WWE Extreme Rules 2015: Biggest Takeaways from Latest PPV Event
Sometimes, WWE can settle into a post-WrestleMania lull and only wake up around SummerSlam. But based on the strength of Extreme Rules, that certainly doesn't seem to be the case for 2015.
A strong pay-per-view showing is a great way to kick things into gear, and coming out of Extreme Rules, there are certainly a host of goings-on for fans to sink their teeth into. Sunday's event was anything but throwaway, and that bodes well for the build to Payback in May.
However, now is the time to reflect on what we learned from Extreme Rules. Here are the biggest takeaways from the 2015 edition of the pay-per-view.
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The New Day Has Dawned
The success of The New Day has been in question ever since its debut, but at Extreme Rules, the trio finally settled the score with any remaining doubters.
Whether the group's recent change of attitude was always the intention or a last-minute audible, the fact is that it worked. Muted responses have given way to choruses of boos and jeers, and the trio's members are each very capable of responding to the crowd in the moment.
An excellent tag team match saw them capture the titles, and you can expect plenty more where that came from over the course of their reign. The Freebird Rule would give their matches an interesting group dynamic, as each man has their own individual strengths between the ropes.
With that said, Xavier Woods might be best left on the outside of the ring.
He's established himself as a top-tier mouthpiece for The New Day and his performance on Sunday was pitch-perfect. Whether he was interacting with the crowd or receiving a beatdown from Natalya and Tyson Kidd, he did it with aplomb.
With ample in-ring talent and its characterization coming along with every appearance, there's no ceiling on the success that The New Day can accumulate. It's an ideal team to build the tag team division around.
The question is, what's next? A rematch with Cesaro and Tyson Kidd seems likely, but after that there are several intriguing possibilities for feuds. Here's hoping we see The New Day meet The Lucha Dragons to show off what both teams are capable of.
Cage Matches Need to Be Reworked
There was a time when a cage match meant two competitors would be contained within a structure until one had prevailed over the other. Now, not so much.
Cage doors swing open so freely that you wonder why WWE would even bother setting up the apparatus—and the fact that exiting through the door counts as a win still fails to satisfy when compared to the classics of the genre.
The stipulation has been abused for too long and at present rarely offers up anything more than a shenanigan-laden finish to a pay-per-view. It can still be saved, but it'll need to rest up for a while before that happens.
The cage needs the same treatment Sheamus has just benefited from.
Keep it out of the public eye for a while, then bring it back with a better focus on its strengths. As a prop, it's a powerful storytelling tool—but when audiences expect to see interference and a limp finish, it loses its mystique.
Randy Orton and Seth Rollins had a fine match at Extreme Rules, but it seemed that they were working against the cage rather than having a stipulation work alongside them.
WWE could easily rehab the cage match. All it needs is a little bit of time and effort.
Roman Reigns Can Still Reach the Top
It's becoming clear that a loss at WrestleMania 31 likely did more for Roman Reigns' career in the long term than a win would have.
The rocket strapped to Reigns served its purpose—it established Rollins as a bona fide main eventer—but thankfully, it didn't burn the Juggernaut up in the process. Now, Reigns can make a more measured climb up the card.
Few would have expected much from Reigns vs. Big Show at Extreme Rules, particularly given the frequently disappointing Last Man Standing stipulation. The bout seemed like a bathroom break in the making, but it turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.
It wasn't a technical classic and didn't tell a particularly nuanced story—it just gave the crowd everything it was looking for.
Furthermore, it was another lengthy singles match on pay-per-view to continue developing Reigns both in and out of storyline.
The story behind Reigns' backlash over the course of WrestleMania season wasn't based around him as a performer—it was the fact that he didn't earn his spot post-Shield. The groundwork that is being laid now will see him flourish further down the line.
What are your thoughts in the wake of Extreme Rules? Let us know about them in the comments section below.
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