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The next pay-per-view on the WWE calendar will be Extreme Rules, which is set to take place on September 26, 2021, live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
After having a horror-themed edition of Extreme Rules last year, WWE has gone back to its traditional approach for the show. As of the writing of this article, a total of six matches have been announced for the event, including five championship matches.
Surprisingly, WWE has not revealed stipulations for any of the announced matches, but that could change in the coming week.
With WWE constantly facing massive competition from AEW, Vince McMahon and company would surely like to deliver at Extreme Rules next Sunday. In order to do so and make the show interesting, fans might see some major returns at the pay-per-view.
Let's take a look at five WWE Superstars who could return at Extreme Rules 2021. Be sure to comment down and let us know your thoughts on the same. Which match are you looking forward to the most?
#5 Sasha Banks could return at WWE Extreme Rules 2021
Sasha Banks was originally scheduled to compete for the SmackDown Women's Championship at SummerSlam last month. But she was pulled from the show at the very last moment due to "unforeseen circumstances", so Becky Lynch returned in her place. The Man defeated Bianca Belair to win the title, and Banks has remained absence ever since.
Lynch and Belair have been feuding over the last month on SmackDown, and the two will now face each other at WWE Extreme Rules 2021 with the title on the line.
Truth be told, neither of the two stars could afford to take a clean loss at the show next Sunday. Fans might just see a disqualification finish to the match, with Banks returning and attacking both women. This development could lead to a triple threat match for the SmackDown Women's Championship, possibly at WWE's mega show in Saudi Arabia next month, Crown Jewel 2021.
#4 Keith Lee could return at Extreme Rules as a monster heel
WWE Extreme Rules 2021 could feature the return of Keith Lee to WWE programming. The former NXT Champion returned to WWE the night after Money in the Bank and faced Bobby Lashley in a losing effort. Lee then had a couple of matches on RAW, but he has again gone missing from TV.
That being said, Lee has been competing in dark matches and squashing his opponents. According to recent reports, Vince McMahon is considering turning him into a monster heel. Considering Lee's limited success on the main roster as a babyface, a character change could help give him a boost.
The WWE Universe could potentially see Lee return at Extreme Rules 2021 as a heel, and having Lee return at the pay-per-view would help put him back in the spotlight in a big way. Among other options, he might target the United States Championship, currently held by former NXT North American Champion Damian Priest.
#3 Austin Theory could return to the main roster at Extreme Rules
Austin Theory had a brief stint on the main roster on Monday Night RAW last year. He first appeared as part of Zelina Vega's faction with Andrade and Angel Garza. He later joined forces with Seth Rollins as his disciple alongside Murphy, though Theory moved back to NXT a few months later.
Since then, he has since been part of The Way, alongside Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell. In a recent tweet following his appearance on the debut episode of NXT 2.0, Austin Theory hinted at moving on to the next level.
With that in mind, fans might see him return to the main roster this coming Sunday at WWE Extreme Rules 2021, where he could quickly make an impression by attacking a fan-favorite star.
#2 Elias could return at WWE Extreme Rules with a new gimmick
WWE Extreme Rules 2021 could also see the return of former WWE 24/7 champion Elias. Last month, WWE started airing vignettes of Elias destroying his guitar and hinting at a gimmick change. But those vignettes suddenly stopped airing, and Elias hasn't been seen whatsoever on Monday Night RAW for the last few weeks.
This trend could change next Sunday, as Elias could show up at Extreme Rules with a fresh gimmick. While Elias almost always managed to get a reaction from the crowd, his gimmick was taking him nowhere. To continue to grow and reach new heights in his career, a gimmick change might be exactly what Elias needs. What do you think his new gimmick will be?
#1 Asuka could return and enter the RAW Women's Championship scene
Another major return that could take place at Extreme Rules is that of former RAW Women's Champion Asuka. The Empress of Tomorrow has been away from WWE television since she competed in the women's Money in the Bank Ladder Match in July.
Asuka recently shared a picture on her Twitter, revealing that she had a dental procedure in which she got new teeth. This could explain her absence from WWE, and fans might see her return as early as WWE Extreme Rules 2021.
If she does come back, she'll likely enter the RAW Women's Championship scene once again. Having Asuka confront the reigning champion, Charlotte Flair or her challenger, Alexa Bliss could pave the way for an exciting feud on WWE RAW.
