Extreme Rules is the one night of the year where WWE goes extreme, but which matches stood out as the best for each show? On September 26, 2021, the WWE Universe is scheduled to be treated to the 13th edition of the event.In 2009, WWE began naming some of their pay-per-views after gimmick matches. Extreme Rules is one of the most popular events that WWE has produced in recent years. The event traditionally takes place in the summer, but in 2021, Extreme Rules has moved to late September for fans to be in attendance. Nevertheless, some of the all-time greats have competed in some remarkable matches at Extreme Rules.RELATED: 10 Random Matches You Totally Forgot Happened At Extreme RulesThe stipulations have ranged from Ladder matches to Last Man Standing matches and of course, Extreme Rules matches. Fans are enticed by violence which is why Extreme Rules continues to feature on the WWE calendar. Not every main event has delivered at Extreme Rules with some matches on the undercard outdoing it on several occasions.
12 Daniel Bryan & Rowan Vs. The New Day Vs. Heavy Machinery - 2019
At Extreme Rules 2019, Daniel Bryan and Rowan defended the SmackDown Tag Team Championship in a triple threat tag team match. Their challengers were The New Day and Heavy Machinery in an outstanding championship match.
This was a superb match from start to finish with some exciting exchanges. All three teams gave it their all in a fast-paced bout. Ultimately, The New Day recaptured the SmackDown Tag Team Titles with Big E and Xavier Woods combining with Big Ending on Bryan, and Woods pinned Bryan for the win.
11 AJ Styles Vs. Rusev - 2018
Rusev had an opportunity of a lifetime as he challenged AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules 2018. It was the first time that the Bulgarian Brute had competed for the prestigious title.
The Phenomenal One and Rusev's chemistry together was second to none. Rusev threw the kitchen sink at Styles and it was a tactically astute performance by him. However, Rusev came unstuck as Styles retained after delivering a vicious Phenomenal Forearm.
10 Brock Lesnar Vs. Triple H - 2013
Brock Lesnar and Triple H's rivalry was split at one win apiece with their battle at Extreme Rules 2013, the decider. They competed in a steel cage match which was violent. Moreover, Lesnar's advocate Paul Heyman slammed the cage door in Triple H's face at one point.
The Beast Incarnate is a dominating figure, but he is even scarier when he has a steel chair in hand. Lesnar relentlessly beat Triple H with some brutal chair shots to the back. It wasn't plain sailing by any stretch of the imagination but F5 sealed the deal for the former WWE Champion.
9 Roman Reigns Vs. Big Show - 2015
The thought of Roman Reigns and Big Show colliding in a Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules 2015 certainly didn't sound appealing. Well, matches are not played on paper, and Reigns and Show put on an enjoyable match.
RELATED: 5 Best & 5 Worst Last Man Standing Matches In WWE History
Roman Reigns had one of the best matches of his career at this point. The World's Largest Athlete attempted to Chokeslam Reigns through the table but Reigns countered it with a Samoan drop. However, Show retaliated and put Reigns through a couple of tables with a thunderous Chokeslam on the outside. The Big Dog speared Show through the commentary table and for good measure, he put another table on top of him for the win.
8 Asuka Vs. Sasha Banks - 2020
Asuka defended the Raw Women's Championship against Sasha Banks who was looking to become a record five-time Raw Women's Champion. The Boss was one-half of the WWE Women's Tag Team Champions with Bayley, who was the reigning SmackDown Women's Champion. Nevertheless, they hit a home run in a competitive Raw Women's Title bout at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules in 2020.
Both women took some crazy bumps, and Banks executed the Bank Statement on Asuka who managed to reach the ropes. Despite the match being a good wrestling clash, the finish was underwhelming. Bayley stole the referee's shirt after he got blinded by Asuka's green mist. The Role Model hit Asuka in the back with a championship belt and counted Asuka's shoulder's down to hand Banks the win.
7 John Cena Vs. Batista - 2010
Batista was looking to regain his WWE Championship from John Cena in a Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules 2010. Cena and Batista's trilogy was exceptional, and they had another competitive match against one another.
The Animal dominated large portions of the match but Cena had a refusal to stay down. Cena knew that he had to think outside of the box to keep Batista at bay. Alas, Big Match John tied Batista's feet to the ring post with duct tape and he retained the WWE Title in one of the best matches in Batista's career.
6 Christian Vs. Alberto Del Rio - 2011
There was guaranteed to be a first-time WWE World Champion to be crowned in the ladder match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship at Extreme Rules 2011. Christian collided with 2011 Royal Rumble winner Alberto Del Rio, who came up short to Edge at WrestleMania XXVII.
RELATED: 10 Most Emotional WWE World Championship Victories In WWE History
This was a war of attrition and with Captain Charisma being a ladder match specialist it was bound to be a good one. Del Rio was close to retrieving the belt but Edge interfered by honking the horn on a vehicle. Christian clinched the World Heavyweight Championship with both Edge and Christian emotional at Christian's triumph.
5 The Shield Vs. Evolution - 2014
The Shield and Evolution's clash at Extreme Rules 2014 was one of the greatest six-man tag team bouts in WWE history. Both factions battled around the arena, leaving fans mesmerized at what they had witnessed.
Seth Rollins launched off the balcony and he took down Triple H, Randy Orton, and his own partner Dean Ambrose. Back in the ring, The Animal attempted to finish off Reigns with a Batista Bomb but Reigns executed a thunderous Spear to pick up the huge win for The Shield.
4 Samoa Joe Vs. Seth Rollins Vs. Bray Wyatt Vs. Roman Reigns Vs. Finn Balor - 2017
Samoa Joe, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, and Finn Balor battled in a fatal five-way match to close out Extreme Rules 2017. There was a caveat as the winner would become the number one contender for Brock Lesnar's Universal Championship.
The problem with multi-man matches is that too much could happen at once which could hinder the match. The quality was exceptional with Joe earning a monumental win by taking Balor out with his patented Coquina Clutch.
3 Edge Vs. Jeff Hardy - 2009
The inaugural main event at Extreme Rules 2009 saw Edge defend the World Heavyweight Championship against a familiar foe in Jeff Hardy in a ladder match. Edge and Hardy are two of the greatest to piece together high-caliber ladder matches.
This was another brutal ladder match with Edge and Jeff taking some scary bumps. The Charismatic Enigma executed a superb Twist of Fate off the ladder with Edge crashing and burning. Ultimately, Hardy secured the World Heavyweight Title with Edge helpless in the rungs of the ladder.
2 John Cena Vs. Brock Lesnar - 2012
Fans got to see Brock Lesnar compete in a WWE ring for the first time in eight years at Extreme Rules 2012. The Beast Incarnate encountered John Cena in a brutal Extreme Rules match that closed out the show.
Big Match John took a beating and there was no shortage of blood with both bleeding profusely. This was the first time that Lesnar employed his rough in-ring style which brought legitimacy to his bouts. Nevertheless, Cena spoiled Lesnar's return by winning a match he had no right to prevail in.
1 Roman Reigns Vs. AJ Styles - 2016
Arguably, the best match of Roman Reigns' career as a face came at Extreme Rules 2016. The Big Dog defended the WWE Championship against AJ Styles in an Extreme Rules match.
This wasn't one-on-one for the entirety of the match as Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows along with The Usos made their presence felt. Nevertheless, Styles executed an outstanding Phenomenal Forearm off the announce table onto Reigns. This was a hard-fought victory for Reigns in a superb title defense.
