WWE Extreme Rules 2016: B/R Expert Match Predictions and Analysis

WWE Extreme Rules 2016 has several rematches from Payback, but many of them have been given stipulations to make them more exciting.

Here is a quick rundown of the card, per WWE.com:

• Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler in a No Disqualification match.
• Kalisto vs. Rusev for the United States Championship.
• Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho in the first ever Asylum match.
• The New Day vs. The Vaudevillains for the Tag Team Championships.
• Charlotte vs. Natalya in a Submission match for the Women's Championship.
• The Miz vs. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens for the Intercontinental Championship.
• The Usos vs. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows in a Texas Tornado Tag Team match.
• Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles in an Extreme Rules match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE didn't add The Usos vs. Anderson and Gallows until after everyone's predictions had been sent in, so it won't be mentioned in this slideshow.

This card has the potential to produce a great pay-per-view. Before we get to the forecasts, let's run through the lineup of writers who have offered their thoughts for this event.

The Lineup

Extreme Rules is an event known for delivering hardcore stipulations, and it makes for one of the year's more exciting events.

I am handling the B/R expert predictions for James Moffat this time around, but he has still contributed his thoughts on the event. Here is a look at the team offering predictions.

• Anthony Mango (@ToeKneeManGo), founder of SmarkOutMoment.com and host of the podcast Smack Talk.
• Sebastian Maldonado (@SebastianTSU).
• James Moffat (@jamesmoffat).
• Graham Matthews (@WrestleRant), host of WrestleRant radio.
• Aaron Bower (@AaronBower)
• Yours truly, Chris Mueller (@BR_Doctor)

Let's get into the card and see who each panel member thinks will walk out of Extreme Rules with a win.

Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler

Q: At this point, what can either man gain from a win after they have already beaten each other at separate events?

Graham Matthews (GSM): The even-steven booking has been the biggest issue with WWE for some time, and this feud has been the most prominent example of that. Baron Corbin has more to gain than Dolph Ziggler, and I'm hopeful that all is not yet lost for The Lone Wolf, as he has the potential to be a top heel down the line. I'm not sure how much a throwaway win on the pre-show will do, but it's a far better option than giving Ziggler his win back for no logical reason.

Prediction: Baron Corbin.

Anthony Mango (AM):  Ziggler has nothing to gain by winning or losing, while Baron Corbin needs this win to help undo the damage done by his previous contests with Ziggler. The lack of attention WWE has put into Corbin since his debut in April has only hurt him, and his booking against Ziggler has done him no favors, either, so he needs to win just to have a little more momentum on his side. Otherwise, why should WWE fans think he's a threat?

Prediction: WWE can't be stupid enough to have Ziggler win, so Corbin comes out victorious.

James Moffat (JM): Baron Corbin has a lot going for him, and a decisive victory at Extreme Rules would go a long way toward establishing him as a monster. He’s only lost one match since his call-up, albeit a questionable one to Ziggler at Payback. His booking over the past few weeks has been terrible, but putting him over in convincing fashion would get him back on track.

Prediction: Baron Corbin.

Sebastian Maldonado (SM): In the long haul, Ziggler can’t gain much since he’s the veteran of the two. This feud benefits Corbin in many ways. It shows he can hang in a fast-paced bout while gaining main-roster experience. Plus, this is Corbin’s first main feud. With the little experience he has, Corbin is showing he can become a player in the long run.

Prediction: Baron Corbin wins the rubber match.

Aaron Bower (AB): Very little. The most confusing aspect here is how WWE is seemingly resistant to let Corbin fight other foes. It would have helped the build to this match if Corbin had been allowed to tear away on a wild streak and build some momentum ahead of fighting Ziggler again. As it is, we’re set for an uninspiring match.

Prediction: Baron Corbin via pinfall.

Chris Mueller (CM): Ziggler already defeated Corbin at a PPV, so he doesn't need this as much as The Lone Wolf. Corbin has to be more than an aggressive monster—he needs to be an aggressive monster who can close when the time is right. The crowd loves and supports Ziggler no matter how many times he loses, and it makes him the perfect person to put Corbin over.

Prediction: Baron Corbin.

The New Day vs. The Vaudevillains

Q: How long can The Vaudevillains maintain their unorthodox gimmick on the main roster before turning into a comedy act?

GSM: I've been pleasantly surprised with how The Vaudevillains have managed to get over as a heel act on the main roster. They started out shaky, but they have come into their own in recent weeks, and they have been fantastic foils for The New Day. I could see them doing a quick title change before New Day gets the belts back, but it would be wiser to keep the straps on the fan favorites.

Prediction: The New Day.

AM: In a way, they already have been reduced to that, haven't they? This feud has largely consisted of The New Day making fun of them while they don't get much of a chance for retribution. The Vaudevillains have been projecting an atmosphere of being jokes who likely won't get the job done in the ring. Essentially, they'll have little bark and not much more bite. It might have been a better idea for them to debut as comedic babyfaces since their gimmick is inherently hard to take seriously.

Prediction: The New Day retains, keeping those belts warm for The Club.

JM: As long as they remain heels, The Vaudevillains could keep this up forever. I love everything about Simon Gotch and Aiden English and believe they can continue their old-timey routine. Once WWE tries to flip them into faces, they’ll become more comedy than contenders. It’s eerily similar to the recent run by The New Day, who are far better suited to being heels and have been falling flat in recent weeks trying to act as the good guys.

Prediction: The New Day.

SM: The Vaudevillains are perfect old-school characters stuck in a new era. Aiden English and Simon Gotch play great characters, but they might not translate well to the main roster. That’s a shame, considering they’re a solid tag team. The division needs more serious contenders. If The Vaudevillains turned to comedy, it would defeat their purpose. Their main concern should be connecting with the fans.

Prediction: The New Day retains.

AB: I think it can last a fair while. WWE has history with turning some of its acts into comedy characters, but with The Vaudevillains, I see a team that has enough of a mean streak to sustain themselves as a fairly solid heel team. Will they be the greatest of all time? No. But they’ll hold their own on the roster alongside some exciting teams.

Prediction: The New Day via pinfall.

CM: Their longevity depends on how WWE books them. So far, they have appeared more vicious than hilarious, which is the best way for them to remain successful. They pulled off being babyfaces in NXT, but that is a totally different crowd. The longer they stay heels, the better chance they have of staying toward the top of the roster.

Prediction: The Vaudevillains win the titles.

Kalisto vs. Rusev

Q; Has Kalisto proved his worth as a singles competitor during his U.S. title reign, or is he better suited as a tag team wrestler?

GSM: Kalisto has a bright future ahead of him as a singles competitor, but his haphazard booking with the United States Championship has done him no favors. It doesn't help that his feud with Rusev has zero juice, and I don't have a major investment in the match. It's unknown whether a win at Extreme Rules would do anything to raise his stock in the company, but Kalisto should be a bigger priority coming out of the event.

Prediction: Kalisto.

AM: While there's potential for Kalisto as a singles star, 2016 has not been the year to show that off. WWE has treated him as such an afterthought that he has no credibility, and it's hurting the status of the United States Championship by proxy. Until the creative team is willing to put in some time and effort with Kalisto, he should go back down to the tag team division, where he can shine more easily. This is less on Kalisto and more on WWE's poor managerial skills.

Prediction: It would not shock me in the slightest if Kalisto retained, as WWE can be stubborn at times and refuse to change when necessary. While I'm not a big Rusev fan, he is the better option to go with. Rusev wins the belt.

JM: I think Kalisto is a viable singles competitor, but I don’t see him as a viable champion in any of the existing WWE title scenes. It isn’t an issue of size; Finn Balor (5’11”, 179 lbs) isn’t much bigger than the luchador (5’6”, 170 lbs), but he’s a star. Kalisto is entertaining, but he's not a believable champion.

Prediction: Rusev.

SM: The short answer is yes. He had great matches with Ryback on the WrestleMania and WWE Payback pre-shows. However, he’s still tagging with Sin Cara. It’s almost as if WWE Creative wants to keep him as a placeholder for the title. While The Lucha Dragons make a good team, I expect Kalisto to keep the ball rolling as U.S. Champion.

Prediction: Kalisto retains.

AB: It’s not so much of a question of proving his worth; rather, it's how WWE has seemed to almost hold him back with its booking. His days do look numbered when it comes to holding the U.S. title, though, after an uninspiring few months. To that end, you suspect a return alongside Sin Cara in The Lucha Dragons is in his immediate future.

Prediction: Rusev via submission.

CM: Kalisto is one of the most exciting members of the roster when he has the right opponent and is allowed to be competitive. When he is forced to sell for the majority of the match to look like the underdog, it takes away from what makes him special. His size will always make him unfancied, but if WWE booked him smartly a la Daniel Bryan, he would have a bright future.

Prediction: Rusev wins the U.S. title.

Natalya vs. Charlotte

Q: Is Ric Flair helping or hindering Charlotte’s ability to create her own legacy?

GSM: Initially, I wasn't sold on the pairing of Ric Flair and Charlotte because I thought he constantly served as a distraction at ringside, but as a heel act, it works wonderfully. With his help, Charlotte has evolved into an excellent lead heel for the women's division, which is why this isn't the night she should drop the WWE Women's Championship. She should further establish her legacy with a win over Natalya and keep the strap until she loses to Sasha Banks at SummerSlam.

Prediction: Charlotte.

AM: Charlotte was going to be in Ric Flair's shadow no matter what, so there was no reason to try to avoid associating her with her father. However, this has gone on long enough with no changes to the storyline, so Flair has inevitably taken over the spotlight. At first, it helped to have him involved, but he's getting in the way and stunting Charlotte's character growth.

Prediction: Charlotte retains, but that's more of a negative for Natalya—who has no chance at winning that belt—rather than a positive for the defending champion.

JM: Definitely helping. Charlotte has come into her own under her father’s tutelage. I was leery of Ric Flair being inserted into the women’s division storyline, but he’s been one of the best parts of its rise to prominence. It’s time, though, for Ric to start taking more of a backseat so Charlotte can shine.

Prediction: Charlotte.

SM: Surprisingly, it’s helping. Charlotte will always be in her father’s shadow, just as any second- or third-generation wrestler is when they step through those ropes (Cody Rhodes, for example). That’s not a bad thing. Sometimes, carrying the legacy is a good thing when done right. Charlotte and Ric get the “Woo!” chant going, but they get equal amounts of jeers as well. The Flairs will break up eventually, with signs starting to show at Extreme Rules.

Prediction: Charlotte retains.

AB: He was helping at first, but I now feel he’s hindering. I recently wrote how there needs to be a change in the storyline, as it’s gone past the point of interesting. Not enough of the spotlight is on the champion, and it’s about time she cuts loose and fights her own battles.

Prediction: Charlotte.

CM: There's no denying having Ric Flair in her corner has helped Charlotte develop into a better heel, but she also needs to be able to win a match without his help. It's 50-50 at this point. It won't be long before Flair has to let her be her own Superstar, but for the time being, having her father to play off of will keep her in the spotlight.

Prediction: Charlotte retains.

Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose

Q; Leading up to Payback, this feud felt underdeveloped. Do you think WWE has done enough in the past three weeks to make us care more about this Extreme Rules bout? Why or why not?

GSM: I've thoroughly enjoyed this rivalry since the start, even prior to Payback. Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho work well together, both inside the ring and on the mic. Their segments in recent weeks have done quite a bit to get me excited about their upcoming encounter. The Asylum stipulation is silly, yes, but back-to-back wins for Ambrose would get him back on track.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose.

AM: Considering how great these two performers are, it's hard not to see the missed potential, as Ambrose and Jericho could have taken things to awesome levels never before seen. That didn't happen, but what we have isn't exactly bad, either. I would argue there's more sympathy for Mitch the plant being destroyed than if someone were to beat down Kalisto or many other babyfaces on the roster, so at least there's some kind of entertaining edge to this feud. A last-minute copy of a TNA gimmick match isn't the best thing in the world, but it's something.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose needs to win, and I'm confident he will—unless WWE pulls the lame trope of having someone come back to cause an interference and start a feud with Ambrose.

JM: Not at all. WWE just hasn’t given me enough of a reason to care about why these two are fighting. I love Chris Jericho. I love Dean Ambrose. I love the idea of Chris Jericho fighting Dean Ambrose. But why are they fighting? Over a five-minute talk show. I’m still waiting for the explanation about what happened at Night of Champions 2015 between Jericho, Ambrose and Roman Reigns. That would have been a better angle than this.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose.

SM: WWE’s done what it could with this feud. Their segments wrapped up two Monday Night Raw episodes, and both provided great comedic and character work. This is a case of the performers taking over with what they have. If the fans are invested in their feud, it’s because of what Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose have done with it.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose.

AB: I think it has just about done enough to get it through. The time for Jericho to take a break is imminent, so this was never going to be a long-term thing. Thus, it’s hard for fans to get totally invested. But with the intriguing stipulation and Ambrose bringing some of his unpredictability to the party, things have become interesting enough to make this a good watch.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose via pinfall.

CM: Chris Jericho and Dean Ambrose are pros in every sense of the word, but they haven't been given enough to work with. Their promos are solid, their matches are good and the Asylum is an interesting concept for a match, but WWE has not done enough to make this feud feel as personal as it should be. Regardless, we should get a great performance out of them at Extreme Rules.

Prediction: Dean Ambrose.

The Miz vs. Sami Zayn vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens

Q: Out of these four Superstars, who has the most main event potential and why?

GSM: I think it has to be a tie between Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, but if I had to choose, I'd go with Owens. He is a main event-level heel waiting to break out, whereas Zayn could be the new Daniel Bryan with his underdog persona and natural connection with the crowd. Cesaro could be a money player with the right push, but why hasn't WWE pulled the trigger sooner? He's better suited for an Intercontinental Championship run for the foreseeable future.

Prediction: Cesaro.

AM: Kevin Owens is one Money in the Bank briefcase away from being WWE world heavyweight champion. Mark my words. This guy has it all and is one of the best entertainers in the company. The other three have their merits, but Zayn is better suited as a midcarder for a while, and both The Miz and Cesaro need to make up some ground before being in the main event again. Owens has had his midcard title reigns and proved himself in bigger feuds with the likes of John Cena, so he should be the next to step up to the plate, swing and hit a home run.

Prediction: The Miz retains and starts a feud with Sami Zayn, allowing Cesaro to move into the United States Championship picture against Rusev.

JM: Kevin Owens, and it’s not even close. Owens has the personality, the skill set and the drive to be the best in the business. All four men deserve to be champions of some sort—and maybe even a run in the main event scene. But KO is on the same level as Seth Rollins—arguably the most complete Superstar on the WWE roster. Owens vs. anybody could steal a show, and Owens against the likes of Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Rollins or John Cena could headline WrestleMania.

Prediction: Cesaro.

SM: It’s not as easy as it sounds. The Miz was in the main event at WrestleMania 27, but his time in the last match is done. That leaves his challengers, each of whom has a bright future. But the one with the most potential would have to be Kevin Owens. The Canadian can talk and make the crowd react to whatever he does. In fact, I wouldn’t be shocked if Owens gets a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship sooner rather than later. That doesn’t take away from the other two. Cesaro is a strong freak of nature, and Zayn is the underdog. However, out of these four men, Owens is the total package.

Prediction: Cesaro.

AB: Kevin Owens. Without a shadow of a doubt. It’s worth pointing out all three of the other competitors have shown their worth to WWE’s New Era in recent weeks, especially The Miz, who has proved a pleasant surprise with Maryse alongside him once again. But Owens is the star, and he is the one who will go on to become the company’s next big heel.

Prediction: The Miz via pinfall.

CM: The Miz has put on some of his best work in years over the past few months, but his chances of getting back into the hunt for the world title diminish with each new Superstar brought to the main roster. Owens, Zayn and Cesaro all have incredible wrestling ability, but Owens has the mic skills to trade insults with anyone. All three of these men could reasonably win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. It's just a matter of which one gets there first.

Prediction: Cesaro wins the IC title.

Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles

Q: If AJ Styles doesn’t leave Extreme Rules with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, what can WWE do to keep his momentum going?

GSM: AJ Styles will remain a heavy fan favorite regardless of whether he wins or loses on Sunday, but three pay-per-view losses in a row would be questionable. I'm not counting on a Styles victory against Reigns, but he has to be protected in defeat via a turn from Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson or potential interference from Finn Balor. Either way, he can't be beaten in decisive fashion.

Prediction: Roman Reigns.

AM: Considering his popularity, I'm not worried about AJ Styles losing again. Roman Reigns should be booked as someone who is strong enough to retain the title in a one-on-one scenario, and since both men have two allies backing them up, that evens the odds. There's also room for The Club to split and cost Styles the match, allowing him to not look weak in the process. With Money in the Bank coming up, Styles strikes me as the perfect guy to go in as a favorite and be screwed out of the win by someone he can start a feud with come SummerSlam. That would be good enough to keep the fans going.

Prediction: Roman Reigns is victorious—but only after he goes through a difficult fight.

JM: Angry, vengeful AJ Styles is the best AJ Styles. I would keep him as that guy, disrupting Reigns and anyone else in the main event scene. Keeping him paired with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows is best, especially if WWE makes them more prominent and dangerous rather than keeping them in their lackey roles.

Prediction: Roman Reigns.

SM: The answer is right in front of them: Have AJ Styles feud with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. These best friends are forming an alliance, but it’s a matter of time before they feud with each other. Beside, WWE Creative most likely doesn’t want to remake The Bullet Club in their image. It’s not what’s best for business. It would be wise for the creative team to start this feud at Extreme Rules, with Anderson and Gallows costing Styles the title. Whether that happens is in WWE’s hands.

Prediction: Roman Reigns retains.

AB: Make the loss a controversial one. Fans felt deflated at Payback, not because of the outcome of the match, but because of the way Styles was effectively fed to the champion. Here, he needs to be screwed to not hand him another clean loss, which would send him to the back of the line.

Prediction: Roman Reigns via pinfall.

CM: The only way Styles comes away from this with his momentum intact is with a dirty finish. It would be shocking if WWE put the title on him this early, but he can't lose clean again. If he can find the right opponent, of which there are many, his next feud could be what gets his WWE career going in the right direction.

Prediction: Roman Reigns retains.

Bonus Question No. 1

Bonus Question: Since this is the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, should every match have a hardcore stipulation, or is having just a few enough to make the event interesting?

GSM: Call me a traditionalist, but every match on the card should have a hardcore stipulation. I realize that might be overkill, but wasn't that once the purpose of the pay-per-view? Having half the card contested under “normal” rules makes it no different than any other event. Otherwise, the show should be scrapped, similar to how Night of Champions is irrelevant given the current circumstances.

AM: Since WWE has a tendency to just rename the same match in multiple different ways (Extreme Rules, No Disqualification, Street Fight, No Holds Barred), it kind of defeats the purpose of having hardcore stipulations for each bout. The only way this would work is if it brought back some concepts that haven't been used in a while, such as Falls Count Anywhere, Strap Match and so on. But the company won't, so it's OK to just give a few fights gimmicks. Sometimes, less is more.

JM: More than half is enough, but I think most matches should have some stipulation. I like the Submission match between Charlotte and Natalya; it’s not exactly hardcore, but it’s fitting for both these women and the pay-per-view theme. Trying to have something for every match is how we end up with terrible ideas such as Kiss Me Arse, Russian Chain and WeeLC matches. 

SM: Every match should have a hardcore stipulation. What makes it tough is the creativity to separate each event throughout the calendar year. How many times can we have an Extreme Rules event when there are other hardcore elements in play (Money In The Bank, TLC and Hell In A Cell, for example). This is where WWE should keep it simple. Have every bout have a hardcore stipulation. Otherwise, call the show something else.

AB: I’m fine with just a few sprinkled across the board. In this PG era, there are only so many stipulations you can roll out anyway, and having No Disqualification matches everywhere would water down the extremity you’re likely to see.

CM: As long as the majority of the matches have some kind of stipulation, it's fine. Anything with an added level of danger to the performers has to have meaning. If it doesn't make sense to have a stipulation, WWE is wise not to force the issue.

Bonus Question No. 2

Bonus Question: John Cena is scheduled to return on Memorial Day. Who would be the best candidate for his first major feud?

GSM: Going back after the United States Championship would make the most sense, and John Cena vs. Kalisto would be interesting. As long as he doesn't rekindle his rivalry with Rusev, I'm content. He's exhausted just about every other fresh feud on the roster, though him against AJ Styles and/or Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson would be must-see.

AM: If WWE's intention is to book Cena as a beast who wins his next series of matches, he needs to stay away from people who can't afford to lose multiple times. In that scenario, Sheamus or Alberto Del Rio could take the hits, even though I have no interest in seeing those feuds. In a better world, Cena would be paired with Baron Corbin or maybe even Apollo Crews. I'd love to see him up againt someone different, such as Titus O'Neil or Cody Rhodes (not Stardust), just for the sake of keeping things fresh. 

JM: As terrible as this might sound, it’s Roman Reigns. Cena has conquered just about everyone else, and it would be fitting heading into SummerSlam season. These two have never faced off against each other one-on-one, and fresh matchups are a signature of WWE's New Era. Having Cena preach to Reigns about being “the guy” before the latter beats The Face That Runs the Place would work on a number of levels. Plus, the Internet would go crazy fighting over which Superstar to hate more. 

SM: The best candidate who comes to mind for John Cena is none other than Kevin Owens. Granted, they fought last year around the same time. However, this benefits both for many reasons. It would catapult Owens into the main event slot once again. Cena would also have an opponent he knows while shaking off the ring rust. They should also make the feud last until WWE Battleground, with Owens going over. It allows Cena to pass the torch to Owens and make him a formidable force at the same time. It’s a scenario in which everyone would benefit. All WWE Creative has to do is make the right call.

AB: Rusev for the U.S. title, but there's one condition: The Bulgarian Brute goes over. That was the feud that stalled his momentum the first time around, and although it would be cool to see Cena come back and aim for the title he gave huge prestige to last year, it should be Rusev who comes out on top this time.

CM: AJ Styles. The former face of TNA vs. the face of WWE is a feud many have wanted to see for years. Cena has shown on multiple occasions he can tear the house down with Superstars who wrestle a different style to his. Cena may be booed out of most arenas, but he also has a history of getting "This is awesome!" chants during his matches. Putting him in the ring with Styles would steal the show any night of the year.

What are your predictions for Extreme Rules 2016?