WWE Extreme Rules 2011 Preview: Predicting the Winners of Each Match

Seeing as the final card for Extreme Rules has yet to be set, I wouldn’t be surprised if a backstage conflict or Anonymous GM decree spurred an impromptu title match. Nonetheless, we can break down the matches that we know of at this time.

Extreme Rules  is interesting this year, because as the PPV event that follows Wrestlemania, we tend to expect a list of rematches from "The Grand Daddy of Them All." Backlash has long been deemed "Wrestlemania Take 2", and sometimes it's an even better show than WM because some of the storylines have more time to build and the wrestlers have more opportunities to work out their matches.

This year, however, we've had the unexpected loss of Edge, which triggered the hastily planned annual WWE Draft, and consequently, shook up the rosters just a week before the PPV event.

With that said, we must take roster changes into consideration, when predicting matches, and the fallout as a result of each matchup. So here we go.

Jim Ross/Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole/Jack Swagger

With any luck, this is the last in-ring encounter between Cole and Lawler. While I enjoy Cole’s heel work and the reintroduction of JR to the story, seeing Cole involved in matches this is a bit much. Expect a lot of stalling and a lot of chasing in the ring, with Swagger and Lawler working the majority of what will hopefully be a short match.

The "Country Whipping Match" sounds like something straight out of the Vince Russo playbook. It hasn’t been explained at this point. I wish it meant that we’d witness a "Strap Match" where the competitors are tied together at the wrists by long leather straps so no one can get away. We’d all love to see and hear Michael Cole whipped repeatedly. It doesn’t require skill, just some guts. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure it’s just another way of saying “Street Fight.”

My Way

It’s announced that if Cole/Swagger win, Lawler also has to kiss Cole’s foot. If Ross/Lawler win, Cole has to give up his announcer position and surrender it to JR.

Swagger goes to the outside of the ring, sets up a table and gets back into the ring. Cole is picking up Lawler to have Swagger throw him through the table, but Lawler shoves Cole, knocking Swagger off the apron and through the table. Unconscious, Swagger can’t help Cole as JR throws a few bombs in his face before Lawler hits a big fist off the turnbuckle for the pin. Cole then becomes full-time manager for Swagger.

Prediction

Vince McMahon continues his two-decade fascination with making JR’s life hell. So JR will tap out to Swagger in the middle of the ring, while Cole laughs in his face. We'll get another Cole-Lawler match next month.

"Falls Count Anywhere": Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes

This feud has been fantastic for Rhodes and it adds to Mysterio’s reputation as a guy that can make someone a star, which is his best asset at this point in his career. If they don’t add a last-minute lengthy match to the card, this match could receive sufficient time.

With 12 minutes or so, they could put on another gem that would elevate Cody’s stock even more. This will be the blow-off match, with Rey going to Raw and Cody remaining on Smackdown after the draft. That being said, expect them to go all out and really make the finale something worthy of ending this intense feud.

My Way

Of course, being a smark, I tend to cheer for the heels and boo the faces. At least, when the heels are worth cheering for, and Cody has really sold me that he’s a future world champion. With the losses of ADR, McIntyre, Ziggler and Swagger to Raw recently, Rhodes may be in line for a major push after this. So I’d like to see him get the win.

That being said, I want to see him win the match clean. It’s a "Falls Count Anywhere" match, so we can get slams on steel chairs and up the ramp. Under these circumstances, it won’t hurt Rey (as if his crowd support would ever diminish) so they may as well put him over strong.

Prediction

I don’t think I’m alone in the belief that WWE has high hopes for Rhodes. It’s a long way off, but we can dream of a Rhodes-Orton, Legacy explodes feud at Wrestlemania. But in the short term, I expect him to continue to move up the card and a win over Rey would help. I don’t think it will be a clean victory. Instead, I anticipate a mischievous conclusion, but still one that will send Rey to Raw with a loss and elevate Rhodes' status.

"Last Man Standing": Randy Orton vs. CM Punk

The hottest running feud in the company, these two have told a compelling story since February and if it weren’t for the draft, I could see it going another month. Unfortunately, Orton is off to Smackdown, so we’ll see the blow-off here in what will surely be a hard-hitting contest.

They are both master ring psychologists.

Punk possesses great technical skill and storytelling ability, and what Orton lacks in moves, he makes up for in theatrics and body language. Both are young but very experienced, and I’d be looking for multiple spots to play off their previous matches and encounters. Remember, the New Nexus is back in the fold and there have been no statements made regarding their involvement. So, it would actually be disappointing not to see them get into the match at some point.

My Way

Simply put, Orton needs the win. Sure, he got the win at Wrestlemania and won with the roll-up on Raw two weeks ago. However, if he intends to be the top draw on Smackdown, he’s shouldn't head there on a loss.

Have the New Nexus do their run-ins. Let them try to pick him off, only for Superman Orton to fight back. I have a feeling this is the end of the New Nexus. So Punk can use their ineffectiveness to justify his departure from the alliance. The seeds have already been planted for a Mason Ryan face-turn (which is too soon in my opinion), but that doesn’t mean we won’t see him ultimately take the blame after Punk eats a big RKO off an announcer's table.

Prediction

Read above. I think I may have this one pegged, and I’m in agreement with Creative.

"Ladder Match": Alberto Del Rio vs. Christian, Vacant World Heavyweight Title

Christian’s beef with ADR has existed long before Edge ever got involved. Christian went on the injured reserve for a few months after tearing his pectoral, an injury the story credits to ADR’s vicious cross arm breaker. The months of ADR vs. Edge left Christian playing back up for his former tag partner, but now, he not only seeks revenge for himself, but also for his best friend Edge.

A "Ladder Match" is perfect for these two. Expect Christian to pull out all stops and be heavily involved in laying out the match. He has a lot of experience in this type of match and he also wants to prove to WWE brass that he has what it takes to be a main-event player. This is Christian’s chance to shine his star brighter than ever before as a single competitor.

ADR’s move to Raw theoretically makes this finish predictable, but the company’s hesitance towards Christian and dedication to ADR over the years still leaves me wondering.

My Way

Christian wins. I can’t say it more simply than that, but Christian should win this match. Anything else seems forced and will permanently diminish fans' perception of Christian. He’s already been portrayed as Edge’s lackey for months, and a major title victory over ADR could take him to where we all think he belongs.

Prediction

I have a sick feeling in my gut that Del Rio will win the belt and bring it to Raw. It won’t make any sense at all, and I don’t think Creative actually knows what they are doing. But considering the reports that the draft was done out of “panic,” I can draw no other conclusion.

Whether it’s a trade of the Miz to Smackdown or a “Loser Leaves Raw” match, I believe something weird will go down that would send him to Friday nights with the belt in hand. Alex Riley was already drafted to Smackdown, perhaps paving the way for Miz to arrive in a month or so. This is all based on my refusal to accept the fact that WWE may actually have plans to give Christian the championship.

"Cage Match": The Miz vs. John Cena vs. John Morrison, WWE Title

Something just doesn’t feel right about this match. That doesn’t mean that it won’t deliver a good performance, but the build has seemed weak. Miz hasn’t done anything notable since Wrestlemania. Morrison is feuding with Truth at the moment and hasn’t referenced his loss to the Miz on Jan. 1 or their history as former tag partners and champions.

Cena has been Cena, floating above the rest of the roster without equal competition and without a storyline. I have long defended Cena, but this character right now is garbage. He has laughed about getting screwed out of the title in the main event of Wrestlemania. He laughed about being drafted to Smackdown, as if he didn’t care that he was leaving the "A" show. I guess that’s because he knew he was coming back at the end of the night.

This match will headline, but I can’t get too excited about it.

My Way

Miz retains after escaping the ring as Truth enters the cage door to go after Morrison. It sucks, but I can’t say I want to see Cena get pinned in the middle of the ring after taking a Skull Crushing Finale, in a decisive victory. It’s not going to happen, so I’m not going to get my hopes up, too much.

Prediction

Cena wins. Why not?

It’s not like he hasn’t had a three-month rivalry with the company’s top champion, who has done whatever he can to embarrass Cena and ruin his life. Why not just blow off the feud in a triple threat with a guy that hasn’t been involved in a PPV event in a month since the biggest show of the year?

I’m expecting to be disappointed by the result of the main event.

Last-Minute Additions

There are now two midcard belts on Smackdown, with Barrett as the IC Champion and Sheamus holding the US Title. I’ll do this one "My Way," so I’d put Barrett, Sheamus, Kofi and Daniel Bryan in a Four-Way with both belts on the line. I'd spin a wheel to determine which belt will be on the line for the first fall.

Barrett would be taken out ringside, with Sheamus hitting the Brogue Kick to Daniel Bryan inside the ring, only for Sheamus to be blindsided by the Trouble in Paradise and pinned for his US Title. This means Kofi would bring the championship with him to Raw. The match continues and Bryan ultimately eats a Wasteland and is pinned by Barrett later in the match to retain his title. Sheamus is ready to move up to the main event, and it can also set up a Barrett-Bryan feud.

This one is a straight prediction,—not how I would do it—but we may see one last destruction of the Corre at the hands of Big Show and Kane to finally break up the group for good. It’ll be short and sad, because we all know how dead the tag division is today, but don’t be surprised if it eats up 10 minutes of air time.