WWE Extreme Rules 2015 Predictions
April 26, 2015
By: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
Tonight we’ll see another edition of Extreme Rules, which is one of the better “B shows” for WWE every year. Traditionally, this is where a lot of WrestleMania storylines kind of see their end. There are a lot of gimmick matches, which can get old after a while, but I think with the show taking place in Chicago, the crowd will be red hot all night.
Extreme Rules Kickoff Match
WWE Tag Team Championships
The New Day (Big E and Kofi Kingston) vs. Tyson Kidd and Cesaro (c’s)
While I’m not a fan of The New Day and their ridiculously dumb (and stereotypical) gimmick, I am looking forward to seeing this match. I liked the way this one came about on RAW. The New Day just recently turned heel, so what better way to get them heat than to screw the team that a lot of people want to see contend for the titles in The Lucha Dragons? We’ll have to wait a little longer to see Kalisto tear it up on a WWE PPV, but I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait. I also expect that the team The Lucha Dragons face will be Tyson Kidd and Cesaro as I don’t see them losing tonight. This should actually wind up being pretty decent if they give it some time.
Prediction: Tyson Kidd and Cesaro retain the titles
Last Man Standing Match
Roman Reigns vs. Big Show
Seeing Roman Reigns face The Big Show one more time does not get me excited in the least bit. I thought Reigns has been booked a little better since the WrestleMania debacle, but keeping him paired with Big Show is exactly the thing that began his downward spiral back in January. At least he wasn’t telling the story of “Roman and The Beanstalk” this time around. I think this will wind up being a pretty good match, but I hope this is the last we’ll see of this for a long, long time. With the talk that Reigns was a bust coming out of WrestleMania, I think Reigns will pick up the victory here while being booed out of the building because it’s Chicago.
Prediction: Roman Reigns
Chicago Street Fight
Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper
I’m really looking forward to seeing this match. I love hard-hitting matches, and these two guys will most definitely provide that kind of match for me. Luke Harper is one of the best and most underutilized big men on the roster. He’s got great athleticism, a unique look, and is tough as hell. My personal feeling is that he should be utilized a little better than he is, but they can elevate him any time they want. Dean Ambrose is a tremendous performer who has also been underutilized in my opinion. Yes, he’s been in big matches, but he’s come up short each and every time. I think everyone knows by now that he hasn’t won a single PPV match since The Shield broke up. I think finally, after ten months, he’s going to get a win on PPV. I predict this match will open up the show. It should be a good one.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose
Kiss Me Arse Match
Sheamus vs. Dolph Ziggler
Was I right or was I right? Sheamus as a heel is exponentially better than him being a lame, boring face. I love the new look, the music, the entrance, and the attitude. What an awesome package. I’m not really feeling this gimmick match, but I think the match itself will wind up being very decent. This is the first match of it’s kind since SummerSlam 1999, although they went for the more Americanized “ass” instead of “arse.” Since Sheamus just recently returned, he shouldn’t be losing. Ziggler will pull out his usual good effort, but he’ll come up short as always. That guy will never be any higher on the card than he is now.
Prediction: Sheamus
WWE Divas Championship Match
Naomi vs. Nikki Bella (c)
So The Bella Twins randomly turned face (I’m not sure when; it kind of just happened), and Naomi turned heel. I’m not sure why either happened, but whatever. I don’t get what’s going on in this division half the time anyway. I don’t buy Naomi as a heel, and I thought The Bella Twins were hitting their stride as heels. Of course now is the perfect time to switch them… Naomi is still coming out to the Funkadactyls music, so I expect her to get a different theme tonight, but I don’t think she’ll win.
Prediction: Nikki Bella retains the title
UPDATE: Daniel Bryan has been pulled from the PPV tonight in Chicago.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match
Bad News Barrett vs. Daniel Bryan (c)
I haven’t heard anything on the status of Daniel Bryan, and I don’t think that’s a good thing. I think if he were ok, we’d have heard something about it. This match probably isn’t happening. Bad News Barrett has been paired up recently with Neville, so maybe Neville will make his PPV debut tonight in an impromptu match. I feel really bad from Bryan. Hopefully he won’t be out of action long. My hope is that this is just a scare, and he’ll learn to take care of himself more in the ring and adjust his style. No more German Suplexes on the back of his neck or flying head-butts or flat back bump missile dropkicks. I think he can survive without those things. If it does happen and Bryan is 100%, then I expect to see him retain it.
Prediction: The match won’t happen
WWE United States Championship – Russian Chain Match
Rusev vs. John Cena (c)
I have to say that I’ve loved what John Cena has been doing as the United States Champion. I love the open challenges every week with the title on the line. Now that Cena isn’t the central focus of the show, he’s actually booked kind of the way everyone has wanted him to be booked. He’s tougher, doing less lame comedy, and having great matches. Sure, the Cena haters will hate him no matter what, but you got to respect him. The guy is doing wonders for a title that has been pretty much a prop since 2006. This should be a good match, but with no blood or choking in WWE, the use of the chain will be interesting. You have to touch all four corners, so there’s no pinning here. Rusev shouldn’t be getting pinned for the rest of the year in my opinion (but I’ll take until at least SummerSlam), so that’ll save him when he loses this match.
Prediction: John Cena retains the title
WWE World Heavyweight Championship – Steel Cage Match
Randy Orton’s RKO has been banned
Kane will act as the “gatekeeper” of the steel cage
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins (c)
This match may be a little too stipulation-heavy. It’s going to have a lot going on, which might wind up taking away from the match. I expect that we’ll see attempted interference from J&J Security, which Kane should thwart. Orton will also tease the RKO before remembering that he can’t do it. Then there will be the stuff every time Rollins tries to get out of the cage only to see Kane. There’s just going to be a lot going on. I expect both of these guys will come up big for this one because they’re both incredibly talented, but the hindrances of all these stipulations could hurt them. I’m sure Kane will play into the finish. He’ll either turn on Orton and help Rollins win to show that they were in cahoots the whole time, or Kane will help Rollins win out of loyalty to The Authority and nothing else. They’re obviously turning Kane face at some point; I just hope they don’t wait too long. Look what happened to Damien Mizdow with how long it took them to turn him. The guy is dead and buried already. No matter what happens, I see Rollins retaining the title.
Prediction: Seth Rollins retains the title
At WrestleMania 31, I went 4-5 on my predictions. I knew predicting Sheamus to win the André The Giant Memorial Battle Royal was a risk, but it was one I wanted to take. I also don’t think the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match should have counted toward my record since it changed into something it wasn’t originally, but I’ll keep it as is. My record stands at .500 exactly, but I have a feeling it’s going to go up tonight.
Predictions Record: 10-10
Well, those are my predictions for the show. What are yours? Do you agree? Disagree? Let me know!
E-Mail – MikeyT817@gmail.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV
As always, Wrestleview.com will be providing excellent top of the line live coverage of WWE Extreme Rules. Live coverage by the great Adam Martin begins at 8 PM EST (7 PM CST) along with brief updates on Twitter.
Thanks for reading and enjoy Extreme Rules!