WWE Extreme Rules: 5 Ways To Make It Better Tomorrow

WWE Extreme Rules 2011 is setting up to be one of the worst pay-per-view cards that I have ever seen. With just three matches announced thus far, it is incredibly thin with talent and low on intrigue. While the pay-per-view after WrestleMania typically has a lack of excitement, this year's Extreme Rules almost seems like it is trying to be bad on purpose.

R-Truth is throwing his hat into the WWE Championship match with John Cena and The Miz. A retired Edge leads to his friend, Christian, facing Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match. Worst of all, Jerry Lawler teams with Jim Ross to take on Michael Cole and Jack Swagger.

There are ways to improve this card that won't take very long to do. There are pieces that are already in place that could make for a better card in a hurry. With just two weeks left before Extreme Rules, here are five suggestions to make the card better.

1) "Injure" Jim Ross

This one is simple enough since they will likely do this anyway. Past entries from the Twitter of Jim Ross suggests that Ross will not actually be in the tag team match at Extreme Rules. Here is a tweet from April 12, two days after the match was announced on RAW.

"King could have done much better in picking a tag partner 4 Extreme Rules than me. Maybe I'll get 'waived' or traded 4 someone w/ skills. :)"

There have also been reports about Ross being injured from the ankle lock that was done by Jack Swagger in the picture. Ross is not an in-ring competitor and will likely be replaced? With whom? I don't really care. I just don't want to see this match last very long and I want it to end this silly feud.

2) Turn R-Truth Heel

WWE has two weeks to make people not entirely hate R-Truth in the main event. This is a daunting task, and one that is easier said than done. Keep in mind that it is not an easy task to even say.

The truth is that if there was one superstar wrestling fans want a heel turn for, even more than John Cena, it is R-Truth. R-Truth could easily be a manipulator by trying to play a devil's advocate. He can use backstage segments to try and spread rumors about people and turn friends into enemies. If done the right way, I would at least get by with watching R-Truth in significant matches. Promos like this one from last October made me think that WWE was going down this path.

We have known since 2008 that R-Truth is not allowed in the country of Canada, likely due to his criminal record in the United States. This real-life fact handicaps any chances of Truth to win this match. That is why it is WWE's job to make us forget that and have us think for a second that R-Truth can hang around in this title picture realistically. Let's also not forget the real-life animosity between R-Truth and John Cena.

3) Put Edge in Christian's Corner

Just because this is the first pay-per-view in the post-Edge era doesn't mean that we have to be without the Rated R Superstar. Christian would have likely been in Edge's corner in the ladder match against Alberto Del Rio. Due to his retirement, Christian has taken his spot. With Edge in Christian's corner, the two would simply flip their positions in the match. Edge could be in the corner of his good friend for his first world title win in WWE. Then again, Edge could also be a distraction of Captain Charisma.

Let's just say that Brodus Clay knocks down Edge and hurts the now-retired superstar. Christian's concern could complete Alberto Del Rio's destiny and have Christian miss out one more time. I personally like this avenue because it keeps the story moving and prevents Christian from being a world champion. If I were him, I would rather be one of the best to never win the big one than to be another one of the one-time champs.

4) Book Orton vs. New Nexus

This one seems to book itself, but I could see The New Nexus (just Ryan, McGillicutty and Otunga and no CM Punk) against Randy Orton and whomever he could find as tag team partners. This would be a perfect setup to end the New Nexus and bring old Nexus members into the feud.

Daniel Bryan has nothing to do and he would fit well. There also seems to be a man by the name of Skip Sheffield who has been on the shelf for many months. A surprise return, or at least an appearance for a distraction, would be enough to give Orton a victory and make something memorable out of the same old thing.

5) Cody Rhodes vs. Rey Mysterio: Mask vs. Mask

They lit the Georgia Dome on fire with their match at WrestleMania. Cody Rhodes left that night as a rising star. Since Rhodes and Mysterio are still at it, they could face off at Extreme Rules in a blow-off match.

They can each risk their masks in a match, which seems to be the only way to end this feud. This may not happen at Extreme Rules, as it may be held off for a future pay-per-view. However, holding it at Extreme Rules would be a way to have both move on from this.

Rhodes could move on to becoming a top star on SmackDown until the draft, where he may be in line for a move back to RAW.