This Sunday night the WWE heads to Baltimore, Maryland for its ninth Extreme Rules PPV.
The show is solely a RAW branded PPV and features six matches with four Titles on the line. In the main event, a big fatal five way match will determine the number one contender for the WWE Universal Title currently held by Brock Lesnar.
So without further ado sit back, relax and let our resident Wrestling expert Tony take you through what we expect to happen on Sunday night;
Mixed Tag Team Match
Rich Swann & Sasha Banks Vs Noam Dar & Alicia Fox
A real fall from grace for Sasha Banks who has gone from headlining a PPV last year for the first time, to probably kicking off Extreme Rules in a mixed tag. This one has come together after Dar and Swann clashed over Alicia Fox on 205 Live.
Banks and Fox subsequently started a feud and so I guess it kinda makes sense they all come together on Sunday night. I really hope for a win for Rich Swann & Sasha Banks as I think anything less for "The Boss" would be a huge blow for the former Women's Champion. They are the outsiders for this though at 13/8, whilst Dar & Fox are 2/5 favourites.
WWE Cruiserweight Title Match - Submission Match
Neville (c) Vs Austin Aries
I love seeing these two men compete but feel that this has to probably be the last time we see them compete on a PPV against each other. Neville for me has been detrimental to the 205 Live brand and should continue for a long time at the helm.
Having been a fan of Aries post WWE I think that he is more than capable of holding his own on either the RAW or SmackDown roster and as such think that Neville will be the one walking out of this match as Champion.
Don't be surprised if Neville gets up to some heel tricks and tries to get disqualified in this one, and as always when these two are in the ring together it has every chance to steal any show it is on. Neville has odds of 1/7 for the win whilst Aries is the outsider at 4/1.
WWE RAW Tag Team Title Match - Steel Cage Match
The Hardy Boyz (c) Vs Cesaro & Sheamus
These two teams have really gelled well over the past few months and have bought a number of very hard hitting physical matches. I can't help but feel that this will be the last we see of them competing together and that is one of the reasons I am really looking forward to seeing how they blow off this feud inside a cage.
Now looking at this logically you would have to lean towards a Title change based on just how dominant The Hardy Boyz have been during this feud. But......I personally see more longevity in keeping the Belts strapped around their waist and as such am picking The Hardy Boyz for the win which goes against the bookies and could be a great opportunity to make some money. At 10/3 for the Hardy Boyz compared to 1/7 for Cesaro & Sheamus, I think that this is the bet to make!
WWE RAW Women's Title Match - Kendo Stick on a Pole Match
Alexa Bliss (c) Vs Bayley
This feud has been tough to watch if I am totally honest and that is largely due to the clear difference in ability to hype a match between the pair. Since claiming the Title, Bliss has come into her own and really excelled to prove she is one of the best in the WWE.
Bayley on the other hand has done a complete 180 and really seems out of her depth when standing opposite Bliss. I don't know what direction they go with Bayley but putting the Title back on her would only add further pressure to her and that is one of the reasons I am picking Alexa Bliss to retain. The bookies are quite tight on odds with this match with Bliss the favourite at 8/15 and Bayley at 11/8 but I would be very shocked if the Title changed hands.
WWE Intercontinental Title Match
Dean Ambrose (c) Vs The Miz
The stipulation for this match is that if Dean Ambrose gets disqualified then he will lose the Title. Yes you read that correct, a stipulation in an event named Extreme Rules which means Ambrose will lose if he is disqualified.
The mere fact that this stipulation has been added should be more than enough to tell you who is walking out as Champion. The Miz is odds on favourite to win this match and in my eyes should be the Intercontinental Champion for a very long time, at least until WrestleMania next year.
Ambrose has been a very odd Champion and hasn't really been given any decent feuds to run with and I just feel that there is a lot more scope to run some decent programmes with The Miz which will help him and also build back up the strength of the Title. The Miz is favourite with the bookies to win the Title at 4/9 whereas current Champion Dean Ambrose is down at 7/5 and likely to be leaving Maryland empty handed.
Fatal 5-Way Extreme Rules Match
Roman Reigns Vs Seth Rollins Vs Finn Balor Vs Bray Wyatt Vs Samoa Joe
Big matches are always hard to pick a winner for but the promotion have made things slightly easier with the booking over the last few weeks. I think this will be the first time I ever type this but, Roman Reigns will not win on Sunday night. There I said it!
Reigns is rumoured to headline WrestleMania next year, most likely against Brock Lesnar and so it would make little to no sense to have those two compete this early on. Seth Rollins has already had his time at the top and isn't really compelling enough right now to be put back in the Title frame.
Bray Wyatt had his time as SmackDown Champion but a dire feud with Randy Orton has really damaged his stock and so him and Lesnar are very unlikely to be facing off anytime soon. So that just leaves two men who in my eyes could potentially win on Sunday night, Samoa Joe & Finn Balor.
Now the odds are favouring Samoa Joe but my theory is that Finn Balor will win and get a shot at Brock Lesnar. The reason for my thinking is that I see Balor and Wyatt having a programme, so Balor will get the shot at Lesnar but be cost the Title due to a Wyatt interference, setting up a programme for the two. Joe is more than capable of running with Lesnar but given that Joe is a heel, I see much more value in Balor Vs Lesnar and so I am sticking with Finn Balor winning on Sunday night.
As I mentioned Samoa Joe is the favourite at 3/10, Balor is currently 6/1, Rollins 7/1, Wyatt 10/1 and Reigns 13/1, yes you read that correctly. It should be a great match in my eyes and a fitting way to end what could be a really good PPV.
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Words By: @TopRopeTony
