WWE Extreme Rules 2016: Greatest Title Matches in PPV's History

With WWE Payback in the books, it's time for fans to look ahead to the next pay-per-view—WWE Extreme Rules 2016. The event traditionally features a slew of stipulation matches to cap off ruthless rivalries, and this year's installment should be no exception.

Extreme Rules is among the few themed shows that have been consistently entertaining on the whole since its inception in 2009. Some of the most memorable matches from recent years occurred at the event, including The Shield vs. Evolution and John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar.

The WWE World Heavyweight Championship will be up for grabs at Extreme Rules 2016 in a match between Roman Reigns and AJ Styles, but will the bout be able to top these classic contests from years past?

Edge vs. Jeff Hardy (2009)

Credit: WWE.com

The inaugural installment saw Edge defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Jeff Hardy in a ladder match in the main event. As ladder match specialists, they contested an exhilarating bout, with both men going above and beyond to deliver a show-stealing performance.

After getting his moment stolen from him time and time again throughout 2009, Hardy was determined to prove he could win the big one when it mattered most. The stipulation worked in Edge's favor, however; he was willing to do whatever he needed in order to retain his title.

Ultimately, Hardy ascended the ladder and retrieved the world title with Edge trapped. He proceeded to bask in the glory and celebrate his championship victory, only to be blindsided by the then-Mr. Money in the Bank, CM Punk.

Hardy battled back and managed to kick out of a Go to Sleep from Punk, but it wasn't enough to prevent Punk from taking the title. As excellent as Hardy's war with Edge was, it was the surprise ending to the evening that planted the seeds for the fantastic feud between Punk and Hardy that summer.

The match set a high standard for future main events at the pay-per-view and left its mark as one of the greatest ladder matches of the modern era.

Christian vs. Alberto Del Rio (2011)

Credit: WWE.com

Originally, Edge was scheduled to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto Del Rio in a ladder match at Extreme Rules 2011. But because of his abrupt retirement from the ring, Del Rio was without an opponent at the event until Christian clinched No. 1 contendership by winning a Battle Royal on SmackDown.

Christian was a more fitting adversary for the 2011 Royal Rumble winner, as it was Del Rio who put Captain Charisma on the shelf (in storyline) with a shoulder injury the fall prior. Not only did they have history together, but they also proved in their past in-ring encounters they were capable of contesting above-average matches.

Similar to the aforementioned ladder matchup, Christian had plenty of experience with the stipulation, yet the odds were still stacked against him, with Brodus Clay and Ricardo Rodriguez in Del Rio's corner. Meanwhile, The Mexican Aristocrat didn't look out of place in the slightest, using the surrounding ladders to inflict pain on his rival.

The narrative of Christian wanting to fulfill his destiny and become world champion for the first time in his career was what made this contest so captivating. Del Rio was the perfect foil in that respect, and the Tampa crowd was solidly behind Captain Charisma the entire time.

Edge distracted Del Rio from the top of the stage long enough for Christian to take advantage and capture the prestigious prize hanging high from the ceiling. It was an emotional moment for Edge, Christian and even the fans, in addition to being among the few true feel-good endings in wrestling.

Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan (2012)

Credit: WWE.com

Sheamus and Daniel Bryan were slighted at WrestleMania 27, when their United States Championship match was dropped from the main card to the pre-show. They had their chance at redemption the following year at WrestleMania 28, but Sheamus won the World Heavyweight Championship from Bryan in a mere 18 seconds, further infuriating fans.

WWE's resident "Yes!" man shared their frustration and developed an all-new aggressive layer to his character in the weeks leading up to the rematch at Extreme Rules. Losing the world title made him more desperate and, consequently, more dangerous.

In their 2-out-of-3 Falls match, their styles meshed perfectly, and even with the Chicago crowd behind Bryan, Sheamus fought valiantly against the challenger. Bryan gave up the first fall by disqualification to secure the second fall by submission.

In the third and final fall of the bout, they pushed each other to their absolute limits and pulled everything out of their respective arsenals. Bryan had a strong showing versus Sheamus but fell short of victory when the Celtic Warrior laid him out with a Brogue Kick.

Even in defeat, Bryan established himself as a star on the rise, while Sheamus solidified his status as SmackDown's top dog. It was a masterpiece of a match that stole the show at Extreme Rules 2012.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is a journalism major at Endicott College. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.

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