10 WWE Extreme Rules 2018 Impulse Reactions

8. Barred

Bobby Lashley
WWE

More than the words in this entry will be written about Asuka's WWE main roster run in due course, but if her first pinfall loss at Money In The Bank against Carmella was an conclusion most felt painfully inevitable, defeat in their Extreme Rules rematch was a Christopher Nolan ending too far.

Unlike some of the director's unnecessary extensions, this match felt necessary - 'The Empress Of Tomorrow' simply had to return to the form of yesterday. James Ellsworth was in a shark cage, so she wouldn't be forced to look completely stupid staring at him for so long that the 'Princess Of Staten Island' could recover herself to win. James Ellsworth then fell out of a shark cage, so she was forced to look completely stupid staring at him for so long that the 'Princess Of Staten Island' recovered herself to win.

Both matches saw the Champion take a beating the confines of both kayfabe and reality required, before the Challenger fell short - but the outcomes are what matter despite WWE's insistence via Road Dogg that wins and losses don't. Fans don't back losers - not least ones that look like even bigger ones than they actually are. Asuka's third defeat might as well have been her 333rd, the way she's been booked since WrestleMania.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett