'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
They say that when you reach the top of the mountain, you are bound to be surrounded by enemies. Considering WWE Superstars are at the very top of the sports entertainment food chain, betrayals should be commonplace.
Kayfabe aside, betrayals are an important tool when it comes to building a new feud or furthering an existing storyline, adding an additional layer. Some of the most entertaining moments in wrestling history have come from heel and face turns.
At the same time, not every heel turn has the longevity and the power that say, something like the Festival of Friendship does. Extreme Rules could be the site of a betrayal that is either pure gold or a complete dud.
Let me list a few possibilities in this list.
#5 Alexa Bliss turns on Nikki Cross after they lose their match
There was something that Nikki Cross said during the course of SmackDown Live that gave me a glimpse into the future. Cross said that she wanted to become the co-SmackDown Women's Champion with Alexa Bliss, pretty much proving that The Goddess will take advantage of her innocence, use Cross to take Bayley down and grab the prized title for herself.
It is very clear that WWE is getting Nikki Cross primed and ready for what should be a really massive face turn. When Alexa Bliss does show her true colors to Cross or when Cross does eventually come to her senses, she is in position to become the top babyface in the female roster, battling the tyranny of Bliss. It would really make for some great TV.
I think that the turn could very well happen at Extreme Rules 2019. This would potentially set the two lovely women up for a SummerSlam clash next month.
#4 Sasha Banks attacks Bayley, setting up a brand new feud
There are far too many rumors about Sasha Banks' return to ignore at the moment. Our very own Tom Colohue revealed to us that Sasha Banks had asked for some time off following her WrestleMania match and advertising indicates that her return could happen very soon. I wonder if she will be at Extreme Rules to cost Bayley her match.
Bayley faces insurmountable odds as she's all set to face both Nikki Cross and Alexa Bliss. WWE has booked her strong meaning that there's always the possibility that she could be on the verge of picking up a clean win when the unthinkable happens to her. Just as she is about to score the pinfall, Sasha Banks could interfere.
This could set up a fantastic Sasha Banks vs. Bayley program for SummerSlam. It would be a match that is worthy of such a big stage.
#3 Drew McIntyre takes out his frustrations on Shane McMahon
When you see Drew McIntyre in a crowd, because of his physical attributes, the man just stands out of the pack. And yet, WWE seems determined to make him a part of a herd, a community, a whole group of Shane McMahon's cronies.
I'm assuming that the eventual aim for McIntyre may be to branch out and become an antagonist against Shane McMahon's tyranny. If Roman Reigns and The Undertaker do indeed make short work of this team, could we potentially see Shane McMahon express his discontent at the result?
And when this happens, could we see Drew McIntyre break free of the shackles, to take Shane McMahon and his hired henchmen down? Imagine the kind of pop this will receive from the WWE Universe.
Fans would be thrilled.
#2 The Undertaker gets revenge for his rather embarrassing WrestleMania loss
There are only two men to have defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania. The first is The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar, who was hounded for months by The Undertaker to avenge his loss. The second is Roman Reigns, who has received no measure of retribution from the legendary Deadman yet.
The WWE Universe was, in fact, quite puzzled by the fact that The Undertaker showed up on RAW to aid Roman Reigns in his fight against Shane McMahon, instead of taking him on. The match at Extreme Rules could be a ruse for The Undertaker to let his true intentions be known to the world. Could The Undertaker turn on Roman Reigns to set up a SummerSlam match?
We know that The Undertaker is in far better shape now than he was then. The match between the two men could in fact, be quite good.
#1 Paul Heyman turns on his client before the cash-in
When Paul Heyman stepped out to deliver his promo on RAW, I'm sure that a lot of people assumed it wouldn't be as the advocate of Brock Lesnar. The fact of the matter is that Heyman is an important backstage figure now as the Executive Director of RAW, and that is a role that he could potentially own.
And the fact that he's the advocate for Mr. Money in the Bank, Brock Lesnar, could be a detriment to this role. I'd rather have him as an on-screen authority figure at this point than as the mouthpiece for Brock Lesnar.
And because of this, I wouldn't mind seeing him turn at Extreme Rules before Lesnar cashes his contract in. Maybe he could associate himself with Lashley going forward based on the momentum Lashley has from squashing Rey Mysterio.
We could see Lesnar vs. Lashley at SummerSlam then.
