The one night a year WWE goes extreme, Extreme Rules is a RAW brand exclusive pay-per-view this time around. However, Universal Champion Brock Lesnar is not competing on this show. So, instead there’s a #1 Contender’s Fatal 5 Way headlining. Not to mention, the other four RAW titles are defended as well. The RAW Tag Titles are on the line in a Steel Cage Match.

While the RAW Women’s Championship features a Kendo Stick on a Pole. The Intercontinental Championship features a disqualification rule. Finally, the Cruiserweight Championship requires someone to tap out. Six matches are on tap and get ready because weapons will be on display as well.

W2Mnet WWE Extreme Rules 2017 Preview & Predictions

An Introduction To The Article

As someone that has quite a bit of experience doing these roundtable type articles, I wanted to do this a bit differently than some others. Instead of having numerous people all give thoughts on each match, I felt it better to assign one match to each person. So, one of our staff members will give their thoughts on the match itself and predict a winner. – Sean Garmer

W2Mnet Staff

Sean Garmer, Co-Host of Wrestling 2 the MAX, W2Mnet Editor-in-Chief

Paul Leazar, Co-Host of Wrestling 2 the MAX, W2Mnet Wrestling Dept. Head

Patrick Ketza, Host of Wrestling Unwrapped, W2Mnet Wrestling Senior Editor

Harry Broadhurst, Co-Host of Wrestling Unwrapped, W2Mnet Wrestling Contributor

Noah Mooney, W2Mnet Wrestling & Football Contributor

Robert Taylor, W2Mnet Wrestling & Games Contributor

Mixed Tag Team Match

Tag Team Match: Rich Swann & Sasha Banks vs. Noam Dar & Alicia Fox

Personally, I don’t know that this is the best use of 205 Live talent. However, Vince McMahon likes his quirky stories. This also gives Sasha Banks something to do, aside from having another match with Nia Jax. The pairing of Foxy and Dar has been up and down, but at least it’s helped developed a character for Dar. Casual fans probably recognize Dar, a lot more than they would a Mustafa Ali. Swann’s personality and flair make him stand out on his own.

Then, when you put his wonderful talent and smooth moves, he’s a star WWE has waiting in the wings. Speaking of stars, Sasha Banks has proven she’s just that for the Women’s division. Now, she’s in this mixed tag to help out a friend. This could easily be the opener and if they had more matches, may have been on the pre-show. I’d expect a turn each for the men and the women, with Sasha pinning Alicia Fox. – Sean Garmer

Winners: Sasha Banks & Rich Swann

Other Staff Member Predictions: Harry, Robert, Noah: Swann & Banks. Paul & Patrick: Dar & Fox.

WWE Intercontinental Championship Match

(Champion) Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz w/ Maryse (If Ambrose gets disqualified, he loses the IC Title)

It seems every month, either myself or another writer, talks about the greatness that is The Miz. Honestly, it is very much warranted. The man is the best heel in the entire company, and has been for a long while. He is so good that he is managing to make a stale character like Dean Ambrose interesting. Writing that hurt, because Dean Ambrose is very talented and capable of so much more than what creative is giving him nowadays. In my eyes, he’s devalued the IC title after The Miz and Dolph Ziggler did so much to make it seem important again over on Smackdown.

This is why my prediction for this match is that The Miz regains what was once his and becoming the Intercontinental champion for an impressive SEVENTH time. The title just feels important when it’s on The Miz, and The Miz makes it seem like the most important thing in the world to him when he holds it. This alone is why he should be the man to win. Meanwhile, Dean can move on to another feud(hopefully working towards a big Shield reunion match down the road.) Not to mention, regain some of that great character he once had following the Shield split. – Robert Taylor

Winner AND NEW CHAMPION: The Miz

Other Staff Member Predictions: Everyone else also picked: The Miz.

WWE Cruiserweight Championship Match

(Champion) Neville vs. Austin Aries

You know what high-flying cruiserweights need? More ground-based offense. Questionable decisions aside, be prepared for one hell of a battle. Last Chancery vs. Rings of Saturn. In what’s likely his last chance, Aries has to shine with this championship match. Like he always does in the bright lights (at least this match is on the show). Neville most likely resorts to his usual devious ways, in my eyes picking up the win. I’m feeling like like a dirty win for Neville, possibly without Aries even submitting. – Patrick Ketza

Winner AND STILL CHAMPION: Neville

Other Staff Member Predictions: Everyone else also picked: Neville.

RAW Women’s Championship Match

Kendo Stick on a Pole Match: (Champion) Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley

This build has been crap. It’s also possibly the go-home RAW that’s leaving a sour taste in my mouth. No doubt, building up Bayley has been a challenge on the main roster. To her credit, Alexa has held up her end. However, I’m still really looking forward to the match. Mainly because I think that’s where the majority of the storytelling is going to go down. Can Bayley actually find it in herself to get the next plateau? Does she really beat the snot of Alexa? or will Alexa pull through and retain the championship? I’m of the mind that Bayley and Sasha are gonna go womano a womano at Summerslam for the belt. So, it makes sense to have Alexa retain here by some shady methods. Then, have that lead into something for Great Balls of Fire. Where Bayley gets the victory, only to have Sasha turn on her. – Paul Leazar

Winner AND STILL CHAMPION: Alexa Bliss

Other Staff Member Predictions: Everyone else also picked: Alexa Bliss.

RAW Tag Team Championship Match

Steel Cage Match: (Champions) Hardy Boyz vs. Cesaro & Sheamus

The stipulation of this match is odd to say the least. When The Hardyz won a match to determine the stipulation of their title defense at Extreme Rules, fans would’ve put all their money on it becoming either a Ladder or TLC match. However, possibly due to Money in the Bank coming up soon, they chose a steel cage match. A tag match in a cage seems weird. However, these professionals should make it a great match. Sheamus and Cesaro dominate the action, slowing things down and picking the Hardyz apart. You can suspect a huge swanton attempt from Jeff off the top of the cage, onto either of his adversaries. Now, for the winner, I’d say Cesaro and Sheamus.

The Hardyz work best fighting for something. Sheamus and Cesaro’s recent heel turn likely sets up a title run for the new lead heels in the division. There is a possibility WWE keeps the titles on the Hardyz, because of namesake value and to give them a long run where they can eventually defend against the likes of Gallows and Anderson and The Revival. However, the Europeans pick up the win after maiming the death defying brothers. – Noah Mooney

Winners AND NEW CHAMPIONS: Cesaro & Sheamus

Other Staff Member Predictions: Harry: Cesaro & Sheamus. Paul, Patrick, Sean, Robert: Hardy Boyz.

MAIN EVENT: WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender’s Match

Fatal 5 Way Match: Roman Reigns vs. Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Samoa Joe

WWE Injuries Change Plans, okay, maybe that’s not the name of this pay-per-view. Although, it could be. It’s better than Great Balls of Fire anyway. The five way match we are getting here was not supposed to be the main event of this show. If you believe the original rumors that is. All things considered, this does put some much-needed new blood into the main event scene on RAW.

Several different people get their opportunity to shine in the main event of the show Sunday night. Personally, my money is on Finn Balor. Heyman’s approval on RAW a couple of weeks ago kind of sealed that for me. However, I’d pay good money to see Samoa Joe versus Brock Lesnar. – Harry Broadhurst

Winner AND #1 Contender: Finn Balor

Other Staff Member Predictions: Robert: Samoa Joe. Noah, Sean, Paul, Patrick: Finn Balor.

Farewell For Now

Well, this concludes our WWE Extreme Rules 2017 Preview. Be sure to continue on W2Mnet for all of our other great content. Not to mention, leave your predictions in the comments below. Also, check out Gary Vaughan, Paul and Sean give their predictions on-air, on the Wrestling 2 the MAX Podcast below.