WWE Rumors: Daniel Bryan, SmackDown Spoilers and Wednesday's WWE News

There is a lot of pressure on WWE's shoulders right now with Extreme Rules this Sunday. Actually, the pressure falls on Brock Lesnar. He was brought in to keep the positive momentum from WrestleMania going, and the success, or failure, of this show rests on his name alone. 

In the past, WWE has tried to temporarily boost a non-WrestleMania show's buy rate by bringing back a big star, but today's product is based more on the event than the star power attached.

It will be interesting to see how this show does with Lesnar in the main event, and how things will go down if the buy rate isn't what WWE is looking for. 

Enough talk of the business, though. It is time to check out the latest happenings from behind the scenes of WWE. 

"YESING" IS THE NEW "TEBOWING"

Just when you thought WWE was ready to give up on "Yes!," there comes a report that the company is asking fans to do their best "Yes" pose in a fashion similar to the "Tebowing" craze that took over for the three days that Tim Tebow was actually interesting. 

Question on Everybody's Mind: Does this mean anything for Daniel Bryan?

Our Take: At the very least, it means WWE is going to keep featuring him in prominent ways on television for the time being. Hopefully it leads to bigger and better things for one of the best performers in the sport, but that falls on the creative team.

Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 YES! Locks

Give WWE credit for trying something new, though it is not exactly innovative because everyone wants to capitalize on the craze. But anything involving Yes! has been a hit lately, so why not keep things going?

Deeper Dive

WWE Instructs Fans To Start "Yesing" (NoDQ)

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BETH PHOENIX REPORTEDLY FAKING AN INJURY

In news that will come as a shock to WWE fans all over the world, it turns out that Beth Phoenix was just working an angle when her ankle "gave out" on Raw Monday night. Give her credit: It was the best acting she has ever done. 

Question on Everybody's Mind: Will Kharma come back to save the women's division?

Our Take: WWE appears to be working a long-term angle that culminates in Kharma and Phoenix wrestling for the championship at some point in the not-too-distant future. As long as we get Kharma, who is easily the most interesting female wrestler WWE has had in a long time, everything will be good. 

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Women's Feuds

Assuming there is some grand plan for a Kharma-Phoenix feud, it would be a positive step in the right direction for a company that never tries to build an actual story around its female performers. 

Deeper Dive

Beth Phoenix Injury Update (PW Insider)

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RING RUST RADIO PREDICTS LESNAR VS. CENA 

In what has become a time-honored tradition before every pay-per-view, Ring Rust Radio broke down what they want to see happen this Sunday in the main event of Extreme Rules between Brock Lesnar and John Cena.

Question on Everybody's Mind: What is going to happen?

Our Take: Don't ask the crew, because they have no consensus. Their predictions range from the ludicrous (Match doesn't happen) to the highly improbable (Cena gets squashed). That's the beauty of this match right now: No one has any idea how it will play out. 

Hype Meter: 4 out of 5 Crazy Predictions

Of the three predictions on the show, the idea that the match wouldn't happen because someone gets taken out backstage is the worst. WWE has built this show around the match, so to bail out on the night of the show after everyone paid money to see it would be horrible for business. 

For the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio featuring ECW legends New Jack and “Franchise” Shane Douglas and all the 2012 WWE Extreme Rules talk you could want, catch it here! (Some language NSFW).

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*****WARNING*****

THE FOLLOWING SECTION CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM THIS WEEK'S SMACKDOWN TAPINGS. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, SKIP THIS AREA. 

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DANIEL BRYAN AND ALBERTO DEL RIO ARGUE ABOUT SHINY BELTS

On what sounds like a by-the-numbers show, everything opens with Daniel Bryan coming and talking about his match with Sheamus at Extreme Rules. Alberto Del Rio joins him to say that it doesn't matter who wins this week because he will be champion soon. 

Question on Everybody's Mind: Is WWE trying to turn Bryan face?

Our Take: When you look at this segment and the fact WWE is trying to turn "YESing" into a real thing, it certainly seems that the wheels have been put in motion for Bryan to turn back into a fan favorite. 

Hype Meter: 5 out of 5 Premature Face Turns

While I think at some point Bryan has to turn heel, I don't know if I like the idea of it happening so soon. He has been so great as a heel these last three months that you should try to build on that momentum. 

Deeper Dive

Complete SmackDown Spoilers (NoDQ)

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Check back for more on the WWE as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Wrestling Page to get your fill of the WWE. For more WWE talk, check out Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics you just can’t miss.

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