of wrestling, but this was one match you had to go with the obvious ending. Del Rio was off to Raw which already has the WWE title. In now way did he need to bring the World Heavyweight belt over to the show so Christian HAD to win here. I know a lot has been made about whether Christian is "seen" as a champion, but all the hard work he's put in, the popularity he's achieved, and the years of waiting made this an easy and obvious choice. Christian had to win here, and he had to do so while carrying Del Rio to a solid match. Ladder matches aren't very common in Mexico so Del Rio was not very experienced in them. Credit ADR for taking some tough bumps in this one as he certainly did his part to make the match entertaining. I loved how it was booked, though I know some disagree with me. Del Rio tried EVERYTHING to screw Christian out of the belt, even making the match essentially 3 on 1. Just when it looked like Del Rio would win, Edge caused enough of a distraction to help his buddy win. Some might say that Edge's presence make Christian look weak but I disagree. It was a hard fought match and one that Christian looked every bit as good as Del Rio. The difference was ADR's cronies and Edge simply honked a horn. He did nothing physical to even the odds. It was a fantastic moment when Christian pulled down that title and I'm glad that Edge did the right thing and stayed away from the spotlight as much as possible. He knew that it was Christian's moment and I give him a lot of credit for allowing him to have it. I'm an admitted Christian mark and I'm not ashamed to say that I got a little emotional watching this display. It was a great moment and a great match. I wish it ended the show, but given what was to come in the ring and in life, it made sense to have this here. Great stuff though and certainly the wrestling moment of the night.
WWE Tag Team Championship Lumberjack Match: Big Show and Kane(c) vs. Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson - This was just fine. It was added to the card, it got most of the talent some screen time, it was short, and it allowed the crowd to calm down between title matches. Perfect filler here with the champs retaining while the Corre's tension is furthered. This match did it's job in every facet and while the match itself is nothing exciting, it filled its purpose on the card. There's nothing wrong with that.
WWE Championship Cage Match: The Miz(c) vs. John Cena vs. John Morrison - I don't know why I didn't see this coming. Ever since this show has been called Backlash, title changed have occured here if they didn't at Wrestlemania. Not only that, The Rock was booked for Monday's show so it made all the sense in the world for Cena to win the title to enhance his encounter with The Great One. Unfortunately, the match didn't end the way I thought it should have. Everything was great for most of the match. People climbed the cage and were stopped, there were a few big spots (one where it looked like The Miz almost broke his neck!), and R-Truth made his cameo to take Morrison out of contention for the win. At that point, it was between Cena and Miz, and I felt like the winner needed to somehow screw the other and land right before the other guy. Instead, we got the AA off the top rop for the win and new champion. It's a fine finish, except that it was used earlier in the night by Randy Orton! In a cage match, I'm not a fan of pinfall finishes so I was not happy with this outcome. Cena winning is fine and given what we found out while the match was going on, it was very fitting that he won. That said, I will never defend a cage match won inside the cage. I'm simply not a fan of that and I think having Cena's feet touch the ground first would have been a better finish. That way also would have been better for The Miz as he still wouldn't have been pinned by Cena. He can get past this, but the end doens't fly in my eyes.
As I've alluded to, Cena made the announcement of Bin Laden's death to the live crowd after the PPV went off the air. Given Cena's passion for the military, this was very fitting. I have included this video at the bottom of the article as not even Christian's victory comes close to the importance of this announcement. Even before that, the pay per view was very solid and incredibly enjoyable. There really wasn't a weak point of the show as every match was solid and progressed or ended a story. I'm obviously not happy with the Cole/Lawler/Ross stuff, but since their "match" was much better than Mania, I can't complain too much. This was a great show with a fitting end. Please enjoy Cena's announcement to the live crowd as it gives me chills as I watch it now. I think it might do the same for you.
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