WWE Extreme Rules 2015: Power Ranking Every Card in PPV's History
In theory, Extreme Rules is the perfect follow-up to WrestleMania, an opportunity to revisit some of the biggest matches on the card with an added stipulation.
However, in practice, the results aren't always so strong. Since 2009, the defining trait of the show hasn't been its hardcore matches; it's been the ebb and flow of quality from year to year and typically from match to match.
By its nature, Extreme Rules is rarely a classic pay-per-view from start to finish. It's a show of great highs and desperate lows. That said, the best bits are well worth returning to, especially when you can skip past the segments that haven't aged well.
Here is the best—and the worst—that Extreme Rules has had to offer over its first six years.
6. Extreme Rules 2013
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Main event: Brock Lesnar vs. Triple H in a cage match
Notable undercard bouts: Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger, John Cena vs. Ryback, The Shield vs. Team Hell No
Looking back, Extreme Rules 2013 was a weak follow-up to WrestleMania 29 the month before.
The story of the night was The Shield claiming all the gold, which was, admittedly, a cool moment that helped propel the faction to new heights. However, it didn't do all too much for the pay-per-view itself.
Elsewhere, things are pedestrian. Big Show vs. Randy Orton and John Cena vs. Ryback are matches we've seen plenty of times, and the stipulations they're given here don't do much to add to the excitement. Given his resurgence over the past year, the Orton match is particularly disappointing.
The main event does little to add any interest, as Triple H faced Brock Lesnar inside the steel cage as part of their overly long and uninteresting feud. The Beast has been used perfectly over the past year, but back in 2013, he really was not.
5. Extreme Rules 2010
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Main event: John Cena vs. Batista in a Last Man Standing match
Notable undercard bouts: CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio, Edge vs. Chris Jericho
Of all the Extreme Rules pay-per-view events, the 2010 edition is perhaps the one that relies most heavily on rematches from WrestleMania.
In some cases, this is great. CM Punk and Rey Mysterio were given much more time than they were at The Showcase of the Immortals, which made for a better match.
Edge and Chris Jericho also managed to improve on their WrestleMania outing, engaging in a personal feud after the title was snatched away from them by Jack Swagger. Their cage match is a definite highlight and is perhaps the best match of the night.
However, some rematches don't turn out so well. The main event ends with a banal finish involving duct tape that makes Batista look like a goon, while Cena looks more like a mischievous child than the world champion.
4. Extreme Rules 2014
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Main event: Daniel Bryan vs. Kane in an Extreme Rules match
Notable undercard bouts: WeeLC, Bad News Barrett vs. Big E, The Shield vs. Evolution, Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena.
Extreme Rules 2014 is a great example of how cartoonish the so-called "Reality Era" can be at its worst.
The main event is perhaps the worst culprit, marking the first defence of Daniel Bryan's doomed WWE World Heavyweight Championship run. Even considering the pair's past as Team Hell No, Kane was a poor choice for his first challenger—and a forklift and a flaming table only made things sillier.
The cage match between Bray Wyatt and Cena is similarly reminiscent of the worst excesses of the Attitude Era. The finish, which saw a choir boy defeat Cena through song, provides a visual that endures for all the wrong reasons.
However, there are some genuinely excellent matches on offer as well. The Intercontinental Championship match between Bad News Barrett and Big E was built well and delivered on the night; it's a shame to see that neither man has made much progress in the year that's passed since.
The best match of the evening is definitely the six-man tag match between The Shield and Evolution. It's difficult to say whether or not the sextet outdid themselves at Payback less than a month later, but both matches are worth watching.
This card also featured one of the most underrated matches of 2014: the inaugural WeeLC match between Hornswoggle and El Torito, which truly exceeded all expectations. While other matches on the card tried to go "extreme" and turned out disappointing, this bout revels in its goofiness. It's dumb but a lot of fun.
3. Extreme Rules 2011
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Main event: John Cena vs. The Miz vs. John Morrison in a cage match
Notable undercard bouts: Randy Orton vs. CM Punk, Rey Mysterio vs. Cody Rhodes, Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio.
As a three-hour show, Extreme Rules 2011 doesn't hit the mark—but several matches on the card are good in their own right.
Christian's win over Alberto Del Rio is the only moment that really endures, and it comes at the end of an entertaining ladder match.
Elsewhere, the undercard is stocked with matches that are perfectly engaging but seem more like a standout bout on a weekly television broadcast than something worthy of a spot on a pay-per-view card. The WrestleMania hangover was in full effect back in 2011.
The main event is noteworthy, however. John Morrison never got many chances to crack the main event in his WWE run, but he put on a great show here.
2. Extreme Rules 2009
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Main event: Jeff Hardy vs. Edge in a ladder match
Notable undercard bouts: Rey Mysterio vs. Chris Jericho, Kofi Kingston vs. William Regal vs. MVP vs. Matt Hardy
2009 marked the first Extreme Rules pay-per-view, and the inaugural event is actually one of the best.
The night opens with a fast-paced bout for Kofi Kingston's newly won United States Championship. There are a few slips here and there, but there's enough going on to distract from any imperfections, and it's always nice to see William Regal appear on a pay-per-view.
Punk and Umaga have an entertaining Samoan Strap match, while the Triple Threat for the ECW Championship provides a nice callback to the "real" ECW with Tommy Dreamer's victory.
There's also a great bout for the Intercontinental Championship, as Jericho takes on Mysterio in a No Holds Barred match. It's a departure for both men, and that just makes it all the more interesting.
The night ends with a terrific ladder match between two masters of the genre—Jeff Hardy and Edge. That would be enough to close out most shows, but not here; Punk makes his second appearance of the night to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase for the second time in his career. A great end to a thoroughly enjoyable pay-per-view—and one of the most extreme in its lineage.
1. Extreme Rules 2012
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Main event: John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar in an Extreme Rules match
Notable undercard bouts: Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan, Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show, CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho
Extreme Rules 2012 came at a chaotic time in WWE, and as such, the card is uneven.
There are matches that seem like they should have been saved for Raw the following night, including a basic Ryback squash and a short, pointless contest between Brodus Clay and Dolph Ziggler. Seeing how little came from both of these big pushes, it's clear that enhancement matches have no place on pay-per-view.
However, other matches are good. Sheamus and Bryan have a compelling 2-out-of-3 Falls match, which sows some of the seeds we're seeing reaped in their budding feud at the moment. These two have great chemistry, and seeing them put on a lengthy match takes full advantage of that fact.
The WWE Championship match is also great fun, as Punk engages Jericho in a Chicago Street Fight. The small touch of having both men wear their street clothes gives this bout a special feel and is a great nod to the classics.
Of course, the highlight of the night is the much-anticipated return of Lesnar to a WWE ring. Seeing Cena take a beating was a great sight back in 2012 but isn't quite as impressive today given that Lesnar outdid himself at SummerSlam 2014. Still, it's an enjoyable match—and show—to revisit.
Which Extreme Rules pay-per-view is your favourite? Which one missed the mark? Let us know in the comments section below.
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