This Sunday, the WWE presents the most extreme night of the year as Extreme Rules emanates live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago.
5 Best Matches in Extreme Rules History
The aftermath of WrestleMania has led to an interesting time in the WWE as the Seth Rollins Era has begun. "The Architect" will have his first major WWE World Heavyweight Championship defense against Randy Orton inside a Steel Cage at Extreme Rules.
All five titles will be on the line this Sunday and stipulations are abound throughout the eight matches signed for the first pay-per-view event and WWE Network special since the historic WrestleMania 31.
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Here is a preview, the latest rumors and some predictions for this Sunday's big event in the projected order that the matches will occur.
WWE Tag Team Championship: Cesaro & Tyson Kidd (c) w/ Natalya vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Big E Langston) w/ Xavier Woods
It appears as though the Kidd and Cesaro duo are set to work as babyfaces with The New Day entering the match in the heel role.
This should be a good pre-show match to get the crowd into it, but likely won't live up to the entertaining spot fest that was the Fatal 4 Way match last month at WrestleMania.
The WWE seems high on the Cesaro and Kidd duo and they have been fun to watch as confident champions while it still seems as though The New Day is trying to find its footing. The company will likely have Cesaro and Kidd retain and then revert back to being heels for what should be a fun feud with the Lucha Dragons down the line.
The Pick: Cesaro & Tyson Kidd
The Shield defeated Team Hell No in a Tornado Tag Team Championship match at Extreme Rules 2013:
Chicago Street Fight: Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper
This would be as good of a match as any to open up the show and while it was pretty much slapped together, it should still be an entertaining bout as Ambrose makes a great lunatic and Harper isn't exactly stable.
As far as the winner, Ambrose seems to have the most to gain, especially with the WWE thus far treating him like the lowest member on The Shield totem pole since the breakup, so it makes sense for him to go over Harper here.
The Pick: Dean Ambrose
Ambrose and The Shield defeated Evolution in a six-man tag match at Extreme Rules 2014:
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Bad News Barrett
This match might not go as planned with the recent rumors of Bryan being sidelined for five weeks with an injury after being pulled from the European tour. As of this writing, the WWE hasn't officially canceled the match or announced Bryan's injury, so we'll work with it as though it's going to happen.
The WWE had a good idea in putting midcard titles on Bryan and John Cena to try and bring back the credibility that has been lacking from the belts in recent years. It also makes sense that Barrett would have a right to a rematch due to never getting pinned for the gold as he dropped it in the seven-man Ladder Match at WrestleMania.
A part of me wants to pick Barrett to win the match either by forfeit or in a quick finish as a way to transfer the belt while Bryan prepares for another post-WrestleMania absence due to an untimely injury, but the WWE hasn't made it official that Bryan is going to miss time.
With the organization putting the emphasis on the midcard titles it would make sense for Bryan to retain here, unless of course, he's hurt.
The Pick: Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan defeated Kane last year to retain the WWE WHC:
Chris Jericho overcame Rey Mysterio in an I.C. title match at the 2009 event with a No Holds Barred stipulation:
Kiss Me Arse Match: Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler
While I really, really don't care for this stipulation one iota, there is hope that Sheamus' heel turn will bring a refreshing edge to his character while Ziggler always brings the goods no matter how hard the WWE tries to stifle him and keep him down.
There hasn't been much in the way of an explanation for why Sheamus totally forgot the fact that Rusev and Mark Henry beat him down to cause him to miss four months.
"The Celtic Warrior" told Michael Cole on WWE.com this week in character that he's sick of little guys like Ziggler, Daniel Bryan and others rising to the top, though he's made no mention of two of the biggest Superstars on the roster pummeling him.
Plot holes WWE, plot holes.
Regardless, he's back with a pretty ridiculous look and has set his sights on "The Showoff" Sunday night at Extreme Rules. While the match stipulation, which resembles The Rock vs. Billy Gunn from SummerSlam 1999, isn't great, the actual in-ring work should be solid come Sunday.
As far as a winner, as much as a Ziggler win would be pivotal in his rise up the card, the WWE will once again push their guy in Sheamus, especially now that they don't want him to lose heat as a newly turned heel.
The Pick: Sheamus
Sheamus defeated Triple H in a Street Fight at Extreme Rules 2010:
Last Man Standing Match: Roman Reigns vs. The Big Show
I see the WWE's mentality for this one. Fans don't like Roman Reigns? Let's put him with one of the most boring and stale guys on the roster so that their choices are to rake their eyes out or root for "our guy."
While that may or may not be true, the WWE is once again using The Big Show to put over a smaller, younger Superstar and will hope the leader of the Roman Empire builds some momentum during the feud.
Fans will also be excited to know that after this feud, Reigns is rumored to move on to Kane. It appears the WWE is stuck in 1999. The company will likely have Reigns run through the two big men to gain some steam and possibly find his way back to the main event in time for SummerSlam, where he could have his big moment.
It's quite the fall from grace for Reigns to go from facing Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the main event of WrestleMania to being sauntered down the midcard a month later against The Big Show.
While there are rumors he may face Kane next, there's also speculation of a Reigns vs. Rollins vs. Orton match at Payback next month, so the WWE is hoping to keep him looking strong.
With that in mind, there is almost no doubt that Reigns will slay the giant at Extreme Rules.
The Pick: Roman Reigns
The Big Show fell to Cody Rhodes in a Tables Match for the Intercontinental Championship at Extreme Rules 2012:
United States Championship Russian Chain Match: John Cena (c) vs. Rusev w/ Lana
This is another stipulation that I could take or leave as if it is similar to a strap match it has the potential to be cliché and boring.
This will mark the third encounter between these two Superstars as Rusev dropped Cena at Fastlane in February while the "Cenation" leader defeated the "Bulgarian Brute" to win the U.S. title at WrestleMania 31.
Now comes the rubber match and ridiculous stipulation aside, these two have had some pretty good chemistry through their first few clashes.
The WWE put the United States Championship on Cena and the Intercontinental Championship on Bryan to try and put an emphasis back on their midcard titles, so it's hard to see the company wavering from those plans.
The organization hinted at a rift between Rusev and Lana around WrestleMania, but things seem to be okay in their camp recently. This could change Sunday as perhaps Lana will cost her client his match with Cena for the second straight month, which could read to a break, but time will tell.
The way Rusev dominated Cena on Monday Night RAW mixed with the fact that the WWE wants Cena to carry America's belt and defend it in open challenges every week, this one is an easy call. Cena will thwart off the mighty Russian.
The Pick: John Cena
Cena battled Brock Lesnar in "The Beast's" first bout in eight years at Extreme Rules 2012:
Kofi Kingston defeated Sheamus in a Tables Match for the U.S. Championship at Extreme Rules 2011:
WWE Divas Championship Nikki Bella w/ Brie Bella vs. Naomi
The Divas division has had a major shakeup in the last couple of weeks and could use an influx of some ladies from NXT after some key departures.
After AJ Lee made Nikki tap at WrestleMania, it seemed as though she was set for a title shot here, but instead she opted to retire from the company. Paige then was the next woman up, but she was written off of television from a Naomi heel turn two weeks ago on RAW so that she can film a movie.
Now, the WWE has insisted on going with Naomi as No. 1 contender, causing the Bellas to work as babyfaces on Sunday, which pretty much makes no sense and hampers months-long build for the twins as villains.
The WWE may opt to run it as a heel vs. heel match, but most rumors indicate that Nikki and Brie will work as faces for this contest. The WWE should have called an audible and put multiple Divas in the match rather than having to screw with the alignments.
The company also could have stalled Naomi's heel turn by using some foresight and realizing that Lee left and Paige was about to need time off.
Regardless, Naomi is a heel and she's the No. 1 contender. Another flaw in the booking is the fact that Naomi physically decimated the No. 1 contender and then is awarded her spot. Why wouldn't everyone just do that then?
Nevertheless, the WWE could jumpstart the heel turn with a win here, but Nikki on top has been too good and the company could bring in a new crop of Divas from NXT to try and end her reign.
The Pick: Nikki Bella
Beth Phoenix defeated Michelle McCool at Extreme Rules 2010 to win the Women's Championship
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Steel Cage Match: Seth Rollins (c) vs. Randy Orton
The WWE shocked the world and pulled off a WrestleMania Moment that will echo through the ages when Seth Rollins cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase and won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
The addition of the cage stipulation has added a nice layer to this bout, but it will be interesting to see if Rollins will use the Curb Stomp amid rumors that the WWE has banned it.
Orton will not be using the RKO per the stipulation that "The Architect" laid out while Kane will serve as the guardian of the gate for reasons unbeknownst to me.
"The Viper" has claims to the title since he defeated Rollins earlier in the night at WrestleMania before he went on to win the gold. He also wasn't involved in the decision at WrestleMania XXX as he lost his title when Daniel Bryan made Batista tap out. "The Viper" never got his rematch.
This is a good first defense for Rollins as Orton, though he may get stale sometimes, is a seasoned veteran and could make the former Shield member look great in this contest. The epic Curb Stomp-into-RKO finish at WrestleMania 31 was legendary and it will be interesting to see if the stars can top it on Sunday.
Kane was thrown in as a wild-card and he could factor in the decision, especially with him and Rollins being at odds lately, but the best bet here would be for one of the Superstars to win cleanly.
The WWE better not get cold feet and stall out on Rollins' title run less than a month into it. Rollins should win here, continue to establish himself as the top heel in the company and eventually drop the gold at SummerSlam, possibly to Roman Reigns if he makes a successful turnaround.
Speaking of Reigns, he's a wild-card in all of this and could be waiting to strike.
The Pick: Seth Rollins
Randy Orton defeated CM Punk in a memorable Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules 2011:
Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on Jeff Hardy after he defeated Edge in a Ladder Match at Extreme Rules 2009:
The Seth Rollins Era as champion officially reaches pay-per-view when the WWE presents Extreme Rules live this Sunday from the Allstate Arena in Chicago.
Will "The Architect" construct another win or will "The Viper" strike on the most extreme night of the year?
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