Extreme Rules has become one of the premiere PPVs for WWE every year. The show is devoted to multiple matches involving weapons and match stipulations. WWE’s history with the event sees it take place shortly after WrestleMania each year. This allows the event to have many top feuds continue and culminate with the stipulation adding importance to them.
We will look back at all the Extreme Rules events to take place over the past eleven years. All the shows had a few matches with wild stipulations to add to the excitement. Some clearly stood out while others failed to make an impact on the viewer. Find out just which shows are the ones seeking out as we rank every Extreme Rules event from worst to best.
11 Extreme Rules 2018 (Dolph Ziggler vs Seth Rollins main event)
Extreme Rules 2018 was the weakest in the show’s history thanks to a disappointing main event. The lack of a world title with part-timer Brock Lesnar not on the show led to Seth Rollins and Dolph Ziggler main eventing in a disappointing Iron Man match for the Intercontinental Championship.
The weak undercard featured disappointing matches of Carmella vs Asuka, Jeff Hardy vs Shinsuke Nakamura and Alexa Bliss vs Nia Jax. Fans enjoyed Bobby Lashley vs Roman Reigns and AJ Styles vs Rusev, but even those matches were nothing that special to write home about.
10 Extreme Rules 2013 (Brock Lesnar vs Triple H main event)
The aftermath of WrestleMania 29 featured Brock Lesnar and Triple H continuing their feud. Despite both being legends in their first major storyline against each other, the feud disappointed big time. Lesnar got his win back following the WM defeat in the forgettable cage match at Extreme Rules 2019.
Other matches on the card included John Cena vs Ryback in a Last Man Standing match that ended in a no-contest and Alberto Del Rio vs Jack Swagger in a weak I Quit match. Fans were disappointed with the below-average show.
9 Extreme Rules 2019 (Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch vs Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans main event)
The mixed tag match in the main event of Extreme Rules 2019 featured a storyline that most fans disliked. WWE utilized the real relationship between Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch to have them face off with and defeat mutual enemies Baron Corbin and Lacey Evans.
Brock Lesnar cashing in his Money in the Bank title shot to win the Universal Championship ended the show with a bang, but nothing else really mattered. The Undertaker having a rare impressive performance teaming with Roman Reigns against Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre was the high point of the show.
8 Extreme Rules 2017 (Samoa Joe vs Finn Balor vs Bray Wyatt vs Seth Rollins vs Roman Reigns main event)
Extreme Rules 2017 was a Raw show without a world title match since Brock Lesnar was not booked for the card. Five of Raw’s top stars faced off in an action-packed main event with a Universal Championship title shot on the line as Samoa Joe won.
The great main event carried the show as the only other match to have much praise was Neville vs Austin Aries. Extreme Rules had a low point of Alexa Bliss squashing Bayley in the horrible Kendo Stick on a Pole match.
7 Extreme Rules 2010 (John Cena vs Batista main event)
Extreme Rules 2010 was a mixed bag of action with a deeper card. Undercard matches like Rey Mysterio vs CM Punk and Randy Orton vs Jack Swagger created fun bouts. John Cena and Batista even had an exciting main event in a Last Man Standing match.
The bigger disappointments featured lackluster matches of Chris Jericho vs Edge and Sheamus vs Triple H. Few of the feuds from WrestleMania 26 had strong interest since fans lost interest after the event. Extreme Rules 2010 struggled, but it did enough to entertain the audience.
6 Extreme Rules 2015 (Seth Rollins vs Randy Orton main event)
The first PPV after WrestleMania 31 would see Seth Rollins forced to defend the WWE World Championship against Randy Orton in a Steel Cage match. This Extreme Rules 2015 bout was fine as Rollins and Orton closed the show adding importance to the title.
Other impressive matches included Dean Ambrose vs Luke Harper opening the show in a Street Fight and Roman Reigns vs Big Show stealing the show with an outstanding Last Man Standing match. The disappointing bouts of the night were John Cena vs Rusev and Sheamus vs Dolph Ziggler.
5 Extreme Rules 2014 (Daniel Bryan vs Kane main event)
Daniel Bryan only would have one PPV defense of the WWE Championship after WrestleMania 30 due to injury issues. Kane was the opponent of Bryan in the Extreme Rules 2014 in a Street Fight. Bryan put Kane through a flaming table to win the entertaining match.
Most fans remember The Shield vs Evolution as the biggest match from the card. Evolution had their first match together in many years putting over The Shield in a classic. The rest of Extreme Rules 2014 was mediocre, but these two matches picked up the slack.
4 Extreme Rules 2016 (Roman Reigns vs AJ Styles main event)
AJ Styles proved to be the best choice for Roman Reigns to face after WrestleMania 32. Both men had a great feud heading into Extreme Rules 2016 with the Club and the Usos also getting involved on their behalf. Styles proved he was a top performer in WWE here by delivering an outstanding match with Reigns.
The Miz, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Cesaro also had a must-see match for the Intercontinental Championship. Extreme Rules 2016 was carried by two matches as Dean Ambrose vs Chris Jericho in an Ambrose Asylum match and Charlotte Flair vs Natalya each disappointed.
3 Extreme Rules 2011 (John Cena vs The Miz vs John Morrison main event)
WrestleMania 27 was viewed as a huge disappointment, but WWE started picking up steam with the PPVs following that succeeding in 2011. John Cena regained the WWE Championship defeating The Miz and John Morrison in a fun cage match main eventing Extreme Rules 2011.
The biggest moment of the night came when Christian won his first World Championship in WWE defeating Alberto Del Rio in a superb Ladder match. Other standout bouts for the night included CM Punk vs Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio vs Cody Rhodes on a show worth seeking out on WWE Network.
2 Extreme Rules 2009 (Jeff Hardy vs Edge main event)
The first Extreme Rules event took place in 2009 with Jeff Hardy and Edge facing off in a Ladder match for the World Championship. Both wrestlers were known for their ladder spots and showcased it here with an absolute classic.
The show became even more important when CM Punk cashed in his Money in the Bank title shot on a weak Hardy to become the new World Champion. Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio also had a classic match in the undercard along with an impressive Randy Orton vs Batista match for the WWE Championship.
1 Extreme Rules 2012 (Brock Lesnar vs John Cena main event)
Extreme Rules 2012 was the best of the show’s history in front of a red-hot Chicago audience. The incredible triple main event featured three classics headlining the show. Brock Lesnar wrestled his first WWE match in eight years losing to John Cena in a superb Extreme Rules match.
The two world title matches of CM Punk vs Chris Jericho and Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan each were also match of the year contenders with violence and technical wrestling brilliance respectively. Even the undercard matches like Randy Orton vs Kane and Cody Rhodes vs Big Show provided fun for an all-time great WWE show.