WWE Extreme Rules is a professional wrestlingevent produced annually by WWE, a Connecticut-based promotion, and broadcast live and available only through pay-per-view (PPV) 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 (introduced at the 2010 event);[1] the defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) 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.[2]
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.[3] For 2013, the event was scheduled to take place in mid-May and replace Over the Limit.[4][5] 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.[6] For the 2020 edition, the event was titled The Horror Show at Extreme Rules. In 2021, Extreme Rules was scheduled for the July PPV slot but was replaced by Clash of Champions.
Concept
The concept of the pay-per-view is that, much like its predecessor One Night Stand, various matches are contested under hardcore rules (from 2009 to 2011, all promoted matches on the card were contested under a hardcore stipulation). 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 (such as Last Man Standing matches, Steel Cage matches, and Street Fights) have also been promoted.
