Extreme Rules predictions: Uncertainty over Dolph Ziggler

Extreme Rules is coming up this weekend, and actually has a pretty solid card overall. Who will be the winners in WWE‘s special pay-per-view where nearly every match has a stipulation? Well, let’s take a look.

Extreme Rules Match: Randy Orton vs. The Big Show - Honestly, I don’t know how WWE is going to go on this one. Neither guy has done a lot lately, and a win here isn’t going to do much. Orton is reportedly set to go into a feud with Dolph Ziggler over the World title, so there’s a good chance he’s walking out with the W. However, this could all change, depending on what happens in the World title match the same night (more on that in a bit).

Strap Match: Sheamus vs. Mark Henry - This is a feud from about two years ago that WWE is deciding to revisit. Right now, it doesn’t seem like much, but could go towards who will be considered a top contender for the World title down the road. About a year ago, I probably would have picked Sheamus for this match, but since returning from injury, Henry has been on a tear and has rarely lost in singles match since then. I’m going with “The World’s Strongest Man” on this one.

World Championship-Triple Threat Ladder Match: Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler (Champion) - If this had been a week ago, I would have said Dolph Ziggler, no question. However, Ziggler’s future as champion is in doubt. During this past week on Smackdown, Swagger wound up kicking Ziggler in the head legitimately, and the kick was so stiff that Ziggler suffered temporary amnesia. Although the amnesia has subsided, it came with a very severe concussion. Right now, it is unknown if Ziggler is going to be cleared to compete this Sunday. He is hoping to be, but WWE does not take chances with concussions, and if Ziggler is not cleared, I see WWE stripping him of the title.

I hope that doesn’t happen, but there’s always that possibility. If it doesn’t happen, Ziggler should retain the title. If it does, I’m guessing the match will be turned into one-on-one with ADR and Swagger fighting for the vacant title, with ADR walking away as a 2-time champion.

Cage Match: Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar - This is the quintessential “rubber match” for these two, and it’s the hardest to predict. While I could see Triple H coming out on top due to his DVD coming out later this year, at the same time, Lesnar has more to gain from a win. Both are part-time wrestlers, but with Triple H basically running the company now, it makes very little sense for him to win here. He doesn’t need the win, and likely will be gone from TV after this match (at least in a physical role), and there has been talk of building up Lesnar towards a title match down the road, so it makes the most sense for Lesnar to be victorious.

WWE Championship-Last Man Standing: John Cena (Champion) vs. Ryback - While the severity of Cena’s Achilles tendon injury needs to be factored in, Cena doesn’t seem interested in letting it heal by taking some time off. Unless the doctors say otherwise, Cena isn’t going anywhere any time soon. While I do think Ryback will be either WWE or World Champion very soon (by the end of the year, if I was a betting man), I don’t see it happening right now. Of course, I’ve been wrong in the past, but Cena has not had a short title reign in a long time, and WWE isn’t really interested in short reigns anyway.