WWE has announced three matches for next month’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view but we have learned that there are plans for a cage match on the show.
As of this writing, here are the matches that have been announced:
WWE Extreme Rules matches
WWE Championship -- AJ Styles (c) vs. Rusev: The final entrant in a No. 1 contendership gauntlet match, Rusev prevailed by defeating The Miz on SmackDown Live. This is a major push for Rusev, one fans have been hoping to see for quite some time.
Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley vs. TBD (Extreme Rules No. 1 Contender's Match): Just like last year, it looks like WWE will be using the card's signature match to determine the No. 1 contender to Lesnar's universal title. Only Reigns and Lashley have been announced thus far, but expect others to potnetially include Finn Balor, Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre.
Raw Women's Championship -- Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax: Though Jax was getting her injured arm attended to on Monday night, Raw general manager Kurt Angle told new champion Bliss that Jax had already claimed her contractually mandated rematch for the company's next PPV. There will be no Ronda Rousey surrounding this match as she will be on a 30-day storyline suspension through mid-July.
WWE Extreme Rules predictions
SmackDown Women's Championship -- Carmella (c) vs. Asuka: It should not take much convincing for Asuka to get another opportunity at Carmella following James Ellsworth's interference at Money in the Bank.
Intercontinental Championship -- Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins: Unlike Rollins, who seemingly defended the title any week, the heel Ziggler will likely put off giving Rollins a rematch until the next PPV. Elias could try to insert himself into the picture to force a triple threat match, but that wouldn't make much sense. In terms of the stipulation, that's just a guess.
United States Championship -- Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura: There was not a clear opponent for Hardy until Tuesday, though we should have known considering Nakamura's clean win over him prior to Money in the Bank.
Daniel Bryan & New Day vs. The Miz & Bludgeon Brothers: Bryan and Miz could go one-on-one here, but Bludgeon Brothers costing Bryan the gauntlet match really throws a wrench into the expectations for this show. Bryan could team with the Usos or two members of New Day.
Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens: The continuation of this feud on Raw leads one to believe there's more to come, particularly at an Extreme Rules PPV with a stipulation.
Sasha Banks vs. Bayley: They've gotta fight sometime, right? I could see this being the first of a two-match series culminating in Brooklyn at SummerSlam.
Raw Tag Team Championship -- Deleters of Worlds vs. B-Team: Many actually thought this match was on the Money in the Bank card despite it never being announced. How they will tell this story for another month remains to be seen, but B-Team is the No. 1 contender at this time.
Cruiserweight Championship -- Cedric Alexander (c) vs. Buddy Murphy: There's only so many directions 205 Live can go, and it's clear that Murphy would do a tremendous job as a heel champion. This does not mean Alexander's run should end just yet, but it would make sense.
Brock Lesnar is not expected to compete again until SummerSlam, meaning the universal title will not be defended on this show. Ronda Rousey is serving a 30-day storyline suspension beginning June 19. There is no clear SmackDown tag team title feud at this time now that Bludgeon Brothers has defeated everyone except the debuting SAnitY.
