World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus def. Daniel Bryan (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)

The Great White reigned supreme in epic fashion

CHICAGO – With Chicago’s Allstate Arena filled to the rafters for Extreme Rules, World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus successfully defended his title against Daniel Bryan in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match. ( MATCH PHOTOS | WATCH SHEAMUS EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

In the end, it wasn’t a match as much as an Extreme war, in which two Superstars would leave absolutely everything they had on the canvas.

Heading to the Extreme

Since winning the World Heavyweight Title from Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania, Sheamus’ hands had been full, not only with the former champion, but also with WWE EVP John Laurinaitis. After The Great White lost his cool and Brogue Kicked a referee on April 6, the General Manager of both Raw and SmackDown issued him the record-setting fine of $500,000 and put him on “permanent probation.”

The Celtic Warrior’s frustration could only be outdone by Bryan’s humiliation. After losing the World Title in 18 seconds at The Showcase of the Immortals, WWE’s resident “Yes!” man dismissed his defeat as nothing more than a “fluke.” In fact, when given the right to choose the stipulation of his title rematch, he selected 2-out-of-3 Falls – with the goal of defeating The Great White twice and ultimately prove his superiority.

But, before their potentially three-part rematch could take place, the submission specialist would look to distance himself from his girlfriend AJ. Placing the blame for all his problems on the spitfire Diva’s shoulders, he broke up with her in the cruelest fashion possible – eventually telling her that he “wished [she was] never born.” As a result, AJ would completely snap – first on third-generation Diva Natalya and then on her best friend Kaitlyn.

For Sheamus and Bryan, the road to the Extreme was paved with frustration, humiliation and unbridled emotion, all of which would collide to create one of the most chaotic 2-out-of-3 Falls Matches in recent memory.

Sheamus won first fall by Disqualification

From the opening bell of their earth-shattering World Heavyweight Title showdown, the first fall was all about absolute physical brutality – pitting The Great White’s unrelenting intensity against Bryan’s pure technical excellence.

With such a furious contest – filled with countless near falls – it was hard to imagine that its conclusion would only be the beginning. However, after Bryan injured Sheamus’ left arm, he smelled blood in the water. In his assault that followed, the challenger repeatedly kicked his prey. When he wouldn’t stop, the referee disqualified him, awarding The Celtic Warrior his first crucial win.

Bryan won second fall when Sheamus passed out

Daniel Bryan isn’t known as the submission specialist for nothing. Roaring back after losing the first fall of the match, the former champion immediately cinched in one of the most dangerous submission holds in WWE, the “Yes!” Lock. 

Despite his injury, The Celtic Warrior would not go gently into the night. Caught in a trap of excruciating pain, the tough-as-nails World Heavyweight Champion still refused to tap. Instead, he would keep fighting until he passed out, giving the referee no choice but to award the second fall to the No. 1 contender.

Sheamus won third fall by pinfall

Though Sheamus showed tremendous intestinal fortitude by refusing to tap out, he ultimately paid a huge price going into the third and final fall. Before things could continue, WWE medical personnel rushed to the ring to make sure he was able to keep going. The World Heavyweight Champion would again power through the pain, insisting that it was not over.

In the culmination of the back-and-forth onslaught that ensued, Sheamus delivered an earth-shattering Brogue Kick so daunting that it practically made Bryan’s body flip back 360 degrees in mid-air.

The Great White dropped down onto his adversary – picking up the three-count to end the incredible war that had just taken place – and cemented his Extreme triumph in heroic fashion.