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WWE Extreme Rules is just a matter of hours away, and the show is certainly stacked. The tenth event under the name, tonight's show will feature more hardcore action, as Superstars hope to capture championship glory, vengeance or just plain old bragging rights.
So far, ten matches have been announced for the show, including a huge tag match featuring The Undertaker and Roman Reigns against Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre. Asides from this, eight titles will be on the line, as Superstars from Monday Night RAW, SmackDown Live and 205 Live will all hope to leave an impression tonight.
With so much going on, there are some things fans probably haven't noticed. Here are six last-minute things you need to know before tonight's Extreme Rules pay per view.
#6 Kofi's injury causes a title change
At WrestleMania 35, Kofi Kingston's eleven-year odyssey culminated in him winning the WWE Championship from Daniel Bryan in a highly emotional match. Since then, Kingston has been a fighting champion, taking on former World Champions like Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler, but it seems this has taken a toll on the New Day star.
This past week, Kingston didn't compete on either RAW or SmackDown Live, due to an injury he has reportedly been dealing with. We don't know the nature or extent of Kingston's injury, but this is something that WWE obviously didn't want. If it's serious enough, then perhaps tonight is the night that Samoa Joe, who will be challenging the Ghanaian Superstar for the gold, finally wins the big one, or perhaps someone else will be walking away with the prestigious title, though we'll get to him later...
#5 Will The Deadman turn heel?
Tonight, The Undertaker will return to the ring for his first match since Super Showdown, when he teams with Roman Reigns to take on Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre. Though the two former World Champions seem to be on the same page, things may not be as pleasant as it seems.
Most fans will remember 2017, just two years ago, when the Big Dog defeated the Phenom in the main event of WrestleMania 33, handing the legendary Superstar his second loss at the show of shows. Proclaiming that the WWE was his yard now the next night on RAW, Reigns certainly made an impact the last time he shared the ring with the Phenom, and though the pair haven't come to blows yet, could that change under the bright lights of tonight's pay per view?
#4 Will the Funhouse take over tonight?
On the RAW after WrestleMania 35, the WWE Universe saw the return of Bray Wyatt, though the former World Champion was much different. Gone were the days of gothic imagery and macabre tones, now replaced by a Mr Rogersesque persona, which was still creepy in its own way.
Over the past few months, Wyatt has continued to appear on the titantron, promoting his own brand of weird, though we're yet to see the eater of worlds return to the ring. Tonight may indeed be the night that fans finally get to see the new Wyatt in action, as reports suggest Wyatt is ready to come back any day now.
Who Wyatt will feud with first remains a mystery, though Universal Champion Seth Rollins should definitely be alert tonight, if the new and 'improved' Bray does show up.
#3 We could have co-champions
Nikki Cross has only been on the main roster for a few months now, but the pint-size Scottish Superstar has had a big impression. Aligning herself with her 'friend' Alexa Bliss, Cross has done everything possible for Little Miss Bliss, even winning Alexa her title match tonight.
Not only that, but Cross will be a part of the match also, as the two will face Bayley in a handicap match for the Huggable One's SmackDown Women's Title. The former Sanity member has claimed that if she wins the gold tonight, she will be the co-holder of the title with Bliss, similar to Laycool sharing the Diva's Title in 2010.
With so much against her, it seems Bayley's days as the SmackDown Women's Champion are over, though the lovable Superstar has made a career of defying expectations and may have an ace in the hole, in the missing Sasha Banks.
#2 More matches could be added
WWE Extreme Rules 2019 has a stacked card, with ten matches currently being announced for the show. But despite a huge event featuring several titles on the line, a mixed-tag Winner Takes All main event and even an appearance by The Undertaker, it seems that the company isn't done adding quite just yet.
According to reports, WWE may be adding more matches to the show, reportedly to give Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff, the two Executive Directors of RAW and SmackDown Live, a clean slate by wrapping up current storylines. Though nothing has been made official by WWE, people have speculated on an IC title match between Finn Balor and Shinsuke Nakamura being added, as well as a Women's Tag Title match between champions The IIconics and the number one contenders the Kabuki Warriors.
#1 Will the Beast strike tonight?
WWE Champion Kofi Kingston and Universal Champion Seth Rollins may have their hands full tonight when they take on Samoa Joe and Baron Corbin, but there's a much bigger problem looming for the two titleholders. After all, Paul Heyman has vowed that his client Brock Lesnar will cash-in his Money in the Bank contract on one of the two Superstars.
To be fair, this isn't the first time Heyman has made the claim, as Brock was initially scheduled to cash-in on the RAW before Super Showdown, and after he didn't, tried to cash in at the Saudi event, only to be stopped by the Beastslayer. Whether Brock does appear tonight remains to be seen, but we could indeed be mere hours away from a new WWE or Universal Champion being crowned.
