WWE Extreme Rules 2015: Date, Start Time, Matches, Live Stream, PPV Info

At WWE Extreme Rules 2015, the latest edition of the company's celebration of gimmick matches, scores promise to be settled and flesh promises to bruise.

Roman Reigns looks to wrap up his rivalry with Big Show by leaving the giant unable to stand. John Cena has to survive a chain-wielding Rusev in order to remain United States champion. Seth Rollins and Randy Orton meet in a match sure to be overrun with The Authority's influence.

The first post-WrestleMania pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Allstate Arena, outside of Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois, plays host as WWE hopes chains, cages and splintered Kendo sticks will entice new subscribers to its growing network.

The show's build has been disappointing, but that's exactly what folks were saying before what turned out to be one of the best WrestleManias ever.

At the very least, Extreme Rules offers the novelty of a glut of odd matches. Everything from a Kiss Me Arse bout to Ivan Koloff's favorite contest, the Russian Chain match, will be on tap.

Fans who aren't yet signed up for the WWE Network can watch it all at a rather enticing price.

Live Stream, PPV Info

The WWE Network is free to new subscribers in April. That means that not only can network newbies watch NXT, original specials and the WWE/ECW/WCW pay-per-view archive, but they can watch Extreme Rules as well.

The show will stream live on Apple TV, Kindle Fire, Roku, video game consoles and a variety of other devices.

Fans in places like the United Kingdom, Australia, Mexico and Turkey can now take advantage of the 24/7 streaming service. Canadian viewers can get the network through Rogers Cable and other providers. WWE followers in Germany and Japan are still out of luck.

Check out the network help section on WWE.com to check availability in your country.

With the $0 price tag, it's hard to pass up going the WWE Network route. Still, if you live in an area with limited access to high-speed Internet, cable companies will still carry Extreme Rules.

Suddenlink, Cox Communications and other providers will be happy to take your money. The show will run about $45.

To check viewing options via cable companies in other countries, visit WWE.com's How to Watch section.

Pre-Show

As has become tradition, the tag team division will provide the pre-show entertainment.

Beginning at 7 p.m. ET, a panel will preview the night's biggest matches. The hour-long show will include interviews, recaps and predictions. It all streams for free on the WWE App, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Pheed and Google+.

The in-ring action will feature The New Day challenging Cesaro and Tyson Kidd for the Tag Team Championship.

Kidd and Cesaro have struggled to find a rival after Jey Uso went down with a shoulder injury. The New Day is a surprise pick to face them, as it is moving into heel territory.

Fans have rejected the clap-happy trio with "New Day sucks!" chants. The expectation is that we will continue to see a more aggressive side of Kofi Kingston and company as they slide closer toward the dark side.

They look to dethrone the champs or at least get involved in a feud that keeps them in the spotlight in the coming months.

Match Card

• Roman Reigns vs. Big Show (Last Man Standing)
• Daniel Bryan vs. Bad News Barrett (Intercontinental Championship)
• Dean Ambrose vs. Luke Harper (Chicago Street Fight)
• Nikki Bella vs. Naomi (Divas Championship)
• Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus (Kiss Me Arse) 
• Rusev vs. John Cena (Russian Chain Match, United States Championship)
• Seth Rollins vs. Randy Orton (RKO is banned, Steel Cage, WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

The Juggernaut vs. The Giant

Reigns' tepid feud with Big Show appears to be coming to a close. What has felt like a placeholder for Reigns has seen him struggle to keep his momentum.

Opposite The World's Largest Athlete, Reigns isn't expected to craft a classic here, but he can make a big statement by knocking the big man around.

The story here is that Big Show cost Reigns a potential title shot thanks to a punch to the jaw. The giant followed that up by choke-slamming Reigns onto the roof of a car.

It's time for Reigns' revenge and likely for him to move on to Rollins.

Uncertainty Surrounding the Intercontinental Championship

Bryan vs. Barrett may not happen. Injury could keep the bearded warrior from competing. "Bryan is undergoing diagnostic testing to see if he can defend his title at Extreme Rules," wrote WWE.com's John Clapp.

Hurt during a match in Ireland, Bryan's status is unclear.

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reports that "Bryan is expected out of the ring for about four weeks." On the other hand, WWE has yet to cancel the bout and the announcers on Monday's Raw did say that it is up in the air.

If it does end up happening, it will be Barrett's rematch after losing the belt at WrestleMania. There has been little chance to create any buzz with the company not sure if the match is actually taking place.

All Violence, No Build

Expect Ambrose vs. Harper to be fun in spite of its lack of narrative.

The two have collided a number of times, including at WrestleMania 31, where Harper power-bombed Ambrose through a ladder. Harper then sent Ambrose through a table in another match. 

WWE has provided no depth to this story beyond that. It's just a thin tale of two bruisers wanting to fight each other.

Each man is skilled at brawling, so they should make this a valuable addition to the card regardless.

Ambrose has yet win a pay-per-view match since leaving The Shield. A victory here wouldn't be as meaningful as him winning the IC title or defeating Rollins, but it would be a step up.

Naomi Gets Her Shot

Paige won a No. 1 contender's Battle Royal, but Naomi cut her celebration short. A newly merciless Naomi ambushed Paige, leaving her injured—free to shoot a movie with The Miz in actuality.

Naomi now takes Paige's spot. She has long been considered the most athletic Diva in the division. A win here or even just a strong showing would help her prove that she is more than that.

Nikki has been champ since November. Should she retain at Extreme Rules, she would stretch her reign to one of the longest in Divas history.

A Strange Stipulation, But a Potential Show-Stealer Nonetheless

The loser of this contest has to kiss the other's behind. While there is little extreme about that, the talent of the performers gives this a chance to be highly enjoyable.

Ziggler has been on a run of fantastic ring work as of late. Sheamus is flourishing in his return to heel status. A master of showmanship now meets WWE's resident brute.

Sheamus has promised to rid the company of its underdogs. His mission starts with The Showoff. How this plays out will be a big clue to what WWE has lined up for The Celtic Warrior next. A dominant win would hint at a chase for the title in his future.

Russians Love Their Chains

In the tradition of Boris Malenko as well as Ivan and Nikita Koloff, Rusev has demanded that his latest showdown with Cena be a Russian Chain match.

The rules dictate that both men are tied together by a length of a chain. The winner has to drag his opponent to each corner.

This is the rubber match of this feud. Rusev won via knockout at Fastlane. Cena used an Attitude Adjustment to win the U.S. title at WrestleMania.

Will WWE continue to try to elevate the championship by having Cena carry it around or will Rusev reclaim his prize?

Regardless of who wins, this has the potential to be the most violent match on the card. Rusev and Cena can whip each other with the chain or wrap it around a body part, as Rusev did on Monday night.

Kane Guards the Gate

Orton can't use the RKO per the rules of the bout. Rollins has seemingly moved away from using the Curb Stomp, presumably due to safety concerns.

As Bleacher Report's Big Nasty notes, Orton being RKO-less adds suspense to a match we've seen several times recently:

With those weapons out of their hands, Rollins and Orton collide inside a cage in the main event. Orton is still bitter over Rollins violently ousting him from The Authority. Rollins is afraid of The Viper, especially because he can't depend on his stooges inside the walls of the cage.

Kane is sure to play a big role. Triple H assigned him to be the gatekeeper to the cage's entrance. WWE didn't make a move like that just to have him stand there the whole time.

Given how contentious Kane and Rollins' relationship has been, the audience will be expecting a collision between those two and possibly a face turn from Kane. Hopefully, things don't turn out that predictably.

Perhaps WWE has a swerve in its pocket in order to end the night of extreme action with a welcome surprise.