Extreme Rules 2013: Latest News and Rumors Surrounding WWE's Big PPV

The WWE’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view scheduled for Sunday, May 19, is one of the biggest shows of the year for the company, and the excitement surrounding the stars on the card and the matches billed for the event is through the roof.

Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Mo.

When: Sunday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Watch: Pay-per-view (local cable providers)

Live Stream: WWE.com

With a card that includes superstars like Brock Lesnar, Triple H, John Cena and others, the anticipation for an exciting event has the WWE Universe ready for Sunday’s marquee show.

There was a time when the first PPV after WrestleMania was an afterthought, but the WWE has rethought how it books its events. That change of philosophy has resulted in Extreme Rules becoming one of the most exciting shows on the calendar.

The 2013 edition of Extreme Rules could be the best yet.

CM Punk’s Post-Extreme Rules Status

The night after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania, CM Punk left the WWE without saying a word. The former champion had been dealing with knee injuries, but the talk of when he would return to the ring has been the focus for many in the WWE Universe.

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Wrestling Inc.), Punk could be back as soon as this Monday on Raw:

"

Everything regarding CM Punk's return to action is being kept quiet within WWE. A lot depends on how well his knee heals up but it will be interesting to see if he returns on Monday's RAW from Canada because that was the most recent date officials wanted him back. Punk would need to return soon if he's going to have a match on the June 16th Payback pay-per-view, as planned before.

"

While the current storylines and booking has helped the WWE build the Extreme Rules PPV without Punk, Raw hasn’t been the same since he left. With Triple H and Brock Lesnar likely not appearing at June’s Payback, Punk would be a marquee addition to sell the secondary show.

Vince McMahon Is Nervous for Extreme Rules

The Extreme Rules PPV is always known as one of the most violent each and every year, and with that much raw brutality on one card, the likelihood that a superstar may be injured is through the roof.

That’s why WWE CEO Vince McMahon is nervous (via Twitter):

"

Because of the risk of injury, I will be crossing my fingers until #ExtremeRules is over on Sunday

— Vince McMahon (@VinceMcMahon) May 17, 2013"

McMahon is a businessman first and foremost, and he is always looking out for the betterment of his company. When these dangerous matches are booked—straps, steel cages, etc.—the promoter can’t help but worry for the safety of the stars involved.

The ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship was likely going to be the most dangerous, so its removal from the card should offer some relief for the CEO.

As seen with Ziggler’s concussion, though, injuries can happen at anytime and McMahon won’t be happy until it’s all over.

Ziggler’s Championship Status and Future

While Dolph Ziggler has been forced out of action at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view with a concussion (h/t WWE.com), the latest rumors surrounding the champion discuss the company’s unwavering commitment to the star.

According to PWInsider (via Wrestling Inc.), there was never a question about Ziggler continuing to hold the title despite his injury and he will be champion through SummerSlam at least:

"

For those wondering, WWE has no plans to strip Dolph Ziggler of the World Heavyweight Title, no matter how much time he has to miss. There is still talk of having the ladder match with he, Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio, possibly at SummerSlam. This means that these three Superstars will be in the World Heavyweight Title picture for a few more months.

"

For the Ziggler fans that have been hoping the WWE would book the World Heavyweight Championship scene correctly now that Ziggler is champion, this is a great sign for the future of The Showoff and his title reign.

The hope now is that Ziggler comes back fully healthy and enjoys a long run as world champ.

Did Fandango vs. Chris Jericho Plans Change?

Fandango is slated to take on Chris Jericho at Extreme Rules in a WrestleMania XXIX rematch. There is no stipulation in place for the their match, but it's possible that there was originally supposed to be one involved.

According to WrestleScoop.com, Vince McMahon originally wanted to make the encounter between Fandango and Jericho at Extreme Rules a "dance-off." This means that they wouldn't have actually had a match at Extreme Rules, but the WWE obviously decided to go in a different direction.

The dance-off ended up taking place on Raw, but it didn't go quite as expected. Fandango's dancing partner, Summer Rae, appeared to sprain her ankle early in their routine. When Jericho was checking to see if she was okay, Fandango attacked him. He beat him to a pulp and even hit him with a piece of the flooring that was put in the ring.

Once Fandango got back in the ring, Summer popped up like nothing had happened and shared a laugh with Fandango. It was a great segment in terms of getting heat for both Fandango and Summer, but the WWE ultimately didn't deliver on the dance-off promise.

While a dance-off at Extreme Rules certainly would have been something different, it's doubtful that it would have worked well on a pay-per-view card. It brings back memories of Brodus Clay dancing with his "mama" and her "bridge club" at WrestleMania XXVIII. That largely got negative reviews, so it was probably smart to keep the dance-off segment on Raw.

Besides, while Fandango and Jericho did a decent job at WrestleMania XXIX, they didn't wrestle their best possible match. They now have another chance to impress the WWE Universe, and they figure to take the ball and run with it on Sunday.

Also, there is some mystery to this match as it could seemingly go either way. Conventional wisdom would seem to suggest that Fandango should win just like he did at 'Mania since he is the rising star, but he continues to get the better of Y2J and the creative team may decide to give Jericho a victory.

Whatever the case, Fandango and Jericho are set to engage in a very interesting battle at Extreme Rules.

*Updated by Mike Chiari on Friday, May 17 at 7:35 a.m. ET

World Heavyweight Championship Scene

There still has been no timetable set for the return of the World Heavyweight champion, the plan for how the WWE will handle its booking of the World Heavyweight Championship scene with Dolph Ziggler’s injury is pretty straightforward, according to F4WOnline (via Wrestling Inc.):

"

The idea with the Jack Swagger vs. Alberto Del Rio contenders match at Extreme Rules is that the winner will get their World Heavyweight Title shot on RAW as soon as Dolph Ziggler is able to compete. That way, everything will be back on track for the next pay-per-view.

"

As much as the WWE Universe normally would hate the way this feud could potentially be blown off, Del Rio has been boring and Swagger hasn’t been as impressive as most thought initially.

Expect Del Rio to win at Extreme Rules and lose to Ziggler on Raw as soon as he is cleared.

Christian Returning Soon?

The WWE roster is lacking top faces that can help put over the company’s developing heels, and the perfect candidate to slide back into that role when he returns from injury would be former world champion Christian.

UPDATE: Thursday, May 16, 7:30 a.m. ET by Donald Wood

Christian is one of the most exciting stars in the WWE today, and those that like the former World Heavyweight champion will be happy to hear that he will likely be returning to action after the Extreme Rules PPV, according to F4WOnline (via Wrestling Inc.):

"

The latest word on Christian is that he will be returning to action soon after WWE's Extreme Rules pay-per-view. We noted last week that WWE creative was still working on plans for his return.

"

---End of update---

According to Wrestling Observer Newsletter (via Wrestling Inc.), that could be much sooner than later:

"

Christian has been cleared to return to action but is waiting on WWE creative to come up with a storyline that will bring him back. Sin Cara returns next week and Christian should be back shortly after.

"

For midcard stars like Wade Barrett, Antonio Cesaro and Fandango, Christian offers a viable opponent to work an extended program against. Christian has done it all in the wrestling business, and just like Chris Jericho, doesn’t mind putting the younger stars over.

The WWE roster needs Christian, and it may finally be getting him back.

Paul Heyman Searching for Third Client?

With a steel cage match between Brock Lesnar and Triple H looming at Extreme Rules, Lesnar's manager, Paul Heyman, is the one who is making headlines.

WWE.com recently posted an article claiming that there are rumors floating around regarding Heyman potentially looking to add a third client in addition to Lesnar and CM Punk. The article features quotes from several superstars about whether or not they would be willing to take Heyman on as a representative.

While the WWE often writes speculative articles such as this one that rarely lead to anything, it certainly would be a surprise to see Heyman add to his stable of superstars. If something like that does happen, perhaps Heyman's new acquisition will assist Lesnar in defeating Triple H on Sunday, which would give Lesnar bragging rights with wins in two out of three matches against The Game.

If something like that does happen, look for Heyman to bring in an outside guy. There haven't been many revelations as of late regarding new or returning superstars coming to WWE, but there are a couple names that would obviously make sense.

The first is Rob Van Dam. Heyman and RVD clearly have a longstanding working relationship that would make him a perfect addition to Heyman's stable. There has been plenty of talk about Van Dam coming back to the WWE since he was seen attending the 2013 Hall of Fame ceremony, but all has been quiet on that front since.

Another superstar to consider is Batista. He and Heyman don't have a history together, however, Batista has battled with Triple H many times in the past and could stick his nose in the match if a return is in the cards.

Rumors have run rampant when it comes to Batista returning at some point, and while he recently claimed that he is focused on movies and nothing else right now, money talks in the this business. If the WWE is willing to offer enough, perhaps Batista could be Heyman's third client.

In all likelihood the Heyman article was simply a way for the WWE to drive site traffic and read counts, but you never know when some self-made rumors might become reality.

*Update by Mike Chiari on Wednesday, May 15 at 7:40 a.m. ET

Dolph Ziggler’s Injury Status

As exciting as it has been to see Dolph Ziggler as the World Heavyweight champion, his status for the Extreme Rules PPV is in question after he suffered a serious concussion (h/t WWE.com) this past week at the SmackDown taping.

Ziggler was scheduled to fight Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger in a ladder match for the title.

UPDATE: Tuesday, May 14, 8:30 a.m. ET by Donald Wood

After being kicked in the head by Jack Swagger during last week’s SmackDown taping, World Heavyweight champion Dolph Ziggler will not be cleared to wrestle at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, according to WWE.com.

Instead of Ziggler being stripped of the title, the bout has been converted to a No. 1 contender’s match between Jack Swagger and Alberto Del Rio.

Add in the stipulation that this is an I Quit match, and as hard as it is to imagine a card without Ziggler, this is the kind of brutal in-ring war that could help make up for the company’s temporary loss.

---End of update---

The Showoff is one of the fresh faces the WWE has been pushing recently, and has earned this opportunity with his hard work. It would be an absolute shame to watch Ziggler lose his chance because of an injury, so the WWE must do everything possible to ensure the champion retains.

The company is lucky that it can protect Ziggler in a three-way match, and as long as the medical team clears him for the match, The Showoff should walk out of Extreme Rules as the reigning champion.

Post-Raw Extreme Rules Card

While there wasn’t much general excitement from the WWE Universe about this Extreme Rules PPV, Monday’s Raw did a great job building to the show and added some marquee matches to the card.

As much as the loss of Dolph Ziggler and the World Heavyweight Championship hurts this PPV (h/t WWE.com), the addition of several other solid matches has more than made up for the inability for The Showoff to be medically cleared for this show.

• WWE Champion John Cena vs. Ryback (Last Man Standing Match)
• WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No vs. The Shield's Reigns & Rollins (Tag Team Tornado Match)
• Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger ('I Quit' Match)
• United States Champion Kofi Kingston vs. Dean Ambrose
• The Miz vs. Cody Rhodes (Pre-Show)
• Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar (Steel Cage Match)
• Sheamus vs. Mark Henry (Strap Match)
• Chris Jericho vs. Fandango
• Randy Orton vs. Big Show (Extreme Rules Match)

There was a very vocal minority of fans that didn’t like this card before, but now there should be no complaining. With The Shield all fighting for gold and one of the deepest cards for a non-big-four PPV in years, the WWE Universe should be pumped for this show.

The WWE did a great job building to this show and whether the fans want to admit or not, this looks like a great show on paper. Let’s see how it comes off live this Sunday.

Pre-Raw Extreme Rules Card

Extreme Rules isn’t one of the big-four PPVs for the WWE—WrestleMania, Survivor Series, SummerSlam and Royal Rumble—but the way it has been booked over the last two years, and judging from this card, the company understands how much it’s worth.

While the Extreme Rules card doesn’t have the same star power as WrestleMania, the addition of Brock Lesnar and Triple H (as well as the WWE championship match between John Cena and Ryback) makes this an amazing secondary show.

• WWE Champion John Cena vs. Ryback (Last Man Standing Match)
• Triple H vs. Brock Lesnar (Steel Cage Match)
• World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger (Triple Threat Ladder Match)
• Sheamus vs. Mark Henry (Strap Match)
• Randy Orton vs. Big Show (Extreme Rules Match)

There is still another episode of Raw and SmackDown to add matches to this card—such as Fandango vs. Chris Jericho, and the addition of The Shield vs. Team Hell No and Kofi Kingston for the tag team and U.S. titles—but the bulk of this card is already squared away.

A few finishing touches will make this card even more interesting, but any true wrestling fan should be excited for what should be a wild PPV.

What They’re Saying

Extreme Rules is approaching fast, and the buzz around the PPV has the fans at home and the WWE Superstars in the locker room excited for the big show.

Getting ready for his strap match against Mark Henry, Sheamus took to Twitter to talk about his excitement for the brutal bout:

"

Adding my own stipulation to #ExtremeRules bout with Truck Hugger Henry... Let's make it a #CelticStrapMatch fella!

— Sheamus (@WWESheamus) May 11, 2013"

"

Henry left his Mark. Literally! Me welts have welts. #RAW #ExtremeRules twitter.com/WWESheamus/sta…

— Sheamus (@WWESheamus) May 7, 2013"

"

YES! Strap Match V Mark Henry#ExtremeRules. Someone's gonna find out what it's like 2 b tethered 2 a unhinged & vengeful Irishman.

— Sheamus (@WWESheamus) May 9, 2013"

While Cena has continued to make jokes leading up to his match WWE championship match, Ryback took to Twitter to show his style of joke is much more cynical:

"

I have a wild hair up my Ryback side n I am swinging for the fences. Super Cena's face is the ball. #IHitHard #RybackRules

— Ryback (@Ryback22) May 6, 2013"

As more Superstars and celebrities continue to comment on Sunday’s exciting PPV, we’ll bring you everything they’re saying about the big event.

John Cena's Injury Status

After injuring his Achilles heel on the European tour, WWE Champion John Cena’s status for the Extreme Rules PPV has never been in question, but the severity of the damage has yet to be revealed.

Cena continues to update the WWE Universe via Twitter about the injury and how it is improving, saying he is getting better each time:

"

Beaumont TX! @wwe is here! @twitter #heel feels better everyday. Looking forward to a great night 2nite! #thechampishere #RTimeIsNow

— John Cena (@JohnCena) May 11, 2013"

The champion was noticeably gimpy the Raw following the announcement of the injury but has looked progressively healthier each time he appears on TV.

While there were some questions about the severity of the injury, there is no question that it was legitimate.

The injury has also lent credence to the notion that Ryback could actually walk out of this PPV with the WWE championship, and that has added even more intrigue to an already exciting event.

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