Bray Wyatt Returning And 5 Smart Booking Decisions

WWE is riding a wave of momentum heading into Extreme Rules, and despite Roman Reigns being set to miss Saturday’s pay-per-view, the marquee event is poised to be a memorable one that sets the stage for the rest of 2022.

With SmackDown recently scoring its best viewership since 2020 and the overall quality of Raw undoubtedly on the upswing since Triple H took over as WWE’s creative head, Extreme Rules—headlined by Bayley vs. Bianca Belair and Karrion Kross vs. Drew McIntyre—features a solid card that could prove to be a turning point for top stars like Finn Balor, Ronda Rousey and Edge.

WWE’s television product has improved dramatically over the course of the past few months, and its pay-per-views have consistently delivered in 2022. With the blockbuster Crown Jewel event rapidly approaching and Survivor Series around the corner as well, expect some major creative developments at Extreme Rules.

And with Triple H instantly proving that he will give WWE’s fans what they want, expect a slew of smart creative moves that pave the way for continued success for Raw and SmackDown.

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Karrion Kross Topples Drew McIntyre

Karrion Kross is one of a handful of former stars who have returned in recent months, which is part of Triple H’s plan to reinvigorate and replenish a WWE roster that was decimated by releases over the past couple of years. Extreme Rules will mark Kross’s first pay-per-view match since returning, as he will take on Drew McIntyre in a marquee bout that is pivotal for both stars.

McIntyre is coming off a rare PPV loss, having fallen to Reigns in cheap fashion at last month’s Clash at the Castle spectacle, and yet, the fact that he didn’t lose that match clean makes him able to put over Kross here. WWE is still working to rehabilitate the perception of Kross after he was booked so poorly during his first main roster stint, and it is going to take more than eerie promos and an entertaining cinematic entrance to accomplish that.

Kross has been presented very well thus far during his second go-round, but it’s all for naught if he doesn’t back it up in the ring. With the former NXT Champion having the potential to be a world title contender sooner rather than later, it’s imperative that he proves it by beating McIntyre—ideally in convincing fashion—at Extreme Rules.

Finn Balor Takes Down Edge

Many stars have benefited from Triple H’s booking, and Finn Balor is certainly one of them. Don’t expect that to stop anytime soon, either.

Triple H reportedly has big things in store for Balor, who is being presented as one of Raw’s top heels and has been performing surprisingly well in that role. Once one of WWE’s most beloved babyfaces, Balor has seamlessly transitioned to an antagonistic role, and especially given that his character feels fresher than it has in several years, it’s wise of WWE to continue to book him in a prominent role.

Much like Kross, however, Balor needs to pick up major victories over top-tier stars in order to cement himself as a main eventer in his new role, and there is arguably no bigger Raw star for him to beat than Edge, who has could be retiring next year and should be putting over full-time stars on his way out.

Bayley Vs. Bianca Belair Headlines

Bayley and Bianca Belair are two of the top stars not just in WWE’s women’s division but in the entire company. They’ve proven to have great chemistry in the past. They are involved in one of WWE’s best feuds. Bayley is coming off a lengthy absence, and there is no clear main event lined up for Extreme Rules.

Sounds like the recipe for a pay-per-view main event, doesn’t it? One of WWE’s biggest strong points, especially since Triple H took over, is its women’s division, and though the company did miss out on Paige, the division has so much depth and talent that it appears to be set for years to come. With Reigns not wrestling at Extreme Rules, there is no obvious frontrunner to headline the show, making this the perfect time for Bayley vs. Banks to do just that.

These two could very well have the best match of the night, there’s a solid story behind it, and having Bayley win the title after a long injury-related hiatus would be a great way to close the event.

Ronda Rousey Avoids A Loss

WWE is reportedly trying to rebuild Ronda Rousey as an attraction similar to Brock Lesnar, who has been the company’s go-to part-timer for the past decade. While Lesnar has been able to reinvent himself as a likable babyface, the booking of Rousey has been hit or miss for much of her current WWE run.

The good news, however, is that this seems to be improving as of late, and Rousey has done a little less talking and a lot more walking. Ironically enough, she now finds herself battling Liv Morgan once again in a feud between two stars who are generating mixed reactions both at live events and across social media because of the way some of WWE’s previous booking decisions have come back to haunt the company.

A loss for Morgan would almost assuredly send her plummeting down the card, but her mediocre performances as champion—which haven’t been helped by subpar booking—make this match more important for Rousey. As WWE looks to build toward Rousey vs. Becky Lynch in a potential dream match at WrestleMania 39, the company has its work cut out in terms of recementing Rousey as the star she was when she first came to WWE.

That means Rousey can’t lose at Extreme Rules—at least not if WWE wants her to be taken seriously as a top star anytime soon.

Bray Wyatt Returns

Virtually all signs are pointing to WWE’s cryptic “White Rabbit” campaign, the culmination of which will take place at Extreme Rules, leading to the return of Bray Wyatt. Of course, Wyatt—as “The Fiend”—is one of many stars who fell victim to lackluster booking over the past couple of years, which ultimately led to Wyatt being released last year as WWE wanted to shed his massive salary after sending his career into creative ruination.

Wyatt’s sky-high asking price for a return to the ring makes it a virtual shoo-in that the only place he will return is WWE, which has rebuilt its roster recently but could still use a few more top names to keep its main roster renovations going strong. While there are questions about whether Wyatt is needed in WWE and how successful he can even be with an ominous Fiend-like gimmick after it proved so difficult to book in the past, his talent is undeniable and there are plenty of marquee feuds waiting for him.

Wyatt could easily fit in as a viable opponent for Kross, Bobby Lashley, Gunther and so many other talented stars, and with WWE looking to capitalize on the White Rabbit craze, Extreme Rules—both because of the aesthetics of the event and the timing of it—is set up as the ideal time and place for the triumphant return of the former WWE Champion.