Who will challenge AJ Styles at WWE Extreme Rules?

On Sunday at WWE Money in the Bank, WWE Champion AJ Styles ended one of the most grueling chapters in his reign, defeating Shinsuke Nakamura decisively in a Last Man Standing Match to retain the title. However, there is no rest for the champion, as he must prepare for his next defense on Sunday, July 15, at WWE Extreme Rules. His challenger will be determined in a Gauntlet Match. Who from Team Blue will step up and earn this huge opportunity?




Paige starts off by talking about the rivalries we saw at Money in the Bank and she talks about the Smackdown matches on the pay per view. That was Sunday. We are four weeks away from our next pay per view, Extreme Rules. We will determine who will face AJ Styles by having a five man gauntlet. Paige announces the five participants.

We are in Toledo, Ohio and your announcers are Tom Phillips, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton.

Smackdown Women's Champion Carmella makes her way to the ring.

Carmella says she wants to be real for a second. She says when she was younger, she dealt with a lot of self confidence issues. She never felt that she would be good enough. She says she worked harder than anyone else. She found something good in herself and she became a champion. She tells every kid who has issues to look in a mirror and say "Mella is Money". She never had any confidence issues. She tells everyone to just give up.

You can work twice as hard as her and you will be half as good. She won the Money in the Bank contract and cashed it in to become Smackdown Women's Champion. She beat Charlotte Flair twice. Then she beat Asuka. Carmella says this is the best part. She did it all by herself. She made the Empress of Tomorrow bow down to the Princess of Staten Island.

Asuka's music plays and it looks like Asuka is making her way to the ring, but it is James Ellsworth in his Asuka cosplay gear.

Carmella hugs Ellsworth and then she gives him the mic.

James says nobody was ready for Ellsworth, especially Asuka. He says he has something special to say to his princess. When you love someone let them leave and . . . the rest is not important. What is important is that he is back. He says he is back to serve the greatest woman in history. He says that Carmella is better than everyone. She is better than Charlotte Flair, Lita, Trish Stratus, Mother Teresa, Beyonce, and Ronda Rousey. Last and certainly least, you are better than Asuka.

Asuka's music plays again and the real Asuka makes her way to the ring and she is not in a good mood.

Ellsworth gets in Asuka's face and she connects with a back heel kick. Carmella with a thrust kick and she picks up Ellsworth and they leave the ring.

Becky Lynch is in the back and she figures out which goggles to wear. Tonight gets ready for Billie Kay.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Peyton and Billie are in the ring and Billie asks Peyton where are they and they try to pronounce Toledo. Billie asks what does one do in Toledo. Peyton mentions the zoo and Billie says that is why they smell. Billie says they can continue to talk about smelly things and talk about Becky Lynch. Billie asks Peyton questions as Becky. Peyton says that she can say I am a loser. I am never going to amount to anything. I am so much better off as Charlotte Flair's troll of a side kick. Billie says you heard it here first, Becky Lynch troll and a side kick. Billie tells Becky to live in the past because her present is dismal and her future is Iconic.

Billie Kay (with Peyton Royce) vs Becky Lynch

Becky with a double leg take down and punches. Becky with an exploder that sends Billie to the floor. Becky with a baseball slide followed by a European uppercut. Becky with more European uppercuts. Peyton distracts Becky and Billie sends Becky into the ring post and she falls to the floor.

They return to the ring and Billie with kicks. Billie yells at the referee and that allows Becky to recover and she connects with an elbow. Billie with a knee and she sends Becky to the floor in front of Peyton. Peyton Riverdances in front of Becky and Billie continues the attack. Billie sends Becky into the apron. Becky blocks being sent into the apron again and Becky returns the favor, sending Billie into the apron.

Billie with a knee and forearm when they return to the ring. Billie with a suplex for a near fall. Billie with a reverse chin lock. Becky with a rollup for a near fall. Becky tries for DisArmHer but Billie gets to the ropes. Billie with Sole Food and she gets a near fall. Billie with a punch and kicks in the corner. Billie with more punches and a snap mare followed by a rear chin lock. Becky goes for a slam but Billie gets to her feet. Billie with a forearm and she chokes Becky in the ropes. Peyton with a knee when the referee was out of position and Billie gets a near fall. Billie returns to the rear chin lock.

Becky backs Billie into the turnbuckles and snap mares Billie. Becky with a boot and she goes to the turnbuckles for a flying forearm. Becky with clotheslines and a leg lariat and a back heel kick and exploder. Becky with a near fall. Becky with a forearm from the apron and Peyton stops her. Becky sends Billie to the apron and Becky goes to the apron and hits a cross body onto Peyton. Billie goes for a suplex and Becky counters and rolls through into DisArmHer and Billie taps out.

Winner: Becky Lynch

We take a look back at the low blow that ended the match between Shinsuke Nakamura and Jeff Hardy.

Jeff Hardy says last Sunday, Shinsuke Nakamura failed to make the count to ten and AJ Styles was victorious. He has moved on, but Jeff says he has a memory that will not move on. Nakamura connected with a knee to his face and it went through his body and soul. His actions have an unintended consequence. It made him focus sharper. His eyes were closed and now they are opened. Shinsuke, I see you.

The announcers talk about the members of Sanity.

We see Sanity in the back. Eric says the chaos has arrived.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Renee Young is with Daniel Bryan. Renee congratulates Daniel on his victory on Sunday and she asks him about the gauntlet. She mentions that Daniel will be the first one in the match and the odds being against him. Daniel says he is not going to survive. He is going to win. He proved that size does not matter. He will have to face three of the best, potentially in a row, Rusev, Big E, and Samoa Joe. Renee asks about Miz and Daniel says he said three of the best. He says that he got through the Greatest Royal Rumble with legs, lungs, and heart.

Daniel has a question for Renee. He asks Renee if she thinks he is ready to face the biggest and best and Renee says that she thinks that he is sufficiently prepared. Daniel tells her to work with him and he asks the question again and she says Yes. Daniel "Yes"es his way out of the interview area.

The Usos have the mics and Jimmy says it looks like we have a new tag team on Smackdown. They want to make a name for themselves. Jimmy asks Jey if he remembers trying to make a name for themselves. They talk about how they prepared, but they figured it out. It will take a lot more paint and moves to make an impact. You need a few screws loose to deal with them. They welcome Sanity to the Uso Penitentiary.

Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs Killian Dain and Alexander Wolfe (with Eric Young)

Jimmy and Jey punch Alexander Wolfe and then all three members of Sanity attack Jimmy and Jey. Dain with a splash to Jimmy and then he hits a Vader Bomb while Alexander and Eric make Jey watch the carnage. Young with a neck breaker while Wolfe has Jey up for a belly-to-back suplex.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are in the locker room and Karl shows off his pecs while Karl tells Luke to show off his pecs but Luke says he is okay.

We see the Bludgeon Brothers turn to the camera.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at the Last Man Standing Match from Money in the Bank.

Shinsuke Nakamura is in the back and he asks Renee what is a loss and Renee tells Nakamura to stop with the not understanding English bit. Nakamura asks how did he lose since he is standing in front of you. AJ is champion because the referee counted too fast and not in Japanese. That is unfair. Renee asks about Jeff Hardy's comments. Nakamura asks who and Renee mentions his name louder. Nakamura says if Jeff Hardy crosses him again, he will close Jeff's eyes.


Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson vs Luke Harper and Erick Rowan for the Smackdown Tag Team Championship

The match is joined in progress and Rowan is sent into the turnbuckles. Anderson goes for a pescado on Harper but Harper catches him and sends him into the apron. Rowan with a kick to Gallows and he puts him on the turnbuckles. Rowan goes for a superplex and Gallows blocks it for a moment but Rowan with a superplex for a near fall. Harper sends Anderson to the floor> Harper and Rowan with a double gourdbuster into the apron. Rowan with a splash for a near fall. Harper tags in and he chops Gallows and follows with an uppercut. Harper rakes the eyes and tags in Rowan.

Rowan with an elbow drop and a knee drop. Rowan with a double noogie. Gallows with punches and then Rowan with a punch. Rowan returns to the double noogie. Harper tags in and he grabs Rowan and then connects with a forearm to the upper back. Harper with an uppercut and Irish whip but Gallows with a boot to Rowan and an elbow to Harper. Harper with a back heel kick and Gallows with a punch and super kick. Anderson gets back to the apron and he is tagged in.

Anderson with a cross body and then he hits a spinebuster for a near fall. Rowan gets Anderson up for a slam but Anderson escapes and sends Rowan to the floor. Harper with a Bossman Slam for a near fall. Gallows pulls Rowan off the apron but Rowan sends Gallows into the bell area. Anderson with a rollup for a near fall. Rowan tags in and they hit the spike power bomb for the three count.

Winners: Luke Harper and Erick Rowan (retain championships)

Daniel Bryan makes his way to the ring and he stops between Harper and Rowan. Daniel looks around and his music starts again and he goes to the ring Yessing all the way.

We see Rusev, Miz, Samoa Joe, and Big E getting ready in their own way.

Number One Contender Gauntlet (featuring Daniel Bryan, Miz, Big E, Rusev, and Samoa Joe)

Match #1: Daniel Bryan vs Big E

They start off and Bryan with a side head lock but Big E tosses Bryan away. Bryan wants a Test of Strength and Big E with the advantage. Bryan with a waist lock and Big E with a hip lock take down. Big E tries to show Bryan how to do a Sexy Party. Big E with a shoulder tackle but Bryan grabs the leg on a leap frog and applies the surfboard. Bryan with a dragon sleeper but Big E with a punch to escape. Bryan with kicks to the ribs. Bryan works on the shoulder and applies a hammer lock and drops a knee to the injured arm. Big E gets back to his feet and he connects with an elbow. Big E blocks a hip toss and Big E with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex. Big E has Bryan hanging over the apron and Big E sets for a splash on the apron and he hits it.

Big E has something to say to Bryan while he is on the floor. Big E picks up Bryan and runs him into the ringside barrier. Big E returns to the ring and the referee starts his count. Bryan gets back into the ring before the ten count. Big E gets a near fall. Big E sends Bryan into the turnbuckles and then he punches Bryan in the midsection. Big E puts Bryan on the turnbuckles. Bryan with punches to Big E to knock him off the turnbuckles. Bryan with a head butt.

Bryan goes up top and he misses a diving head butt when Big E moves. Big E gets a near fall. Big E with a gutwrench into a back breaker over his shoulder. Bryan powers out of the grip and Bryan with a flying clothesline. Bryan sends Big E into the turnbuckles and then he kicks Big E in the ribs. Bryan puts Big E on the turnbuckles. Bryan goes for a Frankensteiner and hits it. Bryan sets for the running drop kick into the corner and hits it. He hits a second drop kick. Big E with a clothesline when Bryan goes for a third one. Big E with a gutwrench back breaker for a near fall.

Big E with a stretch muffler on Bryan but Bryan counters into a Yes Lock but Big E keeps Daniel from locking the hands. Bryan with a triangle on Big E. Big E picks up Bryan but Bryan counters and sends Big E's knee into the mat and Bryan goes for the heel hook but Big E gets to the ropes. Bryan with European uppercuts and Big E with a punch. Big E with another punch followed by an Irish whip but Bryan flips out of the corner. Big E sends Bryan to the apron and then hits a spear through the ropes and both men go to the floor.

The referee checks on both men and Big E sends Bryan back into the ring. Big E gets Bryan up for the Big Ending but Bryan gets to his feet and Bryan sends Big E into the ring post. Bryan with a flying knee for the three count.

Big E Eliminated

Match #2: Daniel Bryan vs Samoa Joe

We go to commercial as Joe makes his way to the ring.

We are back and Joe with chops to Bryan and Bryan goes down.

We see AJ Styles watching in the back while Joe head butts Bryan. Bryan with a kick and chop followed by more kicks and chops. Joe with a power slam for a near fall. Joe with chops and a knee to the ribs. Bryan lands on his feet on a belly-to-back suplex attempt. Bryan with chops and kicks but Joe with chops. Joe catches Bryan and hits a power bomb into a Boston Crab and then he applies an STF. Joe works on the arms but Bryan gets to the ropes to force Joe to release the hold.

Bryan blocks a kick and hits a dragon screw. Bryan goes to the floor and he sends Joe's leg into the ring post. Bryan wrings the leg into the post again. Bryan returns to the ring and he connects with a European uppercut. Joe with a reverse atomic drop followed by a boot and back senton. Joe gets a near fall.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Joe kicks and chops Bryan. Bryan chops back and they exchange chops until Bryan gets the advantage. Joe with a Coquina Clutch but Bryan sends Joe to the floor. Bryan with a running knee off the apron. Bryan sends Joe into the ring and he goes up top for a missile drop kick. Both men struggle to get back to their feet and Bryan is on his feet first. Bryan with kicks to the chest and then he sets for the round kick but Joe blocks it. Bryan with an enzuigiri and both men are down. Bryan sets for the flying knee but Joe sees it coming and goes to the floor. Bryan with a baseball slide and Joe applies the Coquina Clutch on the floor. The referee makes the count and Bryan uses the ringside barrier and he rolls back and he gets back into the ring before the ten count but Joe is counted out.

Samoa Joe Eliminated

Luke Harper and Erick Rowan come into the ring and they hit a spike power bomb.

Match #3: Miz vs Daniel Bryan

Miz with a Skull Crushing Finale for the three count.

Daniel Bryan Eliminated

Match #4: Miz vs Rusev

Rusev with a drop kick for a near fall. Rusev with kicks but Miz with a jawbreaker. Miz with an Awesome Clothesline but Rusev catches him in the ropes and hits a fallaway slam. AJ continues to watch in the back while Rusev goes over the top rope to the floor and Miz with a drop kick through the ropes. Miz sends Rusev into the ringside barrier and they return to the ring and he connects with a kick and gets a near fall. Miz with a reverse chin lock.

Rusev gets back to his feet and he punches Miz. Miz with Reality Check for a near fall. Miz chokes Rusev in the ropes and the referee warns Miz. Miz with an Awesome clothesline and he goes up top for a double sledge to the head for a near fall. Miz with a reverse chin lock. Rusev gets back to his feet but Miz grabs the hair and pulls Rusev back to the mat. Rusev tries to get to the ropes but Miz puts his foot on the rope to keep Rusev from getting to the ropes. Rusev gets to the ropes to force Miz to break the hold.

Rusev with a boot and punches followed by kicks to the chest. Rusev with a running hip into the corner and a spinning heel kick. Rusev misses the Machka Kick. Rusev blocks the Skull Crushing Finale. Rusev backs Miz into the corner but Miz with a knee. Rusev with a round kick for a near fall. Miz sends Rusev into the ring apron and the ring steps before returning to the ring to get a near fall. Miz with kicks but he misses the Round Kick. Miz avoids the Accolade and Miz with a kick and DDT for a near fall.

Miz mocks Bryan and then he runs into a Machka Kick and Rusev applies the Accolade and Miz taps out.

Winner: Rusev

After the match, AJ Styles comes to the ring and he puts the title belt between him and Rusev.

They shake hands and Aiden English wants to shake AJ's hand but he pulls it away. AJ punches Aiden and picks up his title belt.

We go to credits.