WWE Extreme Rules Breakdown, WWE Draft Aftermath, and Smackdown Without Edge

Welcome to The Hardcore Revolution Column No. 12!

(Note this article does contain Spoilers)

Extreme Rules is only 3 days away and I am anticipating it being a very shocking night for the WWE. (But we will get into that later.)

The WWE Draft has opened the door for countless possibilities for Championship changes and even opened the door to rekindle or completely start new feuds.

And all of this coming on the coattails of Edge's abrupt retirement due to his worsening nerve condition.

With Edge vacating the World Heavyweight Championship and Alberto Del Rio moving over to RAW, it seems only like destiny that Christian will become the next World Heavyweight Championship.

But, is that really the case?

Also it seems as if it is a forgone conclusion that The Miz is either going to lose or take his WWE Championship to Smackdown because of his minion Alex Riley's departure as well as the arrival of Alberto Del Rio, who most people claim to be RAW's new top heel.

But, have we overlooked anything?

Come on a journey with me to breakdown each match of the Extreme Rules and look at the effects the WWE Draft is going to have on both brands as time progresses.

Extreme Rules Breakdown:

I guess I'll start with the most intriguing match of the night, Christian vs Alberto Del Rio (Ladder Match to determine the NEW World Heavyweight Champion).

Here are the possible scenarios that will occur at Extreme Rules.

 - Christian will become the NEW World Heavyweight Champion and send Alberto Del Rio crying foul all the way to RAW.

Christian will either win on his own, or Edge will come and stop Del Rio from winning the match, most likely with a Spear, and Christian will climb that ladder and break through the glass ceiling and fulfill his dream of FINALLY becoming World Heavyweight Champion.

 - On the other side of things Alberto Del Rio could most definitely win and fulfill HIS destiny.  This however would leave Smackdown without a Main Championship.

This is however a very likely thing.  A Del Rio win, would likely mean a Miz win, which would send The Miz to Smackdown with his Championship, possibly in a loser leaves RAW match between the Champions.

But, is that a good move to make...?

Should you let your most influential media Superstar go to a brand that gets no coverage, other than a brief recap on some episodes of RAW?

 - Another possibility is that Edge will cost Christian the World Heavyweight Championship, but that is highly unlikely and will not be happening on Sunday.

I just figured it be fun to think about that scenario.

The next match would be WWE Champion The Miz vs John Cena vs John Morrison (Triple-Threat Cage Match for the WWE Championship).

 - There are three main scenarios.  This is the first.  The Miz will defy all odds and find a way to win without Alex Riley and against two competitors, who do not have to pin the Champion to win the Championship.

The Miz would most likely pin John Morrison, possibly after R-Truth interferes to enact revenge on Morrison for attacking him on RAW.

The Miz won't be pinning Cena clean again for a while.

Though it would be interesting to see John Cena as a mortal who can lose matches.  That might actually make people like him more and get behind him more.  Especially the old-school fans who can't stand "SuperCena."

With a Miz victory this opens the door for new competitors like Rey Mysterio or even Jack Swagger.  Also Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, and Drew McIntyre.

It will be interesting to see what happens.

 - Scenario two is that John Cena walks out WWE Champion.  This is a likely possibility as well, since the WWE is shaking things up.  This would lead to an Alberto Del Rio/John Cena feud that will be quite frankly epic if done correctly.

Cena would have to pin The Miz though for this to go smoothly.  Possibly after The Miz takes out an already incapacitated John Morrison, because let's face it, R-Truth is going to get involved.

And then an Attitude Adjustment followed by the 1-2-3, and John Cena is the NEW WWE Champion.

 - The third and final scenario is John Morrison squeaking out a win.

I know this comes as a shock to anyone reading that this could well be a possibility.

Morrison has been built towards the WWE Championship for some time and could possibly get his chance soon.  As long as R-Truth doesn't rain on his parade, John Morrison is a very viable contender.

This would go down with The Miz taking out Cena, possibly with a "nasty kick" and Morrison hitting his Star Ship Pain on an unsuspecting Miz.

1-2-3, and that is all she wrote.  John Morrison could well be the dark horse in this match and walk away WWE Champion.

CM Punk vs Randy Orton (Last Man Standing Match)

This match is going to steal the show.  Hands down this match will be gruesome and methodical.  Someone will most likely be carted out on a stretcher when this is all said and done.

 - The first possibility of this match is that Randy Orton will win.

He and CM Punk will have a great match that lasts upwards of 30 minutes that will end with a close finish.  I see Punk and Orton going through something in the way of a fall and Orton stands up before 10 while Punk is still down.

This way the match still build each Superstar and leaves Randy Orton on a hot streak as well as an indestructible man on his way to Smackdown and it also keeps Punk from not losing all of his steam.

 - The second possibility is CM Punk going on hiatus after this PPV.  The rumor mill is churning with talk about CM Punk leaving the company after Extreme Rules.  Actually, Bleacher Report is rampant with it.

I have no clue if it's even a fathomable thought, but this match will prove it if Orton dominates Punk.

I could see Orton punt Punk in the head, then repeatedly hit DDT after DDT to completely destroy CM Punk.

This is just hearsay, though.

 - The third possibility is CM Punk winning.

Maybe a new Smackdown Superstar takes out Orton during the match leaving CM Punk the chance to capitalize.

Punk could win and take that momentum to the WWE Championship table.

It could also end the way the first idea ends, but with Punk reaching the 10-count first.

This could actually turn Orton Heel, I know he needs to be face, but look at it this way, he can be the top heel so desperately needed.

The loss could trigger Orton to completely destroy The Nexus after the match or even interfere in the World Heavyweight Championship Match and show the whole world who Randy Orton could really be.

Who knows?  This is going to be one great match.

Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes (Falls Count Anywhere Match)

What a rivalry, folks?

Not only has Cody Rhodes been built into a substantial heel on Smackdown, the whole idea of this rivalry has made the WWE a better place.

Rey Mysterio is made out to seem like the bad guy, but the vindictive Cody Rhodes has gone crazy with a blood lust for Mysterio.

 - The first way this match will end is with Rey Mysterio sneakily finding a way to get a cheap win over Cody Rhodes, not killing his momentum.

This would be an interesting match that way with Rey capitalizing on Rhodes anger, finding a quick way to roll him up.

 - The second ending to this match is Cody Rhodes destroying Rey Mysterio.  This would kind of kill Mysterio's move to RAW, but Cody getting a definitive win could really help move him into the top Heel role on Smackdown.

Mysterio doesn't need the win.  I see Cody getting the win, but it will be interesting how this match ends.

Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross vs Sir Michael Cole and Jack Swagger (Country Whipping Match)

Oh man, this is going to be bad...

 - Expect a whole lot of whipping.  With JR's broken hand and Cole's messed up mouth there won't be much wrestling involved, but who really expected any wrestling in this match anyway.

Scenario one could see JR and King win by help of Jack Swagger.  Swagger could turn Face here and start a new leaf on RAW.

It would be interesting to see, but I don't see it happening.

 - Scenario two sees JR whipping the hell out of Cole while Swagger and King are disposed outside of the ring.

This match could also be a match for new Superstars to interfere in and make a name for themselves.

All I know is that Cole and Swagger have a chance to win, but most likely will not.

Michelle McCool vs Layla (Loser Leaves Smackdown Match)

A nice brewing feud that will get the WWE prepared for Kharma if not the debut of Kharma...

 - The first scenario is Layla winning sending Michelle McCool to Raw, that would only cause chaos in the Smackdown Divas division, but it would build McCool to be a competitor for Kharma on RAW.

 - The second scenario is McCool winning, sending Layla to RAW, but with talks about Taker going to RAW when he comes back it might seem more intellectual to put his wife on RAW. (Taker's wife meaning McCool)

The Extreme Rules PPV is going to be exciting to say the least.  It only has six matches so far possibly leading up to a Tag Team Title match or a match between either US or Intercontinental Champions.

It could even be between a current RAW star and Sheamus or a former Smackdown star and Wade Barrett.

We will have to see what comes of the two vacant slots as Sunday approaches.

The WWE Draft has left the WWE shaken up.  It looks as if the WWE has some sort of plan up it's sleeve with both midcard championships on one Brand, but who knows?

I like the breaking up of the Mysterio/Rhodes, Punk/Orton, and Christian/Del Rio feuds.

This will open up doors for some very exciting things for all the competitors named above.

Also with Edge leaving Smackdown and the likes of Sin Cara, Sheamus, Ted DiBiase, Mark Henry and The Great Khali coming to Smackdown from RAW, all of these men have a chance to take over that role he left open or at least begin to climb into that role.

Smackdown without Edge will survive.  It won't be the same, but it will survive.

I hope that Smackdown keeps their Championship and that the youth on that program will really begin to develop into some amazing talent.

There is not much to be said that hasn't been said yet other than I think we all hope that Zack Ryder get's his push soon.

Keep an eye out for an article entitled "WWE Extreme Rules 2011 : Bleacher Report Prediction League".

It will be posted sometime Saturday and it is a fun prediction league with points and rankings and anyone can join at any time.

As always...

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Let the Revolution be known and Long Live the Extreme.