Extreme Rules
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WWE Extreme Rules 2018: Preview & Predictions

Ahmed Shah·
WWE
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WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view comes to you this year from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania…

A PPV like Extreme Rules usually has an unnecessary amount of gimmick matches – however, this year the card looks stacked with a number of fresh title matches set to take centre stage.

New Day vs. SAnitY (Tables Match)

SAnitY have been on the receiving end of a few L’s coming into the PPV so I expect a strong showing from the Eric Young-led stable. The build-up has been lacklustre but each team possesses the ability to put on a great opening match. Each performer in this match is extremely talented in their own right and a win here for SAnitY over an established New Day team should pave the way for some increased TV-time for Young, Wolfe and Dain.

Unfortunately, this match could be one of two potential matches that finds itself on the kick-off show.

Winners: SAnitY (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain)

Finn Balor vs “Constable” Baron Carbin

The “constable” gimmick has breathed new life into the Baron Corbin character after a forgettable 2017. While Balor has been floundering in the upper mid-card ever since his untimely injury while Universal Champion, the WWE brass has been experimenting with Corbin’s pulling power and attitude as they remain undecided about whether to go all-in with a push. It is arguable who needs the win more here but, again, a lack of a concrete story does not add great depth or interest into this match for me.

This is the other contender to be on the kick-off show.

Winner: Baron Corbin

RAW Tag Team Championship: The Deleters of Worlds (Wyatt and Hardy) © vs. The B-Team (Dallas and Axel)

It’s brother versus brother (don’t let Vince hear you though) as Bray Wyatt teams up with “woken” partner, Matt Hardy, to take on the team of his brother Bo Dallas and his tag-team partner, Curtis Axel. This match is WWE’s attempt at building back up the RAW tag team division after burning it to the ground at WrestleMania 34.

This match stands out for its layered and rather compelling build, as compared to some of the other matches, with the B-Team scoring a couple of wins over Matt Hardy in singles competition and trying to get inside of the head of the wacky duo of Wyatt and Hardy. Since this is the first clash between the pair, and with the B-Team not having enough of a momentum behind them, I’m going to go with Wyatt and Hardy to retain and show some sportsmanship at the end of the match.

Winners: Deleters of Worlds (Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy), and still RAW Tag Team Champions

Smackdown Tag Team Championships: Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) © vs. Team Hell No (Kane and Bryan)

The lovable duo of misfits that is Kane and D-Bry have all the support in the world behind them. The build-up hasn’t been the worst with the New Day and SAnitY also getting involved but Team Hell No managing to become no.1 contenders.

A loss here would be detrimental to Harper and Rowan’s momentum and it is too early for Kane and Daniel Bryan to hold tag-team gold after their reunion.

Winners: Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan), and still Smackdown Tag Team Champions

United States Championship: Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

A mouth-watering mesh of styles, this one has the potential to steal the show. Nakamura is coming off a very poor and underwhelming feud for the WWE Championship with AJ Styles and, honestly, the WWE-version of Shinsuke Nakamura just makes me sad at the moment.

Jeff Hardy is in the middle of a strong push in Smackdown as he tries to become the no. 1 baby-face on the roster. The two should put on an entertaining, back-and-forth clinic but I feel, after the disappointment against Styles, Shinsuke needs his first championship on the main-roster at this point in order to save a fast declining WWE career. Jeff to move on into the main-event picture.

Winner: Shinsuke Nakamura, and NEW United States champion

Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens (Steel Cage Match)

Welp. I feel bad for Kevin Owens. Not just the character Kevin Owens, but also the man Kevin Owens. He deserves better than to be put in meaningless feuds with a monster he cannot beat in a one-on-one bout. However, this is not a normal one-on-one contest. It’s a Steel Cage match, which means KO can wriggle his way out of any hole in the ring and win the classic, sneaky, heel-ish way that he needs to right now.

Braun is the Money in the Bank briefcase holder. He won’t be hurt by a sneaky loss at Extreme Rules to Kevin Owens in a steel cage.

Winner: Kevin Owens

SmackDown Women’s Championship: Carmella (c) vs. Asuka with James Ellsworth in a shark cage

I’ve had enough of Carmella’s championship reign. It’s not her, it’s the creative team. She barely had a clean singles victory over any member of the SDLive women’s roster before becoming Miss MITB and now she’s defeating Charlotte and Asuka in singles matches.

James Ellsworth adds some nice intrigue into the picture and I’d be really disappointed if the WWE creative decides to pull the trigger on Asuka winning the belt anytime less than SummerSlam.

Winner: Carmella, and still Smackdown Live Women’s Champion

RAW Women’s Championship: Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax

Bliss is going to get what’s coming to her – but not at the hands of Nia. Again, this is another filler-match on a PPV just before a major PPV where the feud needs to be drawn out just enough for Ronda Rousey to get involved.

Expect Alexa to retain through nefarious means at Extreme Rules and set up a triple-threat at SummerSlam between her, Jax and Ronda.

Winner: Alexa Bliss, and still RAW Women’s Champion

Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley’s first two feuds back in the WWE have been absolutely awful. First, the Sami Zayn debacle and now this train wreck. I don’t know how much of it is down to the man himself instead of the stories he is being given.

There is no way I am interested in a Roman Reigns versus Bobby Lashley “you walked out on me”, “no, you walked out on me” storyline. This is a WrestleMania-worthy match which is being wasted with a very over-done built of ringside brawls. I don’t even care who wins.

Winner: Don’t Care

Intercontinental Championship: Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins (30-Minute Iron Man Match)

THE reason I am paying $9.99 to watch Extreme Rules on the WWE Network this Sunday. WWE, for once, put it best on their Twitter when they said “iron sharpens iron”. Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler (with Drew McIntyre at ringside) can tear the house down in this 30-Minute Iron Man match. The two possess an unbelievable amount of chemistry together and this should be a match-of-the-year candidate. No pressure, guys.

I expect McIntyre to be a major factor in this match.

Winner: Dolph Ziggler, and still Intercontinental Champion

WWE Championship: AJ Styles (c) vs. Rusev

AJ Styles, on paper, has had a great 2018, carrying the belt through the Royal Rumble, through WrestleMania, and now almost to SummerSlam. However, his matches have lacked that X-factor (sorry, X-Pac) that we know only he can bring to his matches. Perhaps his chemistry with Nakamura just wasn’t there and maybe it will click with Rusev.

Speaking of Rusev, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Bulgarian to win his first WWE Championship. AND ON RUSEV DAY NO LESS! Extreme Rules is taking place on Rusev Day! This could be the start of the Rusev era!

Jokes aside, I am hoping against hope that the WWE freshens up their main-event picture on Smackdown by having Rusev go over and letting AJ chase his third WWE title win. Heart says Rusev, mind says AJ.

Winner: Rusev, and NEW WWE Champion