IT’S TIME TO GET EXTREME…again.
But this time, Raw will be taking the honors this time around for WWE’s annual hardcore spectacular. WWE Extreme Rules 2017 may not have the Universal Championship up for grabs, but it still features an awesome main event. A Fatal 5-Way has been set and the winner will go on to face Brock Lesnar for Raw’s top title. Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt and Samoa Joe will all be in the ring at the same time fighting to receive the honor of taking on Paul Heyman’s beast. Also, the newly turned duo of Sheamus and Cesaro will take on The Hardy Boyz for the Raw Tag Team Championship within the confines of a Steel Cage. These two bouts and more make up the “extreme” match card for Raw’s next PPV.
Before Extreme Rules kicks off, I’m going to deliver my match predictions on every announced bout.
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Bayley (Kendo Stick-on-a-Pole Match for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship)
Predictions & Winner: There’s a rally good Vince Russo joke hiding in here somewhere. Anyways, Alexa Bliss has surprisingly turned into one of the hottest acts in WWE today. She prospered on SD Live and now she’s made the perfect transition over to the Raw brand. Bayley’s cool and all, but I’m far more inclined to pay attention to a women’s match on the Red Brand when “Twisted Bliss” is a part of the equation. So the rematch between both ladies will take place with a tried and true special stipulation in mind – a Kendo-Stick-on-a-Pole Match! Alexa Bliss JUST captured the Raw Women’s Championship, so the odds are high that she’s going to be the one walking out with the title still around her waist. At least Bayley will get in some solid Kendo Stick shots on the champ before she fails to reclaim the championship. I honestly don’t see Bliss dropping the title until this year’s SummerSlam.
Neville (c) vs. Austin Aries (Submission Match for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship)
Predictions & Winner: This Cruiserweight war is still going strong! Neville has been ON FIRE as the evil, tyrannical champion who reigns over the rest of his division. Austin Aries has butted heads with the title holder ever since WrestleMania 33 and has been beaten via some screwjob means in their bouts. TJ Perkins has even found himself embroiled in both Superstars’ beef, but it looks like his presence won’t impact the outcome of this Submission Match. Neville has relied on the use of the Rings of Saturn submission hold lately, while Austin Aries is the master of the Last Chancery. Neville’s enjoyed an impressive run as the Cruiserweight Champion, but we think Aries is finally due for a chance with the title now. Aries will finally overcome Neville and claim ownership of the title via submission.
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. The Miz (WWE Intercontinental Championship; If Ambrose is disqualified, he will lose the title)
Predictions & Winner: Ambrose has been pretty entertaining now that he’s back on Raw (his backstage skits as an interviewer that one time on Raw was pretty damn funny). And The Miz and Maryse are still one of the best acts on the main roster. Ambrose has been a constant thorn in Miz’s Hollywood side now that he’s currently holding onto the Intercontinental Championship. Both men are clashing yet again over the title, but this time Ambrose has to be extra careful about how he decides to win the match. If he chooses to break the rules and the ref catches him, he’ll face disqualification and be forced to hand over the title to The Miz. I get the feeling that Ambrose will perform a few acts that are far from legal during this match, but he’ll do it behind the ref’s back. A ref bump will surely come, which will probably cause The Miz to try something nefarious of his own. But when he finally does do it, the ref will actually wake up in time to catch him in the act. Miz will be the one to get disqualified, which means Ambrose will get to leave the match with his IC Championship intact.
The Hardy Boyz (Matt Hardy and Jeff Hardy) (c) vs. Cesaro and Sheamus (Steel Cage Tag Team Match for the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship)
Predictions & Winners: They’re still not “Broken,” but the fans are still hot for Matt and Jeff Hardy. Cesaro and Sheamus were respectful and still in babyface mode at first, but they’ve decided to go a different route. They’re no longer doing it for the fans; they’ve chosen to tap into their heelish ways and get even rougher during their bouts with The Hardy Boyz. This feud has gotten so intense that both teams are looking to settle the score in a Steel Cage. Now this match has the potential to become a Match of the Night Candidate due to how crazy Jeff Hardy can get in situations such as this one. Plus I know Cesaro will pull off some phenomenal strongman feats while inside the cage. Matt and Jeff have enjoyed a good run as the tag team title holders on Raw for a while now, but we think Cesaro and Sheamus will finally overcome them for the titles. Jeff will overindulge in his madness by jumping off the cage, completely miss his target and cause the downfall of his team. Sheamus and Cesaro are going to be the winners here.