If WrestleMania was the biggest party of the year, Extreme Rules is the hangover.
It takes a big match for people to really care about the PPV after WrestleMania. In 2000, fans could see the singles match for the WWF World Championship between The Rock and HHH since Mania 2000 ended up in a fatal four-way. In 2013 we got the return of Brock Lesnar in a match with John Cena, a major event given way too early just so Vince McMahon could say his biggest star in Cena could beat one of the biggest stars of the UFC in Lesnar. Otherwise, it tends to feel either like a re-hash of WrestleMania or the baby steps in new programs leading up to the next major event of SummerSlam.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad event, but back in the halcyon days of PPV, it was hard to throw down the cash for the month on a WrestleMania hangover PPV. The WWE Network is perfect to change that. There’s always an argument on whether it should have included every PPV or not but including shows like Extreme Rules makes sense. It was never a heavily purchased event and putting it on the Network takes away some of the company pressure. They can focus on the storylines and build to something bigger, while hopefully still providing strong content on the card itself.
One should still wonder if a PPV of gimmick matches a month after WrestleMania is really the brightest of ideas. Taking out Hell in a Cell, a pretty grueling PPV for top wrestlers in February was the right move just to let them recover and not over exert themselves. At WrestleMania they give everything they have to perform the best, only to have to go through tables or whack each other with a chain the next month. I know it’s a throwback from the ECW One Night Stand, but it made more sense when it was The Sandman doing the bumps. Maybe during the PPV days you needed something to convince the hardcore fans to buy. With WWE Network, it isn’t so much of a necessity. Especially when this month is free for WWE Network.
Joining us today for the WWE Extreme Rules 2015 predictions and analysis is Aaron Wrotkowski, Sean Garmer, Shawn Wilken, Adam Contant and Jeff DeHaan.
WWE EXTREME RULES 2015 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
EXTREME RULES KICK-OFF MATCH
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
THE NEW DAY VS. TYSON KIDD AND CESARO W/ NATAYLA (c)
WINNERS
Aaron and Adam: The New Day
Sean, Shawn and Jeff: Tyson Kidd and Cesaro
THOUGHTS by Shawn Wilken: The tag team division has earned some spotlight in the last few weeks, with plenty of teams getting their fair share of proving themselves worry to be named the number on contenders. After the New Day edged off Lucha Dragons in a spirited contest that saw Xavier Woods using some cheap tactics to help Big E and Kofi Kingston, New Day looks to add some gold to their repertoire. The one concerning aspect going into this match is that New Day’s attempt to get over with the crowd has failed, and their newly designed heel flaws hasn’t received much more than the chirpy-style chants of “New Day Sucks” during their clapping sequence. As Cesaro and Kidd continue to grow in popularity, perhaps a cheap victory or after-match beat-downs would help solidify New Day as the next heel tag team, especially with Lucha Dragons and PrimeTime Players making up the face side of the division.
KISS ME ARSE MATCH
DOLPH ZIGGLER VS. SHEAMUS
WINNER
Aaron, Adam and Jeff: Sheamus
Sean and Shawn: Dolph Ziggler
THOUGHTS by Sean Garmer: WWE has done Sheamus’s heel turn pretty well and I’ve really enjoyed his new attitude, his music, and especially his look. He DOES NOT look stupid people! Whatever his problem is with the smaller talent in WWE works to get him hated and now with Bryan hurt, I can see this feud with Ziggler going on for a bit more. Especially since Sheamus really doesn’t have that many guys he could wrestle against that meet Ziggler’s criteria. I’m still a bit confused as to how this match works and if we are really going to see someone’s behind at all, but there has been nothing said as to whether or not count out and disqualification rules still apply. I’m going to go with the idea that Sheamus gets really frustrated at Ziggler and loses the match by disqualification. Then he just beats the crap out of Ziggler afterwards and right before any “arse” kissing can happen Ziggler kicks him away and gets out of dodge.
CHICAGO STREET FIGHT
DEAN AMBROSE VS. LUKE HARPER
WINNER
Aaron: Luke Harper
Sean, Shawn, Adam and Jeff: Dean Ambrose
THOUGHTS by Jeff DeHaan: I find this feud to be really interesting, since it seemingly started with Harper putting Ambrose through a ladder at WrestleMania 31. Both men could use a victory here, but I think Dean needs it more. He’s the only Shield member not to break through to the main event, and it certainly isn’t from a lack of skills. It seems the office just doesn’t know what to do with him. He needs a win to stay relevant.
LAST MAN STANDING MATCH
ROMAN REIGNS VS. THE BIG SHOW
WINNER
Aaron, Sean, Shawn, Adam and Jeff: Roman Reigns
THOUGHTS by Aaron Wrotkowski: So you have a guy who you just strapped a rocket to in hopes of him becoming your new franchise player. The rocket fizzled out before it could hit the moon, but thankfully Brock Lesnar grabbed the rocket and suplexed it into the moon anyway. You were saved from a tough situation by having Seth Rollins cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase and steal the championship away. Roman Reigns survived a beating larger than the Undertaker took at WrestleMania XXX so he should be an indestructible titan that just isn’t the fighter of a Brock Lesnar. Putting him up against The Big Show in a Last Man Standing match is a good idea on paper as it gives Roman Reigns a monster of a challenge to overcome. The problem is Big Show in a Last Man Standing match isn’t going to change the minds of anyone who doesn’t like Roman Reigns already. He needs something that reminds them of why they ever liked the guy in the first place. If this isn’t quick, it could lead to an ugly crowd reaction.
DIVAS CHAMPIONSHIP
NAOMI VS. NIKKI BELLA (c)
WINNER
Aaron, Sean, Shawn and Jeff: Nikki Bella
Adam: Naomi
WILL THE CROWD CHEER THE BELLAS
Aaron, Sean, Shawn, Adam and Jeff: No
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: I have mixed feelings about this match. On one hand, I’m a fan of Naomi. She has worked hard to improve in all areas of her performance, and it would be nice to see her get a chance to shine. Sadly, it appears that the only folks giving Divas a chance these days is NXT. This entire story is a mess and if WWE has put together this cocamamy scheme to turn the Bellas into a baby face duo simply by putting them against another heel, the level of apathy and lazy writing has hit an all new low. Much like the tag title situation, if WWE wants to create sympathy for the Bellas, having Naomi win here would be a good way to do it. That is of course, if WWE can be bothered to think about this division for more time than the girls are given on TV.
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
BAD NEWS BARRETT VS. DANIEL BRYAN (c)
WILL THE MATCH HAPPEN
Aaron, Sean, Shawn and Jeff: No
Adam: Yes
WINNER
Aaron: No Contest
Sean, Shawn, Adam and Jeff: Bad News Barrett
THOUGHTS by Jeff DeHaan: I don’t know if the rumours of Bryan’s injuries are true, but if they are then he needs the time off. It’s unfortunate that he is in the same situation as he was this time last year, just a different title. Since the match is already in place I can see Bryan come out and have to forfeit the title to Barrett. Or WWE may put a place holder in and still have a match to determine a new champion. This might be a good spot for someone like Neville or Damien Sandow.
RUSSIAN CHAIN MATCH
UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP
RUSEV W/ LANA VS. JOHN CENA (c)
WINNER
Aaron, Sean, Shawn, Adam and Jeff: John Cena
THOUGHTS by Adam Contant: I’m pretty shocked that WWE didn’t go the obvious route of a submission match between these two, but a Russian Chain Match is a good choice as well. It gives Rusev a supposed advantage which he needs heading into the contest. This is the rubber match between these two and it should surprise no one to see Cena retain here. Rusev needs to move on and with his weekly challenges, Cena appears to have already done so. My guess is a STF with the chain for the referee decision after Rusev passes out, poetically ending their feud the way it started.
EXTREME RULES MAIN EVENT
CAGE MATCH WITH RKO BANNED
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
RANDY ORTON VS. SETH ROLLINS (c)
WINNER
Aaron, Sean, Shawn, Adam and Jeff: Seth Rollins
WILL RKO BE USED DURING THE MATCH:
Aaron, Sean and Shawn: Yes
Adam and Jeff: No (Not until post-match)
THOUGHTS by Sean Garmer: So, would Randy Orton forfeit the match if he uses the RKO? How exactly does that work if Cage matches are no disqualification? Regardless of the weird stipulation, I very much enjoyed their match at Wrestlemania 31. I think with the Cage involved and Kane playing gatekeeper we will get plenty of drama in this one. I can totally see Orton using the RKO when the referee gets knocked down, because it is bound to happen. Hell, Kane could come in and knock out the referee himself. I think this comes down to Kane being urged earlier in the night several times to do the right thing by various members of The Authority. Then when Kane is presented with an opportunity to decide the match, he remains loyal and begrudgingly helps Rollins escape the cage.
Thank you to everyone for reading. Be sure to see WWE Extreme Rules on the WWE Network for free, starting with the 7PM EST Kick-Off and the PPV at 8PM EST.
