Feature Image Credit: DeviantArt.
Indeed, wrestling fans the world over, that time of year is very nearly upon us once more. The one night of the year that WWE goes extreme, or at least as extreme as a TV-PG rating will consent.
This year, the annual pay-per-view event dons the additional moniker of “The Horror Show”. While this decision was most likely made to bolster the “extreme” nature of the pay-per-view, it may prove to be an apt description for the show if the more perplexing match types fail to provide subversive thrills.
Gimmick matches aside, who is destined to win championship gold come this Sunday? The WWE and United States Championships are on the line, as well as the SmackDown and Raw Women’s Championships. While it may seem rather strange to be denied a Universal Championship match, especially as current champion Braun Strowman is in action, it is also somewhat refreshing given the arguably excessive quantity of title matches that have featured on WWE television as of late.
Tonight, authorised personnel, I shall be closely examining Sunday’s pay-per-view event match-by-match, and sharing with you my thoughts and predictions ahead of the Horror Show at Extreme Rules.
Apollo Crews vs. M.V.P. – WWE United States Championship Match
I, personally, have found myself suitably impressed with Apollo Crews as of late. Though I have only recently returned to WWE programming, and was subsequently first exposed to Apollo Crews the night he was crowned United States Champion, the athletic prowess and charisma of this young, fighting champion won me over almost instantaneously.
This Sunday, he will defend his title against M.V.P., who is bound to have the less impressive Bobby Lashley fighting his corner in a manner that is destined to be literal. Over the past few weeks on Raw, Montel Montavious Porter has been claiming to be the greatest United States Champion. Although this is a championship that comes packaged with a lineage which is not exclusively linked to WWE, this claim is not without merit as M.V.P. once held the record for the longest US Championship reign in WWE at 343 days.
The talent in this match cannot be denied, but only one competitor can roll up to the winner’s pay window. As the new design for the United States Championship appears to be a genuine replacement for the design we have been familiar with for oh, so very long, M.V.P. seems destined to reclaim the gold at the expense of Apollo Crews, as it was Mr. Porter who unveiled the new title on an episode of Raw.
Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus – Bar Fight
The creative team behind the stories we consume as part of World Wrestling Entertainment are no strangers to forcing superstars to live out their most difficult real-world struggles on the public platform that this promotion provides. At times, it can work to great effect but, on this occasion, I find the entire effort to be lacking in taste.
Jeff Hardy’s war against substance abuse has been well documented. His recent victory in this war is an inspiration to those who have walked the same well-worn shoes the younger Hardy used to lace up daily. However, each week he is mocked by Sheamus for the sins of his past, and has even had temptation placed in his path.
Granted, I am well aware that Sheamus is playing a character in what is, essentially, a form of physical theatre. Alas, being constantly reminded of his previous struggles cannot make Jeff’s experience of facing his bottle-based demons any easier. To add insult to injury, when Jeff and Sheamus do battle again, it will be in a bar fight.
During their prior conflict at last month’s Backlash, Jeff should have taken the victory. Instead, he was pinned cleanly by his tormentor. In this upcoming bout, I have faith that the correct call will be made, and Jeff will exit that bar with his dignity in tact, and his hand raised.
Rey Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins – Eye for an Eye Match
On this occasion, I am going to do away with all pretences of journalistic pretentiousness and instead provide the most simple, yet accurate description of this match that I can: it is just plain silly.
Rey Mysterio is a legend of the industry whose experience spans multiple decades. Seth Rollins is one of the better heels that the company has to offer today as he commits his heart and soul to his role each and every week, and can draw heat like the best of them.
Therefore, the rivalry between these two should be the highlight of Monday nights. Unfortunately, it is tinged with such a high degree of melodrama that is nigh on impossible for me to take it seriously. If it were played for laughs, or in any way humorous, I could forgive it. However, it is instead orchestrated as a familial drama, heavily punctuated with the theme of revenge, not dissimilar to how most Game of Thrones episodes are written.
The stipulation surrounding the “Eye for an Eye” match that should conclude this absurd rivalry is that victory can only be achieved when a combatant, and this is the god’s honest truth, extracts their opponent’s eye ball from out of its socket. Of course, this will only hold true from the perspective of kayfabe, which makes this stipulation, and the subsequent need for another eye patch to be donned, all the more ridiculous.
As Mysterio has already channeled his inner big boss, it is certain that he will achieve his revenge, lest he go completely blind in the name of kayfabe.
Bayley vs. Nikki Cross – WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship Match
The first of our two golden role models now. Recently, I have been a man of two minds so far as Bayley and Sasha Banks are concerned. On the one hand, there are few in-ring performers on the main roster that can match their bell-to-bell skills. On the other, they are nothing short of insufferable.
Again, I am well aware that these talented ladies are playing characters who are intended to be the villains of the narratives in which they feature. Further, the very fact that they are so insufferable serves as a testament to their ability to embody the heel personas that make up these characters. However, when we are perpetually exposed to their screeches and squeals, capable of obliterating the sound barrier, on all three brands and on commentary, it can become overwhelming.
Now, Nikki Cross is equally rowdy. However, her natural charm far outweighs any annoyance that may associate itself with her penchant for shouting most of the words that escape her lips. In spite of yourself, you cannot resist a smile when witnessing the passion and charisma this wee Scot exudes.
While this most certainly is why I would like to see shimmering blue strapped across her waist, it is not the reason why I believe this will be the case. Instead, with Adam Cole’s recent record-breaking NXT title reign having come to an end by way of the limitless one, Keith Lee, Bayley’s equally lengthy reign as SmackDown Women’s champion is surely on its last legs.
What is more, I have a theory which I shall explain in full within the briefest of moments.
Sasha Banks vs. Asuka – WWE Raw Women’s Championship Match
At this moment in time, the brand split is essentially a null factor on WWE television. No one has proved that more willingly than Bayley and Sasha Banks. Currently reigning as the Women’s Tag Team Champions affords them the privilege of trekking across all three brands at will, but I scarcely would have thought it granted Sasha the right to challenge for the Raw Women’s Championship.
Regardless, this phenomenal athlete is determined to become Two-Belts Banks, and stand proudly alongside her best friend: Bayley Dos Straps. An ambition that may just be realised by “The Boss”.
Imagine this. Bayley’s fruitful reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion comes to an end at the hands of Nikki Cross. Later in the night, Sasha Banks dethrones the Queen of Raw to adopt that mantle for herself. Tensions between Banks and Bayley have been teased on-and-off for the past few weeks. These potential, and fateful chain of events may serve as the catalyst for the golden role models finally disbanding by way of a jealousy-fuelled betrayal from Bayley.
The possibilities for dramatic, and engaging storytelling rife with conflict in a potential feud between the two are nigh on infinite. Therefore, if I were a betting man, my well-earned dosh would be splashed on Sasha Banks to become new Raw Women’s Champion.
The New Day vs. Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura – Tables Match
It’s a new day, yes it is, and I whole-heartedly believe that it will be many days yet until the world famous eight-time Tag Team Champs have those coveted belts loosed from their collective grips.
Last night on SmackDown, Cesaro and Nakamura attained the right to decide the stipulation for their championship clash with the New Day. Following a post-match attack the “Swiss Superman” and the “Artist” launched on Kofi Kingston and Big-E last week, which saw the latter two men being power bombed through a table, the former two superstars took it upon themselves to select a Tables stipulation for this Sunday in the stead of a Steel Cage.
One might think this provides the challengers with a relative edge. However, it is my unwavering belief that the New Day will steal the victory, and I do not incorporate the word steal into this sentence simply for the sake of engaging writing. Over the past couple of weeks, the absence of the New Day’s third member, Xavier Woods, has had attention drawn to it on several occasions. Surely, this sets up his return at the most extreme pay-per-view event of the summer?
Should this be the case, a Steel Cage would no doubt impede Mr. Woods from aiding his friends and partners. However, as there is no such structure to protect Cesaro and Nakamura, Woods can liberally take advantage of the fact that there are no disqualifications to ensure that tomorrow will not only be a new and bright day for the eight time champs, but that the challengers FEEL THE POOOOOWER!!
Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt – Wyatt Swamp Fight
Admittedly, this is another match that I am not much looking forward to. While I will confess that it has been nothing short of sublime to witness Bray Wyatt return to the first iteration of his unhinged character, and the promos between he and Strowman have far surpassed those of their fellow superstars in terms of quality, I cannot shake off disturbing memories.
During this pandemic, WWE have been throwing gimmick matches at us as though they are going out of style. As a matter of fact, I wish they would. The Boneyard Match we saw at this year’s Wrestlemania was heavy on a more filmic form of storytelling.
What I love most about wrestling is that it possesses the ability to tell stories in such a unique manner. The peaks and valleys of a match’s pace, the right move being pulled out at just the right time, and using crowd reactions as fuel to bolster the in-ring performance of an athlete. Therefore, when we are presented with an excruciatingly scripted affair that is heavy in dialogue and punctuated with clearly constructed and rehearsed high spots that were pre-recorded over multiple takes, the sport loses its unique edge in storytelling.
With the most cautious of optimism, I hope to see something that resembles an honest to goodness match in this Swamp Fight, but who do I believe will seize the victory? Without doubt, the only man who can truly survive a Wyatt Swamp Fight is the man whom the match derives its moniker from.
Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler – WWE Championship Match
I must say, as a Scottish-born individual, it pleases my heart no end to bear witness to Scottish wrestlers gaining success. During McIntyre’s first run in WWE, I discredited him. Therefore, when word had reached me that Drew had returned to the promotion, I was completely divorced from excitement. However, I have been watching him closely this past couple of months, and have been most suitably impressed.
When this man struts down to the ring, he carries with him a presence that is at once intimidating, and likeable. One moment, a smile that could warm even the iciest of hearts will adorn his face. In the blink of an eye, this smile can morph into an expression that commands you to get clear. His signature Claymore kick is of a quality on par with Randy Orton’s ingenious RKO as, not dissimilar to that move, it can be unleashed from out of nowhere to attain an easy pop.
Dolph Ziggler has always been a talent. Though arguably under-utilised during the genesis of his WWE career, there is no doubt that this man deserves a world championship shot… but maybe not quite at this moment. At Wrestlemania, he was feuding with Otis in a storyline not even fit for daytime soap operas. In-between that time, he has scarcely done anything of note. Consequently, the only facet of this match that entices me is the mystery surrounding Ziggler’s chosen stipulation.
For me, this is a simple choice to make. Drew McIntyre’s reign would feel stunted if it were to come to an end this Sunday. No doubt, Ziggler’s time to wear the gold will arrive, but only with a little more time and build. That being said, it would be advisable not to leave the title too long out of his grasp for, whenever this man steps between the ropes, he is nothing short of perfection.
What are your predictions for tomorrow night? Leave a comment to let me know. Be sure to join me next week as we continue the “Film Genres That Defined Decades” series.
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