Extreme Rules 2021 Rumors: Popular character to lose after 5 years, Possible spoiler on title changes 

Extreme Rules 2021 is this Sunday and it's the first pay-per-view for the final quarter of 2021. It isn't a card featuring many matches, meaning that Extreme Rules 2021 will likely be a short pay-per-view spanning a maximum of three hours.

There are interesting matches, and the outcomes will directly impact WWE programming as feuds could wrap up ahead of the WWE Draft. Here are a few of the biggest rumors ahead of Extreme Rules 2021:

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#3. Potential news on the Roman Reigns vs "Demon" Balor match at Extreme Rules 2021

Extreme Rules 2021 will most likely be headlined by Roman Reigns vs "The Demon" Finn Balor. For Balor, it's his first pay-per-view since SummerSlam 2019. Although Finn Balor returned to the WWE main roster a couple of days before Money in the Bank 2021, he hasn't competed in either of the pay-per-views that have happened since.

Finn Balor's first attempt to secure a Universal title match at SummerSlam was thwarted by Baron Corbin and John Cena, with the latter signing the contract to set up a blockbuster SummerSlam main event.

Finn Balor eventually got his Universal Championship match on SmackDown but lost as expected. It didn't take long for a rematch to be set up as he made his return as "The Demon" after more than two years to confront Roman Reigns at Madison Square Garden.

While Finn Balor was originally scheduled to face Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules 2021, his return as The Demon added higher stakes to the match. Finn Balor hasn't lost as The Demon since June 2016, when Samoa Joe defeated him in his first NXT farewell.

The Demon remains undefeated on the main roster and that streak is likely to end at Extreme Rules 2021. According to Bet Online, Roman Reigns looks to be in a prime position to defeat The Demon at Extreme Rules 2021.

By doing so, Roman Reigns' Universal title reign will be kept intact, and his year-long championship run will continue. It shouldn't come as too big a surprise, especially since he is already scheduled for a match against Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel 2021.

#2. Possible spoilers on title changes ahead of Extreme Rules 2021

A warning beforehand: The following could potentially contain spoilers for title matches at Extreme Rules 2021. Out of six matches on the Extreme Rules 2021 card, only one so far is a non-title bout: Liv Morgan vs Carmella.

While Liv Morgan is expected to defeat Carmella at Extreme Rules 2021, the remaining matches are high-stakes title bouts. Apart from the Universal Championship, four titles will be on the line - both the Women's titles, the SmackDown Tag Team title, and the United States Championship.

According to Bet Online, there are currently no title changes expected to take place at Extreme Rules 2021. This means Damian Priest, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and The Usos are likely to walk out with their titles intact.

If this happens, it won't be surprising. Currently, all five of the above-mentioned superstars have momentum on their side, and losing their titles might be viewed a bit controversially.

Charlotte Flair seems to be the most vulnerable in this case, as several of her championship reigns have been short-lived. While there have been several pay-per-views in WWE history without title changes, Extreme Rules 2021 might have one just for the sake of it. However, we hope that doesn't happen. If there is a title change at Extreme Rules 2021, then it should be for a long-term storyline.

#1. The reason why WWE shifted Bobby Lashley vs Randy Orton from Extreme Rules 2021

One of the marquee matches for Extreme Rules 2021 was the WWE Championship match between Bobby Lashley and Randy Orton. Had the Big E scenario played out at Extreme Rules 2021, this match could have even been the main event.

However, there were a few circumstances that changed things - namely AEW. Since WWE's broadcasting rights revenue now surpasses pay-per-view revenue, it's important to have big matches and moments on television. AEW Dynamite had beaten RAW narrowly in the 18-49 demographic ratings, and that warranted a response.

In the storyline, Randy Orton had "politicked" his way to getting a WWE title shot on RAW instead of Extreme Rules 2021. After Bobby Lashley retained the title against The Viper, Big E cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase, doing just as he promised that same day.

According to Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE reportedly moved the match from Extreme Rules 2021 to RAW in an attempt to gain ratings:

“They moved the pay-per-view match to Raw," said Melzter. "Originally they were going to do the tag team title match. The whole show last week was built to set up this tag team title match on this week’s Raw and then they pulled the match because they lost in the ratings and they’re putting Randy Orton and Bobby Lashley, the pay-per-view main event on TV tomorrow night. Yea, that’s among the responses [to AEW]. I’m not surprised.” (H/T WrestlingNews.co)

It's an interesting move to make, but that means that unless there's a last-minute announcement between now and Sunday, the WWE title will not be on the line at Extreme Rules 2021.