The WWE returns with its second installment of WWE Extreme Rules this Sunday night. The WrestleMania fallout will take center stage with a series of WrestleMania 26 rematches all contested under Extreme Rules. This year’s show has loads of potential but can the WWE capitalize off of its WrestleMania momentum this Sunday at Extreme Rules?
Unlike WrestleMania 26 which featured Shawn Michaels vs. the Undertaker, WWE Extreme Rules doesn’t boast of any particularly intriguing matches. There is only one match on top different from WrestleMania 26. Yet every match does have a gimmick or stipulation which ensures an action packed WWE event. Let’s take a look at some of the top matches at WWE Extreme Rules.
John Cena vs. Batista in a Last Man Standing Match for the WWE title
John Cena vs. Batista definitely wasn’t the best match at WrestleMania 26. But, it was arguably the most over with the crowd. There is great chemistry between these two and these two guys have the potential to steal the show. I really don’t like the Last Man Standing stip for this one. It seems like Cena is in one of these kinds of matches every few months.
I don’t see any way that Batista wins the WWE title here. He tapped out at WrestleMania and really hasn’t been too strong following the big event. On the other hand, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Batista win the title here with the WWE world champion being drafted to SmackDown. In the end I look for Cena to retain and Batista unable to answer the count.
Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton in an Extreme Rules Match for the WWE world championship
This may be the most awkward main-event of the new decade for the WWE. These two guys have had issues immediately following WrestleMania, but they aren’t gelling for me. There doesn’t seem to be too much chemistry between these two. I think a big part of this is that the WWE Universe still isn’t buying Randy Orton as a babyface. Compound that with the feeling that most fans see Jack Swagger as a fluke champion and this feud is doomed.
Hopefully the Extreme Rules will camouflage all of the defaults and make this an entertaining match. Orton has had some pretty decent matches at these Extreme Rules and One Night Stand shows, but Swagger is no Triple H. Orton pinned Swagger a few weeks ago which leads me to think that Swagger will get his win back here. If the WWE is truly committed to Jack Swagger, he should win clean at Extreme Rules. That may be pushing it, but I like Swagger to leave WWE Extreme Rules with the WWE world championship.
Edge vs. Chris Jericho in a Steel Cage Match
Some will argue that these two had the better match at WrestleMania 26. They certainly did a lot of new moves and kept the crowd on their feet from the start of the bell. Unlike Swagger and Orton, these two guys have tremendous chemistry. I am really looking forward to seeing these guys in what should be their blowoff match.
Once again, I look for Edge to take the win here. Edge is rumored to be joining the WWE RAW roster, so it could also be a case of Edge doing the favor on the way out. Looking up and down the lineup I can’t see any reason that these guys won’t steal the show. I look for an Edge win, but a Jericho win would be a tremendous boost to his heel persona on the post-WWE Draft SmackDown.
Triple H vs. Sheamus in a Street Fight Match
I may be the only one, but I am really enjoying this feud. A lot of fans were upset that Triple H won their match at WrestleMania 26. The critics felt that Triple H should have put Sheamus over in such a big spot. I wasn’t so quick to jump on the Triple H hate bandwagon. Before I criticize the booking here, I want to see how this plays out. Maybe Sheamus gets his win back after all and these two are back to an even series.
Triple H may not be the best wrestler in the WWE these days but he is still one of the best at the Street Fight. He gets it and has rarely had a bad Street Fight Match. I thought he and Sheamus had good chemistry at WrestleMania 26 and I really don’t mind seeing them wrestle again. The WWE writers have done a pretty decent job of continuing the angle and giving fans a reason to want to see these two go at it one more time. I look for lots of blood, brawling, and some tables out of these two at WWE Extreme Rules.
I will go out on a limb and predict a Sheamus win here. There is no point to having these two guys wrestle twice if Triple H is winning both of them. A win here would not only be huge, but it would also reinforce the toughness of the Sheamus character. I wouldn’t even be surprised to see Sheamus win clean. Sheamus wins and evens up the series at one a piece at WWE Extreme Rules.
The entire WWE Extreme Rules lineup…
John Cena vs. Batista…Last Man Standing match for the WWE Championship
Rey Mysterio vs. CM Punk…Hair Match (If Punk is defeated he loses his hair)
Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton…Extreme Rules Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
Triple H vs. Sheamus…Street Fight
Edge vs. Chris Jericho…Steel Cage Match
JTG vs. Shad Gaspard…Strap Match
Michelle McCool vs. Beth Phoenix…Extreme Makeover Match for the for the WWE Women’s Championship
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Eric G.
Eric is the owner and editor-in-chief of the Camel Clutch Blog. Eric has worked in the pro wrestling industry since 1995 as a ring announcer in ECW and a commentator/host on television, PPV, and home video. Eric also hosted Pro Wrestling Radio on terrestrial radio from 1998-2009. Check out some of Eric's work on his IMDB bio and Wikipedia. Eric has an MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business.
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