WWE Extreme Rules 2012: Predicting the Winners of Every Match

It's another month, and another pay per view, as this Sunday, WWE Extreme Rules emanates live from Chicago Illinois.

It's the follow up to pro wrestling's most important event of the year, and one of the most successful in WWE history.  WrestleMania 28 was huge for the company, as well as the fans.

But, the hype has not stopped there.

Enter Brock Lesnar, the only man who could possibly follow the Rock, against John Cena.  

That main event is, of course, the focal point of Extreme Rules, but let's not forget, there are six other bouts on the card.

Who is involved in these matches, and who is expected to win?  Glad you asked.  Let's play the highly speculative, action packed guessing game I like to call "who ya got?"

Place your bets, folks.

Santino Marella vs. The Miz, WWE United States Championship Match

Tell me you don't love that pic of Santino.  Why is he so happy?  Simple.  

The guy cannot lose a match.  Period.

He is winning all the time, more than fans ever expected he would.  It is an amazing turnaround, one that nobody saw coming, especially considering that at one time, he could not buy a victory.

He is winning now as much as he was losing then, and he is doing it as one of the most popular Superstars in WWE.  And, he is the current United States Champion.  No doubt about it, Santino Marella has arrived.

The Miz, on the other hand, has all but left the building.

His slide is the complete opposite of Santino's rise, and as much as fans did not expect SuperSantino, they had no idea that Miz would be at the very bottom of the WWE ladder.

So, where do we stand on this match?  Is this the Miz's time to climb to championship greatness once again?

The magic 8 ball says "outlook not so good."

Miz has had virtually no TV time lately, and, again, Santino is pinning everyone.  For me, this one is easy.

WINNER AND STILL UNITED STATES CHAMPION: SANTINO MARELLA

Nikki Bella vs. Beth Phoenix, WWE Divas Championship Match

Undertaker has shaved his head, Santino Marella is winning more matches than John Cena, and Nikki Bella is the Divas Champion.

What has happened to WWE?

The Bella Twins have received more heat from fans over the past few years than arguably any other Diva ever has in WWE.

Their lack of real competitive matches, with their perceived lack of talent, plus the fact that they have been considered more as window dressing than actual Superstars, means that the Bellas have had virtually no respect from fans at all.

But, now that Nikki is Divas Champion, that's all going to change, right?

Eh, no, probably not.

Nothing has really changed with the Bellas, they are the same Divas they were before.  The only difference now is that one of them is wearing the gold because WWE wants to save Beth Phoenix vs. Kharma for later.

That's right, even though Beth's "injury" is not keeping her from challenging for the Divas Title on Sunday, the word is that she is likely not getting it back. 

We have heard the Kharma rumor before of course, but I have to say that this time I am more inclined to believe it.  After all, it has to happen sooner or later.

So, with that, I don't expect the belt will be changing hands just yet.  Another title match, another champion retains.

WINNER AND STILL DIVAS CHAMPION: NIKKI BELLA

Big Show vs. Cody Rhodes, WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

I have to admit, when this particular storyline started, I for one, was not all that impressed with it.

But, Show and Cody have made me a believer, and now I am actually pretty good with how this little rivalry has been going.

It was slow at first, with Cody constantly trying to publicly embarrass Show, leading up to their match at WrestleMania 28.  That night saw Big Show take Cody down, and capture the Intercontinental Title.

That night really felt like the beginning of this feud, and as it has seen Show take the upper hand, with Cody on the defensive, trying to get back on his feet.

And, when a heel is on the ropes, look out, because he will eventually make a comeback.

Cody's IC Championship run was not exactly one for the ages, let's be honest.  While he did hold it for nearly eight months, he did not defend it on a regular basis.

Perhaps that will be rectified, as I believe he will find a way to get it done against Big Show.

WINNER AND NEW INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION: CODY RHODES

Randy Orton vs. Kane, Falls Count Anywhere Match

Speaking of feuds that I didn't really care about, we now come to the Big Red Machine and the Viper.

Truth be told, I am still not very high on this rivalry.  I think each man has done the best with it, and it has been pretty entertaining at times. 

These guys are pros after all; it's their job to make it look good.

But, for me, the lack of a real foundation for the feud is just ruining it for me.  At the end of the day, these two just do not have a reason to touch each other.

I know, Kane is a mindless monster, and no one messes with Randy's family.  Fine, we'll take that and just move on.

I have to say, this match is likely going to be a good one.  Being able to roam around the arena will only add to the drama of it, and the fact is, it does bode well for Orton.

Kane's size and strength advantage is a lot to overcome, and Randy is at his most dangerous when he is not confined to the squared circle.

That, combined with the fact that he is overdue for a win, means that Orton should be the man with his hand raised at the end.

WINNER: RANDY ORTON

Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan, World Championship Match, 2 out of 3 Falls

When Daniel Bryan lost the World Title to Sheamus at WrestleMania 28 in 18 seconds, fans all over the world turned to each other and said the same thing.

"Whaaaat?"

But, now, we all try to put that WrestleMania moment behind us and focus on the match that should have happened to begin with.

I believe this match is going to be a good one, the smash-mouth style of Sheamus going head to head with the technical prowess of Bryan.

It's a nice contrast, and one that should make for an entertaining match.

Daniel Bryan is over like gangbusters right now, all thanks to a one word catchphrase that is surely going to become more annoying than funny in practically no time.  That amount of energy and attention from the fans, should put a heavier spotlight on this title match.

The real X-factor in this one is AJ, the spurned ex-girlfriend of Bryan, who is currently taking her aggression out on any Diva within striking distance.  Will she perhaps target Daniel, and gain revenge on him for breaking her heart?

Don't count on it.

I happen to believe she will actually help Bryan to regain the World Title, and then possibly hold that favor over his head, becoming a more manipulative, controlling character than we have ever seen from her before.

Or, I'm dead wrong and I will look a little silly at the end of this one.  But, hey, dare to be different, right?

WINNER AND NEW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: DANIEL BRYAN

CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho, WWE Title Match, Chicago Street Fight

All hail the hometown hero.

That's right, Chicago native CM Punk returns to his stomping ground as the WWE Champion, and this time he's out to prove something.

This rivalry began with each man laying claim to being the best in the world, but thanks to Jericho, it has now gotten personal.

Extremely personal.

Jericho's attempts to publicly disgrace Punk by airing his family's dirty laundry has caused the champ to fire back with a vengeance.

Chris's constant berating of Punk, verbally and physically attacking him nearly every week since their WrestleMania match, has all but run its course, and now Punk is ready for retribution.

Punk made a mockery of Jericho's sobriety test, and proved once again that he is always in on the joke, and a man who is unwavering in his straight-edge principles.

Jericho is still seeking his first WWE Championship since returning to the company, and while Punk seems to be a man on a mission, the truth is this one could go either way.

It's a tough one, but there is something very dramatic about a babyface who is fighting to get back to the top over a heel who knocked him down in the first place.  For all those who claim Punk has gotten stale, this could be the position he needs to be in, for him to get his edge back.

But, yeah, no, I'm going with Punk.  He's the champ, he's in his hometown and, like I said, it's a tough one.

WINNER AND STILL WWE CHAMPION: CM PUNK

John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar, Extreme Rules Match

Here we go, folks, the reason that so many fans will be tuning in on Sunday night.

Superman vs. Doomsday.  

The showdown between John Cena and Brock Lesnar promises to be huge, and the build up for this one has been pretty big.

Since Brock's return to WWE the night after WrestleMania, the wrestling world has been buzzing about the former UFC Champion, and what he will look like in the ring.

For John, this match is a must-win, mostly because he has, for the first time in recent memory, been on somewhat of a slide, putting more checks in the loss column than the win column.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this match is the fact that Brock now has to shut up and actually put up.

Did you see the mile-long promo he cut on this past Monday Night Raw?  

I mean, wow.

A lot of fans are no doubt expecting John to lose this one and be just one more step closer to the inevitable heel turn that so many believe is actually coming.

I for one do not really buy that assessment, but I do believe that Cena is once again going to come up short on Sunday, and that this rivalry is far from over.

WINNER: BROCK LESNAR