Hardy Boyz vs. Sheamus and Cesaro WWE Extreme Rules 2017 Match Preview and Pick

"Broken" may be a term often used to describe Matt Hardy's greatest incarnation, but it may also very well reference the will of Sheamus and Cesaro after Sunday's Steel Cage match for the Raw Tag Team Championships.

The Celtic Warrior and Swiss Superman challenge The Hardy Boyz in one of the marquee matches of the Extreme Rules event. A loss would continue their disappointing string of defeats and essentially eliminate them from title contention.

The former champions will likely be meaner, nastier and more focused than ever before as they attempt to wrest the tag titles away from one of the greatest teams in professional wrestling history.

Will the confines of the cage benefit the bruisers, or will the endless potential for high-risk maneuvers play into the hands of the champions?

It is one of many elements that bear watching Sunday night.

Another? The challengers' ability to maintain their focus and dethrone the champions.

After weeks of frustration and embarrassment, can they overcome the string of successes enjoyed by Matt and Jeff to add another title reign to their growing tag team resume?

Find out with this in-depth preview of Sunday's clash.

The Background

WrestleMania 33 should have been one of the greatest nights in the careers of Sheamus and Cesaro.

The former Raw tag team champions were inserted into a ladder match against Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and Enzo Amore and Big Cass, and they were poised to regain their titles. Then it all came crashing down with the Hardy Boyz's return to WWE.

Suddenly, the fanfare that had accompanied The Celtic Warrior and Swiss Superstar was cast away in favor of a novelty act last seen in the company some eight years earlier. Hard work and dedication to their craft was ignored in favor of the bright lights and high spots of The Hardys.

Sheamus and Cesaro remained honorable, teaming with the returning brothers and new Raw tag team champions in several multi-man tag bouts. They would become No. 1 contenders and earn an opportunity to challenge for the titles at Payback.

It was on that fateful April night that Sheamus and Cesaro lost their latest opportunity to regain gold and snapped, pummeling Matt and Jeff during the post-match festivities and establishing themselves as the new lead heels in the division.

Unfortunately, they were unable to build any sort of momentum, beaten each and every week that proceeded the change in attitude by the brothers Hardy.

Sunday night, inside a steel cage, Sheamus and Cesaro will attempt to reverse their unfortunate twist of fate, shedding recent losses and regaining their titles.

The Match

Sheamus and Cesaro are heavy-handed bruisers. They pummel the opposition with a ferocity and strength few other Superstars possess. Sheamus clubs with massive forearms, while Cesaro stuns with nasty European uppercuts.

They beat the opposition down and pick at the leftovers.

The Hardys are traditional babyface performers who endure tremendous beatings and fire off energetic comebacks that energize the crowd and lead to red-hot finishes. They are also high-risk daredevils, unafraid to make leaps of faith if it means entertaining the audience and making lasting memories.

The two teams mesh so well because Sheamus and Cesaro dish out beatings that The Hardy Boyz absorb with great sympathy before exploding with a flurry of offense.

The chemistry between the teams has been apparent in their previous bouts, and the inclusion of the steel cage will allow the duos to get even more creative with what they are able to do. Expect Sheamus and Cesaro to isolate one of the brothers in some form or fashion, beat them down with unrelenting fury and attempt to put them away.

As has always been the case, the speed and agility of Jeff Hardy will likely be the emphasis for a comeback, while Matt will match raw wrestling ability with Cesaro.

Before the end of the match, do not be surprised to see Jeff scale the cage and deliver a massive Swanton Bomb that leaves fans breathless.

The Prediction

Sheamus and Cesaro are in need of a major boost in credibility.

They have spent two months being beaten and shown up by The Hardy Boyz to the point a loss Sunday night would rob them of whatever legitimacy they have left. They need a victory on Sunday more than any other Superstar or tandem on the card.

Expect them to get it.

The steel cage is the perfect setting for the heels to unleash their barbaric assault on the fan-favorite Hardys. The thoughts of Cesaro and Sheamus rediscovering their ruthlessness, aggression and meanness while locked in the steel structure like caged animals is just what fans need to restore their faith in the heel duo.

The Hardy Boyz are bulletproof at this point in their careers. Matt and Jeff could lose every match for a month in the same way Sheamus and Cesaro have and be largely unaffected by the questionable booking. Dropping the titles Sunday night would do nothing to adversely affect their popularity, but it would elevate the credibility of Cesaro and Sheamus.

A win for the bad guys enhances their reputation, strengthens the tag team division around them and sets up rematches between the teams if WWE Creative opts to head in that direction.

There are simply too many positives not to make the necessary change.

Prediction

Sheamus and Cesaro regain the Raw Tag Team Championships inside the steel cage by pinning Jeff Hardy after a monumental high spot results in The Charismatic Enigma's demise.