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Extreme Rules has been a regular fixture on the WWE's pay-per-view calendar for close to a decade, so it's only natural that we have seen some pretty shocking moments in the history of the event. Who could forget CM Punk cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase to beat Jeff Hardy just minutes after he won the World Title, or Daniel Bryan sending Kane through a flaming table? There are so many more positive memories associated with the Extreme pay-per-view.
Sometimes, it could be a result of having so many gimmick matches on the show. However, this time there are hardly any of them. Half of the matches are singles matches with no added stipulation or gimmick. There is still a wide scope for plenty of surprises at the pay-per-view. Even the most transitional of events could produce a nice shock or two. So, perhaps, we might see some shocking developments transpire in Pittsburgh on Sunday.
There are currently ten matches scheduled for the event and one for the Kickoff show. Out of the ten, only three matches have got an extreme stipulation while the others remain straight-up singles matches. However, there is quite some potential for these matches to do well. WWE has done an okay job in building excitement and intrigue for this pay-per-view, but it is still likely to be a placeholder between Money in the Bank and SummerSlam. Nevertheless, a few surprises might be in store for us. Here are five of them which are not beyond the realms of possibility.
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#5 More stipulations are added
As mentioned above, only three gimmick matches have been announced for the Extreme Rules main show with the rest being singles matches. From those three, two of them are Extreme Rules regulars, in the Steel Cage and Extreme Rules matches. We are also going to see the first ever Iron Man Match in this event’s history., but it is not enough. Extreme Rules warrants as many gimmick matches as possible in order to stick to the name and purpose of the show. It is usually a show of variety and brutality, but so far it does not look good.
WWE can rectify this by adding a stipulation to various matches. They could help to tell better stories in the ring. Kane and Daniel Bryan lost their WWE Tag Team Championships at Extreme Rules five years ago, in a Tornado Tag Team match. It would be mirrored if they attempt to reclaim their titles in the same match, at the same event. AJ Styles vs Rusev is another example. The WWE Championship feud could really do with a stipulation announcement. After all, the match where AJ Styles won the WWE Championship was actually announced on Twitter a few days before the Smackdown in which he won it.
But perhaps the match most in need of a stipulation is Roman Reigns vs Bobby Lashley. They are likely to be the main event of the Extreme Rules, and it would be a plain mockery to have it remain a singles match. If a normal match main events this pay-per-view, WWE might as well discontinue it. They have been talking trash and brawling all over the place on Monday Night Raw. Also, an added stipulation would likely save the match from descending into a public chorus of boos and people leaving early. This is an urgent matter for the sake of this entire show. If WWE doesn't add a stipulation to this singles non-title main event match between Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley, they are going to be in a big problem towards the end of the show.
#4 The Kickoff match steals the show
Right now, one of the most exciting matches booked for Extreme Rules is on the Kickoff show. We are going to see SAnitY make their WWE pay-per-view debut in a Tables match against The New Day. This match has all the potential in the world to be one of the best matches of the night, especially with the incorporation of tables. It will be a fun one to watch. SAnitY vs The New Day is likely the most exciting Kickoff show match since WrestleMania. Hopefully, they get the time to show their worth to the WWE Universe.
Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe and Killian Dain have not enjoyed the smoothest starts to their WWE main roster careers as they suffered two losses in multi-man competition. However, they can get back on track here with a good showing against The New Day. This is also the most meaningful thing that the positive trio are doing in a very long time. They have not shown their serious side for a while now. It would be refreshing to get a reminder that despite all the pancake shenanigans, The New Day are actually really good at wrestling.
One would think that WWE would hold off on this match, especially since there were already ten matches announced for the show. But at least we will get to see some fun and extreme action. These six men could very well steal the entire show. It would not be the first time a Kickoff match creates such a major impression, as The New Day stole last year's SummerSlam with The Usos from the Kickoff Show. This is more exciting than most of the matches WWE has planned for us, including the likes of Asuka vs Carmella and Finn Balor vs Baron Corbin, among others.
#3 Team Hell No win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships
When Daniel Bryan got ambushed by Harper and Rowan, people got talking about who would they like to see help the Flying Goat against the Bludgeon Brothers. The favorite in that respect was Kane, Daniel Bryan's old tag team partner. Together, they won the WWE Tag Team Championships and held them for eight months. The two of them had an extremely entertaining run too, it was WWE comedy done right. So far, the Team Hell No reunion has gone well. But it could get much better if they beat the Bludgeon Brothers on Sunday.
There are rumors of us seeing Daniel Bryan vs The Miz at SummerSlam to ensure that match happens before Bryan’s current contract expires on September 1st. He is likely to sign an extension though, which could cause said match to be pushed back for longevity purposes. If that happens, Team Hell No could capture the Smackdown Tag Team Championships at Extreme Rules. And to be honest, they look like the best fit team to be the ones to finally defeat the Bludgeon Brothers.
This would be a feel-good moment for both Daniel Bryan and Kane, as they cap-off their storied love-hate relationship with the ultimate and unlikely triumph. Both of them are future WWE Hall of Famers and see them have one last extended run together would be lovely to see. It is always fun when you look back at the good comedy Team Hell No have done together, even for newer fans to go back and see why they are so beloved. Now, only if Dr Shelby would have returned on Smackdown…
#2 Dean Ambrose returns during the IC Title match
Dean Ambrose got injured at the end of 2017 and was expected to be on the shelf for 6-9 months. We are currently in that timeframe and he could be ready to go at any moment. Whenever he returns, it is guaranteed to be exciting. Perhaps some time without Ambrose on TV is what we need to grow back the fondness and support for him. He is expected to return and turn heel immediately, showing his excellent and villainous dark side. However, there is another spot he could return for at this moment before he drifts into full heel mode.
Seth Rollins will face Dolph Ziggler in a 30-minute Iron Man Match for the Intercontinental Championship, with Drew McIntyre in Ziggler's corner at ringside. He is sure to interfere at some point during the match, which begs the question. Will anybody come out to even the odds and help Rollins? It won't be Roman Reigns, because he has his own business to take care of. But it could be his other Shield brother. Dean Ambrose could make his return in aid of the Kingslayer against Ziggler and McIntyre. You can guarantee some excellent action from the ensuing tag team match before they likely move in a different direction.
Dean Ambrose is most certainly turning heel, we just do not know when he is doing so. He could return as one or turn after he is back. This is one of the most intriguing things on the WWE main roster at the moment and hopefully, do the Lunatic Fringe's awaited return justice. It's also not like we have not seen a long-awaited return from injury during an Iron Man Match, as The Undertaker returned as The American Badass during the closing stages of the Iron Man Match between The Rock and Triple H. We could see something similar during the climax of the Intercontinental title match on Sunday.
#1 Bobby Lashley beats Roman Reigns
Roman Reigns vs Bobby Lashley is likely to be the main event of Extreme Rules, despite not having any stipulation attached to it. While it still is a boneheaded decision, WWE could at least shock us if they decide to have Bobby Lashley stand tall at the end of the event. Ever since he returned on the Raw after WrestleMania, Lashley has not been given any material which would build him as a legitimate main eventer. He is, indeed, the most legitimate full-time WWE superstar. They just need to tell his actual story, instead of his three sisters or the fact that he “failed to make an impact” in MMA.
Right now, one can only assume that Brock Lesnar will defend the Universal Championship at SummerSlam and any option is better than to have him and Reigns fight once more. A match with Lashley has been awaited for quite a while now, and it will surely be a slugfest. WWE could also go down the route of having a triple threat for the title. Either way, it would be a pretty colossal surprise if Lashley does pick up the victory over The Big Dog on Sunday. He hasn't lost a match yet since returning. In terms of intrigue, this match will be an exciting one.
At this moment, any number of defeats would not hurt Roman Reigns. He has already main evented four WrestleManias in a row and is consistently the focal point of Raw. So perhaps a slight change in that respect would induce people to actually tune into Monday Night Raw after Raw suffered it’s lowest ratings in history this week. We all know about the monotonous Roman Reigns problem. The Dominator would certainly present something different and can cut one hell of a promo, as evidenced by his run in Impact Wrestling. Once WWE takes the chains off him, Bobby Lashley could become the major main event superstar they wanted him to be ten years ago.
