SmackDown has its main event for next month’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
Rusev won a number one contender’s gauntlet match on SmackDown tonight and will be challenging for AJ Styles’ WWE Championship at Extreme Rules. Rusev entered the gauntlet last before submitting The Miz to win.
Styles came into the ring after the match and shook hands with Rusev. Aiden English then extended his hand to Styles until pulling it back and mocking him. Styles laid out English to close the show.
The story for much of the gauntlet revolved around Daniel Bryan. He entered first, with his entrance interrupting The Bludgeon Brothers, who had just retained their SmackDown Tag Team titles against Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson. Bryan defeated Big E, beat Samoa Joe by countout, and then was attacked by Harper & Rowan before losing to Miz.
Extreme Rules is taking place at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on July 15. Here’s the updated card:
WWE Champion AJ Styles defending against Rusev
Number one contender’s match for a future shot at Universal Champion Brock Lesnar (Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley already confirmed)
Raw Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss defending against Nia Jax