WWE Extreme Rules 2016 PPV Preview
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Extreme Rules Match
Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles
I really have enjoyed the build of this feud overall and each week it has been the highlight on TV for me. You got to expect each crew to get involved and it should be wild. Styles does not need to win the title and I think he will be just fine either way. As a wrestler, he’s as good as anyone and he got over instantly with the audience. We know Reigns will be on top as the focal point when this is over. For Styles, will he be part of a faction feud underneath, or will his faction turn on him and he have to fight them? I say, they could get another month out of this and introduce Seth Rollins into the equation as well.
WWE Women's Championship
Submission Match
Charlotte vs. Natalya
This is clearly a program to get Charlotte over as a heel, but also make her credible. Everyone knows the serious program is Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks for later in the year. I thought maybe Paige would be Charlotte’s next victim, but if she was to be, and she did beat Charlotte on Raw, she never should have lost on Smackdown this week to Dana Brooke. Either way, it should be a very good match and hopefully no more shenanigans.
Intercontinental Championship
Fatal 4-Way Match
The Miz vs. Kevin Owens vs.
Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn
Miz & Maryse are a solid heel act, although Owens is the strongest personality right now in the group. Zayn’s character looks to be the guy who takes his time and struggles to make his way to titles. Miz has been beaten down constantly in the weeks leading to this match, which makes him the favorite. Miz vs. Owens in their brief verbal duels has been good, but it’s not the right time and Miz isn’t the right guy to make the inevitable Owens turn be its most effective.
Asylum Match
Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho
Ambrose won the first meeting and ultimately needs to win the program. But if the program is going to continue, then Jericho should go over. If one or both are in Money in the Bank, Jericho can lose here no problem. Other than that, it really depends on where they are going next with both on how to proceed here. I hope this is it and Ambrose is moving on. Jericho does not need to win.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match
The New Day vs. The Vaudevillains
The Vaudevillains look to have a low ceiling and the New Day is a hot act but without strong opposition. The place is loaded with tag teams and maybe The Club fit in here, because none of those teams are strong heels, and looking at the tag situation the New Day vs. Club program looks to be the strongest, so the question becomes when they go with it. The Dudleys have been historically, but the out-of-date stigma and their recent booking has made weakened them.
United States Championship Match
Kalisto vs. Rusev
Rusev vs. Cena can revitalize the title. Its no secret how much I love Rusev, and he should have never been cut down to a low mid carder as he was after that Ziggler feud. The Rusev and Lana Act is Main event caliber, and he should be winning this title and moving on to bigger things.
Tornado Tag match
Usos vs. Gallows & Anderson
These teams have gone back-and-forth. At some point Gallows & Anderson should shift to the tag team title position, which means they should win this match (plus, they lost the tag match on Raw this past week and my turn/your turn booking means it’s their turn). The Club needs this win.
No Disqualification Match
Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin
This was announced as the pre-show match. Ziggler won at Payback, so in that sense, Corbin winning here makes more sense. But Corbin won cleanly when they had a singles match on Raw, so in “my turn” booking, it’s Ziggler’s turn. They have up on Ziggler a long time ago so Corbin winning the program makes sense. But with all the star power on the roster, the reality is right now Corbin is not at the level of most of the guys, nor is he so great on promos to overcome it. Still, one would expect him to win here.