Tonight the superstars of the WWE will face some of their toughest matches and opponents, tonight is Extreme Rules.
Every match has some sort of crazy stipulation attached that is going to make it harder to gain a victory. No pain, no gain. Let’s take a look at the card…
El Torito vs. Hornswoggle (Kick-off Match)
Stipulation: WeeLC match
I could care less who wins this match. I have ZERO invested in it but it will be a fun match to get the crowd going before the actual event starts. It’ll get a reaction, no guarantee that it will be a good one.
Winner: El Torito
R-Truth and Xavier Woods vs. Alexander Rusev
Stipulation: 2 on 1 Handicap match
I still see this as an obvious squash match. Sure, Woods and Truth got a leg up on Rusev on Raw but it stops there. Why would they have spent all that time and effort building him up as a ‘super athlete’ just to have him lose to two guys with crazy hair?
If he did lose, Rusev would lose all credibility as a competitor and the fans would probably laugh him out of the ring. A victory over two people at the same time would certainly establish him further as the Bulgarian Brute. I am still undecided on Rusev so this match will help me figure out if I even like the guy or not.
Winner: Alexander Rusev
Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro vs. Jack Swagger
Stipulation: Elimination Triple Threat match
I have to admit that initially, Rob Van Dam seemed a little out-of-place in this particular match up. I was rooting for Cesaro and Swagger to go at it but the addition of Rob Van Dam makes this match all the more intriguing.
Rob Van Dam is the only guy in this entire thing with nothing to lose but everything to gain.
There are so many elements of this match that are going to work in his favor. Cesaro and Swagger will be at each other’s throats, especially for Swagger costing Cesaro the number one contender spot for the Intercontinental title. In addition to that, Zeb and Heyman will also be at each others throats. All Van Dam has to do it sit back, relax, and watch shit hit the fan.
Cesaro will be at Swagger’s throat and Zeb will be at Heyman’s throat (probably for pulling his moustache), the seeds are being laid for future feuds. That is something that the WWE does very well, planting the seeds for the future. It will be interesting to see if the other two superstars in this match can focus enough to go for a victory against their opponent.
Winner: Rob Van Dam
John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt
Stipulation: Steel Cage match
On the go-home show this past week, Cena seemed to have his confidence shaken after that opening segment. Bray had a children’s choir singing his signature tune and donning sheep masks. That, ladies and gentlemen, are the things nightmares are made of.
I actually liked seeing that side of Cena, his vulnerability came out and for once you didn’t feel like he was a superhero. Until he gave Renee Young that interview towards the end of the show, he was his usual peppy self. That just destroyed it for me. If I was facing Bray Wyatt in a steel cage, I don’t think that I would be all happy go-lucky. In all reality, I’d probably be peeing my pants.
By non-selling his fear at the match that is happening tonight, Cena made the WWE Universe turn on him even more than they already have. Bray has the fans behind him 1000000%. The fans are tired of seeing Cena win every damn match that he is in. They are sick of seeing him kick out at the two count. They are sick of seeing him as this superhero. What they WANT to see is him lose. They want to see him get beat up. They want to see him be defeated so that he can build himself back up.
I love Cena but even I’m tired of his superhero act. I’m a realist. I know there is a very miniscule chance that he will ever turn heel but they need to make him seem more human to the fans. Not every superstar wins every single match.
Winner: Bray Wyatt
Big E. vs. Wade Barrett
Stipulation: none as of this posting
When Wade Barrett won the finals of the Intercontinental tournament on Monday Night Raw, I was over the moon with joy. That may seem like an overreaction to some, but for wrestling fans, it’s a normal reaction.
I’m so happy that this match is happening for two reasons. One, I get to see Bad News Barrett in action. Two, he is going to add the much-needed spice the Intercontinental title landscape needs. I like Big E a lot, I think he’s fun in the ring and maybe needs a little more work on the microphone but I like him overall. The problem is that he has no formidable opponents to go against. He’s stronger than all of them and he’s more powerful. No one he’s faced in the last little while has a style that contrasts his. Well, Wade Barrett has certainly changed that!
I can’t wait to see the bare knuckle brawler go against the pure power of Big E. All Barrett has to do is kill his momentum once and then Big E is done for. Hopefully we end up with a new champion! Barrett is so over that it would be ridiculous to NOT give him the belt.
Winner: Bad News Barrett
Paige vs. Tamina Snuka
Stipulation: none as of this posting
Everyone and their mom knows how I feel about the women’s division.
I like the fact that they are integrating the female wrestlers from the developmental territory and everything but I think that giving Paige the title on the night she debuted was a bit much. The new divas are providing competition and variety in a division that many see as stagnant and repetitive. What I think should have happened was that an already established diva should have taken the title off of Aj Lee and the NXT divas should have done an invasion angle. They could have come in, challenged the current divas and we would have had something that was as shocking as the invasion angle done years ago. It will definitely be interesting to see how this goes tonight and if they will integrate more of the developmental divas. I’m still pulling for the veteran.
Winner: Tamina Snuka
The Shield vs. Evolution
Stipulation: 6 man tag team match
I can’t wait for The Shield to shut Evolution up.
Basically this match is just a giant pissing contest and I’m 100% okay with that. Evolution used to be cutting edge and cool, challenging the established order of things, and asserting their dominance over the rest of the roster. Now that isn’t the case, The Shield are the ones who are kicking ass and taking names. Triple H and his buddies can’t be having that!
The Shield are younger, faster, more powerful, and they don’t need to gang up on people to get the job done. Evolution is strong together but weak individually, The Shield doesn’t have that problem. All I want to see is Roman deliver a superman punch to Batista, rendering him speechless on his media tour for Guardians of the Galaxy. That would be a real treat to fans everywhere.
Winner: The Shield
Daniel Bryan vs. Kane
Stipulation: Extreme Rules match
Daniel Bryan is the definition of a trooper.
This guy gets beat down week after week, even after winning the biggest title that the sport has to offer, gets married, loses his father tragically, and still comes out and entertains the thousands of fans who paid money to see him. His fans are relentless. They cheer when he is up or down, showing him that they are behind him 100%.
Tonight he is going to be facing the devils favorite demon in a match that doesn’t really suit his style of wrestling. This style of match as a victory for Kane written all over it. Daniel doesn’t back down. He won’t give up. Even if he loses, he will still walk out of that match with his head held high. He gives everything he has in the ring and he won’t let Kane walk out of there without suffering just a little bit for almost harming his wife.
Winner: Daniel Bryan
All of the superstars involved in the matches tonight have been through a lot in the last few weeks, I fully expect more than a few of them to need help out of the arena tonight.
