WWE Extreme Rules 2016 Results: Worst Booking Decisions from PPV

WWE Extreme Rules 2016 gave fans a lot to cheer about—a well-crafted heavyweight title bout between Roman Reigns and AJ Styles, a stellar match for the intercontinental belt and Seth Rollins' triumphant return to the ring. 

But there were other moments that made the WWE Universe collectively scratch its head and wonder what WWE Creative was thinking. 

Chief among them was the decision to allow Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho to slog through a 26-minute Asylum match after The Miz, Cesaro, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens stole the show. 

In the days leading up to this match, there was some tempered anticipation. Bleacher Report's Erik Beaston wrote that "given the talent of the two Superstars involved and the creativity that both men possess, there is a high likelihood that the match will be suitably awesome."

Oops. 

It took only 18 minutes for fans, including Justin LaBar of Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, to go from this:

To this:

What LaBar and the rest of the WWE Universe didn't know was that WWE had another eight minutes of nonsense in store.

As Bleacher Report's Ryan Dilbert wrote after the match, the bout was slow, painful to watch, silly and did more to hurt Ambrose than move him forward: "Rather than give Ambrose momentum, this bout sets him back. The stink will take a long time to go away."

Contrast that match to its predecessor on the card. The Fatal 4-Way match for the Intercontinental Championship was fast-paced and filled with highlights, even for an 18-minute match. Fans were on the edge of their seats the entire time, wondering what would happen next. 

The Asylum match couldn't compete. Sure, the part with the tacks was hardcore and unexpected. But it was too little, too late. By then, many fans had tuned out and were ready to move on. 

Charlotte Can't Win on Her Own

Heading into Extreme Rules, the smart money would have been on one of two outcomes in the WWE Women's Championship match: Either Charlotte would successfully defend her title without help from her father, Ric Flair, or The Nature Boy would wind up costing his daughter the match and the belt. 

No one expected this third option: Insert Dana Brooke into the equation and make Charlotte look even weaker as a champion.

WWE could have used Extreme Rules to strengthen the storylines in the women's division. A clean win would have set Charlotte up as an undisputed force in women's wrestling. A win thanks to her father could have opened up the entire division, giving everyone—Sasha Banks, Paige, even Brooke—a chance to shine. 

A dirty finish with Brooke aligning with the women's champ was a head-scratcher. WWE could have accomplished the same thing—generating heat for Brooke—by having Brooke attack Natalya post-match. WWE Creative moved the division a step back instead of forward at Extreme Rules. 

The fallout on Monday night didn't do this story any favors, either. Not only was there no explanation for Brooke's involvement, but Charlotte dispensed of her father, unceremoniously sending him packing.

Charlotte is still the women's champion and a top heel, but WWE missed the boat on every aspect of this angle.