Just a random note before I begin. Many of you won’t care, and that’s fine, but does the match card graphic for Extreme Rules bother anyone? They’ve used the same for the past three years and it just looks so messed up. Yes, I have no life. On with the preview.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin – No Disqualification Match
This will be the second consecutive pre-show match between these two, and it’s not like any of these two participants are doing anything that anyone cares about right now. I don’t know whether or not I should be concerned that a No DQ match on a PPV called Extreme Rules gets bumped to the pre-show, but that can’t be a good sign for Corbin. I’ve been on the record saying that I was high on him because of his look, but the more I watch him, the more I’m starting to see why people aren’t investing in him. He’s pretty raw on the microphone and doesn’t talk or act like the badass that he looks like, his move set needs to be diversified a bit, and to top it off, he has a balding spot. Now, the winner of this match won’t matter because it won’t result in anything major for the future for either men, much less Ziggler, but because Ziggler got the first match on PPV between these two at the Payback pre-show, I believe Corbin settles the score here. He did pick up a pinfall victory over Ziggler a couple of weeks ago, so perhaps WWE gives Ziggler the win again. But I don’t think it’s wise to have Corbin lose two straight to Ziggler after winning the Battle Royal at WrestleMania. Of course, WWE may not be doing anything with that victory anyway, so it may not matter.
Winner: Baron Corbin
The Miz (C) w/Maryse vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn – Intercontinental Championship
I’d be hard pressed to find a time I have been as excited about the Intercontinental Title picture than I am now. The Miz has done a masterful job as champion to my great surprise, because he’s been sort of stale for a couple of years, but brining back his real life Maryse has added a great dynamic to his character, making him all the more irritable. He’s also had some great matches over the past couple of weeks and he looks very revitalized in a way, even though this is his fifth time winning the title. This match has the potential to steal the show, because both Miz/Cesaro and Zayn/Owens had great performances at Payback, and putting them all in this one match with their separate agendas actually make the title mean something and we may see them just lay it all out there. If we are talking about how will end up retaining, I’m going with The Miz once again. While he has stood tall, he has also taken two pinfalls to Sami Zayn. Kevin Owens is out, because him winning the IC Title at this point will just set him back further. Cesaro hasn’t exactly looked primed for a run with the belt, though he’d be the choice to win if Miz doesn’t retain. Zayn has beaten the champ in singles and tag matches, so I’d assume the third time won’t be the charm for him. I’m expecting a great match here with The Miz retaining with some shenanigans involved, but I would not be surprised if Cesaro gets the victory.
Winner: The Miz
Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose – Asylum Match
These two have had beefs over unwatered plants, jackets and talk shows. So, naturally an Asylum match is what it must culminate in. Because it’s the only logical thing to do. I do have to say though, this may be the first time that Dean has finally lived up to the Lunatic Fringe moniker. The way he sounded on the mic standing underneath what looked like a torture chamber made him look unhinged. The booking has been real 50/50 here, and in addition, unless I missed something, they didn’t explain how this match works. Ambrose said that there will be no escape in this match and there was a unique set of weapons present, so I can only assume the match can be won by pinfall. Or perhaps this is a steel cage match on steroids. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see how this match works out. For the past two years at Extreme Rules, there have been two stinkers for me, both cage matches. Rollins/Orton last year and Cena/Wyatt the year before sucked to me, and I’m afraid that this match will fall into that category. Who will win this match? I’m going with Y2J. I just don’t see him dropping two straight to Dean on PPV. Now for those of who may say that the 46 year old doesn’t need the victory and Dean can’t lose a match that he came up with, I’d say you are right. However, I certainly didn’t expect Jericho to go over Styles in his WrestleMania debut, like the great deal of us, and that loss clearly didn’t matter because he became the number 1 contender for the WWE Title the next night. Ambrose may not have the same luck, but I don’t think the loss hurts him big. Technically, Ambrose should win, and he may very well do so, but I think Jericho evens the score. Many of you may disagree, and you have a legit gripe, but I think we’ll see an upset.
Winner: Chris Jericho
Kalisto (C) vs. Rusev – United States Championship
This will be Kalisto’s first title defense on the main card barring a last minute change, and sadly, that’s the biggest accomplishment that Kalisto has achieved since winning the belt thus far. He had three straigh title defenses on the pre-show and has seen inconsistent TV time. Now, this is a spoiler, but WWE seems to be playing up a spine injury that Kalisto suffered which forced him to miss Smackdown, which is WWE probably selling Rusev’s assault on Kalisto on RAW. This has all the makings of a “little man defies the odds and goes over Goliath” type thing, and I’m sure that’s what we will see this Sunday. It’s a shame, because it doesn’t appear that many care about Kalisto as champ, and WWE hasn’t exactly given us a reason why. Sure, he’s small, looks like Rey Mysterio and wrestles a fast pace, but that’s not something we haven’t seen. The way the United States title is booked as opposed to the Intercontinental Title just exploits a huge imbalance. I don’t want to say to retire the US belt. I’d rather them just book the people better and give people a reason to care, but I don’t think Kalisto is going to be the one. Nonetheless, expect the little guy to defy the odds with everything stacked against him.
Winner: Kalisto
Charlotte (C) vs. Natalya – WWE Women’s Championship (Submission Match)
It seems like we’ve seen these two for a year now. Despite the 50/50 booking, these two can have a great match if they work like they can. Natayla always seems to come up short against Charlotte when the stakes are high, and don’t expect a different outcome this Sunday. The playing up here is that Charlotte needs her daddy to hold her hand and protect her and Natayla keeps getting screwed over. So, naturally, you’d think that with a level playing field, Natayla would win, but if we’ve seen WWE booking, you’d know who is going over. Whether it’s through underhanded means or a straight up victory, Charlotte is retaining this Sunday. Natayla has cost Charlotte a match against Paige, and made her tap out for two consecutive weeks. So, usually this means that Charlotte gets her redemption and defeats Natayla yet again. I’m just counting the days till we get Sasha Banks back on our screen at this point, because this is more of a placeholder feud until the big player comes back, so we will have to see what goes down, but best believe that Natayla will be tapping.
Winner: Charlotte
The New Day (C) vs. The Vaudevillians – WWE Tag Team Championship
As the days go by, I’m starting to wonder which team is going to take the belts off New Day. They’ve been champs since Summerslam last year, and with The Vaudevillians getting their main roster call-up, they’ve established themselves as the anti-New Day. That doesn’t mean they will be winning this Sunady though. You simply do not jump The New Day from behind in a time machine and take the belts off of them the next Sunday. It just does not happen folks. The New Day will hold the belts through another PPV. Whether or not the Vaudevillians will get the belts is anyone’s guess, but I don’t think they will. Their NXT run proved that they can work and put on good matches, but I just don’t know if their old-school gentlemen gimmick is going to stick with the crowd or if they will get some burn with the belts. With Primo and Epico (lord, how awful was that re-packaging?), Breeze/Fandango and Truth/Goldust, new teams are bound to step up tot he plate. When Amore returns, perhaps he gets reunited with Big Cass (though he has looked great by himself). If I haven’t made the point known already, The New Day will be retaining this Sunday unless their is a sudden disdain for them within the week.
Winner: The New Day
Roman Reigns (C) vs. AJ Styles – WWE World Heavyweight Championship (Extreme Rules Match)
AJ Styles got the better of Roman on Monday by brutally attacking him with a chair culminating in a Styles Clash on that same chair. On Thursday’s Smackdown (SPOILER), he chair-shotted him again and stood tall in the ring. So when that happens the week before, who wins? Any one want to guess? No? That’s right, Roman is going over this Sunday. WWE is really trying to hammer that point home. I understand many want to see AJ as champion, and maybe if we were in six months into Roman’s reign (See what I did there?), it might have been different. However, Roman’s only been champ for approximately six weeks. AJ won’t be taking the belt off of Roman this Sunday. Let’s take some solace in this, however. This match can be very awesome. There was some heart stopping near falls in their match at Payback, and though the stoppages sort of hurt it, the no DQ stipulation creates a new dynamic for this match. AJ is clearly not beating Roman straight up, and you can expect more interference from The Club (original, I know) and The Usos right after once again. Rumors circulate that this feud may go into Money In The Bank, and with Seth Rollins expected to return within the next four weeks, the title picture will certainly be interesting going into this summer. AJ winning this Sunday would be considered an upset, so don’t get your hopes up and just don’t be surprised when Roman gets the winning pinfall. AJ as WWE Champion may happen this year, but it’s not happening this Sunday. In case you didn’t know, Roman is THE man with THE title. And he will leave victorious once again. Instead of the inevitable cynicism that will come after the match, can we at least enjoy the great brawl that they could have? Please?
Winner: Roman Reigns
Sunday’s looking like a great card, and I have my hopes up that this will be another good show. As per usual, the match ratings will come directly after the PPV. Until next time.
