Another championship match is announced for WWE Extreme rules. Sanity makes more enemies on Smackdown Live. Daniel Bryan challenges another big man but gets more than he bargained for.
Rivalries are taking shape ahead of Extreme Rules. Smackdown Live grows more chaotic every week as odd alliances begin to form. What matches will WWE setup for the most extreme pay per view of the year?
Smackdown Live comes to us from Ontario, CA this 26th of June 2018.
Very Special Guests
Miz TV kicks off Smackdown Live this week to a chorus of boo’s. Amazingly his guests tonight are none other than The Bludgeon Brothers. The reigning Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions recently helped The Miz by attacking Daniel Bryan during a match the previous week. The Miz asks the destructive duo to explain their actions during his interview.
Harper and Rowan stare blankly in response to The Miz who takes the opportunity to instead highlight the recent failures of Daniel Bryan.
As Miz continues to rant Harper slaps the mic out of his hands and both behemoths begin advancing towards the A-Lister. It is at this moment that Daniel Bryan arrives to call out all three Superstars. Bryan warns the Bludgeon Brothers that his will is stronger than their size and vows fight all of them before the night is over.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qSJrMp7cGs]
Bryan is fresh off of downing Big Cass at Money in the Bank and recently seems as formidable as before he originally retired. He continues to wrestle big men as he moves towards what should be a limited program with The Bludgeon Brothers. Although Miz is in the picture don’t expect him to get physical with Bryan anytime soon. Miz will continue to antagonize as Bryan focuses on getting revenge.
Battle Of The Days
Rusev is on a hot streak following becoming number one contender for the WWE Championship. Tonight Xavier Woods challenges the Bulgarian Brute in singles competition.
Rusev is able to keep up with Woods despite being the larger athlete. Woods is picked out of the air and suffers a spine buster early in the match. Rusev spends most of the match dominating until Woods lands a spinning elbow. From their the two trade offense until Rusev lands his Machka Kick. Woods submits to the Accolade shortly after.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRjwpOLE7JQ]
Rusev hops on the mic after the match and addresses AJ Styles. Rusev is still livid over Styles punching his friend Aiden English following a match on Smackdown Live. This shows that Styles is afraid of his latest challenger according to Rusev. He is confident that he has what it takes to dethrone Styles for his championship.
United States Championship Open Challenge
This open challenge occurs as a result of an injury sustained by Shinsuke Nakamura who would prignally face Jeff Hardy. Hardy recently reverted back to his darker persona complete with face paint. This is a reaction to being humiliated by Nakamura who delivered a low blow which ended their previous match. Hardy will have to wait for his chance at revenge. As Hardy awaits his unknown challenger in the ring the lights go out. Sanity’s music hits as Eric Young along with his unorthodox cronies slither to the ring. Both former TNA wrestlers will fight for the first time in WWE for the United States Championship.
Young takes an early advantage with wild strikes. There is little to do with style and grace in the offense of Young. He beats Hardy as Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe watch with wicked smiles.
Hardy begins to mount a come back but in an unexpected turn of events The Usos emerge from the crowd to confront Sanity. The two teams continue their brawl from the previous weak which ends the match via disqualification. However, Paige quickly commissions a tag match with all six men. Young and Sanity continue to gain the upper hand during the second match.
Dain demonstrates his insane strength and Wolfe looks absolutely mental against The Usos. Sanity maintains control until The Usos unleash endless superkicks to finally gain the victory.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhs26cw5hdM]
Although it took three veteran WWE Superstars to put away Sanity, this does not seem like a great momentum builder for the recent NXT call ups. Extreme Rules will more than likely feature a wild, weapon filled six man tag team match featuring all of these Superstars. Although Hardy and the Usos are no stranger to extreme matches, Sanity must prove that they are too much crazy for even the most experienced wrestlers to handle. Either Sanity lives up to their chaotic persona or they will be buried early on in their main roster run.
Lynch VS Deville
The announcers seem to be hyping Becky Lynch’s surge in momentum and subsequent competitive attitude. Lynch calls out either member of Absolution to further her momentum and Sonya Deville accepts. Deville continues to prove herself since her NXT call up and poses a credible threat to competitors such as Lynch.
Lynch does not want to get into a fist fight with Deville and instead utilizes high speed attacks. Deville adjusts her move set and wrestles a great match with Lynch. Mandy Rose attempts to provide a distraction for her friend Deville but this backfires. Lynch is able to get her Disarm-Her locked in to make Deville submit. Things continue to look up for the Irish Lass Kicker.
Oh Hell No
The Miz is nowhere to be found as Luke Harper accompanied by Eric Rowan faces Daniel Bryan. Bryan is able to scrap his way out of the brutal slams and holds of the larger Harper. The conditioning and strategy of Bryan is proving useful to mitigate the size advantage of his opponents. Although Harper looks extremely intimidating during the match Bryan nearly makes him submit to the Yes Lock.
Rowan dives in to break up the hold causing a disqualification as The Bludgeon Brothers begin beating Bryan unmercifully.
That is until Kane makes a surprise return to Smackdown Live to save his former tag team partner. The seemingly reformed Team Hell No expel The Bludgeon Brothers and lock eyes in the ring. Amidst the deafening crowd Kane extends his arms for what appears to be one of their famous hug sessions. Bryan looks to the crowd who begin to chant “Yes!”.
Bryan embraces Kane to a huge crowd applause. Paige appears and makes a spur of the moment decision have Team Hell No challenge The Bludgeon Brothers for the Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships at Extreme Rules.
This booking checks all the boxes in terms of a short term Extreme Rules feud. Bryan and Kane pose the biggest challenge to date for the Bludgeon Brothers who have run rampant over the tag team scene on Tuesday nights. Bryan also conveniently delays his feud with The Miz although their hatred for each other continues to grow.
