Welcome one and all to my preview and predictions blog for the upcoming WWE live special, Extreme Rules. As always if you have any comments or feedback leave a comment in the section below the post or by following me on Twitter and Instagram.
It seems like a brave new world is on the horizon for the WWE with the hiring of Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff as creative directors and the rumours that the PG era product maybe getting a bit of an over haul. Whilst I love the WWE and have done for nearly 30 years I do feel that a change could do the product good. The company are making great progress with the NXT brands and some partnerships with companies all over the world but, the main roster product is confused and a little stale. Partner that with the threat of a new competitor and I think it really is a necessity that the company take the product in a new direction. As always I will be talking about the matches in no particular order.
1. WWE Cruiserweight Championship: Drew Gulak (C) Vs. Tony Nese: It's a strange old time over on 205 Live at the moment. Tony Nese became champion at Wrestlemania only to lose the championship in his first defence. Drew Gulak seemed to be the only person in the original 205 Live line up not to be champion, not that he wasn't deserving, he was a lot more than some of the previous champions. This should be a great, hard hitting championship match that will probably be on the pre show but, this may be a great opener and a lot better than some of the other matches on the card. I really like what creative seems to be doing with Drew Gulak at the moment so for that reason I would think he'll retain.
2. Aleister Black Vs. Cesaro: This may be one of the highlight matches of the night. Aleister Black has had little in the way of TV time since he was moved over to Smackdown Live a few months ago but, what he has had seems to be a long term investment in one of the most promising talents in the WWE. Cesaro seems to have some of the worst luck with regards to tag partners so it's nice seeing him out on his own again, showing exactly how good and a little over looked he is. This should be a great display of striking and European style wrestling that could prove very beneficial for both competitors. I'm not sure which way this one will go but, if I had to pick my favourite I would say Black for the win.
3. Smackdown Live Tag Team Championships: Daniel Bryan And Rowan (C) Vs. Heavy Machinery Vs. The New Day: I'm still not sure how Heavy Machinery got where they are but, I have to feel that this may be the match to make or break any push or momentum they have. I just don't really enjoy watching them at all, even in NXT there seemed to be teams more deserving of their spot and the same could be said on Smackdown Live. The New Day could spend this match trying to break out of the shadow of Kofi Kingston. Daniel Bryan and Rowan have gone from strength to strength as a team over the past few months and I have really grown to enjoy heel Daniel Bryan. This should be a decent enough match with a lot of action. I can't see the earth's tag team champions losing any time soon so I expect them to retain.
4. Smackdown Live Women's Championship: Bayley (C) Vs. Alexa Bliss And Nikki Cross: I'm not really sure where the Bayley and Alexa Bliss story line is going but, I have to admit it has been pretty entertaining. Add in Nikki Cross to the mix and this has the makings of a pretty good women's division match. This will easily be the better of the two women's championship matches on the card and filled with some great action. I would love to see Sasha Banks return to help Bayley, perhaps setting them up to go into their own feud. I think Bayley will retain so that Bliss and Cross can challenge for the women's tag team championship.
5. The Undertaker And Roman Reigns Vs. Shane McMahon And Drew McIntyre: I'm still not overly sure why this match is happening and to be honest I'm not overly bothered by the outcome. Kevin Owens put it pretty bluntly this week that Shane McMahon is stealing time much better suited for developing talents and whilst his partnership with McIntyre has probably done wonders for his status in the company I would love to see Shane a little less in the ring. Undertaker has come back for some unknown reason and I'm sure this match is nothing more than a build for a potential Summerslam match with either Reigns or McIntyre. Reigns and Taker to win.
6. WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston (C) Vs. Samoa Joe: Of the two championship matches on the card this should be the better of the two. Kofi Kingston continues to prove how great he is and has always been and finally seems to be getting the recognition deserved. Samoa Joe likewise deserves a lot more praise and attention than he deserves and this match might just prove to be just that. This will be a great match from start to finish with Joe dominating throughout. Kofi has made a name being the plucky underdog and this match will probably be no different with him some how coming out with the win.
7. WWE Universal Championship And RAW Women's Championship: Seth Rollins (C) And Becky Lynch (C) Vs. Baron Corbin And Lacey Evans: I understand what creative were trying to do with this match but, I honestly think this will be a clunker of a match. Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans have drawn the fans ire but, in the wrong way. Fans just seem to be opposed to either of them getting any form of push. Whilst I understand their frustration I actually think both deserve a lot more attention. Putting this match together is simply an excuse to show how dominant Rollins and Lynch are and I really can't see Corbin or Evans as champion.
8. WWE United States Championship: Ricochet (C) Vs. AJ Styles: I love the fact that Ricochet has become popular since his arrival on the main roster. I really think he has a place in the WWE for a very long time and this match could further cement the fact. AJ Styles has been floundering a little bit over the past year or so after holding the WWE championship for a year. When he arrived on RAW there seemed to be a light go off in his head and now that he is once again flanked by Gallows and Anderson, Styles might be making his way to top position again. This should be a fantastic match between two of the best light heavyweight competitors of their respective generations. I fully expect the club to be a huge factor in the outcome of this match with Styles coming out with the win.
9. WWE Raw Tag Team Championship: The Revival (C) Vs. The Usos: This is a match that in some respects is a dream match between the two top teams in the WWE. The Usos have continued their dominance of the tag team division even after moving over to Raw. The Revival have been dealt a pretty shabby hand over the past few months and I think a lot of it is unfair. They should be held in higher regards as they are just as good as they say they are. This should be a real high point of the entire event and be a great example of the over looked tag division. I think The Usos may come out with the win.
10. Last Man Standing: Braun Strowman Vs. Bobby Lashley: I honestly didn't think that I could care very much about a match with this combination but, after the build up I think this might be an example of what to expect going forward. Both Strowman and Lashley seem to have had their moments of nearly breaking into the main event and then something faltering at the last hurdle but, I think this might be the turning point for both men. This should be a great, throwback match that will have a lot of brutal spots. I think this might be a no contest but, there could be a 24/7 element thrown in that could make it a little more relevant.
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