Formerly named One Night Stand, WWE's Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View is the one event in the WWE calendar where everything gets a little bit more extreme. Every match will be a gimmick match, on a night sure to provide thrills and spills aplenty. Here's a rundown of the card.
Fatal Four Way Match For The United States Championship - Kofi Kingston (champion) vs MVP vs William Regal vs Matt Hardy
While the Fatal Four Way stipulation on this match is hardly 'extreme', it should provide an excellent encounter. Kofi Kingston's victory over MVP on Monday Night Raw for the United States Championship came in a superb match, and the addition of Regal and Hardy to the mix will provide an interesting blend of styles.
Kingston will almost certainly retain his title, having only just won it, but this should provide a platform for a forthcoming feud with either Regal or Hardy, while MVP ascends to the main event.
Verdict: Kingston wins an exciting match.
'Miss WrestleMania' Hog Pen Match - Santina Marella (champion) vs Vickie Guerrero
What a shame, that WWE choose to showcase the immense comic talents of Santino Marella by having him dress up as a woman and wrestle Vickie Guerrero. This match is a complete waste of space, and it is an insult that WWE expects fans to pay to see it.
The winner of the match is entirely irrelevant - the only good that can come of this is that Santino drops the transvestite gimmick and reverts back to his usual entertaining self.
Verdict: Santina wins, and Santino reveals the truth behind her existence.
Samoan Strap Match - 'Mr. Money In The Bank' CM Punk vs Umaga
While the exact stipulation involved in this match has yet to be clarified by WWE, it is likely that the match will involve the two opponents being tied together by a leather strap. One has to wonder whether restricting the athleticism of an agile big man such as Umaga may affect the quality of the match; however, both men are superb in-ring performers, and their match at Judgment Day was solid enough for optimism to be the order of the day.
From a booking point of view, it would make no sense for Punk to lose here - he often seems to be a victim of backwards booking (witness his loss to Kane at Backlash), but if the teasing of a title program between him and Edge is to continue, he needs to look strong. He should triumph in an interesting match.
Verdict: Punk wins - by pinfall, assuming that is indeed how one wins a Samoan Strap Match.
Submission Match - John Cena vs The Big Show
This feud was a bad idea from the start. Full of lengthy, boring beatdowns and distinctly lacking in Cena's trademark intense promo work, it has interested very few people during the weeks since it began in March. The two's match at Judgment Day was poor and predictable, and this is unlikely to be an improvement given the stipulation.
Ordinarily, Cena would be a strong favourite here - however, rumours abound of Cena taking time off to shoot a new movie, so it would seem more likely than usual that he may be defeated. Big Show's recent use of the Camel Clutch submission move surely has to lead somewhere; we may not see John Cena for a while following the bout.
Verdict: Big Show wins, and Cena takes a break.
No Holds Barred Match for the Intercontinental Championship - Rey Mysterio (champion) vs Chris Jericho
This feud has the makings of a classic. With Jericho's mic work running roughshod over SmackDown and making every match seem like a battle for superiority, the stage is set superbly. Mysterio's recent SmackDown promo that discussed the importance of masks in Mexican wrestling history suggests that the feud is about to take a mask-oriented direction.
Jericho is unlikely to take the title here, as he does not need it. However, if the feud between the two is to be truly ignited, having Jericho unmask Mysterio here would be a masterstroke. Mysterio retaining the title, but being unmasked by Jericho in the process, would be a superb way to light a fire under the popular luchador.
Verdict: Mysterio retains, one way or another, thanks to Jericho's growing desire to unmask him.
Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship - Randy Orton (champion) vs Batista
The two's match at Judgment Day was better than many expected. However, it was ruined by Orton's deliberate self-disqualification, and the subsequent interference of Legacy and the returning Ric Flair. This angle is expected to lead to Flair's return to the ring, meaning this match will be somewhat of an afterthought in light of other events.
However, the WWE Championship should never be an afterthought - if the two can put on a good match here, it may help Orton regain some of the heat he has lost during Raw's recent slump, and it may help Batista prove himself once again following his recent injury. Orton will retain, but the match may surprise a few.
Verdict: Orton retains, probably via escaping the cage.
World Heavyweight Championship Match - Edge (champion) vs Jeff Hardy
This is a match almost a decade in the making. Edge and Jeff Hardy have a storied history in WWE, and the two have had not one, but two outstanding matches in recent weeks. Edge and Jeff Hardy are arguably the two greatest Ladder Match competitors of all time, and the expectations for this match will be gargantuan.
Edge is likely to retain the title given the recent teasing of a feud between himself and CM Punk -another factor in the result is likely to be Jeff Hardy's rumoured desire to take some time off from wrestling over the next few months. If and when Edge does win, do not be surprised if it is thanks to an insane piece of self-sacrifice from Hardy.
Verdict: Edge retains in a classic bout.
Check back here for updates as more matches are announced.
For a review of WWE's last Pay-Per-View event, Judgment Day, click here
