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Extreme Rules is this Sunday and, believe it or not, the card actually looks like it could be one of the best of the year, if WWE makes the right moves and gives each match its appropriate time. Extreme Rules is usually a filler event, so its stacked card is a nice surprise. Whether that's an answer to falling ratings, All Elite Wrestling's Fight for the Fallen on the previous night, or other factors, it's a welcome surprise.
Extreme Rules is the final pitstop before SummerSlam. Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff seem set to take over their respective shows immediately afterwards. The priority here should be shining a spotlight on new stars and ending any "wild card" leftovers before the big event a month from now.
Seth, Becky, Kofi, and Drew Gulak seem certain to retain their titles, but other things are up in the air.
#1 Bayley retains the SmackDown Women's Championship
This is the most prominent "wild card" feud on the show. Why Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, two Raw superstars, are in a feud with the SmackDown Women's Champion remains unknown, but it hasn't exactly helped the blue brand, and it's already gone on too long, with the title feeling like an afterthought compared to Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss' unusual alliance.
One can never discount an Alexa Bliss victory because she's such a backstage favourite, though that would throw the blue brand into turmoil when the move to Fox is imminent.
Bayley should win here and then Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross can explore their own story on Raw. It's about time that the "wild card" rule came to an end. It hasn't done anything for ratings and has made both shows significantly worse.
#2 Daniel Bryan and Rowan pin Heavy Machinery
Heavy Machinery has done a good job in this feud in boosting their profile, but it would be a mistake for them to win the titles. The New Day's presence in this match already makes us think ahead to SummerSlam.
The New Day's link with Daniel Bryan and Rowan from the Kofi Kingston saga earlier in the year is obvious and would make a great backstory for a feud. There's also the intriguing possibility of Big E and Xavier Woods holding the tag titles while Kofi Kingston holds the WWE Championship. That kind of thing adds to a feud. That's a tag team title feud worthy of a big four pay per view.
Heavy Machinery will get their shot on another day, but they should take the pin here so that the champions and New Day can hit the ground running in the build to SummerSlam.
#3 Shane McMahon's match doesn't get too much time
This promo from Kevin Owens is getting such good reception because WWE has finally figured out that fans are tired of both Raw and SmackDown being the Shane McMahon show. That goes for Extreme Rules, too. His match has every indication of being one of the two worst on the card (the main event is, sadly, the other), and it doesn't need much time.
The Undertaker's entrance alone is going to make this match feel longer than it needs to be.
The whole thing is a jumbled mess. Nothing about it makes sense and it has only set Roman Reigns back in what could have been a fantastic year for him. Unfortunately, the climax of this story will come at SummerSlam, so the only thing this should do is set up the singles match between Roman and Shane there. It doesn't need long to do that.
#4 Aleister Black and Cesaro get time
Instead of Shane McMahon's mess of a tag team match hogging up time that it doesn't need, why not give that time to this match instead? Aleister Black's return to the ring was long overdue and Cesaro is as an exciting opponent for him as any. Cesaro is probably the most underrated wrestler on WWE's roster. He can deliver brilliance whenever you want him to.
If given time, this encounter could well be the match of the night. I'm sure many dreamed of this back when Black was in NXT.
Let Cesaro and Aleister Black have the time they need to put on a show-stealer. Black will obviously win, so WWE should give him the match he needs to vault himself into the upper tier of the company. Meanwhile, Cesaro won't lose much in defeat if he goes down in a tremendous battle that makes him look good, too.
#5 Ricochet retains the United States Championship
Speaking of a match of the night contender, this is also going to be a strong candidate to steal the show. Ricochet and AJ Styles gave us a tantalizing preview last week on Raw and they'll only tune up the volume on pay per view with no commercial interruptions.
Styles goes into the match as a heel, which makes it tenser. He might now not be averse to having Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson lend him a hand in the match.
Either way though, Ricochet should win. A victory over AJ Styles would give Ricochet a tremendous boost on the road to his becoming a made man in WWE. Styles, as a heel, would lose nothing in defeat, especially if he engages in shenanigans during or after the match.
Styles doesn't belong in the US title picture anyway. With this new faction in tow, he should be a constant threat to the Universal Championship.
#6 Braun Strowman wins
Two years ago, Braun Strowman was the hottest thing in the company. Everyone loved how he used to wreck things. That version of Strowman has been lost for most of the past year plus, though we saw hints of its return last week on Raw in a wild match with Bobby Lashley.
Now they'll do battle again in a last man standing match. I actually don't think that Braun Strowman winning is going to do much for him in the long run. We've seen this kind of story too many times now for me to believe the company wants to give him another extended push. Nevertheless, he's still the right man to come out on top against Bobby Lashley, who probably has even less upside.
Mostly, fans are probably just hoping these two will tear the stage down in their match. WWE should let that come to pass.
#7 The Usos win in a thriller
Sorry, but The Revival's second reign as Raw Tag Team Champions hasn't been that much different from their first one. They're being treated like they don't matter, and if that's going to be the case, they might as well not be champions. At least we know that WWE will mostly treat The Usos right.
With the Viking Raiders continuing to squash jobbers on Raw, a match between them and The Usos at SummerSlam is obvious, and it would be a really good one, too, if given the right time and build.
The Revival certainly deserves more than they've gotten, but I don't believe that WWE will ever give them their due, bar a temporary aberration should they finally sign a new contract with the company.
WWE needs to start treating its champions like actual champions and The Usos are better contenders for that at this time.
