10 Live Observations From WWE Extreme Rules 2016
5. All's Well That Ends Really, Really Badly
The first of two excellent matches on Extreme Rules came when The Miz defended his Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Cesaro in a Fatal Four-Way match. Multiple-man singles bouts like these usually deliver in WWE, and given the level of talent in this one, it promised to be great. Even so, expectations were exceeded.
For more than 18 minutes, all four men went to war with one another. It was a constant highlight reel, with Sami Zayn diving out onto Cesaro and Miz, Cesaro locking Miz in the Sharpshooter, Owens nailing corner cannonballs on everybody, and Miz scurrying to break up covers. Each man had his chance to show off what he could do, as well as at least one moment where it legitimately looked like he was about to win.
This is WWE, though, and things can't just be simple. In the end, Sami Zayn hit Cesaro with the Helluva Kick, but Kevin Owens pulled Zayn out of the ring. That allowed The Miz to simply cover Cesaro and score the win.
Even though I was pulling for Zayn, I have no problem with Miz retaining the title - after a match like that, no matter who wins, the belt is important. The whole "stealing a victory" finish is just so flat and overdone. Yes, I get that Miz is a coward and it ties into his character, but it really cheapened the match. Just pulling Cesaro up and hitting a Skull-Crushing Finale before getting the pin would have let the momentum keep rolling and made the ending ten times better.