When WWE presents Extreme Rules on April 26, on both pay-per-view and its own revolutionary network, it will do so on the heels of a monumental WrestleMania XXXI event that created excitement and buzz for professional wrestling.
While things calmed down significantly over the last two weeks, and the stage is nowhere near as grand as that of the Showcase of the Immortals, there is still tremendous pressure facing some of the top stars in the company.
Some are young stars finding their feet atop the card. Others are veterans hoping to preserve their spot. Still others are first-time champions looking to prove their critics wrong.
Whatever the case may be, the pressure is very real and could easily effect the futures (both short- and long-term) of the most relevant young talent.
Who is that talent?
Take a look for yourself.
Credit: WWE.com
Roman Reigns
There is no Superstar facing greater pressure than Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules. Unfortunately, there is no one with a worse dance partner than the second-generation Samoan star, who is likely to be saddled with Big Show come April 26.
Reigns was so strong in the WrestleMania XXXI main event that fans finally began to believe in him as a main event star. Drawing someone like the Big Show, who has been the black hole of excitement and a constant source of slow and plodding matches, will do him no favors as he tries to carry over the momentum from his epic encounter with Brock Lesnar.
The only way Reigns avoids a major stumble on his journey to the top of the card, to immortality as the biggest babyface in the industry and future WWE World Heavyweight champion, is to deliver the performance of his career.
Yes, a performance even better than the one he delivered at WrestleMania.
Big Show is a worker with whom it is impossible to have a match at this point. If Reigns can somehow work a contest with him that is even remotely entertaining, then any doubts about his ability to succeed at the next level should be erased immediately.
Credit: WWE.com
Seth Rollins
The current WWE World Heavyweight champion will make his first title defense at Extreme Rules when he battles Randy Orton in the night's main event.
The first championship defense is always the most important because it sets the tone for the competitor's reign atop the company.
While Rollins has a great dance partner in the form of The Viper, the Extreme Rules main event should be the Architect's showcase.
One rarely has a second chance to make a first impression, thus it is of the utmost importance that Rollins rises to the occasion and delivers the inspired performance he has become so associated with over the course of his career.
Failure to do so may create doubts within management regarding his ability to succeed and thrive in the role he currently fills.
And that would be a huge disappointment for the performer, for those who believed in him behind the scenes and those who supported him in the stands.
Credit: WWE.com
Rusev
There has been no Superstar better booked over the last year than former United States champion Rusev.
His path of destruction set him up for a showdown with Cena at WrestleMania, a showdown he ultimately lost, as was the plan all along.
But now, as he prepares for a third straight war with Cena, it is more imperative than ever that he continues to turn in the strong performances that have helped establish him as one of the brightest young heels in the industry.
Rusev is going to lose to Cena again on April 26 and for that not to damage his credibility or hurt his position on the card, he will have to deliver a showing that convinces fans to continue to buy into him as a threat, to not allow the consecutive defeats to adversely affect their perception of him.
Given the consistency with which Rusev has performed in recent months, he is the Superstar most likely to do what is necessary to preserve his momentum in the face of pressure.
Credit: WWE.com
Bad News Barrett
With Sheamus' return came the very real chance that Bad News Barrett takes a backseat to the Celtic Warrior in the hunt for the intercontinental championship.
At Extreme Rules, the British competitor will have the opportunity to prevent that from happening when he squares off with Daniel Bryan for the title he has held on five previous occasions.
Considering the fact that there is very little upward movement to be had at this point, what with young whipper snappers such as Kane and Big Show dominating the main event scene as backup to Seth Rollins, Barrett needs to prevent a scenario in which he falls down the card.
A strong performance against one of the best wrestlers on the planet can solve that problem.
Disappointing both the audience and management, on the other hand, would most certainly lead to a unfortunate descent down the card.
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