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WWE will present the 2016 Extreme Rules PPV in Newark, NJ this Sunday on the WWE Network and PPV, featuring:
WWE World Heavyweight champion Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles: Extreme Rules Match
Dave: I expect this to be an excellent match as AJ is AJ, and Roman is a lot better than some give him credit for. I don’t expect a Title change here, for a few reasons. One, it’s too soon to take it off of Roman. Two, I have my doubts that Vince McMahon would ever make AJ the champ. So the question is, how do we get to the finish. It wouldn’t shock me to see The Club turn on AJ. Why? Well, they could be The Balor Club soon enough. I am not advocating a turn mind you, I just wouldn’t be shocked to see it. Either way, Reigns goes over somehow and Vince laughs as the boo birds get angry.
Mike: This should be the climax of what's been an excellent story involving Roman, AJ and the rest. I also suspect that we'll see the true colors of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and whether they are really loyal to Styles or whether they have someone else they are in cahoots with pulling their strings. While there has been talk of them with Finn Balor, I wouldn't be shocked to find out that in the end, they are being aligned with Seth Rollins and Rollins will be their third partner. In the end, I expect Reigns will retain the belt, but not before a lot of others get involved.
Richard: The stuff between AJ and Reigns has been very good and I liked the match at Payback until the shenanigans from the McMahons took over. I think Roman should win this one since we have Cena and Rollins coming back and victories over those two men should cement Reigns as a legitimate top guy. I hope there is limited (or no) interference in the match from the Usos or Anderson and Gallows. Since we already have no DQ and No Countouts, there is no need for a McMahon to take the focus off this match.
WWE Women's champion Charlotte vs. Natalya: Submission Match with Ric Flair banned from ringside
Dave: As with the previous match, I don’t see the Title changing hands here. The fans weren’t overly enamored with their match three weeks ago, and I don’t think it’s really an indictment on either of them. It’s just that Natalya was pretty cold and despite what creative thinks, you can’t just suddenly heat someone up and have everyone change their mind as to how they feel about someone. I feel bad for Natty, because she’s a great wrestler and a good person, but it is what it is. So, I see Charlotte using chicanery to hold onto her Title.
Mike: Unless they want to give Natalya a Mick Foley-esque lifetime achievement award win, I don't see a title switch here. Since Ric Flair is banned from rngside, I am curious to see if Arn Anderson or Little 'Naitch or someone else (or maybe even Flair in disguise) tries to assist here. On paper, this could be an excellent match. Charlotte's work, for the most part, has been very good as a heel and Natalya is obviously finding a second wind thanks to getting pushed - so I am hoping WWE gives them the time to pull out a NXT Takeover style bout. Either way, Charlotte retains.
Richard: I was not a fan of the match at Payback and I probably will feel the same about this one. I am ready for a new feud over the title. The removal of Flair from ringside should have been done at Mania. We will probably see Charlotte use the Sharpshooter in the match while Charlotte uses the Figure Four, but it will probably not be the finish of the match. Since they added the "If Ric shows up, Charlotte is stripped of the title" stipulation, do we see some chicanery from the McMahons (especially Stephanie) dress someone up like Flair to get the title off Charlotte. It would be a step on the road to Charlotte/Stephanie at SummerSlam. I don't expect that to happen and I think Charlotte has to retain.
WWE Intercontinental champion The Miz vs. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens
Dave: Kevin Owens is so great in his role. He is one of the highlights of the company right now. With that said, they need to get this Title on Cesaro and start giving him the big push to see how far he can go. Sami and Owens also should finally have that singles feud as well. Hopefully they pair off against each other and Cesaro pins Miz cleanly to make the Title win legit. If they don’t switch the belt here, they run the risk of making the fans think that they aren’t behind Cesaro. Again.
Mike: I am with Dave completely on this. Cesaro getting the win would be the best move for all involved. Zayn gets more out of working hard and losing to keep his sympathy. Miz doesn't need the title to keep his heat, especially with Maryse involved. Owens will get hotter being pissed off at not getting the belt. The work inside the ring should be damn awesome here. These guys are pretty much the 21st century equivalent to what the Cruiserweights were in WCW in 1995.
Richard: This is my pick for match of the night. They did so many small things on Smackdown to set up even more possible twists and turns, including having Cesaro stopping Zayn from interfering and getting him DQed by punching Zayn before he gets to Owens. There is one person I cannot see winning this match and it is not the current champion. I think Zayn will be the one who should not win. I would like to see Cesaro win the match, but I can see Miz retaining in the typical 'Guy who is about to win hits his finisher but is thrown out of the ring to allow the champ to retain' manner. I hope they mic the ring so we can hear Owens' banter as well as the possibility for some funny conversations in French.
WWE Tag Team champions The New Day vs. The Vaudevillains
Dave: The tag division has been given some love lately by creative, and that is a good thing. They have to be careful of making New Day too much of a haha act and if there ever were a time for them to come out with anger and fire, it’s after the beat down they took on Raw. I see the champions retaining here.
Mike: They are kind of coming in cold here as The Vaudevillains haven't really set the world on fire, despite some good work. The good news is that New Day is so over with the audience that anything they do will garner a huge reaction so they will get away doing the least and getting the biggest reaction. This could be fun. We will see. I don't see a title change.
Richard: I expect to see the New Day retain because they are the cream of the crop, but after talking with Andrew on the Extreme Rules Preview, he has me thinking that the Vaudevillains have a chance. That is the best thing when you are not sure who will win, but either team can win the match and you are not shocked or disappointed. They have been able to keep the Vaudevillains from falling into the Ascension hole so far.
WWE United States champion Kalisto vs. Rusev
Dave: The renewed push of Rusev has been welcome. He is a big, strong monster that can work. They should maximize that. Kalisto with the Title was fine for what it was, but he’s not Rey Mysterio and to me it’s time to end the experiment and put the belt back on someone who carry the aura of being able to kick butt.
Mike: I would not be shocked to see WWE have Rusev get the win here, especially since the story is that Kalisto has a hurt back. I suspect they will have a good match but at the end, Kalisto will submit and Rusev will lose the belt in a few weeks to John Cena.
Richard: After hearing Rusev call Kalisto a 'Mexican Churro' he needs to win the title. Kalisto has had too many opponent's actions costs them the match situations to justify retaining. Rusev has been on fire since leaving that group. With John Cena coming back, it could be the first step for a renewal of their feud.
Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho
Dave: Jericho has been great at playing the old school heel here, talking down the fans, whining and sneak attacking. I have to give him credit. And the logical finish to this is that Ambrose gets the decisive victory over the veteran, and moves on to his next feud.
Mike: The work here should greatly overachieve in comparison to the silly story involving dead plants and ripped up jackets. Ambrose needs the win and should get it here. On paper, another entertaining match.
Richard: I hope this is the end of the feud since they are in a steel cage hybrid match. I would expect to see someone put in the straitjacket at some point in the match. Ambrose should win this one and let him win convincingly if Jericho is going to be taking some time off.
Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. The Usos: Texas Tornado
Dave: I don’t see any point in The Usos winning here. In fact, I see nothing but a big mistake if that happens. The Club needs to come out of this on top.
Mike: The Usos have beaten them so many times that the tide has to turn here.
Richard: Anderson and Gallows need to win this match. There needs to be some sort of intensity in this match to suggest they might be getting involved in the main event or to get them neutralized and out of the picture for Reigns/Styles
Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler: No DQ (Kickoff Match)
Dave: Ziggler has gotten entirely too much in on Corbin. As the new guy, he should have been protected. Instead, it has been just the opposite. They need to drop the “rookie mistake” garbage (because in addition to not helping Corbin, it also makes NXT look bad) and have the big man decisively destroy Ziggler.
Mike: Corbin should win, but I expect Ziggler to get the win here.
Richard: I would like to see Corbin dominate Ziggler and then to add insult to injury, he attacks Ziggler after the match to get Ziggler off television for a little while. Or in another universe, we get Corbin to win so it sets up a rubber match on the next Kickoff Show.
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