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Extreme Rules is the last stop for WWE before SummerSlam, which is one of WWE's biggest PPVs in the year. WWE are calling this year's Extreme Rules PPV as "The Horror Show at Extreme Rules" with a few blood-curdling matches on offer.
The show will see a first-ever Wyatt Swamp Fight where Braun Strowman and Bray Wyatt will wrestle in a non-title match. Four titles will be on the line, with Drew McIntyre facing Dolph Ziggler, with the challenger having the opportunity to choose the stipulation. The RAW and SmackDown Women's titles will be on the line as Asuka defends her title against Sasha Banks, while Banks' best friend Bayley faces Nikki Cross.
Another first-ever match in WWE is the Eye for an Eye match between Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins, which certainly lives up to the "horror" tag that WWE is using to promote the show.
With Extreme Rules just days away, let's take a look at the Extreme Rules rumors that you need to know:
#5 Backstage details on Wyatt Swamp Fight at Extreme Rules
The Wyatt Swamp match will be yet another cinematic match in WWE in 2020, following the success of the Boneyard match and the Firefly Fun House match. WWE - or Bray Wyatt - haven't revealed a lot about the match or what fans can expect from the match.
WrestlingInc reported earlier this month that the match was set to take place in the second week of July, which means that it could have already been filmed. Ellis Edwards, a stunt coordinator who has been involved in pro wrestling for a long time, has been "involved with several stunts for this shoot".
Bray Wyatt is "heavily involved" in the production of this match, along with backstage producer Jeremy Borash and Triple H. Borash was a key part of IMPACT during their cinematic Matt Hardy matches.
The report also states that WWE's plan is to showcase the "Three Faces Of Wyatt", with the feud culminating at SummerSlam next month.
#4 Longer matches at Extreme Rules
WWE have had to make quite a few adjustments to their shows, as well as their roster due to the pandemic. One change that Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue recently revealed that WWE has made is to have longer matches. Tom revealed on Dropkick DiSKussions that because WWE have fewer Superstars to work with, they have made a decision to have longer matches.
He revealed that this would apply to this weekend's Extreme Rules pay-per-view as well.
"There has been a mandate from the WWE management recently to have longer matches. A large part of this is down to the fact that they don't have as many people as they normally would, so they have to stretch things out a little bit. It worked out, I think about a week and a half ago on SmackDown, where they just hit all the different divisions, one match for each one and it really helped keep things hyped up, but obviously, they have lost a few more people since then. RAW this week was very much built around that as well. So for Extreme Rules, the same rule applies.
He also revealed on the show that the two cinematic matches - Bray Wyatt vs Braun Strowman, and Seth Rollins vs Rey Mysterio, are pretty long.
#3 Taping plans for Extreme Rules
As previously mentioned, the Wyatt Swamp Fight between Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman has reportedly been pretaped, most likely in an offsite location. The other cinematic match at Extreme Rules will be Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins facing each other, which will also likely be taped beforehand.
This leaves WWE with four other matches (as of writing) that will all happen in the ring at the Performance Center. Fightful Select had reported earlier this week that WWE had originally planned to hold the show live on July 19. But they have since scrapped the plans to broadcast live and will tape the show.
According to the report, WWE has decided to tape shows between Wednesday, the 15th of July through to Tuesday. This would mean that WWE will have to not only tape Extreme Rules but two SmackDown shows, one RAW show, as well as two NXT shows.
WWE's decision to tape the shows could be because of the rising number of COVID-19 cases not just in WWE, but also in the state of Florida.
#2 Spoiler for Drew McIntyre vs Dolph Ziggler match at Extreme Rules
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE Championship against former tag team partner Dolph Ziggler at Extreme Rules this Sunday. Many will argue that this is The Scottish Psychopath's easiest title defense since he won the belt at WrestleMania 36 after defeating Brock Lesnar.
But there's a twist in the tale in this feud between McIntyre and Ziggler. The ShowOff will be able to choose the stipulation for this title match at Extreme Rules, which will be revealed on the day of the show. Ziggler revealed in an appearance on The Bump that this stipulation "will be something never been done before"
But it seems that someone in WWE may have inadvertently leaked the stipulation for the show. WWE posted an ad on social media promoting this match which revealed the stipulation - a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
This could very well be a mistake and we will have to wait until Sunday to learn if this is the stipulation that Dolph Ziggler will add to get a chance to win the WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre.
#1 Backstage details on Eye for an Eye match at Extreme Rules
One of the most bizarre match that is set to take place at Extreme Rules is the Eye for an Eye match between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio. The feud between the two RAW Superstars has been very personal, following the addition of Mysterio's son Dominik into the storyline. The match will end once one Superstar 'removes the eye of the other.'
Of course, the gouging of the eye will not be real and special effects will aid the end of the match. According to Dave Meltzer, computer-generated imagery (CGI) will be used 'to simulate the removal of the eye' and will help give this match a realistic feel.
The match could be a way to write off Rey Mysterio from WWE television as the WWE legend's contract has reportedly expired. This could perhaps be Mysterio's final match in WWE if he does end up leaving.
WWE already have a replacement in mind for the feud between Mysterio and Rollins if the former leaves the company per reports. Kevin Owens has apparently been earmarked to take Mysterio's place after Extreme Rules.
