5 Things that must happen at WWE Extreme Rules

WWE Extreme Rules 2018 will stream live on the WWE Network this coming Sunday i.e. 15th July from PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As Michael Cole would say," it's the one night only when WWE goes extreme." The PPV looks stacked with 11 matches scheduled for the event, with Superstars from both RAW and SmackDown Live being featured on the card.

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The build to the PPV has been sub-par, to say the least, with only a few matches being given significant attention. The 'extreme' aspect of the PPV has also been watered down quite a bit, as the card features a lot of regular matches, with no added stipulations. Amidst the poor ratings and decreasing viewership, WWE needs to put on a decent show for its fans.

The repercussions from the Extreme Rules PPV will directly play into the card for SummerSlam and will set up WWE's plans for the fall of 2018. The expectations surrounding the PPV are quite low, and WWE needs to pull off something huge to pique fan interest. Here is a list of five things that must happen at WWE Extreme Rules for it to be considered a good show.

#5 Kane must not turn on Bryan

Fans were overjoyed when Daniel Bryan and Kane reunited on the June 26th episode of SmackDown Live. 'Team Hell No' is all set to clash with the Bludgeon Brothers for the SmackDown Live Tag Team Championships. The tag titles have received the most significant attention, going into the PPV.

The outcome of this match will definitely play into who will face Daniel Bryan's opponent at SummerSlam. There have been rumors going around of either The Miz costing Bryan the match or Kane turning on Bryan to set up a feud between the two. WWE should definitely not opt to turn the 'Big Red Monster' heel, as a feud with Kane will be a step-down for Daniel Bryan.

'The Leader of the YES Movement' needs to be involved in bigger feuds and title matches at this point in his career. A feud with Kane will turn out to be a pretty boring affair, as the 'Devil's Favorite Demon' is not well-known for his in-ring skills. On the other hand, if WWE was to go the other way, and have Miz interfere, I'm all for it.

#4 Ziggler must retain

Ziggler is in his sixth reign as InterContinental Champion

It is pretty apparent that Dolph Ziggler has been given a new lease of life, ever since he aligned forces with the Scotsman Drew McIntyre, and conquered the InterContinental Championship for the sixth time in his career.

'The Show-Off' has been putting on solid matches with Seth Rollins over the past few weeks, and the 30-Minute Iron Man match between the two will definitely tear the house down. WWE must be wise enough to let Ziggler retain, given the momentum he's riding behind him.

Ziggler is a huge asset for the company, and this might be WWE's last opportunity to do something significant with him. With Ziggler retaining the belt, also provides Rollins with an opportunity to move into the Universal title picture.

#3 Nakamura needs to win gold

Ever since turning heel at WrestleMania 34, Shinsuke Nakamura has really come into his own as a performer. Nakamura had a stellar bout with AJ Styles at Money in the Bank 2018 but was unable to capture the title.

'The King of Strong Style' was supposed to face Jeff Hardy on an episode of SmackDown Live, but he was ruled out of the match due to an injury. Nakamura will have his opportunity to win the coveted United States Championship when he faces Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules.

Nakamura must leave the PPG Paints Arena as the new US Champion; otherwise, it will kill all his momentum. Nakamura as US Champion would create for a lot of fresh match-ups, and allow him to make the US title prominent once again. This will also enable Jeff to take some time off and deal with his nagging back injury.

#2 Rusev needs his one 'Big Match'

Rusev will look to capture his maiden WWE Championship against AJ Styles

Rusev will get a major opportunity this Sunday at Extreme Rules to win his first WWE Championship. This will be the first time that the Bulgarian Brute is competing as a challenger for the company's top prize.

It is highly unlikely that Rusev will defeat AJ Styles, given the secondary treatment that this feud has received. The least fans can hope for is that this match serves as Rusev's stand-out match in the WWE. Despite being a decent in-ring performer, Rusev hasn't had a single big match in the WWE from an in-ring quality point of few.

This could be Rusev's moment to deliver a stellar bout and establish himself as a formidable threat. WWE needs to give this match significant time and let Styles and Rusev create magic in the ring.

#1 Lashley needs to beat Roman and turn heel

After making his emphatic return to the WWE on the night after WrestleMania 34, Bobby Lashley's run on RAW has been a dud. He hasn't been able to connect with the fans in a way WWE would've hoped for. The feud with Sami Zayn and the poorly written segments did no wonders for Lashley, other than relegating him to the background.

But it looks like WWE has big plans for the former ECW Champion, as he is involved in a major match-up against Roman Reigns this Sunday. Two of RAW's biggest stars will battle it out in a bid for supremacy to claim their position atop RAW's food-chain.

Lashley is in dire need of some momentum, and a big win over 'The Big Dog' is definitely a step in the right direction. However, a win alone is not enough; 'The Denominator' also needs some characterization. A heel turn could work as a huge boon for Lashley. Fans of Impact Wrestling would know that Lashley works much better as a heel.RAW needs a top heel and Lashley could very well be that guy.

What do you think will happen at Extreme Rules? Let us know in the comments section below!