The final era of traditional pay-per-view wrestling arrived in 2013
In short: On May 19, 2013, a specific professional wrestling event marked the end of an era. It was the last time fans could watch this brand of spectacle exclusively through traditional pay-per-view outlets before the industry shifted toward streaming services.
The 2013 Extreme Rules event took place at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. While it functioned as a standard professional wrestling production featuring scripted events and pre-determined storylines, its historical significance lies in its timing. Owing to the February 2014 debut of the WWE Network streaming platform, this marked the concluding Extreme Rules show aired solely on conventional pay-per-view channels. This annual event had been running since 2009. WWE adopted the name from a defunct promotion called Extreme Championship Wrestling. They chose it to replace terms like hardcore rules.
The event also served as a transitional point for the promotion's championship structure. It was the last time the previous version of the World Heavyweight Championship appeared; that title was unified with the WWE Championship in December of that same year. The card featured eight matches, five of which were contested under hardcore stipulations, including a Steel Cage match where Brock Lesnar defeated Triple H. Dean Ambrose captured the United States Championship during this night. Additionally, The Shield won their first Tag Team titles against Team Hell No. Randy Orton also secured a victory over Big Show in an Extreme Rules match.
The narrative leading into the event was built through weekly television shows like Raw and SmackDown. For example, the main event between John Cena and Ryback was fueled by weeks of backstage attacks and chair shots. The night concluded with a no-contest in a Last Man Standing match when Ryback drove Cena through an electronic wall, leaving the WWE Championship status unchanged. Earlier storylines involved Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger fighting for a title spot. This specific contest was an I Quit match. The promotion also featured a strap match between Mark Henry and Sheamus.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Extreme Rules (2013)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-extreme-rules-2013.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
