SUPERSTAR OF THE SEGMENT:  CM Punk - No-brainer here.  He had a fiery weekend.  He surprised everyone by taking out Umaga with the GTS on SmackDown, then does it again while winning the Samoan Strap match at Extreme Rules, then comes back cashes in MitB, and takes down Jeff Hardy with a third GTS to become a 2-time World Heavyweight Champion.  Regardless of the fan reaction at the next SmackDown, he certainly "felt his fire burn bright".

TOP DIVA THIS SEGMENT:  It's hard to say, but the narrowest of edge here goes to Melina.

SUPERSTAR/DIVA WITH THE BIGGEST SETBACK:  Vickie Guerrero.  "Excuse me!"  She had the worst of luck this segment, getting put in, then losing in that Hog Pen match by the Marellas, then she got the "hammer dropped on her" when Edge "filed for divorce".

BEST PROMO:  Chris Jericho.  The man that's "saving himself" from the "hypocrites, lying, cheating people" stayed true to his word at Extreme Rules.  He ripped Rey's mask off, then won his 9th Intercontinental Championship.  Question is, will he have Rey come to the next SmackDown unmasked?  He's certainly going to be smiling this Friday.

MY POWER 10:

1 - CM Punk; 2 - Tommy Dreamer; 3 - Batista; 4 - Kofi Kingston; 5 - Chris Jericho; 6 - Santino & "Santina" Marella; 7 - John Cena; 8 - Jeff Hardy; 9 - Randy Orton; 10 - Edge

Extreme Rules (2009) Predictions from www.fourdown.org/WWE_Extreme_Rules_2009
www.fourdown.org/users/chaosnorder

Judgment Day: #813 (Site)
Backlash: #27 (Site)
WrestleMania 25: #317 (Site)

*** Steel Cage Match, for the WWE Championship
Batista vs. Randy Orton (c)

-- 15 points for correct winner + 2 points for correct finish (bonus 2 points for correct winner & finish) + 2 points for interference

Choices: Batista, Randy Orton, or No Contest
Finishes: Cage Escape, Pinfall/Submission, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Randy Orton, Cage Escape, Yes - interference

*** Ladder Match, for the World Heavyweight Championship
Jeff Hardy vs. Edge (c)

-- 15 points for correct winner + 2 points for interference

Choices: Jeff Hardy, Edge, or No Contest
Interference: Yes or No

My Prediction: Edge, Yes - interference

*** Hardcore Match, for the ECW Championship
Jack Swagger vs. Tommy Dreamer vs. Christian (c)

-- 10 points for correct winner

Choices: Jack Swagger, Tommy Dreamer, Christian, or No Contest

My Prediction: Tommy Dreamer

*** No Holds Barred Match, for the Intercontinental Championship
Chris Jericho vs. Rey Mysterio (c)

-- 12 points for correct winner

Choices: Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, or No Contest

My Prediction: Rey Mysterio

*** Submission Match,
John Cena vs. Big Show

-- 12 points for correct winner

Choices: John Cena, Big Show, or No Contest

My Prediction: John Cena

*** Samoan Strap Match,
CM Punk vs. Umaga

-- 10 points for correct winner

Choices: CM Punk, Umaga, or No Contest

My Prediction: CM Punk

*** Hog Pen Match,
Santino Marella vs. Vickie Guerrero

-- 8 points for correct winner

Choices: Santino Marella, Vickie Guerrero, or No Contest

My Prediction: Vickie Guerrero

*** Match for the United States Championship
MVP vs. William Regal vs. Matt Hardy vs. Kofi Kingston (c)

-- 10 points for correct winner + 2 points for correct finish (bonus 2 points for correct winner & finish)

Choices: MVP, William Regal, Matt Hardy, Kofi Kingston, or No Contest
Finishes: Pinfall, Submission, or No Contest

My Prediction: Kofi Kingston, Pinfall

*** Who will be pinned/submitted in the ECW Championship Triple Threat match?

-- 5 points for correct answer

Choices:
Jack Swagger
Tommy Dreamer
Christian
Somehow, the match will not end by pinfall or submission

My Prediction: Jack Swagger

*** Who will be pinned/submitted in the US Championship Fatal Fourway?

-- 5 points for correct answer

Choices:
MVP
William Regal
Matt Hardy
Kofi Kingston
The match will not end by pinfall or submission

My Prediction: William Regal

*** Who of the following will appear live at Extreme Rules?

-- 0 points per correct answer, no incorrect answers allowed to score points

Choices:
Rob Van Dam
Shawn Michaels
Triple H
Undertaker
None of the above

My Prediction:
None of the above

*** Will the Money in the Bank briefcase get cashed in at Extreme Rules?

-- 10 points for correct answer

Choices:
Yes
No

My Prediction: No

*** How many titles will change hands at Extreme Rules?

-- 5 points for correct answer

Choices:
None
1
2
3 or more

My Prediction: 1

It'll be interesting to see how much content the brass in Stamford, CT keeps a PG-rating, given how much violence is likely to be given by all the involved Superstars and Divas in the only PPV where every match is hardcore, although I don't think it'll be as extreme as last year's edition; and I still get goosebumps recalling last year's PPV main event.  The sight of seeing Undertaker go through 4 tables at the end of that TLC match with Edge still gives me shivers, moreso because I was there, at the San Diego Sports Arena, to see it live.

Randy Orton v. Batista in the steel cage:  I see this one being real brutal for both men in this one, with so much at stake.   While I do see both men unleashing their trademark moves, I do see Legacy having a say in this one.  They could distract Batista while Orton loads a RKO or a Punt, and if they do help and/or Orton is able to Punt Dave's head off, then expect him to nonchalantly get out of the cage.  My lock of the PPV.

Edge v. Jeff Hardy in the ladder match:  Similar to the above match, although if Edge wants "De-ja-vu" from last year, he could push Jeff Hardy off the ladder, and onto the announcer's table easily.  I do think Matt Hardy will have a say at the end of this match, and that could be more than enough for Edge to remain "King of the Ladders" and World...Heavyweight...Champion!

Christian, Swagger, or Dreamer:  This is one where I will be content with any result in this ECW-style Hardcore match, and you can be sure to see road signs, trash cans, tables, kendo sticks, and maybe a ladder or two used in this one.  The Hart Dynasty could also play a role in this one, considering what happened earlier in the week on ECW & Superstars.  Still, while I do envision either a Killswitch or a Gut-Wrench Powerbomb used late in the match, I would like to see a Dreamer Driver DDT end it all.  Sentimental choice to the last ECW Original.

Who taps?  Big Show, or John Cena?  This one is quite a head-scratcher for me.  Cena could be playing mind games with Show in not being able to snatch Show in a STF.  While I do hope that Big Show can lock in a vicious Camel Clutch & humiliate Cena by making him tapout or say "I quit", I do think Cena will find a way to lock the STF on Show and he will get the 500-lb man to tap.

No Holds Barred, Intercontinental Edition:  This could go either way IMO.  I do see Rey going for a 6-1-9 or two here, and Jericho looking to wear Rey out with the Walls of Jericho and the Codebreaker.  I do expect to see plenty of chairs used in this one, because at least 2 chair shots is what Jericho will need if he wants to unmask Rey & say that "IC is Jericho for the 9th time!"

US Championship 4-way:  This one could be surprisingly normal match-wise instead of weapons--Matt Hardy's cast not included--being used.  It was great to see Montel be a good sport and hand the belt over to Kofi last Monday on Raw, and I think Kofi will retain no matter who he pins, and how he does it.  3 Trouble in Paradise shots won't hurt either, and allow MVP to gun for Orton later this summer.

Samoan Strap:  Punk showed last Friday on SmackDown that hauling up 300+ lbs of Umaga, with such a low center of gravity, for a GTS is not a problem.  But now he and Umaga get strapped up for their PPV match, where they have to tap the turnbuckles in consecutive manner to win.  Umaga obviously has the power edge, but as we saw last Friday, don't underestimate Punk.  Brutal match no matter who wins.

Into the Hog Pen!  If this match between Santina & Vickie isn't hardcore enough, I think the comedic factor of this one will offset the brutality of the match.  Any intervention from Chavo Guerrero, William Regal, and Beth Phoenix could tip this match in the Raw GM's favor, and she could easily dunk Santina into the Hog Pen.  Heck, she could fire one or both Marellas, if she want to too, if she wins.

So there you have it.  One PPV, 10 people will be going down!...HARDCORE!

RAW

Kelly Kelly d. Maryse by DQ - 6/10 - would've at least loved to see Maryse do her trademark Camel Clutch.

Kofi wins the triple threat match over Matt Hardy & Regal to earn a shot next week at the U.S. Championship - 9/10 - awesome match; should've brought in my classic Kofi sign.

Santino & Mickie d. Chavo & Beth; then booking the Hog Pen match for "Santina" v. Vickie - 8/10 - Santino was so funny on the mic

Goldust & Hornswoggle d. The Kendrick & Festus - 7/10 - good save by Primo to stop a Kendrick chair shot on Festus

"Lakers" d. "Nuggets" - 10/10 - at least the real Kroenke's night was "saved" when his real Nuggets leveled the NBA West Finals series at 2-2.

OVERALL:  8.5/10

Great to see the return of....MMMRRRRR....KENNEDY!.....KENNEDY!

ECW

Vladimir Kozlov d. Russ "Ryan" Taylor & Joey Ninos in a handicap match - 6/10

Evan Bourne d. Mark Henry by count-out - 8/10 - nice way for Evan to pull off the win

Jack Swagger & The Hart Dynasty d. Christian & Tommy Dreamer - 9/10 - great team finisher by The Hart Dynasty.

OVERALL:  7.75/10

Is it just me, or does this big win put The Hart Dynasty in the hunt for The Colon Brothers' Unified Tag Team Championship?

I only had time and mental juice to make only 3 signs for WWE's stop in Los Angeles for Raw on Memorial Night, and ECW/SmackDown the night after.  Look for 'em, since I'll be directly facing the main cameras on both nights.

It's a hard pill to swallow when Mr. McMahon books a venue for a constantly-exciting show months in advance, only to lose it when the owner of the venue decides to give something else precedence in such a short notice.  That's pretty much the case with the Pepsi Center owner giving his beloved Denver Nuggest precedence over the WWE.  Media circus or not, all sides, in truth, lose in some way or another.  Yes, not only does the Denver Nuggets get the venue to play game 4 of their NBA Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers--pleasing the owner, the NBA, & ESPN, but the owner "downplays" the media circus that Mr. McMahon stirred up.  Hey, at least he didn't get an Attitude Adjustor from John Cena.

The entire "Colorado chapter" of the WWE Universe loses out in this scheduling debacle.  Not only do they lose Raw in Denver, but also ECW/SmackDown in Colorado Springs, and nearby house shows too.  What happens if the Lakers win Game 4?  What if the Lakers sweep the Nuggets, considering Kobe's squad won Game 1?  If that's the case, then both the great city of Denver, and the great state of Colorado get the "receiving end of a Chokeslam".

The only bright spot in this schedule debacle is the generosity that Los Angeles is giving Mr. McMahon in light of all this, since the Lakers would be in Colorado for most of Memorial Week anyway.  Now they get a double-dose of WWE Live, and it could get sweeter if things go well for the Lakers.  So basically, when you look at it, Los Angeles will unoffically start Summer with WWE, and unofficially end Summer with WWE SummerSlam.  And maybe, if things don't go so well for the Nuggets, will the owner of the Pepsi Center have regrets.

One last thing...GO LAKERS!!