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WWE returns to pay-per-view (PPV) — if your cable provider is carrying the event, of course — tomorrow night (Sun., July 14, 2019) live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with its Extreme Rules event starting at 6:00 pm ET with the Kickoff show leading right on into the main course at 7 pm ET on the WWE Network.
Set for the card: Undertaker is back to team with Roman Reigns against Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre, Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch are dating and also fighting together, and more!
Luckily for you Cagesiders, our staff of learned wrestling blowhards is here to help figure out just how the event is going to play out with predictions for each match on the card.
Let’s get to it.
Extreme Rules predictions
Undertaker & Roman Reigns vs. Shane McMahon & Drew McIntyre
Geno Mrosko: There aren’t a lot of ways to play this straight that end any other way than the babyfaces standing tall. That’s probably going to happen anyway. Maybe they set up a big Raw match between Undertaker and McIntyre along the way though. Pick: Graveyard Dogs
Sean Rueter: Not that the Graveyard Dogs need any help, but I’m mostly watching to see what Stone Cold Kevin Owens does. And hoping that whatever it is moves us one step closer to the end of the Best in the World’s run. Pick: Roman Reigns & Undertaker
Kyle Decker: Imagine Undertaker losing a tag match on a B-PPV. If I had the book, I’d make Bill Goldberg the special guest referee to set up Goldberg/Taker II at SummerSlam, but I just want to watch the world burn. Pick: Undertaker & Roman Reigns
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Graveyard Dogs! Graveyard Dogs? Graveyard Dogs. Do we get a silk bag from them to live longer? I dunno. Look, I’m just thankful I get a team name to use in the liveblog, folks. Pick: Graveyard Dogs (Roman Reigns & the Undertaker)
Cain A. Knight: WWE tells us that Undertaker, Roman Reigns, and Shane McMahon are all top guys, which means Drew McIntyre exists to eat the pin. Pick: Undertaker & Reigns
Stella Cheeks: Having recently watched WrestleMania 15, I long for the days of Undertaker as The Devil TM. If we have to have Roman & Taker as a team wrestling Shane UGH McMahon, I’d like to fancast this nostalgic nightmare starring Taker as The Devil & Roman as his literal Hell-hound. They easily win the match and then proceed to eat Shane’s soul and recruit McIntyre to be in their demon cult...BRB I have a fanfiction to write. Pick: Undertaker & Reigns
Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch vs. Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans
Geno Mrosko: Not sure I’ve ever looked forward to a match less, especially considering the story outcome that looks most intriguing is the one I simply can’t see them following through on. Pick: Rollins & Lynch
Sean Rueter: Secky is sucky, but you don’t need Tony Khan’s analytics team to know that they have their opponents’ numbers. Pick: The Man & her man
Kyle Decker: Is Becky’s (and Seth’s I guess?) popularity enough to keep Philadelphia from crapping all over this? Tune in to find out! Pick: Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: (long low groan of anguish) I... I just... Why is Raw’s main event scene not allowed to ever be good? I wish I had something more intelligent to write here. I like all four performers here, but I hate how they’re being used. Pick: Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins
Cain A. Knight: It’s really easy to dump on Corbin and Evans for being completely miscast as top championship contenders for three consecutive PPVs, and it’s baffling that WWE continues to go down this path. What’s worse about it this time is that all of the couples talking segments with Lynch and Rollins make the babyfaces seem like the opposite of cool. Nearly everything about this feud sucks, so hopefully this will be the final chapter. Pick: Lynch & Rollins
Stella Cheeks: It’s 2019 and WWE made Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins - their FLIPPING CHAMPIONS- uncool. Fortunately, for them no one sucks harder than Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans. Lucky lucky. Pick: Beth Lollins
Bayley vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross
Geno Mrosko: This has set up nicely for a Bliss win and immediate feud with Cross over the title, or a Bliss loss and immediate feud over the fact that she didn’t win the title. We’ll go with the former. Pick: Alexa Bliss
Sean Rueter: The ‘2’ side of this handicap match doesn’t need the title to continue their story. The revitalization of the Hugger would be greatly enhanced by her keeping the belt for at least another month or two. And, yes, I’m cautiously optimistic we’re entering an era where there will be women’s programs which don’t involve a championship that get air time. Pick: Bayley
Kyle Decker: This will probably set up the Nikki Cross/Alexa Bliss feud as there’s no reason to do a change here. But then again, taking the belt off Bayley in a match who’s story isn’t even about her is a very WWE thing... Pick: Bayley
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Handicap title match means babyface win. No reason to screw with the formula here— heels bicker, fall out, one of ‘em turns, and now we’re cooking with gas! Pick: Bayley
Cain A. Knight: Bliss and Cross have a really interesting story that could be enhanced with a championship victory. But SummerSlam is coming up and that means it will soon be time for Charlotte Flair to take the spotlight again, presumably challenging for Bayley’s title. Pick: Bayley
Stella Cheeks: The build to this story has been so good! Nikki Cross is finally getting the spotlight she deserves and she has been on her game every step of the way. Especially, considering the fact that Alexa got sick and had to bow out of essentially the entire build. Nikki held her own against the champ and, frankly, Bayley has done some of her best work on the main roster with Nikki as her foil. Bayley absolutely needs to retain the championship here - especially since Sasha allegedly walked away because WWE always cut her championship reigns short - but I have high hopes for the fallout. A Nikki Cross vs Alexa feud could be great or, dare I wish, a Bayley heel turn? So many possibilities! Pick: Bayley
Kofi Kingston vs. Samoa Joe
Geno Mrosko: WWE has used Samoa Joe to get champions over multiple times already, and it looks like they’re doing the same here. Pick: Kofi Kingston
Sean Rueter: Joe will be scary. Joe will lose. And unlike most times when that’s the case, I’m absolutely okay with it in this instance. Pick: Kofi Kingston
Kyle Decker: I really do love that Kofi is likely going to be champ until SummerSlam at least. After his huge win at Mania, I was worried he’d be dropping it right away. And Joe’s never a threat to win a real title (even though he should be), so go Kofi! Pick: Kofi Kingston
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Joe feels like a more realistic choice for a title change than Dolph Ziggler did. But fortunately, it seems like WWE really is all the way on the Kofi Kingston train, and I don’t think we see a switch until SummerSlam. Pick: Kofi Kingston
Cain A. Knight: One thing WWE has taught me over the last two years is that Joe always sounds like a menacing threat, but he never actually wins the top title. Pick: Kofi Kingston
Stella Cheeks: Kofi Kingston for WWE lifetime champion please. Pick: Kofi Kingston
Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs. The New Day vs. Heavy Machinery
Geno Mrosko: The New Day will always be in the tag team title picture but it feels like they’re inching closer to “shit or get off the pot” time for Otis & Tucker. I just don’t think they’re ready to pull the trigger just yet. Pick: Bryan & Rowan
Sean Rueter: Gotta put those steaks on the grill when it’s hot, baby! Pick: Heavy Machinery
Kyle Decker: I can see them going with any of these guys. Blue Collar Solid because they’re doing very well early on. The New Day so they can hold the titles alongside Kofi. Or just not shaking things up too much before Easy E takes over. I say the Planet’s Champs get one more month before they lose the belts at SummerSlam and Bryan can go singles again. Pick: Daniel Bryan & Rowan
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I dunno. I like this feud and the SD tag scene in general but it feels... aimless? Secondary? Regardless, the match will be good and I think we see a title change, so give it up for your six time champs, etc, etc. Pick: New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods)
Cain A. Knight: Is the planet saved yet? No? Well then Bryan’s work must continue. Pick: Bryan & Rowan
Stella Cheeks: Heavy Machinery is a poor excuse for a tag team and if they win I swear I’ll never eat steak again. Pick: Bryan & Rowan
The Revival vs. The Usos
Geno Mrosko: I just don’t know. It feels like they push both equally hard, at least as of late. At least we know the match will be good. Pick: The Revival
Sean Rueter: More than anything else on the card, this feels like a coin flip. Tails it is. Pick: The Usos
Kyle Decker: If they really want to push the Good Brothers now that they’ve re-signed, a big tag title program is the way to go. And it’ll need to be against a babyface team. Therefore... Pick: The Usos
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I dunno, I like this— Wait, something feels a little too familiar... Anyway, this is gonna be great, and I think we get the change because the people need to see that Raw is locked down in the Uso Penitentiary. Pick: The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)
Cain A. Knight: It’s always reasonable to predict that the Revival will lose. But maybe their new role as Shane’s lackeys will help them sneak one out here. Pick: The Revival
Stella Cheeks: The Usos are great and are a welcome presence in the Raw tag team scene but The Revival deserve a lengthy reign. I hope this match ends with The Revival winning with shenanigans and a continued feud with The Usos. Pick: The Revival
Ricochet vs. AJ Styles
Geno Mrosko: If they want to really get The Club over as a force, they sort of have to put the belt on Styles here, right? Pick: AJ Styles
Sean Rueter: You don’t start the new power faction with a PPV loss. Ricochet didn’t get a whole lot of story for his first main roster title win. Let’s give him an opportunity to chase so reclaiming the red, white and blue belt really means something. Pick: AJ Styles
Kyle Decker: I can’t imagine how Styles can take a loss after a heel turn and reuniting the Club without looking like a chump. So he doesn’t. Pick: AJ Styles
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: It’s Evolve’s 10th Anniversary weekend, surely WWE wouldn’t do a WWN Icon like Ricochet like that. Hm... (checks notes) ...I see that WWE totally would do a WWN Icon like that. Eh, mark goggles on... Pick: Ricochet
Cain A. Knight: This should easily be the best match on the card. Ricochet was destroyed by The Club on the go-home episode of Raw, so he’ll probably pick up the win on PPV. Pick: Ricochet
Stella Cheeks: Ricochet barely wins and then is destroyed (again) by The Club <<and loop>> Pick: Ricochet
Braun Strowman vs. Bobby Lashley
Geno Mrosko: WWE is a babyface company, and Last Man Standing is a blowoff type match, so you have to expect Strowman will come out on top here. Pick: Braun Strowman
Sean Rueter: Ever since I had the thought that he would be the ideal person to feed to the Fiend for Bray Wyatt’s return to the ring, I haven’t been able to get the idea out of my head. Use the ruptured spleen as cover for the Monster Among Men, then give me the Almighty vs. the Devil himself. Pick: Bobby Lashley
Kyle Decker: I’m still at the point that I don’t see Lashley winning any big matches. And that’s even though he beat Roman Reigns clean at one point! Heyman is going to have to convince me otherwise. Pick: Braun Strowman
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Is this an explosion deathmatch with Atsushi Onita as special guest referee? No? And why the hell not? Ah well. I fully expect the story here to be all about Braun overcoming his greater injury to squeak out a win by dropping a road case on Bob or something. Pick: Braun Strowman
Cain A. Knight: Braun Strowman has survived garbage truck homicide in the past, so outlasting Lashley in this match should be a breeze. Pick: Braun Strowman
Stella Cheeks: This really comes down to who has a stronger spleen doesn’t it? Pick: Bobby Lashley
Aleister Black vs. Cesaro
Geno Mrosko: Cesaro is playing the same role Samoa Joe is, as the top level wrestler who puts over the guy those in power have plans for. Pick: Aleister Black
Sean Rueter: Hoping WWE decides to follow AEW’s lead and implement time limits here so we can get a draw to logically lead us to a rematch, but they probably won’t. Pick: Aleister Black
Kyle Decker: Aleister Black can’t lose his first match as the “Come get me” guy. (He should really look to Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen not to make such bold claims or he’ll be the second worse team in the NL.) Pick: Aleister Black
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Us? We are the winners. Pick: Aleister Black
Cain A. Knight: This match could be great if it goes 15 minutes. But the primary goal here should be to showcase Aleister Black and have him win in relatively quick fashion. Pick: Aleister Black
Stella Cheeks: Aleister Black used to be cool. Then he quoted Shakespeare sitting in a closet whining about not having any friends opponents. Cesaro is basically James Bond and James Bond always wins. Pick: Cesaro
Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese
Geno Mrosko: Pick: Drew Gulak
Sean Rueter: The Philadelphia Stretcher is gonna break the hometown curse. Pick: Drew Gulak
Kyle Decker: Love me some Gulak. Pick: Drew Gulak
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: (Catch Point handshake intensifies) Pick: Drew Gulak
Cain A. Knight: I have no clue why they ever put the title on Nese in the first place, so the idea of him winning it back seems even crazier. Pick: Drew Gulak
Stella Cheeks: Drew Gulak 2020 Pick: Drew Gulak
That’s how we see the card playing out.
How about you?