We have some backstage notes to pass your way about Extreme Rules. Here are some things that happened behind-the-scenes during the PPV event according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.
– Johnson says that Randy Orton was hidden backstage in a bus for about 30 minutes before he made his return. Orton’s wife was apparently brought to ringside right before the segment happened.
– Vince McMahon was not backstage at the event. Johnson says that Vince was still in communication with backstage officials during the show. He also says that Triple H and Billy Kidman were primarily running the show in the gorilla position.
– According to the report, the original plan for the show was for the Iron Man match to open the PPV. The original plan was also for the last hour to feature AJ Styles vs. Rusev, Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss and to close out the show with Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley going on last. Johnson says that the match order was shifted late in the day on Sunday.
– The entire roster was told that they had to be at a meeting backstage at Extreme Rules. This ended up being for Hulk Hogan’s apology to the locker room. Johnson says that Hogan left halfway through the PPV event and was at no time scheduled to appear at Extreme Rules [Note: you can read more about Hogan’s apology here].
Some interesting stuff. Always crazy to hear of Vince McMahon missing events. Also, I didn’t know that Billy Kidman was so high up on the backstage food chain.
On a related note, here is what Dolph Ziggler said to Seth Rollins in the ring about the crowd at Extreme Rules.
