WWE Extreme Rules was a 2008 professional wrestling event put on by World Wrestling Entertainment. It was the 3rd Extreme Rules event, the 6th event of 2008 and the 222nd event overall in the alternate WWF timeline. Emanating from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, the main event was a 60 Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Title between John Cena and Randy Orton. Other matches on the card included a Fatal Fourway Match between MVP, Edge, Shelton Benjamin and Batista for the World Heavyweight Championship, a triple threat match for the World Tag Team Titles involving the Boom Squad, Legacy and Cryme Tyme, and a one on one encounter between The Undertaker and Vladimir Kozlov.
Prelude[]
Through sheer luck and a little timely interference from Legacy, Randy Orton had survived the Triple Threat match at Judgment Day with his WWE Title in tact. However, he was not out of the woods in terms of challenges from John Cena. After the former champion defeated The Big Show in a No DQ match on Raw, Cena earned a title shot against Orton for seemingly the final time. In order to try and garner a true winner between the two rivals, Interim Raw General Manager Ric Flair made the match a 60-Minute Iron Man match, in which the winner would be the wrestler who could gain the most falls in that time limit. He also banned Legacy from ringside, threatening suspension if they appeared to help Orton.
Following his tainted victory over The Undertaker at Judgment Day (thanks to the debuting Vladimir Kozlov), Edge looked to have an easy month in the leadup to his planned wedding with his girlfriend and Smackdown co-general manager, Vickie Guerrero. However, this plan was scuttled when Edge was attacked during his "bachelor party" on Smackdown, surprisingly by Batista. The Animal had failed to capture the Money in the Bank briefcase at Judgment Day, so instead he attempted a less subtle method of angling himself into a title shot, by setting up Edge to be cashed in on by MVP. Mr. Money in the Bank did indeed successfully cash in his briefcase, becoming the new World Heavyweight Champion. Guerrero then made a rematch for Extreme Rules, a match that was expanded to be a triple threat match after Edge was defeated by Batista the following week on Smackdown by Theodore Long. The match became a fatal fourway after another former World Champion, Shelton Benjamin, defeated both Edge and Batista in a Handicap match to earn his way into the contest, creating a massive collision at the pay per view.
The team of Kofi Kingston and Colt Cabana, collectively known as The Boom Squad, had managed to end the lengthy tag title reign of Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase the previous month. However, their match against Cryme Tyme at Judgment Day was interrupted by the former champions, resulting in no winner for the belts. Interim Raw GM Ric Flair made a triple threat match for Extreme Rules in order to settle the issue between the three teams.
Vladimir Kozlov had debuted at Judgment Day during the World Heavyweight Title match between Edge and The Undertaker, managed by Paul Heyman. The Moscow Mauler had attacked the Phenom at the behest of his new "agent", who was seeking revenge against the Dead Man for his victories against Brock Lesnar the previous few months. Thus a one on one confrontation was set between the two at Extreme Rules, with the vicious Kozlov looking unstoppable in his short time in the company.
Event[]
Coming Soon...
Results[]
| No | Results | Stipulations | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Show | The Colons [Primo & Carlito] d. The New Freebirds [Jack Swagger & Ray Jay Gordy] w/Keith Samson by Pinfall | Tag Team Match | 11:02 |
| 1 | Rob Van Dam d. William Regal w/Sheamus (c) by Pinfall | Extreme Rules Match for the WWE Intercontinental Title | 14:00 |
| 2 | Okada (c) d. Austin Aries by Pinfall | Singles Match for the WWE Light Heavyweight Title | 12:09 |
| 3 | Chyna & Mickie James d. Beth Pheonix & Michelle McCool by Pinfall | Divas Tag Team Match | 8:22 |
| 4 | The Edge-Heads (c) [Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins] (c) d. John Morrison & The Miz by Pinfall | Tag Team Match for the WWE Tag Team Titles | 9:20 |
| 5 | JBL & Chris Jericho d. Shawn Michaels & CM Punk by Pinfall | Interpromotional Tag Team Match | 12:00 |
| 6 | Vladimir Kozlov w/Paul Heyman d. The Undertaker by Technical Knockout | Singles Match | 10:03 |
| 7 | Legacy [Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase] d. The Boom Squad [Kofi Kingston & Colt Cabana] (c) & Cryme Tyme [JTG & Shad Gaspard] by Pinfall | Triple Threat Match for the World Tag Team Titles | 11:00 |
| 8 | MVP (c) d. Edge w/Vickie Guerrero, Batista & Shelton Benjamin by Pinfall | Fatal Fourway Match for the World Heavyweight Championship | 16:20 |
| 9 | John Cena d. Randy Orton (c) 4 Falls to 3 | 60-Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship | 60:00 |
Aftermath[]
The feud between Chris Jericho and Shawn Michaels would intensify after Y2J nearly blinded Michaels on an episode of his talk show "The Highlight Reel", leading to a potential retirement segment at the next Pay Per View for Michaels. Edge would again challenge MVP for the World Title at Unforgiven, with the added stipulation of sole GM position of Smackdown also on the line. Orton would be written off TV the following night on Raw due to a shoulder injury that would leave him out for close to three months.