This will be twelfth under the Extreme Rules chronology however it will be the first with 'The Horror Show' tagline. The pay-per-view title began as the traditional Extreme Rules, it was changed to Extreme Rules: The Horror Show then WWE settled for the current name.
The card will feature a Cinematic presentation - the Swamp Fight between Bray Wyatt and Braun Strowman and rumors have indicated the Eye for an Eye match, between Rey Mysterio and Seth Rollins, could use Computer Generated Imagery.
Those battles will be taped in advance and the rest of the event will be broadcast live from the Performance Center in Orlando Florida.
A further five matches have been announced - the pre-show will start at 23:00 in the United Kingdom, 7pm Easten and 4pm Pacific. It will be broadcast on the award winning WWE Network.
From the bright colours on the official poster to the scream in the preview captions on television, WWE have done a good job promoting the event - it should be a fun night.
Bayley (c) Vs. Nikki Cross (SmackDown Women's Championship Match).
When Bayley and Sasha Banks retained their Women's Tag Team Titles, at Backlash, against The IIconic and Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross - The Golden Role Models expected to put both teams in the rear view mirror but Cross had other ideas.
On the SmackDown after Backlash - a crazed Cross attacked the tag team champions and made it abundantly clear she wasn't done with them yet.
The following week - the former Sanity member pinned Lacey Evans in a Number One Contender Fatal 4-Way Match and has been a thorn in Bayley's side ever since.
During Bayley Dos Straps Champion Vs Champion match with Asuka, on July 6th edition of Raw, Cross' distraction lead to the SmackDown Woman's Champion losing - this was her first one-on-one pinfall defeat since February.
Four days later, Bayley got her revenge on Cross by pinning her (using the middle rope as leverage) in a non-title tag team match, that included Banks and Bliss.
Bayley pinned Cross again, on the last SmackDown before The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, using the same method. On this occasion Cross' tag team partner was Asuka, who was on the show as a guest of Alexa Bliss. After another defeat, to her foe, Cross saw Bayley backstage and attacked her - Banks managed to get the crazed Scot off her partner.
Bayley is on the hottest run of her career right now, she's the longest reigning Women's Champion in blue brand history, and is on a collision course with Sasha Banks. Cross is a worthy challenger, she will push Bayley to the limit but will fall short in her quest to win her first single's title in the WWE.
Winner: Bayley.
Apollo Crews (c) Vs. Montel Vontavious Porter (United States Championship Match).
The United States Champion has resisted several advances from his challenger to join The Hurt Business and will look to finally get rid of his adversary this Sunday.
In a VIP Lounge segment, on June 22nd, after becoming frustrated at his overtures being rejected - MVP reminded Apollo Crews that he held the United States title for a "historic 343 days" and warned him he was going to regain the title "weather he liked it or not". Crews said he wasn't going to let MVP "change who he is" and would do things his way.
Despite not being the official US Champion, MVP has been calling himself the "uncrowned champion" and even had the audacity to unveil a newly designed title - on Raw a fortnight ago.
Crews has been absent from Raw, since June 29th, on that show he lost to MVP in a non title match. He did defeat the his rival on April 20th - so they are 1-1 against each other this year. This match will decide who the better man is and while MVP is a veteran, Crews first title reign is in it's infancy and will do everything in his power to keep hold of it.
The two previous matches between these two have been good, their styles suit each other, Crews will retain in a back and forth battle.
Winner: Apollo Crews.
The New Day (c) Vs Cesaro & Nakamura (Smackdown Tag Team Championship Table's Match).
On a recent episode of SmackDown - Cesaro and Nakamura cut a passionate promo saying they were "sick and tired" of being overlooked and The New Day were an "embarrassment" to the SmackDown Tag Tiles. The duo demanded a shot at Kofi Kingston and Big E titles and were granted their wish by the fighting champions
Before they got to the title match - Nakamura beat Kofi Kingston one-on-one. After the match - The Artist and The Swiss Cyborg attempted to put the former WWE Champion through a table but Big E made the save.
A week later, the teams met for the SmackDown Tag Team Titles, but the match ended in a draw as both teams ignored the referee's five count. After the bell rang, the carnage continued, when Cesaro and Nakamura smashed the champions through a table - foreshadowing what was to come.
On the blue brands last stop before The Horror Show at Extreme Rules - Cesaro faced Big E with the winner choosing the stipulation for the title match at the pay-per-view. Cesaro won, after hitting an impressive Neutralizer on his opponent, and he revealed the match this Sunday would be a Table's Match.
Cesaro and Nakamura have dominated this feud and that usually indicates they will lose at the pay-per-view but the trend maybe reversed on this occasion and The New Day's three month title reign will come to and end.
Winners: Cesaro and Nakamura.
Rey Mysterio Vs. Seth Rollins (Eye for an Eye Match).
The most intense feud in the WWE began the night after Money In The Bank when a despondent Seth Rollins, who had lost to Drew McIntyre on that show, attempted extract Rey Mysterio's eye by pushing it against steel steps. It was a brutal assault - the likes of which the WWE Universe had never seen before.
Two weeks later, convinced he had ended Mysterio's career, Rollins held a "retirement ceremony" for the veteran and claimed the"greatest luchador to ever step inside a ring" had sacrificed himself for the "greater good". Later that night - Mysterio and his son Dominick responded to Rollins, via video link, and the former told Rollins that he is a man of "forgiveness" but he will "never forget" what The Monday Night Messiah did to him and the pain he put his family through. When Mysterio left the screen, a seething Dominick said "Seth Rollins, you're a man of scripture... an eye for a eye".
On the next edition of Raw, Mysterio told Rollins he was not retiring and vowed to "kick his ass". Rollins invited Mysterio and his son to appear on the show the following week, a invitation Mysterio accepted. On that show, Mysterio said that Dominick made his way to the Performance Center by himself. That was music to Rollins ears, who reassured Mysterio that he had Murphy and Austin Theory looking for Dominick and they will bring him to Raw as his next sacrifice. A panicked Mysterio warned Rollins that if he or any of his "goons" put their hands on his son - he would "end them". As Rollins attention was on the screen, Dominick jumped him from behind and unloaded a barrage of punches on the former WWE Champion. The attack continued until Murphy and Theory ran to ringside but Dominick managed to escape their grasp.
When Mysterio and Dominick returned to the PC, Mysterio was in no mood to talk and called Rollins out for a fight. Rollins made his way to the ring and said as father and son were in the same place at the same time, "two eyes were better than one". Rollins, Murphy and Theory made their way to the ring but before they could put their plan into action - Aleister Black and Humberto Carrillo made the save and a brawl ensued. Once his disciples had the upper hand, Rollins attempted the same ocular assault on Dominick that he inflicted on his father. Lucky, Carrillo and Black recovered to fight off the dangerous trio.
It was clear Rollins and Mysterio had to settle this fierce rivalry and they decided to do it at Extreme Rules. After teaming up with Kevin Owens to defeat Rollins and Murphy, Mysterio picked the stipulation for the match, he choose the first ever Eye for an Eye Match. "You damaged my eye and then went after my son's eye - I'm willing to take it a step further and pull your eye out with my bear hands," Mysterio declared.
Leading up to their grudge match, Rollins asked Mysterio for "forgiveness" for what he is going to him and Mysterio told his son to "forgive" him for the violence he is going to inflict on his adversary. He explained that he has to do something just as "remorseless" as what Rollins did to him.
It's @reymysterio vs. @WWERollins...EYE for an EYE at The Horror Show at #ExtremeRules THIS SUNDAY!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/YuNTu7f3l0— WWE (@WWE) July 14, 2020
This storyline has been great - sometimes WWE can hotshot feuds but this has been built brilliantly since starting in May. Rollins, in his role as The Monday Night Messiah, has taken his performances to another level while Mysterio has garnered sympathy from the WWE Universe with his portrayal a concerned father.
According to reports, Mysterio is working without a contract so he's unlikely to go over if his long term future is not secure.
Rollins has lost big matches this year, against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 36 and Drew McInytre at Money In The Bank, his Monday Night Messiah gimmick won't be believable if he keeps on tasting defeat - this is a must win match for him.
Winner: Seth Rollins.
Asuka (c) Vs. Sasha Banks (Raw Women's Championship Match).
After her and Bayley defeated the IIconics, on the 22nd June episode of Raw, Sasha Banks turned to her tag team partner and said "look Bayley, you are my best friend and I love seeing you happy but I can't help but want to experience that as well - I want a title match. So at Extreme Rules, I am officially challenging..... Asuka for the Raw Woman's Championship".
The Women's Tag Team Champions burst out laughing however seconds after the challenged was made, Asuka made her way down to the ring and told Banks "you are not the boss of me" and accepted her challenge. The Golden Role Model's put the boots to The Empress of Tomorrow, leaving her laying in the middle of the ring.
Seven days later, Raw was supposed to begin with Banks and Asuka signing the contract for their match, but the two women were brawling instead. Once Samoa Joe, who was moderating the segment, gained control of proceedings - Asuka indicated that she was going to keep her title but Banks claimed she "wasn't the same person" Asuka faced in 2018 and she will be "Two Belts Banks" after The Horror Show at Extreme Rules. Another fight broke out but they were quickly separated by WWE officials. In the main event of the show - Banks the teamed with Dolph Ziggler against Asuka and Drew McIntyre and The Boss secured a win for her team by pinning the Raw Women's Champion.
On the penultimate Raw before The Horror Show at Extreme Rules, Banks beat Asuka's tag team partner Kairi Sane in a closely fought match. Later that night, Asuka pinned Banks' best friend Bayley - following a distraction from Nikki Cross.
The Go-Home show, before the pay-per-view, saw The Golden Role Models defeat The Kabuki Warriors - when Banks made Sane tap-out with the Bank Statement.
These two women are at the top of their game right now, you could flip a coin and whatever side it lands on could be the winner. Asuka has only been champion since April and should be rewarded for her brilliant work lately - with a long run with the title. Banks, on the other hand, has not held a single's title since 2017 and is long overdue a reign. Banks will get her hands on a single's title this year but it won't be Asuka's it will be Bayley's. Asuka will retain here and it could be the beginning of the end for The Golden Role Model's, Bayley could inadvertently cost her partner the match.
Winner: Asuka.
Braun Strowman Vs. Bray Wyatt (Wyatt Swamp Fight - Non-Title Match).
After defeating Bray Wyatt, at Money In The Bank, Braun Strowman thought his issues with his former mentor were over but he was wrong. Wyatt returned to SmackDown on June 19th, in a Firefly Fun House segment, and claimed while he was away - he had "resurrected the dead". A angry Strowman made has way to the ring and said Wyatt had his title opportunity but "failed" and that the story between them was "over". Wyatt laughed and told Strowman that their story was "just getting started" as he said that, clips of the duo in The Wyatt Family played on the screen, and Wyatt had transformed into his Eater of World's character. "What's wrong brother? You look like you've seen a ghost. Now in order for us to move forward, we must take a step back to where it all began. I created you Braun so it is my duty to destroy you", Wyatt added ominously.
The following week, Strowman told a story about watching Wyatt allow a snake to bite him several times and that's when he knew Wyatt was the "devil himself". Strowman admitted he was "enamored" with what he had witnessed and was pleased to do the "devil's work" and "loved" every second of it. The Universal Champion said he had done "everything in his power" to block the "devil" out and the only way to end it was to return to where it began, the swamp, and fight it out with Wyatt.
These two had a good match at Money In The Bank but that was traditional one-on-one contest, a Swamp Fight is a step into the unknown, nobody knows what to expect - only the strong will survive. Despite what he says, Strowman looks like he has been effected by Wyatt's mind games and that could play a part in this contest.
As the Universal Title is not on the line, everything points to Wyatt winning this Sunday, and the two having a third and final match at SummerSlam. If that is the case - expect 'The Fiend' to face Strowman, at The Biggest Party of the Summer, meaning The Monster Among Men would have faced all three of Wyatt's personas.
Winner: Bray Wyatt.
Drew McInytre (c) Vs. Dolph Ziggler (WWE Championship Match).
Following his trade to Raw, Dolph Ziggler immediately set his eyes Drew McIntyre, and demanded a shot at the WWE Title. Ziggler called out his former tag team partner and claimed he made McIntyre who he is today and The Scottish Psychopath wouldn't be champion if it wasn't for him. "When you got fired, you should have been done and would have been, if it wasn't for Dolph Ziggler", The Showoff bragged and added McIntyre "owed" him a title shot for "saving his career." McIntyre reminded Ziggler that without "Big Daddy Claymore" he was "losing a lot" and accepted his challenge for a title match at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules.
During the contract signing for their match, Ziggler told McIntrye that he "created" him and he will "destroy" him, McIntyre let Ziggler know he was going to "hurt and slaughter" him. As usual with contract signings - things broke down in a hurry and Ziggler escaped a Claymore Kick by scurrying out of the ring in the nick of time.
Things took an expect turn as we got closer to The Horror Show at Extreme Rules - when Ziggler came to Raw with McIntyre's former 3MB team-mate Heath Slater. Ziggler told McIntyle that he "stabbed people in the back" and "forgotten" about the people who had helped him become WWE Champion. Slater agreed with Ziggler's comments and slapped McIntyre then asked for a title shot, a shot that he was given but lost in 26 seconds.
On the last stop before the pay-per-view, Ziggler was a guest on the VIP Lounge. During the segment, the Kent State graduate said he "was in McInyre's head" and without him bringing him back to the company, McIntyre would be an "unemployed loser begging for a handout". Tired of hearing his name being dragged threw the mud - an incensed McIntyre made his way to the ring and told his opponent that he "uses people" to make up for his own short comings and vowed to "hurt" and "maim" him. While McIntyre was being interviewed in the backstage area, later that night, Ziggler ambushed him and a fight ensued until they were pulled apart by road agents.
McIntyre has been confident during this feud, so much so, he allowed Ziggler to pick the stipulation for their match. Ziggler said he will reveal all on the night but unless it's a 3-on-1 Handicap Match - he has no chance. McIntyre has been a dominate champion so far while Ziggler was in this same position last year, during his rivalry with Kofi Kingston, he's a good filler. This will be a great match, a classic power vs speed encounter, but the outcome is predictable.
Winner: Drew McIntyre.
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