Perfect Booking for Roman Reigns, Rusev and More Stars at WWE Extreme Rules 2018

With WWE Extreme Rules 2018 on Sunday setting the stage for WWE SummerSlam in August, every booking decision will count in creating excitement that will sell fans on the promotion's final act of this summer. It would be ideal if each of those booking decisions could be perfect, but that's asking too much.

Perfect booking is close to an impossibility. We all have our subjective opinions on entertainment, so a perfect vision is rarely going to come close to lining up with those of the writers behind a wrestling promotion. Moreover, there are just too many visions for any one booking decision to please everyone.

The art of booking a wrestling show is understanding that each choice can affect months of storylines. When a wrestler loses a match, he or she could wallow in it for some time, or the moment could work as a revelation, fueling a rise back to prominence.

In WWE, with multiple shows every week, it can be hard for the writers to think too far ahead. It is easier to just go show by show. Easier rarely leads to better, though, and quick booking will never create stories and matches that most fans can enjoy.

The hope is that Extreme Rules can show a forward-thinking mentality and give us a few booking decisions that might pass for being perfect. These are just a few ideas that could both lead to a great event and build to an even greater SummerSlam.

Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens (Steel Cage)

Necessary Setups for the Future

Braun Strowman is inching closer to the top of the card, clearly being treated as a headline attraction on Monday Night Raw. This contest is driven by how popular Strowman is, and it is important not to hamper his momentum.

In all likelihood, The Monster in the Bank will not wait too long to cash in and claim the Universal Championship. Kevin Owens can afford a loss to this unstoppable force, and Strowman cannot lose steam before his big moment.

The Booking

KO is the conniving heel who will be trapped inside a steel cage with a monster. He will need to focus on wearing down Strowman enough to escape, but he can never win in this scenario. If Owens escapes the cage and takes a hollow win, both men are left trapped in this rivalry longer than needed.

That is why Strowman should stop Owens definitively, repeatedly hitting him with running powerslams before taking the pin and the victory. This would give The Monster Among Men the momentum he needs to stand up to Brock Lesnar the next time The Beast shows up.

SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Bludgeon Brothers vs. Team Hell No

Credit: WWE.com

Necessary Setups for the Future

This feud has primarily been driven by the desire to add excitement to the tag team division. Daniel Bryan and Kane were a fun team years back, but they cannot stay together for long. Their alliance gives The Bludgeon Brothers credible rivals to conquer.

However, with SummerSlam on the horizon, it is important this stage is also used to transition The Yes Man's story to a new rivalry. Facing Kane would be an easy answer but not an exciting one. Better would be to finally pull the trigger on Bryan vs. The Miz.

The Booking

This match feels tailor-made for the classic tag team formula. The Bludgeon Brothers could isolate Bryan and keep him away from Kane until a flurry allowed The Big Red Monster to take the hot tag and begin a furious comeback for the faces.

In the end, though, even after Bryan would have rested up and returned to the action, he would fall just short thanks to the one man he cannot avoid: Miz. If Miz interferes just enough to allow Harper and Rowan to retain, it would finally set Bryan on a collision course with The A-Lister.

WWE Intercontinental Champion Dolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins (30-Minute Ironman)

Credit: WWE.com

Necessary Setups for the Future

Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre's dominance as an alliance has been impressive, with McIntyre especially heavily protected. They should remain a dominant force on Raw for at least a few more months, but Seth Rollins still makes more sense as intercontinental champion.

In order to protect both heels and get Rollins the title back, Rollins would need an ally in this fight to eliminate McIntyre from the equation. If The Architect can get this help, he can walk out with the gold, and Ziggler and McIntyre can quickly move back to the tag team division.

The Booking

The odds are not in Rollins' favor, which should be reflected in the score early on in this Ironman match. Ziggler and McIntyre could get intentionally disqualified to beat down Rollins and set up an early couple of falls before The Man finally fired back.

Just as time is running low and Rollins still needs one more fall to even the score, help could arrive in the form of a brief Roman Reigns appearance to take out McIntyre. Rollins would finally make it 2-2 with time expiring, going into overtime, when Rollins would take it home with The Stomp.

It is possible multiple wrestlers could be in Reigns' place, from Bobby Roode to a returning Jason Jordan, but it would be easiest to just have The Big Dog get a little distracted to help his friend. It would be hard for fans to boo Reigns at that juncture.

SmackDown Women's Champion Carmella vs. Asuka (James Ellsworth in a Shark Cage)

Necessary Setups for the Future

Carmella has been champion much longer than most likely expected given her run as Ms. Money in the Bank was largely forgettable. This reign has been important in solidifying her status on the roster, so it would be best for her to emerge as champion regardless of the depths she has to sink to in order to survive.

Asuka, though, must be protected because she is losing steam. The once-undefeated star could capture the title, but it also work for her to once again be cheated out of the gold. With James Ellsworth out of the way in a shark cage, someone else would have to save Carmella, starting a feud with The Empress of Tomorrow.

The Booking

With Ellsworth out of the way, this should be similar to the first match these two had, with Asuka even more dominant until The Chinless Wonder's antics distract The Empress just enough for The Princess of Staten Island to injure her.

Even with the injury, though, Asuka would still be able to rally only for the referee to take a bump, allowing a surprise attack by The IIconics. Carmella could then retain once more with a superkick, setting up the champion for a future clash with Becky Lynch while Asuka deals with Peyton Royce and Billie Kay.

Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss vs. Nia Jax (Extreme Rules)

Credit: WWE.com

Necessary Setups for the Future

The money match for the Raw women's division at SummerSlam is Ronda Rousey vs. Alexa Bliss, and the stage has already been set. As a new chapter in this longstanding contest between rivals, the only way Nia Jax and Bliss move on is if The Goddess wins more or less definitively.

With Rousey at ringside, it would be easy to protect both women via interference from The Baddest Woman on the Planet, but Jax needs to be able to step out of the title scene for a while. The goal would be for The Irresistible Force to emerge as a clear lasting threat but not able to defeat Bliss this time around.

The Booking

This should be the most vicious match on the card, with both women set to use weapons extensively to deal out punishment—especially Bliss. While Jax will take a while to go down, she will eventually fall to Bliss' level. Jax's babyface comeback could then be stifled by Mickie James.

Rousey would then get involved, as well as Natalya, to help even the odds. But the damage will still be done, enough for Bliss to hit a DDT on to a chair before Twisted Bliss for the victory. The Goddess remains champion, while Jax leaves as the valiant babyface, not quite able to play the heel's games.

WWE Champion AJ Styles vs. Rusev

Necessary Setups for the Future

With the WWE Championship hanging in the balance, SmackDown Live's main event for SummerSlam will be determined by who walks out of this contest with gold. Given AJ Styles' popularity and dominance as champion, he is better suited to represent the brand than Rusev.

However, this is Rusev's big break. He will only get one chance to prove why he deserves to be a main event player in WWE. Therefore, he needs time to shine, and a strong showing in defeat could even help The Bulgarian Brute finally turn face, a role he is better suited for right now.

The Booking

The match should be built around the idea that Rusev has prepared for anything Styles can throw at him. This would allow The Super Athlete to take over and play mind games with the champion, only for Styles to refuse to stay down.

To get the crowd excited about a potential upset, Rusev could catch the Phenomenal Forearm with a Machka Kick and then lock in The Accolade. However, Styles would turn it around and hit his signature forearm to emerge victorious before offering a handshake to Rusev that the Bulgarian would accept.

Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley

Necessary Setups for the Future

With Lesnar likely to defend his title at SummerSlam, he needs a challenger, and both Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley fit the bill. This match should help determine which of these two is ready for The Beast while not leaving the other aimless.

Since The Big Dog has already fought the universal champion multiple times, it would be better for everyone if The Dominator got his chance. Reigns can take the loss as long as he gives Lashley an impressive fight throughout.

The Booking

If Reigns helps Rollins earlier in the night, it would be easy to sell the story that The Guy is not focused going into this contest, allowing Lashley to take over early. Reigns will eventually get back into fight mode to start an all-out brawl through the crowd.

These two are being portrayed as driven men who hate each other, so that needs to be sold in the ring. Let the fight get vicious, with both barely avoiding being counted out before Lashley catches Reigns with a Spear and takes the victory. The Dominator could then call out The Beast the next night on Raw.