WWE: Extreme Rules 2010 (2010)

Reported by Ernest I Aguilar

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One thing you gotta give WWE credit for is they really innovated a lot throughout this entire PPV. I'll try to give you a fair overview of what went down at "Extreme Rules 2010", but don't be surprised if I keep going back to the same point.

*****The evening starts off when the advertised Street Fight gets delayed because Sheamus and Triple H were duking it out backstage before getting to the ring, which resulted in HHH getting knocked out. Why they weren't just allowed to get it on anyway defies logic, but whatever.*****

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1) Gauntlet Match - #1 Contenders Match

The Miz & Big Show (Unified Tag Team champions) v.

R-Truth & John Morrison / MVP & Mark Henry / The Hart Dynasty

---Because Miz kept running his mouth, Teddy Long forced the self-proclaimed greatest tag team of all time to compete in gauntlet competition. Whichever team of challengers won got a future shot at the tag belts. I wish these 3 matches went on longer, since it would've made all the challengers & the champs look even better. But I rather enjoyed the opener anyway because it all moved at a really exciting pace. The Miz & Big Show were fighting their hearts out, with hungry opponents just waiting to get the winning pin. While it won't go down in the history books, it definitely got me pumped up for the rest of the PPV.

"6.5 / 10"

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2) CM Punk's Hair On The Line

CM Punk (w/ Straight-Edge Society) v. Rey Mysterio

---If there's one thing you can count on from CM Punk and Mysterio, it's that any series of matches involving these guys is going to feature very unique matches. Throw Punk & Rey together, and we're in for a ride. Many thought their "WrestleMania 26" encounter was too short. This rematch is the answer to those criticisms, as long as you're prepared for a slower-paced battle. The high-energy display we saw at "WrestleMania" isn't gonna reappear for about half of the match. But fear not, because gifted performers like Rey and Punk capture your attention from the getgo. The maniacal CM Punk plays the crowd perfectly, with Rey doing his underdog role better than pretty much anybody wrestling today. The only letdown from this match is that it built such strong momentum towards the end that a cheap "masked accomplice" tactic was used. This very strong performance from these two men didn't need that copout ending. But when you get such a good match, it's forgiveable.

"7.5 / 10"

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3) Strap Match

Shad Gaspard v. JTG

---It's to the credit of the former Cryme Tyme partners that they pulled off a decent match without overstaying their welcome. They simply get in, work their match with some creative stuff, and get out. Pointless? Perhaps. But I think for what it was and how short it was, I enjoyed it. Considering I never cared much for Cryme Tyme, I guess this was the best possible sendoff we could've asked for.

"5.5 / 10"

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4) Extreme Rules - World Heavyweight Championship

Jack Swagger (champion) v. Randy Orton

---The key word for this match is "Smart". I originally thought WWE dropped the ball with this one, since they didn't let Swagger defend his belt against Chris Jericho and/or Edge (the two top "SmackDown" talents at the time). Throw in a good guy Randy Orton, and I thought we were in trouble. While I still think Orton doesn't work as a hero, this match clicked from the getgo. Swagger used his technical abilities to defend his title, while Orton uses cold psychology and brute force to fight back. Somehow, these two delivered a compelling match in the ring, and things got rougher once the weapons came into play. Pulling off two kinds of matches and overcoming a potentially disastrous storyline is truly something else. Trust me folks, I didn't have much faith in this once. It probably turned out to be my favorite match on the card.

"7.5 / 10"

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5) Street Fight

Sheamus v. Triple H

---Full disclosure: I didn't really wanna check this one out. I liked the "WrestleMania" match between these two, but that was a straight-up wrestling match. Now, Sheamus and Triple H can have good matches without rules ...but I don't think they can have them 'together'. Some pairs of wrestlers just don't click, and I think HHH/Sheamus may be one of them. Also, Triple H as a hero with a handicap has rarely worked. It didn't work against Chris Jericho. It barely worked against Umaga. It only really worked against Kurt Angle, and Sheamus is no Kurt Angle. To make matters worse, Sheamus basically beats a one-armed HHH for about 20 minutes with a brief comeback here and there from "The Game". I just got bored after a while that I started fast-forwarding, and it was still uninteresting. The match finally gets some life breathed into it towards the end, but it's too little too late. I commend these guys for telling their story creatively, but sometimes all the unique ideas in the world can't cover for two guys who don't mesh very well. I'm sure there will be yet another HHH/Sheamus encounter down the road, but I'm not looking forward to it.

"5.5 / 10"

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6) Extreme Makeover Match - Women's Championship

Michelle McCool (champion - w/ Vickie Guerrero & Layla) v. Beth Phoenix

---I trusted Phoenix & Michelle to work a solid match together, but I thought this Makeover gimmick was gonna ruin their hard work. Well, it actually came off pretty well. Sure, a straight-up Phoenix/McCool showdown would've been much better. But when they bring in the toys, there are some true "DAMN!" moments. Vickie & Layla have some funny moments at ringside as well. To my delightful surprise, this is one of the best women's matches in a long time.

"7.0 / 10"

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7) Steel Cage Match

Edge v. Chris Jericho

---I want to be clear about something: Any match involving Edge and Jericho is gonna be better than just about anything else on WWE's current programming. That being said, when these two square off, you rightfully expect a great match. On this night, I think their Steel Cage Match is simply good, but nothing more. There are some unique spots, such as how a steel chair gets into the ring, and how both men deliver their finishing maneuvers. However, there are too many moments when Jericho manages to reach the top of the Cage, each time being dragged back into the ring, slowly and unconvincingly. Even with Edge promising to not win via Cage Escape, this one never seems to get off the ground. It's a good match and worth checking out, but if you're expecting a classic from the Canadians, I don't think you're gonna find it here.

"7.0 / 10"

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8) Last Man Standing Match - WWE Championship

Batista v. John Cena (champion)

---It is time to acknowledge that Batista and John Cena have great chemistry together, on par with other famous rivalries like Angle/Benoit, Bret/Hennig, Taker/HBK, or Flair/Steamboat. Yes, they click that well together. How else to explain such an impressive match like this main event, not to mention their previous work together? Granted, the match takes a little while to get moving, and yes, John Cena still oversells way too damn much (he's knocked out after one elbow strike!). But man, I could watch these guys work again and again. It's easy to fear that the PG-WWE will ruin a potentially great fight, but I think Cena & Batista overcame those standards very well with a rugged fight filled with some very creative moments. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a Last Man Standing Match with more creativity. John Cena and Batista may not have the respect of all hardcore wrestling fans, but when they work in one-on-one showdowns together, they've got my undivided attention.

"7.5 / 10"

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"Extreme Rules 2010" hits a rough snag with the bait-and-swtich Street Fight that never paid off in my opinion. But it hits the checkboxes everywhere else for me. Believe me, I didn't expect to like this card very much. But WWE laid it all out on the line with this one, and I'm sure there's something in it for every kind of wrestling fan.