5 biggest WWE feuds that will start on RAW and SmackDown after Extreme Rules 2021

WWE Extreme Rules 2021 is in the history books, and it’s time to look forward to the exciting feuds that will unfold on RAW and SmackDown. There were five title matches scheduled for the show, but none of the championships changed hands. Few reigning champions are actively looking for new challengers, while others already have a clear idea about their next opponents.

Here, we look at some of the biggest feuds that can unfold on RAW and SmackDown after the recently concluded pay-per-view. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

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#1 WWE SmackDown: Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship

WWE Extreme Rules’ main event saw Roman Reigns successfully defend his Universal Championship against The Demon, Finn Balor, in controversial fashion. While they delivered an entertaining match, its finish sparked a lot of outrage among the viewers. The rivalry between Balor and Reigns will now take a backseat as the Tribal Chief turns his attention towards an old nemesis, Brock Lesnar.

The Beast Incarnate made a surprise return at SummerSlam to tease a feud with Roman Reigns. Lesnar subsequently appeared on WWE SmackDown when he bullied The Bloodlinebefore and demanded a shot at Roman Reigns’ Universal Championship. He attacked Reigns, The Usos, and even Paul Heyman to prove his point on the Blue brand.

WWE have already confirmed that Roman Reigns will defend his title against Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel next month. This match was announced two weeks before Extreme Rules.

It is going to be one of the biggest matches this year and requires a solid build-up over the next few weeks. Thus, we might see Lesnar make multiple appearances on SmackDown as we head closer to the pay-per-view.

This storyline has also used Paul Heyman’s previous relationship with Brock Lesnar and his current job as Roman Reigns’ counsel to help create a certain ambiguity about the veteran’s loyalty.

Lesnar implied that Heyman knew about his return, and Reigns even said that he pays him to know these things in advance. It is evident that he will play a key role in this feud’s narration, at least until the next WWE pay-per-view.

Interestingly, a recent backstage segment showed Paul Heyman discussing Brock Lesnar's potential move to WWE RAW as part of the Draft. He is often spotted engaging in loud discussions over the phone, but he never reveals who's on the other end of the call.

It is expected that Roman Reigns will be better prepared for Brock Lesnar. This would be the first time Reigns is a heel, and Lesnar will be built as a babyface. It will be interesting to see what’s in store for the two Superstars on the Blue brand and how the upcoming WWE Draft will impact the storyline going forward.

#2 WWE SmackDown: Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks for the SmackDown Women’s Championship

At WWE Extreme Rules, Becky Lynch finally put her SmackDown Women's Championship on the line against Bianca Belair. The two superstars locked horns to deliver one of the best matches at the recently concluded pay-per-view.

The well-balanced encounter allowed Belair to redeem herself from an embarrassing loss against The Man at SummerSlam last month. The crowd's reaction throughout the match further added to the title bout, elevating the overall performance.

The match's closing moments saw Belair lift Becky Lynch over her shoulders for the KOD, but was interrupted by Sasha Banks. The Boss attacked Belair, causing the match to end in disqualification.

Following that, Becky Lynch showed the thumbs up to Banks, but the returning WWE Superstar attacked the champion as well before declaring she would see them both on Friday.

It was a great way to reintroduce Banks back into the title picture, especially when her absence at SummerSlam was the entire reason why Becky Lynch won the gold.

Everything about the match was well executed, and Banks' return did not compromise Belair and Lynch's credibility inside the ring. Banks will now make for a crucial addition to the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship as the creative team will now push towards a triple-threat feud.

It could develop into one of the most intense women's feuds we have seen in the last couple of years, and hopefully, the writers will invest a lot of effort into crafting a well-balanced storyline. It could also work wonders for Belair's WWE push if she manages to beat two of the horsewomen.

#3 WWE SmackDown: The Usos vs. The Alpha Academy for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship

The Usos successfully defended their WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championships against The Street Profits at Extreme Rules 2021. It was a great match that saw both teams deliver their absolute best inside the ring.

Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins came across as legitimate title contenders, but, in the end, Jey and Jimmy Uso prevailed. The Usos didn't pick up a clean win in their last title match against the Street Profits but their victory at Extreme Rules did well in adding credibility to their current dominant reign.

Before the pay-per-view, the Usos were involved in a brief stare-down with the Alpha Academy on SmackDown. Although none of them said anything, it is evident that Otis and Gable are the best options to push as The Usos’ next challengers.

Chad Gable and Otis have been booked dominantly on the Blue brand. They have embraced the role of a heel duo and have done well in establishing themselves as credible challengers in the WWE SmackDown Tag Team division.

A potential rivalry between the Alpha Academy and The Usos can bring more attention to Otis and Gable while building a new yet exciting title feud.

#4 WWE SmackDown: Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. vs. Shotzi and Tegan Nox for the Women’s Tag Team Championship

Last week, Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship after defeating Natalya and Tamina. The newly crowned champions visited SmackDown’s final show before Extreme Rules and asserted their dominance on the Blue brand. Their title victory also meant that Nikki A.S.H. became the only superstar to have won the tag team gold thrice.

Nikki locked horns with Natalya on SmackDown and picked up a convincing victory against the former champion. Soon after that, Tegan Nox and Shotzi arrived at ringside and made their presence known by firing a missile at Nikki and Ripley. While the two teams were not involved in a verbal confrontation, the segment teased a potential title feud.

Nox and Shotzi made an impressive debut after defeating Natalya and Tamina when they still had the tag team titles. They share a history with Rhea Ripley and have had great in-ring chemistry since their NXT days.

Nox and Shotzi will make for great challengers against Ripley and Nikki, but first, they might have to beat Natalya and Tamina to gain more momentum. Hopefully, this rivalry will also help strengthen the women’s tag team division in the coming months.

#5 WWE RAW: RK-Bro vs. T-Bar and Mace for the RAW Tag Team Championships

RK-Bro are currently enjoying an epic run as the WWE RAW Tag Team Champions. They are immensely over with the crowd and the WWE Universe has taken a particular liking towards the bond between two polar opposite superstars.

Riddle and Orton’s chemistry has given us memorable moments and hilarious segments. Over the last couple of weeks, Orton was involved in the WWE Championship picture when he challenged former title-holder Bobby Lashley.

This exact match allowed Big E to cash in his MITB contract and win his first-ever world title in WWE. Now, Orton and Riddle are turning their attention towards defending the tag team championships.

Following their extended feud with Omos and AJ Styles on RAW, RK-Bro might find their next challengers in T-Bar and Mace. The former RETRIBUTION members have done well as heels but barely got enough opportunities to showcase their in-ring prowess.

They recently took to Twitter to say they want to win the WWE RAW Tag Team Championships. It is highly unlikely that Orton and Riddle will drop their titles anytime soon. However, a title feud with time will still help push T-Bar and Mace into the limelight.

They can draw more attention towards themselves even if the rivalry eventually doesn’t end in their favor. WWE RAW desperately needs to make new superstars, and booking this feud would be the first logical step in that direction.