Hart Murmurs # 142
Greetings. This week, we’ll take a look at the upcoming WWE Extreme Rules pay per view, which takes place on July 14 in Philadelphia.
The last time I checked, the card looked something like this, although it’s subject to change.
Mixed Tag Team Match – Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins vs. Lacey Evans & Baron Corbin
(stipulation: If Lynch & Rollins lose, they relinquish their belts)
To some degree, I can understand the WWE’s rationale in stipulating that Becky’s RAW women’s title and Seth’s Universal title be put on the line, as that’s about the only compelling reason to justify this charade being the main event on a pay per view.
Having said that, the fact that Becky and Seth both stand to lose their titles pretty much guarantees that they’ll be going over – which tends to defeat the purpose – correct me if I’m wrong. In any case, I’m not really expecting that much from this match, as Corbin and Rollins don’t appear to have much synergy and it’s doubtful that Becky can carry the inexperienced Evans.
Hopefully, it will be short and devoid of extraneous bullshit, but I wouldn’t count on it.
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match – Kofi Kingston (champion) vs. Samoa Joe
It’s been widely speculated that Joe – who recently dropped his United States title to Ricochet, will be going over and winning the WWE title in this one.
If such proves to be the case, it would only further diminish the cachet of the WWE world title – which used to be the penultimate championship in our business, when it was proudly worn by the likes of Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior and my brother Bret.
I can’t imagine, back in the day, Hulk Hogan, doing a job for, say, Brutus Beefcake, in order to set him up for his big showdown at Wrestlemania with Andre the Giant, but who am I to question the methods of the enlightened despots in WWE command centre?
Roman Reigns & Undertaker vs. Shane O’Mac & Drew McIntyre
Like many of you, I’m a fan of Mark Calaway, who’s one of the most respected team players in WWE history. I also have a lot of respect for Roman, Drew and Shane O’Mac – all of whom bust their asses in the ring, night in and night out.
Having said that, I’m not really sure why the WWE is even having this match, as there are no compelling issues or plausible pretexts for this whole charade. Aside from that, the WWE seems to be going to the proverbial well too often as far as bringing ‘Taker “back from retirement” – to the point where it’s beginning to wear thin.
I have no idea what the ostensible outcome will be, but I suspect that McIntyre will likely be doing the job here – likely for Taker, which is the easiest way to unload this one, but will only further reduces Drew’s marketability, which is too bad, because not that long ago, as he had the potential to be a franchise heel.
Intercontinental Title Match (Rumored) –
Finn Balor (champion) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Even though Balor and Nakamura are two of the WWE’s most talented and dedicated performers, the once prestigious InterContinental title – which used to rank second, only to the WWE world title, has become almost meaningless in recent years. As such, even though this has the potential to be perhaps the best match on the card, it will likely elicit little or no reaction, which is too bad. I’m anticipating Balor to retain his belt, if anyone even cares.
SmackDown Women’s Title Match
Bayley (champion) vs. Alexa Bliss
Even though Bayley works as hard as any of the so-called Divas and is a dedicated professional, most don’t take her all that seriously as a champion – perhaps because she’s not glamorous, or perhaps because she played an understudy to her former tag partner Sasha Banks, for so long.
As such, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that Alexa will be going over. If that proves to be the case, props to Bayley for having been a consummate team player and best of luck to the new champ.
United States Title Match
Ricochet (champion) vs. A. J. Styles
I’ve long been a fan of A. J, who’s one of the most accomplished workers of our generation and also have been extremely impressed with Richocet’s athleticism and charisma.
As such, this should be a terrific match, with all kinds of spectacular spots, riveting false finishes and sustained action. The prevailing consensus is that Styles – who recently reverted back to being a heel, will emerge victorious – likely aided and abetted by his dastardly accomplices, Gallows and Anderson.
If such is the case, it would probably be to Ricochet’s advantage – to garner some sympathy and set up an even hotter re-match with Styles, perhaps at Summer Slam.
RAW Tag Team Title Match
Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson (champions) vs. The USO’s
Wilder and Dawson are two of the hardest working and underrated performers on the WWE roster and probably deserve to retain the RAW tag titles, however the prevailing consensus is that the USO’s will be going over in this one. That would be fine, as Jimmy and Jay are more than worthy, but with so many other title switches and whatnot going on already, I’d be inclined to leave the straps on Scott and Dash for the time being. Hopefully that will happen, but I’m not counting on it.
SmackDown Tag Team Title Match (Triple Threat Match)
Daniel Bryan & Eric Rowan (champions) vs. The New Day vs. Heavy Machinery
For some reason, the WWE has seen fit to have the other tag team belts – the SmackDown tag straps being decided in a three team triple threat.
Regardless of the flimsy pretext for having this charade, all three of these teams are terrific tandems, who always go out of their way to give the fans their money’s worth.
While I still think Bryan has being miscast in his present role as a whiny, wimpy heel and don’t discern much synergy between him and Rowan, either, I, nonetheless, figure that they’ll probably emerge victorious.
Randy Orton vs. Aleister Black (RUMOR)
In another time and another place, a pay per view showdown between two superb workers like Orton and Black might be the show stopping main event. I suspect that if these two were locking horns on an AEW show, most would consider it a really big deal. Instead, it unfortunately seems like a relatively meaningless extra match that doesn’t really capture anyone’s imaginations. Rumor has it that Orton – one of the longest serving and most respected workers in WWE history is on his way out and by that token, many anticipate the relatively unsung Black to pull off the victory in this one. If such is the case, it could lead to bigger and better things for Black, although, as I said before, this match could have and should have been so much more.
CruiserWeight Title Match
Drew Gulak (champion) vs. Tony Nese
This match, like so many others on the card, probably would have been better if they’d built up the supposed conflict a lot more judiciously and if they’d saved it for another show, which wasn’t already saturated with title matches, hot angles and everything else. While this title bout will likely be confined to the pre-card – which is almost an insult to the title, I, nonetheless, know that both Drew and Tony are consummate professionals who take a lot of pride in their craft and by that token expect this to be a first class match.
That pretty much covers it, while the card probably would have been better with fewer matches and less overkill, it, nonetheless, has the makings of a great show and should serve to set the table for the WWE’s second biggest show of the year – Summer Slam, in August.
Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian fans and Happy Fourth of July to my American readers!
