One can argue that the theme for this year’s WrestleMania was “Attitude Era” as The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Trish Stratus, and Jim Ross played key roles at the Showcase of the Immortals. All of these stars are now inactive, with the rather surprising exception of Ross. Thus, WWE finds itself back to square one, as Extreme Rules rolls around the corner. A last-minute panic decision, in the form of the WWE Draft, adds to the build-up for this year’s card. Joe, Michael, and Eddie take a look at the Extreme Rules card in TBLWrestling.com’s Predictions Roundtable!
WWE EXTREME RULES PPV:
1) WWE Championship Triple Threat Cage Match – The Miz (c) vs. John Cena vs. John Morrison
Joe’s Thoughts: The Miz seems to have progressed to a good place as champion. Even though I don’t watch WWE any more, I was a big fan of all three of these guys – especially Morrison, who has a tremendous amount of potential. I don’t think the belt is changing hands here.
Joe’s Prediction: The Miz
Michael’s Thoughts: This will be a good to very good match in my opinion. Though Cage matches have been bad in the past say 5 years, (now even more with PG). Even old school Cage matches could get boring. But at last years event, Y2J Chris Jericho and Edge put on the Match of the PPV in a Cage match. This is very interesting. The Miz has had the longest 1st title reign of a Money in the Bank Winner, while John Morrison is looking for his 1st world title. Then you have John Cena (Chain Gang Soldier!!) who is looking for his 10th world title. However, though I am a huge Cena fan, he just does not need the belt right now. # 10 reign should happen at one of the Big 3 PPVs. Also,JoMo has been in the doghouse for bad mouthing the Greatest Diva in WWF/E history Trish Stratus.
Michael’s Prediction: As I said in my 1st article for TBL, John Morrison will walk out of Tampa as the New WWE Champion of the World (sorry Road Dogg, I got a bit carried away). The Miz’s reign has gone on a bit too long for my taste and Cena doesn’t need the win as he can feud with guys like CM Punk or Alberto Del Rio and still do very good. The Age of Morrison begins!!!!!!
Eddie’s Thoughts: The WWE has a good thing going with Miz. A lot of people have a problem with him being a champion because the old-school belief is that your heavyweight champion should always be someone who conveys they can beat up anyone at any time. Miz doesn’t seem to fit that description too well. However, he has been a huge success in the process of establishing the WWE brand name in pop culture again, as his reality show popularity added to his WWE Championship has helped him get on just about any TV show these days. The plan was always for Cena vs. Alberto Del Rio at SummerSlam, and since Morrison seems to be feuding with R-Truth, it only makes sense for Miz to retain. It should be a good match with R-Truth maybe interfering at some point.
Eddie’s Prediction: The Miz
2) World Championship Ladder Match – Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio
Joe’s Thoughts: With Edge retiring, it would be very easy for WWE to insert Christian into the pre-written storylines. However, I tend to think that Alberto Del Rio is going to get the rub here.
Joe’s Prediction: Alberto Del Rio
Michael’s Thoughts: This is the match that I (and probably most of the wrestling world) am most looking forward too. If this isn’t the Match of the PPV than some crazy things are gonna happen. Christian is a pioneer of TLC while Del Rio is a Great in ring wrestler and is one of the Top Heels in WWE. This is some ways is a coin flip and I would not be surprised if the man I choose doesn’t win.
Michael’s Prediction: I will pick Christian to walk out of Tampa, Florida as the NEW World Heavyweight Champion. He deserves it as he had not won a world title in WWE (the WWE ECW Title was lower tier than the US title). Obviously we know he won 2 NWA/TNA World Titles back in TNA but this is WWE baby. While it’s not the spinning (oops it isn’t anymore) WWE Title, it is the old WCW title which had some class back when WCW was a true rival of Vinny K. Del Rio will be in the WWE Title picture on Raw and it is still a bit too early to throw the belt on him for me.
Eddie’s Thoughts: Wrestling retirements are a weird thing. You never know just how genuine you are, because, face it, do wrestlers really retire? Then there’s the shocking ones that nobody sees coming. Edge having to part ways with wreslting the way he did was truly a sad day. It also created a huge gap in the WWE infrastructure. The original plan was for a Christian heel turn and Del Rio win at WrestleMania, but with the circumstances at hand, it made sense to let Edge retire as champion and then have Christian fill in the gap. A win by Alberto Del Rio means that RAW has both world titles, and they’d have to improvise moving one of the belts to SmackDown! in weeks to come. A win by Christian keeps the World Championship on SmackDown!, gives him his first major WWE heavyweight title and also let’s Del Rio take his frustration out on John Cena as they build up towards SummerSlam. Thus you would think picking Christian is an obvious choice, but in today’s WWE nothing is obvious.
Eddie’s Prediction: Christian
3) Last Man Standing Match – Randy Orton vs. CM Punk
Joe’s Thoughts: I’m not too steeped in any of the WWE storylines so I’m not really sure what the deal is between these two. However, I do know that Randy Orton has come a long way since I watched WWE on a regular basis, so I have to go with him.
Joe’s Prediction: Randy Orton
Michael’s Thoughts: Ah, this match would have been great IF WWE didn’t have Orton cleaning beat CM Punk back on Raw 2 weeks ago. Really, WWE, you expect smart fans to believe that Punk still has a chance against Orton. Also, as some in the wrestling world have said, this is like a goodbye gift for Orton for making him go over to B show Friday Night SmackDown! Now, I love CM Punk from the Straight Edge lifestyle (that I follow) to his Great In-Ring skills to his amazing Mic skills, he is the complete package and didn’t need steroids to do it (Take that Lex Luger).
Michael’s Prediction: I pick Randy Orton. Randy has beaten CM Punk 2 times in a row and the 2nd time had an easy time doing it. New Nexus will get involved but will fail and Randy wins with an RKO off something or through something. Could be 2nd Best match of the PPV.
Eddie’s Thoughts: This is supposed to be the blow-off match with Orton moving to SmackDown! and Punk staying on RAW. With that in mind, an Orton win makes more sense as he’s the babyface. Further, Punk is the type of bad guy that can never lose his heat. However, I do think he’s lost a step or two with “The New Nexus” being a complete failure. With the rosters being so thin, this match becomes tough to predict, but it’s not like wins or loses mean anything in WWE these days. It should be a good bout, as WWE’s last man standing matches are always good and these two can work on a good day.
Eddie’s Prediction: CM Punk
4) Falls Count Anywhere Match – Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes
Joe’s Thoughts: The only thing I know about these two is that Cody Rhodes is doing the same, recycled Kane gimmick with the mask hiding his “disfigured” face. Been there, done that.
Joe’s Prediction: Rey Mysterio
Michael’s Thoughts: I thought that their match at Wrestlemania 27 was the Match of the Night and it was My Favorite Match as it is the only one that I was truly excited during it. Cody Rhodes needs this match to complete his push to future IC Champion while Rey most likely won’t be in WWE by this PPV next year.
Michael’s Prediction: I pick Cody Rhodes. I have never been a fan of Rey Mysterio and that doesn’t start now. If he could only get a better finisher. Cody needs the win and will get it with Cross Rhodes through something.
Eddie’s Thoughts: Another blow-off match as Mysterio was moved to RAW and Rhodes will be on SmackDown!. This is actually quite the important match for Rhodes, since if he does well, he will probably remain a major player on the SmackDown! side. I would have to think he needs the win to do so. As far as Mysterio goes, a move to RAW proved disastrous last time. Here’s hoping for better times!
Eddie’s Prediction: Cody Rhodes
5) Country Whipping Match – Lawler/Ross vs. Cole/Swagger
Joe’s Thoughts: Talk about botching the big payoff for this match at WrestleMania 27! Not only should Lawler have beaten Michael Cole from pillar to post during the biggest show of the year, but the storyline should have ended with Cole going back to Smackdown! only and Jim Ross resuming his role as the voice of RAW. I think the writing team at WWE knows that they screwed up big time at WrestleMania 27, so I expect Lawler and Ross to make a mockery out of Cole in this match.
Joe’s Prediction: Lawler/Ross
Michael’s Thoughts: This is going to be worse than the match at Wrestlemania. Why? It will because doesn’t include Stone Cold Steve Austin and it is adding to burying Swagger who was the World Heavyweight Champion at this same event one year ago. It will probably go for about 8-12 minutes when it really deserves 4 minutes.
Michael’s Prediction: Like the outcomes means anything but what the hell. I pick the Hall of Fame Team of JR and King. The finish deserves to be a piledriver to Cole but only Undertaker can use a piledriver.
Eddie’s Thoughts: I would imagine the payoff here is that Ross and Lawler finally get the win. With that in mind, isn’t this what happened on RAW this past week? Not sure what else is left to be done here. Swagger was moved to RAW, so I won’t be surprised if this feud (Swagger vs. Lawler) continues.
Eddie’s Prediction: Ross & Lawler
6) Loser Leaves WWE Match – Michelle McCool vs Layla
Joe’s Thoughts: The world knows now that Michelle McCool is leaving, so I can’t see how she wins this match.
Joe’s Prediction: Layla
Michael’s Thoughts: This could actually be a okay or even good Divas match! Stunning I know, but both women are pretty damn good in the ring (I am talking about their in-ring skills). Michelle is a multi-time Divas Champion while Layla is still young in her Career, even though she does already have a Divas Championship reign.
Michael’s Prediction: I see Layla winning over Mrs. Undertaker. Hey, Undertaker is back on the shelf and will be till at least SummerSlam but more likely Survivor Series and perhaps Michelle and Taker want to have a vacation away from WWE. Also, Layla needs this win more than Michelle does as she is still not a proven wrestler like Mrs Taker is. So Layla wins and Michelle leaves for a few months to “hang” with the Deadman. (I mean spend time with, not the Big Bossman WM 15 kind of hang.)
Eddie’s Thoughts: Michelle McCool is leaving WWE for whatever reason, thus the purpose of this match and the break-up of LayCool.
Eddie’s Prediction: Layla
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