News Here! The Latest On Extreme Rules, SummerSlam Changes, Alexa Missing RAW and More!

Original RAW Main Event Plans

This past Monday’s RAW featured the main even of Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre taking on Roman Reigns and a partner of his opponents choosing. The mystery partner of Reigns was masked the entire match, and was eventually revealed to be Cedric Alexander. According to PWInsider, the decision to use McIntyre was not made until hours before the show. Original plans called for the company to use an extra or local indie wrestler. The report also notes that there will be storyline follow up for Cedric Alexander that will play out the next few weeks.

Jason’s Take

Some people didn’t care for the choice, but I think it makes sense with the changes that are occurring with the weekly shows. The company hasn’t really done a lot with Alexander since his main roster call up, so my hope is that pairing him with Reigns helps establish him on the RAW roster.

SummerSlam Changes Coming ?

Speaking of changes to the WWE, the Twitter account of WrestleVotes Tweeted that any plans involving the SummerSlam card are subject to change this week with the Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman officially starting in their new roles. WrestleVotes has been very accurate with rumors involving WWE in the past.

Was told recently that anything WWE had planned for SummerSlam in advance was all subject to change once Bischoff & Heyman fully start their roles this upcoming week. Good on Vince & Co to allow a legitimate clean start. No forced agendas off the jump. That’s how it should be.

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) July 11, 2019

Jason’s Take

The company had to finish up story lines before letting Heyman and Bischoff loose, so changes to the SummerSlam plans make sense. RAW and SmackDown have shown some improvement the past couple of weeks, so I am excited to see what changes will continue to occur.

Reason For Alexa Bliss RAW Abscence

The rumor mill was buzzing this week with Alexa Bliss and her absence from RAW. Dave Meltzer noted on the latest addition of Wrestling Observer radio that the reason she missed RAW, and the reason Nikki Cross was added to the match at Extreme Rules is that Alexa is suffering from a bad sinus infection.

“Alexa Bliss has a real bad sinus infection. Originally, they were not going to do the handicap match. The handicap match was a late change and everything that happened on TV on Monday and Tuesday with no Alexa Bliss was because of her sinus infection and they rewrote that whole storyline.”

Jason’s Take

I though things seemed out of sorts on RAW with Nikki Cross winning the beat the clock challenge. I am going to assume the plan is for Bayley to win at Extreme Rules, with Nikki and Alexa planting the seeds for a potential feud.

Extreme Rules Betting Odds

The Chairshot staff picks for the upcoming Extreme Rules pay per view will be up later this weekend, but if you are a betting person, the odds for the winners have been released.

Mixed Tag Team Winners Take All Extreme Rules Match:
Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch -400 vs. Baron Corbin & Lacey Evans +250

No Holds Barred Tag Team Match:
Roman Reigns & The Undertaker -400 vs. Drew McIntyre & Shane McMahon +250

WWE Title Match:
Kofi Kingston -350 vs. Samoa Joe +225

WWE SmackDown Women’s Title Handicap Match:
Bayley -140 vs. Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross EVEN

WWE Cruiserweight Title Match:
Drew Gulak -300 vs. Tony Nese +200

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Title Match:
Daniel Bryan & Rowan 5/8 vs. Heavy Machinery 7/4 vs. The New Day 3/1

WWE United States Title Match:
Ricochet -150 vs. AJ Styles +110

Last Man Standing Match
Braun Strowman -180 vs. Bobby Lashley +140

WWE SmackDown Tag Team Title Match:
The Revival -170 vs. The Usos +130

Singles Match:
Aleister Black -140 vs. Cesaro EVEN

Jason’s Take

If the card plays out in the odds favor, there doesn’t appear to be any real surprises with the outcomes.