An advertisement aired, promoting a special episode of the Limited Series Event - 'The Undertaker: The Last Ride'. For over three decades, "the Deadman" had countless iconic stories to tell, and would share some of the most historic in "Tales from The Deadman". Narrated by Timothy Olyphant, it would premiere this Sunday immediately following the Horror Show at Extreme Rules, exclusively on the WWE Network.
Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Christian recapped the ongoing saga between Randy Orton and Bobby Lashley, which all started when "the Viper" felt that Lashley was taking advantage of his partnership one month ago. A series of replays documented the RKO which started it all, and how the hostilities between the two typical rulebreakers led to "the Apex Predator" stealing the Money in the Bank briefcase from Lashley! Bobby would go as far as to chase Orton out of the WWE Performance Center parking lot - but six nights ago on Monday Night RAW would see Lashley regain possession of the briefcase, only to see that Orton had escaped not just by the skin of his teeth! With the contract concealed in his trunks, Orton maintained and had desecrated the key to the kingdom which Lashley seeked.
Following their verbal disagreement backstage earlier tonight, MVP and Lana led the way for "the All Mighty". With a scowl on his face, the determined Bobby Lashley brooded momentarily on the stage before throwing his arms outstretched from a cross-armed position. In black tights with white designs, the Money in the Bank briefcase holder held the physical case in hand - but lacked the contract which belonged inside. Pacing the ring, Lashley kissed his wife and fist-bumped his advisor, with a look of ferociousness. Lashley looked to not only regain possession of the contract stolen from him, but to get revenge on "the Viper".
The cheers of the crowd continued, with the WWE Universe divided between the two unpopular animals. Randy Orton took a slow strut out to the stage, side-eyeing "the All Mighty" with an all-knowing grin. Walking down to the ring in black trunks with a red outline on the pattern, "the Viper" sported a sleeveless hoody on top of it, as he refused to take his eyes off of the patiently waiting Bobby Lashley. Biding his time climbing into the ring, the methodical "Viper" slowly stepped through the ropes and climbed up to the second rope to salute the people, with his signature pose.
4) Money in the Bank Contract - No Holds Barred Match
Bobby Lashley (with Lana and MVP) vs Randy Orton
The two warriors prepared for the No Holds Barred match to begin in their respective corners, but as the bell sounded and an intense Bobby Lashley sneered across the ring, "the Apex Predator" would uncharacteristically demand Lashley pause in his sights! Reaching into the confounds of his trunks, Orton would unscrunch the Money in the Bank contract belonging to his opponent. Finally taking things one step too far, Lashley could not control his temper any further - immediately rushing Orton out to the floor! "The Viper" knew exactly what he was doing, escaping Lashley's wrath only for him to follow outside. Around the ringside area the two went, with Lashley chasing Orton to the top of the rampway! MVP was the herder to try and restrain his man, as Lana joined "the Franchise Player" to help calm her husband's nerves. Orton grinned from the top of the rampway, as Lashley returned inside and challenged Randy to come back in. Talking smack all his way down to the ring, Orton bided his sweet time. He would briskly take his eye off his opponent to converse with MVP at ringside - allowing Lashley to bring Orton in the hard way from the apron!
Bobby Lashley delivered a biel throw sending Randy Orton across the ring with his power, soon sandwiching him in the corner with two huge clotheslines! "The Apex Predator" had made a crucial mistake and was now paying the price, when Lashley clashed Orton with a discus back elbow into a third furious clothesline! Orton tried to escape, only to have "the All Mighty" grab him by the rear of his trunks. Sweeping him back into the ring by the ankle, a crossbody would take him out to the apron! Lana and MVP watched with pleasure, as "the Viper" defensively tried to fight Bobby blow-for-blow from the apron. Lashley was able to outwit him with a rope-hung stunner, running Randy throat-first over the top rope! To the floor he went, and Bobby hoped to make short work of his enemy with a fireman's carry into the LED ring post. Orton was able to slip out of it and sent Bob in face-first; following two more times in succession! Buying himself some breathing space, Orton knelt beside Lashley and began to rain down with clenched fists. All legal in No Holds Barred, Randy would stop to run MVP off, before ducking an inbound Bobby and delivering a scoop powerslam on the floor!
Hurling the heavyweight into the ring, Randy Orton stalked Bobby Lashley from the corner before delivering a soccer kick to the ribcage. Once again kneeling beside him to deliver a series of right hands levelling the Money in the Bank winner, a knee drop was executed expertly for the first cover attempt of the match. "The Viper" began to kneel beside the recovering Bobby Lashley, further antagonizing him with insults and smack talk. A driving elbow strike across the back of Bobby dropped him to the mat once more, when the methodical pace of match Orton was infamous for became apparent. Orton bided his time to exchange words with Lana, but noticed her groggy husband slowly ascend in the corner. Noticing immediately and delivering a series of mudhole stomps, Orton used a European uppercut - but Lashley absorbed it! A second saw Lashley begin to seeth, and a third saw "the All Mighty" block it only to drive Orton into the second turnbuckle with a flatliner! With a rushing spear in the corner, Lashley hoisted Orton up with ease using a stalling suplex for a near fall.
With his wife and close confidante at ringside cheering him on, Bobby Lashley delivered a running corner punch to "the Viper". From corner to corner, "the All Mighty" impacted Randy Orton before a Yokosuka cutter drove him into the canvas! Orton possessed the power to kick out, and roll away. As the Money in the Bank winner turned to look to MVP and Lana for advice, he would heed their words and leave the ring for the floor. He would stalk Orton to his feet from the opposite side of the ringside area - but Orton would sidestep the Spear! Going head-first through the plexiglass wall, Lashley bricked it to the concrete floor below - amidst the WWE Universe! The people had no idea what to make of it, as a concerned Lana rushed to the aid of her lover. "Holy sh*t" chants echoed throughout the WWE Performance Center, as a dazed "Viper" used the steel steps to bring himself back to his feet. As the select audience of audience members in facial coverings stood back, Orton reached over at the semi-conscious Lashley and dragged his carcass back over the barricade to the ringside mat.
With a newfound confidence, Randy Orton smiled as he continued to trash talk Bobby Lashley. Rolling him into the ring, "the Viper" made the cover, making direct eye contact with a disturbed Lana - yet her husband would kick out at two! Discontent, Orton urged his enemy's wife to urge him to throw in the towel while he could. Delivering a further series of methodical stomps, each targeting a limb, "the Apex Predator" looked to make short work of "the All Mighty". Lashley wisely began to roll out to face his wife, who appeared mortified. Orton would follow suit slipping outside. After some more words exchanged with MVP, Orton told Lana he had warned her - before drilling Lashley face-first on the ringside floor with the draping DDT! Screaming with concern, Lana knelt beside her husband only to be fled from the scene by the cold-hearted "Viper". Orton again rolled Lashley inside, but again he would show fight - kicking out at two! Mildly annoying Orton, he instructed Lashley's wife one last time to urge him to surrender and be done with this beating. Kneeling across the ring from him, Orton would pound his fists against the mat.
Coming to his feet, Bobby Lashley did not appear with it whilst Randy Orton stalked for an RKO. Yet he would be cut off by MVP slipping into the ring: "the Franchise Player" being struck with an RKO! Taking the bullet for "the All Mighty", the WWE Performance Center was stunned by the self-sacrificial stunt - when Bobby Lashley caught Orton by surprise with a spinebuster! Taking his time to recover, Lashley followed Orton to the ringside floor where he would send him crashing into the steel steps. With clenched fists of his own, the Money in the Bank winner similarly sent Orton sailing into the barricade. Inbound and on the attack, Orton responded with a back elbow before rushing Lashley - only to be sent overhead with a back body drop on top of the steel steps! In agony, "the Viper" was tossed back into the ring for the Dominator to go executed. With the pin made, Orton was barely able to get his shoulder up! In disarray, Lashley shook his head in frustration. Lana knelt up onto the ring apron and urged Lashley to put his enemy away and have this situation done with, but as the Spear was in motion, Orton delivered the RKO!
Grinning from ear to ear, Randy Orton told Bobby Lashley he had to be stupid, as he hooked the leg. Unexpectedly, Lana of all people broke up the count! Doing her own part for her husband, she drove her fists into the back of "the Apex Predator", who scowled back at her unaffected. Coming to their feet, Randy began to intimidate "the All Mighty's" wife - stepping towards her and backing her into the corner. As she hoped to escape to the floor, Orton grabbed the blonde by the hair - a defenceless woman endangered! Orton told Lana he had warned her to get her husband to quit while he could: when from behind saw MVP drive the Money in the Bank briefcase into the back of Orton's head! Randy went down in a daze as a Drive-By Kick stunned him - and the Spear ran down "the Viper" for the three count!
Winner: Bobby Lashley (17:49)
When the dust settled, "the All Mighty" got revenge against the treacherous "Viper". With his fists raised high, Bobby Lashley appeared breathless in recovery against Randy Orton. A hard-fought battle had seen Lashley go all-out against his enemy, as Lana rushed to her man. With a cuddle and a smooch, she showed nothing but love and affection to him when MVP joined the two. For once on the same page, the Money in the Bank winner hugged Team Lashley and raised the Money in the Bank briefcase high! Orton remained in a daze as the referee was about to reissue Lashley with the contract he had defended and earned successfully - when "the Viper" drilled him with an RKO! Escaping in one foul swoop with the contract, Orton sniveled in a dazed state, parading the document high in the air. Even though he had lost the battle, "the Apex Predator" was determined to win the war - still holding possession!
Stirring the Pot
Sasha Banks stood in the hallway prepared for the Fatal 4-Way match for the SmackDown Women's Championship. Without Bayley and Tamina, "the Legit Boss" was approached by Alexa Bliss. "Little Miss Bliss" wanted to let Sasha know how truly terrible it has been having to deal with her for the past countless months. Alexa regarded her and Bayley's reign of terror as being atrocious, but Sasha scoffed - the same could be said about Bliss and Nikki Cross's tandem. 'A Moment of Bliss' getting air time on FOX was the worst thing to ever hit the network! Bliss giggled, inferring her opinion was not shared by many other people. Alexa hoped Sasha would be more than "Bayley 2 Belts'" whipping girl tonight. She was far more than a number two in her eyes, though Banks questioned who considered her that. Stirring the pot, Bliss claimed she overheard Bayley say that to someone in catering! Sasha's jaw dropped, yet she would deny her BFF would ever say such a thing. Bliss brought up Bayley stealing the spotlight from her at WrestleMania, and was concerned the same might happen tonight. Even then, it was a nonfactor once "the Goddess" wore gold around her own waist once again!
☰☰☰
From the A-List to the Z-List
Returning to the Hollywood Backlot Brawl, the Miz was seen with his shirt torn open and still wiping cake icing from his body following the attack at the previous study. Parked up outside of a studio in the Los Angeles heat, "the A-Lister" caught a glimpse of himself in the rear view mirror of the caddy he had hijacked minutes earlier. Disgusted and disturbed by what he saw, he ranted about what John Morrison had done to him - he was the most must-see talent in WWE, reduced to a joke! Talking to nobody but himself, the star of USA Network's 'Miz and Mrs.' blew a gasket, when all of a sudden he heard a horn in the distance. Behind him came John Morrison from the top of a second transportation cart, catching Miz with a diving crossbody! With more shots rained down, "the Guru of Greatness" had come back for more of the Miz, who shoved him off. Kicking him low, Miz looked to deliver a DDT on the concrete floor when Morrison fought free of it. The Moonlight Drive was teased, until Miz was able to catch him with a low blow! Removing his shirt, Miz would choke JoMo with it as he talked trash about him riding his coattails for years.
Reiterating how he never once needed John Morrison's help, "the Shaman of Sexy" maintained he wasn't giving the Miz help - apart from "getting over" in the year 2020! Offended, the reality television sensation clubbed Morrison before dragging him to the cart. Shoving down the driver, "the A-Lister" had bad intentions for Morrison as he hopped into his caddy. With his longtime tag team partner in sight, Miz planned to crash the two carts - when luckily, Morrison dove out of the other side of the vehicle! Miz crashed into it, flipping the cart on its' side. Morrison clubbed and kicked at the body of "the Awesome One" as he tried to get back up, soon taking him for a ride over to a toll booth. Miz would turn it around and launch Morrison on a crash course with the toll bar, but the agility of "the Guru of Greatness" enabled him to vault it perfectly. Using the bar on the rebound with a low dropkick, Miz would deliver a toe kick before inexplicably sending Morrison in through the window of the booth! Miz slammed down the window, hoping to lock Morrison inside - when up walked an angry security guard holding a cup of coffee.
Angry at what the Miz and John Morrison were doing to his toll booth, the security guard admonished "the A-Lister's" behavior, who finally stood up for himself. Maintaining that he was a reality television sensation, a Hollywood movie star and a talk show God, the guard demanded to know what was so different between Miz and any of the other stars who walked through his gate! Miz demanded respect, when the guard decided to call for back-up. The half-dressed "Awesome One" continued to rant, turning beet-red, about the problem with law enforcement these days. This tirade would see the guard lose his patience and finally reveal a tazer from his belt! Buzzing it in Miz's direction, he decided to run a mile. Meanwhile, Morrison would slowly rise from the toll booth and thank "Chuck" for keeping Miz busy. The two fist-bumped as Chuck hoped John would still attend his kid's ninth birthday party next Tuesday, to which he concurred - once he was done with Miz. As John darted after his rival, he would be stopped in his tracks by none other than a group of ninjas in plainview! Refusing to back down, despite being surrounded, "the Guru of Greatness" dared them to bring it on.
While tensions escalated on the Hollywood Backlot Brawl, the WWE Performance Center would come to their feet once SmackDown ring announcer Greg Hamilton declared the following contest as being for the SmackDown Women's Championship. Nikki Cross made her way out to the ring first, as energetic as ever. In a purple, black and white shirt with black trousers, the quirky and slightly unhinged "Naughty Nikki" slid into the ring poised to walk out with the gold that had eluded her for her entire career thus far. Signalling the title around her waist, a replay would air from last month on Friday Night SmackDown showing Nikki and Alexa Bliss scoring a double pinfall on the champion Bayley. A follow-up replay would show the events of one week later - where Bayley stole the win in a Triple Threat match for her title.
Following her frank conversation with Alexa Bliss, alarms had to be ringing in the mind of one-half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks. Sporting a red leather jacket with matching red and gold gear with the title around her waist, "the Legit Boss" swaggered out to the stage with her knuckle rings spelling out "Blue Print". One had to wonder whether the comments made by "Little Miss Bliss" had resonated with Sasha, but she would climb into the ring swaying side to side before having a war of words with Nikki Cross. Would tonight be the night "the Boss" became "Sasha 2 Belts?"
Alexa Bliss came next, sporting black with pink trim gear. The host of 'A Moment of Bliss' greeted the WWE Universe affirmatively, before smiling towards the ring at Sasha Banks. "Little Miss Bliss" had her bleach blonde hair with dip-dye pink tips tied in bunches for what was sure to be an earnest pursuit of the SmackDown Women's Championship, after it was stolen from she and Nikki Cross three weeks ago. Slipping onto the apron, Bliss looked back at her fellow challengers, gesturing that Bayley's gold would be hers - before hugging her BFF Nikki Cross. All the while however, "Naughty Nikki" had a certain look in her eye suggesting this match would be every woman for herself.
Finally, the woman of the hour arrived. The SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley indulged in the negative response from the WWE Performance Center as she stalled on the rampway, removing the gold from around her waist and raising it high. In blue and silver, "Bayley 2 Belts" wore the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship over her other shoulder. Dripping with gold, Bayley looked ahead at the ring and saw Nikki Cross, Alexa Bliss and even Sasha Banks looking back at her. Sliding into the ring feet-first, "the Boss 'n' Hug Connection" hugged Sasha similar to Alexa and Nikki moments earlier, but there appeared to be no glimmers of tension between the champions - yet. Greg Hamilton provided formal in-ring introductions.
5) SmackDown Women's Championship - Fatal 4-Way Match
WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Bayley (c) vs Alexa Bliss
vs Nikki Cross vs WWE Women's Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks
The bell sounded, when Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross delivered on their strategy by looking to target the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions! While a Fatal 4-Way in match rules, this exchange resembled a Texas Tornado tag team match as Bayley and Sasha Banks tried to contend with the respective onslaught of "Little Miss Bliss" and "Naughty Nikki". Bayley was sent to the floor by Bliss, while Nikki would get the better of Sasha with a series of corner clotheslines. Sending "the Legit Boss" in for a Lou Thesz press from Bliss, the former champs had the SmackDown Women's Champion already fearful for her reign, as the odd couple stomped a cohesive mudhole into Sasha in the corner. Bayley teased coming in, drawing the attention of "the Psychotic Scot", momentarily allowing Sasha to use the top rope as momentum to deliver a double knee lift to Bliss. An enzuigiri dazed Cross, and in came "Bayley 2 Belts" freely. Swaggering in, "the Boss 'n' Hug Connection" hugged it out once more to loud boos from the WWE Performance Center. Taking the fight to Alexa and Nikki in their respective corners, Sasha forced her knee into the face of "the Goddess" while Bayley planted Cross with a powerbomb from out of the bottom corner.
"Bayley 2 Belts'" expression had changed tremendously, as now she and Sasha Banks worked to take out Alexa Bliss with a double clothesline off the ropes. A double back suplex saw "the Goddess" planted on her face, when "the Legit Boss" executed Rent Due: the somersault codebreaker delivered, as Bayley held Bliss in place! The BFFs were in full swing of this match, when the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions were driven into the mat by a diving crossbody from the re-emerging Nikki Cross! With a battering ram in the corner for Banks, "Bayley 2 Belts" would be body slammed right on top of "the Legit Boss" for a near fall. "Naughty Nikki" screamed out to the WWE Universe this was her time, and a northern lights suplex to the SmackDown Women's Champion saw Bayley bridge out of it! As the two women jockeyed back-to-back, Nikki's strength saw a backslide garner a near fall, when Bayley span her out into a sunset flip. Reversed into a roll-up at the count of one, both women reset on their feet with Nikki scoring a takedown and bridging lengthways over Bayley - just for a scissored armbar to go applied! Alexa Bliss was quick to involve herself with the Insult to Injury, but Sasha would break the count.
Taking Nikki Cross by the hand, Sasha Banks would zip to the top rope, coming off with a springboard spinning headscissors! "The Legit Boss" followed with the running knees to Alexa Bliss in the corner, before the Backstabber was attempted - blocked by "Naughty Nikki" clutching the top rope. Cross executed a hangman's neckbreaker for the cover, until Bayley broke it up with a sliding clothesline! It was all action as Bayley put the boots to "the Goddess" when the Rose Plant was attempted, just for Bliss to deliver a hair-pull backbreaker followed by an STO. The cover was made, but Nikki dragged her partner from the count! The WWE Universe wowed, as Alexa and Nikki exchanged a few words. Circling the ring, the BFFs prepared to get it on with the SmackDown Women's Championship at stake, when Sasha Banks came flying from the top rope with the Meteora! Sending Bliss shoulder-first into the ring post, Banks would drive the double knees across the spine of "Little Miss Bliss" in the corner. Cross came in with the Samoan driver, before heading to the top rope. Looking for the diving headbutt, Banks narrowly rolled out of the way! In snuck Bayley for the cover - but Sasha dragged her partner from the pin!
The WWE Universe were abuzz as the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions prepared to fight with "Bayley 2 Belts'" own title at stake. With her best poker face on, Bayley braced for collision with "the Legit Boss" - but herself and Sasha Banks would swerve the entire WWE Performance Center by instead putting the boots to an outnumbered and vulnerable Nikki Cross to boos! Sasha planted Cross with Three Amigos, paying homage to Eddie Guerrero, as Bayley ascended to the top rope and paid homage to "Macho Man" Randy Savage - the diving elbow drop connecting! The champ hooked the leg, but Sasha would shove her partner off. Twice was enough as far as "the Boss" was concerned, quickly covering Nikki herself after a few words. Bayley pushed her BFF from "Naughty Nikki", yelling that she had no idea what this would do to their friendship! "The Boss 'n' Hug Connection" exchanged glares, before ultimately trading right hands! The building erupted, with Sasha fighting Bayley into the corner with right hands. Bayley fought out and attempted the Bayley-to-Belly, just for Sasha to block it and connect with the codebreaker. The Bank Statement was trialled, but Bayley reversed into a double-leg hook.
Resetting on their feet, "the Boss 'n' Hug Connection" continued to collide, with Bayley's attempt at the Rose Plant going reversed into a suplex from "the Legit Boss!" Sasha Banks imitated "Latino Heat" as she headed north for the top rope. With the Frog Splash in mind, Bayley would crotch her best friend on the top rope. Climbing up there, she would look to deliver a superplex when Alexa Bliss involved herself. Ascending to the second rope, she joined the party by duelling with both Bayley and Alexa. So much was at stake, including the health of these four women, once Nikki Cross joined the fray! With the SmackDown Women's Championship on the line, "Naughty Nikki" delivered a double powerbomb bringing both Alexa and Sasha from the second rope - subsequently bringing Bayley superplexed from the top rope! The Tower of Doom elicited a big reaction from the WWE Universe, and Nikki would cover "Bayley 2 Belts" for a close near fall! Moving on to Sasha, another near fall was garnered. Cross had plans to finish this and picked Sasha up to plant her with the Whiplash, but Bliss intercepted the count with a DDT for her own tag partner!
Alexa Bliss attempted to go for the pinfall on Nikki Cross, when the SmackDown Women's Champion executed a sunset flip bomb driving "the Goddess" into the corner! Bayley followed with the exploder suplex, but her pin went broken by "the Psychotic Scot". Nikki attempted the Whiplash again, when the Rose Plant drilled her out of nowhere! Bayley covered, but Sasha Banks again involved herself with the decision, pulling her partner off. Another face-off between the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions saw the two argue once again, when Alexa dove from the top rope with a missile dropkick for both women. Code Red dropped Bayley for a near fall, when the SmackDown Women's Champion reversed into a roll-up for a one-count. Sasha interrupted and would lock in the Bank Statement on "Little Miss Bliss" - the title of her best friend at stake! Bliss tried her mightiest to fight out, reversed briefly into an Infinite Roll variation, just for Banks to reverse back into the Bank Statement clamped down! Behind her, "Naughty Nikki" attempted a fisherman suplex just for Bayley to get a roll-up. As Banks doubled down on the hold, Bayley rolled Cross up with a handful of tights - moments before Bliss tapped out!
Winner, and still SmackDown Women's Champion: Bayley (12:42)
"The Legit Boss" thought she had the match won, as she threw her hands into the air and began to celebrate. Sasha Banks was astonished she was able to make Alexa Bliss tap to the Bank Statement, though behind her Bayley would excitedly force the referee to raise her hand. Retaining the SmackDown Women's Championship, Sasha thought she had captured it... only to turn around and witness "Bayley 2 Belts" victorious. As the official handed her the title, Bayley threw it down and pleaded with Sasha that it was just one big misunderstanding. Soon hoping to celebrate alongside her partner-in-crime, her fellow WWE Women's Tag Team Champion refused to allow Bayley to raise her hand. Instead, the champ was left standing alone in the ring once Banks walked out on her. Was this the beginning of the end of "the Boss 'n' Hug Connection?"
Earlier today, footage aired showing the WWE World Champion Drew McIntyre arrive at the WWE Performance Center. He had been present at the building all day, surely preparing for the Three Stages of Hell endurance test of a lifetime against AJ Styles, in tonight's main event.
No Funny Business
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson bantered in the O.C.'s dressing room, talking about the night the trio had planned once "Phenomenal Hoot" left as the new WWE World Champion. KA warned "the Big LG" he didn't want any strippers, claiming that his Hot Wife wasn't thrilled about what happened Independence Day weekend. In walked AJ Styles, who was complimented by his cohorts. "The Phenomenal One" grinned as "the Good Brothers" peppered him with praise, though AJ was insistent that he could do this alone. This wasn't like Osaka in 2015, like Dallas last year; or even the Boneyard match at WrestleMania. Thanking Gallows and Anderson for all the support, he knew how good he was - and knew he could beat Drew McIntyre. His buddies knew AJ was great, but with a wink and a nudge, they assured him there would be no funny business. Styles saw through their charade, not wanting either of them to lose their jobs - they all knew what the contract read. The pair understood, as AJ declared tonight was the night he became a three-time WWE World Champion. The three threw a Too Sweet to celebrate in advance.
Following discussion from Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Christian ahead of the bizarre stipulation match to follow - a video package took a look back on the heated rivalry between the two so-called "Blood Brothers". The frequent attempts made by Seth Rollins to recruit the dark and satanic Aleister Black to his Church of Disciples had incensed "the Anti-Hero", and after a major loss suffered at Money in the Bank, "the Monday Night Messiah" snapped the following night on Monday Night RAW. Ramming Black eye-first into the sharp edge corner of the steel steps, everybody believed that Aleister's days as a WWE Superstar were over. Weeks of cryptic messages would see Aleister gatecrash his own funeral orchestrated by "the Messiah", and out for revenge, the blindfolded man from Amsterdam would reveal the dark and freaky bruising caused by the eye assault from months prior. Out for revenge, "the Appropriator of Habit" was determined to give his "Blood Brother" a receipt of a lifetime. In the horrifying Eye for an Eye match, tonight two world-class athletes would duel it out...until one man lost an eye.
The WWE Performance Center fell into silence once the choir hymn of "the Monday Night Messiah" kicked in. Out walked Seth Rollins in a white robe and red tights. With "In Rollins We Trust" emblems on his tights, the self-absorbed leader of his own Church had shockingly decided to come to the ring alone ahead of this first for the WWE. The stained glass portrait of "the Messiah" himself lit up the big screen behind him, as Seth bided his time in climbing through the ropes and saluting his followers. Would this be the last time, or just business as usual for the former WWE Universal Champion?
Without warning the building fell in darkness, as the opening guitar riff played to prepare the WWE Universe for what would come next. As Incendiary's "Root of All Evil" rang throughout the WWE Performance Center, the creaking of the elevator saw Aleister Black raise to a vertical position from the smoke beneath. In sleeveless black denim with a pair of leather trunks, and a black towel concealing his face, "the Appropriator of Habit" had risen at the Horror Show at Extreme Rules. With his bruised eye still black yet smaller, finally normality was seeing his cursed injury recover - as Black crept down the rampway. His hands clasped together in prayer, "the Anti-Hero" glared upwards towards his so-called "Blood Brother". With a forward roll over the middle rope he would land cross-legged in the ring, to see Seth take a walk out to the floor. Biding his own time, Rollins ran his mouth as Black brooded in anticipation for this bout's beginning.
6) An Eye For An Eye Match
Seth Rollins vs Aleister Black
"The Monday Night Messiah" smiled upon seeing his "Blood Brother" sneering back at him. As Aleister Black threw off his jacket, Seth Rollins confidently climbed through the ropes. Going face to face, Seth continued to look Aleister in the face when he fired back with a rapid succession of kicks! Against the ropes, Black fired with his educated feet, striking both hamstrings of his antagonist. Seth tried to fight back with a right hand, just for an Irish whip to launch him across the ring. Seth would turn it around, but Black came back from the ropes with a low dropkick! Hitting the ropes again with a second low dropkick to the side of the temple. Black continued to use his feet to effective use, striking Rollins as he knelt against the ropes for support. With body blows, the leader of the Church tried to get back into the fight. He attempted a suplex, just for Black to send him out to the apron. Seth attempted to shoulder thrust him through the ropes - just for Aleister to sidestep it and deliver another thrust kick to the chest! Aleister again attempted to suplex Seth, just for him to rake the eyes. A springboard took Seth airborne - only to go caught in mid-air with another kick to the chest!
"The Appropriator of Habit" was proving why they called him just that, as the WWE Universe cheered him on. Yet with no pinfalls or submissions, the only way to leave this match was to remove the eye of his adversary! Aleister Black stood on the back of Seth Rollins' skull with the sole of his boot, wedging him against the canvas. "The Monday Night Messiah" would let out a cry as Black reached with his fingers for the eyes of Seth just for him to kick out of desperation. Black again targeted the eye with his hands, when Seth responded with a low side kick to the leg. A super kick levelled "the Anti-Hero", taking him out to the apron where Seth followed suit with an apron DDT! Both men crumpled to the floor, as the leader of the Church attempted to gouge the bruised eye with Black on his knees, when a snapmare saw Aleister throw him overhead. Rollins attempted a go-behind, when a snap suplex took Rollins across the ringside floor! Looking to ram Seth's face into the corner of the steel steps much like his "Blood Brother" had done to him two months ago, Seth was able to elbow free and buy some breathing room.
Aleister Black followed, but Seth Rollins would duck for cover behind a ring post - before jumping out and catching Black with a reverse STO into steel steps the other side of the ringside area! "The Appropriator of Habit" covered his eye in pain, as "the Messiah" followed suit driving Black's face into the steps' surface two times over. Aleister wrestled for his life as Seth hoped to drive Black's eye into the steel steps, though Black battled back with a rear headbutt to the face. Seth covered his own face now, when Black climbed to the apron and delivered a springboard moonsault wiping out Rollins! Landing on his own feet, "the Ominous Man from Amsterdam" grabbed a steel chair from under the ring. Rollins narrowly avoided decapitation as Black's chair swing struck the ring post, and Rollins would respond with the use of the ring bell hammer from the timekeeper's table! Swinging it at the back of Black's leg, "the Monday Night Messiah" plotted to equalize the educated feet of his "Blood Brother", before looking to use the point to extract his eye! Black struggled and screamed, though Seth declared not at this time.
"The Monday Night Messiah" posed to the booing WWE Universe in attendance, when Aleister Black hobbled to his feet and was able to get in a series of right hands. Rollins kicked the weakened leg for the advantage, before rolling his foe into the ring. Searching beneath the ring, the leader of the Church would toss in a toolbox before slipping in after "the Anti-Hero". With evil intentions, Seth emptied the contents and proceeded to find a screwdriver. With Black in the corner, "the Messiah" tried to dig it into the eye, when Black fought free and responded with a German suplex! A jumping knee strike knocked Seth silly in the corner, and the Iron Octopus went applied. Yet as Seth squirmed in the stretch, Black would use his free hand to take the screwdriver and hope to dig it into the eye of "the Messiah!" Out of desperation a low blow would see him go free, when the Sling Blade took Black down. Rolling out to the floor, Seth picked up the steel chair from earlier and looked to decapitate "the Appropriator of Habit!" Slamming it down across Black's spine, Seth howled with laughter as he delivered a second shot in the corner.
Bringing him to the top rope, Seth Rollins picked back up the screwdriver and had Aleister Black cornered with nowhere to turn. "The Monday Night Messiah" trapped his adversary with the screwdriver being fought by "the Appropriator of Habit". Mercifully with a headbutt, Black would land on his feet from a superplex attempt! Using a forward roll, Black came back with an emerging dropkick sending Seth tumbling from the top rope out to the ringside floor. Without skipping a beat, "the Anti-Hero" hobbled with a triangle moonsault taking out Seth at ringside! Aleister continued to shake the pain from his leg, returning his opponent inside. Slipping inside after him however, Rollins would checkmate his "Blood Brother" with the Stomp! Scrambling to his feet, an exhausted Rollins picked up the steel chair and placed it in the lap of his rival. Ascending to the top rope of the corner parallel to Aleister, Seth looked to go Coast to Coast - but in taking the leap of faith, Black was able to not only get up: but launch the chair in the direction of Rollins! Catching his own breath, Black picked up the chair once again and began to kick away at the steel.
Able to break a piece of the steel away, a pipe was formed and Aleister Black caught up with him as Seth Rollins tried to scramble through the ropes! Gouging the eye with the thin spike formed from the steel chair, "the Anti-Hero" targeted "the Monday Night Messiah's" eye - when out came the cavalry! His loyalist Disciples rushed out to ringside, with Aleister forced to fight it out with the RAW Tag Team Champions Theory and Murphy! Black ducked a bicycle knee strike from "the Juggernaut" before taking him out with a high roundhouse kick. "A-Town Austin" attempted to drill Black with the ATL, but Black would break free and use a bicycle knee strike of his own. Aleister used his boot to drag Seth to his feet, but before the Black Mass could connect from behind came Akam with a swing of the steel chair to the spine! "The Equalizer" was out to save the day for Seth, as one-half of AOP would reach into the pocket of his pants and reveal...a fork! On behalf of the Church's fearless leader, Akam scraped the cheek of Black and attempted to force it into the eye of Black - just for Aleister to break out and spray black mist into the big man's face!
The Black Mass saw Akam tumble through the ropes to the floor, leaving Aleister Black to receive a low blow from "the Monday Night Messiah!" The Pedigree drove "the Appropriator of Habit" onto the steel chair face-first, and as Black rolled out to the ringside floor, the leader of the Church hesitated in rolling out to the floor. Knowing what he had to do in order to bring an end to this match, Seth climbed up to the apron and would deliver one final Stomp - driving his "Blood Brother" face-first onto the edge of the steel steps! The eye was disgustingly extracted from the skull of Aleister Black, and as the referee detected it on the ringside floor, he would call for the bell!
Winner: Seth Rollins (14:36)
"The Monday Night Messiah" could not live with what he had done, forced to vomit all over the ringside mat! Having extracted the eye of Aleister Black, the victory of Seth Rollins could not override the despicable stunt in which he had accomplished in this barbaric Eye For An Eye match! Surrounded by his followers, Theory, Murphy and Akam all joined Seth at ringside. Medics quickly rushed out to the ringside area to not only preserve the removed eyeball belonging to "the Appropriator of Habit", but to attend to him as quickly as possible. The Church celebrated at the top of the rampway as the black towel of "the Anti-Hero's" was propped over his head. Yet while Seth was the centerpiece of celebration, even "the Messiah" was certain to have repressed memories of this trauma-fuelled night.
An advertisement aired, promoting all of the WWE Championship titles available on WWEShop.com. "Become a Champion - Find What Fits You".
Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Christian recapped the grotesque scene from moments ago, where Seth Rollins extracted the eye of Aleister Black in the first ever Eye For An Eye match. After showing the replay of "the Appropriator of Habit" being helped up the rampway on his own two feet, with some assistance from the medics directing the way for him, the RAW broadcast team hoped to receive an update on Black's condition before the night was over.
Moving on to discuss the night behind them, the broadcast team provided a replay from earlier tonight on the Horror Show at Extreme Rules Kickoff Show. The RAW Tag Team Championships were at stake, as "the Monday Night Messiah's" Disciples Theory and Murphy put the gold on the line against the former champions, the Street Profits. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins were on the cusp of victory, when with a trip from Akam to Ang, the Church would retain the titles after putting Tez away.
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Kung Fu Fighting
Returning to the scene of conflict, John Morrison adopted a karate pose as he found himself surrounded by a group of ninjas. In head to toe wearing black, the head ninja dared "the Guru of Greatness" to bring it on! Suddenly the fight was on, with "Johnny Karate" coming out to give the seven attackers a fight scene to remember. Flying through the air with his parkour abilities, Morrison backflipped out of the way of danger before catching one ninja's hand and using it to chop another! Morrison pulled the mask over one ninja's eyes and proceeded to deliver a sequence straight out of the Street Fighter series, finally finding himself faced by the head ninja. Dramatic poses saw both find respect for one another, when the breakdancing side of JoMo came out to psych out and strike fear in his opponent. The two would charge with a dual leap, but following an unexplained explosion, the smoke would clear and "the Shaman of Sexy" would walk away without a scratch. Having defeated the group, he looked around and would spot the Miz escaping up a fire shoot! "The A-Lister" was in the process of mounting a building, using the ladder to escape JoMo. With an epic jump, Morrison continued to pursue his former tag team partner.
Following discussion from Michael Cole and Corey Graves, a video package aired providing context to the ongoing series of bizarre encounters between the WWE Universal Champion and the star of 'the Firefly Fun House'. While Jeff Hardy was enjoying a renaissance period in his career on top of the SmackDown Brand, his Ladder match victory against Sheamus at Backlash would go interrupted by the horrifying interruption of The Fiend. "The Eater of Worlds" informed "the Rainbow-Haired Warrior" that there was no hatred involved - that it was merely business - but what "the New Face of Fear" would do to Jeff was far beyond Bray's claims. Disparaging the champion's controversial past fuelled by addiction, Jeff refused to allow the monster to terrify another victim. Rather than be a sitting duck to the path of destruction in which the Fiend was capable of, Hardy would hit Fiend with everything in his arsenal. Yet with the Last Man Standing match approaching at the Horror Show at Extreme Rules, what would keep the Fiend down? How could Hardy keep down what seemed so indestructible, for the count of ten?
As Greg Hamilton stood in the center of the ring to begin the formal introductions for the Last Man Standing match to come, he would go interrupted quickly by the lighting in the WWE Performance Center going out bit by bit. Plunging the building into darkness, "Let Me In" by Code Orange rang out to the petrified faces of the WWE Universe in attendance. Biding his time, the leather jacket-wearing demon in red and black tights showed his traumatizing masked face. The Fiend walked with the lantern before him, taking a slow walk out to the ring ahead of this WWE Universal Championship opportunity. 143 days on from the last time he held the title in a losing effort to Goldberg at the Super ShowDown, "the New Face of Fear" looked to recapture what he felt belonged to him...when all of a sudden from the darkness came Jeff Hardy with a steel chair shot to the spine! Fiend barely budged, but "the Rainbow-Haired Warrior" would wallop his challenger repeatedly until he was down to a knee. Shirtless with orange and black facepaint on, the WWE Universal Champion knew what this was all about - and decided to strike first!
7) WWE Universal Championship - Last Man Standing Match
Jeff Hardy (c) vs The Fiend
Though Jeff Hardy was unsuccessful in rendering The Fiend unconscious in a steel chair burial two nights ago on Friday Night SmackDown on FOX, the WWE Universal Champion would swing once again with the chair to the spine! Even still, the psychotic monster grew back to his feet, howing with laughter behind the mask. Adorned in his own warpaint, the champ was taken aback but swung once more only to have his challenger punch the chair from his hands. The crazy side of "Brother Nero" was being revealed now, instead opting to rush the Fiend with a flurry of rights and lefts. Hardy was thrown off by him, but on a second attempt "the New Face of Fear" would dramatically catch Jeff with a brutal Uranage on the ring apron! The referee reluctantly decided to initiate the count, but the overbearing presence of the challenger saw Fiend look to inflict more pain and torment. Sending Hardy into the ring, the challenger slowly stepped onto the apron when Jeff used the bottom rope to surprise with a springboard dropkick! Following with a baseball slide, Hardy would hop back to the steel steps to attempt a vaulting crossbody only to go caught and body slammed on the floor!
The referee's count saw the Fiend once again trespass, picking Jeff Hardy up and dropping him with a northern lariat upside the back of the head. The WWE Universal Champion looked to crawl away from "the New Face of Fear", whose torment continued around the corner. Bringing him to his feet, a throat thrust uppercut stunned Hardy against the steel steps, when Jeff tried his earnest to fight back with right hands. Fiend would respond with a headbutt cutting Hardy's momentum dead! Finally taking a step back, the monster observed the official's count just for Hardy to rise back to his feet at the count of four. A stomp to the spine grounded Hardy, when the freak tugged at the champ's hair. Jeff was able to bat the gloved hands of the challenger away, and a drop toe hold sent Fiend into the ring post! A dropkick sandwiched his head against the post, when Jeff began to root around under the ring. Out came the steel chairs seen on SmackDown forty-eight hours ago, as Fiend found himself being buried beneath them! Jeff threw in some additional steel chair shots for good measure, but the referee's count would see his hand rise through the carnage!
Sitting up a la The Undertaker, "the New Face of Fear" struck with another throat thrust! The Fiend charged only for Jeff Hardy to send him into the ring apron, and upon slinging the challenger's body back into the ring, Jeff would take a steel chair and ascend to the top rope! A chair shot struck down the monster, dropping him to all fours, when a legdrop to the groin grounded the heinous beast. Placing the chair over Fiend's head, Hardy took things to the Extreme: delivering the Twist of Fate! The chair landed Fiend in a guillotined position atop the seat, and a low dropkick to the chair would knock the challenger down for the first time in this match! The referee's count started, but upon noticing him stirring with the chair wrapped like a necklace, Hardy raced to the outside. Bringing out a table, he would set it up in the corner before going over to bring Fiend in. The Mandible Claw was attempted, but an enzuigiri broke the fearsome death grip. Jeff made the mistake of recomposing near it, when Fiend suddenly pierced through the champ with a diving crossbody - driving him through the wood! Stumbling back to his feet, the monstrosity watched Jeff try his hardest to get back up.
Back up at the count of six, The Fiend clenched Jeff Hardy by the throat and glared deep into the WWE Universal Champion's soul. "The Charismatic Enigma" fearlessly spat in the face of his challenger, but another big lariat would see Hardy sent on the defensive to the floor. "The New Face of Fear" methodically stepped out through the ropes and would grab "Brother Nero" by the belt around his waist, when suddenly Hardy struck Fiend with none other than a tazer! Electrifying the challenger, it was the most damage done thus far to the foul beast! Groaning through the mask, he had no choice but to groggily drop to his knees. Hardy would follow immediately with the Reversal of Fate on the ringside floor! The count was on and Fiend was not budging an inch - until he sat up at the count of seven. Without a scratch, Fiend was bombarded upon growing back to his feet. "The Rainbow-Haired Warrior" returned to utilizing the steel chair, swinging wildly at the spine and shoulders of his opponent. Finally cracking him with a shot that would render Fiend motionless on top of the announce table, Hardy would pull a ladder out from beneath the ring!
Much like this all began last month at Backlash, the WWE Universal Champion looked to set up the ladder...when Rambling Rabbit appeared behind the announce table! Asking Jeff Hardy what he was about to do, he made it clear he wanted to see "the Charismatic Enigma" kick the Fiend's butt - before giving him an autograph! Hardy barely knew what to make of this, and Hardy turned to be met by Mercy the Buzzard atop the steel steps. From the comfort of his box, the Buzzard told "the Rainbow-Haired Warrior" what he was about to do would win the battle but not the war. Jeff shook his head and turned back to begin climbing the ladder...when startled by Abby the Witch, behind the plexiglass! Abby told Jeff this would not work, and that his reign was over - he simply didn't know it yet. Jeff confronted the Witch, inadvertently buying enough time for the Fiend to jumpscare Hardy with the Mandible Claw clamped in! Hardy tried to fight for his life, though he would begin to fade. Dropping to a state of semi-consciousness, Sister Abigail would drive Hardy into the floor! The referee began his count, with each of 'the Firefly Fun House' characters counting along.
Jeff Hardy appeared down for the count, but the WWE Universal Champion began to stir! As The Fiend watched, "the Rainbow-Haired Warrior" desperately used the ring apron to pull himself back to his feet at the count of nine. "The New Face of Fear" closed in with the Mandible Claw a second time...when Jeff surprised Fiend with a fire extinguisher! Blinding Fiend with its' foam, Hardy would clock Fiend in the side of the temple with the canister for good measure. Unconscious on the announce table once more, Jeff wasted no time ascending to the top of the ladder! Taking a seat there, Jeff teased the Swanton Bomb to put an end to the monster once and for all - when behind him rose Bray Wyatt from out of nowhere. Tapping Jeff on the shoulder, the champ turned to come face to face with "the Eater of Worlds!" Jeff was speechless, when behind him Fiend ascended halfway up the ladder. The Mandible Claw was locked in - and a military press slam powered Hardy from halfway up the ladder through the announce table! From the top of the ladder, Bray sung "We Are The Champions" with glee - as Fiend stood over Hardy's broken and battered body - for the count of ten.
Winner, and new WWE Universal Champion: The Fiend (10:19)
Jeff Hardy remained entrapped in the wreckage of the SmackDown announce table at ringside, as each of 'the Firefly Fun House' characters cheered loudly alongside the mixed response of the WWE Universe. In the most surreal title match in quite some time, The Fiend snatched the WWE Universal Championship which now belonged to him, and raised it high over the broken body of "the Rainbow-Haired Warrior". While Rambling Rabbit, Mercy the Buzzard and Sister Abigail celebrated surrounding the horrifying monstrosity however, there was no sign of Bray Wyatt. What was the fate of Friday Night SmackDown going to be now, with "the New Face of Fear" once again at its' helm as the WWE Universal Champion?
An advertisement aired, centered around the rich heritage of "the Biggest Party of the Summer". For over thirty years, it had been tradition for August to witness all hell break loose. This year, the WWE Superstars would ensure that tradition remained intact. With a beach theme, and the sun shining, once the moon came out, "You'll Never See It Coming". WWE SummerSlam would air live on the WWE Network on Sunday, August 23.
Michaels and Jannetty
John Morrison's pursuit of "the A-Lister" continued, as he leaped up the fire shoot leading to the top of the studio complex. Climbing to the top of the ladder, "the Shaman of Sexy" glanced around and finally let out a cry for the Miz to reveal himself. This had gone on too long, and it was time for the two of them to move on with their lives. He claimed there was nowhere left for "the Awesome One" to run, and if there was anything he wanted to do right now - was to kick Miz's ass and leave this sour taste behind for good. To the silence on the rooftop, JoMo threatened that he would track him down if he didn't reveal himself, and another silence had the search begin. The Miz snuck out from behind a metal airduct, knocking him silly with the use of a crowbar! Shirtless, exhausted and covered in cake icing even still, Miz repeated that he didn't need Morrison now - nor did he ever. Calling him the worst excuse for a tag team partner and friend he had ever known, now was time for John to go back to the unemployment line where he first banished him years ago!
The Miz kicked John Morrison in the ribs as he crawled away, but as he continued to run his mouth blaming "the Guru of Greatness" for costing them the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, "the A-Lister" was knocked loopy with a drainpipe! JoMo stammered back to his feet, when a cheap low blow attempt was made by Miz. Caught by the hand of Morrison in mid-motion, "the Shaman of Sexy" would respond with a big roundhouse kick! Taken aback, "the Awesome One" looked behind him to see a dead end: he was at the edge of the rooftop. Morrison repeated how their friendship died a long time ago, and he could accept that - but where Miz was wrong was that he was the Shawn Michaels of what John Morrison and The Miz was. He was the Marty Jannetty all along! As Miz dropped to his knees with his hands up, Morrison apologized for what he was about to do...when Miz began to weep for mercy. Begging profusely at the ankles of his former friend, he sobbed for forgiveness! Miz proclaimed he got lucky all along, and that he never deserved any bit of the fame he had enjoyed.
Confessing to not deserving his WWE Championship reigns, or WrestleMania main events; the Miz went as far as to admit he was never any good in any of his movies - none of 'The Marine', and nothing in reality television! Looking up at John Morrison with tears in his eyes, "the A-Lister" confided that his life was a lie, and he deserved every bit of what was going to happen. Morrison went to grab Miz when he admitted he was the Marty Jannetty of the John Morrison and The Miz team. It was enough to startle "the Shaman of Sexy". Surprised to hear those words out of his mouth, "the Awesome One" wept - before revealing how shameful it was that not a single word of this confession was real. A low blow brought JoMo to his knees in agony - and dramatically, Miz hurled Morrison over the edge of the rooftop! Miz gasped for air and began to make his great escape. Claiming good riddance, "the A-Lister" departed the Hollywood Backlot Brawl never to return...but little did he know that the hand of JoMo appeared from the side of the rooftop's edge. Pulling himself back up, "the Guru of Greatness" averted the attempted murder with a menacing scowl of determination on his face.
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Following Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Christian talking about the zaniness of the Hollywood Backlot Brawl; as well as the chaotic nature of the Last Man Standing match for the WWE Universal Championship, the broadcast team for Monday Night RAW recapped the barbaric events of An Eye For An Eye earlier tonight, resulting in Aleister Black having his eyeball extracted by Seth Rollins.
Backstage, Charly Caruso stood attentively outside of the trainer's office as she remarked how she was not yet able to confirm or provide a medical update on the condition of Aleister Black. Since losing his eye earlier tonight, she expressed her disgust in what "the Monday Night Messiah" had done before stressing how everybody in the WWE were hoping to receive word on "the Appropriator of Habit's" wellfare by tomorrow night on RAW at the latest. She urged the WWE Universe to keep their eyes on WWE.com.
Following discussion from Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton and Christian, a video package aired taking us back for a retrospective glance at the careers of Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles. One man paved his way outside of the WWE, making his debut in the 2016 Royal Rumble match. He would achieve great heights as a multiple-time WWE Champion, renowned as "Phenomenal". The other was a homegrown talent touted as "the Chosen One". After being issued his release, he took it in stride to grow as a sports entertainer. Returning to the WWE in 2017, he became infamous: defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. "The Scottish Terminator" won the big one, but now faced a tremendous challenge. With AJ Styles' return from sabbatical, he maintained the title belonged to him. As the O.C. stuck their noses where they didn't belong, McIntyre hoped to influence his challenger to leave Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson behind. A Three Stages of Hell match would serve as the ultimate test of endurance, McIntyre would be the last one laughing, tricking AJ into signing a contract barring "the Good Brothers" from ringside. In a massive test for both men, who would leave as WWE World Champion?
The WWE Performance Center stood in anticipation as Mike Rome provided formal introductions mid-ring for the main event of the evening. Contested under Three Stages of Hell rules, the man to lead with two of the three falls would leave the Horror Show at Extreme Rules as WWE World Champion. To be contested in a wrestling match, a Submission match and if necessary, a Steel-Cage match, the WWE Universe would cheer upon hearing the contracted stipulation that the O.C. members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson were barred from ringside - under threat of immediate termination!
The WWE Universe were loud but mixed in their reaction to AJ Styles. Walking out to the stage with the hood of his leather jacket over his head, "the Phenomenal One" would time his reveal, throwing his arms out as his theme song kicked in. Curiously, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson had the gall to accompany the challenger to the rampway, though after some small-talk shared between the three Club members, "the Good Brothers" would Too-Sweet "Phenomenal Hoot" before departing to the backstage area. Going it alone as stipulated in the amended contract of Drew McIntyre, the black and bronze-colored tights of AJ represented how much tonight meant to him. In Three Stages of Hell, this was to be his finest hour and crowning achievement. But as AJ hopped into the ring, he would charge the ropes and bounce off them with arms outstretched - before motioning that the WWE World Championship would once again be his. For the first time in 438 days, he was about to challenge for the richest prize the WWE had to offer.
As AJ Styles waited patiently in the ring, the bagpipes ushered out the WWE World Champion. Having spent all day long practically meditating for this Three Stages of Hell match, Drew McIntyre was prepared for the ultimate test of endurance. "The Scottish Terminator" stood stoically at the top of the rampway, raising the title high as "the Phenomenal One" watched from the ring. In black trunks with blue tartan trims on his trunks, the reigning champ had been waiting for this day since AJ returned from his sabbatical. Alone without Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, McIntyre climbed into the ring and raised the title high on the second rope, to a massive ovation. While he boasted epic title defences against the likes of Big Show, Edge, Randy Orton, Kevin Owens since capturing it from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, Drew had never been matched against someone with the skillset of his opponent. With the participants and the official present, Mike Rome commenced in-ring introductions.
8) WWE World Championship - Three Stages of Hell Match
Drew McIntyre (c) vs AJ Styles
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are barred from ringside.
8.1) Wrestling Match
The bell sounded, and the first stage of Hell was to be a standard Wrestling match. Both participants took the challenge remarkably seriously, as Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles locked up with neither man backing down. A test of strength was initiated, with the challenger giving it all in trying to overpower his opponent into the corner. The WWE World Champion was able to apply a side headlock, when AJ took to using his speed. Hitting the ropes, a leapfrog and a leapfrog, followed by a second leapfrog saw AJ take "the Scottish Terminator" down with a drop toe hold! With a facelock applied, Drew managed to roll "the Phenomenal One" over for the first count of the match, just for AJ to maintain the pressure. The Scotsman began to rise to his feet, bringing AJ off his feet just to be taken down with the headlock takeover. McIntyre continued to try and outschool AJ, building back up with a hammerlock to break free. Styles was able to achieve a go-behind, but with a waistlock takedown attempt saw McIntyre go behind himself! With AJ seated in his grip, the fighting champion worked to keep him grounded just to have the challenger rise back to his feet.
Sending Drew McIntyre into the ropes, AJ Styles once again performed a dropdown and leapfrog - but when AJ attempted to follow up, "the Scottish Terminator" responded with a single-leg takedown before taking to a bridging pin! Styles was able to reverse into a crucifix pinning position, when McIntyre hooked the leg once more. "The Phenomenal One" blocked it into a sunset flip at the count of two, when the WWE World Champion turned it into a pin of his own! Back to their feet, Drew worked out of a second side headlock and scored with a backslide for a two-count, when AJ reversed again into the sunset flip. McIntyre grew to his feet and performed a northern lights suplex, but using spectacular core strength, Styles managed to bridge out of it and attempt a backslide himself. Instead, McIntyre would launch his challenger into the ropes. AJ threw a dropkick for McIntyre to throw his hands up in defense, and the two men were met in a stalemate. The WWE Universe applauded the efforts of the two men early in this bout, as AJ protested he was still the better wrestler of the two!
Drew McIntyre argued he just proved he was every bit as good, and the pitbull temper of the challenger came out! With a toe, AJ Styles looked for another side headlock - but the WWE World Champion would bring "the Phenomenal One" from his feet and hurl him across the ring, landing on his rear! In the corner, AJ was startled though the onslaught continued with a corner clothesline. Two more standing lariats had the challenger bouncing out of the corner, when hip tossed across the ring! Getting some real height, Styles would be left wide open for a jumping neckbreaker - just for the champ to get a near fall. "The Scottish Terminator" pursued Styles, who scrambled out to the ringside floor. Styles responded with a series of right hands, before teasing an early attempt at the Phenomenal Forearm, when McIntyre would catch him in mid-air! A fallaway slam sent AJ over the top rope the other side of the ring, with the challenger in dire straits. AJ slowly got back to his feet to have McIntyre launch himself over the top rope with a big topé! Sending his opponent back inside, Styles landed on Drew's shoulders with an overbearing abundance of clubs.
AJ Styles blocked the WWE World Champion's attempt at a back body drop to escape, just for the challenger to land out on his feet before striking with a dropkick! It barely budged Drew McIntyre, who missed a clothesline to receive a jumping enzuigiri for his troubles. Finally a flying arm drag to "the Scottish Terminator" took the champ from his feet, and AJ would follow up with a soccer kick to the spine! Drew rose unaffected from the seated position, bringing AJ to fire away with leg kicks. McIntyre would catch one right foot, powering AJ into a belly-to-belly suplex. Instead, "the Phenomenal One" was able to flip out and land on his feet - landing the Pelé kick! A pendulum backbreaker took the Scotsman from his feet for a two-count, as the temper of AJ began to flare. A jumping knee drop got a near fall, with Drew taking the time to breathe. Ahead of the Submission match in the second stage, AJ locked in a chinlock bringing McIntyre to consider ways to escape. As AJ transitioned into a rear naked choke, McIntyre rose to his feet with "the Phenomenal One" on his back!
Positioning AJ Styles on the top rope, Drew McIntyre headbutted the hair-pulling challenge off before leaping up to the top rope. With a belly-to-belly suplex from the top attempted, "the Phenomenal One" tried everything in his power to free himself. Ramming the WWE World Champion's head into the top turnbuckle pad, Styles capitalized with a sunset flip powerbomb getting a near fall! "The Scottish Terminator" tried to get back to his feet, when AJ would leap directly into Drew's arms for a two-handed choke suplex. Taking him overhead, McIntyre raised AJ from the corner to the top rope. Looking for the inverted Alabama slam, the challenger was able to use his fists to trap McIntyre. On his shoulders, Drew was able to battle back and rotate 180-degrees into a powerbomb position. Looking for a Buckle Bomb, McIntyre charged when AJ was able to reverse into a hurricanrana! Driving the Scotsman face first into the second turnbuckle, a chop block would dramatically contort the leg of the champion. Charley horsing the leg with more kicks, Drew mat slammed AJ away just for the wily pitbull to rebound with a low dropkick for good measure!
Drew McIntyre landed incorrectly, and a series of relentless stomps would see the WWE World Champion grounded. Digging his heel into the ankle of the champ, "the Scottish Terminator" rived in pain when AJ picked the foot and slammed it across the canvas with a thud! Repeated covers continued to season Drew for the agony to come. Leaving the ring, AJ contorted the ankle of the champ around the ring post backwards - hopeful of hyperextending it. Notably while this stage was a standard Wrestling match - it could also end in submission. And what was the next stage - but a Submission match! Styles grew confident as he drove an elbow drop into the ankle, stretching it on the mat. Drew tried to grab a hold to counteract it, but AJ managed to use the back of his head to headbutt free. Back to his feet, the champ slammed AJ with a big spinebuster! Hobbling back to his feet, Drew went on the comeback with a series of clotheslines, when AJ looked to block with his Stylin' Combination. Drew was able to cut him off with the Glasgow Kiss - and an overhead German suplex planted Styles for a near fall!
"The Scottish Terminator" spelled blood in the water as he sized AJ Styles up to go to Claymore Country. Yet as the Claymore Kick neared, his ankle gave way and "the Phenomenal One" went straight to the figure-four leglock attempt! Drew McIntyre was able to luck out with the inside cradle for a near fall, and a spinning backfist rocked the champ! AJ got the WWE World Champion on his shoulders for the Ushigoroshi, but Drew would back out and attempt the Future Shock DDT - but AJ would cling to the ropes! With a bridging pin, the challenger stole the first stage of this match!
Winner: AJ Styles [1-0] (10:10)
"The Phenomenal One" caught his breath, as Drew McIntyre sat up in the corner and slammed his fist down in frustation. AJ Styles grinned and pointed the finger-guns at the WWE World Champion, mouthing that he knew what was to come - the Submission match approaching with Drew one-fall down with a weakened ankle. In a must-win situation, "the Scottish Terminator" used the 30-second rest period wisely, when the referee called for the bell to begin stage two.
8.2) Submission Match
The challenger darted across the ring and looked to pick at the weakened ankle of the WWE World Champion. AJ Styles had dedicated the first stage in trying to find a weakness in the armor of "the Scottish Terminator", though as he grabbed for the foot, Drew McIntyre feistily fired away with right hands. Ever-persistent, "the Phenomenal One" fired back with a flying clothesline in the corner, when a snap suplex landed Drew with his feet slamming against the turnbuckles and ropes! Clutching at his ankle, Drew had to fight as AJ dropped the knee across his shinbone and began to hyperextend it. The Scotsman tried to push and grab at his opponent's hair to free himself, before wisely using the bottom rope behind him for safety. As Drew rolled out to hobble at ringside however, AJ would come from behind with a forearm topé! "The Phenomenal One" continued to drive forearm clubs into the lower leg, when Drew roped AJ in and sent him into the ring post! Limping to his feet, a big boot with his good foot would see the champ turn things around. Rolling AJ back inside, Styles would respond with a baseball slide to the bad foot once again.
Yet as the challenger channeled his inner-Kurt Angle, Drew McIntyre responded by pulling AJ Styles into the corner! His face bouncing off the top turnbuckle pad, "the Scottish Terminator" swept the leg and rolled backwards underneath him. With a makeshift single-legged Boston Crab applied, the Scotsman wrenched at the knee as he used his size to hold AJ hostage. Thankful to make it to the bottom rope, Drew could hardly apply pressure to his own ankle. Giving himself some much-needed space, a clothesline sent Styles over the top rope with the WWE World Champion again following. Loud chops echoed throughout the WWE Performance Center as he paintbrushed the chest of "the Phenomenal One". Styles tried to answer with elbow strikes, only for McIntyre to shoulder tackle him into the steel steps! Finding difficulty getting back up, the champ knew he had to even the score soon or risk losing the title. Slinging AJ Styles back into the ring, he slid in and initiated the countdown. AJ stirring, Drew would hit the ropes but psych his foe out! Hitting the ropes behind him, the Claymore Kick would take Styles out - but there was no three counts to be had in this Submission match!
Considering the next phase of his strategy, Drew McIntyre slowly crawled back across the ring. Attempting another Boston crab, "the Scottish Terminator" struggled to turn AJ Styles over. Kicking his way to freedom, "the Phenomenal One" attempted the Calf Crusher - but Drew didn't go down with it! Refusing to roll with AJ, McIntyre drilled Styles with the Future Shock DDT. But as the WWE World Champion thought about covering his opponent, he realized again that this was not the way to end the night with the gold. Frustrated by his lack of submission skill, the Scotsman attempted the Rings of Saturn, but AJ would roll through and land on his feet. Sliding with a clothesline for the seated champ, Styles took a moment to catch his breath before successfully applying the Calf Crusher! Drew screamed as AJ continued to wrench at the foot of the champ. The Scot's fairytale reign as WWE World Champion looked to be on its' last legs - literally - as AJ urged Drew to give up and fail in two straight falls. Defiantly, McIntyre would somehow find it within to not only scratch the ring mat with his fingernails, but use the canvas to pull forward. Miraculously, he made the ropes!
"The Phenomenal One" cursed Drew McIntyre and called him selfish, claiming that he would regret refusing to tap to the Calf Crusher. AJ Styles said he was the greatest and was destined to be WWE World Champion again - but Drew spit in his face! Sat on the canvas, "the Scottish Terminator" ate a series of mudhole stomps from the ferocious challenger. Like a pitbull, AJ Styles teased the Styles Clash, but McIntyre was able to reverse into an Alabama slam! Collapsing into the comfort of the corner, Drew would manage to catch AJ on a hurricanrana attempt - reversing into a sit-out powerbomb. Rolling over into a slick Boston crab, using both legs for leverage, McIntyre arched back on the spine of his challenger with all of his vigor! Styles was now the one groaning, as Drew folded him like an accordion in the center of the ring. The WWE Universe were aghast, but somehow AJ was able to pull his way and crawl to the ropes! Back to the drawing board went the Scotsman, who was forced to rethink his strategy again. More chops followed in the corner, and a shoulder thrust followed. As Drew teased more clotheslines, AJ jumped up with a rising knee strike instead.
Hoisting Drew McIntyre up on the top rope, much like in the Wrestling match, AJ Styles slowly ascended with him. "The Phenomenal One" answered the WWE World Champion's chops with some of his own, before teasing a superplex. The champ was able to fight him off with some haymakers, and finally would shove him down to the mat. With a backwards roll however, AJ would dart right back up and leap to the top rope! He had a frankensteiner in mind, yet as he hung precariously from the shoulder of McIntyre, the Scotsman would dive down - landing on his feet on the canvas! Screaming through the pain of his own ankle, McIntyre rolled AJ over with his legs folded: the Texas Cloverleaf applied! It had to be paining Drew as bad as it was AJ, who again tried with desperation to crawl to the ropes - only for Drew to pull him back to the center! Forced to submit, Drew dropped to the canvas instantly with relief!
Winner: Drew McIntyre [1-1] (8:25; 18:35 total)
As Drew McIntyre groaned in pain and clutched his foot with both hands, AJ Styles similarly felt the effects of the Texas Cloverleaf, and what it did to his knee. "The Phenomenal One" tapping out was unexpected given the WWE World Champion's lack of vocation in Submission match scenarios, however it did the job effectively. Both combatants used the 30-second rest period to recover as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the steel cage began to descend from overhead in the WWE Performance Center. From horizontal to vertical in motion, the mechanisms placed the horrifying structure perfectly overlapping the ring. Surrounding the ring posts and ropes, both Drew and AJ sat up in their respective corners as members of the ring crew accurately secured the cage in place. As the third and final stage approached: this Steel-Cage match would determine who would leave with the WWE World Championship.
8.3) Steel-Cage Match
Without wasting any time whatsoever, "the Phenomenal One" immediately used what strength he had left to use the ropes to climb the ropes. There would be no pinfalls nor submissions, but escape only in this deciding stage, but as AJ Styles was able to get to the top rope, Drew McIntyre pulled at his foot. AJ tried to kick him off, but "the Scottish Terminator" would pull him from the top rope into a powerslam! Collapsing again because of the condition his foot was in, the WWE World Champion tried scooting across to the cage door, just for Styles to leap for his bad foot. Grapevining it with his legs, the challenger pounded away at the weakness in McIntyre's armor. Using this time wisely, he looked to reclaim the gold by leaping over Drew's body for the door - but the champ would grab him by the foot! Lumbering to his feet, McIntyre dragged AJ across the canvas, hurling him across the mat! From the corner, Drew delivered a biel throw sending AJ into the skies, from one end of the ring to the other. Firing up, the Scotsman had hold of AJ by the hair and sent him sailing twice into the mesh walls face-first!
As his flesh bounced from the unforgiving steel, a third would see AJ Styles make a vertical leap and begin a sly escape. Drew McIntyre was able to stop "the Phenomenal One" from getting his leg over the top however, able to pull him from the wall on his shoulders! The inverted Alabama slam dropped the challenger face-first on the canvas, before following suit with a diving clothesline. As the WWE Universe showed their respect with chants of "This is awesome", McIntyre sat up and attempted to get his bad foot working for this final stretch. Tied 1-1, all one man had to do was escape through the door or over the top. Curiously, Drew looked to ascend the cage wall. AJ had a similar idea but would club the spine of the Scot to slow him down. Joining him on the top rope, the two jockeyed for position with right hands flying. Both gripping the cage meanwhile, Drew would gain the upperhand as he repeatedly rammed AJ's face into the steel frame of the cage wall. Hoisting him up for a super back suplex from the top rope, AJ would turn it around by landing with a crossbody over Drew's chest!
AJ Styles sluggishly crawled back to his feet and attempted the Styles Clash, but Drew McIntyre would reverse into the Celtic Cross! "The Scottish Terminator" began to crawl away from "the Phenomenal One", who was somehow able to leapfrog over him. Styles made his way to the doorway, but Drew would grab his foot. Kicking away with desperation in his eyes, the challenger crawled over the bottom rope as he was now half out of the structure! All he had to do was plant both feet on the ringside floor - but McIntyre prevented him! Tugging at the feet for dear life, McIntyre would climb out to the doorway as well. Both were so close to victory, when AJ managed to use the cage door as a weapon - slamming it in the face of the WWE World Champion! McIntyre fell through the ropes back into the ring, but before AJ could climb down the steel steps, Drew would grab him by the hair! On the second rope inside, McIntyre hammered at AJ, using his force to drag him to the top rope. With a superplex in mind, Styles landed out of it on his feet. Dragging him from the second rope, AJ leaped for the Stylin' DDT - but with a waistlock switch, a German suplex fed into the Claymore Kick!
With a determined grimace, Drew McIntyre began the long crawl to the door. The WWE World Champion was a bonafide warrior, having survived the onslaught of "the Phenomenal One". Yet as he crawled, AJ Styles somehow still showed signs of life - as from the apron, a springboard 450 Splash collided with the spine and kidneys of "the Scottish Terminator!" AJ flopped over to the corner, where he reached out with his hands on the ringside floor. Practically tasting gold, AJ attempted to navigate the rest of his body behind him - but Drew would make a daring leap over him! Through the second and top rope saw McIntyre take a dive, landing on the steel steps. AJ tried to grab hold of Drew's ankle for dear life, but as his other foot managed to touch the ringside floor, McIntyre would kick him away - enabling the champ to retain the title!
Winner: Drew McIntyre [2-1] (9:22; 27:57 total)
Winner, and still WWE World Champion: Drew McIntyre [2-1] (27:57)
As Drew McIntyre laid prone, flat on his back in a state of exhaustion, AJ Styles moments later flopped to the floor as well. Coming seconds too slow behind him, "the Phenomenal One" may have shown Drew the fight of a lifetime in this ultimate feat of endurance that was Three Stages of Hell - but conclusively, "the Scottish Terminator" had come out victorious once more. The Scotsman received help from the referee in coming to his feet, as he was issued with his well-deserved WWE World Championship. Raising it high and saluting the WWE Universe on-hand, McIntyre refused to give in to even the hardest of challenges imaginable, remaining on top of the entire company!
