WrestleMania only comes once a year. When the festivities of that one grand weekend come to an end, it is time for the WWE and the fans to get their heads out of the clouds and back to reality. The show never stops, so we move onto the PPV that immediately follows WrestleMania, Extreme Rules.
The one night of the year where the WWE packs some of their biggest gimmick matches all onto one show. At its best, Extreme Rules can be one of the most entertaining PPVs of the year. At its worst, Extreme Rules can be a complete mess of bland and boring gimmick matches. Even with the loss of the Triple Threat Ladder Match (a match plenty of wrestling fans, myself included, were looking forward to), this year’s card looks solid. Hopefully, the WWE can put on a good show with all the talent on the card. There is only three hours to put on eight matches, a couple backstage promos, a few video packages and dozens of pre-match entrances; this writer is a little worried that a few matches will be rushed while others will given too much time. Time constraints are always a factor, but when it comes to gimmick matches sometimes giving too much time to a boring gimmick or too little to an interesting gimmick can hurt the show.
Randy Orton vs. Big Show in an Extreme Rules Match
Big Show turned on Randy Orton and Sheamus at WrestleMania after Orton lost the match for their team, thanks to a blind tag. Big Show was the man wronged by the distrust of Orton and Sheamus. Funny enough, this match has been built around the idea that Orton should not have trusted the Largest Athlete in the World, a little backwards if I say so myself. Who cares that much about the generic storyline when the wrestling is all that matters? Big Show has been at his best this past year so hopefully he and Orton can put together an enjoyable brawl. Considering Extreme Rules is in St. Louis, expect Randy Orton to get the win in front of his hometown crowd.
Prediction: Randy Orton wins
Chris Jericho vs. Fandango
Ever since WrestleMania, Fandango’s popularity has been all over the place. His popularity skyrocketed WrestleMania weekend with his win over Chris Jericho and the rise of the Fandangoing Internet dance craze. After that faithful week, Fandango seems to all over the place. Fandango has jumped between pandering to the crowd one week, to feuding with the Great Khali the next and finally coming back to feuding with Jericho the week after that. Creative does not seem to know what exactly to do with Fandango as they try to push him as a heel while the crowd dances and hums along to his entrance theme. Putting this young gun with a ring veteran like Jericho is the best direction to take Fandango at this present time, but it seems Extreme Rules will be the end of this little feud between Fandango and Jericho. Since Jericho is being advertised to feud with Ryback in the coming months, it would be best for Y2J to win this Sunday. As long as these two put on a competitive bout, one loss will not hurt Fandango.
Prediction: Chris Jericho wins
Sheamus vs. Mark Henry in a Strap Match
This feud came straight out of left field. There was perfect set-up for a Triple Threat Match between Big Show, Randy Orton and Sheamus for Extreme Rules considering the fallout from their match at WrestleMania. The plans never seemed to materialize as WWE was set on a one-on-one match between Orton and Big Show. Since being left out of that feud, Sheamus did not had much to do so enter random Mark Henry attacks and another big man trying to get Sheamus to be serious (honestly I will applaud the person that finally gets Sheamus to stop being funny man and back to being a no nonsense ass-kicker) and we got a match. Sorry for the lack of excitement, I just do not care for a match where two big guys are going whip each other with a strap for ten minutes instead of actually wrestling.
Prediction: Sheamus wins
Kofi Kingston (c) vs. Dean Ambrose for the U.S. Championship
Let the Shield’s stranglehold of championship gold begin. Everything the Shield has touched since they debuted last November has turned to gold. They are one of the best factions in years and to put the United States and Tag Team belts on them will hopefully bring prestige back to those divisions. Creative will definitely not feed these stars to the dogs of the main event scene like they have been doing with mid-card champions for the past year now. With the unorthodox style of Dean Ambrose and the high-flying fast-paced offence of Kofi Kingston, this match could be one to possibly steal the show.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose wins the U.S. Championship
Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger in an “I Quit” Match for the No. 1 Contendership for the World Heavyweight Championship
As much as it hurts to see such an amazing match taken away due to an injury, the world of wrestling is definitely unpredictable. Hopefully Dolph Ziggler has a speedy recovery, but we are left in good hands, Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio. While a ladder match may not play to the strengths of Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio, an “I Quit” Match certainly does. The story just might not be there, but these two can and have put on some great wrestling matches. This “I Quit” Match will be no different as I personally expect a grueling submission clinic on display at Extreme Rules. There are rumours floating around that the WWE wants to have the Triple Threat Ladder Match for Summerslam. If that is the plan, there are definitely plans to keep both Swagger and Del Rio in the World Title picture for the time being.
Prediction: Jack Swagger becomes the No. 1 Contender for the World Heavyweight Championship
Team Hell No (c) vs. The Shield in a Tornado Tag Team Match for the WWE Tag Team Championship
A 6-Man Tag between the Shield and Team Hell No and the Undertaker would have easily blown the roof off the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Sadly, not everything we dream becomes reality, but this match should be very good as well. In one corner, you got the Tag Team Champions Team Hell No, one of the best pairings the WWE has made since Jeri-Show back in 2009. In the other, you got Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns of the Shield, the best thing to happen to the WWE in what seems like ages. Expect some great action to result from this Tornado Tag Team match, a stipulation that is more akin to a Fatal 4 Way than a traditional tag team match. When the dust settles, the Shield will prevail and leave Extreme Rules with gold around their waists.
Prediction: The Shield wins the WWE Tag Team Championship
Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H in a Steel Cage Match
The one feud nobody wanted to see more after their main event match from Summerslam. Having Triple H and Brock Lesnar on Extreme Rules definitely adds enough star power to garner some buys from casual wrestling fans. Setting their third and hopefully final match in the Steel Cage will provide a brutal canvas for Triple H and Lesnar to paint their final masterpiece or disasterpiece. Steel Cage matches have been hit or miss in the WWE the last few years. As long as Lesnar emerges from the cage as the victor of this match and feud, this writer will be happy.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar wins
John Cena (c) vs. Ryback in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Championship
There is no doubt in this writer’s mind that it is time for John Cena to step aside as Ryback’s time is now. You can debate all day whether Ryback is ready to hold the WWE Championship or not. The fact of the matter is Ryback has lost so much on PPV the last few months that a loss against Cena at Extreme Rules just might be the tipping point for fans. It is hard to believe in a monster that cannot win a big match on PPV. With how Cena has buried Ryback verbally the last few weeks, there is no way Ryback can leave Extreme Rules with loss without serious damage done to his image with the audience. Also dropping the title to Ryback will allow Cena to properly heal for his Achilles tendon injury. It is time to take this Ryback experiment to the next level and see if he can succeed as the WWE Champion.
Prediction: Ryback wins the WWE Championship
The month long build for Extreme Rules went a long way in creating a solid card with some well put together feuds. Now WWE needs to combine the longer build with actual PPV hype and the interest and buy rates in PPVs will definitely improve. It is a good start and WWE can make steps forward from here. Top to bottom, Extreme Rules looks like a good card with no filler except for the Strap Match, but that is more my personal opinion. If you are looking for some wrestling to watch this Victoria Day weekend, look no further than Extreme Rules.
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