Extreme Rules Is Gonna Be Heavy...

A Good Sunday to You, Enthusiasts!

So, how ready are you for Extreme Rules?  Personally, I’m a little surprised this is getting a 4pm/7pm start during the Summer but I guess they’re trying to get this wrapped up well before midnight for you East Coasters.  It is a "school night" for us who have to work 😉 And though they can advertise the Undertaker we all know that this isn’t one of the most hyped up PPVs.  What is interesting is that AEW offered another showing as well last night in the form of Fight for the Fallen.  I didn’t check it out but given what I’ve seen from AEW, all the WWE needs to do is keep tonight fun and entertaining.  If everyone can basically go out there and demonstrate why they get paid to do it, they shouldn’t have much to worry about when it comes to AEW.  Like I said, WWE can let AEW be Dallas.  They’ll stick to our version of class and represent those who would have preferred Dynasty if they had it to choose from.  The remake is trash compared to the original but someone’s watching it.

In any case, I’m not going to run down the match card but I will comment on some key matches, the first of which being the mixed tag with Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans facing off against in-house, power couple Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins.  As much as this could be a throwaway type match, it will be up to these participants to make this concept interesting.  Yes, stipulations hover and as much as we’re angling for more inclusivity in this day and age, we’re not always sold on the mixed tag, especially if a couple is involved because it becomes more of a gimmick as opposed to a match.  We get to giggle at the couple and probably watch them win as they enjoy being in love.  If these 4 can make this an actual match worth watching then that will be a great surprise to me.  They could potentially make the mixed tag something to anticipate instead of roll your eyes at.  We’ll see how they handle it.

Another sort of make or break match is this random tag team match that pairs Roman Reigns & The Undertaker against Drew McIntyre & Shane McMahon.  Since this is clearly a shits and giggles match for publicity, it’s on everyone involved to come together to make this not look absolutely painful to watch.  I don’t envy these gentlemen really but, I do think they could pull off a fun match.  They’ll have to get creative and focus more on what’s entertaining as opposed to trying to sell a pointless match.  It’s not impossible and I’m probably not alone in hoping some sort of “interference” changes the color of this match but let’s not hold our breath.  For some reason they haven’t been willing to pull the trigger on Bray Wyatt in the ring yet but here’s a good place to surprise us by actually making this spectacle interesting.  Again, we’ll see what they do.

As for matches I’m looking forward to, I have to say the AJ Styles vs. Ricochet match for the US Title should be a good one.  The only thing I’m worried about here is that they may try “too hard”.  We all can commend these gentlemen on their prowess in the ring but there are times types like this may become victim to their technique.   I see this will Styles especially.  It becomes more about executing the move as opposed to putting on a good fight.  If they can find that perfect blend of action and technique, this could be the true wrestling clinic of the night. 

The other match I’m eager to see is the Aleister Black vs. Cesaro.  These gentlemen appear to get it in the realest sense.  They are clean technicians yet they can sell the match as well.  This could easily be match of the night.  They almost have a lot of pressure on them to get this right because we expect a lot from the both of them.  Black has been spitting promos on SmackDown and Cesaro hasn’t been getting that much action in the ring.  It’s a choice time for these guys to show us what they got. 

That all being said, everyone else needs to earn their keep.  There are a lot of variables currently in the mix and just going out there and doing as told may not do it.  Everyone’s going to have work together to make this a fun night, a watch worthy night.  I still don’t feel the WWE has much to worry about at present but do not presume they don’t want to keep it that way.  People are going to have to prove they can stay ahead of the rest.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the WWE starts being more receptive to letting wrestlers go in hopes of retaining the best of the best.  After all, they would have the option of AEW.  They could easily take the position of letting them have the sloppy seconds.  The roster has to prove they are not sloppy seconds but front runners and here’s a good place to start.  We’ll see who rises to the challenge.  Funny tweets get retweeted and as for Likes/Favorites, well let’s not be too forth coming.  Let them earn the praise or admonishment fair and square.