Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.
This week, Dallas Allsopp, Bodeen Green and Greg Coleman preview WWE Extreme Rules 2021.
Extreme Rules takes place this weekend, but the card is currently anything but extreme. Is this the end for the pay-per-view? Who will walk out of the Women's Championship matches victorious? And just what is the likelihood of Brock Lesnar appearing?
Question 1: As of 6 days before the pay-per-view, there is not a single Extreme Rules match advertised. Is this the nail in coffin for Extreme Rules as a pay-per-view concept?
ALLSOPP: Not advertising an Extreme Rules match as we enter the final week before the pay-per-view is nothing short of egregious. TLC, Hell in a Cell, and yes, even Extreme Rules, have all jumped the shark in terms of being relevant in today’s WWE. Each pay-per-view appears to be stuck in a holding pattern in which the equilibrium is never disrupted, and WWE’s lack of a clear desire to stage stipulation matches means these events need to be retired.
GREEN: WWE should just call Extreme Rules just “Rules” at this rate. Whilst it’s fun to see a good spot-fest as people hit each other with kendo sticks, none of this feuds scream “Extreme” to me. The only confirmed Extreme Rules match thus far is Finn Balor vs Roman Reigns, and that match just feels like an afterthought because of Brock Lesnar. Whilst these matches are fun to watch each year, the fact that these two men and women are taking things to the Extreme just feels pointless as there is little to no build to these matches each year.
COLEMAN: It’s interesting that no Extreme Rules match had been booked, but that could all change on Friday. I could see them looking at the match rundown and realizing that they don’t have a WWE Championship match booked, and also don’t have an Extreme Rules match booked outside of Roman Reigns vs The Demon and just book Big E vs Bobby Lashley in an Extreme Rules match. In all honesty, the Extreme Rules events have never lived up to the name, and WWE should just bring back Unforgiven or No Mercy as a pay-per-view title.
Question 2: Which Women's Championship is most likely to change hands during the show?
GREEN: I feel this match will end in a screwy finish that makes Charlotte Flair keep the belt, with the finish being either a DQ or countout. Alexa Bliss’ new gimmick can only go so far, and her matches are already starting to feel repetitive and slow. With Survivor Series coming up, we will most likely see a match between Flair and either Bianca Belair or Becky Lynch.
COLEMAN: Whilst I fully expect both women to retain their titles, I would say that Alexa Bliss is more likely to win the Raw Women’s Championship. The draft is coming up, and I could see a scenario where Charlotte Flair loses and then ends up on SmackDown, as that is now the A-show. I’m hoping that Bianca Belair wins and Becky Lynch returns to Raw to give each show 2 Horsewomen.
ALLSOPP: I feel Alexa Bliss is more likely to come away from Extreme Rules with a title than Bianca Belair, purely down to the fact that Charlotte Flair can afford such a loss. Becky Lynch has only just returned, and whilst she is struggling to find her feet as a tweener, there is no clear need to remove the SmackDown Women’s Championship from her.
Question 3: Will Brock Lesnar appear during the WWE Universal Championship match? Should Finn Balor be competing as The Demon for this contest?
COLEMAN: I’ll keep this answer short and sweet. Brock Lesnar will not appear during the match, but rather after it to start the build to Crown Jewel. There is no way in hell that Finn Balor should be bringing back The Demon to face Roman Reigns. This is being done for no other purpose than to add another feather to Reigns’ cap that is already full of feathers. Reigns this year alone has beaten Daniel Bryan and Edge at the same time, Bryan and Edge individually, Cesaro, and John Cena. He doesn’t need to beat The Demon too!
ALLSOPP: Let me just get this out of the way - despite being a huge fan of Finn Balor, I despise The Demon. Unlike the sadistic transformation that Bray Wyatt would make into The Fiend, The Demon just feels like Balor cosplaying as a supervillain. I hope Brock Lesnar turns up and destroys both The Demon and Roman Reigns, allowing The Tribal Chief to once again escape with the WWE Universal Championship. That is unless the recent allegations on The Dark Side of the Ring will result in his release from the company.
GREEN: Despite the fact the Extreme Rules stipulation has been slapped on this, it will still be an amazing match, and will have some close moments. Whilst it is great to see The Demon back in action, it does feel a little forced. I think we will see Brock Lesnar appearing late in the match, causing Roman Reigns to be distracted, allowing The Demon to get a close near fall, with Reigns recovering and getting the win, only for Lesnar to hit a F5 to close the show.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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