WWE Extreme Rules


WWE Extreme Rules is a professional wrestling event produced annually by WWE, a Connecticut-based promotion, and broadcast live and available only through pay-per-view and the WWE Network. The name of the event stems from most matches being contested under hardcore wrestling regulations with generally one match being contested as an Extreme Rules match ; the defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion, which WWE acquired in 2003, originally used the term to describe the regulations for all of its matches. The event name was established in 2009; however, its theme began with its predecessor, One Night Stand, which was promoted in 2005 and 2006 as an ECW reunion show. In 2007, WWE promoted the show as one of its own regular pay-per-view events but kept the ECW concept of Extreme Rules matches. In 2009, WWE renamed the One Night Stand event to WWE Extreme Rules. The 2009 Extreme Rules event was noted by WWE to be a direct continuation of the One Night Stand chronology. However, the 2010 event was later promoted as only the second event under a new chronology, one that is no longer a direct continuation of the One Night Stand events.
Starting in 2010, Extreme Rules was moved from June to late April/early May to replace Backlash as the post-WrestleMania pay-per-view event. For 2013, the event was scheduled to take place in mid-May and replace Over the Limit. After the newly-reinstated WWE brand extension took effect in 2016, the event returned to the June slot of WWE's pay-per-view calendar in 2017 as a Raw-exclusive pay-per-view event. Following WrestleMania 34 in 2018, all WWE pay-per-views ceased being brand exclusive, and Extreme Rules moved to the July slot. For the 2020 edition, the event was titled The Horror Show at Extreme Rules.

Concept

The concept of the pay-per-view is that, much like its predecessor One Night Stand, various matches are contested under hardcore rules. The eponymous Extreme Rules match, introduced at the 2010 event, has been featured at least once at nearly every event; the only events to not feature the namesake match were the inaugural event in 2009, the 2011 event, and the 2015 event. Matches featuring other hardcore stipulations have also been promoted.

Dates and venues

EventDateLocationVenueFinal match
Extreme Rules June 7, 2009New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans ArenaEdge vs. Jeff Hardy for the World Heavyweight Championship; then Jeff Hardy vs. CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship
Extreme Rules April 25, 2010Baltimore, Maryland1st Mariner ArenaJohn Cena vs. Batista in a Last Man Standing match for the WWE Championship
Extreme Rules May 1, 2011Tampa, FloridaSt. Pete Times ForumThe Miz vs. John Cena vs. John Morrison in a Triple Threat Steel Cage match for the WWE Championship
Extreme Rules April 29, 2012Rosemont, IllinoisAllstate ArenaBrock Lesnar vs. John Cena in an Extreme Rules match
Extreme Rules May 19, 2013St. Louis, MissouriScottrade CenterBrock Lesnar vs. Triple H in a Steel Cage match
Extreme Rules May 4, 2014East Rutherford, New JerseyIzod CenterDaniel Bryan vs. Kane in an Extreme Rules match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Extreme Rules April 26, 2015Rosemont, IllinoisAllstate ArenaSeth Rollins vs. Randy Orton in a Steel Cage match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Extreme Rules May 22, 2016Newark, New JerseyPrudential CenterRoman Reigns vs. AJ Styles in an Extreme Rules match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Extreme Rules June 4, 2017Baltimore, MarylandRoyal Farms ArenaBray Wyatt vs. Finn Bálor vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Seth Rollins in a Fatal Five-way Extreme Rules match to determine the #1 contender for the WWE Universal Championship at Great Balls of Fire
Extreme Rules July 15, 2018Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPPG Paints ArenaDolph Ziggler vs. Seth Rollins in a 30-minute Iron Man match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Extreme Rules July 14, 2019Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaWells Fargo CenterSeth Rollins and Becky Lynch vs. Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans in a Last Chance Winners Take All Extreme Rules mixed tag team match for both the WWE Universal Championship and WWE Raw Women's Championship; then Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship
The Horror Show at Extreme RulesJuly 19, 2020Orlando, FloridaWWE Performance CenterBraun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt in a Wyatt Swamp Fight