After having been introduced seven years ago, Extreme Rules has become one of the most anticipated Pay Per Views over the years. Living up to the name, Extreme Rules PPVs have featured some of the most brutal matches we have seen, in spite of them being in the PG era. Tables, ladders, chairs, trash cans, basically any conceivable object that can inflict pain on the human body is allowed, even fire-extinguishers.
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Here are the 5 best Extreme Rules matches ever:
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Chris Jericho vs CM Punk, Extreme Rules 2012
The Greatest of All Time versus the Best in the World. A lot of people actually didn’t like feud between these two wrestlers. I liked how personal it got, with Jericho making references to CM Punk’s father and mocking Punk’s Straight Edge lifestyle.
Coming to the match, it was what you’d expect from wrestlers of such high calibre and more. Enough kendo stick hits to make you lose count, Irish Whips into barricades, brilliant maneuvers and counters from the arsenals of both wrestlers and there was even a flying elbow drop on Jericho through the announce table.
There was a face to face moment between CM Punk’s sister and Chris Jericho which resulted in the latter being slapped by Punk’s sister and being attacked from behind by CM Punk, effectively turning the tables as Jericho was building momentum. We also saw CM Punk managing to crawl out of a Lion Tamer and a Walls of Jericho.
Towards the end, Jericho hit Punk with the Codebreaker with a steel chair followed by Punk’s very own Go To Sleep which was countered and Jericho was tossed into the turnbuckle. Punk followed it up with GTS, which was enough to put away The Ayatollah of Rock ‘n’ Rolla.
CM Punk vs Rey Mysterio, Extreme Rules 2010 – Hair match
The stipulations were simple, albeit unconventional. If Punk had lost he would have had to cut all of his hair. Rey Mysterio had pointed out that the leader of Straight Edge society had hair on his head, while the other two members were completely bald and questioned his Straight Edge lifestyle, which led to this match.
Not surprisingly, this match was awesome. What else would you expect when you pit CM Punk and Rey Mysterio against each other? As was the norm during his Straight Edge gimmick, Luke Gallows and Serena were ringside. They kept making interferences here and there, either attacking him or stopping him when he was close to the ropes. They were sent back by the referee, however.
Rey Mysterio did deliver the 619, but couldn’t secure the pinfall. CM Punk managed to beat Rey and save his hair following a GTS.
Edge vs Jeff Hardy, Extreme Rules 2009
These two redefined tag team wrestling and were the masters of ladder matches. This time, they faced off against each other in singles competition for the World Heavyweight Championship. It is fair to say that these two actually took ladder matches to new heights and this match wasn’t any different. The two were at their devastating best as they made full use of the ladders to brutalize each other. They even fell off a ladder and ended up falling through another one which was placed horizontally. Jeff Hardy even executed leaping twist of fate on Edge. At one point, Jeff was hanging on to the title, but Edge managed to pull him down. Jeff Hardy did it in the end, managing to win the title from Edge.
But the action didn’t end there, CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and it still took two GTSs to pin Jeff Hardy. It was also a bummer to see him lose the title after just having won it.
The Shield vs Evolution, Extreme Rules 2014
The final battle between hottest and most dominant stable of the time going up against the re-formed veteran stable who were the most dominant stable of their time. The hype leading up to this match could not have been overstated and sure enough, this match did not disappoint.
This match was an all out brawl, even before the bell was rung, The Shield cleared the ring off all three members and stood tall, forcing them to regroup. The action even spilled over into the crowd.
One of the best moments of the match was when Seth Rollins jumped from the top of the stands onto Triple H and Randy Orton, who were ganging up on Dean Ambrose. Meanwhile, inside the ring, Batista and Roman Reigns were going at it.
Roman Reigns managed to beat Batista post a Superman Man Punch and a Spear, winning the match for The Shield.
The very next day, however, one of the most infamous heel turns in history took place as Seth Rollins, the architect of the Shield, sold out and turned his back on his brethren, battering them with a steel chair.
Brock Lesnar vs John Cena, Extreme Rules 2012
The result aside, this match, one would have to admit was pretty awesome. It was Brock Lesnar’s return to the WWE’s squared circle. Everyone wanted to see Brock Lesnar give a beatdown to John Cena, and to perhaps no one’s surprise, John Cena was busted open just moments into the match. Brock Lesnar had made his first appearance in over a decade on the Raw after Wrestlemania in 2012. Brock Lesnar dominated the match, for the most part, but, beatdowns, Irish whips into barricades and steel steps, a couple of Kimura Locks, and an F-5 was not enough to put away Super Cena.
John Cena won via pinfall after an Attitude Adjustment on the steel steps.
Christian vs Alberto Del Rio, Extreme Rules 2011
Another man featuring a wrestler who’s had quite a history with ladder matches. This match was special because the title was vacated by Christian’s proverbial brother, Edge. Christian is quite accustomed to ladder matches and it seemed his experience with ladders came in handy, as he used them not only to attack Del Rio, but he even managed to leap onto one after having been pushed.
Even Alberto Del Rio used them to full advantage, as he held Christian in a modified cross armbreaker using a small ladder.
At one point, Christian was just about to grab the title when Brodus Clay moved the ladder from the underneath Christian, forcing him to fall down. But he was quicky dispatched by Captain Charisma. Then Del Rio was about to grab the title when the sound of a horn caused him to stop. It was none other than Edge, who had driven into the arena in a jeep. This gave Christian enough time to get up and push the ladder causing Del Rio to fall outside the ring. This time, Christian was able to grab the title. It was an emotional moment for both of them.
Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan, Extreme Rules 2012
Their match at WrestleMania 28 was a huge disappointment, lasting seconds. But, it did lead to the YES! Movement and Daniel Bryan’s meteoric rise in the WWE.
This match more than made up for the match at WrestleMania. Sheamus asserted his physical dominance and Daniel Bryan displayed his agility and technical prowess. There were brilliant counters and maneuvers from both wrestlers.
Sheamus won the first fall via Disqualification as Daniel Bryan repeatedly kicked Sheamus on his left shoulder while he was holding the ropes, ignoring the referee’s count. Daniel Bryan then put Sheamus in a Yes Lock, who passed out and had to be checked on. Sheamus won his second fall after delivering a Brogue Kick and retained his title.
