WWE Extreme Rules 2016: Titles Most Likely to Change Hands at Event

WWE didn't waste any time making Extreme Rules 2016 a fight for gold, not even waiting until the end of the last pay-per-view. 

In less than 24 hours following the end of Payback, three title matches were officially booked for WWE Extreme Rules. 

In its brief seven-year history, Extreme Rules has been a gauntlet for WWE titleholders. Only once, in 2010, has every titleholder walked out of the event with his or her belt, per the Internet Wrestling Database.

That means fans should expect at least one new champion coming out of Extreme Rules.

Intercontinental Championship

While not officially booked (yet), it appears WWE is headed toward a Fatal 4-Way match for the Intercontinental Championship at Extreme Rules. That alone means there's a 75 percent chance someone other than the champ walks away with the belt. 

Factor in the tremendous star power involved in this title scene, and it's anyone's guess who will win. 

Having The Miz walk out of Payback with the belt is the best move WWE could have made. The Miz is so hated by fans that WWE ensured a title change to any of his three potential foes at Extreme Rules is met with approval—even though The Hollywood A-Lister has been one of the most entertaining Superstars on the roster. 

Cesaro would be a great option to avenge his Payback loss. Since returning from injury on the Raw after WrestleMania 32, The Swiss Superman has wrestled in two No. 1 contender matches, challenged for a title at a pay-per-view and teamed with the hottest act in the business, The New Day.

As Bleacher Report's Ryan Dilbert wrote prior to Payback, WWE is taking Cesaro more seriously than ever before: 

"

The process is far from finished, but Cesaro is clearly on the rise. WWE seems to finally be recognizing his unique athletic gifts and buying into his popularity. ... Crowning him as [intercontinental] champ has massive potential. It can be a means to both elevate the title and let Cesaro thrive as the company's workhorse.  

"

Meanwhile, Kevin Owens' importance to not only the IC title picture, but also the company as a whole, cannot be understated. He carried his feud with Sami Zayn heading into Payback. While the two are equals in the ring, Owens is such a dominant personality that fans can't help but take notice when he speaks. 

This was no more evident than at Payback, when Owens addressed the WWE Universe following his victory over Zayn and declared his intention to win back the intercontinental title. His commentary during the intercontinental match at the pay-per-view was one of the highlights of the night. 

Zayn is the odd man out in this scenario. His inclusion in most main roster storylines thus far has been predicated on Owens' pursuits. It's a natural progression; as Zayn tells it, these two are destined to do this forever, per Bobby Melok of WWE.com. But Zayn's fan appeal and pedigree as champion at Pro Wrestling Guerilla, Ring of Honor and NXT is proof that he's more than capable of winning WWE gold sooner rather than later. 

The smart money might be on Owens claiming the Intercontinental Championship at WWE Extreme Rules. Why? No one can match Owens' passion for winning, which makes him such a compelling champion. He will do anything to claim a title and even more to retain it once around his waist. 

United States Championship

There are two explanations for Rusev to walk out of Extreme Rules as a two-time WWE United States champion. The first is realistic and common sense. The second is more of a conspiracy theory and the kind of idea that borders on fantasy booking. 

But it's possible. 

Let's start with the plausible theory. WWE used Kalisto's recent feud with Ryback as a way to build the small Superstar as a viable champion, defeating the physically superior opponent.

After successfully defending his title twice against Ryback, Kalisto can be built as a strong champion, not someone who is looked at as merely a placeholder. Therefore, the Superstar who defeats him for the title needs to be better than your average main roster filler. 

Enter Rusev, who won a Battle Royal on Raw this week to become the No. 1 contender to the title he formerly held. Since losing that belt to John Cena at WrestleMania 31, Rusev has been shuffled from one storyline to another without any meaning. 

"

#USChampion @KalistoWWE...meet your next challenger, @RusevBUL! #RAW #BattleRoyal pic.twitter.com/1v2ltUnuQ1

— WWE (@WWE) May 3, 2016"

Now, with his latest angle with The League of Nations flushed down the tubes, WWE gives The Bulgarian Brute a second chance to tear through the roster as he did when he was called up from NXT two years ago. 

Now for the twist. WWE needs a heel to hold the title so that John Cena can reclaim it after returning to the ring on Memorial Day, as he announced on Twitter. 

Since Alberto Del Rio ended Cena's unprecedented run as United States champ at Hell in a Cell 2015, the title has fallen into disrepair. When Cena was champion during the summer of 2015, there was no hotter story in the industry. 

Nearly everyone in WWE challenged Cena for that belt, from Dean Ambrose to Cesaro to Owens to Seth Rollins. Yes, the WWE world heavyweight champion wanted the United States Championship, not vice versa. That's historic. 

With the Intercontinental Championship being vied for by the next generation of WWE Superstars and Roman Reigns entrenched as world champion, the United States title remains in midcard purgatory and WWE pre-show fodder. There will no doubt be calls for Cena to once again reclaim the title and raise its prominence once again. 

Of course, Cena beating Rusev for the title would be rehashing the same story, something that won't happen in the new era of WWE, according to Shane McMahon. But it would be foolish to believe that WWE won't explore this possibility for the next few weeks, especially as Memorial Day draws closer.