Signature match types Extreme Rules match Event gimmick Hardcore wrestling | First event Extreme Rules (2009) Promotion WWE | |
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Brand(s) Raw (2009–2011, 2017–present); SmackDown (2009–2011); ECW (2009) | ||
WWE Extreme Rules (simply known as 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 (PPV). The name of the event stems most matches being contested under hardcore wrestling regulations; the defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion 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 PPV 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, which was moved to October before being discontinued later that year and replaced by Battleground. Since 2009 up to now there has been at least one Steel Cage match, except 2012 and when the shows are in Chicago areas there has been least one Chicago Street Fight match and 2016, where Dean Ambrose was announced the Asylum match, replaced Steel Cage match. The event will return to the early June slot of WWE's pay-per-view calendar and will be a Raw-exclusive pay-per-view event.
