WWE Extreme Rules: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

The Bad - Shinsuke Nakamura vs Jeff Hardy

Shinsuke Nakamura defeats Jeff Hardy for the United States Championship at Extreme Rules

This match lasted all of about 5 seconds and confounded the LIVE Pittsburgh, PA audience who were silent throughout. First, in what is becoming one of the most painfully predictable events in all of wrestling, Shinsuke Nakamura hit yet another low blow before the match even got underway.

This incapacitated Jeff Hardy, who then succumbed to a running knee to the face. Shinsuke Nakamura pinned Hardy and just like that the whole thing was over. Undoubtedly, Hardy took longer applying his face paint than he did wrestling this match.

Classic @ShinsukeN. 😳 #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/AnjS9jVrKJ

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) July 16, 2018

It was one of Hardy's worst professional bouts and would have been understandable if he needed to be protected due to injury; however, before the show ended the WWE announced that Hardy intends to invoke his rematch clause on this Tuesday's SmackDown LIVE show. For Hardy fans and detractors, the bout brought back terrible memories of his drunken Impact debacle against Sting, a memory that would be better forgotten.

To add insult to injury, upon the match's conclusion Randy Orton made his way to the ring, as if that's supposed to mean something. It's almost as if the WWE believes anyone still cares, despite almost no character development for Orton over the last 18 months. Fans are just expected to react to an Orton return as if it's still 2005; but, judging by the Pittsburgh fans' lack of enthusiasm, that's simply not happening in 2018. Orton made his way to the ring and once again turned heel by giving Hardy yet another low blow. Yawn.

Just after losing The #USTitle to @ShinsukeN, @JEFFHARDYBRAND was ATTACKED by @RandyOrton at #ExtremeRules! pic.twitter.com/lRkQWLqof6

— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018