WWE Extreme Rules 2016: 10 Things We Learned
So, the Pedigree is still Rollins finisher?
Straight away at Extreme Rules, it appeared obvious that Big Cass is destined for big things in WWE sooner rather than later. The man has God-given size, something everyone and their dog knows appeals to a certain elderly McMahon, but that's not all he possesses. Looking composed on the microphone, the former NXT star shone during the Kickoff portion of the show.
Elsewhere, AJ Styles stared at the lights for Roman Reigns once again. What does this mean for AJ's immediate future in the company, and where is his character going from here? That's something WWE need to take into consideration, because he showed just what an incredible piece of talent he is during the main event.
There's so much to be gleaned from Extreme Rules, like rare match types that really need to be more prevalent, and performances from veterans that truly went above and beyond. There were even restored reputations and new alliances forged.
Let's pick the show to pieces, looking at just what was learned from watching the pay-per-view...
10. Baron Corbin Vs. Dolph Ziggler Didn't Really Set The Right Tone
The entire purpose of the Kickoff show is to get people excited for the coming pay-per-view. Looking at things in a more traditional sense, it's a hype piece ideal for selling those last-minute buys to potential customers still sitting on the fence. Any matches on the program should reflect that.
Sadly, Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin was one that fell just a little short of the mark. Billed as a No Disqualification encounter, Ziggler vs. Corbin needed to give everyone a little preview of what they could expect if they tuned into the actual Extreme Rules event coming up. It didn't manage that goal.
The first minute or so was promising, especially when the pair brawled outside the ring. Then, things slowed to the point that Corbin was trading insults with ringside fans and slapping on rest holds to eat up time. There was no urgency to the match, and it ironically failed to kick off Extreme Rules in the proper manner.
This is something WWE will need to look at, they really need the Kickoff bouts to be lively.