Hey everybody! It’s @TheMagnumDA and I’m BACK with another PPV Pick’em report. This time, the Crew is taking it to the EXTREME with Extreme Rules. Here’s a recap of the 2018 Season so far:
Colin: 40 Points
Heel Turn Tom: 38 Points
Tricky Don: 37 Points
Magnum: 34 Points
I really took it on the chin at Money in the Bank. Maybe I can pick up a few points before Summerslam? Time will tell. Remember, we picked the matches before the announcement of some of the pre-show bouts, including New Day vs. SAnitY and Sin Cara vs. Andrade Cien Almas.
ON WITH THE PICKS!
Finn Balor vs Constable Baron Corbin
Colin: I’m really not that interested in this match, mainly because of the involvement of Baron Corbin. The new hair-do helps but apart from that…meh! Finn Balor wins.
Tom: I like Corbin’s new look. But the authority figures don’t win. So Balor Club leaves happy with this pre-show win.
Don: A new haircut is all you need sometimes to receive a push. Baron Corbin wins this one.
Magnum: I think the keyword Don just used is critical. Baron’s getting the push. He’s big, and he’s definitely going to have more TV time in the coming months. This is a big win for Bull from Night Court. Err…I mean Corbin.
Braun Strowman vs. Kevin Owens – Cage Match
Colin: This cage match will probably have some crazy spots and I don’t see the Money In The Bank winner losing this one unless Owens has something up his sleeve. Nah, Strowman wins.
Tom: Poor Kevin Owens. He has no chance against the monster among men as he gets ready for Lesnar. Braun wins this cage match.
Don: I am going to pick Kevin Owens. Here is why. Strowman will rip the door off the cage, and Owens will take a hard hit from the door and will roll out of the cage.
Magnum: You know…when Strowman cashes in and becomes Universal Champion, he’s going to need a contender. If KO somehow pulls off a miracle and outsmarts Braun to win this, then we will have a de facto #1 Contender. So give me KO in a stunner!
Roman Reigns vs. Bobby Lashley
Colin: Yawn. And they’re saying this will be the main event too. Why? Vince is attached to Roman Reigns’ co…okay okay. I’m not a Roman hater per se but I don’t like him main-eventing shows where there’s other matches (see: WWE title match) which should close shows because they’re more important. Anyway, Roman Reigns wins.
Tom: Both of these guys need a manager as bad. Too bad the winner doesn’t win the services of Paul Heyman. I would even take Jim Cornette. It will probably be the big dog in this match, but I am saying WWE will want to do something with Lashley so I pick Lashley to win this match.
Don: This feud catapulted Raw to its lowest rating in history. Not only is Reigns getting a reaction from the fans, a reaction where they don’t even tune in. Keep the push going. Roman wins.
Magnum: Yeah, Colin…sorry, buddy. This isn’t getting the main event spot in my report. 🙂 I mean, I don’t know. I’m really torn on this one. Lashley hasn’t lost too many one-on-one matches this year, so to have Roman end this run…? I just can’t see it. Give me Lashley. I think they’re going to try something different.
WWE Tag Team Championship (Raw)
The Deleters of Worlds (c) vs. The B-Team
Colin: Will they pull the plug on the Hardy/Wyatt tag team here? Probably not, at least not yet. I see them winning this match and retaining the title and hopefully B-Team’s chance will come at a later pay-per-view. Maybe SummerSlam?
Tom: This lead up to the match has fun. Who knew Bo Dallas could do a good impersonation of Bray? I want B-Team to win, but they have been winning too much on Raw so it will be Hardy and Wyatt to retain.
Don: No one is picking the B-Team, so I am going to go on a limb and predict their first title victory.
Magnum: Originally, I figured the B-Team would be the transitional champions before Dolph and Drew came calling. With Dolph in the IC Title mix, I guess they’re going to go a different direction. So if they’re gonna go with the B-Team, they’re going to be in it for the long haul. Nah. Give me the Woken Warriors to retain. Hardy and Wyatt win.
WWE Tag Team Championship (Smackdown Live)
The Bludgeon Brothers vs. Team Hell No
Colin: With Kane having an election in less than a month and an election he’s slated to win big time, I don’t see how they can have Team Hell No win the tag team titles here. It would not make much sense although it would be a nice feel-good moment. I say Bludgeon Brothers retain.
Tom: Bludgeon Brothers need something. They were better with Bray leading them. WWE needs to bring back managers. Time for a Danial Bryan push as Team Hell No wins the belts.
Don: Team Hell No will win, but it will be by DQ or Countout. When Daniel Bryan was on fire, they made him a member of the Wyatt Family. Now he is cleared to return and they put him in a tag team to face two former members of the Wyatts.
Magnum: So Don, what you’re saying is…they’re spinning their wheels with Bryan? I agree…but I think they’ve got bigger plans for him in the near future. As for tonight, I’m going to run with Team Hell No. They’ve received a major push, and I have decided that Vince probably came to his senses and figured that Kane vs. Bryan at Summerslam was a bad idea. Team Hell No wins.
WWE United States Championship Match
Jeff Hardy (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
Colin: Hm, tricky one. Nakamura needs a big win as he’s been on a losing streak on PPVs since WrestleMania. Nothing wrong with Jeff Hardy being the champ here, but I think Nakamura has to be the favorite here. New U.S. champion.
Tom: Jeff needs to be with Matt in the Woken universe. Shinsuke will sink his teeth into Hardy and walk away new United States Champion.
Don: Another great match for the record books. Nakamura has to win this one as WWE will want him to renew his contract, since he couldn’t capture the WWE Championship.
Magnum: I’m not sure about the US Title being a talking point with Nakamura’s contract. Still, I think that Hardy has some lingering injuries, and Nakamura could do something interesting with the title. Give me the Strong Style. Nakamura wins.
WWE Intercontinental Championship Match – Iron Man
Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Seth Rollins
Colin: This will probably steal the show. Two of the best performers in WWE today. I think Ziggler will retain with McIntyre somehow involved in the final spot.
Tom: Not sure where the Ziggler and McIntyre, but I feel there is more. Seth will be in the hunt for the Universal. These two will put on the match of the night. Ziggler walks away the champ.
Don: The match that will steal the show. My prediction is it will be tied to the last few minutes, then Drew sucker punch Ziggler at the end and Ziggler will win by DQ. 3-2.
Magnum: I’m going to go in a different direction with my pick. For some reason, I think this could last until Summerslam. If it does, Dolph will remain champion. That said, I don’t think Seth will necessarily lose tonight. Expect an all-time great mat classic, with a Draw at the end of the time limit. Maybe a Draw because of Drew? Either way, Ziggler retains.
WWE Women’s Championship Match (Smackdown Live)
Carmella (c) vs. Asuka – James Ellsworth in a Shark Cage Above The Ring
Colin: Will this finally be the moment? How long can they stretch this with Asuka always losing? Oh wait, yeah, they did the same with Nakamura. But anyway, I’m hoping with Ellsworth locked in the cage, Asuka wins the title here.
Tom: Feels like this Carmella run has gone on long enough. Also Ellsworth has served his duty and will be on his way to All In. Neither are ready for Asuka and the new champ.
Don: The shark cage will not be able to keep Ellsworth out the entire match, as he will have some sneaky involvement from atop the shark cage to help Carmella defeat Asuka.
Magnum: Don, I can’t believe it. I’m running with you again. I think that Ellsworth will have some brass knuckles, or some kind of weapon inside his jacket while he is in the shark cage. However, I think that whatever he tries to throw to Carmella, Asuka’s going to get her hands on it…and then she will be disqualified. Yep, Carmella retains!
WWE Women’s Championship Match (Raw)
Alexa Bliss (c) vs. Nia Jax – Extreme Rules
Colin: What was the point of having that whole angle with the body shaming blah blah blah and then have Alexa cash in on Nia? Killed all her momentum. I would have been just fine with just the DQ loss to Rousey. I like Alexa. She’s tremendous, but I would have liked Nia to keep the belt a little bit longer. Alexa will keep the title otherwise the cash-in would have been useless.
Tom: While “Be A Star” is something WWE pushes (and rightly so), the five feet of fury bully will retain for a future match with Rousey. Alexa wins.
Don: Alexa Bliss will retain the title, and her road to SummerSlam will lead to Ronda Rousey.
Magnum: Yep, this is pretty much the only way Alexa could beat Nia Jax. She could practically hire goons from the Riott Squad, Mickie James, and a host of others to do her bidding. Then again, we don’t need another 1994 Royal Rumble…lol! But yeah, Alexa goes berzerk and somehow lays out Nia Jax for the win. Rousey is just around the corner.
WWE Championship Match
AJ Styles (c) vs. Rusev (w/Aiden English)
Colin: Can you imagine if Rusev wins on Rusev Day? My God! That would be unbelievable! As much as I would love to see that, I can’t see him beating AJ Styles for the title. At least not just yet. Styles is WWE’s MVP right now and he deserves every single day with that title. AJ for the win.
Tom: Finally giving “Rusev Day” some props but they have more to do with AJ versus other competitors so…Styles retains.
Don: Two of the most popular wrestlers in 2018 are going to battle in the Ultimate Challenge 2. The calendar year has 364 days of Rusev day, and this is the day that does is not Rusev Day. Rusev will get the title soon, but for Extreme Rules AJ will get the victory.
Magnum: Don…one thing I will not agree with you on: Styles vs. Rusev will probably not be on the level of Hogan vs. Warrior from WrestleMania VI. Now, in all honesty, I think it will be an incredible match. However, there will be shenanigans. I think this could be the beginning of the end of the Rusev and English pairing. I think the split starts tonight, with English somehow costing Rusev the WWE Championship. Styles retains.
So there you have it! Enjoy the show! LET’S GET EXTREME! @TheMagnumDA signing off.