In an oddly named PPV comes a number of odd matches. Most years, Extreme Rules serves as a show to continue feuds or finish them off considering it usually has a number of stipulation matches. This year, it will be presented as The Horror Show at Extreme Rules. It could be a play on the cinematic matches that are expected on the card or just another way to sell a sometimes meaningless PPV. Either way with only seven matches announced, it will be a telling PPV ahead of WWE’s second-biggest show of the year, SummerSlam. Here is your preview.
United States Championship: Apollo Crews (c) vs MVP
Apollo Crews and his United States Championship run has led to Raw being a refreshing show despite the low viewership it continues to experience. Unfortunately for Crews, it seems that The Hurt Business is on its way to take away his first championship reign on Sunday. MVP, the second-longest reigning United States Champion in WWE history, is looking to win his first championship since returning at the Royal Rumble earlier this year. Add in the fact that he wants to teach Crews a lesson after Crews said no to joining him and you have a real feud on your hands. The winner will walk out with the new United States Championship. If Bobby Lashley is involved, it may spell the end for Crews as champ.
SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The New Day (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro in a Tables Match
The New Day and the team of Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro have been in a feud for some time now, with them finally getting to a match that needs a winner. Cesaro defeated Big E to select the stipulation of a Tables match. It was expected after the team of Nakamura and Cesaro had used one to attack them in the past. This is one that can certainly steal the show.
Smackdown Women’s Championship: Bayley (c) vs Nikki Cross
This will be Bayley‘s second time defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross since winning the title in October of last year. Cross earned the opportunity in a No. 1 Contender’s Fatal Four Way and has been the pest in Bayley’s way ever since. The champion has been quite busy since winning her second title alongside Sasha Banks, making it possible that she has completely overlooked Cross heading into this match. It could be Nikki’s time to strike and hold singles gold for the first time.
Wyatt Swamp Fight: Braun Strowman vs Bray Wyatt
The first cinematic match of the night will come forth in the Wyatt Swamp Fight as Braun Strowman returns to the place he was created to take on the revived “Eater of Worlds,” Bray Wyatt. These two seemed destined for a third match after whatever this Swamp match leads to. Especially with the Universal Championship not on the line for this encounter. It’s interesting to think about what can come from this match considering how creative Wyatt is and what he could have up his sleeve. A revival of Sister Abigail wouldn’t be too crazy to think since he learned how to bring those back to life. This very well could be the most noteworthy match on the entire show.
WWE Championship: Drew McIntyre (c) vs Dolph Ziggler
With a stipulation yet to be named, Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE Championship against the man who wants all the credit for McIntyre’s rise, Dolph Ziggler. Ziggler was one of the wrestlers traded for AJ Styles, and it was only one night until he got a world title match on the PPV. These two’s history includes a tag team championship run together and almost a year-long partnership side by side. Depending on the stipulation, this could be a match that ends up in Ziggler’s favor considering how last second the announcement will be. But of course, there is the factor that Drew McIntyre has been almost unstoppable since winning the Royal Rumble in January and that very well should continue through Sunday.
Eye For An Eye – Rey Mysterio vs Seth Rollins
An eye for an eye. A match that makes too much sense that no one and I mean no one knows how the finish will look or come about. Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins have been at each other’s throats for months now and it will all come down to one ripping out the eyeball of their opponent. Yes. Somehow this match is going to happen and it’s expected to be a cinematic match as well. There has never been this style of the match in the history of the WWE, but one would expect someone is walking out of Extreme Rules with the need of an eyepatch moving forward.
RAW Women’s Championship: Asuka (c) vs Sasha Banks
There isn’t a better feud going on in the WWE right now. Asuka and Sasha Banks have been in each other’s hair for weeks now after Banks teased to want a singles championship, putting her eyes on the Raw Women’s Championship instead of Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s title. Banks has got the better of Asuka in both matches they’ve been involved in recently, as Banks pinned Asuka three weeks ago and then made Kairi Sane tap out to retain her WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Can 2 Belts Banks be born? Or is Banks not truly ready for Asuka? No matter the solution, this one has all the tools to be the best match on the night. And if Asuka wins, it seems a title match against Kairi Sane is on the horizon as well. Plenty of factors in this one.
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