5 Things You Probably Don't Remember About The First WWE Extreme Rules Pay-Per-View

In 2009, WWE introduced a number of new pay-per-view handles as a way of freshening up their calendar. Some of the names and concepts quickly died a death, including Breaking Point (submission-based matches), Bragging Rights (brand warfare back when brand warfare had long gone stale), and The Bash (Great American Bash, but less Great, and I guess still adequately American). Other names born that year that have endured to this day, including Hell in a Cell, TLC, and Extreme Rules.

On June 7 of that year, the inaugural Extreme Rules was held in New Orleans. If nothing else, the event was a little more noteworthy than other offerings from the company that year, thanks to some major World title changes, and a show-ending kinda-sorta heel turn that became a full-fledged heel turn shortly after. Also, there was a Hog Pen match - that's memorable, too.

So with 'The Horror Show' at Extreme Rules on the horizon, let's go ahead and wander back to the original event for a little retro examination, and see some of the goings-on that we've possibly long forgotten about.

In 2009, WWE introduced a number of new pay-per-view handles as a way of freshening up their calendar. Some of the names and concepts quickly died a death, including Breaking Point (submission-based matches), Bragging Rights (brand warfare back when brand warfare had long gone stale), and The Bash (Great American Bash, but less Great, and I guess still adequately American). Other names born that year that have endured to this day, including Hell in a Cell, TLC, and Extreme Rules.

On June 7 of that year, the inaugural Extreme Rules was held in New Orleans. If nothing else, the event was a little more noteworthy than other offerings from the company that year, thanks to some major World title changes, and a show-ending kinda-sorta heel turn that became a full-fledged heel turn shortly after. Also, there was a Hog Pen match - that's memorable, too.

So with 'The Horror Show' at Extreme Rules on the horizon, let's go ahead and wander back to the original event for a little retro examination, and see some of the goings-on that we've possibly long forgotten about.

5. The Event Replaced One Night Stand

The One Night Stand name was created for ECW's 2005 reunion event, and then brought back a year later for a second go-around in the same building. After ECW faded into its WWE-sanitized form in the latter half of 2006, the name continued on for a bit as a tri-branded offering.

Something seedy sounding like "One Night Stand" fit the grimier ECW motif, but had no viability as a WWE B-show. That didn't stop WWE from using the name in 2007 and 2008, before retiring it in favour of Extreme Rules, during the general calendar overhaul of 2009.

4. Tommy Dreamer Made ECW History

ECW as a brand had reached Main Event levels of irrelevance by 2009, and was only good for the occasional decent TV match. That said, Tommy Dreamer, the heart and soul of ECW as folks prefer to remember it, made history at the inaugural Extreme Rules.

By defeating Christian and Jack Swagger to win the ECW title in a Triple Threat Match, he became the first and only man to win the ECW belt in both the original promotion (defeating Taz in 2000) and in the WWE brand. Not even Rob Van Dam can claim that.

3. It Marked The End Of Vickie Guerrero...For A Time

The first "Hog Pen" match in over 13 years pitted Santina Marella (that's Santino's 'sister') against Chavo and Vickie Guerrero, as Santina sought to get back the Miss WrestleMania crown currently worn by Vickie. After the expected slapstick, Santina regained the title.

Vickie then had a falling out with Edge on the next night's Raw, and she was written out of the company. It was revealed that Guerrero was leaving to spend more time with her family, but she wasn't gone too long - she returned four months later, as part of SmackDown.

2. It Marked Batista's First WWE Title Reign

This is actually a bit surprising when you think about it. After seven years on the main roster, and four years after winning his first World Heavyweight title, Batista finally captured the WWE championship after defeating Randy Orton inside of a steel cage.

Batista had reigned four times as World Heavyweight Champion between April 2005 and November 2008, so he was overdue to take the equivalent strap. Sadly, the reign wasn't to be: Batista vacated the belt shortly after, due to a torn biceps.

1. Edge Continued His "Cash-In" Streak

Moments after Jeff Hardy defeated Edge to win the World Heavyweight title in a Ladder Match, a briefcase-toting CM Punk struck. Punk quickly took advantage of a worn-down Hardy, GTSing his way to the title. But this entry is about Edge and his unusual "streak".

It marked the fifth straight "cash in" that Edge was somehow party to. In order: cashed in on Cena, helped Rob Van Dam beat Cena, cashed in on Undertaker, was cashed in on by Punk, and here, wore Hardy down for Punk. A year later, when Jack Swagger beat Chris Jericho, Edge was involved again!