Credit: WWE.com
WWE Extreme Rules 2018 is only days away as the WWE serves up its last main roster pay-per-view before SummerSlam in August in a night where things are bound to get extreme.
WIth SummerSlam just around the corner, WWE Extreme Rules 2018 is a very important show for both Raw and SmackDown as the brands will look to build momentum before the biggest party of the summer.
There are several key battles set to take place this coming Sunday with another match or two that still could find its way on the card, but which superstars would benefit the most from a win? Let’s take a look at three superstars that need a win the most at WWE Extreme Rules 2018.
3. Team Hell No
The unexpected reunion of Daniel Bryan and Kane as Team Hell No in recent weeks has the WWE universe buzzing. But the fans could really be in for a treat at Extreme Rules when Team Hell No battles The Bludgeon Brothers for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship in what will be Bryan and Kane’s first pay-per-view teaming up together in over five years.
Harper and Rowan have held the SmackDown Tag Team Championship hostage since WrestleMania 34, mowing through every team that has stepped up to the plate to challenge them. And their issues with Bryan in recent weeks directly led to the return of The Big Red Machine and the return of Team Hell No.
This will be the biggest challenge of The Bludgeon Brothers’ reign as tag team champions so far and as dominant as they have been with the gold up to this point, the time has come for a shakeup. Team Hell No could greatly benefit from capturing the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Extreme Rules.
If Bryan and Kane were to be victorious this coming Sunday, it would give the blue brand’s tag team division a much-needed change of pace because so far, nobody has been able to handle Harper and Rowan. Dominating ways are good for the specific superstars that are the ones dominating, but it can cause problems trying to find new challengers that seem to have a shot at beating said superstars.
Bryan likely has bigger plans pending as a singles competitor, but a temporary tag team title reign with Team Hell No would be a big deal and lead to an exciting changing of the guard.
Credit: WWE.com
2. Asuka
It wasn’t long ago that Asuka was the most dominating force in women’s wrestling with a two and a half year long undefeated streak in the WWE. But since her first loss at WrestleMania 34 to Charlotte Flair, she’s lost some of the wind out of her sails.
She needed to lose eventually and losing to Charlotte is nothing to be ashamed of, but the WWE hasn’t necessarily treated her great since the loss. Asuka lost to Carmella at Money In The Bank thanks to the returning James Ellsworth, but The Empress Of Tomorrow will get another chance at capturing the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules this coming Sunday.
Carmella has been a great heel champion since successfully cashing in on Charlotte after WrestleMania 34, but her cowardly heel tendencies can only keep the title so long, especially with a challenger the caliber of Asuka. It seems to be time for Asuka to finally capture her first main roster title in the WWE.
The Empress Of Tomorrow should defeat The Princess Of Staten Island because another loss to Carmella would set Asuka back pretty far and cool off whatever momentum she has left. On the flip side, Asuka winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship would immediately elevate her to a level she hasn’t been at since coming over to Tuesday nights. Not to mention, it could lead to a marquee SummerSlam match next month for the title.
‘Mella has been money and is deserving of being a champion, but it’s time for The Empress Of Tomorrow to reach the top of the mountain.
Photo Source: WWE.com via Twitter
1. Shinsuke Nakamura
There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Shinsuke Nakamura needing a win at a pay-per-view. The King Of Strong Style was in a prime position to capture the WWE Championship from AJ Styles, but after several unsuccessful attempts, he is now competing for a different championship opportunity.
Nakamura has been involved in a new feud with Jeff Hardy over the past few weeks and the two will square off at Extreme Rules with Hardy’s United States Championship on the line. Hardy has been a fighting champion since becoming champion around the superstar shakeup after WrestleMania 34, but he will have his biggest challenge to date this coming Sunday.
These two were supposed to have faced off already, but an unforeseen injury issue with Nakamura temporarily sidelined the pending battle until Extreme Rules. And much like the previous few months worth of pay-per-view matches, Nakamura needs to get the win in this one and finally capture his first main roster title in the WWE.
It’s getting to the point where if Nakamura keeps losing high-profiled matches, he will become the next would-be great that management lets get away. It makes perfect sense to give Nakamura the U.S. Championship at Extreme Rules and it would help lessen the blow of him not winning the WWE Championship. Hardy has seemed like a transitional U.S. Champion from the start and despite how good he has been with the belt, Nakamura desperately needs to win the gold.
Next: WWE Extreme Rules 2018 Match Card Predictions
No superstar in the WWE needs a big win more than The King Of Strong Style does right now and Extreme Rules presents that opportunity.