13 Best WWE Matches Of 2016 (So Far)
3. Fatal 4-Way Match For The WWE Intercontinental Championship - Extreme Rules
One look at the first six months of 2016 suggests Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and Cesaro have been opponents in enough battles to last a lifetime. They have been intertwined in a rivalry that began the night after WrestleMania and continued through Money in the Bank. They have shared the ring countless times across Raw, SmackDown and pay-per-view but no match featuring those three men was better than the Fatal 4-Way match for the Intercontinental Championship, also featuring titleholder The Miz, that stole the show at Extreme Rules.
Right off the bat, Zayn eliminated Owens for the time being with a huge kick. Cesaro dumped Miz, allowing him and The Underdog from the Underground to renew the rivalry that captivated fans of NXT two years earlier.
The reversals and counters, not to mention the clever takes on old multi-man match spots, helped elevate the match past the standard affair. The story also had something to do with it, as Miz was clearly outclassed by his opponents but continued to search for that opening that would allow him to snag the win and retain his title.
He got it late in the match as Zayn delivered the Helluva Kick to Cesaro, then opted to take frustrations out on Owens at ringside. That momentary lapse by Zayn allowed Miz to slide in and sneakily secure the victory.
It was a brilliant match full of extraordinary work from all involved and an excellent bit of character development that built even more eat for the IC champion.