WWE Extreme Rules 2012 Results: Re-Examining the Biggest Takeaways from Sunday

Sunday's WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view featured some great in-ring action and punctuated many of the storylines from WrestleMania.

So what was left following the carnage that took place in Chicago?

Here are the major takeaways from the event, and a look into what may be in store for the superstars involved.

(Warning: Raw spoilers)

Daniel Bryan and Sheamus Both Emerge As Winners

Bryan and Sheamus put on a great show in their two-out-of-three falls match. While Bryan didn't regain his title, he clearly ascended the WWE ranks with his performance.

Most fans knew of his in-ring prowess, so it was nice to see the WWE allowing him to do his thing. He is now headed for main event status and a feud with CM Punk.

Sheamus shined as usual, and he is still the world heavweight champion. His next feud must be carefully planned, but there is no doubt that he is trending upward again.

Bye-Bye Bellas

I have never been happy to see two attractive women leave until now. The Bella Twins were a train wreck from the moment I saw them on WWE TV for the first time.

Their mic skills and in-ring ability were terrible, and—while they weren't eye soars—they weren't Stacy Keibler, either.

Their contracts and WWE tenure came to an end on April 30.

Several publications had reported the Bella Twins were on their way out. If anyone watched them at Extreme Rules, they just wanted to see how the unpopular twins were going to take their exit.

Layla began the escort out in Chicago and finished it off at Raw on the next night.

So long, ladies.

This move should serve as addition by subtraction for the WWE. They obviously want some credibility added to the Divas division. Perhaps they think they can accomplish that by trimming the fat.

Two Great Performers Are Getting Dissed In A Major Way

The Miz and Dolph Ziggler got the short end of the stick at Extreme Rules. Ziggler's situation was a little more understandable, since he lost to the fast-rising Brodus Clay.

However, The Miz losing to United States champion Santino Marella was not awesome.

I realize Santino's popularity is on the rise, but The Miz has earned more respect. To have him lose at the hands of the Cobra was unnecessary.

The fact that the match was very simple and clean made things worse. It made The Miz look like a jobber.

He has no business losing to Santino, let alone with the Cobra as the finisher.

Nevertheless, The Miz is on his way out to film  The Marine 3, according to PWInsider (via WrestlingInc.com). This is a move that will probably usher him off WWE TV for a while.

As for Ziggler, he can rebound, but I'm not sure what he did to descend after his feud with CM Punk. Both guys are great in-ring performers that deserve more respect.

Going Their Separate Ways, I Hope

I hope the unentertaining feud between Randy Orton and Kane is now done. They are both solid professionals, but I just never got into their angle.

They both won a pay-per-view match against each other; now they can part and hopefully find more entertaining angles.

Their beat-the-clock matches were uneventful, so we'll see what happens from here.

John Cena Has No Direction

Cena has been pulled back and forth for over a year as competition for part-time WWE stars. Now, as his latest foe seems to be headed for some time off, it looks like he'll be facing John Laurinaitis at Over the Limit.

It is clear that the WWE doesn't know what to do with Cena.

He has been stellar on the mic and in the ring over the past four months, but now he seems in limbo.

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