WWE Extreme Rules 2021 - As It Happened

Sandwiched between SummerSlam in August and Crown Jewel in October, WWE presented Extreme Rules 2021 from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday, September 26. 

WWE maintained the status quo at the pay-per-view and the show ended on a somewhat bemusing note as the top rope broke to cost 'The Demon' Finn Balor a Universal Title win over Roman Reigns.

Check out what happened below:

Liv Morgan vs. Carmella - Kickoff Show 

Ahead of the match, Carmella proclaimed she was beautiful while Liv Morgan was not. This led to an attack from Morgan as the referee rang the bell. 

After an early onslaught from Liv, Carmella soon took control and dominated the in-ring action for several minutes before Morgan fired back with a Lou Thesz Press, a Running Knee in the corner and a Step-Up Enzuigiri. 

Both women then fought back and forth until Morgan launched Carmella's face into the announce table and followed up with Oblivion back in the ring for the victory. 

Winner: Liv Morgan

The New Day vs. Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles & Omos

The Extreme Rules main card opened up by focusing on the WWE Title picture as The New Day squared off against former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley, AJ Styles and Omos. The broadcast appeared to be a mess for fans watching on Peacock, who were apparently getting Spanish and English commentary at the same time in the opening moments of the match. No problems on the WWE Network, however. 

Bobby Lashley and Big E squared off after AJ Styles opened the match for the heel team and The All Mighty initially dominated the action before Big E gained the upper hand. The New Day then stomped a mudhole in Lashley while he was trapped in the corner. 

Lashley gained the upper hand after Omos and AJ Styles distracted Kofi Kingston and the heel team worked over the former WWE Champion for several minutes until Kofi eventually made the hot tag to Xavier Woods and the former Consequences Creed later made the hot tag to Big E. 

After an entertaining sequence between Big E and AJ Styles, The New Day thought they had the match won after Kofi decked The Phenomenal One with the Double Stomp. Bobby Lashley broke up the pin, though, and The All Mighty went to hit a Spear on Big E soon after but AJ Styles tagged himself in.

As Styles went for the Phenomenal Forearm, Lashley blind-tagged himself into the match and after Big E avoided the Forearm, Lashley accidentally caught AJ with a Spear. Big E then took advantage and hit The All Mighty with the Big Ending for the 1-2-3.

Winners: The New Day

The Usos (c) vs. The Street Profits - SmackDown Tag Team Championship

WWE seemingly decided to get all of the tag team matches out of the way as The Usos defended the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits in the second match of the pay-per-view. 

The Usos didn't waste any time before they started to target Montez Ford's heavily taped ribs. Ford suffered bruised ribs during a post-main event beatdown on SmackDown from The Bloodline.

Ford eventually made the hot tag to Angelo Dawkins and Dawkins exploded into the match with his signature Corkscrew Elbows. Dawkins followed up with a Superplex and Twisting Neckbreaker to Jimmy but the champion managed to kick out. The Street Profits then decked Jimmy with a Blockbuster but Jimmy kicked out again. 

After some back and forth action, Montez Ford went for his Frog Splash but Jey got his knees up! Dawkins and Ford then went for a Blockbuster while Jey was on Dawkins' shoulders but Ford was too slow due to his injured ribs, which allowed Uso to escape. Jey capitalised with an Uso Splash to Dawkins moments later for a close near fall. 

The Usos then celebrated on the outside before Montez Ford wiped them out with a Swanton over the ring post to the floor. Ford decked Jey with a Frog Splash moments later but Jimmy broke up the pin at the last possible moment, as the crowd chanted "This is awesome!" 

Montez Ford picked up another near fall with a Roll-Up before The Usos decked Montez with Double Superkicks and Double Usos' Splashes for the victory.

Winners and still SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos 

After the match, Bobby Lashley called Big E a coward and chickensh*t in a backstage promo before he dared Big E to defend the WWE Championship tomorrow night on Raw. 

Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Alexa Bliss - Raw Women's Championship 

Alexa Bliss received loud chants from the children inside the Nationwide Arena and she gained the early advantage after hitting Charlotte Flair with a Rolling Senton to the outside. Flair soon countered, though, and The Queen repeatedly smashed Bliss' head into the mat before she worked over the challenger for the next several minutes. 

Flair went for Natural Selection after connecting with a Standing Moonsault but Bliss rolled through. The Raw Women's Champion soon regained the upper hand, though, decking Bliss with a Slam. After another Moonsault attempt from Flair, Bliss got her boots up and capitalised with Code Red for a two-count.

Bliss then went for Twisted Bliss but Flair avoided it. The Queen tried to follow up with the Figure Eight but Bliss countered into a DDT for another near fall. The Raw Women's Champion then grabbed Lilly, threw it at Bliss to distract her, and followed up with Natural Selection for the victory. 

Winner and still Raw Women's Champion: Charlotte Flair

Flair celebrated as piped-in boos filled the WWE Network broadcast. The Queen then grabbed Lilly and tore the doll apart before an angry Bliss rained down Punches and Kicks on Charlotte. Flair stood tall after she threw Alexa over the announce table.

After Flair left the arena, an angry Bliss mourned the death of her doll. Yes, that is something that happened on WWE TV in 2021. 

Damian Priest (c) vs. Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy - United States Championship 

Damian Priest, Sheamus and Jeff Hardy all got in some offence in the early minutes, including some high-flying moments from Hardy and Priest. 

Sheamus took control soon after following a Backbreaker to Hardy and Sheamus gloated as he shouted to the fans, "Are you not entertained?" and channelled his inner Russell Crowe. Jeff soon fought back, though, and hit a Whisper In The Wind on both Priest and Sheamus. 

Sheamus locked in the Texas Cloverleaf and Priest broke up the submission by attacking The Celtic Warrior's broken nose. Sheamus caught the United States Champion with White Noise and Hardy broke up the pin before a Twist Of Fate to Sheamus. Priest then went for the Reckoning but Jeff Hardy reversed into a Twist Of Fate after both men briefly fell over. Hardy set up for the Swanton Bomb but Sheamus pushed Hardy off the top turnbuckle and followed up with some of Hardy's signature taunts before a Bobby Eaton Diving Knee Drop to Priest. 

Sheamus missed a Brogue Kick to Priest and The Archer Of Infamy followed up with a Choke Throw halfway across the ring, but Hardy broke up the pin with a Swanton Bomb. 

After more back and forth action, Sheamus decked Priest with a Jumping Knee and Hardy pushed Sheamus out of the ring to score a near fall on Priest. The Celtic Warrior then caught Jeff with a Brogue Kick before Priest suddenly rolled up Sheamus for the 1-2-3 to retain the gold.

Winner and still United States Champion: Damian Priest

In a backstage promo, Big E accepted Bobby Lashley's challenge. They will go one on one tomorrow night to open Raw. 

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair - SmackDown Women's Championship 

Both women tried and failed to hit their finishers in the opening seconds. Duelling chants for Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch followed as the champion and challenger fought back and forth. 

Lynch soon largely gained control of the match and she secured a near fall after a Bexploder. Belair fought back soon after with a Vertical Suplex and she went for 10 punches in the corner before a Spinebuster for a near fall. Becky went for a Crossbody but Belair caught the champion and capitalised with a Fallaway Slam for another two-count. 

After countering a Press Slam, Lynch briefly locked in the Disarm-her before Belair made it to the ropes. Belair and Lynch then grappled on the outside until Lynch rolled Bianca into the steel steps. Becky followed up with a Flying Leg Drop for a two-count and another Leg Drop while Belair was trapped between the ropes. 

Lynch continued to grow frustrated and The Man tried to apply an Armbar but Belair countered into a pin for a near fall. Lynch once again applied the Disarm-her but Bianca got Lynch onto her shoulders for a KOD attempt. 

Belair couldn't hit the move, though, as a returning Sasha Banks suddenly charged to the ring and attacked The EST to draw the disqualification. 

Winner by Disqualification: Bianca Belair

The Boss then stood tall as she took out both Belair and Lynch and stood over the SmackDown Women's Championship, making her intentions clear. 

Roman Reigns (c) vs. 'The Demon' Finn Balor - Extreme Rules Match for the Universal Championship

As with every Roman Reigns match over the past year, the in-ring action started out slowly before The Demon retrieved four kendo sticks tied together from under the ring and battered The Big Dog with the weapon. 

Balor then followed up with a PK on the apron before he retrieved a table from under the ring, as the crowd went wild. Roman Reigns, much to the audience's annoyance, pushed the table back under the ring and retrieved a steel chair instead.

Several chair shots to Balor followed and Finn fired back with Double Stomps on the chair to Reigns. The Tribal Chief was driven into the steel steps by Balor moments later and The Demon retrieved a table once again and went to set it up in the ring. Reigns connected with a Drive-By from out of nowhere, however, sending Finn's head crashing into the ring post. 

Reigns and Balor fought into the crowd next and on the Kickoff Show set as The Tribal Chief wore a mask to be COVID safe. A Crossbody through a table followed from Finn and the challenger dragged Reigns back into the ring. After a DDT, Finn set up the table, only to be sent crashing through it following a Uranage from Reigns. 

Reigns connected with a Superman Punch for a near fall and screamed that he was The Head Of The Table as he set up for a Spear. Finn countered with a Kick, capitalised with a Slingblade, and went for a Shotgun Dropkick but Reigns fired back with a Spear!

Reigns made the cover but Balor kicked out, catching Roman with a Low Blow in the process. A Shotgun Dropkick, Tope Con Giro and Coup De Grace followed but The Usos pulled Balor out of the ring as the referee was about to count to three. Balor fought off the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, sending Jimmy through the announce table in the process.

This gave Roman time to recover, though, and he decked Balor with a Spear through the barricade from out of nowhere! 

The red lights then suddenly came on in the arena and Balor jerked around before he came back to life and battered Reigns into the ring post. The Demon exploded on Reigns with repeated Chair Shots and a Shotgun Dropkick through a table. 

Balor then set up for the Coup De Grace but the top rope broke, giving Reigns the opening to hit a Spear for the 1-2-3. 

Very good match, rubbish finish.

Winner and still Universal Champion: Roman Reigns