WWE Extreme Rules 2016 Card: Updated Predictions for Each Match at Event
WWE Extreme Rules on Sunday will be the eighth installment in the annual event's history, live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, at 8 p.m. ET.
As has been the case in recent years, not every match will be contested under "extreme" circumstances, but it has shaped up to be a solid show regardless. With WWE seemingly entering a new era, Extreme Rules should maintain the momentum the on-air product has had since Payback earlier in May.
Roman Reigns and AJ Styles will once again meet in the main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, though this time it will be an Extreme Rules match. Will The Phenomenal One finally unseat Reigns as champion, or will Reigns continue to cement his legacy with a successful title defense?
For weeks, Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho have been at odds. At Extreme Rules, their ruthless rivalry will culminate in the first Asylum match. Can Ambrose find a way to beat Jericho for the second straight time in a contest of his own creation?
The WWE Women's Championship will be defended at the event in a Submission match between Charlotte and Natalya. Will Natalya overcome the odds and force the champ to tap out, or will Charlotte hold onto the prestigious prize?
Fans have been speculating for weeks about which Superstars will reign supreme, not only in the main event but across the card. With WWE's most extreme night of the year nearly upon us, these are the predictions that matter most.
Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin (No Disqualification Match)
1 of 8
Baron Corbin arrived on WWE's main roster with a head of steam, winning the 2016 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal in his debut match at WrestleMania 32. But it didn't take long for his momentum to come to an abrupt halt at the hands of Dolph Ziggler at Payback.
Granted, Corbin was beat by way of a roll-up, but a loss is a loss, and his premiere defeat in WWE should not have come so soon. He already feels significantly less special than he did at this time one month ago, but all hope for The Lone Wolf is not yet lost.
He rebounded nicely with a win over a Ziggler on the May 9 edition of Raw, and a second straight victory over the bleached-blonde Superstar is necessary to getting him back on track in WWE.
Having been a part of the main roster for over a decade, Ziggler can suffer a loss and maintain his popularity with the fans. He hit his peak several years ago and gains nothing from beating an up-and-comer who has a brighter upside than him.
Their last two matches were relatively entertaining, so it will be interesting to see what they can produce in an environment without disqualifications. It's simply a shame their feud hasn't received more storyline support in the weeks since Payback.
Prediction: Baron Corbin wins.
Kalisto vs. Rusev (United States Championship)
2 of 8
Having suffered another loss in a non-title bout on the most recent edition of Raw, Kalisto—along with the United States Championship—could not mean less heading into Extreme Rules. On the bright side, the title will be defended on the main card for the first time since the Royal Rumble.
It's uncertain whether a Rusev win would do anything to boost the prestige of the star-spangled prize, but it would certainly be a major step toward making Rusev a force to be reckoned with again. The last time he was seen as a legitimate threat, he had the U.S. title around his waist.
Their feud has been anything but exciting in recent weeks, but the match has the potential to be an unexpected gem on the undercard. Kalisto's excellent in-ring encounter with Ryback at Payback was proof of that.
Kalisto could go far in WWE as a singles star, but in order to do that, he must first be booked to win more consistently than he is. As for Rusev, he could return to his status as a monster heel if he embarks on another reign of terror.
This match could go either way, and one could argue it almost doesn't matter who wins, but Kalisto is my final pick. He will somehow find a way to walk away with his title reign intact, though expect this feud to continue beyond Sunday.
Prediction: Kalisto retains.
The New Day vs. the Vaudevillains (WWE Tag Team Championships)
3 of 8
Every time I have bet against The New Day and its reign with the WWE Tag Team Championships, the group has proved me wrong. I don't want to make the same mistake again, but there is a likely chance The Vaudevillains capture the gold at Extreme Rules.
To their credit, The Vaudevillains have exceeded my expectations as far as how well the gimmick could work on the main roster. They have effectively generated the right type of heat and have looked like equals to New Day throughout their various encounters.
The question is whether it is too soon to put the belts on them. Even nine months into their title run, New Day remains one of the most over acts in the company, so is it too early to cut the group's reign short?
As babyfaces, New Day has plenty of fresh tandems to do battle with, including Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, as well as Enzo Amore and Big Cass. The Vaudevillains could do well as champs with New Day in chase mode, but I'm sticking with New Day as my pick to win.
It's possible New Day will drop the straps Sunday, only to regain them at a future event—similar to last year—but it would be best to keep Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods as champions for a while longer.
Prediction: The New Day retains.
The Usos vs. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows (Tag Team Tornado Match)
4 of 8
Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson made their highly anticipated WWE debuts shortly after WrestleMania 32 on Raw, attacking The Usos. They soon interjected themselves into the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture alongside AJ Styles and became a thorn in the side of champion Roman Reigns.
In attempting to aid AJ to victory at Payback, they quickly made rivals out of The Usos. The tandems crossed paths on multiple occasions in six-man tag team action thereafter, with neither duo able to get the upper hand.
Gallows and Anderson won their premier match in WWE against The Usos, only to lose to them on Monday's Raw. With each team tied one win apiece, they will meet at Extreme Rules in a rare Tag Team Tornado match.
The booking of the former Bullet Club members has been bizarre to say the least. WWE has already made them out to look weak through their countless losses to The Bloodline, and another loss could possibly do permanent damage to them.
It's easy to see The Usos coming out on top because officials don't see Gallows and Anderson as a top priority, and perhaps I'm giving them too much credit, but they can't be that shortsighted. The former IWGP tag team champions must re-establish their dominance with a win here.
Prediction: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson win.
The Miz vs. Cesaro vs. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens (Intercontinental Championship)
5 of 8
While the United States Championship is far worse off than it was at this time one year ago, the exact opposite has happened with the Intercontinental Championship. With four of WWE's most entertaining stars gunning for the gold, it's coming across as the most prestigious prize in the company.
The best part about the impending Fatal 4-Way match at Extreme Rules is not only that the in-ring action should be stellar but also that each competitor has a chance of taking the title. Furthermore, there isn't a worst-case scenario, as every one of them has something to offer as champion.
With Maryse by his side, The Miz has revitalized his career as Intercontinental champion. It would be much like his character to take advantage of an opportunity he's presented with and eke out the victory against all odds.
Having Cesaro capture his first Intercontinental title appears to be the end game, but does it happen as early as Sunday? I assume so, if only because he would likely be taking part in June's Money in the Bank ladder match.
As for Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, they can resume their rivalry past the pay-per-view, but the gold doesn't need to be at stake. The former friends could fight forever and never trade a title because their chemistry is strong enough they don't need to.
Prediction: Cesaro wins.
Charlotte vs. Natalya (Submission Match for WWE Women's Championship)
6 of 8
Regardless of what you thought of the contract signing that closed out Raw on Monday night, there is little doubt the prominent placement of the women's segment on the flagship show was an encouraging sign for the future of WWE's women's division.
Charlotte has been the best lead heel the division has had in years, whereas Natalya has been a breath of fresh air in the title picture. Each of their encounters has been excellent sans the overbooked finish to their Payback matchup, and their Submission match should be no exception.
It's been apparent since WrestleMania 32 that Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks is inevitable, and SummerSlam would be the ideal event to host that monumental matchup. That said, Charlotte should continue to run rampant over the women's roster until then.
Then again, based off what we heard on Raw, it wouldn't be surprising if WWE gave Natalya a brief title run as a reward for all she has done for the division over the years. She has produced some of the greatest work of her career recently and shouldn't fade into obscurity if she loses at Extreme Rules.
With Ric Flair banned from ringside, this will be the Flair family scion's opportunity to prove herself as a credible champion. The stipulation is also perfect considering both women are submission specialists.
Prediction: Charlotte retains.
Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho (Asylum Match)
7 of 8
Dean Ambrose's stock dropped considerably in the eyes of the fans coming off his humiliating loss to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 32. However, he has since rebounded nicely in his program with Chris Jericho.
As a heel, Jericho has been one of the saving graces of programming over the past few months. Through their entertaining segments and matches, he has helped elevate Ambrose to the next level in WWE.
Prior to Payback, Ambrose hadn't won a singles match by pinfall on pay-per-view since April 2015. Needless to say, his victory against Jericho was long overdue. If WWE is determined to prominently push him heading into the summer season, he must beat Y2J once again at Extreme Rules.
The Asylum match has fans buzzing as to whether it will be a bust or a success. I'm willing to bet the bout will be far better than fans figure it will be, simply because both men are willing to make anything they're involved in work.
It would be foolish to have Ambrose fall short of victory in the inaugural bout of his own creation. Jericho avoided Ambrose on Raw and SmackDown ahead of the pay-per-view, but he'll have nowhere to run inside the steel structure, and that's where he will Ambrose will give Y2J his comeuppance.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose wins.
Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles (Extreme Rules Match for WWE World Heavyweight Title)
8 of 8
My prediction for the Extreme Rules main event between Roman Reigns and AJ Styles was set in stone as early as when it was announced at the conclusion of Payback. To me, it is obvious Reigns will retain the title yet again, but after the anarchy we've witnessed unfold as of late, I have put my prediction into question.
To determine a victor for this contest, we have to look at what could be next for both men. It would seem Reigns as champion is the long-term plan, but who is next in line to challenge him for the gold after AJ?
As for Styles, he will likely have his hands full with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson for the foreseeable future. He'll undoubtedly be world champion before long, but now may not be the most appropriate time, with The Big Dog's third title reign just getting underway.
Styles teased going rogue on Raw, though Reigns is due a heel turn before The Phenomenal One given he is already receiving mixed reactions from crowds. That's not to say Styles won't turn heel at Extreme Rules, but it would be the wrong path to take when a Reigns turn would be the more logical choice.
The Extreme Rules stipulation virtually confirms there will be interference from Gallows, Anderson and The Usos, but I hold out hope we see another individual enter the fray unexpectedly. While the identity of that person is unknown—though it's hard to see it being anyone other than Finn Balor—I'm still sold that Reigns will walk out of the event with the title in tow.
Prediction: Roman Reigns retains.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.
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