WWE Extreme Rules 2021 – 5 facts/stats you need to know

WWE's Extreme Rules pay-per-view takes place this Sunday night live from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Ohio.

The show already has six official matches, with five Championships on the line. Only one of the matches so far has been handed a stipulation, even though Extreme Rules is traditionally seen as the event where matches are contested under different kinds of rules.

Last year's show was called The Horror Show at Extreme Rules and boasted an "eye for an eye match" as well as a "Wyatt Swamp Fight." This year there's just one Extreme Rules match, but the show will see the in-ring return of The Demon.

Ahead of the show, here are five interesting facts and stats you need to know.

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#5. Jeff Hardy's first WWE pay-per-view Championship match in almost a year

Jeff Hardy recently made headlines when the WWE Universe noted he was chasing the 24/7 Championship on RAW. This spot is usually filled by jobbers, which is not a word that fans don't associate with Hardy.

The former World Champion hasn't had a great run since his move to RAW late last year and is now in a position where he could become WWE's United States Champion on Sunday night.

Hardy takes on both Damian Priest and Sheamus in a triple threat match, which is interestingly the first title match that Hardy has been part of on pay-per-view since Clash of Champions in 2020.

Hardy recently unsuccessfully challenged Priest for the Championship on a recent episode of RAW, but since his reign as Intercontinental Champion on SmackDown, this is the closest he has come to gold.

The former Champion lost the title to Sami Zayn in a triple threat ladder match that also included AJ Styles as part of the event in September last year. This means that this weekend will almost be an entire year to the day since Hardy was a Champion in WWE.

#4. Becky Lynch's first title defense since returning to WWE as a mother

Becky Lynch has won many Championships throughout her WWE career, but her current SmackDown Women's Championship reign is the first title she has lifted as a mother.

Lynch took time out of WWE to start a family with fellow superstar Seth Rollins. Lynch was RAW Women's Champion at the time when she found out she was pregnant and relinquished the title to Asuka.

She has since returned and was able to capture the SmackDown Women's Championship at SummerSlam, leading to a feud with Bianca Belair. Despite Belair pushing for a rematch over the past few weeks, Lynch has been able to dodge the match until now at Extreme Rules.

When Lynch wrestles at Extreme Rules, it will be her first pre-announced match and her first title defense since returning to the company as a mother.

#3. The WWE return of The Demon for the first time since 2019

This weekend at Extreme Rules, the WWE Universe will witness the return match of The Demon for the first time since 2019.

Finn Balor's alter-ego will go one-on-one with Roman Reigns in an Extreme Rules Match for the Universal Championship. Balor was recently in NXT after losing his match to Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam two years ago.

This is his first pay-per-view match since his return to the main roster and it's also the first match that The Demon is set to wrestle since WWE Super Showdown in 2019.

Balor successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship against Andrade as part of the show in the Middle East, which was the last time that The Demon was seen in a one-on-one match.

Balor recently returned to SmackDown with his alter-ego after losing a match to Reigns. He decided to put on the war paint and prepare for a much bigger battle against the Universal Champion.

#2. Alexa Bliss' first singles WWE pay-per-view Women's Championship match since Extreme Rules 2019

Alexa Bliss goes one-on-one with Charlotte Flair this weekend at Extreme Rules in what will be her first Women's Championship match on pay-per-view in two years.

Bliss was part of the Women's Tag Team picture alongside Nikki Cross for the best part of 2019 before later encountering The Fiend in 2020. Whilst Bliss was handed a title shot against Asuka earlier this year, that took place on an episode of RAW. Former WWE Champion Randy Orton ensured that Bliss wasn't victorious.

The Goddess has already captured a number of championships, but has recently been part of much bigger storylines. This weekend is the return of the former Champion to the Women's Championship picture and she could finally be the one to dethrone Charlotte Flair. Bliss will have several supernatural tricks up her sleeve, which could catch The Queen off guard.

#1. Liv Morgan's first singles pay-per-view match in her WWE career

Liv Morgan has been part of WWE's main roster since 2017, but when she faces Carmella this weekend at Extreme Rules, it'll be her first pay-per-view singles match.

Morgan battled Natalya as part of the kick-off show at WrestleMania 36 last year, but this weekend her match with Carmella is expected to be part of the main show.

The former Riott Squad member has been part of several pay-per-views in her career but these have mostly been as part of tag team matches. Morgan has also competed in the Elimination Chamber and The Women's Royal Rumble but hasn't been handed a singles match until now.

Since Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan's WWE release, Morgan has been forced to go alone. This weekend at Extreme Rules could be her chance to show WWE what she is capable of.