The Top 10 Matches in the History of Extreme Rules (2009-2015)
Over the last couple weeks I’ve gone back and watched a large number of matches from the Extreme Rules PPV. One Night Stand had a strange transition into Extreme Rules, which was made official in 2009. I am open to any and all discussion if you agree, disagree or just want to comment on something.
Honorable Mentions: Cesaro & Kidd vs New Day (2015), Morrison vs Miz vs Cena (2011), Lesnar vs Triple H (2013), Cena vs Ryback (2013), Cena vs Batista (2010), Swagger vs Orton (2010), Punk vs Umaga (2009), Cesaro vs RVD vs Swagger (2014) and Reigns vs Big Show (2015).
#10 Daniel Bryan vs Kane – Extreme Rules Match – Extreme Rules 2014
Daniel Bryan won the WWE title a month earlier at Wrestlemania and his first title defense was against his former partner, Kane, in an extreme rules match. Weeks before, Kane Tombstone Piledrived Bryan three times and took him briefly out of action. This match had some fairly unique spots to it that aren’t used that often and break away from the cookie cutter extreme rules matches we’ve seen. It features a fun backstage brawl, a diving headbutt from a forklift and Kane going through a flaming table. Kane’s booking by WWE hasn’t been consistent in ages, and no one expected Bryan to lose this, but I felt the match still built Kane to be a very menacing threat.
#9 Christian vs Alberto Del Rio – Ladder Match – Extreme Rules 2011
After the unfortunate retiring of Edge due to injuries, the World Heavyweight Championship because vacated. At Extreme Rules 2011 it was up for grabs in a ladder match between Edge’s final rival, Alberto Del Rio, and his best friend, Christian. Del Rio worked over and destroyed the arm of Christian in this match. Just as Christian thought he had it won, Del Rio’s bodyguard, Brodus Clay interfered. Edge came out in a jeep, beeping the horn and distracting Del Rio and Clay enough for Christian to gain advantage and win the title, getting one awesome moment between Edge & Christian.
#8 Edge vs Jeff Hardy – Ladder Match – Extreme Rules 2009
Arguably the two wrestlers most synonymous with the ladder match. Edge won the World Heavyweight Championship in April over John Cena, with some help from Big Show. Edge retained the title the previous month against Jeff Hardy, thanks to help from Jeff’s brother, Matt. This match had some very cool callback spots to previous ladder encounters between the two from the era of the Hardyz and Edge & Christian. After an epic battle on the ladder, Jeff manages to trap Edge, giving himself the victory and winning the World Heavyweight title. However moments later, CM Punk came out with his Money in the Bank briefcase and cashed in on Hardy, making Jeff’s reign very short lived.
#7 Cody Rhodes vs Rey Mysterio – Falls Count Anywhere – Extreme Rules 2011
Cody Rhodes became ‘Undashing’ Cody Rhodes early in 2011 when Rey Mysterio accidentally broke his nose. Rhodes blamed Mysterio for making him ‘hideous’ and vowed to get revenge. Rhodes did just that at Wrestlemania, using Rey’s own knee brace to defeat him. At Extreme Rules, they faced off in a rematch that went all over the arena. This match is incredibly fun and had some unique spots, utilizing the whole set to inflict punishment on each other. Ultimately Rey manages to pull a little trick out of his own book and get the victory.
#6 CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio – Extreme Rules 2010
This feud had been raging on since February. Punk was angry at Mysterio for costing him a match and crashed Mysterio’s daughter’s birthday party, creeping out the whole Mysterio family. At Wrestlemania, if Mysterio had lost, he would be forced to join CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society. However Rey managed to defeat Punk, after failed interference from the rest of the SES. In their rematch at Extreme Rules, the stipulation was that if CM Punk lost, he would be forced to shave his head. This match had a ridiculously fast pace and lots of counters. Mysterio seems to have control when a mysterious fourth member of the SES comes out in a mask and hit Rey behind the ref’s back, allowing Punk to get the victory.
#5 Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio – No Holds Barred – Extreme Rules 2009
Yet another Rey Mysterio match and once again much deserved. This feud revolved around the ‘honest man’ Chris Jericho claiming that Rey Mysterio has spent his entire carer behind a mask. Rey put his Intercontinental Championship on the line against Jericho for the second time in two months. Mysterio managed to retain against Jericho at Judgment Day but this time it would be much more difficult in a no holds barred environment. As usual Jericho and Mysterio had a fantastic match but Jericho found the one big flaw Rey has. As Rey went for the 619, Jericho grabbed and removed Rey’s mask, causing him to instinctively cover his face and allowing Jericho to roll him up for the victory. Their third and final match at The Bash even managed to top this.
#4 CM Punk vs Chris Jericho – Chicago Street Fight – Extreme Rules 2012
This feud started off as a battle of The Best vs The Best but quickly became personal when Jericho started to bring up Punk’s family’s issues with drug and alcohol addiction. Jericho knew exactly how to get under Punk’ skin. Punk managed to keep his anger in check at Wrestlemania, defeating Jericho. However, the next night on Raw, Jericho smashed a bottle of Jack Daniels over Punk’s head. Weeks latr Jericho beat down Punk and dumped beer all over him, enraging and humiliating the Straight Edge Superstar. At Extreme Rules, Punk and Jericho beat the living hell out of each other for over twenty minutes. Jericho tried to intimidate Punk’s sister at ringside but she managed to slap him. Punk elbow dropped Jericho through the announce table off the ropes. Jericho managed to hit a Codebreaker with a chair on Punk. But ultimately, CM Punk managed to put down Jericho with the GTS in an incredible match.
#3 Brock Lesnar vs John Cena – Extreme Rules Match – Extreme Rules 2012
The night after Wrestlemania XXVIII, Brock Lesnar returned and went right after Cena. In the weeks leading up to Extreme Rules, these two were constantly brawling and Lesnar always looked to have the advantage. This match was no different as Brock Lesnar systematically destroyed John Cena. He beat him down with a chain, the steel steps, steel chairs, etc. This was a beatdown that we had never seen John Cena receive before. Lesnar, as the match went on, became incredibly cocky. He started taking his time and ultimately walked into a steel chain shot from Cena and an AA on the steel steps, putting him down in just enough time for the three count. This match received heavy criticism at the time because of Cena’s victory and the way he won. And while I definitely think Lesnar should have come out on top, I actually don’t mind the finish at all. Very unique and entertaining match with a less than ideal finish. The further out of context you watch the match, the less the finish matters anyway.
#2 The Shield vs Evolution – Six Man Tag No DQ match – Extreme Rules 2014
After The Shield stopped Daniel Bryan from being mugged out of his title by Triple H, Batista and Randy Orton, Evolution reformed to try and take them down a peg. The most dominant faction of this decade up against the most dominant faction of the previous decade. Three former world champions against two future world champions (and presumably Ambrose wins it at some point). This match was everything that it was hyped up to be. There was brawling outside the ring, in the crowd and obviously in the ring. Ultimately Triple H, Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins took their fight into the crowd while Batista and Reigns recovered in the ring. Triple H and Orton had Ambrose beat down, when out of nowhere, Seth Rollins dove off a balcony onto them, taking everyone out. Back in the ring, Reigns managed to hit the Superman Punch and spear, giving The Shield the victory in an outstanding performance.
#1 Daniel Bryan vs Sheamus – 2/3 Falls – Extreme Rules 2012
Of my four top matches in Extreme Rules history, three come from 2012, which was truly a fantastic PPV. At Wrestlemania XXVIII, Sheamus shocked Daniel Bryan, defeating him in just 18 seconds. This time, there was no way the match would be that short where two falls were needed to win. Bryan ingeniously worked Sheamus’ arm over for much of the match. Bryan would go on to kick Sheamus’ arm over and over again despite Sheamus being on the ropes. The referee DQed Bryan but the damage was done and Sheamus could barely move. Bryan immediately locks in the No Lock as the second fall begins and Sheamus passes out, tying the match up. After some incredible action, Sheamus managed to defeat Bryan with the Brogue Kick to cap off one of the best matches of 2012.
