WWE Extreme Rules 2015: Predicting Gimmicks for Potential Matches at PPV
WWE's Extreme Rules pay-per-view event is built around the concept of stacking the deck with as much chaos as possible, but so far, the 2015 edition has not been living up to the hype.
In the past, every match on the card had some sort of stipulation attached to it that would ensure weapons are involved and the danger factor was amplified post-WrestleMania.
This year, however, not a single match has been announced to have a gimmick.
Over time, Night of Champions lost its purpose by no longer being the only show in the calendar where all of the titles were defended.
Could this happen to Extreme Rules as well? Might this end up being a name that doesn't fulfill its obligations?
That's still yet to be seen. All we can do right now is attempt to guess what stipulations might end up being added in the mix.
With that being said, let's look at some potential matches and examine the possibilities of which gimmicks WWE would likely surround those with.
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Fatal 4-Way Match
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At the moment, the WWE Intercontinental Championship is supposed to be defended in a singles match between Bad News Barrett and the new champion, Daniel Bryan.
However, just because a match has been announced doesn't mean it is set in stone. After all, the card is always subject to change if need be.
Seeing as how Sheamus and Dolph Ziggler have been just as involved in this feud as Barrett and Bryan, it's tough to imagine that this won't turn into a Fatal 4-Way.
If that's the case, WWE will likely take this as being good enough, seeing as how all Triple Threat, Fatal 4-Way, Six-Pack Challenge and other multi-man non-tag matches operate without disqualifications.
In WWE's mind, marketing this as a Fatal 4-Way would be different than anything else with the same set of rules because it has a different name.
WWE Divas Championship: Nikki Bella vs. Naomi
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It's rare for the Divas division to wrestle in any sort of Extreme Rules match where any real hardcore aspects are involved.
Sure, there have been a handful of times where the women in WWE put each other through tables or wrestled in multi-diva fights where there technically weren't disqualifications, but not often.
Nikki Bella doesn't have a set challenger at the moment, but Naomi appears to be the one that is being built up the most in preparation for a match with her.
With this week's episode of Raw, multiple other Divas expressed their interest in getting a shot at the championship. In an upcoming battle royal match, the challenger will be determined.
This could set up the only type of stipulation that WWE seems to feel comfortable placing Divas in: a Lumberjill match.
That gimmick allows there to be a semblance of disorder when all of the women start attacking each other so it doesn't just appear to be a standard singles match.
As an extra bonus, it incorporates more women on the card who were neglected and did not make an appearance at WrestleMania.
The Miz vs. Damien Mizdow
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WWE already gave this match away on Raw, but that doesn't prevent a rematch from happening at Extreme Rules.
Unfortunately for them, if that does happen, it will either be on the pre-show or it will be relegated to a buffer spot that is more of a bathroom break than something WWE puts time into promoting.
Because of that, it's possible that this is another match without a gimmick whatsoever.
Unless the feud changes drastically, certain things like a Falls Count Anywhere match or something with a strap, handcuffs or blindfold tether can be ruled out.
Also, it is tough to imagine tables coming into the mix in the next two weeks and WWE won't follow up the WrestleMania ladder match with another so soon.
Therefore, the only options left that aren't taken by another match in this list are the generic Extreme Rules matches which go by a multitude of different names but are all fundamentally the same thing, even if WWE does not like to acknowledge that.
Don't get your hopes up that this will be a fun spot fest, as the whole program may take place purely on Raw and SmackDown instead.
WWE Tag Team Championship Match
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Tyson Kidd and Cesaro are not guaranteed to wrestle at Extreme Rules, but it has been a while since the WWE Tag Team Championship was pushed aside completely. It could be assumed that a match will take place.
Right now, though, there aren't even any solid choices for the top contenders for the titles.
The Lucha Dragons are fresh to the scene and doing very well, but there has been a resurgence for The Prime Time Players and a shot of adrenaline to The New Day with their recent heel turn.
While the Fatal 4-Way match at WrestleMania included Los Matadores and The Usos instead of those first two teams, that is still too similar to do the same style match.
If WWE wishes to include four different teams in some capacity but not do a Fatal 4-Way, its next best option is to do an elimination gauntlet in some fashion.
Those matches have a quick enough pace to not take up too much time but not be total squashes, so fans can have a lot of high-octane action in a short window and feel as though they've gotten their money's worth.
WWE United States Championship: John Cena vs. Rusev
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John Cena's story has been stuck on repeat for years and, as the crowd has lamented time and time again, seeing the same thing over and over again has made this very predictable.
As such, there are only two scenarios that WWE would ever consider for the rubber match between Rusev and Cena for the WWE United States Championship.
The first on the list is an "I Quit" match—something that Cena never does and likely will never be booked to do. It's right up the WWE Creative's alley to set that situation up.
The other candidate is essentially the same story and probably has an even better chance at happening: a Last Man Standing match.
At two separate Extreme Rules events, Cena wrestled in a Last Man Standing match and naturally wrestled more on different pay-per-views as well.
This will be one of the most prominently featured matches on the card due to Cena's involved and will be given a long amount of time, so much of that will be eaten up by the referee counting to nine repeatedly.
That might sound boring, but that doesn't matter when the story that WWE wants to tell is how Cena can take a beating, keep getting up, and then toss Rusev onto the stage with an Attitude Adjustment for the win.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton
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Considering how Randy Orton and Seth Rollins had a regular singles match at WrestleMania and this should be the main event of the night, there definitely is no excuse if it does not have a gimmick involved in some way.
Hopefully, this doesn't become a generic Street Fight or another variation of a No Disqualification match and that's it, as it would be underwhelming when compared to some of the other bouts of a similar nature.
As an alternative, there is a good chance that this becomes a Steel Cage match.
Nearly every year, WWE books one of those on the card because it is visually different and it can come about in a rather easy way.
All it takes is for Orton to be attacked by members of The Authority and for someone to bring up the concept of setting up the cage to keep anyone from interfering.
Since Kane has been arguing with Rollins, he could institute this rule as a means to force the champion to fight on his own and not have the help from his cohorts.
Of course, people will find a way to interfere, but that just adds another element of insanity for the audience and a reason for Rollins to come out on top while protecting Orton.
What stipulations do you think will be featured at Extreme Rules?
Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Anthony Mango is the owner of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment and the host of the podcast show Smack Talk on YouTube, iTunes and Stitcher. You can follow him on Facebook and elsewhere for more.
