<
        >

          WWE Extreme Rules: Rousey captures gold, Bray Wyatt makes his return

          Bray Wyatt returned to WWE at Extreme Rules. WWE
          • Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing InsiderOct 9, 2022, 01:22 AM
            Close
              Mike Coppinger has covered boxing since 2010 with roles at USA Today, Ring Magazine and The Athletic before he joined ESPN in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger

          Matt Riddle's feud with Seth Rollins has grown personal and bitter, so WWE unveiled a new steel structure to settle the score with The Fight Pit, modeled after an MMA cage, with UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier as the special-guest referee.

          Riddle is a former UFC fighter, so he was expected to enjoy an advantage in the cage, which featured no doors and a platform up top where the pair could battle. They put the new structure to good use in the main event of WWE Extreme Rules on Saturday in Philadelphia. The high spot of the match came when Riddle delivered a Broton from the platform, only for both wrestlers to rise at the count of 8 simultaneously.

          Riddle then applied a triangle submission and Rollins tried to escape by bouncing him off the cage wall twice. No matter, Riddle kept the hold applied, and Rollins finally tapped out to even the rivalry at one apiece (Rollins previously defeated Riddle at SummerSlam.)

          Rollins first got creative with the Fight Pit structure by delivering a Frog Splash from the ledge. He was able to apply a Peruvian Necktie on Riddle, but Riddle escaped and hit the RKO.

          The Visionary connected with a Stomp before they took the action to the platform, where Riddle eventually hit the Broton. That was the beginning of the end.

          The show was seemingly closing out, with the Fight Pit structured raised and Riddle and Rollins out of the ring, when Bray Wyatt's familiar voice rang out, singing "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands."

          Characters from the Firefly Funhouse were spotlighted in the arena. There was Mercy the Buzzard, Huskus, Abby the Witch and Ramblin' Rabbit. And then The Fiend popped up in the front row before his mask was placed on the announce table.

          That's when the entrance lit up with an ominous door, and we returned to the Firefly Funhouse that showed the characters out of commission.

          Suddenly, a figure was on the entrance ramp with an unfamiliar mask, and once it was removed, there was Wyatt, back in WWE after more than 400 days away from TV.

          What's next: With Riddle and Rollins tied at one apiece, they could have one more match to end the rivalry. Wyatt, meanwhile, injects WWE with a significant dose of star power. Fans have clamored for his return for more than a year, and the possibilities are endless. Still, it would be a surprise if he didn't pursue Roman Reigns and the WWE Undisputed Universal championship sooner than later.

          WWE Extreme Rules results

          The White Rabbit delivers. Bray Wyatt is back.

          DC is ready to referee!

          "I Quit" match: Finn Balor def. Edge

          The Judgement Day picked up their biggest win since Edge left the faction as Finn Balor forced the group's former leader to say, "I Quit." Edge only did so after his real-life wife, Beth Phoenix, was lined up for a Con-CHAIR-to by Rhea Ripley. Edge said those two words to save Phoenix, only for Ripley to deliver the chair shot after the match was over anyway.

          The action kicked into high gear after Edge sent Balor crashing through the barricade following a lengthy figure-four that Balor locked in. Edge went on to apply a crossface with a hockey stick before he launched him into the concrete overhang in the tunnel.

          The matchup then spilled into the stands, but once it was back in the ring, Balor battered Edge with a chair and then applied a crossface. The Judgement Day finally interfered, but Edge hit Balor with a spear through the ropes that took out Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio on the outside.

          Rhea Ripley handcuffed Edge to the top rope, and he was sitting duck for several kendo stick strikes. Rey Mysterio came to Edge's aid, but it only led to his son, Dominik, finally laying his hands on his father after weeks of build-up.

          Phoenix hit Ripley with a spear to grab the key and free Edge from the handcuffs, allowing The Rated R Superstar to go to work.

          Edge hit Priest with a spear and a low blow to Dominik. Balor responded with a sling blade, but Edge countered with back-to-back-to-back spears.

          Priest re-entered the fray and delivered the South of Heaven before Ripley took out Beth with brass knuckles. That's when Balor connected with his finisher, the Coup De Grace, not once but thrice.

          What's next: This program has been running for months, but it doesn't appear to be ending now that it has become even more personal with the maiming of Edge's wife.

          Dexter and Gritty say "HBD" to The Miz

          WWE Raw Women's Championship: Bianca Belair (c) def. Bayley

          Bianca Belair found a way to retain her WWE Raw Women's Championship despite interference from Bayley's stablemates, Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai, climbing the ladder to grab her title.

          Bianca appeared to be in a position to win the match after she connected with a KOD on Bayley and climbed the ladder to touch the belt, but Sky and Kai ran out and pummeled her.

          Bianca took care of them by stacking Sky and Kai into a double KOD and then turned her attention back to Bayley. Bayley was able to trap Belair under the ladder she climbed, but Bianca powered out from underneath and sent Bayley reeling.

          Bianca scooped her up, along with another ladder, and delivered the KOD with Bayley face-first off the steel to finish Bayley.

          What's Next: Belair and Bayley will likely run it back. After all, this was Bayley's first major match since her return, and the program between her and Bianca has been one of the focal points of Raw each week.

          Strap match: Karrion Kross (with Scarlett) def. Drew McIntyre

          Karrion Kross scored the pinfall victory in a Strap match after he hit Drew McIntyre with the Kross Hammer in his first major match in WWE.

          McIntyre delivered the Future Shock DDT and was prepared to finish the match with a Claymore when Scarlett interfered and pepper sprayed the former WWE Champion. It was a slow, methodical match, with Kross going to work on McIntyre's shoulder, both with the strap and a Doomsday Saito. The win should propel Kross, who appears to be earmarked for big things in his second act in WWE.

          What's Next: The feud has been going on for weeks, but this was their first singles match, so the program will undoubtedly continue.

          WWE SmackDown Women's Championship: Ronda Rousey def. Liv Morgan

          Ronda Rousey regained the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship after she applied a biceps crusher that forced Liv Morgan to pass out. Morgan delivered a Senton on Rousey through a table from the top rope, but Rousey kicked out and then applied the arm bar. She couldn't lock it in fully, and Morgan took advantage with a modified powerbomb before Rousey could sink in the biceps crusher.

          The matchup featured plenty of baseball bat swings from each competitor and was a rematch from SummerSlam that Morgan won. Now, the championship is back around the waist of the former UFC star.

          What's next: This should finally end the feud, with Rousey moving onto a new challenger, perhaps a returning Charlotte Flair.

          The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, and Butch) def. Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci)

          Sheamus and The Brawling Brutes exacted a measure of revenge on Gunther and Imperium in a hard-hitting, Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook match to kick off Extreme Rules.

          Butch took out Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci with a moonsault off the barrels (set up for the match) after Imperium dominated the early action. Gunther, who retained his Intercontinental Championship with a victory over Sheamus on Friday, was then sent crashing through the announce table courtesy of a Celtic Cross from his rival.

          With Gunther out of commission, Ridge Holland and Butch grabbed hold of Vinci and set him up for a Brogue Kick from Sheamus for the pinfall victory that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

          What's Next: The feud between Imperium and The Brawling Brutes has been one of the highlights of WWE's programming over the last couple of months, and it should continue after Gunther needed help to defeat Sheamus on Friday. Expect one more matchup between Gunther and Sheamus for the Intercontinental Championship.