Will any story conclude at Extreme Rules 2012?

These aren’t match predictions, because I think those are a) boring, and b) often not at all indicative of quality. I believe a more valuable thing to predict is whether or not a story will conclude at a show, because a) nobody else does it, and b) it’s actually rare, so getting it right feels better than simply calling a winner.

The post-WM PPV has generally been a throwaway, with only a few exceptions. While often a fun show to watch, it rarely actually means anything, and is almost always a victim of rerun syndrome. The best thing you can say about Extreme Rules, Backlash, and any other post-WM PPV is that it is at the very least a palette cleanser after the grandest stage of them all.

But before we get to my predictions, how did I fare with Wrestlemania?

Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos vs. Divas Champion Beth Phoenix & Eve

Being a celebrity-injected match means it’ll be short, gimmicky, and the celebrity will go away the next day and all three of them will go and do different things.

It was an easy one to win, I’ll admit.

Randy Orton vs Kane

I’d predict that these two have at least one more major PPV match, something hardcore and lawless where Orton can go crazy and Kane can do Kane things.

Two for two.

Team Teddy vs. Team Johnny

It’s also the only match on the show with real reprucussions, as the winning team’s GM gets to take over the entire thing. Wouldn’t this be lovely if it led to a brand unification? My guess is this is conclusive, with the ramifications slowly leaking out throughout the month.

They’re taking their time with it, but it’s definitely still going. Three for three.

Big Show vs Cody Rhodes

When was the last time a mid-level belt holder was considered a number one contender? I’d say this is good foreshadowing for the rest of spring, and the real hint of this match: both guys are going in very different directions post-WM. I doubt there’ll even be a rematch.

My first miss.

World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus

This match also fits the bill of a first-of-many series that begin at Wrestlemania. I’d expect this to be a fine chapter one, with better matches (due to longer time) given at the next two PPVs.

Nobody could have predicted the 18 second opener, but I’ll take that I was right about it very much being a chapter 1. Four for five.

WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho

I’ll veer on the edge of continuation, though. There’s a lot more gas in this tank, and just like with the other championship match, both guys shine better in more intimate settings.

Five for six. Though, to their credit, they shone just fine in an epic environment.

The Undertaker vs. Triple H (Hell in a Cell Match with special referee Shawn Michaels)

This match will be conclusive, and we will not see anything from the three of them for many months.

Six for seven.

John Cena vs The Rock

There will not be a rematch this year, and perhaps never, and the two of them will be megapowers buddies until the end of time after this show.

I could be proven wrong by this in time, but the Raw after Wrestlemania seemed to cement my prediction. The Rock respects John Cena. John Cena has no more problems with The Rock.

Total: 7 for 8. I’m a little disappointed in myself for not calling Show vs Rhodes better, as it would have been nice to bat a thousand for Wrestlemania. But not bad, all told.

Now, onto Extreme Rules 2012:

The Miz vs Santion (pre-show)

I usually don’t predict the pre-show match, because untelevised matches don’t count. But WWE.com has been promoting the match as a freebie on the site, so I’ll include it, if only to say that The Miz is slumming it contending for a belt he’s already far beyond. I don’t see this turning into anything, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Miz was traded to Smackdown and made to main event over there for a while.

Big show vs Cody Rhodes (intercontinental title)

I have no idea what’s going to happen here. I still think Cody is on his way up, and maybe this is just them biding time until the draft or a multi-man WHC match. But even though I was wrong last month, I’ll stick to my guns: this’ll be it for these two.

Randy Orton vs Kane (falls count anywhere)

Their WM match is better than you remember, and I wonder if they’re continuing simply because the chemistry is so unexpectantly good. Back in the early years of WCW, you could always count on a wicked tag match that went crazy for half an hour, usually involving the road warriors or Arn Anderson with someone. This match is in that spot, spiritually. It won’t mean much during, and nothing after, but it’ll be fun.

Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus (World Heavyweight Title, 2 out of 3 falls)

I called this chapter 2 earlier, and I fully expect this feud to continue to at least Over the Limit. It should also be lengthy, and a suitable apology for the short shrift at WM.

CM Punk vs Chris Jericho (WWE Championship, Chigago Street Fight)

I’m 100% guessing about this, but I feel like this’ll be the third act, giving Punk his third win in a row over Jericho on PPV. Punk has no shortage of credible challengers for the summer (I don’t think the title is going anywhere for months). I also can’t shake this niggling feeling that it’ll be somewhat short, and disappointing. There’s no way they’re cutting time from Lesnar and Cena, and Bryan and Sheamus deserve more time on this show. Something has to give.

John Cena vs Brock Lesnar

Extreme Rules marks the fourth PPV in a row where the main event of the PPV was not a title match. I’m fine with that, of course. I always thing the main event slot should go to the marquee matchup, belts be damned. But I wonder if this is an increasing trend, as more guys reach Cena’s level, which is arguably above the WWE Championship.

There’s no way this is the only match between the two of them, and I am going to anticipate all sorts of foul play, villainy, and nastiness. Nobody, and I mean nobody, should go into this looking for a) a wrestling classic, or b) a satisfying ending.