10 WWE Superstars Who Helped Define Extreme Rules

And speaking of Batista, the Animal is our next entrant on this list.

Batista actually headlined the first two Extreme Rules shows, helping the PPV gain both traction and credibility during it embryonic days. In 2009, he won the WWE Championship from his former (and future) ally Randy Orton in a Steel Cage match. Then the following year, he once again competed for the top title—this time against John Cena.

Cena would emerge from that one victorious, leading to the feud that ultimately saw Batista leave the WWE. And then in last year’s show, he was heavily involved in that six-man tag between the Shield and Evolution. In taking the Spear from Roman Reigns for the 1-2-3, Batista’s career had effectively come full circle at Extreme Rules.

Sure, the record of 1-2 is by no means the best. But for his efforts in building the prestige of the PPV during its very early years, and of course by putting the Shield over after returning from Hollywood, gives Batista a very close and fond affiliation with the Extreme Rules PPV.