WWE Extreme Rules 2012: How Good Will Each Match Be?

As Extreme Rules 2012 nears, the card is all but set. Which of the matchups scheduled will be masterpieces and which will be clunkers?

Brock Lesnar's thrilling return to WWE has him set to face the WWE's biggest star. 

CM Punk and Chris Jericho will go at it in front of a Chicago crowd that is sure to be fired up. A series of WrestleMania rematches fills out the rest of the lineup.

Age, allotted time and long layoffs may keep some of these battles from reaching their potential.

The following is a look at what we can hope for with each match and their projected star rating.  

Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show: Stipulation to Be Announced

Announced less than a week before the event, this match will have very little build-up to work with. 

Rhodes and Show's WrestleMania match was a refreshing surprise and their feud could have and should have been more emphasized.

Lost in Lesnar's oversized shadow, they'll be working with only the bare minimum of kayfabe hatred. 

The contrast in size and speed made for a compelling match last go-around. A determined Rhodes should pull the audience in once again.

They'll probably only get five to eight minutes—not enough to carve out a classic, but enough to outdo expectations.

Projected Star Rating: ***1/2 

Randy Orton vs. Kane: Falls Count Anywhere

The Falls Count Anywhere gimmick will only serve to drag this match down.

We're going to see too much slow punching and too much of one wrestler dragging the other through the crowd. 

Kane has slowed to the point of embarrassment. Orton seems only mildly interested in this feud.

Unless they can find a way to top the top-rope choke slam from WrestleMania 28, this match is likely to be the most forgettable one on the card. 

Projected Star Rating: ***

Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan: 2 out of 3 Falls

The only thing guaranteed is that this match will be dramatically better than their 18-second WrestleMania fiasco.

The frustration that fans felt from that moment is part of what will make this match the best of the night. 

More than just the wrestling purists' favorite son, Daniel Bryan has become the most entertaining heel in the company. But judging by the "Yes, yes, yes!" chants lately, Bryan is more of a 'tweener, adored by fans in spite of his vile ways. 

His technical wizardry and high-flying abilities blend perfectly with Sheamus' power and aggression. Seeing Bryan chase the title, especially if he loses the first fall, will drench the fans in drama.

Daniel Bryan will flourish in the role of predatory challenger. The chosen gimmick will work to enhance the match, pushing the storyline into heart-thumping territory. 

Projected Star Rating: ****1/2

CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho: Chicago Street Fight

Brock and Cena are getting more of the headlines despite the enthralling feud that Jericho and Punk are pulling off. 

A deeply personal rivalry has taken some dark turns. The street fight will allow their bubbling hatred to spill over. 

The crowd will deliver for this match nearly as well as they did for Money in the Bank 2011. 

The beloved Punk and iconic Jericho get another opportunity to display their great chemistry, to have us revel in their gritty theater. 

If any of the action moves into the audience, the Chicago fans will be waiting like hungry sharks. 

Chicago vs. Jericho. Punk vs. his demons. The Best in the World vs. the Best in the World.

This match will be awesome. 

Projected Star Rating: ****1/4

Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena: Extreme Rules Match

The fervor of Brock's return still fresh, this match will start in a tide of anticipation. 

Had the Rock not just pulled off a great match at WrestleMania, I'd be more worried about Lesnar's eight-year layoff. 

It's not as if Lesnar has just been sitting around playing XBox, either. 

His MMA experience is likely to bring a freshness to his repertoire. 

Cena is the right opponent for him in terms of star power, but perhaps not so much in the ring. 

Brock's greatest matches have come against great technical wrestlers like Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit. His and Cena's styles are so similar that they may not produce the spark WWE is hoping for.   

On the other hand, we may be on the verge of a major turning point in Cena's character and career. 

Will he lose again to a man from another era? Will he be forced to shift his Boy Scout ways into something more sinister? 

The story of Cena's journey could outshine any in-ring deficiencies. 

Projected Star Rating: ***3/4