The main event was a Ladder match for SmackDown's World Heavyweight Championship, which saw Jeff Hardy defeat Edge to win the title.

While originally a reunion show for the defunct Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion, which WWE acquired in 2003, the concept of One Night Stand was that the event featured various matches that were contested under hardcore rules.

[9][10] The primary rivalry heading into Extreme Rules from the Raw brand was between Randy Orton and Batista, who were feuding over the WWE Championship.

[11] Then, on the May 18 episode of Raw, it was announced Big Show would have a rematch with Cena at Extreme Rules in a submission match.

[12] The main rivalry heading into Extreme Rules from the SmackDown brand was between Edge and Jeff Hardy over the World Heavyweight Championship.

[1] The show started with a fatal four-way match for the WWE United States Championship pitting defending champion, Kofi Kingston against Matt Hardy, William Regal, and Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP).

The match was fought at a quick pace that initially had Kingston and MVP work as a unit to eliminate the factor of their opponents.

Prior to the match, Jericho entered through the crowd, insulting the fans and threatening those who touched him before being immediately assaulted by his opponent.

The match had several weapons in use from around the ring, which had Tommy Dreamer and Christian proceed to hit Jack Swagger repeatedly with kendo sticks and trash can lids.

The action fell to the outside, which led to Dreamer obtain a trash can lid to put over his shoulders, and dove onto his two opponents with a senton flip.

The match ended after Marella knocked out Chavo, and pinned an incapacitated Vickie to win the title of Miss WrestleMania.

From the start, Orton made numerous attempts to escape the cage, only to be brought back into the ring by the challenger.

Big Show gained an early advantage by grounding his opponent with heavy punches, headbutts, and a full nelson.

[18] As Hardy celebrated his championship victory, CM Punk came down to the ring with his Money in the Bank briefcase he won at WrestleMania 25, which guaranteed a title match opportunity at the time of his choosing.

Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave a live report of show, reporting on the action as it transpired; he expressed positives for the show including the Intercontinental title match, calling the end "the perfect finish", as well as giving a favorable review of the ladder match.

[20] Matt Mackinder wrote a review for the Canadian Online Explorer website, in which he called the show an "extreme disappointment", giving it a total rating of 4/10.

[22] The following episode of Raw saw Randy Orton and his protégés, Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase (collectively known as The Legacy), exact revenge on Batista by assaulting him, forcing him to vacate the WWE title (in reality, Batista had suffered a legitimate tear in his Biceps brachii muscle, sidelining him for four months);[23] Triple H made his return that night, attacking The Legacy, leading to a fatal four-way match between Orton, Triple H, John Cena, and The Big Show.

Orton won the match, only to have Triple H be named number one contender after winning a 10-man battle royal by last eliminating Cena.

He had his first title defense on the June 15 episode of Raw against both former champions in a successful effort before Theodore Long announced Punk was to defend against Hardy at The Bash.

[25] With Chris Jericho winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship, he continued to abhor the behavior of Rey Mysterio, carrying his mask as a trophy; the following week on SmackDown had Mysterio interfere in Jericho's match against CM Punk before challenging the champion for the title at The Bash, wagering his mask for the title.