Aiden English provided a very nice song for Rusev’s entrance to the second-to-last match at Extreme Rules in Pittsburgh on July 15. The crowd at PPG Paints Arena was elated to celebrate this Rusev Day by watching his first shot at the WWE Title.
The Bulgarian Brute looked ready. Lean. Mean. Focused.
It allowed him to wear AJ Styles down and target the Champ’s lower back. And Rusev controlled much of the action, but The Phenomenal One would not say die. He landed several big moves to put Rusev in jeopardy, including kicking the Lion’s leg out from under him while they were battling on the ring post, and this big forearm to the floor...
Phenomenal!
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 16, 2018
➡️ https://t.co/ePt5TzD6sU pic.twitter.com/gBY0vlBPN7
... but it wasn’t enough. Distractions by English created an opening for Rusev to land a Machka Kick, but he didn’t get quite all of it due to his left leg injury. A couple great nearfalls followed, but the leg again hindered the challenger when he couldn’t lock in the Accolade. Rusev tried a one-arm version, but AJ made the ropes.
Rusev can't lock in the Accolade!
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 16, 2018
➡️ https://t.co/ePt5TzD6sU pic.twitter.com/AL0IyZhSvg
While that was happening Aiden, exposed a turnbuckle. But the plan backfired when Rusev went headfirst into the steel. A big 450 almost ended it, but the Elated One somehow kicked out himself!
.@AJStylesOrg pulling out all the stops!
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 16, 2018
➡️ https://t.co/ePt5TzD6sU pic.twitter.com/r3WJk5eN6F
He wouldn’t survive a Phenomenal Forearm (landed after AJ dealt with English once and for all), however.
It was not Rusev Day, or if it was, it wasn’t a great one.
Get complete Extreme Rules results and coverage of the entire card here.