Shinsuke Nakamura is the new United States Champion. He hit Jeff Hardy with a low blow before the match got started. The referee started the match a few seconds later and Hardy was hit with the Kinshasa and that was enough for Nakamura to get the pin.
Hardy has been toning his style down at the non-televised events because of back issues. He also has some numbness in his hands, presumably from a neck issue so this title change was not unexpected. In a recent interview, Hardy said that he was looking to slow things down in the ring going forward.
Randy Orton appeared after the match as Nakamura retreated to ringside. It looked like Orton had his eyes set on Nakamura but he turned around and hit Hardy with a stomp to the mid-section. Nakamura looked shocked at ringside.
Click here for complete WWE Extreme Rules results.
A wild VIPER has emerged! @RandyOrton #ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/wNpwbOxSeT
— WWE (@WWE) July 16, 2018
