WWE Extreme Rules 2016: Power Ranking Bouts Most Likely to Steal the Show

The Extreme Rules pay-per-view has, in recent years, seen its fair share of show-stealing performances from WWE Superstars. 

Last year, Roman Reigns and Big Show put on a Last Man Standing bout that overshadowed every other matchup on a strong card. In 2014, The Shield defeated Evolution in a Match of the Year contender. The year before, Brock Lesnar's win over Triple H in a steel cage not only closed the show; it also stole it. 

Extreme Rules 2012 gave the WWE Universe two four-star matches, per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Internet Wrestling Database): Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match for the World Heavyweight Championship and John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar in a classic Extreme Rules match. 

Suffice to say at least one match at WWE Extreme Rules 2016 is likely to make everyone stand up and take notice. 

Bleacher Report has examined Sunday's card: the feuds guaranteed to disappoint, the matches that will cause controversy and the titles that are likeliest to change hands. With WWE Extreme Rules almost upon us, it's time to power rank the top five matches likely to steal the show. 

No. 5: Dean Ambrose vs. Chris Jericho (Asylum Match)

Since the beginning of 2016, Dean Ambrose has wowed the WWE Universe when the lights are shining brightest.

His Last Man Standing match with Kevin Owens at the Royal Rumble and his performance in the Rumble match that night were spectacular. He followed that up with two world heavyweight title main event matches at Payback (Triple Threat match against Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar) and Roadblock (against Triple H).

Dean Ambrose was on a roll. Then WrestleMania 32 happened. 

His No Holds Barred Street Fight with Brock Lesnar was less than stellar, especially on the biggest stage in the industry. It hasn't helped that since the beginning of his feud with Lesnar, WWE has treated Ambrose as more of a comedy act rather than a dangerous contender. 

The Ambrose-Chris Jericho match at WWE Payback was decent but one that fans didn't invest in. Has anything happened since that pay-per-view to change opinions? 

Putting two great Superstars in the ring, especially those with good chemistry, is a recipe for success. Adding a cage stipulation—and making sure there's a pinfall or submission to win, as Anthony Benigno WWE.com explained—could make this a show-stealer, especially if expectations have been lowered based on previous performances.

Sunday is a big night for Ambrose. He's got a lot to prove and the most to lose. The gimmick of The Lunatic Fringe is to be unhinged; this is the perfect match to prove he's dangerous. It could also wipe away the stench of his uneven performance at WrestleMania 32. 

If WWE decides to get too campy with the theme of the match, watch out—it could be a slog to sit through.

No. 4: The Usos vs. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows (Tag Team Tornado Match)

As often as WWE fans have seen The Usos and Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson fight in recent weeks, the Tag Team Tornado match—or Texas Tornado match for us old-timers—is the perfect stipulation for these teams.

A traditional tag team match between The Club and The Bloodline would have devolved into a frenzy no matter what, so starting the match with all four men eligible makes the most sense.

The Usos, no matter how one may feel about them, are a great tag team capable of excellent matches. Allowing them to work together for the length of the match could bring out some interesting, fresh moves from the former tag team champions.

As for Gallows and Anderson, a Tag Team Tornado match could jump-start the tandem's WWE run, which has been beset by weak booking, endless losses and no-contest finishes. Since reeling off three straight wins in their first week in WWE, Gallows and Anderson are a combined 0-4-1 since, per the Internet Wrestling Database. That doesn't include a Gallows singles loss to Roman Reigns on the most recent addition of SmackDown. 

Gallows and Anderson need a convincing win. Another loss to The Usos would further sully the reputation of these two former NJPW champions and make them look no stronger than Seth Rollins' J&J Security lackeys.

No. 3: Charlotte vs. Natalya (WWE Women's Championship Submission Match)

While the submission stipulation in the WWE Women's Championship match is intriguing, it's not the most important rule added to this match.

No Ric Flair at ringside is the biggest reason why this match could steal the show, and that's because Extreme Rules 2016 could be the night Charlotte shines on her own.

Charlotte has proved numerous times she can win without The Nature Boy, but his involvement in each of his daughter's last three pay-per-view matches has been obnoxious. Keeping him behind the curtain is a story unto itself, and it would make a Charlotte win that much more satisfying. 

Typically, a stipulation of this sort could easily be bypassed. A referee (especially a crooked one such as Charles Robinson) could get knocked out, meaning Flair could make his way down to ringside and help his daughter.

Luckily, Shane and Stephanie McMahon have shown they aren't allowing for such false finishes in the women's division. Case in point, Shane had Ric escorted from the ring on a recent episode of Raw, when Charlotte lost to Paige. 

There are a multitude of ways WWE can go with the women's division coming out of this match. Will the third time be a charm for Natalya? Will Charlotte retain on her own? Will Ric interfere and cost his daughter the title? Will Sasha Banks ever appear on television again? 

The possibilities are endless, which makes this match must-see. 

No. 2: Roman Reigns vs. AJ Styles (WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match)

Whether you're a fan of Roman Reigns or not, you can't deny that the WWE world heavyweight champion just cranks out excellent pay-per-view matches. 

Over the last 18 months, Reigns' worst-rated match by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Internet Wrestling Database) was the 2015 Royal Rumble, which garnered 1 ¾ stars. Since then, Reigns has consistently delivered matches that were rated at or near the top of every pay-per-view. 

It's no surprise that Reigns vs. AJ Styles is a match that could easily steal the show at Extreme Rules 2016. 

The Reigns-Styles angle has been well-developed by WWE over the past few weeks, with both men getting advantages and showing their strength. WWE has allowed fans to believe either man could win the title at Extreme Rules, even if Reigns is the heavy favorite (1-10, per Odds Shark) to walk out of Newark, New Jersey, with the title.

These two men put on a great match at WWE Payback, and there shouldn't be much doubt they'll deliver again. Making the rematch an Extreme Rules match, tossing all rules out the window, will only make this contest more interesting.

No. 1: Intercontinental Championship Fatal 4-Way Match

When your put four of the best workers in the ring together, there are bound to be fireworks. When those four men have amazing chemistry, there's the possibility for something special. 

When you add a title to the mix, you've got the potential to steal the show. That's what Extreme Rules' Fatal 4-Way match for the Intercontinental Championship provides the WWE Universe. 

The Miz defends his belt against Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens and Cesaro in a bout many are speculating will be the highlight of the pay-per-view. WWE has properly built all four men heading into Extreme Rules, and every possible outcome is conceivable when the bell rings.

As B/R's Ryan Dilbert recently wrote:

"

[WWE] has a quartet of warriors to utilize in a story that could go in any number of directions. ... There is a clear desire in all these men to become champion. They continually demand to get a crack at the title. It's what they are chasing above all things. They are treating it as a prestigious prize, so the audience can't help but pick up on that.

"

While Triple Threat matches are a dime a dozen in WWE, Fatal 4-Way bouts are much more rare. WWE has used the stipulation with tag teams much more than with singles wrestlers recently. But when WWE has treated fans to such contests, they've typically been gold:

• The night after WrestleMania 32, AJ Styles, Chris Jericho, Owens and Cesaro put on a great match to decide the No. 1 contender to Roman Reigns' world title. 
• At WWE Payback 2015, Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Randy Orton and Seth Rollins stole the show in a world title Fatal 4-Way matchup. 
• Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Bayley stole the show at NXT TakeOver: Rival in February 2015.

It's not easy to find four Superstars who can work together in such a match. Over the course of their feud, Zayn, Owens, Cesaro and The Miz have complemented each other, making their match at Extreme Rules a potential show-stopper. 

There isn't a single factor heading into Extreme Rules that could knock this Fatal 4-Way match down. It has star power. It features a champion performing at a high level and three worthy challengers. It also highlights some of the Internet Wrestling Community's favorite wrestlers, guaranteeing that someone, if not everyone, will walk away happy.