WWE’s main event of the Extreme Rules pay-per-view (PPV) came right on the heels of our first glimpse at a commercial for Great Balls of Fire - next month’s show where Universal champ Brock Lesnar will return to face whoever claims victory in the Fatal 5Way in Baltimore on June 4.
On a show with only six matches on the main card, Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor, Roman Reigns and Samoa Joe made their entrances at shortly after 10PM Eastern. With nearly an hour left in the announced run time, this #1 contenders match had a lot of work to do.
Their entrances did some of the work, and were noteworthy because Bálor did not make his return to PPV for the first time since SummerSlam 2016 in his iconic Demon paint.
Once the referee called for the bell, the action broke out into familiar pairings like Rollins vs. Joe, and the return of the heel alliance between the Destroyer and the Eater of Worlds. The latter pairing took us through a lengthy section of the match when Joe and Bray took out each of the other three competitors with a set of steel steps and the isolated Finn in the ring.
Some evasive maneuvers from Bálor happened just as Roman was rousing, and the Big Dog looked to clear his yard. The team-up managed to survive Reigns’ offensive, but when Rollins re-entered the fray, Wyatt threw Joe in front of a dive from the Kingslayer, and it was back to every man for himself.
It was inevitable that things would break down between @SamoaJoe & @WWEBrayWyatt...
— WWE (@WWE) June 5, 2017
Oh, and @FinnBalor has a STEEL CHAIR! #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/YLpbC8NBQE
Which made for some crazy action.
Roman speared Finn & Joe through the barricade while the Samoan had the Irishman locked in a Coquina Clutch. That was the opening for Rollins to fly, as he launched a Frog Splash from the top rope that landed on Wyatt and flattened an announce table.
The #CoquinaClutch was just the beginning as @WWERomanReigns sends @FinnBalor AND @SamoaJoe through the barricade! #ExtremeRules #Fatal5Way pic.twitter.com/ViBLPHcb28
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 5, 2017
A one-on-one battle between the former Shield-brothers followed, and there were nearfalls a plenty. The other competitors weren’t done, and Wyatt’s finish was teased amidst the chaos.
Finn managed to hit his finisher on Reigns, much to the delight of much of the crowd. But before the referee could count three, Joe slid back in and locked in his submission. There was no one to save Bálor, and while he didn’t tap out, he did pass out.
And at Great Balls of Fire, it will be Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar.
Get complete Extreme Rules results and coverage of every match on the card by clicking here.