WWE Extreme Rules 2021 Preview And Predictions
Coming off the most-viewed SummerSlam in history, WWE and their superstars are getting ready to go EXTREME as the 2021 version of the Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View (PPV) takes place Sunday from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, OH.
Last year, during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE decided to rename the PPV to The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, and it did not disappoint! Matches included a Swamp Fight between then-Universal Champion Braun Strowman and the Cult Leader version of Bray Wyatt (both are somehow no longer with the company), an Eye for an Eye match between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio, a Tables match which saw Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura capture the SmackDown Tag Team Championships from the New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, and an Extreme Rules match between then-WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler.
This year, the script has completely flipped. As of this writing, WWE has only announced one stipulation going into Sunday. This show may be more RULES than EXTREME, but the superstars of RAW and SmackDown still have a lot to fight for this weekend.
Roman Reigns (C. W/ Paul Heyman) vs “Demon” Finn Balor. Universal Championship. Extreme Rules Match
When WWE returned to the road for the first time since March 2020 on July 16, 2021, so did the “Prince”, who made his first main roster appearance since suffering a loss to a debuting “Fiend” at the “Biggest Party of the Summer” in 2019. Balor had a quick bout with the “Great Liberator” Sami Zayn before turning his focus to the “Tribal Chief”. On the July 23 SmackDown, following his successful championship defense against Edge at Money in the Bank, Reigns came out to the ring in the main event to answer John Cena’s SummerSlam challenge. Reigns declined, but Balor marched out to the squared circle, and the “Head of the Table” accepted.
The next week, Balor and Reigns were about to sign the contract for SummerSlam, but “BUM ASS BARON CORBIN (Thank you Pat McAfee for the nickname)” attacked Balor from behind, allowing Cena to sign the contract and steal Balor’s title shot. Reigns would successfully defend against Cena at SummerSlam, and Balor would dispose of Corbin and set his sights right back on the Universal Champion. Balor challenged Reigns to a title match on the Aug. 28 episode of SmackDown. Reigns accepted, followed by a beatdown of Balor by Reigns and his cousins — the Usos. WWE Officials Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville made the match official for the following SmackDown.
Prior to the Sept. 3 championship bout, Reigns had to deal with the “Beast Incarnate” lurking around the corner on the Sept. 10 episode of SmackDown from Madison Square Garden, so he was distracted for his title defense. The Usos took out Balor pre match, and Reigns thought he was going to have an easy match with the “Prince”, but the first-ever Universal Champion would not back down. He hit the champ with everything he had, including a Coup De Grace from the top rope, but Reigns would execute his signature low blow during the kickout and lock the guillotine on Balor to retain the title. As Reigns and Heyman left ringside, the lights turned red in the arena as Balor laid flat on his back in the middle of the squared circle, signaling the “Demon” was coming.
Following a showdown with Lesnar in the World’s Most Famous Arena, Reigns would help the Usos retain their tag gold by putting the guillotine on Montez Ford when it looked like the Street Profits were going to walk out of MSG as the top tag team on Friday nights following a From the Heavens splash from Ford to Jey Uso. Reigns then grabbed a microphone and said he was going to dismantle Lesnar once he finishes Balor off for good.
Out came the “Demon” for the first time on the WWE roster since that fateful August night in 2019. The “Demon” came face-to-face with the “Head of the Table” to end the show and set up the match for Sunday.
Now, we all know Reigns is NOT losing here. He already has a Universal Championship bout set up with Lesnar in Saudi Arabia at Crown Jewel Oct. 21. He’s begun a feud with new WWE Champion Big E that’s going to lead to a champion vs champion match at Survivor Series in Brooklyn Nov. 21.
The question here is how Reigns retains the championship. It is an Extreme Rules match, so it sets up the possibility of a dirty finish to protect the “Demon”. I suspect the Usos and the Street Profits get involved after battling for the Tag Titles earlier in the night as Balor is about to win the title, allowing for Reigns to Spear the “Demon” for the win. Either way, even though we know the outcome, this should be a fun main event, and there is going to be a moment when we all think Balor is legitimately going to walk out of Columbus Universal Champion because Reigns’ matches always go that way. He is the final boss in a video game nobody can defeat.
Becky Lynch © vs Bianca Beliar. SmackDown Women’s Championship
The “EST” of WWE was all set to have a classic one-on-one bout with Sasha Banks in Las Vegas on Aug. 21 and defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship in a Wrestlemania rematch, but Banks was unable to compete, leaving WWE officials to send Carmella to take the place of the “Boss”. However, before the match could get underway, the “Man” Becky Lynch made her triumphant return to WWE following a 16-month hiatus due to pregnancy, and she came back with a bang, taking out the “Most Beautiful Women in WWE” and challenging Beliar for her championship. Beliar accepted, and the bell rang.
The then-challenger reached her hand out for Beliar to shake. Being the nice girl she is, the then-champion shook back, but Lynch would punch Beliar in the face, lift her up and plant her with the Manhandle Slam, allowing the “Man” to pin the “EST” and walk out of Allegiant Stadium as the kingpin of SmackDown’s women’s division in only 26 seconds of action.
Over the last few weeks, Beliar has tried to get Lynch to give her a rematch, but Lynch refused until Pearce and Deville made her during the contract signing inside of MSG. I like how Beliar has admitted she got caught off guard by Lynch at SummerSlam, but she’s not afraid of her, and she knows she can beat her. I also like how Lynch has slowly turned heel since returning.
The fans kept begging her to come back, and when she did, they booed her because of her actions at the “Biggest Party of the Summer”. Lynch has every right to not respect the fans for that!
During the Sept. 17 episode of SmackDown, Beliar had a homecoming in her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn. A certain popular mayor granted her the key to the city in an emotional moment, and what stood out to me was the pop the “EST” received, and the boos Lynch got for ruining the celebration, officially cementing her heel turn. Even in their hometown, superstars usually don’t get cheered as LOUDLY as Beliar did unless they are STARS. Beliar is a natural babyface, but she doesn’t back down from a challenge, and I love that about her. She is now on the level of Lynch, Banks, Bayley and Charlotte Flair as the cornerstones of the division.
Speaking of Banks, I was surprised Banks didn’t interfere in the contract signing to set up a triple threat. I’m a little worried Lynchs’ first full match in 16 months is in such a high-ranking spot, but if “Big Time Becks” didn’t think she could handle it, I’m sure WWE wouldn’t have booked the match this way.
I believe that after an insane back and forth battle, Banks does return and interferes as Beliar is about to put away Lynch with the Kiss of Death to set up a banger triple threat between these three ladies down the line. If that is not the case, I believe Lynch will intentionally get herself either disqualified or counted out to retain the title. There’s no way Lynch doesn’t leave with the title, and there’s no way Beliar is beaten clean either.
Charlotte Flair © vs Alexa Bliss. RAW Women’s Championship
Flair captured her 12th World Championship at SummerSlam by making then-champion Nikki A.S.H. tap out to the Figure Eight in a match that also involved Rhea Ripley. The next night on RAW, Alexa Bliss challenged her to a match at Extreme Rules, and Flair accepted. For the next couple of weeks, Flair would get into a shoot fight with Nia Jax, successfully defend her championship against the “Irresistible Force” and knock off the “Queen of Spades” while Bliss was planning her point of attack.
On the Sept. 13 episode of RAW, Bliss wanted to give the “Queen” a present, but Flair refused. The Boston crowd told Flair to open it, and she caved. Inside the present was her own doll named Charly! Bliss said even a narcissistic b*tch like Flair deserves a friend like Bliss has with Lily. Flair would throw Charly in the trash near the end of the night.
The next Monday, Bliss invited Flair to her playground. Bliss was upset Flair didn’t bring Charly out with her, so she did! Then, Flair lost her mind.
She said she accepted Bliss’ challenge at Extreme Rules because she wants to face the old Bliss. She wants to step into the ring with the “Goddess”, the former five-time Women’s Champion, not the girl playing with dolls. Offended by her comments, Bliss said at least she has a friend in Lily, and she’s not reliant on championships like the “Queen” is.
Flair would attack Bliss and RIP THE HEAD OFF OF CHARLY! She tried to do the same to Lily, but Bliss stopped her and knocked Flair out of the ring to set up the showdown for Sunday.
This has been a weird feud. It was first about dolls. Then, it was about Flair transforming Bliss back to her un-Fiend self. Now, it’s about dolls again. Interesting.
In my opinion, the outcome of this match all depends on what WWE wants to do with Bliss and Flair in the upcoming draft.
If the plan is indeed to change Bliss back into the “Goddess”, Flair will retain, and Bliss will head over to SmackDown. If FOX wants Flair on Friday nights to get the four horsewomen all on one brand, Bliss will win in her hometown and become a 4-time RAW Women’s Champion. There are also scenarios where Flair and Bliss both stay on RAW and either could win.
This contest is truly 50/50, and I am going to go with Flair winning clean, and Bliss moving to the blue brand. She needs a fresh start on a new turf, and a Bliss-Lynch feud for the SmackDown Women’s Title down the line would be a great rivalry.
The Usos © vs The Street Profits. SmackDown Tag Team Championships
Once the Usos disposed of the Mysterio’s at SummerSlam, the Profits were jumping to get a tag team title match. They won a №1 contender’s match on the Aug. 27 episode of SmackDown to earn a title match in MSG on Sept. 10. As previously mentioned, Reigns cost the Profits the titles that night, and Ford and Angelo Dawkins are looking to reign over the SmackDown tag division for the second time after Extreme Rules.
Unfortunately for them, I don’t think there’s a chance. Even though this will be a fantastic bout — much like Balor against the “Head of the Table” — I don’t see the Profits walking out champs. The “Bloodline” will run all of SmackDown for a little longer.
Damian Priest © vs Sheamus vs Jeff Hardy. United States Championship
Damian Priest ended Sheamus’ U.S. Title reign after a tremendous matchup at SummerSlam. The “Archer of Infamy” has already made the title more relevant than the “Celtic Warrior” did during his four month reign, but it wasn’t necessarily his fault. Sheamus had no babyface challengers, unlike Priest.
Priest defended the U.S. Title in an incredible triple threat match the RAW after SummerSlam against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus, which saw Priest hit the Reckoning on the “Scottish Warrior” for the win. The next week, Sheamus won a №1 Contender’s match against McIntyre to earn another one-on-one shot with Priest,
On the Sept. 13 episode of RAW, Priest defeated Jeff Hardy — his childhood hero — in a great contest with the Reckoning. Following the match, Sheamus, who was on commentary, Brogue Kicked Priest and Hardy, setting up a match between long time rivals in Sheamus and Hardy. Hardy won by rolling up Sheamus after a physical bout to earn his shot for the U.S. Title Sunday.
So yes, another triple threat U.S. Title match involving Priest and Sheamus, but this match may be the most underrated match on the card. These are three superstars with something to prove, and they will put on a barn burner of a match. I have Priest hitting the Reckoning on Sheamus for the win, meaning no titles will change hands in Columbus.
I hope Hardy gets drafted to SmackDown in the draft. His run on Mondays over the last year has not been special… at all! He’s had feuds with Elias, Jaxson Ryker and Cedrick Alexander, and he’s been involved in the 24/7 Title picture at some points. That’s about it.
His run on SmackDown in 2020 put him in feuds with Sheamus, and then A.J. Styles and Zayn for the Intercontinental Championship. He was in meaningful storylines, and if he returns to SmackDown, I see him back in the World Title picture and going after the “Tribal Chief”.
Liv Morgan vs Carmella (W/ Zelina Vega)
These two have been feuding for months ever since Carmella was inserted into the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match by Deville, and Morgan had to earn her way in. Morgan has beaten Carmella multiple times, but now with Zelina in her corner, I got Carmella pulling out the victory.
Don’t be surprised if this match gets moved to the Kickoff Show, and WWE tries to keep this card on the shorter side with a big Sunday Night Football game on Peacock with the Packers and Niners. Without Big E, Bobby Lashley or RK-BRO currently not on the card, this card does feel rather weak, with the clear main attraction being Reigns V. Balor, followed by Lynch V. Beliar.
