

Posted in: Kester Editorials, MUST-READ LISTING
May 21, 2013 - 09:21 AM

By Ryan Kester

Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar

This was really the first time that the match between Triple H and Brock Lesnar lived up to the intensity and hype of the feud going into the PPV. It was odd to see Lesnar working the injured-yet-determined role as that is usually a source of babyface sympathy, but by the end Lesnar looked like the brutal beast he should.

Whenever Lesnar returns, I hope that he has a fresh opponent to wrestle. This is likely as good of a match as we will get from the two barring an actual street fight brawl, and it's time to see Lesnar work with another guy.

John Cena vs. Ryback

This match was a disappointment. The story being told by the announcers didn't match what was happening in the ring, and the frequency of the referee count really killed any sense of flow.

The non-finish to the match was exactly what was needed, but it was also one of the least interesting outcomes possible. WWE has a lot of work ahead of them if they wish to make Ryback look like a threat to the WWE Championship, and Cena not taking him seriously on the mic or selling the effects of the storyline injuries isn't going to cut it.

The Shield

WWE continues to impress with their booking of The Shield. Not only did both Shield matches end with Shield members getting gold, but they kept the odd men out away from ringside. It's a subtle thing, but it made the group look more credible. They don't need each other to be a threat; the group simply makes their threat into a danger. That's exactly how a stable in a professional wrestling promotion should come across.

Time will tell if WWE can find opponents for the fledgling champions that will elevate them and their new titles. It's doubtful that WWE will have the group suddenly start losing non-title matches like the recent trend, WWE simply seems too invested in the group to start damaging it in such a capacity.

Overall Show

Overall, Extreme Rules was a lackluster affair. The various gimmicks on the show seemed to detract from their feuds more often than they added to them, and it left a lot of matches that would have otherwise been entertaining very flat.


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