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Extreme Rules will take place this Sunday out of the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The card has shaped up to be a pretty good one, with big names such as AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan participating in marquee matches. It is also wonderful to see that most of the major titles will be defended at the show, with the exception of the Cruiserweight and Universal Championships.
However, Extreme Rules is merely a warm-up to Summerslam, so do not expect any big changes to occur at the event, as the WWE will want to feature its biggest names at The Biggest Party of the Summer. So, let's check out the predicted results for every match featured on the Extreme Rules card.
#1 The New Day vs. SAnitY: Tables Match Kick-off
SAnitY debuted by ambushing and eviscerating The Usos before ultimately setting their focus on The New Day. The two trios are slated to face-off against one another in the kick-off match of Extreme Rules in a Tables Match.
SAnitY's main roster run is due to truly take-off and their match against The New Day may establish them as fearsome forces to be reckoned with on Smackdown Live.
Expect a frenetic, high-octane match to open the show with SAnitY getting the win. SAnitY needs their credibility to be established and The New Day will not be hurt by the loss.
Prediction: SAnitY wins.
#2 Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens: Steel-Cage Match
This feud may be considerably lacking in substance, but it has been extremely enjoyable. Strowman and Owens are two of the most entertaining Superstars on the entire roster and are capable of making the most juvenile segments seem masterful.
Owens has spent the entirety of this feud being Strowman's whipping-boy and at Extreme Rules, he will have nowhere to run as he will be locked in a steel cage with The Monster Among Men. This feud is still in its infancy and is nowhere close to having run its course so expect it to continue past Extreme Rules.
Prediction: Owens wins by escaping the steel cage
#3 Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley: Singles Match
While this match is not officially a #1 Contender's match for Brock Lesnar's Universal Championship, it may as well be. Reigns and Lashley will be facing-off at Extreme Rules to settle their differences after their feud became considerably intense this Monday on Raw.
The winner of this match will undoubtedly want to face Lesnar at SummerSlam and while Reigns has been on about deserving another chance for a while now, he has faced Lesnar way too many times, so expect him to fall to The Dominator, as Lashley wins and sets his sights on Lesnar.
Prediction: Lashley wins via pinfall.
#4 Finn Balor vs. 'Constable' Baron Corbin: Singles Match
Ever since Baron Corbin has dropped the 'Lone Wolf' gimmick and has been appointed as the 'Constable' of Raw by Stephanie McMahon, his career has been reinvigorated. His mic work has improved by spades, his in-ring work has become crisper and he just seems to be enjoying himself.
Balor has been floundering in Raw's mid-card for a long-time, so it is nice to see him mix it up with a proxy authority figure on Raw. This feud has got some serious legs to it and expect it to carry over to Summerslam, with Corbin picking up the win this Sunday.
Prediction: Baron Corbin wins via pinfall.
#5 Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt (c) vs. The B-Team: Tag-Team Match for the Raw Tag-Team Championship
The B-Team's ascent to the top of the Tag-team division has been one of the more fun storylines Raw has had going on over the last few weeks. The two teams will face-off against one another at Extreme Rules to determine if the B-Team will actually reign supreme.
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt's reign has been underwhelming to this point, as more was expected from the Deleters of Worlds.
However, expect them to hang onto their titles a little while longer, as they are the better choice to carry the belts into Summerslam. It is highly unlikely that the B-Team will taste championship gold, so expect them to go the same route as Breezango did when the duo was over on Smackdown Live.
Prediction: Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt retain via pinfall.
#6 The Bludgeon Brothers (c) vs. Team Hell-No: Tag-Team Match for the Smackdown Tag-Team Championships
Smackdown Live's tag-team division has not fared much better than Raw's in recent months. The Bludgeon Brothers have run roughshod over the entire division and no one seemed to be a serious challenge to the hammer-wielding duo.
Things changed when Kane came to Daniel Bryan's rescue and the two reformed Team Hell-No, one of WWE's most beloved tag-teams.
It was a mark-out moment and since then Team Hell-No has been declared the #1 Contenders for the WWE Smackdown Tag-Team Championships. Bryan has been in inspired form since his return and Kane is wonderful opposite the Bearded Wonder, so expect the duo to get the better of the Bludgeon Brothers and carry the tag-team titles into Summerslam.
Prediction: Team Hell-No wins via pinfall to become the new WWE Smackdown Tag-Team Champions
#7 Carmella (c) vs. Asuka: Singles Match for the Smackdown Women's Championship with James Ellsworth suspended over the ring in a Shark Cage
Carmella pinning Asuka has been immortalized in the history books. James Ellsworth has returned to the side of the Princess of Staten Island, but he will not be ringside as he will be suspended above the ring in a shark cage, while Carmella and Asuka face-off below.
Carmella has never been positioned as someone who can beat Asuka clean, so don't be surprised if some trickery is involved for her to retain her title. Handing Asuka another loss would be disastrous, so it is a safe bet she will win by disqualification after Ellsworth interferes to somehow save Carmella (probably by spraying Asuka in the face like he did on Smackdown Live).
Prediction: Asuka wins via DQ. Carmella retains her Smackdown Women's Championship.
#8 Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins: 30-minute Iron Man Match for the Intercontinental Championship
Remember when Ziggler won the United States Championship on Smackdown Live and then relinquished it because he wanted to win the big one? Well, if you do, forget about it because he is now Intercontinental Champion and will be facing Seth Rollins in a 30-minute Iron Man Match at Extreme Rules.
Ziggler's reign is still quite fresh and Rollins has done everything he possibly could to elevate the title. Ziggler is going to hold onto his title for a little while longer, presumably with some help from Drew McIntyre and this feud will either carry over into Summerslam, or Rollins set his eyes higher up the card.
Prediction: Ziggler just about retains.
#9 Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax: Extreme Rules Match for the WWE Raw Women's Championship
This feud had run its course by the time Nia Jax captured the Raw Women's Championship at Wrestlemania 34. It was a feel-good moment to end the feud, as the slimy heel, Alexa Bliss, finally got her comeuppance.
But with Little Miss Bliss winning the Money in the Bank briefcase and cashing in on Nia Jax, we are in for a re-tread of a rivalry that feels tiring, to say the least.
The most exciting element in this feud is Ronda Rousey. The Baddest Woman on the Planet is currently suspended from the WWE but is slated to be present in the crowd at Extreme Rules.
Her presence will undoubtedly play a role in the outcome of the match, as it is highly unlikely she will just watch the match patiently from her seat in the audience. Rousey has bad blood with Bliss and Jax, so expect her to feature heavily in the outcome of the match.
Prediction: Alexa Bliss retains after Ronda Rousey interferes
#10 Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: Singles Match for the United States Championship
After spending the last few months repeatedly failing to win the WWE Championship, Shinsuke Nakamura has set his sights on Jeff Hardy and his United States Championship. Both wrestlers are arguably past their prime, but they can still put on great matches and they might just create magic together at Extreme Rules.
Nakamura's heel character has been working so great and even though his repeated losses to Styles hurt his momentum, he is still at the forefront of Smackdown Live programming. Nakamura deserves to win main roster gold and he should get into a long-term feud with Hardy over the United States Championship.
Prediction: Nakamura wins via pinfall to become the United States Champion
#11 AJ Styles (c) vs. Rusev: Singles Match for the WWE Championship
Rusev's rise to become the #1 contender to AJ Styles' WWE Championship came out of nowhere. Regardless of that fact, Rusev will make the most of his opportunity in the limelight against one of the best wrestlers in the world. AJ Styles' reign has shown him to be a fighting champion and this match will be a test of speed versus strength as The Bulgarian Brute will hope to lock Styles in The Accolade to win his first WWE Championship.
However, after coming off a long feud with Shinsuke Nakamura, it is extremely unlikely that Styles will lose his title in a one-off match against Rusev at Extreme Rules. Expect Rusev to put up a good fight, but ultimately lose to The Champ that Runs the Camp, who will defend his Championship in a marquee match at Summerslam.
Prediction: AJ Styles retains via pinfall
What do you think is going to happen at Extreme Rules? Share your views in the comments below!
